pursues you covering those high 〈◊〉 as if they dog'd you for some damned act What have you done Virg. I have plaid the Paâ—…cide Kill'd mine own child Minut. Virginia Virg. Yes even she These rude hands ript her and her innocent blood flow'd above my elbowes Minut. Kill'd her willingly Virg. Willingly with advice premeditation and settled purpose and see still I wear her crimson colours and these withered armes are dy'd in her heart blood Minut. Most wretched villain Virg. But how I lov'd her life Lend me amongst you one speaking Organ to discourse her death It is too harsh an imposition to lay upon a father O my Virginia Minut. How agrees this love her and murder her Virg. Yes Give me but a little leave to 〈◊〉 a few red tears for souldiers should weep blood and I 'l agree them well Attend me all Alas might I have kept her chaste and free this life so oft ingag'd for ingrateful Rome lay in her bosom But when I saw her pull'd by Appius Lictors to be claim'd a slâ—…ve and drag'd unto a publick Sessions house divorc'd from her fore Spousals with Icilius a noble youth and made a bond-woman inforc'd by violence from her fathers armes to be a Prostiture and Permour to the rude twinings of a leacherous Judge Then then O loving Souldiers I 'l not deny it for 't was mine honor my paâ—…ernal pity and the sole act for which I love my life Then lustful Appius he that swayes the Land slew poor Virginia by this fathers hand 1 Sould. O villain Appius 2 Sold. O noble Virginius Virg. To you I appeal you are my Sentencers Did Appius right or poor Virginius wrong Sentence my Fact with a free general tongue 1. Sold. Appius is the Parricide 2. Sold. Virginins guiltless of his daughters death Minut. It this be true Virginius as the moan of all the Roman fry that followes you confirmes at large this cause is to be pityed and should not dy revengelesse Virg. Noble Minutius Thou hast a daughter thou hast a wife too so most of yôu have Souldiers Why might not this have hapned you Which of you all deer friends but now even now may have your wives deflowred your daughters slav'd and made a Lictors prey Think them not safe in Rome for mine lived there Roman It is a common cause 1 Sold. Appius shall dy for 't 2 Sold. Le ts make Virginius General Omnes A General a General le ts make Virginius General Munit. It shall be so Virginius take my Charge the wrongs are thine so violent and so weighty that none but he that lost fo 〈◊〉 a child knowes how to punish By the Gods of Rome Virginius shall succeed my full command Virg. What 's honor unto me a weak old man weary of life and covetous of a grave I am a dead man now Virginia lives not the self same hand that dar'd to save from shame a child dares in the father 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ill himself 1. Sould. Stay noble General Minut. You much forâ—…â—…nge Virginias Who if you dye will take your â—…ause in hand and proscribe Appius should you pâ—…ish thus Virg. Thou oughtest Minutius Soldiers so ought you I 'm out of fear my noble wife 's expir'd My daughter of blest memory the object of Appius lust lives 〈◊〉 the Elyâ—…an Vestals my house yeilds none fit for his Lictors spoil You that have wives lodg'd in you prison Rome have Lands unriâ—…ed houses yet 〈◊〉 your freeborn daughters yet unstrumpeted prevent these mischiefs yet while you have time 1. Sold. We will by you our noble General 2. Sold. He that was destin'd to preserve great Rome Virg. I accept your châ—… in hope to guard you all from my inhumane sufferings Beâ—… my pride that I have bred a daughter whose chast blood was spilt for you and for Romes laâ—…ing good Explicit Actus Quartus Actus Quintus Scena Prima Enter Opius a Senator and the Advocate Opius IS Appius then committed Senator So 't is 〈◊〉 Opius How will you bear you in this turbuleâ—… state You are a Member of that wretched Faction I wonder how you scape imprisonment Advocate Let me alone I have learnt with the wiâ—… Hedâ—…og to stop my cave that way the â—…pest drives Never did Bear-whelp â—…bling down a hill with more art shrink his head betwixt his clawes then I will work my safety Appius is in the sand already up to th' chin and shal I hazard landing on that shelf Hee 's a wise friend that first 〈◊〉 himself Opius What is your course of 〈◊〉 Advoc. Marry this 〈◊〉 Virginius with his Troops