Plays

more of the faith which you persecute, and to consecrate my daughters to Christ. Hadrian Tell me their names. Sapientia The eldest is called Faith, the second Hope, the youngest Charity. Hadrian And how old are they? Sapientia What do you say, children? Shall I puzzle his dull brain with some problems in arithmetic? Faith Do, mother. It will give us joy to hear you. Sapientia As you wish to know the ages of my children, O Emperor, Charity has lived a diminished evenly even number of years; Hope a number also diminished, but evenly uneven; and Faith an augmented number, unevenly even. Hadrian Your answer leaves me in ignorance. Sapientia That is not surprising, since not one number, but many, come under this definition. Hadrian Explain more clearly, otherwise how can I follow you? Sapientia Charity has now completed two olympiads, Hope two lustres, and Faith three olympiads. Hadrian I am curious to know why the number “8,” which is two olympiads, and the number “10,” which is two lustres, are called “diminished”; also why the number “12,” which is made up of three olympiads, is said to be “augmented.” Sapientia Every number is said to be “diminished” the parts of which when added together give a sum which is less than the number of which they are parts. Such a number is 8. For the half of 8 is 4, the quarter of 8 is 2, and the eighth of 8 is 1; and these added together give 7. It is the same with 10. Its half is 5, its fifth part 2, its tenth part 1, and these added together give 8. On the other hand, a number is said to be “augmented” when its parts added together exceed it. Such, for instance, is 12. Its half is 6, its third 4, its fourth 3, its sixth 2, its twelfth 1, and the sum of these figures 16. And in accordance with the principle which decrees that between all excesses shall rule the exquisite proportion of the mean, that number is called “perfect” the sum of the parts of which is equal to its whole. Such a number is 6, whose parts⁠—a third, a half, and a sixth⁠—added together, come to 6. For the same reason 28, 496, and 8000 are called “perfect.” Hadrian And what of the other numbers? Sapientia They are all either augmented or diminished. Hadrian And that “evenly even” number of which you spoke? Sapientia That is one which can be divided into two equal parts, and these parts again into two equal parts, and so on in succession until we come to indivisible unity: 8 and 16 and all numbers obtained by doubling them are examples. Hadrian Continue. We have not heard yet of the “evenly uneven” number. Sapientia One which can be divided by two, but the parts of which after that are indivisible: 10 is such a number, and all others obtained by doubling odd numbers. They differ from the “evenly even” numbers because in them only the minor term can be divided, whereas in the “evenly even” the major term is also capable of division. In the first type, too, all the parts are evenly even in name and in quantity, whereas in the second type when the division is even the quotient is uneven, and vice versa. Hadrian I am not familiar with these terms, and divisors and quotients alike mean nothing to me.10 Sapientia When numbers of any magnitude are set down in order, the first set down is called the “minor term” and the last the “major.” When, in making a division, we say by how many the number is to be divided, we give the “divisor,” but when we enumerate how many there are in each of the parts we set forth the “quotient.” Hadrian And the “unevenly even” numbers? Sapientia They, like the “evenly even,” can be halved, not only once, but sometimes twice, thrice, and even four times, but not down to indivisible unity. Hadrian Little did I think that a simple question as to the age of these children could give rise to such an intricate and unprofitable dissertation. Sapientia It would be unprofitable if it did not lead us to appreciate the wisdom of our Creator, and the wonderous knowledge of the Author of the world, Who in the beginning created the world out of nothing, and set everything in number, measure, and weight, and then, in time and the age of man, formulated a science which reveals fresh wonders the more we study it. Hadrian I had my reasons for enduring your lecture with patience. I hope to persuade you to submit. Sapientia To what? Hadrian To worshipping the gods. Sapientia That we can never do. Hadrian Take warning. If you are obstinate, you will be put to the torture. Sapientia It is in your power to kill the body, but you will not succeed in harming the soul. Antiochus The day has passed, and the night is falling. This is no time to argue. Supper is ready. Hadrian Let these women be taken to the prison near our palace, and give them three days to reflect. Antiochus Soldiers, see that these women are well guarded and given no chance of escape.

Scene IV

Sapientia	Oh, my dearest ones! My beloved children! Do not let this narrow prison sadden you. Do not be frightened by the threat of sufferings to come.
Faith	Our weak bodies may dread the torture, but our souls look forward with joy to the reward.
Sapientia	You are only children, but your understanding is ripe and strong. It will triumph over your tender years.
Hope	You must help us with your prayers. Then we shall conquer.
Sapientia	This I pray without ceasing, this I implore⁠—that you may stand firm in the faith which I instilled into you while you were infants at my breast.
Charity	Can we forget what we learned there? Never.
Sapientia	I gave you milk. I nourished and cherished you, that I might wed you to a heavenly bridegroom, not to an earthly one. I trusted that for your dear sakes I might be deemed worthy of