Vouchsafe, dread sir

From Theodora, HWV 68, Part I, Scene I

Original English text	Modernized English text
Didymus	Didymus
Vouchsafe, dread Sir, a gracious Ear	Vouchsafe, dread sir, a gracious ear
To my Requeſt. — Let not your Sentence doom	To my request. Let not your sentence doom
To Racks and Flames, all, all, whoſe ſcrup’lous Minds	To racks and flames, all, all, whose scrup’lous minds
Will not permit them, or, to bend the Knee	Will not permit them, or, to bend the knee
To Gods they know not, or, in wanton Mood,	To gods they know not, or, in wanton mood,
To celebrate the Day with Roman rites.	To celebrate the day with Roman rites.

Valens	Valens
Art thou a Roman, and yet dar’ſt defend	Art thou a Roman, and yet dar’st defend
A Sect, rebellious to the Gods and Rome?	A sect rebellious to the gods and Rome?

Didymus	Didymus
Many there are in Antioch, who diſdain	Many there are in Antioch, who disdain
An Idol-Offering, yet are friends to Cæſar.	An idol-offering, yet are friends to Caesar.

Valens	Valens
It cannot be : They are not Cæſar’s Friends,	It cannot be: They are not Cæsar’s friends,
Who own not Cæſar’s Gods. — I’ll hear no more.	Who own not Cæsar’s gods. I’ll hear no more.

About the text

May Robertson