cou'd thy gentleness of Soul infuse Its Spirit into my Breast to temper mine How shou'd I then be blest But who can tell Perhaps 't is better order'd as it is Indifference wou'd never suit my Fate My Passions are unruly and sometimes Break loose on my best Friends But then you shou'd Consider 'em as the effects of Love As the effects Nay they are Love it self For Love it self is all the Passions At least to me Whether it be Desire Or Hope or Fear or Anger or Revenge In all its different Motions still 't is Love Love Love The great Incendiary here His Torch sets all this little World on Fire And let it burn to purifie my flame For Life and Love shall both burn out together Servant enters to him Serv. Sir you are stay'd for Vir. So so well I come I have forgot my self my business too With looking on thee Can'st thou tell me Love What 't was I came about Fav Business you say Vir. I fancy'd I had mighty business here But now I find 't was but a fond pretence To come and visit thee Fav You 're always kind Vir. The hurry and the struggle of the Day You were Inform'd in by my Messengers Fav They hourly brought me the particulars And there are somethings done which I could wish Vir. Things which I thought I cou'd not have allow'd And but to raise thy Fortune never wou'd Fav Pray heav'n they do not overturn it quite Vir. But they must pass with others in the Crowd There will be mischief in confusion I had forgot Thou art a Stranger still To the sad News Thy Rival is no more Fav My Rival Vir. Yes thy Rival in my heart You had it all between you Wife and Friend Junius that Friend is dead Fav Dead Is he dead Vir. He fell at Canna Had he been alive And still a Roman in his interest I never cou'd have been a Foe to Rome I have an hour of grief to Dedicate But this is not the time I 'm call'd upon Hanibal comes the glorious Hannibal His entry will be most Magnificent And will reward your Curiosity I will provide you Place and send for you Exit Favonia alone Fav What what is there that I can want on Earth To fill the measure of my happiness Why am I not contented with my Lot So kind a Husband falls not to the fate Of every Wife All that he says and does All his designs are working still for me And yet I cannot thank him as I ought Not but I ever had a dutious Sense But that is not the payment of the Heart He asks my Love and not my Gratitude And why is that deny'd O! Junius But thou art dead and I may name thee now I made it Criminal to pronounce his Name Avoiding every way all news of him Endeavouring to forget him if I cou'd But Oh! the torment and the rack of Soul To keep our thoughts for ever on the bent Upon themselves still labouring to forget What by the labour we remember more Why didst thou come between him and my Heart Why rather did my Husband place thee there By bringing thee into the Family I saw no danger till it was too late But what have I not done and suffer'd too To drive thee thence to make Virginius room I have maintain'd an everlasting War Within this Breast still fighting on his side Have summon'd all my succours to my Aid My Native Powers and the Confederate Force Of Reason Duty Virtue nay brought down The Woman's last Reserve of all my Fame Weak Aids alas against the Tyrant Love But he 's depos'd and Death has set me free A greater Tyrant gives me Liberty Exit ACT II. SCENE I. The Forum Decius Magius with Perolla and two or three of his Clients among the Citizens Mag. A Garrison in Capua O! prevent Resist their Entrance block their Passage up Remember Pyrrhus and the Tarentines His insolent Rule and their subjected State Per. They are already enter'd Mag. Let 'em not possess themselves Expel 'em drive 'em out Or if by a brave memorable Blow You wou'd redeem your baseness to your Friends Cut 'em in pieces and compound with Rome Per. They are not of your Party They fall off Citizens sneak off Mag. Old honesty is us'd to stand alone Per. Here comes my Father Mag. Good young Man retire I may say something that you wou'd not hear Pacuvius with the Senators in their Robes crossing the Stage Pac. Widen our Gates let our encircling Walls Sink in the Earth that nothing may appear Ev'n in a seeming Opposition To stand against the conquering Hannibal The Conqueror of Rome but Capua's Friend 1 Sen. We need no Ramparts now no Bulwarks Walls We 're strongly Fortify'd in Hannibal Mag. What are the Forces that he brings along Not only Affricans but Nations drawn From the extreamest limits of the Earth Hercules's Pillars and the Ocean's Bounds Who have no knowledge of Humanity And but in Humane Speech differ from Beasts Brutal and Bloody but their Leader has Advanc'd their natural Barbarity Erecting Monstrous Bridges of the Dead On Human Bodies urging his proud way 2 Sen. Nay