PAUL. I will not, for I love!--and love is blind. Before his kingly eye my soul to unveil Were shame and failure: and I will not fail: _I will not_ see him! FELIX. One word more--'Obey!' Wouldst thou thy father and his weal betray? PAUL. I yield! Come woe!--come shame!--come every ill! My father thou!--and I thy daughter still! FELIX. I know thee pure. PAUL. And pure I will remain, But, crushed and bruised, the flower no guilt shall stain. I fear the combat that I may not fly, Hard-won the fight, and dear the victory. Here, love, my curse! Here, dearest friend, my foe! Yet will I arm me! Father, I would go To steel my heart--all weapons to embrace! FELIX. I too will go, the conqueror's march to grace! Restore thy strength, ere yet it be too late, And know that in thy hands thou hold'st our fate! PAUL. Go, broken heart, to probe thy wound; cut deep and do not spare! Herself--the crowning sacrifice--the victim shall prepare! ACT II--SEVERUS. FABIAN SEV. Let Felix bow to Jove and incense pour, I seek a dearer shrine, for I adore Nor Jove, nor Mars, nor Fortune--but Pauline. This fruit now ripening late my hand would glean: You know, my friend, the god who wings my way, You know the only goddess I obey: What reck the gods on high our sacrifice and prayer? An earthly worship mine, sole refuge from despair! FABIAN. Ah! You may see her---- SEV. Blessed be thy tongue! O magic word, that turns my grief to song! Yet, if she now forget each fair, fond vow? She loved me once,--but does she love me now? On that sweet face shall I but trouble see Who hope for love undimmed, for ecstasy? Great Decius gives her hand, but if her heart Be mine no more--than let vain hope depart! This mandate binds her father only; she Shall give no captive hand--her heart is free: No promise wrung, no king's command be mine to claim, Her love the boon I crave; all else an empty name! FABIAN. Yes,--you may--see her--_see_ her--this you may-- SEV. Thy speech is halting--odious thy delay! She loves no more? I grope! O give me light! FABIAN. O see her not, for painful were the sight! In Rome each matron's kind! In Rome all maids are fair! Let lips meet other lips--seek for caresses there! No stately Claudia will refuse--no Julia proud disdain; A hero captures every heart, from Antioch to Spain!