Most pure. Is he my lord alone in name?
O, by my blind and swift obedience paid
To thy command--be thy hard words unsaid!
I gave thee all a daughter had to give,
Grant, father, this one prayer--Let Polyeucte live!
By thy stern power, which now I only fear,
Make thou that power benignant, honoured, dear!
Thou gav'st that gift unsought,--that gift restore!
I claim it at the giver's hand once more!

FELIX.
Importunate! Although my heart is soft,
It is not wax,--and these entreaties oft
Repeated waste thy breath, and vex mine ear,
For man is deaf to what he will not hear.
_I am the master!_ This let all men know,
And if thou force that note thou'lt find 'tis so.
Prepare to see thy cursed Christian fool,
Do thou caress when I have scourged the mule,--
Go! vex no more a loving father's ear,
From Polyeucte's self win what thou hold'st so dear.

PAUL.
In pity!----

FELIX.
Leave me, leave me here alone!--
Say more--my goaded heart will turn to stone;
Vex me no more--I will not be denied!
Go, save thy madman from his suicide!