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Saint
Eustache, Martyr
Personages
Hadrian . . . . . Emperor
Eustache . . . . Roman General
Titus . . . . . . . Younger Son of
Eustache
Flavius . . . . . Older Son of Eustache
Claudius . . . . Friend of Flavius
Cornelius . . . Favorite of the emperor
and rival of Eustache.
Metellus . . . . Friend of Eustache
To the Reader
It was not vanity that impelled me
to put in verse this religious and useful tragedy entitled Saint Eustache.
My only desire is to learn how to versify, to find out if I could be a child
of the Muses, and to be useful to my fellow men. In this drama, here and
there, you will find an inappropriate word to criticize, a verse harsh and
poorly constructed, obscure expressions needing illumination, and similar
defects characteristic of a new and inexperienced writer. Moreover, what
can I do? My limited talent, my meager numen [In
Roman mythology
an indwelling, guiding
force or spirit. -- rly]
, and my little command of the
Spanish language, for it is no my mother tongue, do not furnish me with
abundant poetic speech, or rich expressions; because, besides not being
endowed with a lively imagination, I also lack good taste and I am very
young – fourteen years going on fifteen.
Criticize my work, kind and
indulgent reader, but not the plot. It is true that the verses are mine,
the rhymes are mine, but the plot does ot belong to me. If its author,
whose name I do not know, would learn that his tragedy was put precisely in
rhymed verse, and consequently unworthy of the beautiful and appropriately
chosen plot, be kind enough to forgive me; because beauty and ugliness, when
placed side by side, will form a contrast in which the former will project
while the latter will be humbled.
I have not put in here any thought
of mine or any new idea, excepting the sixth scene of Act V, which you may
preserve if it pleases you, and if, on the contrary, it displeases you, you
are at liberty to reject it.
Patience, reader; I am nothing but
a child, and the work of a child is, in general, nothing but childish; it
has nothing good to offer. Moreover, I have seen a tragedy staged only once,
and the only one I remember having read in Prometheus, written by
Aeschylus, Greek. Pardon my boldness if, at the age of fourteen, I dare to
write and enter the enlightened as well as delicate company of poets,
orators, historians, and rhetoricians; and if you do not lay aside your just
anger, be informed that I am sufficiently punished by my ignorance.
I did not do it for presentation
to the public and so that I may not be censured, no; on the contrary I wrote
it in order to keep it for many years and so that all may correct me who
dare to do so, for I agree with Horace who says:
. . . .
. Si quid tamen olim
Scripseris, in Metii descendant judiceis
aurea,
Et patris, et nostras; nonumque
prematur in annum,
Meinbrauis intus positis.
Delere licebit
Quid non edideris:
nescit vox inissa reverti.
[01]
DEDICATION
Hail, oh, Creator of Heaven and
Earth, you my dear benefactors, sweet friends of my lost childhood, friends
of my present youth, dear relatives: Peace, welfare, and health.
To you I dedicate my insignificant
work; accept it as a token of my sincere and docile love; deplore with me my
ignorance; have pity on my limited ability. This is my first finished work,
but perhaps incomplete. I dedicate it to you, for I have nothing else to
give you, besides my affection and my heart. I hope you will not despise
it: Consider the desire of the one who dedicates it to you rather than its
value. And you, my beloved professor, Father Francisco de P. Sánchez, S.J,
receive my sincerest gratitude, certainly insufficient to compensate you for
your efforts.
And thou, Martyr of Calvary, my
gentle Redeemer accept the life of a martyr, written by thy servant for thy
greater glory.
José Rizal
Kalamba, 2 June 1876
X X X
SAINT EUSTACHE, MARTYR
(Hall in Hadrian’s Palace [02] with rooms
on one side)
ACT 1
SCENE 1
CORNELIUS AND METELLUS
CORNELIUS. The fatal day came, dismal day,
For my cruel, fierce adversaries:
To fear me it is time that they learn;
Enough of humiliations; has come
The day of vengeance, O Metellus;
Who can remove you from my hold,
From my wrath and fury? Your merry glee
Into weeping sad converted I’ll see.
Triumphant he approaches the walls:
My rival Eustache fiercely does approach;
How costly to him his victory will be;
Offences and evils in it I’ll avenge!
METELLUS. But, why do you kindle hate and discord
Prepare for him a thousand terrible snares
Of vengeance and rancor? If from the war
Victorious he comes; if gratified
The Senate is of his valor and strength,
Cornelius dear, his victory,
Shares also. Yield, my friend, give way
To his good luck and happy fate.
CORNELIUS. Of laurels which I ought to wear
He has robbed me; noble honors adorn
His proud and haughty brow; unjust
Was Trajan [03] to my valor and deaf
Is holy heaven to my demands.
Of the soldiers Eustache has the command
Because of my fearlessness and strength.
He ruined my hopes. Exalted the strong
Walls he has t penetrate. Do you
Believe I can tolerate the affront
Avenging not my fame so stained?
With Titus [03] in the wars, with Trajan
At all times I was. I rendered to them
My faithful services, pleasant and sweet.
I showed my valor, my fame increased
In these same battles. But Eustache
Preferred they in this war against
The rebel Dacians and Parthians [05, 10]:
To the Danube’s bellicose banks
The Romans I should lead and show
My talents and my bravery,
For they know my zeal many years ago.
METELLUS. With your fortune contented you should be;
To your troops and valor tribute they paid,
Oh, Cornelius, honors they offered you.
You enjoy in peace the status rich
That for your labors the king gave you.
Don’t envy him then; you’re Romans both
And for renown you both can long . . .
CORNELIUS. Do you want that triumph be not envied
When mine it should be? If noble he is,
More so am I, because I was born
A Roman; glory I’m sorry indeed to lose,
The honors and renown desired.
I ought again to seek new praise
To ruin my rival, the fiery Eustache;
Because once ruined, of the army men
Victorious general I shall be.
METELLUS. You can’t destroy him:
faithfully
He served the country;
adding
To his rewards and merits
the victory
He now wins, returning to
the Romans peace;
O tell me, can you use
your strength
To ruin him? Deceits alone
And calumny. . .
CORNELIUS. (Interrupting him) Calumny
never
Wish I to use to cruelly
harm
My enemy. But a great
offense
To eclipse his merits will
ruin him;
And turning into gloomy
night
The light of his
victories; infamous
One day he’ll appear
before the eyes
Of the people that with
honors deck his brow.
METELLUS. What, are you thinking of
finding some crime
Cruel, shameful, wicked in
his nobility
That can destroy his
fortune good?
(If
the crime of Scipio
[07] they forgive,
The Romans then being more
cruel Jove [08]
And severe than they are
now, just by
Recalling his victories;
not only from death
Was he saved, but his
fault his honor became.)
CORNELUS. I can convert into weeping sad
The glorious triumph he
enjoys;
But coming here. . .
Metellus, keep quiet,
Don’t tell them by, what
we talked about
A while ago, and if in my
plans
You help be assured of
reward for your work.
SCENE II
CLAUDIUS AND FLAVIUS
CLAUDIUS. Share ye with me the happiness,
Dear friends, for from the
war we come
Victorious.
METELLUS. Claudius, you have come?
CLAUDIUS. To thank God, I would like,
Because I see you again,
and Luck
Gave us fair proofs of her
friendliness,
By sheltering the valor of
The Romans against her
foes in wars.
CORNELIUS. Oh noble Claudius! I rejoice
O’er the triumph against
the Dacians; [09] our Rome
Does conquer alone with
her name,
By presenting her
unconquered eagles and flags.
Amongst the timid
Parthians [10] she spreads
Ignoble fear and they flee
before them.
CLAUDIUS. What do you say? The valor, do
you doubt
Of our captain the valor
of our troops?
Ask him if at the name our
foes (pointing to Flavius)
Did flee or at the valor
they showed.
FLAVIUS. To Jove and the havoc of the
sword
Of our General, is due the
victory
Of our eminent flags. I
saw, I saw,
Cornelius, in the bitter
test
Of the doubtful fights the
Romans
Turn pail with shameful
affront before
The enemies cruel.
Military
Strength, talent, and
valor did maintain
The impetuous combatant.
Exists
No mortal who could think
of how rough
And blood the fight is if
being,
Effeminate, he lives in
pretty abodes.
CORNELIUS. Hadrian believes this, and to
Eustache
Such honor he assigns to
reward
Him for the rigors,
anxieties,
And dangers of the fight.
FLAVIUS. All is due to the warlike
ability,
To the valor invincible
and strength
Of the unconquered General
who commands,
The soldiers, controls and
encourages them.
