Part 8 (1/2)

(Enter Polemius.)

POLEMIUS.

What has happened?

AURELIUS.

Oh! a wonder.-- We Carpophorus arrested, And with him this other Christian; Both we held here bound and fettered, When from out our hands he vanished.

POLEMIUS.

By some sorcery 't was effected, For those Christians use enchantments, And then miracles pretend them.

A SOLDIER.

See, a crowd of them there flying To the mountains.

POLEMIUS.

Intercept them, And secure the rabble rout; This one I shall guard myself here:-- [Exeunt Aurelius and soldiers.

Miserable wretch! who art thou?

Thus that I may know thee better, Judging from thy face thy crimes, I unveil thee. Gracious heaven!

My own son!

CHRYSANTHUS.

Oh! heavens! my father!

POLEMIUS.

Thou with Christians here detected?

Thou here in their caverns hidden?

Thou a prisoner? Wherefore, wherefore, O immense and mighty Jove, Are thy angry bolts suspended?

CHRYSANTHUS.

'T was to solve a certain doubt Which some books of thine presented, That I sought Carpophorus, That I wandered to these deserts, And . . .

POLEMIUS.

Cease, cease; for now I see What has led to this adventure: Thou unhappily art gifted With a genius ill-directed; For I count as vain and foolish All the lore that lettered leisure Has in human books e'er written; But this pa.s.sion has possessed thee, And to learn their magic rites Here, a willing slave, has led thee.

CHRYSANTHUS.

No, not magic was the knowledge I came here to learn--far better-- The high mysteries of a faith Which I reverence, while I dread them.

POLEMIUS.

Cease, oh! cease once more, nor let Such vile treason find expression On thy lips. What! thou to praise them!

AURELIUS (within).

Yonder wait the two together.

POLEMIUS.

Cover up thy face once more, That the soldiers, when they enter, May not know thee, may not know How my honour is affected By this act, until I try Means more powerful to preserve it.

CHRYSANTHUS (aside).