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 SALVINI. 
 
 THE GLADIATOR
 
 THE 
 
 CHICKERING 
 
 PIANO. 
 
 One Hundred and Twenty-eight First Medals 
 OVER ALL COMPETITION 
 
 Have been awarded for the Superiority of the 
 Chickering Piano. 
 
 
 
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 THE GLADIATOR: 
 
 A TRAGEDY IN FIVE ACTS, 
 
 v? 
 
 BY A. SATJMET, 
 AS PERFORMED BY 
 
 SIGNOR SALVINI 
 
 AND HIS AMERICAN COMPANY, 
 
 UNDER TIIK MANAGKMIvNT OF 
 
 C. A. CHIZZOLA. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 
 J. J. LITTLE & CO., PRINTERS, 
 Nos. 10 TO 20 ASTOR PLACE.
 
 DRAMATIS 
 
 
 THE GLADIATOR 
 
 ORIGEN. 
 
 FLAVIAN. 
 
 PRIEST OF JUNO. 
 
 OCTAVIUS. 
 
 LUCIUS. 
 
 A TRIBUNE. 
 
 A NEOPHYTE. 
 
 FAUSTINA. 
 
 KEODAMIA
 
 gtacK 
 A 
 
 THE GLADIATOR. 
 
 THB motive of this play is the tyranny of the wealthier and partricisn classes of 
 old Rome; the grinding oppression under which the humbler citizens lived ; licen- 
 tiousness, superstition and cruelty which characterized the whole people, and the 
 general atmosphere of hate and revenge that pervaded society. The Christiana are 
 introduced to heighten the picture, and a young Christian convert IB the victim of 
 the play. 
 
 The GLADIATOR is a slave, whose wife has been atrociously murdered by the 
 Empress mother, FAUSTINA. lie escapes with his infant daughter. The child Js lost. 
 He returns to Rome and visits OIUGEX, a Christian, who lives in the Catacombs. 
 To him he tells the history of his wrongs and announces an in tended revolt of slaves. 
 The Empress, with a guard ofLictors, comes to the Catacombs in search of NKODAMIA, 
 a beautiful girl beloved by FLAVIAN, to whom the Empress is heiself passionately 
 attached. She misses NF.ODAMIA, but meets the GLADIATOK. A recognition takes 
 place. The lost danirliter's life is bound up by an oracle with that of the young 
 Kmperor. The Empress, who has the tmitern;il devotion of a tigress to its cubs, 
 promises reward to the GLADIATOR if ho can find his child. Meanwhile she orders 
 him to accompany her to FLAVIAN'S palace, where NKODAMIA resides. She orders 
 the GLAUIATOU to murder the girl, which he refuses to do. 
 
 By FAUSTINA'S machinations the marriage of FLAVIAN and NEODAMIA is inter- 
 rupted. ORIOEX, the Christian, is arrested at the temple of Juno, and NEODAMIA, in 
 a fit of enthusiasm, proclaims her own Christianity. Both are thrown into prison, 
 and sentenced to death in the Arena. The GLADIATOR, who has been held as a run- 
 away sbive, is appointed executioner of .NKODAMIA. In the Arenp he recognizes her 
 as bis lost child. He vainly appeals to the people's mercy. FAU&TIXA, horrified at 
 her son's danger, involved in tho girl's approaching death, adjourns the games, anil 
 determines to rescue NEODAMIA, and thereby to ward off peril from her son. NEO- 
 HAM i A and the GLADIATOK are on the point of making their escape under FAUSTINA'S 
 protection, when a not takes place ; the Imperial palace is sacked, the Emperor la 
 slain, and the people, under the guidance of the fanatic Priest of Juno, burst into 
 the prison cells of the Amphitheatre. At this supreme moment, to save his daughter 
 from outrage, the GLADIATOK kills her with his own hand. 
 
 Thus the iniquities of the rulers recoil on themselves ; and the martyrdom of 
 NEODAMIA gives occasion for the conversion of her father acd Jovor, and for tb& 
 prophetic denunciation of slavery at a curse r/>; the nations, to be w iped out in the 
 t'nUuesa of time.
 
 ACT I. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 The Catacombs of Rome. A table of stone with a large open book and a 
 
 skull. 
 ORIOEN. 
 
 OKI. O, Catacombs ! O, temple ! sole asylum 
 
 Wherein can freely breathe, 
 Man, oppressed by the cruel yoke of Rome 
 That Rome which grows old in bitter 
 Strife and discord ; whose spirit, 
 That once kept whole the people, now from 
 Her worn out body dies awuy. 0, Catacombs I 
 Be your gloom redoubled, the fight 
 Begins the future of the world 
 Is concentrated in one thought, nor doubtful 
 Is the victory. Tyrants and slaves ! 
 At the great man's foot a people laden 
 With funereal clothes and chains ; 
 Groans, madness, misery ; and of three thousand 
 Gods, not a single one for the crisis ! 
 Behold thy world, O Rome 1 behold thy heaven ! 
 But our god has risen, and sheds the ray 
 Of his light upon his human family. 
 He whom the entombed spirit makes alive 
 With its breath, for our eyes can make a sun 
 And freedom for the soul. Yes I Christ 
 Our brother, Christ who was born 
 On straw, in a manger, sprung 
 From the common people but not therefore less 
 Son to the Omnipotent. In His name 
 We have fought against a century of blows. 
 The prisons are with martyrs filled, 
 The greedy axe gets blunt, in vain 
 Redoubling its strokes. Alas 1 we die 
 On all sides. O, heaven, when shall be erased 
 From the world's face the scandal, 
 " That man can be man's master?" 
 When ? Perchance now, perchance in a thousand /eara 
 The sacred tree whose genial foliage 
 
 2045341 
 
 \
 
 Soothrs every pain, will not perhapa 
 For long ages Lave spread oui 
 All its branches ; but finally in its 
 Favoring shelter shall rise matured 
 The liberty of the world. 
 
 SCENE IL 
 NEOPHYTE and ORIGEN. 
 
 NEO Borne slaves 
 
 Are seeking you, 
 
 OKI. I am their protector. 
 
 N BO. Their guide is that Gladiator, of whose 
 Victories all Rome used to talk ; 
 lie ha* not here been seen these fifteen yearn. 
 
 ORL I will move 
 
 Towards them. Wretched slaves. They shall 
 
 Ever have a brother in Origen to them 
 
 I will speak. The unknown lady 
 
 Introduce meanwhile. Some secret 
 
 To be revealed, has brought her, as she comes 
 
 Into our hiding-place, [Exit No 
 
 SCENE III. 
 Enter NEODAMIA and NEOPDTTB. 
 
 NEOD. My heart trembles. 
 
 ORL You are in grief, daughter. Wherefore? The cry 
 
 Of sorrow reaches to us, weak though we be. 
 NEOD. And do you console? 
 OKI. Our God 
 
 D<th sometimes vouchsafe his healing words by ua 
 NttOD. Oue of your sinters seeks 
 
 To throw herself at your feet. 
 ORL Well, 
 
 What uhall prevent her? 
 NEOD. Fear, 
 
 And ah, pardon, lord perhaps remorae 
 
 Al her new found joy 

 
 OKI. She is 
 
 N KOD. A Christian ! 
 
 OKI. Give me then, yourself the confession 
 
 Of that trembling soul ; and I 
 
 Will hear it. 
 NEOD. You divine, oh father, 
 
 Her request! A slave by birth, unknown 
 
 Her country or kindred, wherever she 
 
 May turn her feet, she must always have been 
 
 A stranger and an orphan, if Christ 
 
 Had not received her into His family, 
 
 Into His divine mansion. 
 OKI. Proceed. 
 
 NBOD. Until to-day, her heart was free and pure 
 
 Of other loves ; but a Roman youth, 
 
 Who yet eternally separated from her, 
 
 Appears by rank in life ; a 
 
 Proud and tender look has turned upon the face 
 
 Of that young girl. 
 ORI. (Agitated.) And how? 
 
 NEOD. (Earnestly.) All in honor, 
 
 Not in insult ; respective fully 
 
 Of her jealous dignity. Master 
 
 Of that slave, he seeks to marry her ; 
 
 But a Christian He is not. 
 
 OKI. Knows he of what faith 
 
 His slave is ? 
 
 NEOD. He alone in Rome 
 ORI. A iid she, 
 
 In her new ties, will she to our worship 
 
 Hold faithful 1 
 
 NEOD. (Eagerlg.) Always ! always 1 
 OKI. Your looks assure me of it ; 
 
 Then take her back this word 
 
 From a priest of the Lord : 
 
 She may, without any peril 
 
 Accept her good fortune. Ever a present help 
 
 Is our religion ; severe she 
 
 Sometimes may be, inexorable never. 
 
 Qod is not angry at our honest loves. 
 
 Daughter, go in peace. 
 NEOD. il>, the ineffable thought 1 
 
 Flavian, to be happy 
 
 And without sin !} [Exit
 
 SCENE IV 
 GLADIATOR and Slave* 
 
 ORI. to NEOPII. Admit the slaves. 
 
 Gl^L (Looking around.) IB this your palace? So much the 
 
 better ! 
 
 Here no pomp offends the light 
 
 Of our eyes. My friends, remain 
 
 In these sepulchral caves. My heart 
 
 Is full already of your grievances 
 
 For all 1 speak alone. By the gods I 
 
 Never have I felt so great a need 
 
 Of pouring out my wrath 1 
 ORI. Be calm I 
 
 GLA. If I lie, may the gods overwhelm me 
 
 See here these senses of mine at a mere wink, 
 
 Fly up in fla i es. So often 
 
 Have I fought the lions, that their roar 
 
 Has got into my voice. Excuse me, 
 
 Master, excuse uie. My name 
 
 May be known to you. I am N : ger ; 
 
 I was born in Thrace ; but greater and finer fax 
 
 IB my slave name ; in Rome 1 am 
 
 The Gladiator. 
 ORI. Among us you will bear 
 
 A name that I prefer to any, 
 
 And most sacred before God, 
 GLA. What is that? 
 
 ORL Brother. 
 
 GLA, The Christians call us brothers? 
 
 Then are all the Christians slaves like unT 
 ORI. No, brother ; those fettera which pride 
 
 And cruelty invented, fell to pieces 
 
 At the cry of the divine victim. 
 