In the combat; he
destroys, strikes, and kills.
And with the left hand
clutching the lance
He makes the blood gush
forth from the breasts!
The dead and wounded are
seen everywhere!
When he is before the
enemy troops,
Over the earth no such
fiery fighter Mars [11] saw,
None greater, delightful
combatant.
Dacians and Parthians
render him obedience.
CORNELIUS. They would pay him for his
victory don’t fear.
CLAUDIUS. Do you regret perchance that
Eustache
Deserves the gift our
Hadrian would give him?
He’d give it Cornelius
even to you,
If you had come out
victorious.
CORNELIUS. I don’t regret it, Claudius:
for the gods
Refused to let me leave
for the war;
But for Eustache to be
acclaimed
Here in this city, it I
can’t stand;
I shall rather try that in
the great feast
Of the sacrifice to Jove.
Eustache
Be there and an immense
crowd of Rome,
And that he receive his
desired reward,
A compensation that his
labors deserve.
I’m going to Hadrian,
because one is illuminate
By his talent. You, to
Metellus
Accompany me, friend, if
you wish.
SCENE III
CLAUDIUS AND FLAVIUS
CLAUDIUS. At last Flavius, in our country,
we arrive,
After we have endured so
many mishaps:
A thousand anxieties
during the war we bore,
And complete peace we now
enjoy.
While from the Danube’s
dismal banks
We fought with constancy
in the wars
Against the Dacians
barbarous,
My gaze did turn back to
our homes.
At last I see you,
fortunate land!
At last with sure feet I
tread on you!
The high walls also you
contemplate (to Flavius)
Surrounding; sovereign
Rome also
You’ll contemplate the
opulence
Of the temples that altars
display
And holy sacrifice you’ll
attend,
For this so complete a
victory;
To which with your
soldiers brave you ought
To attend, their arrogance
to see.
FLAVIUS. A Roman you are and pleasantly
You live in Rome where you
find parents dear,
Motherland, friends,
servants true, and kin
Who sweetly love you with
soft tenderness.
I, Claudius, no, for
relentless fate
From my father separated
me;
Cruel vengeance pierced
the wounded breast.
At all times my heart with
intense desire
Asks Heaven to return my
father to me.
Hence followed I the
profession of arms;
In the kingdoms vast of
Europe I looked
For him and in the horrid
wars;
Because in my youth I
heard him relate
About fights, adversaries,
death, and arms….
CLAUDIUS. Oh Flavius, what a tender heart
you have,
And how exalted your soul
has been,
Who never forgot the
author dear
Of your long life and of
your days!
If your father lives,
perhaps he enjoys
Content with loving
children, sweet
And pleasant fortune!
Poor Flavius of mine,
Perhaps for your father
you look in the wars
Who has forgotten you
already, your name,
Your love, and has
forgotten perhaps
Your happy memory. Proud
time
Erases love from the
breast, as the dawn
Dissipates black shadows
with its rays!
FLAVIUS. Dear Claudius, perhaps,
mistaken you are!
My heart, as time goes,
can forget
Perchance in adversity the
one
Who gave me being,
nobility, and life?
His countenance, his
gestures, and his face
For sure I have forgotten
them;
But indelibly his love in
my soul
Is engraved! For see, oh
Claudius see;
Divine peace due to my
father’s love
Compels me to look for
him; and if
I stop, with a clear voice
it says:
“Ingrate! For the noble
father, search!
With new flame and new
ardor search.”
CLAUDIUS. Your nature sweet, oh Flavius
dear,
Was the closest tie and
holy bond
That united me to you.
That you
May find him again was
also my wish;
For noble sentiments he
must have
Like yours; but if you do
not find him,
Would you search hard for
him everywhere?
With the country you ought
to be satisfied,
Of the favor that from the
troops you get,
Of the agreeable good luck
and peace.
FLAVIUS. With my luck do you want me to
be satisfied
When I know not the fate
and paternal home?
With a thousand bitter
difficulties
Oppressed, my aged father
perhaps
Lives working, suffering
miserably!
Oh! How contented is the
dear
And gray haired father
when he finds his son;
Old age obtains his help;
in the strength
Of the noble and robust
sun and strong
Wall against misfortunes.
For his sake
I’m resolved, oh Claudius;
I will go
Across the seas; I’ll
cross everywhere
So many rivers wandering
in search
For the author of my days,
dear life.
CLAUDIUS. To find him, are you sure
perchance?
And you have hope of
embracing him?
And to his cruel fate you
will leave
Your faithful Claudius?
And you forsake
His fraternal love?
Perhaps Jove snatched
Away your father so that
you
Reposed and happy may
share my home.
Today to your faithfulness
I hoped
To show in the city my
gratitude.
And you ungrateful without
repose
You abandon Claudius, you
forsake?
And thus you’re showing me
your love?
The hope that confident I
harbored you mock?
If we compare the faithful
love
That you did show your
father; I love
You more. But, Flavius
look: Suppose
That wandering you find
him; that you he sees
And does not know your
lineage: How
Will you know that he
belongs to your race?
What marks can you give
him? Yes, in vain
You’re searching for him.
. . you’re courting ill luck…
FLAVIUS. Perhaps the gods may some day
grant
My tender prayer, my
clamor sad,
To make me happy my father
to see.
I believe impossible it is
not
What you were thinking;
for it’s all
A sigh what I told you
that from him
Infancy they took me away
On the riverbank where he
put me when
To cross the muddy waters
he tried.
When I had reached the
bank and to see
Him not being able due to
the plants
Of the neighboring
mountains, suddenly
Came furious much water
that did flood
The river everywhere, and
I could
No longer see him. Of my
mishap
Perhaps my unhappy father
thought
Either caused by hunger or
by the flood!
That I must have died; but
heaven itself
Propitious did show; for a
shepherd kind
From the water a shepherd
did take me inert
And at once to his cabin
he carried me.
There paternal and tender
shelter I found.
Already vigorous I embrace
The profession of arms; I
eagerly pursued
The Roman eagles, the
flags, in the wars
Of Ister [12] and the
Danube whence
Victorious to your land I
returned.
Here are my marks that
could affirm
The truth if in the field,
in the fights,
And in the kingdoms him I
should find…
CLAUDIUS. Hadrian [02] comes by this side…
Keep quiet.
SCENE IV
HADRIAN WITH LICTORS [13]
HADRIAN. Where is the General?
FLAVIUS. He came from the war.
HADRIAN (Addressing Claudius) To the
first room go… Tell him to come immediately.
FLAVIUS. Sir, he himself
Is coming here to pay your
respect.
HADRIAN. You’re lucky, Claudius, for you
found
A model of valor,
strength, in Eustache!
CLAUDIUS. His example is never seen
before.
With his little Titus has
he come now?
SCENE V
EUSTACHE, TITUS AND METELLUS
(When Hadrian says, “Goodbye, Estache. . .
everybody leaves except Eustache and Titus.)
HADRIAN. Oh noble conqueror of the rebels
At last I see you, again,
dear Eustache!
Those Dacians [06] who did
dare to rise
Despicably breaking the
treaty of peace,
Disturbing the Roman’s
tranquility,
Did meet a penalty severe!
Hadrian
Is just and to give the
glory knows
To the soldier who fights
for his empire,
For you knew me in
Jerusalem
When I was still young.
Through your efforts,
I expected victories and
impressive deeds;
But my expectations you
surpass.
Chiefs and centurions will
receive
My order to follow you
toward
The temple, where
sacrifices grand
To the gods you’ll offer.
If Rome and the empire
Show you their gratitude,
oh Eustache,
For our strength and
valor; but to the supreme
Jove you’ve to be grateful
for your triumph.
If the appreciation you
hear from me
Is just, a greater one you
will receive
From the Capitol before
the authority
Of the august Senate, in
my presence.
EUSTACHE. Oh Lord, I wish not to expect a
reward
For my victory against the
Dacians! [05] I ask
Only, Lord, that you be
satisfied
With my useless services
that to Rome
I performed. For your
favor I’m grateful to you.
For my valor and strength
that so much you extol
It’s enough that were
vanquished the Parthians [10] fierce
From Titus [04] and Trajan
[03] the art of war
I learned; and to your
noble throne I return,
As they taught me, warlike
are my rewards,
So many honors, so much
fame,
I believe for my services
would be too great.
But indeed the
battlefield, as gift
I accept where I’ll fight
against my foes.
I never leaned this to
refuse
From my sovereign
emperors, for I
Must do it as a good
soldier.
