 | Appius and Virginia |  |
Actus Quartus
Scena Prima.
Enter Virginius like a slave, Numitorius, Icilius, Valerius, Horatio, Virginia like a slave, Julia, Calphurina, Nurse.Virginius.
Thanks to my noble friends, it now appears
that you have rather lov'd me then my fortune,
for that's near shipwrackt: chance you see still ranges,
and this short dance of life is full of changes.
Appius! how hollow that name sounds, how dreadful?
It is a question, whether the proud Leacher
will view us to our merit; for they say,
his memory to vertue and good men
is still carousing Lethe. O the Gods,
not with more terror do the souls in hell
appear before the seat of Rhadamant,
then the poor Clyent yonder.
Numit.
O Virginius.
Why do you wear this habit? it ill fits
your noble person, or this reverend place.
Virg.
Thats true, old man, but it well fits the case
thats now in question. If with form and shew
they prove her slaved, all freedome I'le forgoe.
Icilius.
Noble Virginius,
put out a bold and confident defence:
search the Imposture, like a cunning Tryer,
false mettals bear the touch, but brook not fire:
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discover as much shame in them, as death
did ever draw from Offenders. Let your truth
nobly supported, void of fear or art,
welcome what ever comes with a great heart.
Virginius.
Now by the Gods, I thank thee noble youth.
I never fear'd in a besieged Town
Mines or great Engines like yon Lawyers Gown.
Virginia.
O my dear Lord and father, once you gave me
a noble freedom, do not see it lost
without a forfeit; take the life you gave me
and sacrifice it rather to the gods
then to a villains Lust. Happy the Wretch
who born in bondage lives and dies a slave,
and sees no lustful projects bent upon her,
and neither knowes the life nor death of honor.
Icil:
We have neither Justice, no nor violence,
which should reform corruption sufficient
to cross their black premeditated doom.
Appius will seize her, all the fire in hell
is leapt into his bosom.
Virginius.
O you Gods,
extinguish it with your compassionate tears,
although you make a second deluge spread,
and swell more high then Tenerife's high head.
Have not the Wars heapt snow sufficient
upon this aged head, but they will stil
pile winter upon winter?
Enter Appius, Oppius, Clodius, six Senators, Lictors.
Appius.
Is he come? say.
Now by my life I'l quit the General.
Numit.
Your reverence to the Judge, good brother.
Virginius.
Yes Sir, I have learnt my complement thus,
Blest mean estates who stand in fear of many,
and great are curst for that they fear not any.
App.
What is Virginius come?
Virg.
I am here my Lord.
App.
Where is your daughter?
Numit.
Here my reverend Lord.
Your habit shewes you strangely.
Virginia.
O 'tis fit,
it sutes both time and cause. Pray pardon it,
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Where is your Advocate?
Virg.
I have none my Lord.
Truth needs no Advocate, the unjust Cause
buyes up the tongues that travel with applause
in these your thronged Courts. I want not any,
and count him the most wretched that needs many.
Orator.
May it please your reverend Lordships?
App.
What are you Sir?
Orat.
Of counsel with my Clyent Marcus Clodius.
Virg.
My Lord, I undertake a desperate combat
to cope with this most eloquent Lawyer:
I have no skill i'th' weapon, good my Lord;
I mean, I am not travell'd in your Lawes.
My suit is therefore by your special goodness
they be not wrested against me.
App.
O Virginius, the gods defend they should.
Virg.
Your humble servant shall ever pray for you.
Thus shall your glory be above your place,
or those high titles which you hold in Court,
for they dy blest that dy in good report.
Now Sir I stand you.
Orat.
Then have at you Sir.
May it please your Lordships, here is such a Case
so full of subtilty, and as it were,
so far benighted in an ignorant mist,
that though my reading be sufficient,
my practice more, I never was intangled
in the like pursenet. Here is one that claimes
this woman for his daughter. Heres another
affirms she is his Bond-slave. Now the Question
(with favour of the Bench) I shall make plain
in two words only without circumstance.
App.
Fall to your proofs.
Orat.
Where are our papers.
Clod.
Here Sir.
Orat.
Where Sir? I vow y'are the most tedious Clyent.
Now we come to't my Lord. Thus stands the Case,
the Law is clear on our sides. Hold your prating.
