Plays · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Plays by Roswitha of Gandersheim.
Chapter 1
Translator's Note
The translator acknowledges the primary sources and scholarly works consulted for the translation of Hrotsvitha's plays, including editions by Celtes, Winterfeld, and Schurzfleisch, as well as critical studies by Magnin and others. Gratitude is expressed to Dame Laurentia McLachlan and Reverend Paul Bonnet for their assistance.
Chapter 2
Dedication
Roswitha of Gandersheim dedicates her work to Gerberg, the Illustrious Abbess, explaining the difficulties she faced in chronicling the deeds of the Emperor and her reliance on Gerberg's command and guidance.
Chapter 3
The Plays of Roswitha
This chapter introduces the six plays of Roswitha, a 10th-century nun, focusing on their themes, structure, and dramatic qualities. It discusses Gallicanus, Dulcitius, Callimachus, Abraham, Paphnutius, and Sapientia, highlighting Roswitha's skill in blending Christian morality with human emotion, her use of comedy and tragedy, and her unique portrayal of martyrdom and repentance. The translator, Christopher St. John, reflects on the challenges of translation and the historical context of the plays.
Chapter 4
Prefaces of Roswitha
Roswitha introduces her collection of plays, explaining her purpose and method in writing Christian dramas to replace the pagan works of Terence, and she dedicates her work to her abbess, Gerberg, while acknowledging the support of other patrons.
Chapter 5
Preface to the Plays of Hrotswitha, German Religious and Virgin of the Saxon Race
Hrotswitha explains her motivation for writing plays in the style of Terence: to replace pagan licentiousness with Christian chastity. She acknowledges the difficulty of depicting sinful passion but argues that it highlights the virtue of those who resist, especially women. She humbly admits her work is inferior to ancient authors but dedicates it to God's glory.
Chapter 6
Epistle of the Same to the Learned Patrons of This Book
Hrotswitha addresses her learned patrons, expressing gratitude for their approval of her work despite her humble status as a woman. She acknowledges that her abilities come from God and that she has woven scraps of philosophy into her writing. She submits her work for their revision, hoping to learn from their corrections.
Chapter 7
Plays
This chapter presents a collection of dramatic works by Roswitha, focusing on the lives and martyrdoms of saints, the power of faith, and the triumph of Christian virtue over pagan persecution and personal temptation.
Chapter 8
Gallicanus
Plays — Stage Lens: dramatic beats, line helps that follow your scroll, and stage picture. Read to understand, not to collect a closed thesis.
Chapter 9
Characters
A list of characters appearing in the plays of Roswitha, including Antiochus, Hadrian, Sapientia, Faith, Hope, and Charity, along with various matrons.
Chapter 10
Characters in Part I
This chapter lists the characters appearing in Part I of the play, including the Emperor Constantine, his daughter Constance, the general Gallicanus and his daughters Artemia and Attica, the almoners John and Paul, various court and military figures, and Helena, mother of Constantine.
Chapter 11
Characters in Part II
This chapter lists the characters appearing in Part II, including Julian the Apostate, Gallicanus, Terentianus, John, Paul, Consuls, Christians, and Soldiers, with a reference to Part I.
Chapter 12
Scene I
Emperor Constantine confronts Gallicanus about his delay in attacking the Scythians. Gallicanus agrees to go but asks for a reward: the hand of Constantine's daughter, Constance. Constantine hesitates but agrees to consult his daughter first.
Chapter 13
Scene II
Emperor Constantine reveals to his daughter Constance that General Gallicanus wishes to marry her. Constance, having consecrated herself to God, refuses and proposes a plan to delay the marriage by pretending to agree after the war, using Gallicanus's daughters as pledges and sending her almoners John and Paul with him.
Chapter 14
Scene III
Gallicanus anxiously awaits the outcome of the emperor's conference with his daughter, hoping his marriage suit will be accepted. The emperor returns with a serene expression, which Gallicanus and the lords interpret as a favorable sign.