is entering Rome and it is like that in the market place my L. Icilius and himself shall meet Now to encounter these two such great Armies where lies my Court of Guard Senat. Why in your heels There are strange dogs uncoupled Adv. You are deceiv'd I have studied a most eloquent Oration that shall applaud their fortune and distaste the cruelty of Appius Senat. Very good Sir It seems then you will rail upon your Lord your late good Benefactor Adv. By the way Sir Senat. Protest Virginia was no bond-woman and read her noble Pedigree Adv. By the way Sir Opius Could you not by the way too find occasion to beg Lord Appius Lands Adv. And by the way perchance I will For I will gull them all most palbably Opius Indeed you have the Art of flattery Adv. Of Rhetorick you would say And I 'l begin my smooth Oration thus Most learned Captains Senat. Fie fie that 's horrible most of your Captains are utterly unlearned Adv. Yet I assure you most of them know Arithmatick so well that in a Muster to preserve dead payes they I make twelve stand for twenty Opius Very good Adv. Then I proceed I do applaud your fortunes and commend in this your observation noble shake-rags The Helmet shall no more harbour the spider but it shall serve to carowse Sack and Sider The rest within I 'l study Opius Farewel Proteus and I shall wish thy eloquent bravado may shâ—…ild thee from the whip and Eastinado now in this furious tempest let us glide with foulded sails at pleasure of the Tyde Enter Icilius Horatio Valerius Numitorius at oâ—… door with Souldiers Virginius Minutius and others at the other doore Icil. Stand. Virg. Make a stand Winâ—… Icil. A pâ—…rly with Virginius Minut. We wil not trust our General 'twixt the Armies but upon terms of hostage Numit. Well advised Nor we our General who for the leaguer Minut. Our selfe Minutius and Numitorius meet embrace salute the Generals Virg. Who for the City Icil. Numitorius Numit. How is it with your sorrow noble brother Virg. I am forsaken of the gods old man Numit. Preach not that wretched doctrine to your self It wil beget despaire Virg. What doe you call a burning Feaver Is not that a divel It shakes me like an earthquake Wilt a wilt a give me some Wine Numit. O it is hurtful for you Virg. Why
to serve you so hearken with your usuall clemency â—…o the relation of a lovers sufferings your figure still does revell in his dreames he banquets on your memory yet findes not thoughts enough to satisfie his wishes as if Virginia had compos'd his heart and fills it with her beauty Vir. I see he is a miser in his wishes and thinks he never has enough of that which onely he possesses but to give his wishes satisfaction let him know his heart and mine doâ—… 〈◊〉 so near together that hourely they converse and guard each other Clo. Is faire Virginia confident she knowes her favour dwels with the same man I plead for Vir. Unto Icilius. Clo. Worthy faire one I would not wrong your worth so to employ my language for a man so much beneath the merit of your beauty he I plead for has power to make your beauty populous your frowne shall awe the world and in your smile great Rome shall build her happinesse honour and wealth shall not be stil'd companions but servants to your pleasure Then shall Icilius but a refin'd Citizen boast your affection when Lord Appius loves you Vir. Blesse his great Lordship I was much mistaken let thy Lord know thou Advocate of lust all the intentions of that youth are honourable whil'st his are fill'd with sensuality And for a finall resolution know our hearts in love like twins alike shall grow Exit Clo. Had I a wife or daughter that could please him I would devote her to him but I must shadow this scorne and sooth him still in lust Exit Enter six Souldiers 1. What newes yet of Virginius returne 2. Not any 1. O the misery of Souldiers They doubly starve us with faire promises We spread the earth like haile or new reapt corne in this fierce famine and yet patiently make our obedience the confined â—…ile that starves us 3. Souldiers let us draw our swords while we have strength to use them 1. 