Decius Magius Mag. And as an absolute Master of the Warr Defying Famaine in his horrid Camp Has taught 'em to devour the Flesh of Men. 1 Sen. Now Magius you grow Dangerous indeed Mag. Are these to be our Friends these our Allies Who that is but a Son of Italy Can see and suffer such detested Slaves Whom but to touch is a Pollution Such obscene Villains to become our Lords What! shall we turn a Province to their Power Who wou'd depend on Affrick for her smiles That looks upon the fair-fac'd Italy Can you consent that she shou'd fall at last A sober Matron and unsully'd yet With all her Graces to the swarthy spoil Of hot Numidians and lust-burnt Moors Pac. We 'll hear no more Perolla if thou art a Son of mine Leave him and follow me Forward my Lords Mag. I have done with Hannibal And now Pacuvius a word to thee Per. I know my Duty here and will withdraw From what I fear a Father's Infamy Exit Pac. This you must answer Mag. To the Gods and Men I 'le answer it wou'd thou cou'dst do as much For what thou hast done Pac. I have serv'd the Common-wealth Mag. Thou hast served thy self Pac. And 't is thy Envy rails Mag. O! that there was no juster cause to speak But sure there 's not so reprobate a Wretch To envy thee the ruin of thy Country Pac. The ruin of thy peevishness and pride Mag. That Fame unenvi'd shall be wholly thine Thou canst not as a free-born Citizen But understand that true prosperity Lives in a common share of liberty Not in the plunder of our Neighbours rights Pac. Who has invaded ' em Mag. Thou wouldst be first And would thou hadst been so in dignity Of honest deeds but that was not enough Pac. I find I am arraign'd What was there
with us in this business 1 Cit. Heartily and speedily or we shall visit 'em again And so you may tell 'em my Lord. Exeunt shouting Pac. I wonnot fail Enter Senators 1 Sen. Pacuvius O! what Honours are thy due Statues and Temples thou Deliverer 2 Sen. We cannot speak our humble thanks too low In the deep sense of our acknowledgments 3 Sen. Thou hast sav'd our Lives dispose of them and us 4 Sen. Our Fortunes Friends and dearest Interests 1. Sen. Command in all for we owe all to thee Pac. I have been the happy Instrument indeed To serve the Senate 2 Sen. Nay to save the State Pac. And I am nobly pay'd in the good work 1 Sen. The People tho' won't be so satisfi'd Pac. No they are obstinate upon their Terms You must comply with ' em 2 Sen. We are agreed in every Article for Hannibal 3 Sen. And wou'd declare our selves did not our Friends Pac. Under the Roman Arms in Cicily 3 Sen. As Hostages for our Fidelity Withhold us till we can provide for them Pac. That fear was urg'd before but you shall have It fully answer'd by our Deputies I see they are return'd Om. O! welcome welcome 2 Sen. What have you done for us with Hannibal Dep. We bring most advantageous Terms of Peace These the Conditions the last of which Offering a Paper Removes the present fear and does provide Expresly for our Friends in Cicily 3 Sen. Let that be read Pac. Nay read 'em not in parts Dep. He offers you three Hundred Roman Knights Which you shall chuse out of his Prisoners To give the Romans in a fair Exchange For our Campanian Youth in Arms with them 1 Sen. He has hit upon the sole Expedient To ensure the Lives and Safety of our Friends Pac. He offers more than we cou'd ask of him Dep. You 'll find him in all points as generous Pac. Now are you satisfy'd 3 Sen. We ask no more Dep. In the just confidence of profer'd Love He comes himself the Hostage of his Faith To Capua Blo So my Advices say but mention not the time Dep. He comes this Day He 's on his March already 1 Sen. Let us prepare for his Reception Pac. Summon the People to the Forum then And let the Articles be read to 'em So hand in hand we shall proceed in Love And act unenvy'd for our Country's good Going Enter Decius Magius Mag. Pacuvius You have done most worthily Saving the Senate Wou'd you wou'd employ Your Interest with the People always so The wretched Romans wanted such a Friend I had no Pow'r But Death has set 'em free 1 Sen. Dead Are they dead The Senators go out one after another and leave him alone Mag. All perisht in the Baths And they are left behind to blush in Blood For this Day 's Treason who encourag'd it It must be answer'd for to Gods and Men And Capua rue it in her Sons unborn An impious City of devoted Crimes The Vengeance will fall heavy and I fear Fall wide enough ev'n to involve us all 1 Sen. Alas We are not guilty of their Death Goes out 2 Sen. But mourn alike with you the People's Rage Goes out 3 Sen. What cou'd we do Goes out Mag. What are you doing now Where are you going Do you leave me too But you indeed have left me long ago Your Steps have err'd long from the track of Truth