Sev monologue — Polyeucte

Most vain! No word have I Such blindness must amaze! must stupefy! Nay, this is frenzy! I cannot conceive A mind so strange! Mine ears cannot believe That one who loved thee--yet, who would not love A face that must the great immortals move?-- Blessed by thy heart!--Thy sweetest lips to taste!-- Then leave, refuse, spurn--yield with clamorous haste, To yield a girl so dear--so pure--so fair! And of that gift to make thy rival heir-- This beggars madness! Or the Christian bliss Beyond man's soul to grasp! To spurn thy kiss!-- We treasure barter for a just exchange, But to buy pain for thee! Pauline, 'tis strange! Not thus, ye Gods! Severus had been blind To perfect bliss--had Fortune been more kind The only heaven for me is in thine eyes, These are my kings, these my divinities! To me--for thee--were death with torture dear; But to renounce thee!