Plays

being received into the family of the Eternal King. Faith For His love we are all ready to die. Sapientia Oh, children, your words are sweeter to me than nectar! Hope When we come before the tribunal you will see what courage our love will give us. Sapientia Your mother will be crowned by your virginity and glorified by your martyrdom. Charity Let us go hand in hand to the tyrant and make him feel ashamed. Sapientia We must wait till the hour comes when we are summoned. Faith We chafe at the delay, but we must be patient.

Scene V

Hadrian	Antiochus, bring the Greek prisoners before us.
Antiochus	Step forward, Sapientia. The Emperor has asked for you and your daughters.
Sapientia	Walk with me bravely, children, and persevere with one mind in the faith. Think only of the happiness before you⁠—of the martyr’s palm.
Hope	We are ready. And He is with us for Whose love we are to be led to death.
Hadrian	The three days’ respite which of our clemency we granted you is over. If you have profited by it, obey our commands.
Sapientia	We have profited by it. It has strengthened our determination not to yield.
Antiochus	It is beneath your dignity to bandy words with this obstinate woman. Have you not had enough of her insolence and presumption?
Hadrian	Am I to send her away unpunished?
Antiochus	By no means.
Hadrian	What then?
Antiochus	Address yourself to the little girls. If they defy you, do not spare them because of their tender years, but have them put to death. That will teach their obstinate mother a lesson.
Hadrian	I will do as you advise.
Antiochus	This way you will succeed.
Hadrian	Faith, there is the venerated statue of the great Diana. Carry a libation to the holy goddess, and you will win her favour.
Faith	What a foolish man the Emperor must be to give such an order!
Hadrian	What are you muttering there? Behave yourself and do not laugh.
Faith	How can I help laughing? Such a lack of wisdom is ludicrous.
Hadrian	Whose lack of wisdom?
Faith	Why, yours!
Antiochus	You dare to speak to the Emperor so!
Faith	I speak the truth.
Antiochus	This is not to be endured!
Faith	What is it but folly to tell us to insult the Creator of the world and worship a bit of metal!
Antiochus	This girl is crazy⁠—a raving lunatic! She calls the ruler of the world a fool!
Faith	I have said it, and I am ready to repeat it. I shall not take back my words as long as I live.
Antiochus	That will not be long. You deserve to die at once for such impudence.
Faith	I wish for nothing better than death in Christ.
Hadrian	Enough of this! Let ten centurions take turns in flaying her with scourges.
Antiochus	She deserves it.
Hadrian	Most valiant centurions, approach, and wipe out the insult which has been offered us.
Antiochus	That is the way.
Hadrian	Ask her now, Antiochus, if she will yield.
Antiochus	Faith, will you now withdraw your insults to the Imperial Majesty, and promise not to repeat them?
Faith	Why now?
Antiochus	The scourging should have brought you to your senses.
Faith	These whips cannot silence me, as they do not hurt at all.
Antiochus	Cursed obstinacy! Was there ever such insolence?
Hadrian	Although her body weakens under the chastisement, her spirit is still swollen with pride.
Faith	Hadrian, you are wrong. It is not I who am weakening, but your executioners. They sweat and faint with fatigue.
Hadrian	Antiochus, tell them to cut the nipples off her breasts. The shame will cow her.
Antiochus	I care not about the means, so long as she is forced to yield.
Faith	You have wounded my pure breast, but you have not hurt me. And look! Instead of blood a stream of milk gushes from my wounds.
Hadrian	Put her on a gridiron, and let fire be placed beneath so that she may be roasted to death.
Antiochus	She deserves a terrible death for her boldness in defying you.
Faith	All you do to cause me suffering is a source of bliss to me. I am as happy on this gridiron as if it were a little boat at sea!
Hadrian	Bring a brazier full of pitch and wax, and place it on the fire. Then fling this rebellious girl into the boiling liquid.
Faith	I will leap into it joyfully of my own accord.
Hadrian	So be it.
Faith	I laugh at your threats. Look! Am I hurt? I am swimming merrily in the boiling pitch. Its fierce heat seems as cool to me as the morning dew.
Hadrian	Antiochus, what can we do with her?
Antiochus	She must not escape.
Hadrian	She shall be beheaded.
Antiochus	That seems the only way of conquering her.
Faith	Now let my soul rejoice and exult in the Lord.
Sapientia	O Christ, invincible Conqueror of Satan, give my child, Faith, endurance to the end!
Faith	Holy and dear mother, say a last farewell to your daughter. Kiss your firstborn, but do not mourn for me, for my hands are outstretched to the reward of eternity.
Sapientia	Oh, my daughter, my darling dear, I am not dismayed⁠—I am not distressed! I bid you farewell rejoicing. I kiss your mouth and eyes, weeping for joy. My only prayer is that beneath the executioner’s sword you may keep the mystery of your name inviolate.
Faith	Oh, my sisters, born of the same womb, give me the kiss of peace, and prepare yourselves for the struggle!
Hope	Help us with your prayers. Pray with all your might that we may be found worthy to follow in your footsteps.
Faith	Listen to the words of our holy mother. She has always taught us to despise the things of earth that we may gain those which are eternal.
Charity	We shall obey her in everything. We want to be worthy of eternal joy.
Faith	Come, executioner, do your duty, and put an end to my life.
Sapientia	I embrace the severed head of my dead child, and as I cover it with kisses I praise Thee, O Christ, Who hast given the victory to a little maid.
Hadrian	Hope, listen to me. Believe me, I advise you with fatherly affection.
Hope	What advice do you give