That honourable Lord Virginius,
having been married about fifteen year,
and Issuless, this Virgins politick mother
Seeing the Land was likely to descend
to Numitorius. I pray Sir listen.
You my Lord Numitorius attend,
we are on your side. Old Virginius
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she was with child; observe it, I beseech you,
and note the trick of a deceitful woman:
she in the mean time fains the passions
of a great bellyed woman, counterfets
their passions and their qualms and verily
all Rome held this for no imposterous stuff.
What's to be done now? heres a rumor spread
of a young Heir, gods bless it, and belly
bumbasted with a cushion: but their wants,
(What wants there?) nothing but a pretty babe,
bought with some piece of mony, where it skils not,
to furnish this supposed lying in.
Nurse.
I protest my Lord, the fellow i'th' night cap
hath not spoke one true word yet.
App.
Hold you your prating woman til you are call'd.
Orat.
'Tis purchast. Where? From this mans bond-woman
The mony paid. What was the sum of mony?
Clod.
A thousand Drachmas.
Orat.
Good, a thousand Drachmas.
App.
Where is that bond-woman.
Clod.
She's dead, my Lord.
App.
O dead, that makes your Cause suspicious.
Orat.
But here's her deposition on her death bed,
with other testimony to confirm
what we have said is true. Wilt please your Lordship
take pains to view these writings. Here, my Lord,
we shall not need to hold your Lordships long,
we'l make short work on't.
Virg.
My Lord.
App.
By your favour.
If that your claim be just, how happens it
that you have discontinued it the space
of fourteen years?
Orat.
I shall resolve your Lordship.
Icil.
I vow this is a practis'd Dialogue:
comes it not rarely off?
Virg.
Peace, give them leave.
Orat.
'Tis very true, this Gentleman at first
thought to conceal this accident, and did so,
only reveal'd his knowledg to the mother
of this fair bond-woman, who bought his silence
during her life time with great sums of Coyn.
App.
Where are your proofs of that?
Orat.
Here, my good Lord, with depositions likewise.
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Well, go on.
Orat.
For your question
of discontinuance. Put case my slave
run away from me, dwell in some near City
the space of twenty years, and there grow rich,
it is in my discretion, by your favor,
to seize him when I please.
App.
That's very true.
Virginia.
Cast not your nobler beams, you reverend Judges
on such a putrified dunghil.
App.
By your favour, you shall be heard anon.
Virg.
My Lords, believe not this spruce Orator.
Had I but fee'd him first, he would have told
as smooth a tale on our side.
App.
Give us leave.
Virg.
He deals in formal glosses, cunning showes,
and cares not greatly which way the Case goes;
Examine I beseech you this old woman,
who is the truest witness of her birth.
App.
Soft you, is she your only witness?
Virg.
She is, my Lord.
App.
Why, is it possible
such a great Lady in her time of child birth,
should have no other Witness but a Nurse?
Virg.
For ought I know the rest are dead, my Lord.
App.
Dead? no my Lord, belike they were of counsel
with your deceased Lady, and so sham'd
twice to give colour to so vile an act.
Thou Nurse observe me, thy offence already
doth merit punishment beyond our censure,
pull not more whips upon thee.
Nurse.
I defie your whips, my Lord.
App.
Command her silence Lictors.
Virg.
O injustice! you frown away my Witness;
Is this Law? is this uprightness?
App.
Have you viewed the Writings?
This is a trick to make our slaves our heirs
beyond prevention.
Virg.
Appius, wilt thou hear me?
You have slandred a sweet Lady that now sleeps
in a most noble Monument. Observe me,
I would have ta'ne her simple word to gage
before his soul or thine.
App.
That makes thee wretched.
Old man, I am sorry for thee that thy love,
by custome is growne natural, which by nature
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that having hatch'd a Cucko, when it sees
her brood a Monster to her proper kind,
forsakes it, and with more fear shuns the nest,
then she had care i'th' Spring to have it drest.
cast thy affection then behind thy back, and think.—
Orat.
Be wise, take counsel of your friends.
You have many souldiers in their time of service
father strange children.
Virg.
True: and Pleaders too,
when they are sent to visit Provinces.
You my most neat and cunning Orator,
whose tongue is Quick-silver, Pray thee good Janus
look not so many several wayes at once,
but go to th'point.