And are not worth an honest Man's pursuit But I will follow If I can't prevent I may protest against their Practices That 's in my Pow'r That will exempt me from The general Guilt and justifie my Fame Let me secure my Innocence and then Death to an Old Man cannot come too soon Exit SCENE Virginius's House Favonia at work with her Women A Song written by a Lady WHAT 's Beauty Bright Favonia tell The Mistress of it knows it well 'T is not Colour 't is not Feature Easie Fashion nor good Nature Good Teeth and Hair a smiling Grace Can't give Perfection to a Face Not yielding Lips or wishing Eyes But she is handsom who denies A Song in Answer written by a Gentleman WHAT Beauty is let Strephon tell Who oft has try'd it knows it well Not all the Wonders of a Face Where Nature triumphs in each Grace Not Snowy Breasts thro' which is seen The purple Flood that boils within Not Lips when Wit with ease beguiles Whilst playsom Cupids dance in Smiles Not Youth not Shape not Air not Eyes She only charms me who complies Virginius enters to ' em Vir. Among your Women in your Huswifry Fye 't is a Profanation of the Day Sacred and set apart from common use And dedicated to the publick Joy Fav The publick Joy my Lord Vir. The general Joy In which I have secur'd a part for thee A liberal share for my Favonia Fav May I secure my private Peace at home And for the publick let the Joy and Grief Fall to their different Fates who rise and fall The State does not concern a Woman's Care Yet Sir I thank you for remembring me Vir. Dost thou Well there 's something ev'n in that There is a kind of Gratitude in Thanks Tho' it be barren and bring forth but Words Fav I do not understand Vir. Thou dost not true And that 's the very root of my Complaint That any thing relating to my Love Shou'd still be strange not understood by thee Fav My Lord Vir. O! thou art cold in my reception Thou can'st not think thy self but thou art cold I wou'd have met my Welcome in thy Arms My eager Welcome in thy longing Arms That shou'd have crush'd me inward to thy Heart Into thy Heart if it were possible Throbbing and beating with the Pulse of Love That that had been a Welcome fit for me And a just Recompence of all my Pains Fav Indeed my Lord I owe you every thing In recompence of what you have done for me But for your welcome that you bring along With you 't is yours as you are Master here And if I have not serv'd it up to you As does become the Duty of my place With that frank Cheerfulness to give content Let me not answer for my Nature's Faults Vir. Nay now thou art too serious Fav I am unhappy in the want of all Those necessary natural Arts to please Vir. Thou art above the little reach of Arts And can'st want nothing but the Will to please Fav What is there that I can invite you to That you do not dispose of Vir. Nothing nothing Thou art all mine and let me tell my Heart That hourly grows more covetous of thy Love And therefore busie to torment it self Its Fears are vain and thou art wholy mine Fav I own your Title and you are the Lord Of every thing that does belong to me Vir. Why what wou'd I have more There 's nothing more I do confess that I am happier Than I deserve to be much happier I commit many Faults but none to thee O!
a Citizen of Capua Second to none in Name and Dignity Torn from his Friends and forc'd in Chains to death Go meet your Hannibal crowd all your Streets Dress up your Houses and your Images And put on all the City's Finery To consecrate this Day a Festival Of Barbarous Triumph over you and me Offi. I 'll spoil your speech-making drag him along Exeunt The Lictor dragging Magius off the Stage 1 Cit. O! piteous Spectacle 3 Cit. Piteous indeed 1 Cit. This is the setting out of Slavery 2 Cit. 'T is well if it goes no farther Not allow us to pity our Fellow Citizens 3 Cit. Ay did you mark that 2 Cit. They begin to shew themselves already 1 Cit. In Colours I don't like We may repent too late what we have done Enter more Citizens to ' em 4 Cit. O you have lost the best of the Shew the sight of the Prisoners and the Bushel of Gold-Rings 1 Cit. What! there were so many Roman Knights kill'd and taken at Cannae that their several Rings in a heap together fill'd a Bushel 4 Cit. So they say indeed 1 Cit. Why then their Bushel lies out of all measure in my opinion 4 Cit. The three hundred Knights that were deliver'd to us wou'd have been worth your seeing gallant Fellows indeed and wounded most of ' em 2 Cit. Some body said That Junius was found among the Prisoners 4 Cit. Yes yes Junius our Countryman was among 'em he was said to be kill'd at Cannae but he 's alive again and in a way to do very well 1 Cit. He 's a Prisoner you say 4 Cit. No his old Friend Virginius upon the merit of his violence and the