 Man the slave of man ? oh, heaven, what 
 
 Monstrous compact 1 To God himself 
 
 Man ia not a slave. God, who keeps the balance 
 
 Of the world Il made, permits evil, 
 
 So that man may be free. So gloriou* 
 
 In His eyes is that great boon 
 
 Of liberty, that by it alone 
 
 Our souls draw nigh to God. 
 OI.A Ha 1 this IB talking ! Grand! 1 Hk 
 
 Thy doctrine I love it, and I feel mv breaat
 
 Expand, and all my vitals 
 
 Drink in air by torrents I Thanks, father, 
 
 For thy kindness. 1 will pay it back 
 
 Yes, yes ! brother. My return to Rome 
 
 Is not yet known ; I am not wont 
 
 To stave off danger I have staunch friendj 
 
 Just now to serve ; all have sworn 
 
 To be revenged for outrage suffered. 
 
 We will all 1 iy down our chains together, 
 
 Upon the tomb of Rome. All equals, 
 
 All oppressed, we offer our heads 
 
 To the ed>-e of the sword. You don't know 
 
 What it is, to be obliged to cut throats every day ; 
 
 What it is to swim in your own blood, 
 
 When they please to see it ; or like us, 
 
 To amuse the Arena with our dying breath. 
 
 The edict is gone forth. 
 
 OKI. I know it all. 
 
 OLA. Help us with your hate. Aid the plot 
 
 With your counsel your great name, and the ana 
 Of your Christians will be a help to us. 
 We are ready all ready. 
 
 Oni. Other arms 
 
 Are ours ; which make a surer triumph 
 To the soul. 
 
 OLA. What are they t 
 
 OKI- Prayer and supplication I 
 
 GLA. Don't know them ! To avenge our long tried 
 
 Grievances, there is not blood enough ; 
 And thou offerest tears ? 
 
 OBL As if there were need 
 
 Of blood ; you, by the brazen foot 
 Downtrodden, look upon the blood 
 Of God, which drops from the Cross. 
 
 GLA. Let Him 
 
 Fulfil our vengeance, and I will worship Him. 
 
 OKI. Brother 1 who worships this, our God, 
 
 Forgoes all vengeance. 
 
 OLA. What say you ? Our 
 Horrible torments 
 
 OR*- And what are they to men 
 
 Who look upon them with calm aspect ? 
 
 GLA. Ah ! but thou hast not understood me, pneex 
 
 I am a slave, without a home,
 
 10 
 
 A family, or country ; humbled, 
 
 Proscribed, vagabond ; my life worse than a dog^ 
 
 Tied by a chain, which in some remote 
 
 Corner can bite the groom 
 
 That lashes him, and vainly 
 
 Growling, can work off his rage. The brand 
 
 Of infamy ia stamped upon my brow, 
 
 Not on my arms or feet, but here upon the brow, 
 
 Bo that the master's mark in the eyes 
 
 Of all the world may do dishonor to 
 
 The human being all it can. Oh, what 
 
 Store of hate is hidden in this breast, 
 
 What cries, what pants for vengeance I 
 
 My fate, the Amphitheatre, and Rome 
 
 I curse eternally, and insulting, 
 
 Spurn this stepmother earth, 
 
 That brings forth chains for me ! I insult 
 
 And curse that sun, which o'er all the world 
 
 Sends forth his light, making more grievous 
 
 The air of bondage. To our gods, 
 
 Tyrants that I never see, 
 
 I offer defiance as to a fight impossible ; 
 
 I a dull athlethe ; and vainly on the air 
 
 I waste the treasuies <,t my fury. 
 
 Revenge misleads me, sweat runs down, my armc 
 
 I open wide in the fier< e desire 
 
 To crush. . . .the universe. 
 
 i. What sufferings 
 
 You must have had, that your heart gives way 
 To such a fearful wish. 
 
 Shall I tell you ? 
 
 Priest of Christ you wish to know? 
 Listen 'Tis fifteen years ago 
 Since Faustina was my mistress ; Faustina, now 
 Styled Empress. A mother 
 She was not then ; but to be mother 
 Desired in heart : whence from those 
 Who know the future, continually 
 She mqi,,red, surrounding herbelf 
 With wizards and diviners ; and to the gods 
 Made offerings fitted to appease the furies. 
 My wife about that time a fail 
 Haired Gaul she was felt the
 
 11 
 
 Trembling of her babe. Ah I would she had 
 Never told it my hopeful 
 Pledge of warm enduring lovel 
 But with envious fury Faustina burned ; 
 And on my wife she looked askance. One daj 
 Whi!e I was dreaming of a happy future, 
 There came from the palace depths a cry 
 A wailing, fearful cry too well the voice 
 To me was known I trembling run. 
 Ha ! what horror ! Upon a bed of iron, 
 Pale, naked my companion lay 
 On her right si !e. With dagger in her hand 
 A sorceress was saying, " Faustina, you 
 . " Might be a mother, but because the infernale 
 " Have the power obtained, we must have 
 "An unborn child, from its mother's 
 "W<.mb untimely taken. 
 "This child, which my art requires 
 "For its philters, part of its life 
 "To your son shall give. Fate to both, 
 " Whether they be divided or conjoined, 
 ' Will equal make their length of years." 
 I, with a groan horribly prolonged, 
 Interrupted the monster. But the wretch's 
 Dagger did not flinch ' ' What do 1 see ! a man f " 
 Faustina cried" It is her husband I Let him 
 " Stand opposite and be spectator." 
 With iron bonds so tightly drawn 
 That they drew the blood, her Nubian 
 Cutthroats bound me to a pillar, 
 Which in my struggles 
 Fell upon my head, but did not break 
 My chain ; and then I saw the crime completed 
 I eaw the victim quiver 
 Beneath the knife. There was one long 
 Mother's shriek the last. The heavens did 
 Not fall ; they did not fall, and dost thou talk of f>od ' 
 
 OTII And your child ? 
 
 ti L\. The mother was no more : 
 
 Faustina's contempt spared the father'* 
 Life. Night came, 
 And, torch in hand, I made 
 My way to the accursed palace. 
 I gave it to the flames, and from among th ruins,
 
 By hidden ways with the child, a daughter, 
 
 Afar 1 iled. I saved her 
 
 In the desert, in Egypt. I have not told 
 
 Half my sufferings ; but nothing. more 
 
 Is worth the tel.iug. .Now you know what wo &ro 
 
 You understand the mortal injuries 
 
 That men have done ine. Is it just 
 
 That I wish to exterminate them ? Is it 
 
 Not their due? 
 
 ORL Un'ess you pardon them, 
 
 Mercy is heaven-created 
 In our hearts. Olympus thundered 
 Calvary pardons. God chose 
 To die upon the cross, whence as from on high, 
 He might extend his arms to all in pity. 
 
 OLA. Pardon them ! I pardon? Madness. 
 
 OKL With just such words ever commences 
 
 The work of faith. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 NEOPHYTE and 
 NBO. It ia time to 
 
 Part. Lictors I hare seen 
 
 Who violate this gloom that now protects UB. 
 
 They penetrate the tombs. To execute 
 
 Some fatal order they are surely come. 
 
 Tht-y announce the Empress. 
 GLA. Yegoda! 
 
 Faustina? 
 OBI. Come, without fear follow me ! 
 
 Many are the secret hiding places, known 
 
 To me only. (Exeunt OH., NEO. and slane*.\ 
 
 OLA, I remain. (Hides behind a pillar.} 
 
 FAUSTINA, ALBINO, Llctor* 
 FAU. Then 'tis truth 
 
 You tell me. Tribune. My eneiuy I 
 
 My rival came ..... 
 VLB. Here.
 
 13 
 
 p AO But Christian 
 
 fs not Neodamia. Are you not mistaken T 
 A.LB. H cannot be mistaken who has given 
 
 All his mind to serve you. But by favor 
 
 Of these gloomy labyrinths 
 
 She has escaped our search. 
 
 FAU. Aud >' ou 
 
 Have not avenged me ? In your hand 
 
 My sword is placed. You cannot prevent 
 
 This marriage that offends mo. One of them 
 
 Must die. Too much, Albino, you do delay 
 
 My anger. I shall before long become 
 
 The Empire's byword. My wish 
 
 Is known to Rome. My rank, my name, 
 
 I have forgot for Flavian. I, the mother 
 
 I mother of the Caesar they make sport 
 
 Of my anger. Do not the fools perceive 
 
 In my tears, their death ? 
 
 In their insensate love they tender me 
 
 A poison draught shall I not return to then 
 
 The bitter cup ? We have hearers. 
 
 AI.B. N 
 
 FAU. 
 
 IB not that a man there ? 
 
 * , Lictors, seize him. 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 
 GLADIATOK an 
 
 3l 4 To the Empress I will mywl* 
 
 Advance. (In the depths of my heart, 
 Oh hate, keep still, until shall come 
 The auspicious moment.) I am, I 
 
 FAD. I know you. 
 
 UI,A. Faustina, guilt 
 
 Keeps memory clear. What blood 
 You needed to write my history- 
 Over my heart, my chains, 
 My whole life, it has overflowed. P 
 Are fifteen years, but still 'tis red. 
 
 FAD Slave, to heed thy anger fits me not, 
 
 Where is thy daughter*
 
 14 
 
 lii^ Whr ifl 
 
 Her mother? What hast thou done with hert 
 FAD. Away ! 
 
 Wl.at wrong was done ? The sorceresa 
 
 Commanded .- I obeyed. 
 QUA. Thou obey I Faustina ! 
 
 t-AU. Yes : it was cruel 
 
 GLA. Indeed, was it BO ! 
 
 FAO. After that day 
 
 All went ill with me. You may be glad, 
 
 However, that in my heart 1 seem 
 
 To be somewhat sorry. The oracle 
 
 Was not a liar : 1 am a mother. 
 
 In hia three lustres my boy rejoices 
 
 But his father poisoned, aud the rebellion 
 Qu\ Have as 1 am, "twaa not in vain, then, tha.1 
 
 1 cursed thee. 
 
 FAD. Enough t 
 
 OLA. Uiveu up 
 
 By men to anguish, I have yet 
 
 Some power. 
 
 FAU. What the godd give thoe 
 
 QLA. And you believe in the gods ; and ofier them 
 
 As best sacrifice. . . . 
 FAO. To-day I claim 
 
 Thy daughter. Thou art hostage for her ; 
 
 Know you under what star she is born? 
 
 Know you th;it Cifsar has out fate with her 1 
 
 That on your daughter the Gods regards are frwnt, 
 
 And sister to the Ctcsar 
 
 They assign her. 
 OLA. Brotherhood Divine ! 
 
 Cwsar lives, she lives I Meanwhile 
 
 She's lost . . .to me t 
 FAU. Lost ? 
 
