Pauline, I will obey, whate'er befall;
The man who loseth honour loseth all.




ACT V--FELIX. ALBIN. CLEON

FELIX.
Caught in Severus' net thy Felix see!
He hates and holds me--oh, the misery!

ALBIN.
I see a generous man, who cries, 'Forgive,
Let Pauline smile once more--let Polyeucte live!'

FELIX.
His soul thou canst not read--tho' noble heart he feigns.
The father he abhors,--the daughter he disdains!
What Polyeucte won he sought: his suit denied,
Severus sues no more,--I know his pride.
His words, his prayers, his threats for Polyeucte plead,
His _tongue_ says, 'Listen, or be lost indeed!'
Unskilled the fowler who his snare reveals:
If at the bait I snatch--my doom is sealed:
Too plain, too coarse, this web for any fly--
Shall I this spider hail in my fatuity?
His wrath is wrath arranged, his generous fire is nursed,
That I, at Decius' hand, may meet the doom accurst,
If I should pardon grant--that grace my crime would be,