credit of his Father Pacuvius Has made an interest with Hannibal And they say has got him his liberty 2 Cit. All in good time but Decius Magius Let 's follow all to know what comes of him Exeunt Enter Virginius and Junius with an Officer and Guard Vir. O Junius how art thou restor'd to life And I by miracle to happiness For tho the bounteous Gods have blest my Fate With all the good things else of this great World Yet wanting thee wanting my other self I could not be entire to my content Not absolute nor perfect in my joy But they have brought thee back to me again And through such ' mazing paths of Providence We cannot trace and only can admire Thus thy good fortune rises from the bad Hadst thou not been at Cannae taken there Had we not leagu'd our State with Hannibal Thou had'st not been among the Prisoners The Roman Knights to be deliver'd here Thou had'st not seen thy Country City Friends Nor should I had the interest and power With Hannibal to gain thy liberty Jun. I wonnot be oblig'd for any thing I do not understand a benefit I 'm Pris ner of an honourable War And do despise my Freedom but on terms As brave and honest as I parted with it Such terms I must despair of finding here Vir. We do invite you to an equal share Of all the advantages of Government Of Place and Power with us in Capua Jun. Therefore I do refuse my liberty Vir. You wonnot sure refuse it from a Friend Jun. I have no Friend nor I pretend to none Vir. You have been mine and you have thought me yours Jun. That was in our young days when every thing Was swallow'd and went credulously down Our pleasures hurrying on in the same course When we pursu'd 'em with the same desires With the same stretch and eagerness of Youth Our manners too in every thing ally'd Then we were Friends for our convenience But when the business of the World comes on Justling between ambitious interests T is then in the great voyage of our Life As if our Vessels struck upon a Rock Each shifts a several way to ' scape the wreck And sink or swim my Friend nay plunge him down So by his ruin I get safe to shore Vir. It never can be so between us two I have no ambition have no interest That Friendship can suspect or split upon Friendship is riches power all to me Friendship 's another Element of life Water and Fire not of more general use To the support and comfort of the World Than Friendship to the being of my Joy I would do every thing to serve a Friend Jun. And I would serve a Friend in honest things I do pretend no farther You and I You see have very different sentiments Therefore unlikely to continue Friends If from our former Brotherhood of Love You do suspect I may have any claim Against her interest that should have it all Here I renounce it I resign it here And now let 's heartily shake hands and part To your high Fortune You I to my Fate Vir. My Fortune and your Fate shall be but one Jun. They are impossible to reconcile You happy I am born to be a Wretch You free and I condemn'd to be a Slave O! had I fal'n with Honour in the Field How many miseries had ended there Death had secured me then from being led In Triumph here over my Country's Shame I hate your Hannibal I hate your Cause And now can only be a Friend to Rome And if I ever come at Liberty It shall be but to strike against you all Offi. You hear him he is not to be reclaim'd Vir. This is the present sense of suffering The grief of unheal'd Wounds all will be well Offi. You cannot trust him with his liberty Vir. With my own life I will Jun. Have you resolv'd About the trifle of disposing me Vir. My House your Prison I must be your Guard Jun. With your own hands you set it then on fire Offi. He has warn'd you and the consequence be yours Exeunt Junius following Virginius SCENE Virginius 's House Favonia enters a Woman following Fav I 'LE hear no more when next thou speak'st to me Let blood and death and ruin be the Theme Talk of the Massacres of Families Plunder of Cities and whole Countries waste A private mischief is not worth the news Tell me that all the dire Calamities Of raging War chain'd up in discipline Are now broke loose trooping in horrid march To fright the World the brood of Cerberus And worry all like the black-guard of Hell That Lust and Rapine do divide the Spoil That Giant Murder does bestride our Streets Stalking in state and wading deep in Blood My Father Butcher'd weltring in his Gore A Dagger in the Throat of my dear Child And thou shalt be as welcome then as now Exit Woman That Capua is in Universal Blaze All all the winds of Heaven driving this way And nothing but my Tears to quench the Flame Junius alive ev'n that would give me Death In Capua too that brings it nearer still In the same house that stabs the Dagger home It hurries me to Execution And Execution too upon the Rack Let me be out of pain before he comes What corner