 GLA. Stolen.... 
 
 FAU. She may be restored. 
 
 WLA. Daughter! My daughter I 
 
 Clasped in my anus 1 took her away, 
 
 Far away to the banks 
 
 Of Nile! and there from every human eye 
 
 Concealed I kept her. She slept 
 
 Upou my breu>t by night, and at the dawn we uent 
 
 To earn our bread. At set of sun
 
 To my biessed cavern home one day 
 
 I caine sought everywhere 
 
 It was empty she was carried away 1 
 
 Next after thee, this was my greatest grief. 
 FAU. And was there no trace ? 
 
 /LA. Long time 
 
 I held Osiris' priests suspect ; 
 
 They have the rule in Egypt ; I followed 
 
 On their tracks ; but finally, 
 
 After three lustres of vain fury, 
 
 My hands have fallen, and I now despair. 
 FAU. Thou hast not sought her well. Hear me, slave I 
 
 Dost thou not fear my wrath, 
 
 Thus putting at guilty risk the days 
 
 Of our all highest Imperator? 
 QLA. What matters 
 
 Your Imperator in my love ? 
 FAD. Be mindful. 
 
 Thou hast lost her, and find her again thou canst, 
 
 Beyond all doubt. 
 
 QUL. Oh ! if I could 1 
 
 FAD. Well, then, 
 
 Go! Recross the sea. Take what gold 
 
 Thou wilt, my lictors. and four 
 
 Of my galleys. When found, how 
 
 Wouldst thou recognize her ? 
 QUL. From the day 
 
 She first saw light, she has a mark upon her sh.mlder. 
 
 Yes, that verv blade that took the 
 
 Mother'^ life- 
 FAO. Ha t I remember 
 
 When I checked the current of her blood 
 Q LA. Thyself! 
 
 FAU. Enough, enough I Something too much 
 
 Of thy laments. In everlasting hate 
 
 We should each other abhor, were we not joined 
 
 By this tie of offspring. Thus, 
 
 I thy child restore. Thy arm, 
 
 If thou succeed shall serve Cajsar, 
 
 And thou shalt be free. 
 OLA. Free ! 
 
 FAU. And rich, 
 
 And great in Rome, or wherever else you please. 
 OLA. Then like others I shall become a man I
 
 16 
 
 PAU Thou shall have titles and property- 
 
 OLA. And slaves- - 
 
 Their bonds to loose ? 
 FAU. And now drpart 1 
 
 Go, quick ! on duty. Help 
 
 From Africa's Pro-Consul thou shalt have- 
 Temples and palaces carefully explore. 
 
 First, however, I would have thy service 
 
 For a single day. 
 
 OLA. So suddenly 
 
 FAU. I will have thee secretly into Flavian's 
 
 Mansion find an entrance. The garden 
 
 *eys 1 keep myself. Thou canst have 
 
 Trusty escort. Destiny has 
 
 Brought thee hither for this purpose ; 
 
 But let no one come upon thy traces. 
 OLA. Make use 
 
 Of my blade against him. 1 have long time sworn 
 
 Hatred and death, to every head 
 
 That rises above its fellowa. Dost thou seek 
 
 Vengeance on Flavian? 
 FAU. No ; follow me 1 
 
 9lA- 1 lollow, (Shegoetoff.) 
 
 Expecting from heaven the happy day, 
 
 When on thy own guilty head I shall have. . . .vengeance I 
 
 BIND OF ACT i,
 
 .1? 
 
 ACT II, 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 on the Tiber. Statues Plants Quests on couchs-i of bronze 
 and mother of pearl inlaid with gold and tortoise shell. A lapis la- 
 zuli table trith fruits and goblets. Soys bearing alabaster or stiver 
 jart serve the guests. 
 
 FLAVIAN, OCTAVIUS, Lucius. 
 OCT. May the gods keep thy gardens 
 
 Safe from Polar winds 1 They excel 
 
 Agenor's boasted gardens, by the shade 
 
 They give us. Bring me flowers I 
 
 How I like flowers ! Thou shouldst not quite despoil 
 
 Thy porphyry vases to-day 
 
 Deiphyra, for us. 
 FLA.. This is a solemn day ; 
 
 More so than you think. I summon you 
 
 As witnesses, my dear friends, to a marriage 
 
 That will change my life for ever. 
 Luc. Is it a jest 1 
 
 FLA. It is no jest. 
 
 OCT. What woman so rash that dares 
 
 To press thy hand ? Aglae ? Many a time 
 
 I shall join the train of her thousand lovers. 
 Luc. Stellft? In luxury will be buried 
 
 Thy every duty. 
 OCT. Really I beliere 
 
 It is that blond girl, Epicharis. 
 Luc. Thou'rt wrong ; 
 
 'Tis Julia keeps him in her service. 
 OCT. Is it true ? 
 
 The Empress ? 
 FLA. (Angrily.) No I Among my own slaves 
 
 Tnere is one whom I shall make 
 
 Free before you all. 
 
 A LL. How ? what ? 
 
 FLA. Love waits on her perfect virtue i 
 
 To her matchless beauty I have offered
 
 Given, all my heart. Free ani I only 
 
 Since that day I loved her ! Already full 
 
 Of another flame, iny soul had been subject 
 
 To iny senses. Now, not the madness 
 
 Of deceptive passion, nor yet the snares 
 
 Of joys, on which follows quick regret 
 
 Joys that are but lamps to make more black 
 
 The glooin of vice. A love more true, 
 
 A love more beautiful in glory. . . .is this 
 
 Which Noodamia first excited in my heart ; 
 
 That purest countenance, where sadness 
 
 Peeps through veiled modesty, shines for me 
 
 A star unseen by all the outer world. 
 
 The goddess Vesta has come down to make hei shrine 
 
 Within my doors. 
 
 OCT. Is he turned Nazarene ? 
 
 Luo, Not he I He is nothing but a lover. 
 
 FLA. You 
 
 Shall be my witnesses, for I will make 
 My slave my wife. Be not misers 
 Of a friend's indulgence. 
 
 OCT. Dost thou know 
 
 Her ? my friend 
 
 Loc. Not 1 1 
 
 OCT. Nor 1 1 
 
 SCENE IL 
 
 NBODAMIA and Slaves, crowned with rout. 
 FLA. Neodaiuia ! 
 
 ALL, How beautiful she is. 
 
 FLA. Draw near ; to-day the fea 
 
 Without you, would not be : thenceforth 
 
 More lasting be its joya 
 
 In your approval. 
 NEOD. My lord. 
 
 FLA. (Introducing her.) The better part 
 
 Of my not many friends. 
 OCT. Together bound 
 
 By Mcred vowi. 
 FLA Sacred indeed.
 
 Luc. As those which now are made at your feet. 
 
 O(,T With us the ties of friendship bind like oaths. 
 
 NEO. Friendship, I have heard 
 
 Binds love itself more closely ; and so I think. 
 
 To-day I am assured. 
 FLA. And Flavian 
 
 Never will deny what she says, 
 
 With such a pretty speech. 
 Luc. Truly 
 
 Happy art thou. 
 FLA. Neodamia, your 
 
 Lord would make you one request I 
 NEO. I attend. 
 
 FLA, He wishes now to see you at his feet- 
 
 Command to-morrow. Obey to-day. 
 
 (She kneels before him ) 
 
 There is not in all my Tiberine garden 
 
 A branch so sacred which can make thee 
 
 Free ; as now my noble sword 
 
 Thus makes thee free. (Tmichea her forehead with *ta#rd} 
 Rise up : 
 
 The shame of slavery is wiped away : 
 
 Henceforth be free. 
 NBO. Your hand 
 
 I bless. 
 OCT. She knelt a servant 
 
 And she rises queen. 
 FLA, Now you can 
 
 Fly from me, if so you wish : bonds 
 
 And masters are no more. 
 NEOD. Do you think 
 
 You . . .Flavian ? 
 FLA. No, indeed I lose a slave, 
 
 I find a wife. 
 Luc. Friend ! Rome 
 
 Will take exception to this wedding. 
 OCT. (Aside.) Much more, 
 
 The Empress. 
 FLA. Wherefore, all Rome 
 
 J ask as guests at my nuptials. 
 NEOD. I expect you 
 
 To-morrow at the altar. 
 FLA In J uno'e Templ T 
 
 3
 
 OCT. If our eves be kept on you 
 
 But little incense will the goddess get 
 NBOD. The incense 
 
 Of this heart other gods shall have. 
 Luc. Receive our farewell. 
 
 FLA. Friends, adieu ! (Ex. OCT. and Luc.) 
 
 NEOD. My Flavian my heart did tremble 
 
 When I named the altar. 
 FLA. My little girl I 
 
 NEOD. It sounded blasphemous. 
 FLA. What matters 
 
 The altar's name ? 
 NBOD. Oh say not so, 
 
 To-morrow I will follow thee ; another day 
 
 Thou wilt follow thy faithful friend 
 
 In the Christian's church. 
 FLA. Your pleasure 
 
 Shall be clone. 
 NEOD. Your sacred word 
 
 Origen shall see. By his binding worda 
 
 We will be worthily united. 
 FLA. Hide, 
 
 Oh hide this fearful secret, 
 
 Darling mine ! 
 
 NEOD. I have promised ; and I will 
 
 FLA. The name of Christ will else be mortal to thee ; 
 
 Thy death is mine. The hour 
 
 la near when the Emperor expecta me 
 
 For important business. 
 NEOD. To instantly return 
 FLA. I return 
 
 After a little to thy feet 
 NBOD. When Flavian 
 
 Leaves me, with him it seems that all my 
 
 Happiness takes flight. Pardon 
 
 My weakness. Adieu. t fjg. fi^ 
 
 Happy? 
 
 How happy I am. Why, then, treiubl* ? 
 
 And in my secret soul feel 
 
 Thus agitated ! 
 
 I feel 
 
 A need to be alone, with my own 
 
 Angel. Oh ! let liim spreaa ms wings 
 
 O'er my head and guard me. Oh. I wlii
 
 Read with him in this holy book. 
 
 This is the law of the Lord, the law 
 
 Of a new age. Incline, ye branches, 
 
 Make your shade more dense, ye gardens 
 
 Of my Flavian, keep peace and silence 
 
 About my footsteps. Thia ia the 
 
 Saviour's law. (Retires.} 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 FAUSTINA and GLADIATOR. 
 (During NEODAMIA'S speech, they observe her.) 
 
 PAU I am not mistaken. 1 see 
 
 With my own eyes. The girl is pretty. 
 Perhaps I thought I am not cruel. 
 