'T is a motion which nature and necessity commands Enter Minutius Minut. Y' are of Virginius Regiment Omnes We are Minut. Why doe you swarme in troopes thus to your quarter Is our command growne idle to your trench Come I 'le divide you this your conference is not without suspect of mutiny 1. Souldiers shall I relate the grievances of the whole Regiment Omnes Boldly 1. Then thus my Lord. Minut. Come I will not hear thee 1. Sir you shall Sound all the Drums and Trumpets in the camp to drowne my utterance yet above them all I 'le rear our just complaint Stir not my Lord I vow you are not safe if you but move a sinew till you heare us Minut. Well sir command us you are the Generall 1. No my Lord not I I am almost starved I wake in the wet trench loaded with more cold iron then a Jaile would give a murderer while the Generall sleeps in a field bed and to mock our hunger feeds us with scent of the most curious fare that makes his tables crack our pay detained by those that are our Leaders and at once we in this sad and unprepared plight with the Enemy and Famine daily sight Minut. Doe you threaten us Omnes Sir you shall hear him out 1. You send us whips and iron manackles and shackles plenty but the devill a coine Would you would teach us that caniball trick my Lord which some rich men ' i th' City oft doe use shall 's one devoure another Minut. Will you hear me 1. O Rome th' art growne a most unnaturall mother to those have held thee by the golden locks from sinking into ruine Romulus was fed by a she wolfe but now our wolves instead of feeding us devoure our flesh carouse our blood yet are not drunk with it for three parts of 't is water Minut. Your Captaine noble Virginius is sent Rome for ease of all your grievances 1. 'T is false Omnes I 'T is false 1. Hee 's stolne away from 's never to returne and now his age will suffer him no more deale on the Enemy belike hee 'l â—…rne an usurer and in the City aire cut poore mens throats at home sitting in 's chaire Minut. You wrong one of the honorablest Commanders Omnes Honorable Commander 1. Commander I my Lord there goes the thrist in victories the Generall and Commanders share all the honour as they share the spoile but in our overthrowes where lies the blame the common souldiers fault ours is the shame What is the reason that being so far distant from the affrighted enemy wee lie ' i th' open field subject to the sick humors of heaven and earth unlesse you cood bestow two summers of us shall I tell you truth You account the expence of Ingines and of swords of horses and of armor dearer far then souldiers lives Omnes Now by the gods you doe 1. Observe you not the ravens and the crowes have left the City surfet and with us they make full banquets Come you birds of death and fill your greedy croppes with humane flesh then to the City flie disgorge it there before the Senate and from thence arise a plague to choake all Rome Omnes And all the Suburbs Minut. Upon a souldiers word bold Gentlemen I expect every houre Virginius to bring fresh comfort Omnes Whom Virginius 1. Now by the gods if ever he returne wee 'le drag him to the slaughter by his locks turned white with riot and incontinence and leave a president to all the world how Captaines use their souldiers Enter Virginius Minut. See hee 's returned Virginius you are not safe retire your troopes are mutinous we are begirt with Enemies more daring and more fierce then is the common foe Virg. My Troopes my Lord Minut. Your life is threatned by these desperate men betake you to your horse Virg. My noble Lord I never yet pâ—…oiest to teach the art of â—…ying 〈◊〉 out troopes grown mutinous he dares not look on me with half a 〈◊〉 that spread this wildfire Where is our Lieutenant Val. My Lord. Virg. Sirrah order our companies Minut. What do you mean my Lord Virg. Take air a little they have heated me Sirrah i' st you will mutiny 3. Not I Sir Virg. Is your gall burst you Traitor 4. The gods defend Sir Virg. Or is your stomack sea sick doth it rise I 'l make a passage for it 5. Noble Captain I 'l dye beneath your foot Virg. You rough porcupine ha do you bristle do you shoot your quils you rogue 1. They have no points to hurt you noble Captain Virg. Wast you my nimble shaver that would whet your sword 'gainst your Commanders throat you sirrah 6. My Lord I never dream't on 't Virg. Slaves and cowards what are you cholerick now by the gods the way to purge it were to let you blood I am i' th' center of you and I 'l make the proudest of you teach the Aspen leaf to tremble when I breath Minut. A strange Conversion Virg. Advance your pikes
