Plays

anything. Antiochus Oh, what an insult⁠—to be defied by a mere doll! Charity Although I am small, my reason is big enough to put you to shame. Hadrian Take her away, Antiochus, and have her stretched on the rack and whipped. Antiochus I fear that stripes will be of no use. Hadrian Then order a furnace to be heated for three days and three nights, and let her be cast into the flames. Charity A mighty man! He cannot conquer a child of eight without calling in fire to help him! Hadrian Go, Antiochus, and see that my orders are carried out. Charity He may pretend to obey to satisfy your cruelty, but he will not be able to hurt me. Stripes will not wound my body, and the flames will not singe my hair or my garments. Hadrian We shall see. Charity Yes, we shall see.

Scene VI

Hadrian	What is wrong, Antiochus? Why have you returned, and with such a dejected air?
Antiochus	When you know the reason, you will be dejected too.
Hadrian	Come, what is it?
Antiochus	That little vixen whom you handed over to me to be tortured was first scourged in my presence, and I swear that not so much as the surface of her delicate skin was grazed. Then I had her cast into the fiery furnace which glowed scarlet with the tremendous heat.
Hadrian	Enough! Come to the point.
Antiochus	The flames belched forth, and five thousand men were burned to death.
Hadrian	And what happened to her?
Antiochus	You mean to Charity?
Hadrian	Who else?
Antiochus	She ran to and fro, playing in the fierce whirlwind of smoke and flame, and sang praises to her God. Those who watched closely said that three men dressed in white walked by her side.
Hadrian	I blush to see her again, as I have not been able to harm her.
Antiochus	She must perish by the sword like the others.
Hadrian	Let us use it then, and without delay.

Scene VII

Antiochus	Uncover that obstinate little neck, Charity, and prepare for the sword of the executioner.
Charity	This time I do not wish to resist. I am glad to obey.
Sapientia	Now, little one, now we must give thanks; now we must exult in Christ. Now I am free from anxiety, for I am certain of your triumph.
Charity	Kiss me, mother, and commend my soul to Christ.
Sapientia	May He Who quickened you in my womb receive the spirit He breathed into you!
Charity	Glory be to Thee, O Christ, Who hast called me to Thyself, and honoured me with the martyr’s crown!
Sapientia	Farewell, beloved child, farewell; and when you are united to Christ in heaven give a thought to the mother who gave you life even when the years had exhausted her strength.

Scene VIII

Sapientia	Noble matrons, gather round me, and help me bury the bodies of my children.
Matrons	We will strew herbs and spices on their little bodies, and solemnize their funeral rites with ceremony.
Sapientia	Great is the generosity and wonderful the kindness you show to me and my dead.
Matrons	We would do anything to relieve your pain.
Sapientia	I know it.
Matrons	What place have you chosen for their burial?
Sapientia	It is three miles outside the city. I hope that is not too far for you?
Matrons	By no means. We will follow their bodies to the place you have chosen.

Scene IX

Sapientia	This is the place.
Matrons	It is well chosen. The very spot to keep the relics of these blessed martyrs!
Sapientia	O Earth, I commit my precious little flowers to thy keeping! O Earth, cherish them in thy spacious bosom until they spring forth again at the resurrection more glorious and fair! O Christ, fill their souls with light, and give rest and peace to their bones!
Matrons	Amen.
Sapientia	I thank you all from my heart for the comfort you have brought me since my loss.
Matrons	Would you like us to remain here with you?
Sapientia	I thank you, no.
Matrons	Why not?
Sapientia	Because your health will suffer if you fatigue yourselves further on my account. Have you not done enough in watching with me three days. Depart in peace. Return home happy.
Matrons	Will you not come with us?
Sapientia	I cannot.
Matrons	What, then, is your plan?
Sapientia	I shall stay here in the hope that my petition will be granted, and that what I most desire will come to pass.
Matrons	What is that petition? What do you desire?
Sapientia	This only⁠—that when my prayer is ended I may die in Christ.
Matrons	Will you not let us stay to the end, then, and give you burial?
Sapientia	As you please. O Adonai Emmanuel, begotten by the Divine Creator of all things before time began, and born in time of a Virgin Mother⁠—O Thou Who in Thy dual nature remainest most wonderfully one Christ, the unity of person not being divided by the diversity of natures, nor yet the diversity of natures confounded in the unity of person⁠—to Thee let the serene angelic choir, singing in sweet harmony with the spheres, raise an exultant song! Let all created things praise Thee, because Thou Who alone with the Holy Ghost art form without matter, by the will of the Father and the cooperation of the Spirit didst deign to become man, passible like men, yet impassible like God. O Thou Who didst not shrink from tasting death and destroyed it by Thy Resurrection that none who believe in Thee should perish, but know eternal life, on Thee I call! I do not forget that Thou, perfect God yet true man, didst promise that those who for Thy sake renounced their earthly possessions would be rewarded a hundredfold and receive the gift of eternal life. Inspired by that promise, Thou seest that I have done what I could; of my own free will, and for Thy sake, I have sacrificed the children I bore. Oh, in Thy goodness do not delay the fulfillment of Thy promise, but free me swiftly from the bonds of this flesh that I may see my children and rejoice with them. Grant me the