 QLA. You ? 
 
 FAU. Flavian, I would rescue from dishonor. 
 
 He is detained just now by Gordian 
 Through my device ; I have letters I wish 
 To act with mercy, that the unhappy one- 
 My feeble rival, may open her eyes 
 On her own folly. If my proofs 
 Should be in vain, here is a dagger. Strike 
 When in my eyes thou readest death. 
 
 GLA. I obey. 
 
 FAU. It is well. What innocence 
 
 She bears upon her face. 
 
 (GLADIATOR retires, but keep* within nght. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 NKODAMIA and same. 
 NEOD The Lord is here, 
 
 He has heard my prayer. 
 FAU. Girl I 
 NKOD. (Hiding roll in her garments.) 
 
 Ah, my God ! Am I ashamed of Ihee ? Excuse me, 
 
 Lady. I am Ne damia, who are you ? 
 FAU. A friend till now unknowu. 
 
 But on my soul, well am 1 known 
 
 To your husband.
 
 22 
 
 What say you 7 As yet 
 la Flavian not my husband : but will be 
 To-morrow. 
 p AC To-morrow ? To youi 
 
 Young lover I will speak, then. 
 NEOD. Oh 1 m 7 
 
 Lord call him rather. 
 p AC . This name 
 
 Forget forever ; it is a sad one 
 To remember. 
 NKOD. Of all my memories 
 
 There is not one which can humiliate me. 
 FAU. Very happy are you then. 
 
 NEOD. Oh, God ! Happy ! 
 
 FAU. Only in hearing you can I understand 
 
 So beautiful ..... Come, I love you. 
 NKOD. You love me 1 You ? 
 FAU. Yes, really ! 
 
 I know not wherefore, but the love I bear 
 To Flavian, on his beloved, 
 All falls back. (Dangerous love 
 For thy young life.) 
 
 NBOD. Beloved indeed 
 
 IB Flavian in Rome, and me who am 
 His special joy, perhaps they will love 
 For his sake. 
 
 FAU. Ah, BO. Hia special joy his 
 
 Who would be but for you? They say 
 He sets you before the noblest dame 
 In Rome; they say, but it is late 
 To repeat it ; for at your feet 
 Doubtless he has made his boast. 
 NBOD. No I lady ! And I, when such a heart 
 Is given me how could 1 care 
 F:>r that he leaves behind. 
 FAU. Oh my child, 
 
 And so you are not jealous ; I see it. 
 N KOD. I jealous 1 of him I 
 FAU. (What triumph 
 
 In that look.) Who could ever 
 With a single word have subdued that heart, 
 Rebel against love, excepting you 
 So young, and HO beautiful 1 My child, 
 Are you in your sixteenth year ?
 
 23 
 
 N EOD. In my sixteenth. 
 
 FAD. Oh, charming age ; 
 
 Ah, adorable youth ! The gods 
 Have no belter gift for a bride 
 A promised bride ! Your glorious marriage 
 Occupies my thought I speak of it 
 All day, and dream all night, fn Rome 
 They talk of nothing else ; in Rome 
 You are admired ; in Rome again 
 You are blamed and envied and pitied I 
 
 NEOD. Who should pity me ? 
 
 FAD. Yourself.' 
 
 NEOD. ' '< 
 
 FAD. Yes ; yourself ; 
 
 Should pity yourself. And I when looking 
 
 On that face serene, those lips 
 
 Of rose, those eyes, and godlike hair, 
 
 Most lovely maid much in my heart's 
 
 Depths oppresses me pity. 
 
 Flavian is fickle, and you are 
 
 So tender. Flavian may, 
 
 After incense offered, recklessly 
 
 Throw down his idol. 
 
 NEOD. This speech 
 
 FAU. In pain all inexperienced 
 
 Is your youthful heart : but admit 
 
 That all is ready for this festivity, 
 
 And weigh with me the value 
 
 Of his conquest. Flavian 
 
 I know him well. Thou knowest him not yV 
 
 Thou art his wife I will sjuide thy steps. 
 
 Before, in this way, before three days 
 
 Are past, no more, thou shall see the end 
 
 Of his constancy. Thou seest not, 
 
 Thou a weak girl, to whom but yesterday 
 
 He gave his heart, that thou canst not 
 
 Make him proud in thy passion. 
 
 NEOD Alas ! this humble passion he holds dear, 
 He is jealous of it, selecting me when 
 He might make his choice of many. 
 
 FAD. You force me you yourself. All Rome 
 
 Is well informed of his perfidious loves. 
 Read this letter, and then answer. 
 8ee, written yesterday. It is his hand.
 
 24 
 
 NEOD. Flavian 1 oh woo ! Thy sister, 
 
 Thy betrothed, thy own. 
 
 So deceived I Thou ! 
 FAD. No promise 
 
 IB held sacred in his eyes. 
 NEOD. Then am F 
 
 LOB! 
 
 FAD. No. 
 
 NEOD. Desperate! My God, 
 
 What shall 1 do? 
 FAD. Fly at all costs : it is needful 
 
 To save yourself from this shame 
 
 An/} contempt. 
 
 NEOD. Fly ! 
 
 FAU. Yes, from Rome. 
 
 Come 
 
 NEOD. Fly ! 
 
 FAD. At all cost. I am 
 
 Powerful, Neodamia, and I am your 
 
 True, loyal friend. 
 
 NEOD. Ah. you give me terror ! 
 
 FAD. My arms are open to thee. The heart 
 
 In time gets hardened against the ilia 
 
 We all must suffer. Fly from Home I 
 NEOD. Ah, Flavian ! 
 FAD. Flee from his yoke, 
 
 This air is mortal to thee. At every step 
 
 A snare may catch thee, at every step 
 
 A barrier hem thee in. And there above all 
 
 IB thy rival ? Ah, thou k no west nothing? 
 
 Thy rival 
 NEOD. Unknown to me have ever been 
 
 The ways of sin 
 TAD. Thou art a victim, 
 
 A needful victim to the pride 
 
 Oi the offended lady. It needs it must be ; 
 
 That thou give way 1 Oh, foolish girl 1 And yet 
 
 I open wide my arms again. 
 NKOD. Now pitiful, 
 
 Now threatening, you who are the safeguard 
 
 Of my innocence, you who speak 
 
 Of meroy while bringing me death 
 
 Who are you t
 
 FAD. 1 am thy fate, 
 
 Thy judge. I am at this instant 
 Thy preserver : miserable, tremble 
 When at last I turn thy Empress. 
 
 NEOD. Great Caesar's mother ? 
 
 FAD. And thy rival I 
 
 NEOD. Great Heaven ! 
 
 FAD. Now understand to what dangers 
 
 Thy head is here exposed. Understand 
 If insulted i should be by thy refusal, 
 What value in my eyes 
 Had the blood of a paltry slave 
 Of a slave who would be hunted o and fro 
 And trampled under foot : whom none 
 On earth would dare receive. The kings of the East 
 Slaughter them by thousands, and for sole cause, 
 That Heaven may send upon their eyelids 
 A quiet sleep. Once again 
 And for the last time I offer thee 
 My friendship. Fly Faustina's pity 
 Lasts but for a moment 
 Fly. 
 
 NEOD. Flavian must come. I stay 
 
 FAD. Under the roof of this unfaithful lorer 
 
 A betrayer. 
 
 NKOP. Of my Lord. 
 
 FAD To save thee 
 
 I was willing Niger thou seest 
 
 GLA. I see 1 
 
 FAD. To him I leave thee Adieu. (&>.} 
 
 NEOD. (Falling on a marble seat.) Rise. Be bmve, 
 My soul 1 But not so easily arises 
 The flower crushed and trodden under foot 
 Flavian. Flavian Jealous 
 Exceedingly is Heaven, and to punish me 
 Has chosen out my husband. Pain 
 And sorrow everywhere ; and infamy. 
 
 GliA. (After looking around stands before her,) 
 
 Now we are alone \ 
 
 NEOD. And then T 
 
 GIJL. Poor child 1 And I about 
 
 And can you forgive me now for evert 
 
 NEOD. Forgive?
 
 26 
 
 OLA. She knows not. I have orders 
 
 To slay you, but your voice. 
 
 And looks and tears, 
 NEOD. My heart 
 
 Has no more tears : take my blood, 
 
 That he may find me dead at his return. 
 
 I am so wholly wrttchod. 
 OLA. No you are not. 
 
 She who armed my hand, chose 
 
 To torture your heart before my kand 
 
 Should sluy you. I have the steel, 
 
 She the words. 
 NEOD. She lied ? 
 
 Tell me she lied. 
 
 GLA. Ah, how she makes me suffer J 
 
 NEOD. You will not kill me now ; oh, kill me not ! 
 
 I do not wish to die. I ask your mercy ; 
 
 At your feet. 
 OLA. No to my heart that beats, 
 
 Arise 
 
 NtiOD. But that letter? 
 
 QUA. Long ago 
 
 Twaa written Long ago 
 NEOD. Then he 
 
 Ix>ves me still ? 
 OLA. He loves thee ; this steel 
 
 That hung over thy head is the proof. 
 NEOD. Ah, my delight. 
 QLA. Poor little one. 
 
 NEOD. Flavian is true. Why then do you 
 
 Pity me ? 
 OLA. Thy rival, 
 
 Cruel, great and powerful, 
 
 la in anger ; Flavian loved her once, 
 
 And from her blows to save thy head, 
 
 We need a Uod. 
 
 NBOD. My own God. 
 
 OLA. Thin Empress frightens me ; 
 
 1 am afrai.i of her. 1 too am a slave. 
 NEOD Your bonds shall be broken, and 
 
 Flavian shall do it. 
 ULA. My bonds 
 
 Are precious in my eyes become. By crime 
 
 1 could liave broken them ; let them atuy,
 
 Hublimest badge of honor on my anna. 
 Flavian oh, imprudent ! close 
 Your eyes in danger. His glorious 
 Alliance, alone can be our si i k 
 And buckler. Let us return 
 Within his palace. 
 
 NEOD May heaven protect you. 
 
 ULA. Meanwhile the Gladiator ia your protecveff. 
 
 Kara ow
 
 ACT nr. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Temple of Juno. Statues of Jupiter and Juno. 
 GLADIATOR and FLAVIAN. 
 
 FLA. Faustina gave you this weapon that in 
 
 Neodamia's bosom you should plunge it 
 
 OLA, She gave it me. 
 
