[LUCIA screams and rushes toward HELIOGABALUS supplicatingly, but SIMON drops on his knees in ecstasy. It gradually appears that he welcomes death—that he craves martyrdom]
SIMON
[His eyes rolling] O Lord, I thank Thee! To die in Thy name! Lord, I thank Thee for this boon!
HELIOGABALUS
[Astonished] What!
LUCIA
I am to blame, not he. Let me—
SIMON
[Still happy] O Lord, I thank Thee for this boon—this martyrdom! I thank Thee!