you would be kind unto the Camp App. Wherein Icilius doth the Camp touch thee Icil. Thus Old Virginius now my father in Law kept from the publick pay consumes himself sels his Revenues turnes his plate to coyn to wage his souldiers and supply the Camp wasting that useful substance which indeed should rise to me as my Virginia's Dowry App. We meet that opposition thus Icilius. The Camps supplies doth not consist in us but those that keep the common Treasury speak or intreat we may but not command But Sir I wonder you so brave a Youth son to a thrifty Romane should ally you and knit your strong armes to such falling branches which rather in their ruine will bear down your strength then you support their rottenness Be swayed by me fly from that ruinous house whose fall may crush you and contract with mine whose bases are of Marble deeply fixt to â—…uger all gusts and impending stormes Caâ—… off that beggars daughter poor Virginia whose dowry and beauty I 'l see trebled both in one â—…lly'd to me Smile you Icilius Icil. My Lord my Lord think you I can imagine your close and sparing hand can be profuse to give that man a Palace whom you late deny'd a cottage Will you from your own coffers grant me a treble Dowry yet interpose me a poor third from the common Treasury You must move me by possibilities for I have brains give first your hand and Seal that old Virginius shall receive his pay both for himself and souldiers and that done I shall perhaps be soon induc'd to think that you who with such willingness did that App. Is my Love mispriz'd Icil. Not to Virginia App. Virginia Icil. Yes Virginia Lustful Lord. I did but trace your cunning all this while You would bestow me on some Appian Trull and for that dross to cheat me of my Gold for this the Camp pines and the City smarts All Rome fares worse for thy incontinence App. Mine boy Icil. Thine Judg. This hand hath intercepted thy Letters and perus'd thy tempting guests these ears have heard thy amorous passions wretch these eyes beheld thy treacherous name subscrib'd A Judg a Divel App. Come I'â—…hear no more Icil. Sit still or by the powerful Gods of Rome I 'l nail thee to the Chair But suffer me I 'l offend nothing but thine ears App. Our Secretary Icil. Tempt not a Lovers fury if thou dost now by my vow insculpt in heaven I 'l send thee App. You see I am patient Icil. But withal revengeless App. So say on Icil. Hope not of any grace or the least favour I am so covetous of Virginia's love I cannot spare thee the least look glance touch Divide one bare imaginary thought into a thousand thousand parts and that I 'l not afford thee App. Thou shalt not Icil. Nay I will not Hadst thou a Judges place above those Judges that judg all souls having power to sentence me I would not bribe thee no not with one hair from her fair temples App. Thou shouldst not Icil. Nay I would not Think not her Beauty shall have leave to crown thy lustfull hopes with the least spark of blisse or have thine ears charm'd with the ravishing sound even of her harshest phrase App. I will not Icil. Nay thou shalt not Shee 's mine my soul is crownd in her desire to her I 'ld travell through a land of fire App. Now have you done Icil. I have spoke my thoughts App. Then will thy fury give me leave to speak Icil. I pray say on App. Icilius I must chide you and withall tell you your rashnesse hath made forfeiture even of your precious life which wee esteeme too deer to call in question Iâ—… I wisht you of my allyance graft into my blood condemn you me for that Oh see the rashnesse and blind misprision of 〈◊〉 youth As for the Maid Virginia wee are far even in least thought from her and for those Letters Tokens and Presents wee acknowledg none Alas though great in place wee are not gods If any false impostor hath usurpt our hand or greatnesse in his own behoof can wee help that Icilius there 's our hand your rashnesse we remit let 's have hereafter your love and best opinion For your suit repair to us at both our better leisures wee 'l breathe in it new life Icil. I crave your â—…don App. Granted ere crav'd my good Icilius. Icil. Morrow App. It is no more indeed Morrow Icilius. If any of our servants wait without command them in Icil. I shall App. Our Secretary we have use for him Icilius send him