 Amid the marriage preparations, a 
 Secret dagger was prepared for that poop child. 
 I bring down on my head all Faustina's angej , 
 But think not of me 1 my heart, my hand, 
 Are at your disposal. 
 
 FLA. My Neodamia 1 In the 
 
 Imminent peril, I resigned at onc 
 All dignities with which the cmpeiv* 
 Had invested me. Our marriage la hastened 
 By a day, and secrecy shall protect the rite, 
 Faustina will not dare 
 Profane these walls. The priests 
 Of Juno have meanwhile the charge 
 Of my affianced, and are well informed 
 Of my design. 
 
 OLA. These sacred walls 
 
 Give no relief to my alarm. Faustina 
 
 Tou know her not as 1 do, you have not 
 
 Seen that woman's look 
 
 When flames of vengeance sweep over 
 
 Her fierce soul Open your eyee 
 
 And keep them upon your bri ' 
 
 In the hour of dangei. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 A TRIBUNE, Lictors and same. 
 
 \Vhat do jo 
 Require, Tribune?
 
 29 
 
 TRI. A Thracian slave. 
 
 GT.A. Here I am. 
 
 TRI. In Rome a spectacle is preparing 
 
 For to-morrow, and you are expected 
 
 In our amphitheatre. 
 GLA Good. To-morrow 
 
 I will come, Tribune art thou content T 
 TRI. Not at all. 
 
 GLA. NoT 
 
 TRI. Thou must follow now 
 
 FLA. His security 
 
 I will be. 
 
 TRI. Excuse me. 
 
 FLA. What hast thou to fear 7 
 
 TRI. My orders are precise, I may not 
 
 Disobey them. 
 
 GLA. To-morrow 
 
 TRI. The prayer is vain. 
 
 From the Roman people's pleasures these fifteen ye*, 
 
 Flight has withdrawn you. 
 GLA. My flight 
 
 Was all legitimate. By a crime 
 
 Faustina broke my bonds. 
 
 TRI. It is of no use. 
 
 FLA. Obey. 
 
 TRI. Follow me 
 
 GLA. In this temple 
 
 There is a right of asylum. 
 TRI. How ? 
 
 GLA. I will not come ! 
 
 At the foot of Jove I wait you, and defy you I 
 TRL Right of asylum the temple even of Jove 
 
 Has not for slaves. 
 
 FLA. This is the law. 
 
 GLA. Oh, Jove ! oh, king of gods 1 for the unhappy 
 
 Hast thou then no altar 1 They persecute me 
 
 Even on thy threshold ! Before the Goda 
 
 IB equality denied are not mortals 
 
 All one family ? O, Jove ! O, Jove I 
 
 By their offences men accuse 
 
 Thy divinity. To misfortune 
 
 Even prayer is denied. In heaven, as on 
 
 Earth, I proscribed am. My chain? 
 
 Divide me even from thee. Infamous laws I
 
 30 
 
 My chains which rather coffin 
 
 To hring me near to thee. (Strike* the rtatv* } 
 
 God who art 
 
 Already near to falling, god of stone, 
 
 Who canst not hear, crush me if you 
 
 Cannot defend me, make me free 
 
 With death 1 
 
 p RI The circus waits. 
 
 QLA> Let's go. Adieu. Better the lion and tiger 
 
 Than such a divinity. (Eaxt.) 
 
 Put. The first essay is this 
 
 Of the strife that wicked woman wages. 
 
 I know Faustina's love I The weapon 
 
 In the slave's hand ? and now she punish^ him 
 
 For his noble refusal. The slave 
 
 Shall be free, I swear it. 'Tifl she, 'tie sh*. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 FAUSTINA. 
 
 FAU. Answsr Flavian. In your own hands 
 
 Do you hold the issue of your fate. 
 Whence comes it that you dare lay down 
 Your titles and your offices, despoil yourself 
 Of all your dignity, without asking from me 
 Or from my son, permission? 
 I speak not now of my past gifts, 
 Nor of honors at which Rome has stood amazed. 
 In Qordian's name you are now commanded 
 By his mother, that without delay, you 
 Do assume the honors and the power, 
 As Proconsul of Gaul. Besides, and herein I yield 
 To reasons of state, it is the firm wish 
 Of the entire Senate I still hesitate- 
 They wish that from the illustrious names ot ftom 
 I choose myself a husband, and that the weight 
 Of government, too heavy for my son, 
 Be divided in two parts. Now this election, 
 You see it well, is no light task. 
 A Imsbnnd for me, whose help the Emperor 
 Invokes^ must be great, illustrious and 
 By Romans honored. My son 
 A0 a sacred trust I place
 
 31 
 
 In his hands : and in hie virtue 
 Lies our every future hope, 
 lour advice, O Flavian, I await : 
 Speak! I command you. 
 
 FLA. What ! you ask 
 
 Advice from mo ? You '( I feel the valua 
 Of this distinguished honor. 
 
 FAU. At what preferment . 
 
 Can Flavian be surprised? And this 
 IB not the greatest, if he bear in mind 
 Our kindness and his own glory. 
 It is not the greatest, if he do not forget 
 The ties, the solemn ties, 
 
 That bind him to the throne. Immense imprudence 
 Might it be in him, to throw aside the burthen 
 Of such duty. On the loftiest heights 
 Of greatness, we take but one step backward 
 And fall into an abyss. Now speak : 
 Say what to-day inspires in you the love 
 Of Rome. 
 
 FLA, A double Emperor would be 
 
 The ruin of the Empire. 
 
 FAU. Does Flavian fully 
 
 Understand my wishes ? Does he not 
 
 Does he not make error in the advice requested T 
 Looked he BO high that he could read the name 
 I destine to protect the Empire. 
 
 FLA. The sovereign power should be retained 
 
 By Caesar only. 
 
 FAD. Are the obstacles such 
 
 That they are insuperable ''. A refusal 
 With smiles of derision ? How cornea 
 The Empress in this temple? Why comes 
 She to insult the majesty of the Immortals 
 With her bold brow ? Hear. By this 
 Love my shame, on the throne 
 Of the Caesars, in this love 
 Thou mayst reign. 
 
 FLA. Lord of my allegiance 
 
 I hold your eon. 
 
 FAU. If thou hast listened to yonder slave, 
 
 Dost thou not tremble ? By what I dared 
 To punish a rival, judge what I can do 
 To succeed. The pomp and ceremony
 
 32 
 
 Thou hast come here to arrange for her, 
 
 Knowst th u by what torches I could illunyne 11 1 
 
 Knowet thou not that this altar whither thy 
 
 Offence drags her may change to an altar 
 
 Of sacrifice ? And that the gods propitiete.1 
 
 For this marriage, may call for blood, 
 
 If I make them speak ? I know vour fame, 
 
 I know how dear your name is held 
 
 Among the Praetorians, and I know 
 
 The power that gives you victory. Ruined 
 
 Thou mayst drag me down in thy fall. 
 
 The lightning I bring down may burn 
 
 Up myself, I know it : but my fall 
 
 Would be ruin 
 
 Of the empire. First of all, my rival 
 
 Shall descend to the tomb. For one instant 
 
 I shall triumph. Shatter a whole empire 
 
 For a slave ! I To thee I bend 
 
 From the height of the throne. Throw 
 
 Away a crown for her I Forget your 
 
 Vows to me, until that hour 
 
 When, opening your eyes, you recognize 
 
 The awful consequences. Thou hast 
 
 Worked thy own ruin, and it is complete 
 
 This very day. Wailing and sorrow 
 
 For the wedlock done in Rome. 
 
 Monster go Ol thy rage the results 
 I will not await For the first time 
 I have this day felt fear for her. We will fly 
 Into eille To our lore 
 
 Gallia shall be the safe asyl urn. Who come* 7 
 (Wedding procetrion.) 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 NEODAMIA, PRIEST of JUHO. 
 Neodam'.-- < 
 
 Before immortal ties 
 Unite two lovinjf hearts in one destiny, 
 Let ua invoke the gods who are protectors.
 
 Of hymen great Juno and Jove 
 
 Tutelars, with those from whom eternal 
 
 Rome derives her name. Before the sacred statue* 
 
 Let the holy fire ^jfroise without,} 
 
 What profane 
 Uproar disturbs the asylum of the Gods. 
 
 FLA. Heaven 
 
 PRIEST. The populace in riot d\ 
 
 FLA. Faustina ! 
 
 NTOD. Flavian 
 
 SCENE V. 
 A TRIBUNE. 
 
 priest 
 
 Our deities are insulted : before these 
 Very buildings, a vile Nazarene x 
 Blasphemes. 
 
 A Christian ! A Christian ! 
 Tnra. He curses our feasts. My 
 
 Lictors have him, and bring him to 
 Your hands. 
 PRIEST. Hie brutal madness 
 
 I will confound, Tribune. 
 FLA. Finish instantly 
 
 The rites commenced. 
 
 PBIKST - Your marriage 
 
 Can I bless on outraged altars 
 Whence Jove still unavenged k s down? 
 When with impious words the Nazaren* 
 TKEB. Let him sacrifice or die 
 
 O my belored, 
 Let ua retire. 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 OKIGEN in chains, crowd. 
 
 * Great priest 
 
 We transfer to thy avenging God 
 This sacrilegious Christian. 
 
 NEOD. Origen I 
 
 FLA. Let us go ! 
 
 NBOD. U remain, my Flavian.
 
 34 
 
 PRIEST. They charge 
 
 That to-day you hare dared to threaten 
 With your looks this temple. Is it true T 
 
 OBI. Would 
 
 The walla fall if I looked at them T 
 
 PRIEST. Pride 
 
 Inspires these sacrilegious words. 
 
 ORL Pride is a virtue with thy creed. 
 
 PRIEST. Bee there they bow ; do thou too bow 
 The head. 
 
 ORI. Under the sword it is ready. 
 
 PRIKST. Down in the dust and worship. 
 
 ORI. Ah! of dust 
 
 Indeed thy gods are made I do not worship ! 
 
 PRIBST. Dost thou presume thus far in madness 
 
 Which 10 the vulgar seems austerity, to make Jigb> 
 Of earth, the benefice of tbe gods. 
 
 OBI. This obpcene fraternity of gods, 
 
 Fills your vast temples with people 
 
 That destroy each other ; profaned 
 
 With unlawful incense, your Olympus 
 
 Has already crumbled under the enormous mass 
 
 Of crime that oppresses this earth. 
 
 PRIEST. If it could crumble, on the head 
 
 Of your god it would crumble. Beneath the foci 
 Mine shall crush him The day begins, 
 When thy Christians shall be swept away. 
 
