Part 3 (1/2)

CLAUDIUS.

From this instant Until thy return, I promise Not to leave his side.

POLEMIUS.

Aurelius . . .

AURELIUS.

My good lord.

POLEMIUS.

Art sure thou knowest In this mountain the well-hidden Cave wherein Carpophorus dwelleth?

AURELIUS.

Him I promise to deliver To thy hands.

POLEMIUS.

Then lead the soldiers Stealthily and with all quickness To the spot, for all must perish Who are there found hiding with him:-- For the care with which, ye Heavens!

I uphold the true religion Of the G.o.ds, their faith and wors.h.i.+p, For the zeal that I exhibit In thus crus.h.i.+ng Christ's new law, Which I hate with every instinct Of my soul, oh! grant my guerdon In the cure of my son's illness! [Exeunt Polemius and Aurelius.

CLAUDIUS (to Escarpin).

Go and tell my lord Chrysanthus That I wish he would come with me Forth to-day for relaxation.

ESCARPIN.

Relaxation! just say whither Are we to go forth to get it; Of that comfort I get little--

CLAUDIUS.

Outside Rome, Diana's temple On the Salarian way uplifteth Its majestic front: the fairest Of our Roman maids dwell in it: 'T is the custom, as thou knowest, That the loveliest of Rome's children Whom patrician blood enn.o.bles, From their tender years go thither To be priestesses of the G.o.ddess, Living there till 't is permitted They should marry: 't is the centre Of all charms, the magic circle Drawn around a land of beauty-- Home of deities--Elysium!-- And as great Diana is G.o.ddess of the groves, her children Have to her an altar raised In the loveliest cool green thicket.

Thither, when the evening falleth, And the season is propitious, Various squadrons of fair nymphs Hasten: and it is permitted Gallant youths, unmarried also, As an escort to go with them.

There this evening will I lead him.

ESCARPIN.

Well, I doubt that your prescription Is the best: for fair recluses, Whose sublime pursuits, restricted To celestial things, make even The most innocent thought seem wicked, Are by no means likely persons To divert a man afflicted With this melancholy madness: Better take him into the thickest Throng of Rome, there flesh and bone G.o.ddesses he 'll find, and fitter.--

CLAUDIUS.

Ah! you speak but as the vulgar: Is it not the bliss of blisses To adore some lovely being In the ideal, in the distance, Almost as a vision?--

ESCARPIN.

Yes; 'T is delightful; I admit it, But there 's good and better: think Of the choice that once a simple Mother gave her son: she said: ”Egg or rasher, which will I give thee?”

And he said: ”The rasher, mother, But with the egg upon it, prithee”.

”Both are best”, so says the proverb.

CLAUDIUS.

Well, if tastes did n't sometimes differ, What a notable mistake Providence would have committed!

To adore thee, sweetest Cynthia, [aside Is the height of all my wishes: As it well may be, for am I Worthy, wors.h.i.+p even to give her? [Exeunt.

SCENE THE SECOND A Wood near Rome.

(Enter NISIDA and CHLORIS, the latter with a lyre).

NISIDA.