shall I find to hide this head in Where is that Dungeon-darkness that can blind The eye of Jealousie my Husband comes To draw me to the hateful Light again To drag me to the tryal of my truth What can I plead O guilty guilty Wretch There is no courage but in Innocence No constancy but in an honest cause Thy Conscience is a thousand witnesses And Junius the chief Accessary he Stands out against thee and confesses all I 'le hear no more pronounce my sentence quick Let it be Death to end me any way Exit Enter Virginius and Junius Vir. I need not tell you you command all here And that you have your Liberty entire Ha! Junius why that paleness on thy face Thy alter'd looks speak thy condition Thou art not well Jun. Indeed I am not well Vir. Expence of Spirits and the loss of Blood With needful care they will recruit again Rest on my arm and let me lead you in SCENE Changes to Favonia's Appartment Favonia leaning on her hand in a Chair Virginius leading Junius into the Room Vir. Favonia Fav Ha! who calls Jun. I can no more I must end here Faints at the sight of Favonia She Shrieks at sight of Him Fav Ha! Vir. Fall into these Arms They never will refuse to bear thee up Favonia call for help he comes again Stay lend your hand soft gently set him down In the Chair She rises out of How is it now Jun. Conofunded in my shame That my infirmity should here intrude Your pardon Madam will recover me Vir. Rally your routed spirits to your aid Rest will compose and bring 'em back again I cannot stay with you but will return To cheer to comfort you and to renew The past endearments of our former Friendship I will provide you Balm for all your Wounds My Wife her self your kind Physician Will wait upon you till I come again Exit Favonia and Junius Jun. I 'm hunted to the brink of the Abyss Plunge in I must and to the bottom now But first upon my Knees let me fall down Trembling and aw'd and fearful of your Frown Bespeaking pardon if I wildly shou d In questioning the Gods upon my Fate Say any thing towards disturbing you Fav O rise I must not hear you on your Knees Jun. I m blest that you will hear me any way But O! the Accent of my Voice is chang'd You cannot know it now in misery There was a time in the gay Spring of Life When every Note was as the mounting Lark's Merry and cheerful to salute the Morn When all the day was made of Melody But it is past that day is spent and done And it has long been night long night with me I have been happier you have known me so Fav Alas there is no Fortune perfect here Jun. Indeed I find it When I enter'd first Into the List of this contending World I promis'd fair for a more prosperous course The Favourite of Fortune and the Friend To perfect all of my Virginius We liv'd the envy of our Capuan Youth The most aspiring to the Glorious Fame Of Friendship only imitated us So blest you found us Fav Would to all the Gods I ne're had come between you to divide To part such Friends Jun. O! had we parted there He to the rich possession of your Charms I to a poorer Fortune in my Love Yet rich enough and happy in content All had been well But he would have me home Fav O! I remember his impatience Jun. To be a Witness of his happiness And so I was I hear'd him every day Transported in the Riot of the Theme Full of the ravishing Discoveries He hourly made in that blest Land of Love The ever rising Springs of flowing Joy The hoarded Mines of treasures yet unborn With such a rapture of variety Of Pleasures that were ever growing there It was not safe to hear I found it so Fav O Curs'd effect of foolish Vanity Jun. What was it to approach then to behold And face to face examine and compare The Copied Beauties with the Original O! they were faint and the description cold Heavy and dead to the inspiring Life And what I thought Extravagance before Prov'd easie to the Wonders I saw there Fav What will this end in Jun. Can we resolve to gaze upon the Sun With steady Eyes soon blinded by that Pride I lost my way and found my self too late Born down the torrent of a Passion That always ended in a Sea of Woe I plainly saw Ruin attend my Steps Therefore resolv'd to lead 'em far away Where they might never come to trouble you But O! it was with all the violence Of Pangs in Death that I at last resolv'd And yielded to that only Remedy A Remedy worse than the worst of Deaths To fly the Place where I must die for Love Or live a Traitor to my Friend and Fame Fav What have you said Jun. If I have said too much Believe I rather had in silence dy'd Than to have spoke at all This was the fate I labour'd to avoid But who can shun His Destiny it follows every where Capua or Rome or Cannae still