Orat.
I will, and keep you out
at points end, though I am no souldier.
App.
First the oath of the deceased bond-woman.
Orat.
A very vertuous Matron.
App.
Join'd with the testimony of Clodius.
Orat.
A most approved honest Gentleman.
App.
Besides six other honest Gentlemen.
Orat.
All Knights, and there's no question but their oaths
will go for currant.
App.
See my reverend Lords,
and wonder at a Case so evident.
Virg.
My Lord, I knew it.
Orat.
Observe my Lord how their own Policy
confounds them. Had your Lordship yesterday
proceeded as 'twas fit, to a just sentence,
the Aparrel and the Jewels that she wore,
more worth then all her Tribe, had then been due
unto our Client: now to cosen him
of such a forfeit, see they bring the maid
in her most proper habit, bond-slave like,
and they will save by th'hand too. Please your Lordships,
I crave a sentence.
Virginius.
Appius.
Virginia.
My Lord.
Icil.
Lord Appius.
Virginius.
Now by the Gods here's juggling.
Numit.
Who cannot counterfeit a dead mans hand?
Virginius.
Or hire some villains to swear forgeries?
Icil.
Clodius was brought up in your house my Lord,
and that's suspicious.
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How is't probable,
that our wife being present at the child-birth,
whom this did nearest concern, should nere reveal it?
Virg.
Or if ours dealt thus cunningly, how haps it
her policy, as you term it, did not rather
provide an Issue male to chear the father?
Orat.
I'l answer each particular.
App.
It needs not,
Heres witness, most sufficient witness.
Think you, my Lord, our Lawes are writ in snow,
and that your breath can melt them?
Virginius.
No my Lord,
We have not such hot livers: Mark you that?
Virginia.
Remember yet the Gods, O Appius,
who have no part in this. Thy violent Lust
shall like the biting of the invenom'd Aspick,
steal thee to hell. So subtil are thy evils,
in life they'l seem good Angels, in death divels.
App.
Observe you not this scandal?
Icil.
Sir, 'Tis none.
I'l show thy Letters full of violent Lust
sent to this Lady.
App.
Wilt thou breath a lye
'fore such a reverend Audience?
Icil.
That place
is sanctuary to thee. Lye? see here they are.
App.
My Lords, these are but dilatory shifts.
Sirrah I know you to the very heart,
and I'l observe you.
Icil.
Do but do it with Justice.
Clear thy self first, O Appius, ere thou judg
our imperfections rashly, for we wot
the Office of a Justice is perverted quite
when one thief hangs another.
1. Senator.
You are too bold.
App.
Lictors take charge of him.
Icil.
'Tis very good.
Will no man view these papers? What not one?
Jove thou hast found a Rival upon earth,
his nod strikes all men dumb. My duty to you.
The Ass that carried Isis on his back,
thought that the superstitious people kneel'd
to give his dulnesse humble reverence.
If thou thinkst so, proud Judg, I let thee see
I bend low to thy Gown, but not to thee.
46
There's one in hold already. Noble youth
fetters grace one being worn for speaking truth;
I'l lye with thee, I swear, though in a dungeon;
the injuries you do us we shall pardon,
but it is just the wrongs which we forgive,
the gods are charg'd therewith to see revenged.
App.
Come, y'are a proud Plebeian.
Virg.
True my Lord.
Proud in the glory of my Ancestors,
who have continued these eight hundred years:
the Heralds have not knowne you these eight months.
App.
Your madness wrongs you, by my soul I love you.
Virg.
Thy soul?
O thy opinion old Pythagoras,
Whither, O whither should thy black soul fly,
into what ravenous bird or beast most vile?
only into a weeping Crocodile.
Love me? Thou lov'st me (Appius) as the earth loves rain,
thou fain wouldst swallow me.
App.
Know you the place you speak in?
Virg.
I'l speak freely.
Good men too much trusting their innocence
do not betake them to that just defence
which Gods and Nature gave them; but even wink
in the black tempest, and so fondly sink.
App.
Let us proceed to sentence.
Virg.
Ere you speak
One parting farwel let me borrow of you
to take of my Virginia.
App.
Now my Lords,
we shall have fair confession of the truth.
Pray take your course.
Virg.
