Chapter 57

JUSTINA; CYPRIAN, insensible on the ground.

JUSTINA. What! without a word you leave me? When I come here, calm, contented, Even to die. Ah! wishing death, Am I then of death prevented?-- [She perceives CYPRIAN. But my punishment is, doubtless, Thus locked up to face the terrors Of a slow and lingering death, With the body of this wretch here Left alone, my sole companion Being a corse. O thou, re-entered Into thy original earth, Happy wert thou, if thy sentence Was passed on thee for the faith I adore!

CYPRIAN [recovering consciousness]. O proud avenger Of your gods, why wait, the thread Of my life to cut?... [He perceives JUSTINA, and rises. Heaven bless me!-- [Aside. Can I trust my eyes? Justina!

JUSTINA [aside]. Cyprian, do I see? O Heaven!

CYPRIAN [aside]. No, it is not she, my thought Fills the void air with her presence.

JUSTINA [aside]. No, it is not he, the wind Forms this phantom to divert me.

CYPRIAN. Shadow of my fantasy...

JUSTINA. Of my wish, delusive spectre...

CYPRIAN. Terror of my startled senses...

JUSTINA. Horror of my heart's dejection...

CYPRIAN. What, then, wouldst thou?

JUSTINA. What, then, wouldst thou?

CYPRIAN. I invoked thee not. What errand Has thou come on?

JUSTINA. Why thus seek me? I to thee no thought directed.

CYPRIAN. Ah! I sought thee not, Justina.

JUSTINA. Nor here at thy call I entered.

CYPRIAN. Then why here?

JUSTINA. I am a prisoner.-- Thou?

CYPRIAN. I, too, have been arrested. But, Justina, say what crime Could thy virtue have effected?

JUSTINA. It is not for any crime, It is from their deep resentment, Their abhorrence of Christ's faith, Whom I as my God confess here.

CYPRIAN. Thou dost owe Him that, Justina, For thy God was thy defender, He watched o'er thee in His goodness. Get my prayers to Him accepted.

JUSTINA. Pray with faith, and He will listen.

CYPRIAN. Then with that I will address Him. Though a fear, that's not despair, Makes me for my great sins tremble.

JUSTINA. Oh! have confidence.

CYPRIAN. My crimes are So immense.

JUSTINA. But more immense are His great mercies.

CYPRIAN. Then, will He Pardon have on me?

JUSTINA. 'Tis certain.

CYPRIAN. How, if my soul surrendered To the Demon's self, as purchase Of thy beauty?

JUSTINA. Oh, there are not Stars as many in the heavens, Sands as many on the shore, Sparks within the fire as many, Motes as many in the beam, On the winds so many feathers, As the sins He can forgive.

CYPRIAN. I believe it, and am ready Now a thousand lives to give Him.-- But I hear some people enter.

* * * * *