HADRIAN. Well, look here Eustache, I
learned from the chiefs
Who to the camp did follow
you
How your troops your
virtue did extol
And your military ardor no
less;
Neither pride nor ambition
did spoil
Your noble breast with
their deceits;
But you, the honors must
accept
With which Rome reward her
warriors.
See, Titus, how holy
Jupiter
Did give you a father
whose deeds you ought
To follow as a noble Roman
brave?
TITUS. To love him, only, Lord, I
can.
For I am still a child!
When the years
Concede me strength to be
adept I’ll try
To imitate him. . .
meantime I
Do promise loyalty to the
throne.
HADRIAN. Metellus, O and tell the priest
My royal order to execute
Immediately, and prepare
everything
Necessary for the
offerings divine.
I grant you (to Metellus)
Metellus, to rest on the way
Goodbye, Eustache… Titus…
goodbye,
I leave you…
SCENE VI
EUSTACHE AND TITUS SEATED
TITUS. Oh, what inexpressible joy!
What glee!
My heart impedes what I do
feel.
Just for you, what
pleasure great fills my soul!
EUSTACHE. Titus, I would be
Content likewise; for only
I am not!
TITUS. What are you telling me,
father? I
Believe that I’ve answered
our emperor,
If not as you wish, at
least with respect.
EUSTACHE. No, my consolation sweet, for
pleased
Was I with our boyish
reply. A thought
Exalted fills my mind,
Titus…
TITUS. My God, how I fear to have
angered you!
Oh! Punish, punish,
father, my crime,
For all I want is to
please you.
EUSTACHE. Oh listen, Titus, Forget vain
names
Of foes, of armies, of
rewards,
Of Hadrian and Rome!
Invoke Jesus Christ
And obediently follow his
precepts.
You promised obedience to
great Hadrian;
To your God you should
have done it first;
If you have a spirit
worthy of
The name of Christian. For
his empire
How many times did I
expose
My life in the past wars
with fierce
Adversaries of Rome; the
same
At certain occasions,
Titus, you must do.
Now, the Almighty calls me
to a fight
For the honor of his
name! I can’t
Make the offering to the
false Jove… Christ
Forbids to do it; and if
I protest
That I’m a Christian,
despising the false
Jove, certain death awaits
me, that I
Wish it, oh Titus, with
joy… I long
To observe fidelity to
God!
An immortal laurel He
shows me with joy
And to heaven calls me
with fatherly voice
But you, do you want to
follow me?
TITUS. Oh, father dear!
Yes, with you I wish to
die; I wish
To join you forever.
Would you want
Me to live without you in
this land gloomy, sad?
Without a father,
unfaithful to God,
No, fear aught: there’s
naught
No protection!
That frightens me even
penalties rough or death.
EUSTACHE. If they should ask you if you
adore
The supreme Jove?
TITUS. I am a Christian, I shall
say,
And that I detest the vile
Jupiter.
EUSTACHE. Yes; but Hadrian rich treasure
will give
You, thousands of rewards
bestow
On you, if you renounce
your cult
And even pretending Jove
you adore.
TITUS. I’ll renounce them, noble
father, I swear.
EUSTACHE. Oh! Perhaps you can renounce the
rewards;
But, if they threaten you
with death?
TITUS. The cruel knife will cut off
my tender neck
For martyrdom only my
Christian heart
Desires, and the Almighty
I pray
That he in his bosom
receive my soul,
And receive with you the
eternal reward.
EUSTACHE. Being far away you’re not
afraid!
But being present when a
soldier fierce
Prepares you for the rough
blow that
Will finish you, with
blind fear perhaps
You will escape from the
soldiers.
TITUS. Ah! Father, I shall not
escape,
Believe me, I will kneel
on the ground;
With my tongue I’ll say:
“O Lord, receive
My soul, for your love and
faith I die.”
EUSTACHE. Oh Titus, may Christ preserve
your heart,
Save you, protecting your
innocence!
TITUS. Did not you say that Christ
encourages
And strengthens the heart
with eternal reward
So that it can resist the
infidel?
EUSTACHE. Yes, Titus, yes; to hope in God
We ought to have valor,
strength, constancy firm!
He promised his faithful
servants to help
In their noble and
glorious martyrdom.
Weak and tender children,
women, youths,
Old men who, armed with
the power, I have known,
Did vanquish hardships and
death, with pure faith,
Like brilliant splendor
Phoebus great
The fills with fright his
enemies,
They saw them surrounded
with light divine;
Constant and mirthful
these lands they left
And to heaven they flew.
But Titus you,
Lend me your ear as you
should: the gods
To worship we cannot. But
we
Can flee, God it does not
forbid;
To another land, if you
wish, we go
Before to a danger you
expose yourself.
TITUS. But, father, why do you
always doubt
My valor? If you inspire
me, Oh God,
With this love for you, he
must be sure
Of this my love. My
father, alas,
What to say to you I don’t
know anymore,
I weep, pray, and offer my
life to God…
EUSTACHE. My son!
(To heaven) Receive our
life like tender gift,
That since childhood
gladly he offers to you.
You make me happy to soon
the reward (to Titus)
Of God you will receive;
my hopes
You fulfilled and to holy
heaven you
Will follow me! How
joyful will be
The Saints when they
should come to know
Your sacred oath of dying
first
Rather than worshipping
Jove! Less is
To enter Rome victoriously
With captives and triumphs
than go up with you
To the firmament where
Christ calls us,
Where happy and contented
we shall be!
TITUS. I hope thus, father, and
hasten He may
Our end and up to Heaven
we go.
(End of Act I)
X X X
ACT II
(The same decoration as in the first act.)
SCENE I
CORNELIUS AND METELLUS
CORNELIUS. See, oh Metellus, how the
triumph
Of Eustache was turned
into his own ruin!
He is a Christian: Hadrian
him condemns
To death. His valor,
victory itself.
I, friend, exaggerating, a
feast
Great in Rome I prepared,
where on altars rich
Sacrifices he would make
to the gods…!
METELLUS. But, your life is in danger,
don’t you believe?
CORNELIUS. For what reason?
METELLUS. Converted he may be
By offering his first
fruits, and if he succeeds
To save himself from
death, he may
Take vengeance someday on
you; he may
Change perhaps his
religion and his life
Because he can worship
Jupiter
Obeying Rome, though
feigning it.
CORNELIUS. Don’t expect him to be won to
our gods!
So hardened is my rival’s
soul;
Faith, strength, and valor
firm like all
Who follow an impious
sect.
In addition, Eustache
loves a thousand times
More religion and cult
than his life.
Don’t expect him then to
worship our gods
To follow our great
Hadrian our pretend
It, being against his
religion and law.
METELLUS. Will he condemn him to death if
he learns
He is a Christian? Hadrian
will command
Eustache to choose,
sacrifice or death.
A soldier so fierce will
never be
Subjected to such a test,
for it
Matters little that
Eustache take another faith.
CORNELIUS. Indeed it matters little to
Rome
The cares that a distinct
faith does give,
For the city now
impatiently awaits
The offering and its
essential for Hadrian
To demand it and Trajan’s
sacred laws.
It’s needed too that they
ask it from him…
By that side comes the
great Hadrian.
Keep still, now, if he
demands it. I’ll speak.
SCENE II
HADRIAN
HADRIAN. Metellus, for Titus look at the
room,
See that he comes with you
alone (Metellus goes).
At last now I understand
why Eustache
Refuses to make an
offering to Jove
And also the honor; for
although of this
I‘ve only fear, suspicion
slight,
You more than I know it;
tell me,
Cornelius, who’s the god
he reveres
And what’s his belief? Is
it true that Trajan
Forbade by decree this new
faith’s worship? [14]
CORNELIUS. Such a crime I can never
suspect of him.
To remove every suspicion
you
Can talk with him.
HADRAIAN. I wish them to call
Titus who will tell us the
truth.
May he, not guilty, escape
from the crime,
That I cannot absolve, the
gods wish!
CORNELIUS. How can you let go unpunished
such crime,
That compelled Nero [15]
to shed the blood
Of many who did follow
this sect?
HADRIAN. But that tyrant you make me
recall
Whose crimes you want me
to commit?
He killed his mother with
fury mad
And his noble teacher
Seneca, [16] the sage.
CORNELIUS. If Nero a monster had been, the
great
Vespasian was good, [17]
his memory is still
Revered, and however this
Hydra [18] with his head
Wounded, nevertheless
killed the Pope. [19]
HADRIAN. It was Saturninus [20] who
wished his death;
Vespasian did grant the
petition severe.
