大象传媒

Act 1

The action takes place in M茅lit猫ne, capital of Armenia, under Roman rule during the third century. Persecuted Christians have gathered in the catacombs; among them are Polyeucte, a new convert about to be baptised, and his friend N茅arque. As the Christians withdraw to perform their religious rites, N茅arque holds Polyeucte back to ask whether he is truly dedicated to the faith. He is, after all, son-in-law of the tyrannical governor F茅lix, notoriously intolerant of Christianity, and husband of Pauline, who remains a pagan and knows nothing of his conversion. Polyeucte reassures N茅arque that 鈥淕od alone will rule my heart鈥� and looks forward to the day when Pauline will share his new beliefs. Before they can rejoin the Christians, news arrives that Roman troops are nearby. Polyeucte muses that his baptism may yet prove to be a martyrdom, but is determined to proceed.

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Young Roman girls and slaves appear, bearing accoutrements for a pagan ritual and followed by soldiers. Pauline is in their midst; she dismisses the military escort before paying her respects at the tomb of her mother with a display of sacred offerings. Left alone, Pauline reveals her most intimate thoughts: she is torn between marriage to Polyeucte, chosen for her by her father, and continuing

love for S茅v猫re, a courageous Roman general who is believed dead in battle. She overhears the chanting of the Christians nearby as, unbeknown to her, Polyeucte is being baptised. She is about to flee when Christians appear, followed by Polyeucte himself. He is furious that she has stumbled upon them; she is appalled as he defends the Christians. Pauline鈥檚 threat to denounce them to her father precipitates Polyeucte鈥檚 confession that he is now one of their number. As the Christians

pray that Pauline, too, might convert and she hopes that her husband might yet be saved, the act ends with news that a further menace to the Christians 鈥� a pitiless proconsul 鈥� has just arrived in M茅lit猫ne.

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Act 2

Scene 1

From his study, F茅lix orders his secretaries to transcribe edicts sentencing Christians to death; his own allegiance to the Roman gods is firm. When Pauline enters, F茅lix announces that he is issuing a new edict. Pauline, trembling, reads it aloud: all those who have been baptised will be condemned. As F茅lix and his staff celebrate the edict鈥檚 publication, Pauline privately expresses her anguish. Her father notices her sorrow and asks whether it is caused by unhappiness in love.

Pauline replies that she had indeed been happy with S茅v猫re; after his presumed death she had accepted the husband chosen for her, but her heart continued to belong to her first love. Their conversation is interrupted by the sound of military music outside; the high priest Callisth猫nes appears, accompanied by priests, magistrates and citizens, announcing the arrival of the proconsul favoured by the Emperor ever since his narrow escape from death on the battlefield. The revelation

that this proconsul is none other than S茅v猫re shocks F茅lix and Pauline alike; the latter struggles to hide her joy before rushing off.

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Scene 2

A vast crowd has gathered in the square to watch the proconsul鈥檚 arrival. S茅v猫re makes a spectacular entrance in a procession led by Roman legions and standard bearers, surrounded by dancing girls and followed by slaves, pipers and gladiators. He vows to protect the people from the Christian scourge and looks forward to seeing again his beloved. S茅v猫re is treated to a gladiatorial display, followed by Greek and Roman dances. S茅v猫re reveals that the Emperor has offered Armenia as the dowry for whomever he chooses as his wife 鈥� and that his heart is set on Pauline. His beloved now appears, but accompanied by Polyeucte, who is announced as her husband. Distraught and angry, S茅v猫re reflects on his lost love. The scene is brought to a climax by the entrance of Callisth猫nes, who announces that a further baptism has just taken place; the curtain falls as Polyeucte is urged by Pauline to remain silent while the followers of the opposing faiths call on the assistance of divine powers.

