Plays

the bond of Christ’s love, you shall live with us in our palace, and be treated with as much honour as though you were our own son. Gallicanus What temptation is to be feared more than the lust of the eyes? Constantine None, I know. Gallicanus Then is it right that I should see her too often? As you know, I love her more than my own kin, more than my life, more than my soul! Constantine You must do what you think best. Gallicanus Thanks to our Lord Christ and to my labours, your army was never so strong as now. Give me leave, then, to transfer my service to that Emperor through Whose power I have returned victorious, and to Whom I owe any success I have won in life. Constantine To Him be praise and glory. All creatures should serve Him. Gallicanus Above all those whom He has generously helped in time of need. Constantine That is true. Gallicanus I am giving to my daughters the portion of my property which is theirs by right. Another I am devoting to the support of pilgrims. With the remainder I propose to enrich my slaves⁠—whom I have freed⁠—and to relieve the poor. Constantine You are disposing of your wealth wisely, and you will be rewarded. Gallicanus As for me, I long to go to Ostia and become the disciple of the holy man, Hilarion. In his brotherhood I hope to spend the rest of my life praising God and helping the poor. Constantine May the Divine Being to Whom all things are possible bring your plans to a happy issue! May you always do the will of Him Who lives and reigns in the Unity of the Trinity, and at last attain eternal joy! Gallicanus Amen.

Part II

Scene I

Julian	The cause of the unrest in our Empire is clear enough. These Christians enjoy too much liberty. Their claim that they obey laws made in the time of Constantine is false.
Consuls	It would be a disgrace to tolerate it.
Julian	I do not intend to tolerate it.
Consuls	Those words are worthy of you.
Julian	Soldiers, arm yourselves and strip the Christians of all they possess. Remind them of these words of their Christ: “He who does not renounce all that he possesses for my sake cannot be my disciple.”
Soldiers	We will carry out your orders instantly.

Scene II

Consuls	The soldiers have returned.
Julian	Is all well?
Soldiers	Well indeed.
Julian	Why have you returned so soon?
Soldiers	We will tell you. We had planned to seize Gallicanus’s castle and occupy it in your name. But no sooner did one of us set foot on the threshold than he was straightway stricken with leprosy or madness.
Julian	Return and force Gallicanus to quit the realm or sacrifice to the gods.

Scene III

Gallicanus

Do not waste your breath, fellows. Your advice is useless. I hold all that exists beneath the sun as nothing compared with eternal life. Banished for Christ’s sake, I shall retire to Alexandria, where I hope to win the martyr’s crown.

Scene IV

Soldiers	Gallicanus, exiled by your orders, fled to Alexandria. He was arrested in that city by the Governor, Ratianus, and has perished by the sword.
Julian	That is well.
Soldiers	But John and Paul still defy you.
Julian	What are they doing?
Soldiers	Travelling up and down the country giving away the fortune Constance left them.
Julian	Bring them before me.
Soldiers	They are here.

Scene V

Julian	John and Paul, from the cradle you have been attached to the Emperor’s household. You served my predecessor.
John	That is so.
Julian	Then what could be more fitting than that you should serve me also in this palace where you were brought up?
Paul	We will not serve you.
Julian	You refuse?
John	We have said it.
Julian	Do you deny that I am Augustus?
Paul	No, but we say you are Augustus with a difference.
Julian	How do I differ from my predecessors?
John	In your religion and your virtue.
Julian	What do you mean?
Paul	We mean that those most famous and glorious princes, Constantine, Constantius and Constance, whom we served, were very Christian rulers who were zealous in the service of God.
Julian	I know, but in this I do not choose to follow their example.
Paul	You follow worse examples. They frequented the churches and, laying their diadems on the ground, adored Jesus Christ on their knees.
Julian	And you think that I should imitate them?
John	You are not made of the same stuff.
Paul	By doing homage to the Creator they elevated the Imperial dignity⁠—yes, they transfigured it with the splendour of their virtue and their holy lives. So they deserved the success which crowned their enterprises.
Julian	As I do.
John	In a very different way, for the divine grace was with them.
Julian	Absurd! Once I too was fool enough to believe in these meaningless practices. I was a priest of your Church.
John	Do you hear, Paul? How do you like this priest?
Paul	Very well⁠—as the devil’s chaplain.
Julian	But when I found that there was nothing to be gained from it, I turned to the worship of the true Roman gods, thanks to whom I have been raised to the highest pinnacle of power.
John	You cut us short with this boast to avoid hearing the righteous praised.
Julian	What is it to me?
Paul	Nothing; but we would add something which does concern you. When the world was no longer worthy of those princes, they were summoned to the choir of angels, and this unhappy realm fell under your power.
Julian	Why unhappy?
John	Because of the character of its ruler.
Paul	Have you not renounced the true religion and adopted the superstitions of idolatry? Because of this we have shunned you and your court.
Julian	You show yourselves greatly wanting in the respect due to me, yet I am ready to pardon your presumption and raise you to the highest office in my palace.
John	You waste your breath, apostate! We shall yield neither to blandishments nor threats.
Julian	I will give you ten days’ grace, in the hope that you will come to