Max. Bid them both appear.
Enter St Catherine, Valerius, Apollonius, and Guards.
See where she comes, with that high air and mein, Which marks, in bonds, the greatness of a queen. What pity 'tis!—but I no charms must see In her, who to our gods is enemy.—— Fair foe of heaven, whence comes this haughty pride, [To her.
Or, is it frenzy does your mind misguide To scorn our worship, and new gods to find?
S. Cath. Nor pride, nor frenzy, but a settled mind, Enlightened from above, my way does mark.
Max. Though heaven be clear, the way to it is dark.
S. Cath. But where our reason with our faith does go, We're both above enlightened, and below. But reason with your fond religion fights, For many gods are many infinites: This to the first philosophers was known, Who, under various names, adored but one; Though your vain poets, after, did mistake, Who every attribute a god did make; And so obscene their ceremonies be, As good men loath, and Cato blushed to see.
Max. War is my province!—Priest, why stand you mute? You gain by heaven, and, therefore, should dispute.
Apol. In all religions, as in ours, there are Some solid truths, and some things popular. The popular in pleasing fables lie; The truths, in precepts of morality. And these to human life are of that use, That no religion can such rules produce.
S. Cath. Then let the whole dispute concluded be Betwixt these rules, and christianity.