Which I would know--and straightway had thy blame!

STRAT.
Ah! I foresaw not this--their deed of shame!

PAUL.
Ere dull despair o'ermaster all my fears,
Oh, let me gauge the worth of woman's tears!
For, if the daughter lose, the wife may gain,--
Or Felix may relent, if Polyeucte mock my pain;
If both are adamant unto my prayer,
Then--then alone--take counsel from despair!
How passed the temple sacrifice? Hide naught, my friend, tell all!

STRAT.
The horror and the sacrilege must I, perforce, recall?
To say the words, to think the thoughts, seems blasphemy and shame;
Yet will I tell their infamy,--their deed without a name.
To silence hushed, the people knelt, and turned them to the East;
Then impious Polyeucte and his friend mock sacrifice and priest.
They every holy name invoked jeer with unbridled tongue,
To laughter vile the incense rose--'tis thus our hymn was sung;
Both loud and deep the murmurs rang, and Felix' face grew pale,
Then Polyeucte mad defiance hurls, while all the people quail.
'Vain are your gods of wood and stone!' his voice was stern
and high--
'Vain every rite, prayer, sacrifice' so ran his blasphemy.
'Your Jupiter is parricide, adulterer, demon, knave,
'He cannot listen to your cry, not his to bless or save.
'One God--Jehovah--rules alone, supreme o'er earth and heaven,