Chapter 15
Scene IV
Constantine reassures Gallicanus that his daughter Constance consents to their marriage, arranging for her almoners John and Paul to accompany Gallicanus to learn her ways, while Gallicanus agrees to send his daughters to live with Constance.
Chapter 16
Scene V
Constance meets the daughters of Gallicanus, Artemia and Attica, and prays to Christ for Gallicanus to be turned from his unlawful purpose. She exhorts the sisters to virginity and faith, and they respond with devotion. Constance then sends for John and Paul.
Chapter 17
Scene VI
Constance instructs John and Paul to go to Gallicanus and gradually teach him the Christian faith, hoping God will use them to convert him.
Chapter 18
Scene VII
Gallicanus welcomes John and Paul, who have been sent by Constance to serve him. Gallicanus announces that before departing for battle, they must first go to the Capitol to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods. John and Paul withdraw, unable to participate in the pagan rites.
Chapter 19
Scene VIII
John and Paul prepare to ride with Gallicanus, having sent their baggage ahead to travel unencumbered.
Chapter 20
Scene IX
Gallicanus and his tribunes face a massive enemy army. The tribunes urge surrender, but Gallicanus resists until John promises victory if he becomes a Christian. Gallicanus swears and converts, leading to the enemy's surrender under King Bradan. John and Paul praise God's power, and Gallicanus vows to be baptized and serve God.
Chapter 21
Scene X
Gallicanus, returning to Rome victorious, acknowledges that his triumph was not due to his own valor or the pagan gods but to the one true God. He decides to bypass the temples and instead go to the Church of the Apostles to make a humble confession of faith, demonstrating his conversion.
Chapter 22
Scene XI
Constantine expresses astonishment that Gallicanus has not yet appeared before him, but his soldiers explain that Gallicanus went directly to Saint Peter's Church to give thanks for his victory. Constantine finds this hard to believe, but the soldiers confirm it as Gallicanus arrives.
Chapter 23
Scene XII
Gallicanus returns from battle and recounts his conversion experience to Constantine, describing how he was defeated, then aided by a heavenly figure after vowing to the Creator. He explains that he has been baptized and now wishes to renounce marriage to Constance to devote himself to God. Constantine reveals that Constance and Gallicanus's own daughters have also chosen virginity, and they rejoice together.
Chapter 24
Scene XIII
Gallicanus, now converted, reassures Constance and her virgins that he supports their vow of chastity. He renounces his claim to Constance, recognizing divine will, and decides to give away his wealth, free his slaves, and become a disciple of Hilarion in Ostia. Constantine blesses his plans.
Chapter 25
Scene I
Emperor Julian the Apostate expresses his discontent with the freedom Christians enjoy in the Empire, accusing them of falsely claiming to obey laws from Constantine's time. He orders soldiers to strip Christians of their possessions, citing Christ's words about renouncing all for his sake.
Chapter 26
Scene II
Julian the Apostate's soldiers return prematurely from their mission to seize Gallicanus's castle, reporting that any who crossed the threshold were struck with leprosy or madness. Julian orders them to return and force Gallicanus to either leave the realm or sacrifice to the gods.
Chapter 27
Scene III
Gallicanus rejects all worldly advice and declares his intention to retire to Alexandria for the sake of Christ, hoping to achieve martyrdom.
Chapter 28
Scene IV
Soldiers report to Julian that Gallicanus has been executed in Alexandria, while John and Paul continue to defy Julian by distributing Constance's fortune. Julian orders them brought before him.
Chapter 29
Scene V
Julian the Apostate confronts John and Paul, who refuse to serve him due to his renunciation of Christianity. They praise the Christian emperors Constantine, Constantius, and Constance, and denounce Julian's idolatry. Julian offers them high office but they reject him, and he gives them ten days to repent or face punishment.
Chapter 30
Scene VI
Julian the Apostate orders Terentianus to secretly compel John and Paul to sacrifice to Jupiter, and if they refuse, to execute them privately due to their former palace office.