hither Again good morrow Exit Icilius. Go to thy death thy life is doom'd and cast Appius be circumspect and be not rash in blood as th' art in lust Be murderous stil but when thou strik'st with unseen weapons kill Enter Clodius Clod. My Honourable Lord. Appius Deride me dog Clod. Who hath stirr'd up this tempest in your brow App. Not you Fie you Clod. All you Panthean Gods confound me if my soul be accessary to your distractions Appius To send a ruffian higher even to my closet first to brave my Greatness play with my beard revile me taunt me hisse me nay after all these deep disparagements threat me with steel and menace me unarm'd to nail me to my seat if I but mov'd all these are slight slight toyes Clod. Icilius do this App. Ruffian Icilius he that in the front of a smooth Citizen bears the rugged soul of a most base Bandetto Clod. He shall die for 't App. Be not too rash Clo. Were there no more men to support great Rome even falling Rome should perish ere he stand I 'l after him and kill him App. Stay I charge thee Lend me a patient ear To right our wrongs we must not menace with a publick hand we stand in the worlds eye and shall be taxt of the least violence where we revenge We should smile smoothest where our hate 's most deep and when our spleen 's broad waking seem to sleep Let the young man play still upon the bit till we have brought and train'd him to our lure Great men should strike but once and then strike sure Clod. Love you Virginia still App. Do I still live Clod. Then she 's your own Virginius is you say still in the Camp App. True Clod. Now in his absence will I claim Virginia to be the daughter of a bond woman and slave to me to prove which I 'l produce firme proofs notes probable sound Witnesses then having with your Lictors summond her I 'l bring the cause before your Judgement Seat where upon my infallid evidence you may pronounce the sentence on my side and she become your Strumpet not your Bride App. Thou hast a copius brain but how in this shall we dispose Icilius Clod. If he spurne clap him up close there 's wayes to charm his spleen By this no scandal can redound to you the Cause is mine you but the Sentencer upon
that evidence which I shall bring The business is to 'ave Warrants by Arrest to answer such things at the Judgment Bar as can be laid against her Ere her friends can be assembled ere her self can study her answer or scarce know her cause of summons to descant on the matter Appius may examine try and doom Virginia But all this must be sudden App. Thou art born to mount me high above Icilius scorn I 'l leave it to thy manage Exeunt Explicit Actus secundus Actus Tertius Scena Prima Enter Nurse and the Clown Corbulo WHat was that you said Nurse Nurse Why I did say thou must bestir thy selfe Corbulo I warrant you I can bestir my stumps as soon as another if fit occasion be offered but why do you come upon me in such haste is it because Nurse I should come over you at leisure Nurse Come over me thou knave what dost thou mean by that Corbulo Only this if you will come off I will come on Nurse My Lord hath strangers to night you must make ready the Parlour a table and lights nay when I say Corbulo Me thinks you should rather wish for a bed then for a board for darkness then for lights yet I must confess you have been a light woman in your time but now Nurse But now what now you knave Corbulo But now I 'l go fetch the table and some lights presently Enter Numitorius Horatio Valerius Icilius Numit. Some lights to usher in these Gentlemen Clear all the roomes without there Sit pray sit None interrupt our conference Enter Virginia Ha whose that Nurse My most child if it please you Numitor. Fair Virginia you are welcome The rest forbear us till we call Sweet cozen our business and the cause of our discourse admits you to this Councel Take your place Ieilius we are private now proceed Icil. Then thus Lord Appius doth intend me wrong and under his smooth calmnesse cloaks a tempest that will ere long break out in violence on me and on my fortunes Numit. My good cozen you are young and youth breeds rashness Can I think Lord Appius will do wrong who is all Justice the most austere and upright Censurer that ever sate upon the awful Bench Valer. Icilius you are neer to me in blood and I esteem your safety as mine owne If you will