 NBOD. Oh Heaven. 
 
 FLAT. (Atide.) Be silent. 
 
 OBI. The greatest gain 
 
 For UH is death. Our bodies 
 Burn, our bones disperse and to your 
 Executioner give rest, 
 With all your array of Moas. For 
 As after a day of fatigue the sense 
 Gives way to sleep ; when it is time to die 
 The Christian ia ready in a moment. 
 At Thebes, in Asia, in the desert, here 
 In the dungeon, everywhere the palm 
 Of death puts forth its flowers : wherever 
 The seed of martyrdom falls, 
 It roota, and though death strike us 
 It raises up the world. Every Cbrieiian 
 In this glorious race pant*
 
 PRIEST. 
 NBOD 
 
 OBI. 
 
 TRIB. 
 
 PRIEST. 
 
 NEOD. 
 
 FLA. 
 
 Tui. 
 
 OBI. 
 
 ORL 
 
 PBIEST 
 
 FLA. 
 NBOD. 
 
 FLA. 
 
 I'RIBBT. 
 FLA. 
 
 Fervidly, and borrowing help 
 
 From death, he runs to victor j 
 
 Let him be dragged 
 
 Stop The funeral palm* 
 
 'Which are made read; for him. IM <*~m 
 
 Also for his brethren. The scauda: 
 
 Of a bliss without a risk 
 
 They ask not : and for the crown \am><, **t 
 
 They lift their heads. 
 
 Oh godfl I 
 
 What syt th ' 
 
 And makest thou common cause wuh bin / 
 Oh lady, why defend him ? 
 I am a Christian. 
 Neodamia ! 
 
 Oh, fearful crime ! 
 
 Oh, glorious fjkiUi 
 It IB well I recognize you. 
 
 I defend her ! 
 
 To free her from thy calumny 
 My love surrounds her. 
 
 If thou lov'st her 
 Truly, Roman, leave her 
 Her crown. 
 
 Thy crown 
 la death. 
 
 What hast thou done 1 
 My duty. 
 Take thy place at my side. 
 
 Oh, rash one. 
 At thy side I see an angel. 
 Oh, deluded girl I 
 
 Sacred 
 
 IB the Roman citizen's family : 
 She is my wife. 
 
 Incomplete 
 Was this odious marriage. 
 
 To the altar* 
 
 Of onr deities, before you, did she not 
 By nerself ? eveu as I came here 
 Thio aay 10 thie temple 1 
 
 Most true, 
 She did BO come.
 
 36 
 
 FLA. 
 
 NBOD. 
 
 FLA. 
 
 PRIKBT. 
 
 FLA. 
 
 NKOD. 
 
 FLA. 
 
 DC 
 
 To some hor. 
 
 It is the fore 
 
 FLA. 
 
 PRIEST. 
 ORL 
 
 FLA. 
 NBOD. 
 FLA. 
 NKOD. 
 
 PRIEST. 
 ORL 
 
 PRIMT. 
 
 FLA. 
 
 PRIEST. 
 
 FLA. 
 
 NBOD 
 
 FLA. 
 
 t hear T 
 Flavian I 
 She is prey 
 3, evil influence, ' 
 ipellfl. 
 
 He says the iruux. 
 mee to the goo* 
 
 maiden 
 Be free. 
 
 Thou wilt not quit 
 My bosom to embrace death : 
 Thou lo~ *** 
 
 Flavian 
 
 ijove me O potent 
 
 Cry. How sublime love makes the soul I 
 A word from thy lips, one only, 
 Conquers them all. Ah 1 pronounce it, dear, 
 Pronounce it. Let our marriage be complete 
 Sacrifice for me, only for me. 
 
 Great God, 
 What ecatacy I 
 
 Of love ! There is the altar 
 Of our marriage come, I guide thy heart. 
 Come, my hand leads thee. 
 
 She advances, 
 
 Drawn to the altar by her beloved spouse. 
 Her heavenly spouse, to the glorious altar 
 Of martyrdom calls her ! 
 
 Come, oh come 1 
 
 1 love thee where am I ? 
 
 Before the altar. 
 Before the altar ! oh horror ! I extinguish 
 
 (Overturns the incente tripod.} 
 The incense ; I will meet thee in Heaven, 
 
 Sacrilege. 
 
 Death and the drcua for 'he Christian* I 
 
 The circus when the martyr falls 
 
 Is the road to Heaven. Let her follow me. 
 
 Lictonj .'- 
 
 Thy fury 
 
 The circus awaits them. 
 Without arms? Over my body then 
 Adieu, 
 Never! never!
 
 37 
 
 PBIEBT. Separate them. 
 
 FLA Monster ! 
 
 NEOP I! ;loat a husband. 
 9m. God will restore Ue 
 
 f kiL redeemed m Heaven.
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 7*j AmpMlJuntre. The Imperial Balcony. The Priest** plow. 
 FAUSTINA, the PRIEST OF JUNO, GLADIATOK, TRIBUNE. PKOPUB. 
 TRIB. The priest is about to apeak. 
 FAU. There is no doubt 
 
 Of my revenge. 
 TRIB. Into the arena 
 
 The daring Christian will be brought. 
 
 Flavian is arrested. 
 F AU . I would have it so 
 
 I believe in the gods of Rome. They understand 
 
 My wishes. (Enter Gladiator.) 
 
 QT.A, Let the lions loose 
 
 We shall find each other of one mind. 
 
 They are what they seem let them 
 
 Gome on. So great an arena, 
 
 Romans, pleases the gladiator. 
 
 One can fall here stretched at full length. 
 
 You have been witness 01 my glory 
 
 And my wounds. My body 
 
 Has taken its twenty bites, passing 
 
 From tiger to tiger. And now I bring to you again, 
 
 After long labors, oh my dear Romans, 
 
 Whatever flesh their ferocious teeth 
 
 Have left upon my bones. These fifteen years 
 
 My naLure has not changed : they can 
 
 Find on my arms their old 
 
 Accustomed food. Let them come, I wait them, 
 
 And shal; be again triumphant. . . . .Because I wiah 
 
 To live again, once more to see my child. 
 PRIMT. Heaven commands, and in its name 1 speak. 
 
 The daring Christians have violated 
 
 Juno's temple. The gods are wroth. 
 
 From star to star a cloud of displeasure 
 
 Veils Olympus : and upon us now impends 
 
 A tempest of misfortune. In vain 
 
 The bodies of the sacrifice are openeo., 
 
 Or smoking entrails studied
 
 39 
 
 With a fearfu? -ook. Juno is deaf 
 
 To the appeal of her priests, and answers not. 
 
 Her profaned altars to the care 
 
 Of Nemesis are left, until the offence 
 
 Be atoned by Christian blood. The pines 
 
 Are placed under the shadow of celestial auspices 
 
 To the people games, and sacrifices to the Gods 
 
 Are given. Between them and Christ. O Romans, 
 
 Kages a mortal strife. Wherefore we immolate 
 
 A Christian now, and thereby propitiate late. 
 
 Let the gladiator strike, and with that biood. 
 
 The favor of the Gods, now 
 
 By impiety turned aside, 
 
 Will fall again on earth. 
 
 PEOPLE. Death 
 
 To the Nazarenea ! 
 
 GLA. iiomans, I shall obey. The head 
 
 I bow to the decree of the Immortals. Thej 
 Are insulted by the audacious Christian crowd. 
 The slave's hand shall avenge 
 The holy gods, and I will punish 
 
 The great rebel crime. Still 1 must say, 
 
 I like to fight with lions, and would 
 Much prefer it. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 NEODAMTA is brought on by slaves. The GLADIATOR seiect.fi ai an 
 NEOD. To thee, O Lord, 
 
 Thy handmaid brings a docile heart. 
 
 This soil is fruitful when it is watered 
 
 With our blood, and may these last battles 
 
 Cause new germs of faith to spring for every looker on. 
 GLA. A woman's voice This calls 
 
 For all my courage Ready I was 
 
 indeed for different work. 
 
 What! Neodamiaf 
 
 Te gods I And by my hands I Art tbou 
 
 Truly Christian T 
 
 NFOD. 1 am a martyr. 
 
 OLA. And Flavian 7
 
 In prison. Now lake 
 
 My life, and God will take my pool. 
 GLA. Romans, once before I ref ustxl 
 
 To slay this maiden ...Faustin* 
 
 Knows it well. 
 PRIEST. The people are tired 
 
 Of delay. 
 GLA When we wish to speak 
 
 The people will listen. Thtir grace 1 M 
 
 I know her ; she is not a Christian. 
 NEOD. I am. 
 GLA. My voice drowns thine I 
 
 Spare this victim, and lor her 
 
 Offer up the executioner. 
 PRIBST. Let each 
 
 Keep his position. 
 NKOD. Mine is best 
 
 Of all. 
 GLA. For ten, for twenty years 
 
 In your amphitheatre and against all 
 
 Comers, one against all, I swear 
 
 To fight, against all every day 
 
 You only save her save her. 
 FAU. What, means 
 
 This lengthy talk ? 
 GLA. By the Gods 1 
 
 I call upon you, Romans, answer. 
 TRIB. In the Circus 
 
 She most fall 
 t AU. Give her to the Lions 
 
 If the slave persists. 
 GLA. Noll shall not give 
 
 Such joy to Faustina. Come child, 
 
 Come to death. 
 NBOD. To life. 
 
 '<LA. Bow down I 
 
 The blow will be more sure. 
 
 NKOD. (Kneeling.) O Lord, 
 
 Deign to accept me, and tram 1113- boson 
 Take every t nought that is not divine. 
 
 QLA. This cuts me to the soul. Come now, 
 
 Courage my hand I must remove 
 This veil. (Touclwt /ter necK.,
 
 NEOD Is there not room 
 
 For thy sword t 
 
 Qi^- No ; I shall hurt thee 
 
 Too much. 
 
 NEOD. Pity. 
 
 QLA - I must uncover your shoulders, 
 
 Excuse mo. (Removes the vett.) Oh Heaven , 
 
 FA ^- 8 1 10 is beautiful ; even 
 
 The slave is struck by her. 
 
 GLA. Here, here is a scar- 
 
 It is from a weapon, O gods I 
 
 NEOD. Death, death. 
 
 GLA. How willing she is Where did you get that 
 
 Dagger cut on your back 
 
 (She makes sign of ignorant^.] 
 Tour father's name, 
 
 His name? 
 
 NHOD - I never knew it. 
 
 GLA. Never? 
 NEOD. No I was a slave in Egypt ; 
 
 1 have no kindred. 
 