Chapter 31
Scene VII
Terentianus, on behalf of Emperor Julian, commands John and Paul to worship a golden statue of Jupiter or face death. John and Paul defiantly profess their allegiance to Christ alone, welcoming martyrdom. Terentianus orders their execution and secret burial, instructing the soldiers to claim they were banished.
Chapter 32
Scene VIII
Terentianus witnesses his son possessed by a devil after defiling the tombs of the martyrs John and Paul. He confesses his guilt and is urged to seek baptism for pardon.
Chapter 33
Scene IX
Terentianus prays to the martyrs John and Paul for his son's recovery, and the Christians announce that his son has been healed through their intercession. Terentianus praises God for the miracle.
Chapter 34
Dulcitius
The chapter presents the martyrdom of the three sisters Agape, Chionia, and Irena under the Roman emperors Diocletian and the governor Dulcitius. The sisters steadfastly refuse to renounce their Christian faith or sacrifice to pagan gods. Dulcitius, overcome by lust, attempts to approach them secretly but is divinely befuddled and ends up embracing and kissing kitchen pots, becoming blackened with soot. After further trials, Agape and Chionia are burned alive but remain unharmed by the flames, dying only when they pray for release. Irena is threatened with defilement in a brothel but is miraculously rescued by two strangers and taken to a mountain, leaving Sisinnius and his soldiers wandering in confusion.
Chapter 35
Characters
A list of characters appearing in the plays of Roswitha, including Antiochus, Hadrian, Sapientia, Faith, Hope, and Charity, along with various matrons.
Chapter 36
Dulcitius
The chapter presents the martyrdom of the three sisters Agape, Chionia, and Irena under the Roman emperors Diocletian and the governor Dulcitius. The sisters steadfastly refuse to renounce their Christian faith or sacrifice to pagan gods. Dulcitius, overcome by lust, attempts to approach them secretly but is divinely befuddled and ends up embracing and kissing kitchen pots, becoming blackened with soot. After further trials, Agape and Chionia are burned alive but remain unharmed by the flames, dying only when they pray for release. Irena is threatened with defilement in a brothel but is miraculously rescued by two strangers and taken to a mountain, leaving Sisinnius and his soldiers wandering in confusion.
Chapter 37
Scene I
Emperor Hadrian and his advisor Antiochus discuss the threat posed by a Christian woman and her three daughters, who are converting Roman wives and causing domestic discord. Hadrian orders the woman brought before him.
Chapter 38
Scene II
Sapientia is summoned by the Emperor Hadrian through Antiochus. She fearlessly declares her Christian faith and her trust in divine protection, agreeing to go to the palace with her daughters.
Chapter 39
Scene III
Emperor Hadrian and Antiochus interrogate Sapientia and her daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity. Sapientia engages in a complex discourse on arithmetic and number theory, refusing to worship the gods. Hadrian, unable to persuade them, orders them imprisoned for three days.
Chapter 40
Scene IV
Sapientia encourages her daughters Faith, Hope, and Charity to remain steadfast in their faith despite imprisonment and impending torture, emphasizing the eternal reward of virginity and martyrdom over earthly marriage.
Chapter 41
Scene V
Sapientia and her three daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity, are brought before Emperor Hadrian and Antiochus. Despite threats and brutal tortures, the daughters remain steadfast in their Christian faith, performing miracles such as milk flowing from wounds, swimming in boiling pitch, and causing a cauldron to burst. Each is eventually beheaded, while Sapientia rejoices in their martyrdom.
Chapter 42
Scene VI
Hadrian questions Antiochus about his failed torture of Charity, who miraculously survived scourging and a fiery furnace, killing five thousand men instead. Antiochus reports that Charity played unharmed in the flames with three white-clad men beside her. Hadrian, embarrassed, orders her execution by sword.
Chapter 43
Scene VII
Sapientia prepares her daughter Charity for martyrdom, urging her to embrace the sword with faith. Charity willingly submits, and Sapientia commends her soul to Christ, expressing joy and relief at her daughter's spiritual triumph.
