The Two Lovers of Heaven: Chrysanthus and Daria Part 22

Bear Chrysanthus now away To a tower of darksome gloom Which shall be his living tomb.

CHRYSANTHUS.

That I hear with scant dismay, Since the memory of this day With me there will ever dwell.

Fair Daria, fare thee well, And since now thou knowest who Died for love of thee, renew The sweet vow that in the dell Once thou gav'st me, Him to love After death who so loved thee.

POLEMIUS.

Take him hence.

DARIA.

Ah! suddenly Light descendeth from above Which my darkness doth remove.

Now thy shadowed truth I see, Now the Christian's faith profess.

Let thy b.l.o.o.d.y lictors press Round me, racking every limb, Let me only die with him, Since I openly confess That the G.o.ds are false whom we Long have wors.h.i.+pped, that I trust Christ alone--the True--the Just-- The One G.o.d, whose power I see, And who died for love of me.

POLEMIUS.

Take her too, since she in this Boasts how dark, how blind she is.

DARIA.

Oh! command that I should dwell With Chrysanthus in his cell.

In our hearts we long are mated, And ere now had celebrated Our espousals fond and true, If the One same G.o.d we knew.

CHRYSANTHUS.

This sole bliss alone I waited To die happy.

POLEMIUS.

How my heart Is with wrath and rage possest!-- Hold thy hand, present it not, For I would not have thy lot By the least indulgence blest; Nor do thou, if thy wild brain Such a desperate course maintain, Hope to have her as thy bride-- Trophy of our G.o.ds denied:-- Separate them.

CHRYSANTHUS.

O the pain!

DARIA.

O the woe! unhappy me!

POLEMIUS.

Take them hence, and let them be (Since my justice now at least Makes amends for mercy past) Punished so effectually That their wishes, their desires, What each wanteth or requires, Shall be thwarted or denied, That between opposing fires They for ever shall be tried:-- Since Chrysanthus' former mood Only wished the solitude Whence such sorrows have arisen, Take him to the public prison, And be sure in fire and food That he shall not be preferred To the meanest culprit there.

Naked, abject, let him fare As the lowest of the herd: There, while chains his body gird, Let him grovel and so die:-- For Daria, too, hard by Is another public place, Shameful home of worse disgrace, Where imprisoned let her lie: If, relying on the powers Of her beauty, her vain pride Dreamed of being my son's bride, Never shall she see that hour.

Soon shall fade her virgin flower, Soon be lost her nymph-like grace-- Roses shall desert her face, Waving gold her silken hair.

She who left Diana's care Must with Venus find her place: 'Mong vile women let her dwell, Vile, abandoned even as they.

ESCARPIN (aside).

There my love shall have full play.

O rare judge, you sentence well!

CHRYSANTHUS.

Sir, if thou must have a fell Vengeance for this act of mine, Take my life, for it is thine; But my honour do not dare To insult through one so fair.

DARIA.

Wreak thy rage, if faith divine So offends thee, upon me, Not upon my chast.i.ty:-- 'T is a virtue purer far Than the light of sun or star, And has ne'er offended thee.

POLEMIUS.

Take them hence.

CHRYSANTHUS.

Ah me, to find Words, that might affect thy mind!

Melt thy heart!

DARIA.

Ah, me, who e'er Saw a martyrdom so rare?--

POLEMIUS.

Wouldst thou then the torment fly, Thou hast only to deny Christ.

CHRYSANTHUS.

The Saviour of mankind?

This I cannot do.

DARIA.

Nor I.

POLEMIUS.

Let them instantly from this To their punishment be led.--

ESCARPIN.

Do not budge from what you said.

It is excellent as it is.

CHRYSANTHUS.

Woe is me! but wherefore fear, O beloved betroth'ed mine?-- Trust in G.o.d, that power divine For whose sake we suffer here:-- HE will aid us and be near:--

DARIA.

In that confidence I live, For if He His life could give For my love, and me select, He His honour will protect.

CHRYSANTHUS.

These sad tears He will forgive.

Ne'er to see thee more! thus driven. . .

DARIA.

Cease, my heart like thine is riven, But again we 'll see each other, When in heaven we 'll be, my brother, The two lover saints of Heaven. (They are led out.

SCENE II.--The hall of a bordel.

Soldiers conducting Daria.

A SOLDIER.

Here Polemius bade us leave her, The great senator of Rome.[14] (exeunt.)

DARIA.