Ah! let me breathe, some respite give from trouble,
Those fears, half-dead, thou dost revive, redouble!

STRAT.
What dost thou dread?

PAUL.
Heaven--hell--earth--empty air!
All, all is food for dread to my despair,
As thou unveil'st, begirt in lurid light,
The pallid ghost that slew me in the night!

STRAT.
Severus he by name, yet noble in his heart!

PAUL.
Ah, Polyeucte bathed in blood! Depart! depart!

STRAT.
For Polyeucte's welfare did Severus pray!

PAUL.
Yes, yes, his heart is great; be that my stay!
Yet, tho' his truth, his faith, well-proved be,
Most baleful is his presence here to me;
Yea, tho' he would all ill for me undo
Yet he hath power, he loves--he came to woo.

(Enter Polyeucte and Nearchus.)