the same I would have welcom'd it that fatal day But there it lost me in the Crowd of Death This was the place of Execution And it has caught and seiz'd and bound me here I 'm on the Rack What I discover now Is only the expression of my Pain Wrung from my heart long overcharg'd and full Which else should burst with its Convulsive throws Rather than ease its Labour by a Groan A trembling Sigh that might offend your Ear. Fav O Junius whither are you going hold Jun. A little farther and I shall arrive At my long home the Goal of my Despair To ask your Pardon wou'd repeat my Fault To ask your Pity were to draw you in By steps of mercy to a tenderness Criminal and guilty to reprieve a Wretch Who for the Common Peace and yours must die There is no Ward against such Blows as these They stagger me and I at last must fall Since I am doom'd to be a Sacrifice Of fatal friendship and of hopeless love Falls at her Feet she breaks his Fall and kneels by him to recover him Here let me fall I wou'd be offer'd here Allow me dying to confess my Love In my last Sigh and at your feet expire Fav 'T is I am bound and torn upon the Rack I cannot bear it Junius Junius Look up and live and I 'll confess enough For you and for my self all that I know all that I ever heard of wretchedness What you have undergone what I have felt What I now feel from this tormenting Love Where am I going help there O he comes Again to life fly fly to my relief Women enter run to assist Junius and lead him off Use all your Arts his weakness to restore My cure must be never to see him more Exit at another Door The End of the Second
our Scores but what was that all 1. Cit. Why they sent to him to complain that he had abandon'd the Town and as it were yielded it up himself to the Fury of the Romans and withall beseeching him that he wou'd come to their Relief who were not only Besieg'd but shut up in the Works and almost in the Hands of the Enemy 2. Cit. Upon which he came to look upon his Patients at a distance shook his Head in despair of our State and went to Rome for better Advice 3. Cit. He sent us his Reason for so doing 2. Cit. But the Consuls are here still for all his Reason and the Praetor too their Armies are not drawn off as soon as Hannibal march'd out of Capua the Romans came upon us you know as if they had hit the opportunity they had been aiming at solong they did not come here to be drawn away by every Motion of the Enemy 4. Cit. No no they wont leave us so 2. Cit. Therefore my Advice is either to try what our Despair can do in making a bold push or take the Benefit of the Consuls Proclamation 3. Cit. What 's that What does the Proclamation say 2. Cit. It offers Life and liberty to all those that surrender themselves in four and twenty Hours 3. Cit. Why ay why don't we lay hold on the Proclamation 4. Cit. At least let 's stay for an Answer from Hannibal Some Mauritanians have undertaken in the Name of Deserters to get to him thro' the Roman Camp 2. Cit. And will be wise enough never to come back agen In the mean time we stand like Condemn'd Men with the Halter about our Necks but no body attempts any thing for himself or the Publick 1. Cit. What wou'd you have us do The chief Citizens have shut themselves up in their Houses expecting their Ruine with the Destruction of their Country 3. Cit. The Nobles have deserted us and the Care of the Common-wealth 2. Cit. Why then in the first place let us go and set Decius Magius at Liberty Omn. Agreed agreed 't was luckily thought upon 3. Cit. He 's a good Man and a lover of his Country 4. Cit. And a Lover of the People 1. Cit. Nay he never quarrell'd with us but for our Faults when we deserv'd it 3. Cit. If we had been govern'd by him Friends 2. Cit. Let us clap him up at the Head of the Government 3. Cit. And his Enemies in his place 4. Cit. We can't do better 1. Cit. And then we 'll go about the City to Summon the Senate and tell the Senators plainly what they must trust to that unless they assemble immediately to look after the Publick we 'll set their Houses on Fire about their Ears and begin with them in the Ruin of Capua 2. Cit. We 'll Sacrifice them to their Country rather then give up our Wives and Children to the Enemy 3. Cit. And so we 'll tell 'em plainly 4. Cit. There 's nothing else to be done 1. Cit. If we are to be Ruin'd let it begin at our Betters 2. Cit. 