Titus was even more pious.
His mercy was praised and
liked by all,
And he allowed that as
regards some cults
One can adhere to what he
likes best.
CORNELIUS. If you wish, if you allow me to
talk to you
With utmost frankness and
clarity
As I should speak to you,
My Lord…
HADRIAN. (Interrupting him) Cornelius,
State your intention and
advice.
CORNELIUS. I know that Titus was really
pious,
For a long time he was at
peace with them.
You know what happened?
Many became
Disciples and brothers in
the sect,
That for the peace of
Rome, Domitian [21]
Of gloomy misery and fury
seemed
To be a child. Titus [04]
was clement,
But neither justice nor
grandeur had he.
All monarchs want to be
merciful.
It isn’t clemency to let
crimes go unpunished
To those who love
justice. The laws accuse
Them rigorously and they
cry
To heaven that their
kindness is cruelty!
If Eustache is a criminal,
the laws of Trajan
Condemn him; his worthy
successor you’re
In heaven Jupiter reigns
for you,
And you, for Jove, free
and glorious you reign
On earth! The world will
have peace, if wise laws
And only one cult of a
deity it had.
HADRIAN. Cornelius, tell me, does Jupiter
Perchance look at us from
above where he reigns?
CORNELIUS. It is a wholesome thing for
Rome
For all to believe that
Jove looks at us.
HADRIAN. But much did Eustache help the
empire!
CORNELIUS. If he’s against the gods, he
gives
No military services to
Rome!
With his example many will
be
Converted into his
Christian faith
And cult; and adding new
proof of his faith
He will hurt Rome. If the
law of Trajan
And your strong arm can
justly condemn
Him to death, don’t fear
that one would dare
Rebel against sacred gods,
and you
Will see how every one
will respect you.
SCENE III
METELLUS AND TITUS
HADRIAN. Wait in the nearby room, and Cornelius, (to Cornelius)
Come back here after awhile. (Cornelius leaves)
TITUS. My God! Comfort me with your
grace
And don’t allow me to fail
in my oath!
HADRIAN. And your father you love?
TITUS. Lord, very much.
HADRIAN. Do you know that he declined the
rich rewards
And to offer sacrifices to
Jove?
Oh tell me, why did he
deprive himself
Of the honor I did offer
him?
TITUS. Your honors he does not
refuse;
But to offer his triumphs
to the gods
He detests…
HADRIAN. What did you say?
TITUS. I don’t believe
That his victory is due to
your Jove,
For Jove can’t give him
any support.
HADRIAN. And to whom then did he owe it?
TITUS. To God the true.
HADRIAN. Is it not Jove perchance? Don’t
you see
In the temple how many
spoils of the enemy
Are placed as proofs of
his great strength?
You’re young, your scanty
knowledge perhaps
Ignores how Rome was born
and how
The Romans, always ardent
in wars
And victorious, did
subject the crowns
Of Europe, Asia, and
Africa;
And notwithstanding, being
martial,
These peoples are obedient
to the gods.
TITUS. The origin of Rome and the
wars
Of her children are not
known to me.
HADRIAN. Therefore, you also know, Titus
beloved,
Who are the Scipios and
Metellus,
The Emilius, the Caesars,
the Fabius,
The Sullus, the Calpurnius,
and Pompeys. [22]
TITUS. I know them, Lord.
HADRIAN. Undoubtedly you know very well
That they recognized
Jupiter as god,
To whom all their
victories they owe!
It’s blindness and error
of the mind!
Why did such famous
warriors err?
TITUS. I’m a child and I can’t
explain it to you.
My father, if you wish,
can expose
The blind cult of your
belief.
HADRIAN. Not by you nor by your father
wish I
To be instructed about
your religion.
I, Titus, only want
obedience.
TITUS. This always, lord, I owe the
throne.
But not in things our God
forbids.
HADRIAN. What are they?
TITUS. To worship your Jupiter…
HADRIAN. By chance, do our gods one
another envy?
TITUS. There’s only one immortal
God!
Jove, if he did exist, was
mortal.
HADRIAN. Yes, but he was made
Immortal to mortals
superior.
TITUS. And who made him? Did he
have power immense?
HADRIAN. Thus to me you speak and you
fear not my
Revenge? Don’t you think
I can cut off your head?
TITUS. Hadrian, I am prepared right
here!
From your anger I cannot
run away,
And even if I could, I
wouldn’t want to!
To your warriors I offer
my head, and you
Yourself, oh great
Hadrian, if you wish!
Break apart my heart with
your sword,
My tender veins open, and
my blood
Shed, yes, oh shed it on
this ground!
But don’t expect me down
to kneel
Before your mad, imposter
gods!
You alone, my Lord, only you I adore
(Looking up to heaven)
For you, I’m brave, for
you I die.
And you, you know my trust
in this (to Hadrian)
In my God and in centuries
to come!
HADRIAN. For your youth I do forgive your
crime.
Live, Titus, for you can;
you’ll be
A powerful man later in my
court!
Worship Jove. Do you want
to have rewards,
Honors and riches?
TITUS. Lord, very much.
Wealth divine I want so
much that because
Of them I detest your
frivolous ones.
I love God who can make
me, contented, rich,
And happy; for that reason
I refuse
All you give me and I
venerate not Jove.
HADRIAN. But you pledged to be faithful
to my throne.
TITUS. Lord, again I promise it to
you;
Here you have Titus who
desires
His father’s noble deed t’
imitate
And always ready to obey
you.
May he show you his saber
white
All over covered with
enemy spoils!
And like my father, make
you see
My breast covered with
glorious scars…
HADRIAN. And why don’t you fulfill your
oath
To me? You refuse to
worship our gods?
TITUS. God does not want it.
HADRIAN. You’re my soldier,
As I am of Jupiter;
therefore you’re
A soldier of my god.
TITUS. Lord, I can’t be
His vassal, nor you
either.
Don’t speak to me of
Jupiter.
I’m resolved to die if you
so wish.
HADRIAN. Good. With torment and torture
you will die
As you deserve, so that
the gods
May be appeased and horror
great
May it cause to the hard
heart of mad Eustache.
Lastly, do you choose
death or rewards?
Choose what you wish; but
think of what
Is most acceptable to your
heart.
TITUS. I love God; and things beyond
the true God
I should not be afraid of
and love.
HADRIAN. But your father you love?
TITUS. Oh very much.
With him, true to God, I
wish to die.
And in heaven sweet and
eternal peace
My father and I shall
happily
Enjoy. Here’s my answer:
Jove is naught;
He is a vain idol. Thus I
refuse him
The honors due him:
there’s only one God.
HADRIAN. Cornelius, come and return him
to
His father; but talk to
him first, I am
Uncertain of their lies,
or fate,
Or hope, if you don’t win,
as I wish,
The father; later to my
room withdraw.
SCEME IV
CORNELIUS AND TITUS
CORNELIUS. Oh, Titus, may the great Jove
save you!
TITUS. I hope for salvation from our
God.
CORNELIUS. My good Titus, the god that you
must like,
But… why uneasy are you?
I’m Cornelius,
The faithful friend of
your father.
Alas, Titus, for the
danger you are in
I’m very sorry, and more
for your death…
TITUS. What you fear is precisely
what I want.
And what for me is sweet
hope, should
Not be stupid fear for
you.
CORNELIUS. Speak clearly to me. My heart
with love
Is bursting and of
satisfaction for you.
Hadrian exalts me with his
grace,
And if you wish, I can
still save you.
TITUS. This favor, Cornelius, don’t
do for me,
And heaven grant you just
reward
For the love as you say,
you hold for us.
CORNELIUS. Of our Hadrian’s wrath aren’t
you afraid?
TITUS. No; Hadrian can only give me
death;
But I long only for crude
death,
How then will you want me
to face his wrath?
CORNELIUS. Oh worthy descendant, noble,
sublime,
Of parents brave and
enlightened!
In your virtuous heart I
contemplate
The firmness and valor of
your sires,
Noble ancestors and
warriors; I laud
Your constancy, free your
heart, obey
Your God and your desire;
Achieve glory you who
nothing fear,
You strong, intrepid,
surpass all.
TITUS. You counsel well, but poorly
you argue;
Your opinion I follow, but
I detest
Your arguments. To my
father send
Me back. Perhaps he’s
looking for me.
CORNELIUS. He is coming now; I leave you.
SCENE V
EUSTACHE AND TITUS
TITUS. Dear father!
EUSTACHE. What are you doing, my son?
Why are you with
Cornelius? Why
Are you walking ‘round
these places?
