CARPOPHORUS.

'T is the basis, the foundation Of the Scripture Law.

CHRYSANTHUS.

I tremble With an unknown horror.

CARPOPHORUS.

Why?

CHRYSANTHUS.

Deeper now I would not enter Into the secrets of a book Which are magic spells, I 'm certain.

CARPOPHORUS.

No, not so, but vital truths.

CHRYSANTHUS.

How can that be, when its verses Open with this line that says (A beginning surely senseless) "In the beginning was the Word, And it was with G.o.d": and then it Adds: this Word itself was G.o.d; Then unto the Word reverting, Says explicitly that IT "Was made flesh"?

CARPOPHORUS.

A truth most certain: For this first evangelist Here to us our G.o.d presenteth In a twofold way: the first As being G.o.d, as Man the second.

CHRYSANTHUS.

G.o.d and Man combined together?

CARPOPHORUS.

Yes, in one eternal Person Are both natures joined together.

CHRYSANTHUS.

Then, for this is what more presses On my mind, can that same Word When it was made flesh, be reckoned G.o.d?

CARPOPHORUS.

Yes, G.o.d and Man is Christ Crucified for our transgressions.

CHRYSANTHUS.

Pray explain this wondrous problem.

CARPOPHORUS.

He is G.o.d, because He never Was created: He is the Word, For, besides, He was engendered By the Father, from both whom In eternal due procession Comes the Holy Ghost, three Persons, But one G.o.d, thrice mystic emblem!-- In the Catholic faith we hold In one Trinity one G.o.d dwelleth, And that in one G.o.d is also One sole Trinity, ever bless'ed, Which confounds not the three Persons, Nor the single substance severs.

One is the person of the Father, One the Son's, beloved for ever, One, the third, the Holy Ghost's.

But though three, you must remember That in the Father, and in the Son, And in the Holy Ghost . . .

CHRYSANTHUS.

Unheard of Mysteries these!

CARPOPHORUS.

There 's but one G.o.d, Equal in the power exerted, Equal in the state and glory; For . . .

CHRYSANTHUS.

I listen, but I tremble.

CARPOPHORUS.

The eternal Father is Limitless, even so unmeasured And eternal is the Son, And unmeasured and eternal Is the Holy Ghost; but then Three eternities are not meant here, Three immensities, no, but One, Who is limitless and eternal.

For though increate the three, They are but one Uncreated.

First the Father was not made, Or created, or engendered; Then engendered was the Son By the Father, not created; And the Spirit was not made Or created, or engendered By the Father or the Son, But proceeds from both together.

This is G.o.d's divinity Viewed as G.o.d alone, let 's enter On the human aspect.

CHRYSANTHUS.

Stay: For so strange, so unexpected Are the things you say, that I Need for their due thought some leisure.

Let me my lost breath regain, For entranced, aroused, suspended, Spell-bound your strong reasons hold me.

Is there then but one sole G.o.d In three Persons, one in essence, One in substance, one in power, One in will?

CARPOPHORUS.

My son, 't is certain.

(Enter Aurelius and Soldiers.)

AURELIUS to the Soldiers.

Yonder is the secret cavern Of Carpophorus, at its entrance See him seated with another Reading.

A SOLDIER.

Why delay? Arrest them.

AURELIUS.

Recollect Polemius bade us, When we seized them, to envelope Each one's face, that so, the Christians, Their accomplices and fellows, Should not know or recognize them.

A SOLDIER.

You 're our prisoners.

[A veil is thrown over the head of each.]

CHRYSANTHUS.

What! base wretches . . .

AURELIUS.

Gag their mouths.

CHRYSANTHUS.

But then I am . . .

AURELIUS.

Come, no words: now tie together Both their hands behind their backs.

CHRYSANTHUS.

Why I am . . .

CARPOPHORUS.

Oh! sacred heaven!

Now my wished-for day has come.

A VOICE FROM HEAVEN.

No, not yet, my faithful servant:-- I desire the constancy Of Chrysanthus may be tested:-- Heed not him, as for thyself, In this manner I preserve thee. [Carpophorus disappears.