Cease, cease; for now I see
What has led to this adventure:
Thou unhappily art gifted
With a genius ill-directed;
For I count as vain and foolish
All the lore that lettered leisure
Has in human books e'er written;
But this passion has possessed thee,
And to learn their magic rites
Here, a willing slave, has led thee.
Chrysanthus.
No, not magic was the knowledge
I came here to learn—far better—
The high mysteries of a faith
Which I reverence, while I dread them.
Polemius.
Cease, oh! cease once more, nor let
Such vile treason find expression
On thy lips. What! thou to praise them!
Aurelius (within).
Yonder wait the two together.
Polemius.
Cover up thy face once more,
That the soldiers, when they enter,
May not know thee, may not know
How my honour is affected
By this act, until I try
Means more powerful to preserve it.
Chrysanthus (aside).
God, whom until now I knew not,
Grant Thy favour, deign to help me:
Grant through suffering and through sorrow
I may come to know Thee better.
(Enter Aurelius and Soldiers.)
Aurelius.
Though we searched the whole of the mountain,
Not one more have we arrested.
Polemius.
Take this prisoner here to Rome,
And be sure that you remember
All of you my strict commands,
That no hand shall dare divest him
Of his veil:— [Chrysanthus is led out.