TITUS. My father,
I’ll tell you all, our
Metellus has called
Me, and he has left me
alone
With the great Hadrian.
EUSTACHE. Alone with Hadrian?
TITUS. Only he was there; but Jesus
Christ
Was accompanying me; his
holy name
I invoked on presenting
myself before
Our emperor.
EUSTACHE. Beloved Creator,
Oh guide his heart on the
rugged, dark
Path where he walks!
TITUS. He asked me why a sacrifice
You refused to offer to
supreme Jove;
I replied that your
victory was due
To the great God of the
Christians.
EUSTACHE. What did he tell you?
TITUS. Me he wanted to convince
That the impudent Jove is
sovereign
And numberless gods there
are who are
Propitious. I denied it,
and he
With death in the end did
threaten me.
I expected it joyfully;
however, I was
Sorry to die without your
embrace,
Without giving you my last
breath, Now
I would not be
unfortunate,
For with your tender
entreaties
And prayers God will give
me lucky reward.
EUSTACHE. Let not Lord Jesus permit that I
be
Separated from you, dear
Titus, without
Embracing you. Nothing
more did he ask?
At last, son, Hadrian left
you placid and safe?
TITUS. Dear father, look, it seems
to me
That pensive and disgusted
you are.
My sins may prevent me,
I’m afraid,
From entering the sacred
place
Where does reside
celestial joy,
Where wretched weakness is
not felt…
EUSTACHE. Don’t fear; to Jesus offer as
gift
Your pleasant life, and
chaste breast for
Your father, sad who does
repent.
TITUS May God accept my childish
gift…
Ah! Father, why is your
face disturbed,
Sad tears are running down
your cheeks?
The heavens above are
witnesses
That I behaved with spirit
strong
In the presence of
Hadrian.
EUSTACHE. My heart
Is disturbed by memory of
the years,
When I lived in a dark and
gloomy night,
Wrapped up in wretched
falsehoods of blind
Paganism. Dark night that
covered Rome
With its mantle black. I
too fatal ways
Did follow bowing to false
gods.
Oh holy God, a wretched
man’s
Senseless infidelity
forgive…
In the meantime receive my
humble heart
That now is changed.
Forgive, oh God,
Your unfortunate son who’s
innocent
Of his father’s crime sunk
in error blind!
And stupid falsehood! You
yourself
Do promise us that kindly
you would
Forgive a penitent man who
repents,
And that oblivion eternal
will
Cover the sins that tears
erase.
TITUS. Oh father, I hope, that the
kind Jesus
Will receive me in the
glory of the saints.
He himself kindles placid
hope
Within my innocent
Christian heart.
EUSTACHE. Oh, my Titus, his most holy
will, be done
In our lives: Perhaps
Hadrian hopes to bend
My valor firm… But to his
faith
Eustache will be faithful
and to his God.
(End of Act II)
X X X
ACT III
SCENE I
FLAVIUS AND CLAUDIUS
FLAVIUS. Alas, Claudius; alas, my
friend
You don’t know the acute
pain that vexes my breast!
I beg for your advice:
your words
Perhaps would be able to
drive away
The horrible struggles
that the fate
Of my father weaves.
Claudius know that
Oh gods, help him!
CLAUDIUS. What are you saying to me?
By chance today your
father you find,
The father you’re looking
for o’er the seas!
Oh heavens! Where’s he
that I may see him?
FLAVIUS. Alas! You’ll not believe it;
he’s Eustache…
My father, and I’m his
son… what do
You advise me? Perchance
reveal myself
That I’m his son? Or
forever avoid
His presence? It is
rumored in
The city that a Christian
he is,
And Hadrian knows it.
Sure death
Awaits my father,
unfortunate and sad.
For such resplendent
nobility
And for having a martial
father, I’m glad…
And unhappy, for death
does him surround.
Exposed I see his glorious
life:
Alas! Why, oh cruel
ill-luck, do you
Torment me? Your heavy
hand have I
Not already tolerated? But
alas!
And if he dies? But
Hadrian would not
Condemn him. Is it just
to put him to death
When his generous blood he
shed in war
In defense of our imperial
diadem?
And worthy is it for an
emperor
Perchance such a silly
reward to give
Eustache? No; and a
thousand times no!
My brother is Titus! Oh
how in the breast
The torment roars that the
deaf fate hurls
Inexorably! Instead of
joy, bitter pain
Devours the heart. Oh
father, why,
With terrible punishments
do you torment me?
Did I not love you? Did I
offend
You? Tell me, Titus
cruel, what did
I do to you that you want
to be
A Christian? Can I hope that when
Eustache should know he would
worship
Jove? Ah! If I could save him!
I
Don’t see it clearly, Claudius.
Gods!
What should I do? What do you
advise
Me, friend?
CLAUDIUS. What do you want me to tell
you? Have
You perchance sure proofs and the signs
cannot
Deceive you that little recall
the fleeting past?
FLAVIUS. List, Claudius, and you judge
yourself
If I ought to know him.
Don’t you recall
That on the bank of a
river sad,
After crossing a forest
wild that I
From my dear father was
separated?
Do you remember well that
my
Very tender age was not
over five years?
Well then, Claudius with
acute pain Eustache
Relates this to Faustus
about his son,
Faustus too tells it to
me, leaving no
Doubt: his account, his
memory his deeds
That he is my father
clearly prove
To me and his past life
remembering
The noble Faustus with
sadness did
Relate to Titus the past
events.
Can I still doubt,
Claudius, that this hope
Is true which now devours
my breast?
CLAUDIUS. If Faustus tells you the pure
truth,
And he too, you will
certainly be
His son. But, Titus is
thinking now
And trying to save him.
I understand
What affections are
awakened in your breast
Which disturb you. But
listen: I would like you
To control yourself by
hiding yourself.
In this, friend Flavius,
only can
Be found his sweet
salvation. Eustache
I believe will love life
when he learns
Of the existence of his
son.
You ought to reveal that
his son lives –
And is found in Rome; but
he must obey
The mandate of Hadrian
and then he’ll see
His son. Heart and
heroic strength he’ll lack
To bear the weight of the
paternal love
And immense desire will
oppress the sweet
And noble breast of a
father and
His hardness bent with
pleasure he will
Our gods worship. This is what my soul counsels
you.
FLAVIUS. Alas, how heavy, Claudius, is
your
Advice and harder than
steel and stone!
How do you want me,
unhappy, to hide
That I am his son?
Alas! In vain
You expect that from my
filial love
I should get so much.
Flavius conceal that he
Be his son, when his
prayers’ object he finds?
That his paternal love,
not my soul,
Defeat in such danger a
dear father’s love?
CLAUDIUS. His danger ought to curb your
love
And of the internal
affection’s harsh.
Conflict we shall support
ourselves.
That conquered by love
the noble Eustache
Will be, my heart
constantly awaits.
FLAVIUS. Your advice I’ll follow, and
Claudius, I
Prepare myself for such
cruel and rough
Undertaking, as you
wish. If to yield
He objects, remaining
stubbornly firm
In his opinion, oh,
Claudius, tell
Me: What will be my
mournful hope?
CLAUDIUS. I don’t fear this. Of that I’m
sure;
Have courage, recover
virtue and strength.
Look your valiant father,
is coming to
This place soon; he is
already near.
SCENE II
EUSTACHE
EUSTACHE. Perhaps this is the last day…
but
I have had the pleasure
of seeing you.
FLAVIUS. What do you say, Lord?
CLAUDIUS. This I don’t fear,
For in this city are with
you
Your faithful servants.
But what do you want
To do? Why do you want a
harm so wordy?
What compels you to
disobey Hadrian’s
Commands? I have known
you as prudent and why
You act in this way I do
not know.
EUSTACHE. I, Claudius, ought, if same
judgment I have
Not to obey him and
constantly tolerate
That happy penalty until
death.
FLAVIUS. And it’s constancy to arm
yourself
Against Rome, Caesar, and
the gods
Who showed propitious
always to men?
You don’t want the august
sacrifice,
And of Hadrian’s ire
you’re not afraid?
Ah! Pardon my love, my
general…
You who are adorned with
a thousand gifts,
An ungrateful son you
want to show
Yourself to Jupiter; a
rebel
To the mandate of our
emperor,
Cruel to yourself? And
can I tell
You what to Faustus
you’ve retold
Of your history sad?