'T is time enough for us when it comes to our turn And I 'll take my turn tho' it be at the Gallows 1. Cit. Why that 's well said there 's something to be expected from our honest endeavours Therefore all hands to Decius Magius Exeunt SCENE Virginius's House Virginius enters with a Servant Vir. You know the rest tell her that I am here Exit Servant SCENE opens and shews Favonia on the Ground Where are you on the ground it does become The present Posture of your fall'n Estate Fallen from the highest pitch of Happiness Into the lowest depth of Misery Yet I will raise you wou'd I cou'd restore you To the admir'd height in which you stood Of Fame and Virtue but it cannot be As well I may refix a new fall'n Star In his bright Orb to light the World agen I come to visit you Fav I thank you Sir Vir. I durst not trust you in a Father's Hand Fav I have no Friend Vir. O! that the time shou'd come That you shou'd ever say you have no Friend When I am near you Yes you have a Friend A Friend you shou'd not have no more of that I am to tell you what a Friend you 've lost And then compute your Gains Fav I have lost all That ever was of Value to my Peace Vir. You have destroy'd all that was in your Pow'r And you well know your Pow'r to ruine me You 've thrown away a Husband and his Love That follow'd you as Nature does her Works To nurse and raise you to Perfection Had all the good things of this Earth been mine And mine the Pow'r to draw their Spirits off Into a Quintessence of Happiness I had bestow'd the precious Draught on you And in return Fav O I could make you none To your Deserts Vir. In barbarous Return You have reach'd out the Gall of Bitterness To dash my Cup and poyson all my Joys I cou'd have sweetned it with my Revenge Which I restrain'd I held your Father's Hand Stretch'd out to take away your guilty Life For when I heard he had pronounc'd your Death And Sign'd the Execution tho' I knew You had deserv'd it of my Wrongs and Me I cou'd not hold but flew to your Relief And why Is it because my Nature is Insensible and cannot feel a Wrong Stupid and deadned to the Sense of Shame Or that I 'm noted for my Easiness In finding out Excuses to forgive And pardon faster than they injure me Is that the Reason that I rescu'd you You know me better no Favonia no 'T was Pity came into the Place of Rage But do not therefore think that I am sit For my Disgrace because I pitty'd you Justice her self-Condemns with a Remorse And pitty's while she strikes besides I thought That you and you who for so many Years Had liv'd as Friends shou'd have a time to part Fav O Misery that I must nothing say In my Defence to clear my Innocence Vir. Hold have a care no more of Innocence Or a Defence if you insist on that I shall break thro' the Temper I propos'd And then I cannot say where I shall end Fav Well I have done Vir. Not but you have an Advocate still here Within this Breast and not to be remov'd That in Defiance of a Cause so foul So desperate and so lost will yet be heard But then it does pretend but to advise And warn me to be cautious what I do Well to consider what I undertake Pondring to weigh the heavy Consequence And not revenge my self upon my self As that 's the case unless I am resolv'd Never to want what I wou'd throw away And who can know his Resolution Who can be sure that he is well enough Acquainted with the Temper of his Heart To answer for its Proof and Constancy To know it's strength sufficient to support So great a Loss to bear a Loss like yours
tame No Council moderate no Friendship cure Therefore I went to Rome resolv'd to breath My sighs in Foreign Air not to disturb Your Interest or Favonia's Innocence I languisht many Years my Fate thought fit To bring me back and you wou'd have me home Vir. In left her with you Jun. I that conflict I Confess'd what I had suffer'd for my love She pity'd me and I desir'd no more Vir. Say on while I have leisure to attend Jun. The Man you found in her Apartment was Your wretched Friend I thought to ' scape unseen But that poor caution has undone us all Vir. What was your Business there Jun. I went to take A parting look resolv'd to end my griefs And trouble her no more Favonia was Ev'n Innocent of my being there I found her sleeping with her harmless Thoughts And She but wak'd as you approach'd the Room In a surprize to find her self undone This Writing I have drawn to vouch for me In all the circumstances of this tale And the Gods try me by the Truth it bears Dyes Vir. A solemn adjuration and no doubt Most heavenly true and all this is the work Of my own folly had I been content With that faâ—… portion of felicity The Gods beslow'd upon me in a Wife How happy had I been but I must bring My Friend home to usurp upon her right And what 's the consequence Ruine and Death The approach of Death makes me less sensible I 've lost my Wife and Friend and now my self Dyes SCENE Pacuvius House Pacuvius Vibius Virius Marius Blosius with Seven or Eight Senators rising from a Feast Pac. Who who wou'd basely lag behind in life Only to see how many wretched ways Our Enemies will find out to punish us 5 Sen. These Eyes shall never be