Paul monologue — Polyeucte

His life is saved! These fetters all undo!-- For justice never yet a madman slew; And he is mad,--but, father, thou art sane, And thou, his father, must his friend remain. A father cannot less than father be, Oh, be to him what thou hast been to me! But cast upon thy child a kinder eye,-- Slay him?--Then know that I am doomed to die! But even if justly done to death were he, The sentence wrong that, with him, slayeth me. For double death would double wrong present, And slay the guilty with the innocent. 'Twas thou didst link us closely hand in hand, 'To live in bliss together' thy command. Oh, shall the will that both our lives did bless Doom both these lives to death--to nothingness? When lips are sealed to lips, and heart to heart, 'Tis tyranny, not law, such love to part. Oh, not a tyrant, but a father be, Forgive,--give back--restore my love to me!