Perchance are you
Not sorry for the
misfortunes that have
Befallen you for having
believed
In a new god unknown in
Rome? Did it
Save you from the fierce
penalty
With which the indignant
Jupiter
Oppresses you? Your
paternal wealth
Has been lost; to leave
your country condemned,
In another place where
the frightful he
You wielded wandering you
went]
As sweet wheat you did
offer to men,
I also don’t ignore how
your
Dear son you lost in a
distant woods…
EUSTACHE. Enough,
Flavius! Why so painful
a memory
Do you remind a grieving
father of
That accident more cruel
than death?
Do you want to be cruel
to me, when I
Have loved you as a
father loves
His dear son? But alas!
With your name
Alone I remember my son.
But my
Ill-luck was no
punishment of your
False gods. Thou, my God,
thou Jesus Christ,
Thou punished my past
sins, because I at
Another time blind,
wretched I did
Not know thy powerful
being; but in
Thine ire Thou were
benevolent,
Benign. I was also a
worshipper
Of false gods of impious
cult.
I don’t refuse to remind
myself
Of the errors that hurled
me into that abyss
Of dense fog and covered
with horror. God
Showed me his light of
brilliance clear
And I embraced his
doctrine, off
I pulled the repugnant
veil that covered me.
I knew Him then and with
the name
I changed my customs; and
treasures rich,
Fat cattle, fertile
fields, God took
Away from me. A long
time wandering
Faraway from Rome I was.
A dear
Son, six years old, on
the riverbank –
Cruel memory – I
abandoned; I did
Want to ford the river
wide and I
Was dragged by the
current. I could not
Help him. Of what use is it for me
My dear one to remember, if God
Expedites the day when I shall see
Him in the happy asylum?
FLAVIUS. This son whom you think is
dead, is alive
And lives in Rome. For
he himself
Recounts the sad event
that you
Tell us; there’s no doubt
that he’s your son;
That a shepherd saved him
from death the will
Of God wished to be
propitious. He
Is also called Flavius,
him we know
If you wish to see him,
you offer great
Sacrifices and reverence
to the gods.
EUSTACHE. Are you telling the truth? My
dear son is
Alive? You know him? Can
I believe you?
CLAUDIUS. The truth he tells you, and
thus I say
That he’s your son, if
Faustus repeat
Faithfully your words.
EUSTACHE. Benign God!
What do I hear! Heavens
help me! And
He’s alive… tell me
where, beloved! In what place
Is my son?
FLAVIUS. Sacrifice to sacred Jove, and
we
Shall show him to you.
Since the punishment
That threatens you would
hurt his fate.
How do you want to see
your child?
EUSTACHE. I would like him also to share
my death
In the future and my
destiny.
If he was educated in
The Christian life… Alas!
Perhaps
He worships impious
Jupiter,
Forgetting his early
ideas
And the only God.
FLAVIUS. He has promised
To follow and honor our
sacred gods,
Because Rome honors them.
We resolved
For our love not to
reveal him. Eustache,
If you do not profess
divine fear
Toward the gods: You will
succeed
To save yourself and him
in this way.
EUSTACHE. Alas!
Friends, if you knew the
torment harsh
That my heart suffers… Be
merciful…
FLAVIUS. We pity you and due to this
You son is even hiding
from us.
EUSTACHE. For a father, it is not pity,
friends.
FLAVIUS. And you pity is not for your
poor son!
EUSTACHE. I love him more than you do.
For sure
He must have pretty
habits and ways,
As in his tender infancy
he showed!
FLAVIUS. And they still are. But you
yourself
By saving yourself, you
ought to save him,
And together with your
little Titus.
EUSTACHE. Ne’er shall we be safe without
leaving
The wretched asylum of
this life
Without consecrating to
God our life…
CLAUDIUS. But, what do I see?
FLAVIUS. I beg you my lord…
SCENE III
HADRIAN AND CORNELIUS
HADRIAN. Quickly be gone, and let
Eustache remain!
(To Flavius and
Claudius.)
Look, Cornelius, in what situation I am,
The boldest champion of
Rome denies
The offering to the
exalted Jove.
CORNELIUS. Lord, I know your clemency and
his crime.
EUSTACHE. I’ve committed no crime, sin or
mistake
For which his mercy he
ought to use.
HADRIAN. Obey the command and the
fragrant incense
With pleasure offer to
sacred Jove.
EUSTACHE. If it’s a crime to refuse to do
So as I wish, let your
laws condemn
Me to death. I have lived
enough, and my wish
Is to rest after
hardships and toils and for
A tranquil peace. Only
your sword can grant
It to me, In my life I
showed myself
A soldier of the noble
throne;
In peace and in war,
unwearied severe
I prepared my breast for
the hostile steel.
If in the battle I
exposed my life,
Under the scepter of
Titus and Trajan,
With valor fighting and
in the wars
Foot-soldiers and
warriors knocking down;
If with unconquered
strength my wounds
Shed blood in this war
whence I return
Triumphant conqueror; for
the faith
That I swore to my God,
God infinite,
Wise, omnipotent, I ought
to arm
Myself with the same
fortitude
To suffer death for
shedding blood.
Lord, where is Titus,
that soldier whom
In my early young years I
served
So much with my swords?
August Emperor,
Where is Trajan? That
Spaniards who
From my exile chose me to
subdue
The Parthians, [10] to
come out of Latium, [23] strong
And remarkable to
overcome
Distressing rough voyages
to traverse
Hot deserts, to live in
repulsive lands.
Exposing life to hazards
cruel
Of such a difficult war?
Where, Lord,
Are they? Can I expect a
reward
Or some help in my
wearied years?
And you Lord, whom in
Rome I find
A glorious successor of
the great
Trajan, to whom barbarous
Monarchs I
Present with ignominious
iron
Well guarded; peoples
which knew not
The empire of the Roman
eagle, are now
Of your throne
tributaries and prisoners;
What reward in the future
life can you
Promise me? Since knowing
that my life
Is short, I seek peace.
Can you grant
Me a worthy reward? If
for my triumphs you
Are grateful, can you
promise to
My valor eternal honor,
which
To your throne was so
faithful? A sacrifice
Of the incense profane
with which you wish
Me to outrage my faith,
to your impure
Jupiter I deny. God
omnipotent
Immortal honor dos
promise me
And eternal kingdom. How
can I
Invoke in your Capitol a
vain
Name that in the fiery
voice of wars
Was not propitious to me?
I invoked
My God and instantly he
was with
Me against the Parthians
fierce; and wherever
I did go victory followed
soon.
In his name I conquered
your enemies!
With incense on top of
the capitol
This Lord alone I will
invoke;
Not being he I despise
Jupiter…
HADRIAN. Of what God are you thinking?
It
Is well know that the man
you adore
Was a criminal, and the
Jews themselves
Killed him. Jerusalem
indeed saw him dead.
EUSTACHE. You can’t understand in what
way He
Was mortal, if your dark
mind divine
Light does not illumine
well. But
Don’t you know that the
Eternal Father avenged
His name in the wretched
Hebrews with such
Revenge that the whole
world as filled with fright?
And Lord, we, if you
don’t know it,
And our soldiers were the
fury and ire
Of his vengeance.
Remember, sir, that
Event, that battle which
with terror was filled
With which that kingdom
we laid waste….[24]
One million, one hundred
thousand Jews
Unhappy suffered harsh
death: some
By hunger, some by the
sword, the rest
By the beasts did
perish. Avenger of
The divine rage so many
dead did serve
The faith enough. This
same Lord Christ
Himself, predicted such
lugubrious event.
You, sir, and I were with
Titus [04] in
That ever memorable
siege… not of
Roman cruelty or fury mad
but it is
Of justice and example
great.
HADRIAN. This was in the past, and not
proper it is
To recall a war that I
believe
The memory of Titus
offends very much.
A Roman you’re and it’s
Rome’s desire
That you honor or gods.
EUSTACHE. A Christian I am.
HADRIAN. Therefore you’re destined to
unhappy death
And Trajan’s law does
condemn you!
EUSTACHE. I wish to conform to the
sentence; I
Am ready to die and my
gentle son.
HADRIAN. As an intrepid warrior you knew
how to give
Death to others with
terrible bravery,
And with valor you will
suffer the same…
For cruel revenge…
EUSTACHE. I’m not afraid
I am a kind father to my
son.
HADRIAN. From my palace so soon you’ll
not get out,
In the last days that
remain to you,
Except to offer soft
incense
Or to die. To your
soldiers and to you (to Cornelius)
I entrust him; Cornelius,
watch him. But
You in the meantime
deliberate,
And worthy of your
virtues, take
An advice. You go and
come back changed
To be able fulfill very
soon my wish.