Spectators of My Countries Ruine Vib. Nor will I behold The ravage and the havock of our Spoils 6 Sen. Nor Capua's Honours trampled in the dust 7 Sen. Nor shining horrid with involving Flames Blo Shall our chast Matrons and our blushing Maids Our generous Youth bred up to nobler hopes Attempted seiz'd o'erpow'rd be tam'd at last To the insults of all unnatural Lusts Vib. If there was nothing else to undergo Blo You cannot call it living on such terms Pac. If we agree that Life wou'd be a load Not to be Born with these Indignities Here is the helping hand to throw it off A Servant gives him a Bowl This Bowl I have reserv'd to crown the Feast Hannibal carries Poyson in a Ring Still to be near him in adversity I have prepar'd this cordial Draught for us A noble and preventing remedy To free our Bodies from the Punishment Our Minds from the Reproach and Infamy Our Eyes and Ears from being Witnesses Of all those Cruelties that are design'd Contriv'd reserv'd and wait for conquer'd Men. Vib. We wonnot rob our Virtue of its Fame To think that any here can stand in need Of words to argue him into a deed Of this high consequence and character Blo We are confirm'd in reason and resolv'd Pac. Then thus I offer you deliverance And do begin a Health to Liberty Drinks 5 Sen. A generous Health and send it round to all Blo Fill all the Bowls at once that we may joyn In that most noble Pledge let no Man have Priority or Place in this last Scene But all unite in honour of the deed Vib. Let us unite our Hands as well as Hearts In this great Work and since we are to part We 'll part like Friends lockt In a strict embrace They embrace in a circle Magius enters as they are in the Ceremony Mag. I must not be shut out I come to be Admitted to the gallant Fellowship Of your great Enterprize I hear you are Determin'd and resolv'd Servants give each Man a Bowl Give me a Cup Among the rest 5 Sen. 'T is Poyson Mag. Not to me Or if it shou'd be so I come to dye 6 Sen. We 'll show you then the way Mag. I 'm old and weak And cannot follow fast unless you stay To take me with you in your Company 6 Sen. We will Pac. I 'm sorry to see you reduc'd to dye Mag. I 'm sorry to see you reduc'd to live Pac. That wou'd be poverty of Soul indeed 'T is not so poor with me Mag. I 'm glad of it 6 Sen. Pacuvius has drank his cordial off Mag. Secure me mine and then at leisure I Will tell you the particulars at large Of what I went about the Consuls doom And Capua's Fate Servant gives Magius a Bowl they all drink together But this delivers me 5 Sen. And all of us Blo Now we defy the Doom Pronounce it in the threatning Consuls words Tho it shou'd thunder from the judgment Seat It shakes not us We have our Pardon seal'd Mag. I was not suffer'd to approach their Camp But as a private Person and a Friend They utterly refus'd the Prisoners Disdaining to receive 'em as a Bribe And wou'd not hear me upon any terms That I cou'd offer all I cou'd obtain Was to inform my self what they design'd To do with us 6 Sen. It must be terrible Mag. Why Fourscore Senators are condemn'd to Death Three Hundred of our noblest Families To be dispers'd into the Latin Towns There to remain as Prisoners at large Our Treasure all confiscated to Rome our Lands and publick Buildings forfeited Capua to be disfranchis'd of her Rights Her Liberties and her chief Citizens The Populace by out-cry to be sold Into the several States of Italy And none permitted to inhabit here But Slaves made Free Strangers and meanest Trades Never to be incorporated more In a Community to have a Voice In free Election of its Magistrates But live enthrall'd under the Scourge of Rome Vib. More dreadful far than Fire or Sword cou'd be Blo It had been Mercy to extirpate quite The Name and Memory of Capua Mag. As to my self 't is true they offer'd all All honourable terms for me and mine But what is Honour Fortune when we have No Friends no Country to rejoyce with us I cou'd not think of Life after that Loss Therefore came timely to prevent it here Pac. O Magius let me witness to the worth I always envy'd We have rivall'd long For Capua's Love but this last act of yours Has forc'd me to confess it was your due Has thrown all emulation so behind The Honour of the Race is wholly yours Had I proceeded with that openess With that clear Spirit in my Countries cause Mag. May be it had been better for us all This is no time for long Confessions If you have done amiss amend it now And by the brave example of your Death Correct the influence of an ill spent Life Pac. I 've found this easie honest way to Death The only way my Friends to vanquish Rome To rob her Consuls of their Triumph here And bear our selves the palm of Victory A Servant whispers Pacuvius and gives him the Paper that