Chapter 28

LYSANDER and JUSTINA; LELIUS, within.

LYSANDER. My Justina.

JUSTINA [aside]. Woe is me! Ah, if here before Lysander* Lelius from that room comes forth!

[footnote] *Asonante in a-i to the end of Scene XVII.

LYSANDER. My misfortunes, my disasters Fly to be consoled by thee.

JUSTINA. What can be the grief, the sadness, That your face betrays so plainly?

LYSANDER. And no wonder, when the pallor Springs even from the heart. This sobbing Stops my weak words in their passage.

[LELIUS appears at the door of the apartment. LELIUS [aside]. I begin now to believe, Since he is not in this chamber, Jealousy can cause these spectres. He, the man I saw, has vanished, How I know not.

JUSTINA [aside to Lelius]. Come not forth, Lelius, here before my father.

LELIUS. Convalescent in my sickness I will wait till he is absent. [Retires.

JUSTINA. Why this weeping? why this sighing? What, sir, moves thee, what unmans thee?

LYSANDER. I am moved by a misfortune, I'm unmanned by a disaster, Greater far than tender pity Ever wept,--the dread example Cruelty has sworn to make In the innocent blood of martyrs. To the Governor of this city Decius Caesar a strict mandate Has despatched... I can speak no more.

JUSTINA [aside]. What position e'er was harder? Moved with pity for the Christians Hither comes to me Lysander The sad news to tell, not knowing Lelius to his words may hearken,-- Lelius, the Governor's son.

LYSANDER. So Justina...

JUSTINA. Sir, no farther, Since you feel it so acutely, Speak upon this painful matter.

LYSANDER. Let me, for I'll feel some solace When to thee it is imparted. In it he commands...

JUSTINA. Proceed not Further now, when you should rather Cheat your years with more repose.

LYSANDER. How? when I, to make you partner In those lively fears whose bodings Are sufficient to despatch me, Would inform you of the edict, The most cruel that the margin Of the Tiber ever saw Writ in blood to stain its waters, Do you stop me? Ah, Justina, You were wont in another manner Once to listen to me.

JUSTINA. Sir, Different were the circumstances.

LELIUS [at the door, aside]. I can hear but indistinctly Half-formed words and broken accents.

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