needs wage eminence and state Chuse out a weaker opposite not one that in his arm bears all the strength of Rome Numit. Besides Icilius know you the danger what it is to scandal one of his place and sway Icil. I know it kinsmen yet this popular Greatness can be no bug-bear to affright mine innocence No his smooth crest hath cast a palped film over Romes eyes He juggles a plain Juggler Lord Appius is no lesse Numit. Nay then Cozen you are too harsh and I must hear no more It ill becomes my place and gravity to lend a face to such reproachful terms 'gainst one of his high presence Icil. Sit pray sit to see me draw his picture 'fore your eyes to make this man seem monstrous and this god Rome so adores a divel a plain divel This Lord this Judg this Appius that professeth to all the world a vestal chastity is an incontinent loose Leacher growne Numit. Fy cozen Icil. Nay 't is true Daily and hourely he tempts this blushing Virgin with large promises with melting words and Presents of high rate to be the stale to his unchaste desires Omnes Is' t possible Icil. Possible 'T is actual Truth I pray but ask your Neece Virg. Most true I am extremely tyr'd and wearied with messages and tokens of his love no answer no repulse will satisfie the tediousness of his importunate suit And whilst I could with modesty and honour without the danger of reproach and shame I kept it secret from Icilius but when I saw their boldness found no limit and they from fair intreaty grew to threats I told him all Icil. True understanding which to him I went Valer. To Appius Icil. To that Gyant the high Colossus that bestrides us all I went to him Horatio How did you bear your self Icil. Like Appius at the first dissemblingly but when I saw the coast clear all withdrawn and none but we two in the Lobby then I drew my Poinyard took him by the throat and when he would have clamor'd threatned death unlesse he would with paâ—…ence hear me out Numit. Did he Icilius Icil. I made him that he durst not squeake not move an eye not draw a breath too loud nor stir a fingar Horatio What succeeded then Numit. Keep fast the door there Sweet Couz not too loud What then succeeded Icilius. Why I told him all gave him his due call'd him lascivious Judge a thousand things which I have now forgot shewd him his hand a witnesse 'gainst himself and every thing with such known circumstance that he might well excuse but not deny Numit. How parted you Icilius. Why Friends in outward shew But I perceiv'd his heart that Hypocrite was born to gull Rome and deceive us all He swore to me quite to abjure her love yet ere my self could reach Virginia's chamber one was before me with regreets from him I know his hand Th' intent of this our meeting was to intreat your counsell and advice The good old man her Father is from home I think it good that she now in his absence should lodg in secret with some private friend where Appius nor his Lictors those blood-hounds can hunt her out You are her unkle Sir I pray counsell the best Numit. To oppose our selves now in this heat against so great a man might in my judgment to our selves bring danger and to my Neece no safety If we fall she cannot stand le ts then preserve our selves until her father be discharg'd the Camp Valer. And good Icilius for your private ends and the dear safety of your friends and kindred against that Statist spare to use your spleen Iicil. I will be sway'd by you My Lords 't is late and time to break up conference Noble Uncle I am your growing Debtor Numit. Lights without there Icil. I will conduct Virginia to her lodging Good night to all at once Numit. The Gods of Rome protect you all and then we need not fear the envious rage of men Exeunt Enter Clodius with foure Lictors Clodius and Lictors bestow your selves in some close shops about the forum till you have the sight of faire Virginia for I understand this present morning shee 'l come forth to buy some necessaries at the Sempsters shops how ere accompanied be it your care to sease her at our action Good my friends disperse your selves and keep a carefull watch 1. 'T is strange that Ladies will not pay their debts 2. ' It were strange indeed if that our Romane Knights would give them good example and pay theirs 1. The Calender that we Lictors goe by is all dog dayes 2. Right our common hunt is