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Act 3

Scene 1

Pauline, alone in her bedroom, prays for assistance. S茅v猫re enters unannounced. In the ensuing duet Pauline implores S茅v猫re to allow her to forget their shared past and leave forever. Lamenting his position, S茅v猫re eventually bids her farewell 鈥� leaving just before Polyeucte enters with the news that a great sacrifice is being prepared in honour of S茅v猫re. Pauline asks Polyeucte to accompany her to the ceremony; he refuses, but insists that his love for her is equal only to that he has for his new God. Seeing his wife鈥檚 distress, he exclaims that although he can face death, he cannot bear her tears. F茅lix appears: as N茅arque has refused to name his new Christian convert, he will be an additional sacrifice at the temple. Polyeucte now insists that he will attend the ceremony after all and, following Pauline鈥檚 and听 F茅lix鈥檚 departure, vows to share his friend鈥檚 fate.

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Scene 2

Callisth猫nes and the priests leave the temple with tripods, sacred vases and icons, which they place on its steps; priests and citizens sing a hymn to Jupiter, before F茅lix, S茅v猫re and Pauline enter for the sacrifice. N茅arque is led in and denounced as a Christian before being interrogated again about his new convert; Pauline quakes with terror. Since N茅arque refuses to cooperate, Callisth猫nes proposes to execute him. Just in time, Polyeucte appears and, to the shock of all present, reveals himself to be the mystery neophyte. The scene ends with reactions to this revelation: F茅lix and Callisth猫nes are furious, Pauline is desperate; Polyeucte offers renewed affirmations of his faith. Pauline鈥檚 appeals to her gods are condemned as futile by her husband; F茅lix insists that Polyeucte must recognise those gods if he is to be spared. He refuses, adamant that dying a Christian will be his moment of glory.

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Act 4

Scene 1

F茅lix is in his private rooms with Pauline, who tries to reason with him: Polyeucte may be a Christian, but he has become a member of their family. The governor refuses to yield: the Emperor himself has condemned Polyeucte and S茅v猫re will carry out his command. S茅v猫re enters, reporting that the people are demanding Polyeucte鈥檚 death; he is appalled to see Pauline, who continues initially to appeal to her father. When F茅lix refuses, Pauline turns to S茅v猫re, begging him, as one who loves her, to help save her husband. S茅v猫re eventually succumbs, agreeing to risk the wrath of the people and the Emperor. F茅lix remains implacable but repeats that he is willing to pardon the new convert if he rejects his new faith. Still hopeful, Pauline goes to find her husband.

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Scene 2

In a vault where the condemned await execution, Polyeucte dreams of being united with Pauline in heaven; he implores God to reach out to her. Pauline appears, vowing to save Polyeucte鈥檚 life; he insists that he wants to save her soul. Their positions seem irreconcilable until Polyeucte invokes divine intervention. To the sounds of celestial harmony, Pauline sees the light, professing herself seized with Christian zeal, and, to Polyeucte鈥檚 joy, declares that she wants to share his fate. As celestial harmony is heard once more, guards appear and attempt unsuccessfully to separate the couple; they exit arm in arm to greet their deaths.

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Scene 3

A vast amphitheatre teems with spectators awaiting the execution of the Christians. F茅lix, his bodyguards, S茅v猫re, Callisth猫nes and the priests enter. Callisth猫nes urges immediate action; F茅lix confides to S茅v猫re that Pauline has not yet returned, but cedes to Callisth猫nes鈥� impatience, ordering that the Christians be fed to the lions. To F茅lix鈥檚 and S茅v猫re鈥檚 horror, Pauline accompanies Polyeucte

into the arena, insisting that she will die both as a dutiful wife and as a Christian. S茅v猫re begs her to consider her father; the couple respond that they will be united in heaven. N茅arque and other Christians are brought in. In a final confrontation, the priests vow death to the impious, while Pauline, Polyeucte, N茅arque and the other martyrs affirm their readiness to die. S茅v猫re tries to save Pauline, but is held back by guards; as the lions are released from their enclosures, F茅lix falls faint. The Christians drop to their knees and Pauline throws herself into her husband鈥檚 arms; Polyeucte alone remains standing. The curtain falls as the lions make their approach.

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漏 Flora Willson

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