Chapter 44
Scene VIII
Sapientia, accompanied by noble matrons, prepares to bury her daughters. The matrons offer to help with the funeral rites and agree to follow the bodies to the burial site three miles outside the city.
Chapter 45
Scene IX
Sapientia chooses a burial place for her martyred daughters, thanks the matrons for their support, and prays fervently for her own death so she may be reunited with her children in Christ.
Chapter 46
Scene X
Paphnutius visits the aged hermit Antony in the desert, recounting his mission to convert the harlot Thais. He describes how he disguised himself as a lover, confronted her, and ultimately led her to a life of penance in a narrow cell. Antony rejoices at the conversion but Paphnutius confesses his unease about the severity of her penance, and they agree to pray together for a divine sign of mercy.
Chapter 47
Scene XI
Paphnutius visits Antony and learns from Paul's vision that Thais has been forgiven and a heavenly reward awaits her. Antony instructs Paphnutius to end her penance and comfort her with hope.
Chapter 48
Scene XII
Paphnutius visits Thais in her cell, where she has spent years in penitence. He reassures her of God's forgiveness, not for her harsh penance but for her love of Christ. He tells her that in fifteen days she will pass to Paradise, and Thais responds with humble gratitude and praise.
Chapter 49
Scene XIII
Thais, on her deathbed, pleads with Paphnutius not to leave her. Paphnutius comforts her, prays with her, and after her death, he commends her soul to God and speaks of the resurrection of the body.
Chapter 50
Scene XIV
Sisinnius and his soldiers are confounded by enchantment as they pursue Irena. Sisinnius orders an archer to shoot her, but Irena rebukes him, embracing her martyrdom and virginity as she looks forward to her heavenly reward.
Chapter 51
Callimachus
Callimachus confesses his sinful love for Drusiana to friends, then to Drusiana herself, who rejects him and prays for death. After her death, Callimachus attempts to violate her corpse but is struck down by a divine vision. The Apostle John raises him from the dead, and Callimachus repents and converts. Drusiana is also resurrected, and Fortunatus is raised but remains unrepentant.
Chapter 52
Characters
A list of characters appearing in the plays of Roswitha, including Antiochus, Hadrian, Sapientia, Faith, Hope, and Charity, along with various matrons.
Chapter 53
Callimachus
Callimachus confesses his sinful love for Drusiana to friends, then to Drusiana herself, who rejects him and prays for death. After her death, Callimachus attempts to violate her corpse but is struck down by a divine vision. The Apostle John raises him from the dead, and Callimachus repents and converts. Drusiana is also resurrected, and Fortunatus is raised but remains unrepentant.
Chapter 54
Scene I
Emperor Hadrian and his advisor Antiochus discuss the threat posed by a Christian woman and her three daughters, who are converting Roman wives and causing domestic discord. Hadrian orders the woman brought before him.
Chapter 55
Scene II
Sapientia is summoned by the Emperor Hadrian through Antiochus. She fearlessly declares her Christian faith and her trust in divine protection, agreeing to go to the palace with her daughters.
Chapter 56
Scene III
Emperor Hadrian and Antiochus interrogate Sapientia and her daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity. Sapientia engages in a complex discourse on arithmetic and number theory, refusing to worship the gods. Hadrian, unable to persuade them, orders them imprisoned for three days.
Chapter 57
Scene IV
Sapientia encourages her daughters Faith, Hope, and Charity to remain steadfast in their faith despite imprisonment and impending torture, emphasizing the eternal reward of virginity and martyrdom over earthly marriage.
Chapter 58
Scene V
Sapientia and her three daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity, are brought before Emperor Hadrian and Antiochus. Despite threats and brutal tortures, the daughters remain steadfast in their Christian faith, performing miracles such as milk flowing from wounds, swimming in boiling pitch, and causing a cauldron to burst. Each is eventually beheaded, while Sapientia rejoices in their martyrdom.
