been?
I fain would spare thee, for thy name among our own ranks high;
Thine age, thy sex, my pity move, I would not see thee die!

"If thou hast dared at foreign shrine to rashly bend the knee,
Recant thine errors, and thy guilt cancelled at once shall be."
Undaunted spoke she, "In His steps unworthy have I trod,
And spurned the idols vain of Rome for Him, the Christian's God.
I fear not death, however dread the ghastly shape he wear,
He whom I serve will give me strength thy torments all to bear."

Darker than e'en the darkest cloud became her judge's brow,
And stern the threats he thundered forth. "What dost thou dare
avow?
Retract thy words, or, by the Gods! I swear that thou shall die!"
Unmoved she met his angry frown--his fierce and flashing eye:
"Nay, I have spoken--hasten now, fulfil thy direful task,
The martyr's bright and glorious crown is the sole boon I ask."

Fierce was the struggle raging then within her judge's breast,
For she, that girl, in tones of love, he once had low addressed;
And lowly as his haughty heart at earthly shrine might bow
He'd loved the being, young and bright, who stood before him now.
With iron might he'd nerved himself to say the words of fate,
To doom to death the girl he sought--but sought in vain--to hate.

Yet now, e'en in the final hour, 'spite of his creed of crime,
His ruthless heart and fierce belief, love triumphed for a time.
"Irene! girl!" he wildly prayed, "brave not Rome's fearful power!
Mad as thou art, she'll pardon thee, e'en in the eleventh hour;