 QLA- regod,yegods! 
 
 PRIEST. Strike, strike. 
 
 GLA - I strike her My own daughter 
 
 NEOD. I. 
 
 FAU. Hig daughter ? 
 
 GLA - Mine my daughter Open O earth I 
 
 Must I kill my daughter ? O Heavens 
 
 Fall on me 
 
 NEOD. My father 1 
 
 GLA - Daughter Stolen 
 
 From my love ; felicity I have so 
 
 Craved , lost a hundred times 
 
 I have claimed you from these mutilated gods. 
 
 In palaces destroyed., in tn o:ist 
 
 Of temples burned , m/ten unwTn.e^ 
 
 From thy mother's womb ; and that the 
 
 Father's knife her own father My treasure ! 
 
 Oh I people, ye would not have this 
 
 Horrid crime completed This is my daughter ! 
 PniEST. A slave has no children. 
 QL * Hal It is too much I 
 
 I am armed with that eternal right 
 
 W^hich thou denies! , 1 belong to you 'tis true : 
 
 Sly flesh belongs to your tigers.
 
 42 
 
 That is true uui the red Lot iron 
 In your lictors' band, has eaten 
 Into my face, it has not burned my 
 I am her father. 
 
 PEOPLE. No ! no ! 
 
 QL^ Is there no father 
 
 Here among ye ? Daughter, perhaps 
 They would hear thee Ask pardon 
 With thy own sweet voice. 
 
 NEOD. Heaven! 
 
 OLA. Silence ! bo still ! Pity, pardon, Romans ! 
 
 The gods make you ever greater 
 Stronger and more happy They are of marble. 
 Now Faustina thou knowest what fate 
 IB bound in hers Tliou hast a son. 
 
 FAO. (Rises.) Silence I 
 
 (Fatal Oracle And thus I miss 
 My vengeance My rival My son.) 
 Tour indulgence Romans. This wretched 
 Slave passes his own daughter under 
 The fatal steel, and every mother 
 Joins me in asking grace. 
 
 PRIEST. In vain. 
 
 PEOPLE. No 1 no ! 
 
 TRIB. Ton must yield to the tempest. 
 
 FAU. Faustina yield ? 
 
 PRIEST. The sovereign people 
 
 In the Circus reigns sole. New and unexpected 
 Faustina is thy clemency ; and against her 
 Thou hast thyself inflamed me only this day. 
 She is devoted to the gods. 
 
 QLA. No Brave people 
 
 Triumphant people Your gods 
 Require not my daughter's blood. 
 This sentence in your mouths come* 
 From the Infernals ; it is unjust, murderous, 
 Frightful Hear ye ! Once in tb*s 
 Arena, sprang roaring 
 From the dens a !ion <>n Androcles , 
 Androcles had saved th s very lion' rle 
 In the desert. The ion 
 Knew him, and licked his feet, 
 aiid yon did what T You save<l them both
 
 Weeping with pity sla . a and lion ; 
 
 Both were pardoned now more cruel 
 
 Would you be again-t a daughter and a father ! 
 NEOD. There is no more hope I 
 FAU. Call the Lictorsl 
 
 PniK8T. To stop this death, is the same 
 
 As to overthrow our altars, crime for which 
 
 This woman ought to fall. Still, while punishing 
 
 Her sacrilege, we may yet accordance 
 
 Make between the rights of heaven and of nature. 
 
 She is thy daughter ? Thus, then, Rome gives 
 
 Thee leave to go, and by another hand 
 
 She shall be offered up. 
 FAU. Ye gods ! 
 
 TKIB. Faustina 1 
 
 PEOPLE. Let her die I 
 NKOD. Hast thou not heard ? On all sides 
 
 They will have me slain. 
 GLA. Come down into the arena I 
 
 Come down and strike her. Do yon want 
 
 My blood ? Take it. To carry her off 
 
 Let your gladiators come ! 
 
 Your leopards, whose thirst 
 
 You slake with blood, to devour her ! 
 
 Let them all come over a lather's heart. 
 
 (Menace* Oit people.) 
 FAU. People, just victim to your anger 
 
 Is this woman ; but one day's grace 
 
 I will that she shall have. Lictora, 
 
 Take her back to prison 
 
 To-morrow she shall die! 
 PRIEST. Thy word is passed, 
 
 Bethink thee on the gods I 
 FAU. I do. 
 
 PuiEST. Faustina, bethink the' 
 
 Of the Roman people. 
 FAU. (Aside.) (The coming night 
 
 Will favr>r my intent !) 
 
 GLA, My daughter 1 
 
 FAU. People, till to-morrow ! 
 
 PEOPLE. To-morrow I 
 
 END OF ACT IV.
 
 ACT V. 
 
 SCENE L 
 
 A prixm.Oreat brorute doort.TorMigM. 
 NKODAMIA in the Martyr's Robe. 
 
 Alone 1 alone I This cruel 
 
 Kindness should not at least have 
 
 Separated child from father. This one day 
 
 Given to pity, we could have mingled 
 
 Our tears, and even have taken 
 
 Share each in others' grief. Oh, mournful 
 
 Kindness. Deceitful indulgence I 
 
 Flavian I Flavian 1 Ah, that name 
 
 Is blasphemy and makes the hair rise op I 
 
 From thee, far from tb.ee, 
 
 The Lord gives me a place ! O, Flavian 
 
 Oh, my lost love I 
 
 My friend, Heaven's 
 
 Reward in joy thou would'st have been, 
 
 Ead'st thou been turned by the spirit's breath. 
 
 Yesterday, at thy side, I walked trembling 
 
 Under the veil of Hymen, 
 
 And the heaving zone, 
 
 And had an altar ; 
 
 Such happiness seldom to the world appear*. 
 
 Tue martyr's vestments are less glorious, 
 
 But in tne change there is prepared 
 
 A heavenly crown whose light eternal 
 
 uomea from the sanctuary of the Lord 
 
 SCENE IL 
 FAUSTINA and same. 
 FAU. Come fortb I we must escape. 
 
 NEOD You heret 
 
 FAU Neodamia, 
 
 fon whom love hath made my cruelest 
 Enemy ; my rival. Hear me !
 
 45 
 
 But a few moments now remain, one hoar, 
 No more. The people murmur, 
 Full of suspicion, and demand 
 Your life. 
 
 NBO. And what tie can 
 
 Unite Caesar to me, the daughter of a si are, 
 In this clay of terror ? What matter? 
 My life or death to Qordian ? 
 
 FAU. From thy mother thou wast an untimely 
 
 Birth, and a just heaven to 
 Punish me made its decree, that for 
 My son and thee there was one fortuna, 
 And for his life and thine should be 
 The limit equal. The immortal gods themselves*. 
 Oh, blow most cruel I still fixed 
 To give me pain, threw into your arms 
 That only mortal, who held mastery 
 O'er my heart ; they have torn me to pieces, 
 Turned my heart to ashes, for now 
 I am reduced to beg-, to supplicate you, 
 On my knees ; and of all the pride, 
 The honor, the incense, wherewith the adored 
 Of Rome was girt, nothing remains 
 But these hitter tears, and the rack 
 Of these maternal terrors : now I am nothing, 
 Nothing but a mother. Ah, these words. 
 Do they not reach your heart ? 
 
 NEC. I had no mother. 
 
 FAU. Gods I Follow my steps. 
 
 NBO. No, the anger 
 
 Which armed you against her, may arm you 
 Now against me, so that J may prove unfaithful 
 To the love of my God, alone, supreme, 
 The only God I have. 
 
 FAV. And Flavian 
 
 Do you not worship ? 
 
 NEO. I love him. 
 
 FAU Well then. 
 
 NEO. I must 
 
 Die. 
 
 FAD. Horrid thought! Die! 
 
 Thou die I And my son ! It cann;* 
 Fly, Fly ! I myself have Flavian 
 Released, he is waiting
 
 46 
 
 To carry you off Iroin all the world. He 
 Desires none but thee. Slave, fonow m> 
 Hurry, come. Too well doth Faustiuti swiw 
 The value of thy flight. Tis hel 
 
 SCENE IIL 
 FLAVIAN and same 
 LA. My Neodamia I iny joy ! 
 
 KO. You here T 
 
 And did you come a^ain to see mn? 
 
 To see me thus ? 
 FLA. The people are 
 
 In revolt. Let us fly time presses 
 
 Let my love defend thee. 
 NEO Oh, tenderness! 
 
 Grievous! terrible 1 
 Put Faustina has loosed 
 
 Thy chains. 
 NiO. But I retain them. 
 
 Farewell. I remain to die. God commar ds, 
 
 And I have vowed. 
 
 PAH. Thou hast vowed! 
 
 FLA. Ah. Neodamia, 
 
 Grief misleads thee. What God is he, 
 
 If his law be such, 
 
 That it requires us to abandon 
 
 Every joy on earth T Ah, come, come! 
 NEO. Oh God I and do you conspire together 
 
 To my ruin ? 
 
 FLA. To thy safety. 
 
 FAU. He is thy husband. 
 
 Dost thou bear? Thy upouso. And Faustina 
 
 Now mnkos fast your union ; she who 
 
 Erewhile stood between and separated you, 
 
 Now binds as by an irrefragable knot. 
 
 With her powerful hand. Ah ! let this 
 
 Fateful prodigy persuade I believe not in the Deitlne 
 
 Bnt I believe in the infernal oracle. 
 NEO. My father it in prison. 
 
 FAU. He shall 
 
 Be released. 
 
 NKO. This is too much uappiaes* 
 
 God will pardon me.
 
 *w Cover thy martyr-i 
 
 Vestments with this veil. 
 NEOD. Quick, quick. 
 FLA, Now to fly who comet ? 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 TKIBUNE and same. 
 TBIB. The passage 
 
 Is closed by the crowd. They are breaking 
 
 Into the prison, their leader 
 
 The merciless priest. Do not go 
 
 Until the Lictors have dispersed thia 
 
 Maddened mob. 
 FLA. In a few instants 
 
 My arm shall disperse them. 
 FAU. For the life 
 
 Of this girl, your love is a pledge. 
 NEOD. Flavian, Flavian ! 
 FLA. Keep calm. My sword 
 
 Has never failed. 
 FAU. Close those gates 
 
 Of bronze ! 
 FLA. I return quickly : 
 
 Little fear of the sovereign people 
 
 Have our Lictors. At the clash of arms 
 
 Their power falls. (Exit Ffc. and Tnb.\ 
 
 FAU. The entrance is closed. 
 