Chapter 59
Scene VI
Hadrian questions Antiochus about his failed torture of Charity, who miraculously survived scourging and a fiery furnace, killing five thousand men instead. Antiochus reports that Charity played unharmed in the flames with three white-clad men beside her. Hadrian, embarrassed, orders her execution by sword.
Chapter 60
Scene VII
Sapientia prepares her daughter Charity for martyrdom, urging her to embrace the sword with faith. Charity willingly submits, and Sapientia commends her soul to Christ, expressing joy and relief at her daughter's spiritual triumph.
Chapter 61
Scene VIII
Sapientia, accompanied by noble matrons, prepares to bury her daughters. The matrons offer to help with the funeral rites and agree to follow the bodies to the burial site three miles outside the city.
Chapter 62
Scene IX
Sapientia chooses a burial place for her martyred daughters, thanks the matrons for their support, and prays fervently for her own death so she may be reunited with her children in Christ.
Chapter 63
Abraham
Abraham, a hermit, seeks counsel from Brother Ephrem about his young niece Mary, whom he has adopted. With Ephrem's guidance, Mary chooses a life of chastity and devotion, and Abraham builds her a cell near his hermitage. Later, Mary is seduced and runs away, falling into despair. Abraham, after a vision, finds her and brings her back with gentleness and love, leading her to repentance and a life of severe penance.
Chapter 64
Characters
A list of characters appearing in the plays of Roswitha, including Antiochus, Hadrian, Sapientia, Faith, Hope, and Charity, along with various matrons.
Chapter 65
Abraham
Abraham, a hermit, seeks counsel from Brother Ephrem about his young niece Mary, whom he has adopted. With Ephrem's guidance, Mary chooses a life of chastity and devotion, and Abraham builds her a cell near his hermitage. Later, Mary is seduced and runs away, falling into despair. Abraham, after a vision, finds her and brings her back with gentleness and love, leading her to repentance and a life of severe penance.
Chapter 66
Scene I
Emperor Hadrian and his advisor Antiochus discuss the threat posed by a Christian woman and her three daughters, who are converting Roman wives and causing domestic discord. Hadrian orders the woman brought before him.
Chapter 67
Scene II
Sapientia is summoned by the Emperor Hadrian through Antiochus. She fearlessly declares her Christian faith and her trust in divine protection, agreeing to go to the palace with her daughters.
Chapter 68
Scene III
Emperor Hadrian and Antiochus interrogate Sapientia and her daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity. Sapientia engages in a complex discourse on arithmetic and number theory, refusing to worship the gods. Hadrian, unable to persuade them, orders them imprisoned for three days.
Chapter 69
Scene IV
Sapientia encourages her daughters Faith, Hope, and Charity to remain steadfast in their faith despite imprisonment and impending torture, emphasizing the eternal reward of virginity and martyrdom over earthly marriage.
Chapter 70
Scene V
Sapientia and her three daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity, are brought before Emperor Hadrian and Antiochus. Despite threats and brutal tortures, the daughters remain steadfast in their Christian faith, performing miracles such as milk flowing from wounds, swimming in boiling pitch, and causing a cauldron to burst. Each is eventually beheaded, while Sapientia rejoices in their martyrdom.
Chapter 71
Scene VI
Hadrian questions Antiochus about his failed torture of Charity, who miraculously survived scourging and a fiery furnace, killing five thousand men instead. Antiochus reports that Charity played unharmed in the flames with three white-clad men beside her. Hadrian, embarrassed, orders her execution by sword.
Chapter 72
Scene VII
Sapientia prepares her daughter Charity for martyrdom, urging her to embrace the sword with faith. Charity willingly submits, and Sapientia commends her soul to Christ, expressing joy and relief at her daughter's spiritual triumph.
Chapter 73
Scene VIII
Sapientia, accompanied by noble matrons, prepares to bury her daughters. The matrons offer to help with the funeral rites and agree to follow the bodies to the burial site three miles outside the city.