EUSTACHE. From what I am in vain you can
expect
To find me different
Hadrian, in a way
So violent. No, you’ll
not find Eustache
Unfaithful to God, one
who knew how to
Subdue many warriors; nor
will you see
Me at the altars impure
of your
False gods offering
incense to Jove
For villainous fear.
HADRIAN. Go away now, and
Think for a moment that
you owe
Me obedience and
submissiveness;
Your bold mad thoughts
with which you insult
The gods and Caesar, for
your valor
Unconquered, I am
forgiving you;
But if you are tenacious,
my
Clemency is equal to my
rage.
EUSTACHE. I’m not afraid. No, neither
your
Rage nor your compassion
I implore.
HADRIAN. Soldiers, guard him
immediately.
EUSTACHE. Fear not that I’ll escape; God
guards
Me more than the soldiers
the empire. (He leaves)
SCENE IV
HADRIAN AND CORNELIUS
HADRIAN. (Aside) With laurels girded is
Hadrian,
With flowers and seated
on a throne;
Faced with the hard
choice to condemn or set
Free his soldier dear,
appearing lax.
CORNELIUS. I know not the reason, sir,
why on
The culprit you delay the
death
Sentence! His reply so
haughty as well
As rash perchance your
valor does not
Vouchsafe, for such
madness
Is unworthy of so
sensible a man.
HADRIAN. In the city how many know that
he
Adores a different
imaginary god?
CORNELIUS. The whole city knows it.
HADRIAN. To his valor I
Ungrateful would not like
to appear
And to his loyalty, for
which I reign.
CORNELIUS. (With anger) His present
impiety is enough to eclipse
His fidelity and valor
false!
Eustache destroys your
mandates and
The law he follows Rome
abhors.
The fathers of the
empire, the Romans, who
Attribute to Jove their
triumph high,
Will neither call you
cruel nor ungrateful king,
For in the august deities
they believe
Not in that Christ whom
Eustache adores…
You see that the more you
threaten him
The less that wicked man
fears you.
And in the meantime Rome
awaits
With impatience to see if
you’ll defend
The sacred edits of the
great Trajan
And what respect contains
your noble breast
For our divine gods. Rome
believes hat Jove
Protects her and defends
her in
The vast empire; thus
obediently loves our gods,
And loves and respect the
gods so much…
HADRIAN. Hence, I have forbidden Eustache
to leave
My palace grand, if he
does not
Acknowledge, Jove as
responsible for
The hundred glorious
honors of war.
CORNELIUS. He’ll never do it; but I’ve
only one
Means, your mandates to
make him obey.
HADRIAN. What?
CORNELIUS. Condemn to death the boy
Titus, and
With great fright he will
fear your ire,
For blinded and mocking
you, he believes
That he will never be
condemned,
And then he will be
afraid when he
Sees the effect of your
rage.
HADRIAN. Execute your own
Advice and let him die
today. (He leaves)
CORNELIUS. He misunderstood my advice;
meanwhile
I’ll execute it. Upon
seeing his death
On his opinion Eustache
will hold fast.
X X X
ACT IV
SCENE I
CORNELIUS AND METELLUS
CORNELIUS. No, no more subterfuge remains
to Eustache,
For the more Hadrian does
threaten him
More firm is his
determination,
And with his haughty
speech to insult
Us and our gods; wishing
for death
He accuses men of
delaying it.
METELLUS. But when he sees that the
furious threats
Of Caesar are not in
vain, perhaps
The death that he wishes
for himself
Would infuse him with
fear on seeing it.
CORNELIUS. To put Titus to death I
induced Hadrian;
Perhaps very opposite
thing
Will come out; frankly
I’ll tell you my
Opinion, to explain it
when there’s time.
By now, it’s not
convenient for me
To be late; Titus to
furious beasts
I’ll give, because these
spectacles please
The people, and perhaps
for them
Their author obtain new
merit and
Laurels. The hope of the
father once dead,
With new longings he will
seek death
More he will blame him if
it is delayed.
METELLUS. Does Eustache know the death of
his Titus?
CORNELIUS. He does not know it; death he
does
Not repel. From his
prison, Metellus, I’ll get
Him; on his father I’ll
take revenge,
And in this way I will
insult
The father’s ever
suspicious vigilance.
SCENE II
FLAVIUS ALONE
FLAVIUS. Oh cruel destiny! Oh
ungrateful Rome!
That you thus torment the
unvanquished warrior who
For your welfare excel on
the battlefields.
Why have I deserved your
wrath?
Ungrateful nation!…
Wretched people!...
If your rule, supreme
gods, the destinies
Of mortals on this earth,
why am
I unhappy with the
punishment?
Was I expecting another
reward
For my labors! Unhappy
father of
A brother of mine! Tender
tears, make soft
Eustche’s heart of marble
and granite!
Oh! He comes now:
propitious, divine
Heavens, pity a wretched
warrior!
SCENE IV
EUSTACHE AND FLAVIUS
EUSTACHE. My Flavius, ere, here I am…
What do
You want of me? Why
aren’t you contented?
FLAVIUS. You want to die and drag
along
With you Titus! Why do
you ask me about
The cause of my sadness?
Are you firm
In your decision wretched
and sad!
You want to lose little
Titus;
That glory that with
effort great
And with unconquered arm
you’ve won
From your military
adversaries…!
Tears are not for a brave
man;
But crying conquers an
iron heart!
EUSTACHE. Alas! If you love me, you would
not want,
Dear Flavius, to torment
my paternal heart!
Leave me in peace, let
victory
End in pacific calmness.
How
I would like you to
follow my steps
You, who with warlike
valor in
The fights did follow the
waving of
The flags and the sound
and noise of arms!
If in search of cities
you followed me
To the eternal kingdom
you too ought to come with me…
FLAVIUS. I love you with the love of a
loving son;
But, you wish me to die
with you?
EUSTACHE. Don’t tell me you love me,
‘cause you aggravate
My grief! While I guard
you as poor
As goodness you lack
eternal and pure…
But do not pretend you
love me.
FLAVIUS. I am not pretending sir.
Sublime
Jupiter witnesses the
purity
Of my breast which the
fire of love consumes.
But if you have no pity
for
Yourself; just for your
cruel wish Titus
Will die. Your older son
too will perish who,
If you wish, I can reveal
to you.
But so that he may not
die I hide
Him from your eyes.
EUSTACHE. And, is it love? No; for it’s
torment. And
Deceit fabricated by you
in order
To mitigate my paternal
heart.
Your valor I sufficiently
know.
And Flavius, I appreciate
your pious love.
FLAVIUS. Neither is it deceit or do
you know yet
The love for only your
person I have.
But do you want to die
without seeing
Your son, or saying
naught or the last
Goodbye? If you truly
love him and me,
Show it to me and you
will see my thought…
You cry?… Why do you turn
away your face?...
Tell me… Father dear!
Hear in my sad
Breast you find filial
love. I’m Flavius!
I’m the one who suffers
torment not
To be equaled! Lose me or
save me with you,
Eustache! if you wish to
save me, I
Shall go content… To
Titus take
Me, to my brother dear
for I want
To convince him and
embrace
Him since your heart is
inflexible…
EUSTACHE. Oh! God, your loftiest secrets
who
Can fathom? You returned
to me
My son, and to your
heavenly decrees
I owe it. But if he
comes to his
Father’s bosom, eternal
God, lead him
To a good end; in order
to enjoy
Happy glory. Change his
heart and sentiment
So that Flavius also may
become your son.
Oh! Your face reminds me
of objects,
Tender objects, pleasing
to my mind.
FLAVIUS. Oh my father! As I find you,
I lose
You also at the same
instant…
Can you bar it? Faustus
without knowing it
United us; and now would
you want to die?
You want to stay away
from me again?
EUSTACHE. It was God who united us
Dear Flavius, in my last
peaceful days,
And you can be always
united to
Your brother and me in
Heaven. For
In this vain and fleeting
life you have
Forgotten that in your
tender breast
The sweet sentiments of
Christian religion
You’ll live happily
contented and
If you would follow the
heavenly doctrines
Of our holy religion. I
confess
That in my robust age I
left the gods,
Believing in the Eternal
doctrines.
Your mother dear was a
Christian too…
FLAVIUS. Where’s my mother, because I
want to see her?
EUSTACHE. Her life did happily end, to
God
Eternal giving faithful
proof.
She dwells in Haven and
she invites
Us to her happy and
joyful abode.