 NEOD. He will save me ! It is not the 
 
 People's fury, 'tis God who summons me I 
 FAU. No, no! banish fear; if Flavian 
 
 Fights, it is for thee ; over all the mighty gods, 
 
 He would be victor. This moment 
 
 Thy marriage is accomplished. Be generous 1 
 
 Let my son be safe, and at every cost 
 
 Thou shalt be happy. (Crash of fatting matonry.} 
 
 NBOD. Do you hear ? 
 FA.U. A wall is falling 1 
 
 N BOD. Great heaven 1 
 
 QLA 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 The GLADIATOR springs in from the breach, 
 I am here I
 
 48 
 
 XBO. Now i can fly from death. 
 
 If I fly with thee ! 
 GIJL. Curses I 
 
 It is a short-lived joy ! From thy face 
 
 Strip off that vail. It is useless, 
 
 My daughter useless my darling child I 
 NBOD. Why? 
 
 FAU. Our flight is at hand. 
 
 GLA. What makes 
 
 It safe ? 
 
 FAD. 1 myself. 
 
 GLA. Too late ! Too late I 
 
 The prisons are forced, the Lictors' 
 
 Eagles have gone down, and 
 
 The revolt succeeds everywhere. I, myself MW 
 
 The howling torrent of the furious 
 
 Populace shrieking 
 
 For the Christian victim : the priest 
 
 With brutal fury heads them. 
 FAD. Oh, terror 1 
 
 OLA. My prison, child, is near to thine ; 
 
 The grating that permitted light 
 
 To fall upon my fetters, I tore out, 
 
 And creeping through, I fell 
 
 And found myself face to face 
 
 With a tiger; 1 fought him- this dagger 
 
 Killed him I was almost smothered 
 
 In his blood. The hole 
 
 Bi-gun in the wall by the beast't 
 
 Claws, I enlarged enough 
 
 To pass me through ; 
 
 And In this second cell I find myself. 
 
 But what's the use 1 What can I do, 
 
 Save die with thee? 
 
 FAU. And my Tribune ! 
 
 GLA. Dead, 
 
 Before me t 
 FAU. My soldiers, Lictort, 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 GLA. What good are they with the rabbi* 
 
 Roaring at the doors, and all the passages 
 
 In their power? 
 FAU. But Flavian fights : 
 
 He can defend her. Then la 
 
 My palace
 
 40 
 
 GLA. Tliy palace is ashes 
 
 FAU IToavens I 
 
 GLA. The revolt readied there I 
 
 The flames went up, I saw them. 
 FAU. t Ye gods t 
 
 And my son ! Let us run 
 GLA. Thy eyes, O, Faustina^ 
 
 Are open now ; tlie flames of thy palace 
 
 Have lighted up the prison. 
 FAU. This door ? 
 
 GLA. Is shut I 
 
 FAU. Shut 1 Oh yes 1 but this 
 
 GLA. Tigers and lions, 
 
 For thy games ! 
 
 FAU. And this? 
 
 GLA. Shut too. 
 
 FAU. Oh, vain and impotent gods ! 
 
 NEOD Ah, thou hast driven Jesus away. 
 
 GLA. Daughter, to my heart. No one hast thou who 
 
 Loves thee as I do. 
 
 NEOD Then it is time to die. 
 
 GLA. Tis the only blessing left. 
 
 Oh, daughter, mine, thy slave father's love 
 
 Is nothing worth. It is but an added blight 
 
 To thy young life. Thou art proscribed, 
 
 Not debased. 
 NEOD. Thy tetters 
 
 Make thee dearer to my love. 
 GLA. So 
 
 I love thee and thou? Happiness I never 
 
 Hoped. The one single joy 
 
 That has come to thy father since the day 
 
 Thy mother died I 
 FAU. (Furiously.) And these gates 
 
 Of bronze, oh, rage 1 Why can they not be opened 
 NEOD She is not a Christian. How she must suffer. 
 FAU. What horrid danger waits 
 
 Upon my son ? 
 GLA. Thy son, sayest thou ? 
 
 And my daughter ? Hast thou forgotten 
 
 That she is of thy family, and that both 
 
 Have one fate, one life 
 
 And one death ? What did'st thou
 
 50 
 
 Seek ? Useless wickedness, 
 
 Thy Cseaar's BOH! in a poor slave's bosom I 
 
 F AT J. How bitter 
 
 Now is the memory of that offence. 
 
 QLA, Ah! look 
 
 For an instant with a mother's eye 
 Upon my daughter young beautiful, 
 Only sixteen I 
 
 p AD . Horrible ! woe, woe I 
 
 GlA. Her martyr vesture lies heavy 
 
 On the Emperor. Vile and stained 
 
 By his mother's wickedness ; on the shoulders 
 
 Of thy son the purple will not last 
 
 Longer than thU black veil- 
 
 Caesar already I - 
 
 FAU. Mercy 1 Every word of thin* 
 
 Is as a dagger thrust 1 Mercy 1 
 
 QUA. Hast thou 
 
 Ever shown mercy 1 No 1 Cursed 
 Be Caesar and the Crown. In my rage 
 I curse that son 
 
 That thou shalt never see ; I curse 
 That son imperial, over whom 
 Weighs that solemn anathema which 
 Would be too awful for a slave ! 
 This diadem on my daughter's front 
 Would be the circlet of death. 
 
 NBOD. Nay, a crown 
 
 Of light. Oh, cease, my father, 
 To profane the holy palm prepared 
 By the Lord for me. Thy cruel words 
 Will but recoil on thee. 
 
 OLA. What import to m T 
 
 My days- 
 
 NEOD. On me they will recoil. 
 
 (Outside.) (Death !) 
 
 Qi,A, No more they call the father, 
 
 No more the athlete 8 mighty arm. Now they 
 
 Want my soul : to throw my daughter 
 
 To the ravenous tigers. Thy garments 
 
 Torn to pieces, will be Bleeped in blood ; 
 
 And ere thou shalt taste death, 
 
 Thou wilt have passed through infamy
 
 51 
 
 NEOD. Oh, God! Death- 
 
 Death first ! Thou wilt not see it 
 OLA. No.no! 
 
 I love thee too much. Thou shalt see a proof 
 Virginius did it once I My courage, 
 Perhaps, is less than his. What greater 
 Proof of love my heart is torn 
 With rage. Oh, daughter, mine, keep calm, 
 Utter no cry of horror ; let not a word 
 Of gr.ef escape, nor move an eye 
 Nor lip, lest I should hear ; ah, nothing- 
 Nothing for pity's sake, my very heart is closed, 
 
 (Cry without.) (Deata to Cwsar.) 
 FAU. , To Caesar ! 
 OLA. Faustina. 
 
 Death to Caesar ? Dost tiiou hear ? 
 *'AU. My son. 
 
 GLA. The people want him ! For once 
 
 They are just. Dost thou hear 
 And not turn pale? The oracle foreknew; 
 It is going to be fulfilled. 
 NEOD. Hide me 
 
 In thy arms, my father. 
 
 LA. My love is frightened 1 
 
 NEOD. Will they drag me thence? 
 GLA. Yes ; but not alive. Oh, excess 
 
 Of tenderness. Oh fury. Ever art thou 
 The gladiator's refuge thou only and always 
 A despairing fury. 
 NEOD, Will they come to 
 
 Disgrace thy daughter? God will not have me 
 Then in his family. Is that so, my father ? 
 GUL If God protects thee, let him take my place 
 
 And save thee. A miracle. (Kneel.) 
 
 (Cries without.) (To the lie 
 The Sacreligious.) 
 GLA. Arise! I alone 
 
 Defend thee, I alone. I cannot strike 
 Don't look at me. 
 FAUD. They come. I hear 
 
 Their footsteps. What to do ? 
 NEO. Save me, my father. 
 
 GLA. Save thee from what 1
 
 NEOD From their vengeance 
 
 This is pity. In face of dishonor 
 
 Death is not seen. 
 GLA. Then God 
 
 Leaves me judge of thy fate. 
 NEOD. Ah, my father!' 
 
 Here, thou art his image. 
 GLA. So so 
 
 I have my steel. Fear not, thou canst not 
 
 Be torn from my heart. 
 NEOD. Forgive, 
 
 Forgive him, Oh, my God 1 
 
 GLA. (Dagger in hand.) My daughter, embrace me ! 
 
 FAU. See, Bee. Is liope quite gone .'Heaven, 
 
 What dost thou ? 
 GLA. Thus killing my daughter, I prove 
 
 Myself her father. Let her be free. (Strike* her.) 
 
 FAU. Celestial gods. 
 
 NKOD I die. 
 
 FAU. Thy own daughter ? 
 
 GLA. And thine. Let the 
 
 People come, and take her. (Doort broken open.) 
 
 LAST SCENE. 
 FLAVIAN, People. 
 
 FAU. Flavian ; 
 
 Cesar, my son T 
 FLA. Dead, before 
 
 This door wounded covered with blood 1 
 FAU. Dead? 
 
 FI.A. Thy daughter ? 
 
 GLA. Dead! 
 
 Yes, by my hand ; oh, vile, infamous rabble 1 
 PEOPLK. The Gladiator! 
 
 FAU. My son ! 
 
 FLA. Neodamia I 
 
 NEOD. (Open* her eyes.) 
 
 Ah, thy hand upon my heart. Thou art 
 
 I see thee really t Reunited by 
 
 God Himself. 
 FLA. And with thee I adore Him.
 
 53 
 
 NEO. One only God thy soul (Dies.} 
 
 FLA. She is dead ye gods ! (Knedt.} 
 
 GLA. I olfer up her blood, 
 
 Her martyrdom, and my own martyrdom, to tho 
 
 Poor and naked god. And may this steel 
 
 Recall to mind what atrocious crime 
 
 Has frightened these our times ; and flashing 
 
 Lightnings in the eyes of tyrants, may it say 
 
 To the new age " Ended is the reign 
 
 Of brutal force 1 There is no slave in all the world 1* 
 
 TELE END.
 
 ROOSEVELT 
 
 Portable * Pipe * Organ. 
 
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 As the various pipes are secured in their places, the instrument 
 requires no setting up, but is at once ready for use when unpacked. 
 
 It is just what has lon<r been needed for small Churches, Chapels. 
 L<>di>vs, Sundav Schools and the Parlor. 
 
 HILBORNE L. ROOSEVELT, 
 
 IKACTI rRKROKCl n rRCH OK'( >,VNS 
 145, 147, 149 West 1 Sth Street, 
 XK\V YORK.
 
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