Chapter 74
Scene IX
Sapientia chooses a burial place for her martyred daughters, thanks the matrons for their support, and prays fervently for her own death so she may be reunited with her children in Christ.
Chapter 75
Paphnutius
Paphnutius, a hermit, is distressed by the sinful life of the harlot Thais and resolves to rescue her. Disguised as a lover, he gains entry to her house, reproaches her, and leads her to repent. Thais burns her wealth, enters a narrow cell for three years of penance, and dies in a state of grace, while Paphnutius seeks confirmation of her forgiveness through prayer with Antony.
Chapter 76
Characters
A list of characters appearing in the plays of Roswitha, including Antiochus, Hadrian, Sapientia, Faith, Hope, and Charity, along with various matrons.
Chapter 77
Paphnutius
Paphnutius, a hermit, is distressed by the sinful life of the harlot Thais and resolves to rescue her. Disguised as a lover, he gains entry to her house, reproaches her, and leads her to repent. Thais burns her wealth, enters a narrow cell for three years of penance, and dies in a state of grace, while Paphnutius seeks confirmation of her forgiveness through prayer with Antony.
Chapter 78
Scene I
Emperor Hadrian and his advisor Antiochus discuss the threat posed by a Christian woman and her three daughters, who are converting Roman wives and causing domestic discord. Hadrian orders the woman brought before him.
Chapter 79
Scene II
Sapientia is summoned by the Emperor Hadrian through Antiochus. She fearlessly declares her Christian faith and her trust in divine protection, agreeing to go to the palace with her daughters.
Chapter 80
Scene III
Emperor Hadrian and Antiochus interrogate Sapientia and her daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity. Sapientia engages in a complex discourse on arithmetic and number theory, refusing to worship the gods. Hadrian, unable to persuade them, orders them imprisoned for three days.
Chapter 81
Scene IV
Sapientia encourages her daughters Faith, Hope, and Charity to remain steadfast in their faith despite imprisonment and impending torture, emphasizing the eternal reward of virginity and martyrdom over earthly marriage.
Chapter 82
Scene V
Sapientia and her three daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity, are brought before Emperor Hadrian and Antiochus. Despite threats and brutal tortures, the daughters remain steadfast in their Christian faith, performing miracles such as milk flowing from wounds, swimming in boiling pitch, and causing a cauldron to burst. Each is eventually beheaded, while Sapientia rejoices in their martyrdom.
Chapter 83
Scene VI
Hadrian questions Antiochus about his failed torture of Charity, who miraculously survived scourging and a fiery furnace, killing five thousand men instead. Antiochus reports that Charity played unharmed in the flames with three white-clad men beside her. Hadrian, embarrassed, orders her execution by sword.
Chapter 84
Scene VII
Sapientia prepares her daughter Charity for martyrdom, urging her to embrace the sword with faith. Charity willingly submits, and Sapientia commends her soul to Christ, expressing joy and relief at her daughter's spiritual triumph.
Chapter 85
Scene VIII
Sapientia, accompanied by noble matrons, prepares to bury her daughters. The matrons offer to help with the funeral rites and agree to follow the bodies to the burial site three miles outside the city.
Chapter 86
Scene IX
Sapientia chooses a burial place for her martyred daughters, thanks the matrons for their support, and prays fervently for her own death so she may be reunited with her children in Christ.
Chapter 87
Scene X
Paphnutius visits the aged hermit Antony in the desert, recounting his mission to convert the harlot Thais. He describes how he disguised himself as a lover, confronted her, and ultimately led her to a life of penance in a narrow cell. Antony rejoices at the conversion but Paphnutius confesses his unease about the severity of her penance, and they agree to pray together for a divine sign of mercy.
Chapter 88
Scene XI
Paphnutius visits Antony and learns from Paul's vision that Thais has been forgiven and a heavenly reward awaits her. Antony instructs Paphnutius to end her penance and comfort her with hope.