Do you remember how much
she loved
You? Soon I’ll see her
at the gates
Of that kingdom more
beautiful than the sun,
Than the moon, extending
her pleasant arms
To me, embracing and
kissing happy
Titus and asking me with
painful tone:
“Espouse sweet, where is
Flavius?” But son,
Tell me: what can I
answer her? He is
A cruel foe of our
Creator, who
Worships and serves
perfidious gods;
Who lacks light because
of cruel deceptions
And of dreadful fires a
prisoner will be
And avengers of sacred
faith. To that
Lord, to God immense, I
offered that
From childhood you would
worship him (to Flavius).
And for this I expected
to have a reward;
But to her I shall say
that on leaving the world
I spoke to you, showed
you the happy path;
But you were obdurate to
my ors.
Then the Avernus [25]
you’ll be disjoined
From God, from her, from
Titus dear:
Then that Flavius, her
tender son, will not
See the delights of
Heaven; that
Flavius who was her first
love. Since you
Who, sadly weeps,
anxiously (to Flavius)
Seek her maternal bosom,
so yielding
To the entreaties of her
sons, She is
Waiting for you, Flavius,
in heaven.
FLAVIUS. I love my father and he ought
not
To leave me plunged in my
sorrow and weeping
Extremely. He ought not
to die, for he sees
In Flavius an unhappy
son.
SCENE V
CLAUDIUS
CLAUDIUS. Where’s Titus?... Where, sir,
is he?
You see him led to harsh
death
To lions and beasts
delivered! And you
Don’t look for an asylum
for you son?
EUSTACHE. What do you say? Poor me! My
son
Is in danger! But, what?
They have not yet
Given us the punishment…
But, have
You seen him? How do you
know?
Why? Tell me, tell me, my
Claudius!
CLAUDIUS. Led by perfidious soldiers I
have seen
Him near the
amphitheater: the mob
Was running to the
spectacle
To look at the unhappy
child.
Confusedly repeated the
populace:
Look at Eustache’s son,
at Titus look
Thrown to the beasts; a
Christian he is!
EUSTACHE. Omnipotent Creator, God benign
(looking at the sky)
Comfort gently his tender
heart. Lord support
Him, to Thee I entrust
him; be gentle
To him at the hour of his
death!
Lord, triumph, over all
enemies
There are in the world.
Exalt the glory
Of your name so that you
may be feared.
Let Rome see that you,
Lord help her. Receive
His soul… But now gentle
Titus, my son,
Gladly offer your blood
for your brother, son dear.
FLAVIUS. What do you say, father, Oh!
How my breast oppresses me!
CLAUIUS. Oh, my Flavius, a good reason
you have
For weeping… in the eyes…
on the face…
EUSTRACHE. But my Claudius, how did he
look to you?
CLAUDIUS. Like rising Phoebus, [26]
radiant, joyful.
He scarcely did see me
when to me he said:
“Goodbye, and tell my
father to hasten
The happy day to be with
me.”
FLAVIUS. Alas, little brother of mine,
alas
Unhappy one!
CLAUDIUS. You know that he is also your
son
And you don’t save him
from the pain
He’s suffering?
EUSTACHE. Alas, I would
Like to save him… but
what do I see?
SCENE VI
TITUS
CLAUDIUS. How? Well... you saved
yourself? I don’t understand. (To
Titus)
TITUS. Alas, Father… alas, friends…
EUSTACHE. Beloved son,
Did you remain faithful
to God?
TITUS. Yes, father.
EUSTACHE. How did you flee from the
desired reward?
TITUS. Don’t think that I fled,
father dear.
EUSTACHE. Oh, God! I fear some perfidious
deceit.
TITUS. Don’t fear, no, for I was
prepared
Death to receive like a
Christian.
EUSTACHE. What happened to you then? Tell
me quick.
TITUS. Hardly have you left me,
Cornelius fierce
Got into my room and took
me out.
To his perfidious
soldiers entrusting me.
Because to death I was
condemned
By order of the
illustrious Hadrian.
From there they brought
me right away
To the amphitheater
spacious and wide.
On the arena I instantly
Saw myself surrounded by
people and walls.
Roars from the closed
caves I did hear
From countless lions. I
knelt on the ground
And I thought of my
Lord. His holy name
With fervent clamor
tearfully I
Invoked… I cheered up,
for near
I saw the asylum of the
just.
“Take your servant,” –
with fervor I exclaimed –
“And accept the sacrifice
of my life.
My beloved father, Lord,
I commend
To Thee and kindly
receive my last breath.”
I said this, and the
soldiers instantly
To two lions opened the
barriers which
Furiously hurled
themselves into
The center; angered their
long manes they move
And frightfully their
tails they agitate;
And roaring like horrible
thunder
Hungry o’er the patio
immense they pass
Showing me their teeth
and claws; but when
They reach me their havoc
they put aside
And with tenderness
extreme they caress
Me. And becoming placid
and tame [27]
And with tenderness
extreme they cares
Me. And becoming placid
and tame
Their reddish loin thrice
they rub
Against my right side
lightly. And
They look at me as
quietly they rest
And on the arena
lengthwise they lay.
EUSTACHE. Oh the inscrutable counsels of
God! You make
Lions tame; you soften
their heart with your word
And likewise you harden
the unjust!
For such prodigy bless
your Lord and give (to Titus)
Him thanks for saving
you. Blind Rome!
Your clouded eyes open
and recognize
The God of the
Christians. But tell me,
How did you come?
TITUS. All the populace
Rose in admiration of the
event
And instantly also up I
rose,
To the guards of the
entrances I went
Who, for your sake,
perhaps, let me pass.
And through the straight
road I went to you.
Do, Lord, whatever please
you (looking to Heaven)
For I offer the sacrifice
of my life.
CLAUDIUS. Your God wants to see you safe
and sound
So that you may placidly
obey Jove.
EUSTACHE. For such purpose He doesn’t
want me to be safe.
Nor can he wish it.
CLAUDIUS. Why can’t he?
EUSTACHE. Because to his faith He doesn’t
want us to
Be perfidious traitors.
Oh! Titus,
In Flavius the warrior
look thee at
Your brother whom I
mentioned to you.
TITUS. Dear!... Gentle brother! (He
goes to embrace Flavius but
Eustache stops
him.)
EUSTACHE. Don’t embrace him!
He is an adversary of our
God!
TITUS. Luckless Flavius! Brother
unfortunate!...
Oh, conquer, Lord, his
iron heart!
EUSTACHE. Look, ungrateful son, how cruel
you are (to Flavius)
Titus with his example
ought
To win you and on knowing
that
The beasts were tamed.
Look God has tamed
The savage impetus of the
fierce
Lions to let you know
that He is Supreme.
With valor as soldier you
followed me
Without fearing the
specter of death…
To martial glory true,
you respect
The leader of the Roman
arms
And do follow the mandate
of
My voice. And upon my
wish you expose
Your noble breast to the
arrows dense
Of the Parthians, [04]
valorous and bold
As always… and now of you
I need, Flavius,
That valor, that fidelity
owed to
God, the Creator, potent
and supreme.
As your father you
recognized me
And you want to change,
Flavius ingrate?
But, why do I try to bend
a soul
Who is deaf to my sane
counsels?
Unhappy son, of my
presence get out,
In order not to hear m
ultimate will,
Your father’s painful
complaints that wound
The heart. Depart,
Flavius, go far
Away from your father
whom you disobey.
And say at least:
“Father… brother, goodbye.”
TITUS. Alas! Flavius…
EUSTACHE. You’ve courage enough
To say so? You don’t have
so much.
You don’t show so much
ingratitude.
Alas! Respond, respond,
unfortunate man.
FAVIUS. You won, my father, at you
feet
See me! (He kneels). I
worship your Creator,
I adore and love Him. I
know the Supreme
God of my childhood; if
His loving arms
Receive me, I’ll love Him
more. Can I hope,
Though I am wicked, to be
received?
EUSTACHE. Yes, Flavius, I promise you
that He’ll
Admit you to His sacred
abode
If you’d love Him with
the love of a son.
FLAVIUS. I was blind and unhappy ten
years ago!...
EUSTACHE. The infidelities you did commit
Repentance does erase,
Flavius.
Now arise and rest well
content.
FLAVIUS. With you I await the
longed-for reward.
That you promise me…
Titus, come embrace me!
EUSTACHE. Embrace him and embraced let us
die!
ACT V
SCENE I
CLAUDIUS AND FLAVIUS
CLAUDIUS. And lastly, Flavius, what can I
Expect from your life?
FLAVIUS. I think, dear friend,
That there in Heaven a
fine place awaits
Me and enduring peace;
but with me,
You’ll not be!
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