Chapter 89
Scene XII
Paphnutius visits Thais in her cell, where she has spent years in penitence. He reassures her of God's forgiveness, not for her harsh penance but for her love of Christ. He tells her that in fifteen days she will pass to Paradise, and Thais responds with humble gratitude and praise.
Chapter 90
Scene XIII
Thais, on her deathbed, pleads with Paphnutius not to leave her. Paphnutius comforts her, prays with her, and after her death, he commends her soul to God and speaks of the resurrection of the body.
Chapter 91
Sapientia
Sapientia's three daughters—Faith, Hope, and Charity—are martyred one by one under Emperor Hadrian for refusing to renounce Christ. After their deaths, Sapientia buries them and prays to die and join them in heaven.
Chapter 92
Characters
A list of characters appearing in the plays of Roswitha, including Antiochus, Hadrian, Sapientia, Faith, Hope, and Charity, along with various matrons.
Chapter 93
Sapientia
Sapientia's three daughters—Faith, Hope, and Charity—are martyred one by one under Emperor Hadrian for refusing to renounce Christ. After their deaths, Sapientia buries them and prays to die and join them in heaven.
Chapter 94
Scene I
Emperor Hadrian and his advisor Antiochus discuss the threat posed by a Christian woman and her three daughters, who are converting Roman wives and causing domestic discord. Hadrian orders the woman brought before him.
Chapter 95
Scene II
Sapientia is summoned by the Emperor Hadrian through Antiochus. She fearlessly declares her Christian faith and her trust in divine protection, agreeing to go to the palace with her daughters.
Chapter 96
Scene III
Emperor Hadrian and Antiochus interrogate Sapientia and her daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity. Sapientia engages in a complex discourse on arithmetic and number theory, refusing to worship the gods. Hadrian, unable to persuade them, orders them imprisoned for three days.
Chapter 97
Scene IV
Sapientia encourages her daughters Faith, Hope, and Charity to remain steadfast in their faith despite imprisonment and impending torture, emphasizing the eternal reward of virginity and martyrdom over earthly marriage.
Chapter 98
Scene V
Sapientia and her three daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity, are brought before Emperor Hadrian and Antiochus. Despite threats and brutal tortures, the daughters remain steadfast in their Christian faith, performing miracles such as milk flowing from wounds, swimming in boiling pitch, and causing a cauldron to burst. Each is eventually beheaded, while Sapientia rejoices in their martyrdom.
Chapter 99
Scene VI
Hadrian questions Antiochus about his failed torture of Charity, who miraculously survived scourging and a fiery furnace, killing five thousand men instead. Antiochus reports that Charity played unharmed in the flames with three white-clad men beside her. Hadrian, embarrassed, orders her execution by sword.
Chapter 100
Scene VII
Sapientia prepares her daughter Charity for martyrdom, urging her to embrace the sword with faith. Charity willingly submits, and Sapientia commends her soul to Christ, expressing joy and relief at her daughter's spiritual triumph.
Chapter 101
Scene VIII
Sapientia, accompanied by noble matrons, prepares to bury her daughters. The matrons offer to help with the funeral rites and agree to follow the bodies to the burial site three miles outside the city.
Chapter 102
Scene IX
Sapientia chooses a burial place for her martyred daughters, thanks the matrons for their support, and prays fervently for her own death so she may be reunited with her children in Christ.
Chapter 103
A Note on the Acting of the Plays
This chapter discusses the evidence and possibilities for staging Roswitha's plays, arguing against a condescendingly primitive approach and advocating for imaginative, sympathetic productions that respect the plays' dramatic strength and religious faith. It contrasts a misguided modern performance of Callimachus with the more successful production of Paphnutius by Edith Craig, and offers practical suggestions for future performances.
Chapter 104
Endnotes
The endnotes provide editorial commentary on translations, manuscript sources, performances, and textual decisions regarding Roswitha's plays, including references to productions of 'Callimachus' and 'Paphnutius' and the appearance of Miss Ellen Terry as the Abbess.