Farewel my sweet Virginia, never, never
shall I taste fruit of the most blessed hope
I had in thee. Let me forget the thought
of thy most pretty infancy, when first
returning from the Wars, I took delight
to rock thee in my Target, when my Girl
would kiss her father in his burganet
of glittering steel hung 'bout his armed neck;
and viewing the bright mettal, smile to see
another fair Virginia smile on thee.
When I first taught thee how to go, to speak,
and when my wounds have smarted, I have sung
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to bring my Girl asleep. O my Virginia,
when we begun to be, begun our woes,
increasing still, as dying life still growes.
App.
This tediousness doth much offend the Court.
Silence: attend her Sentence.
Virg.
Hold, without Sentence I'l resign her freely,
since you will prove her to be none of mine.
App.
See, see, how evidently Truth appears.
Receive her Clodius.
Virg.
Thus I surrender her into the Court
Kills her.
of all the Gods. And see proud Appius see,
although not justly, I have made her free.
And if thy Lust with this Act be not fed,
bury her in thy bowels, now shee's dead.
Omnes.
O horrid act!
App.
Lay hand upon the Murderer.
Virg.
Oh for a ring of pikes to circle me.
What? have I stood the brunt of thousand enemies
here to be slain by hang-men? No. I'l fly
to safety in the Camp.
App.
Some pursue the villain,
others take up the body. Madness and rage
are still th'Attendants of old doting age.
Enter two Souldiers.
1.
Is our Hut swept clean?
2.
As I can make it.
1.
'Tis betwixt us two;
but how many think'st thou, bred of Roman blood,
did lodg with us last night?
2.
More I think then the Camp hath enemies,
they are not to be numbred.
1.
Comrague, I fear Appius will doom us to Acteons death,
to be worried by the Cattel that we feed.
How goes the day?
2.
My stomack has struck twelve.
1.
Come see what provant our knapsack yeilds.
This is our store, our Garner.
2.
A smal pittance.
1.
Feeds Appius thus, is this a City feast?
This crust doth taste like date stones, and this thing
if I knew what to call it.
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I can tell you: cheese struck in years.
1.
I do not think but this same crust was bak'd
and this cheese frighted out of milk and whey
before we two were souldiers: though it be old
I see 't can crawl; what living things be these
that walk so freely 'tween the rind and pith?
for here's no sap left.
2.
They call them Gentles.
1.
Therefore 'tis thought fit,
that Souldiers by profession Gentlemen
should thus be fed with Gentles. I am stomack sick,
I must have some strong water.
2.
Where will you hav't?
1.
In yon green ditch, a place which none can pass
but he must stop his nose, thou know'st it well,
there where the two dead dogs lye.
2.
Yes I know't.
1.
And see the Cat that lyes a distance off
be flead for supper. Though we dine to day
as Dutch men feed their souldiers, we will sup
bravely like Roman Leaguerers.
2.
Sir, the General.
1.
Wee'l give him place,
but tell none of our dainties, lest we have
too many guests to supper.
Enter Minutius with his souldiers reading a Letter.
Minut.
Most sure 'tis so, it cannot otherwise be,
Either Virginius is degenerate
from the ancient vertues he was wont to boast,
or in some strange displeasure with the Senate;
Why should these letters else from Appius
confine him a close prisoner to the Camp?
and which confirmes his guilt, why should he fly?
needs then must I incur some high displeasure
for negligence to let him thus escape;
which to excuse, and that it may appear
I have no band with him, but am of faction
oppos'd in all things to the least misdeed,
I will casheir him, and his Tribuneship
bestow upon some noble Gentleman
belonging to the Camp. Souldiers and friends,
you that beneath Virginius Colours marcht,
by strict command from the Decemvirat,
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and his Authority, Command, and Honour
we give this worthy Roman. Know his Colours,
and prove his faithful Souldiers.
Roman.
Warlike General,
my courage and my forwardnesse in battel,
shal plead how well I can deserve the title,
to bee a Roman Tribune.
Enter the first mutinous Souldier in haste.
Minut.
Now, the newes?
1. Sould.
Virginius in a strange shape of distraction,
enters the Campe, and at his heels a legion
of all estates, growths, ages, and degrees,
with breathlesse paces dog his frighted steps.
It seemes half Room's unpeopled with a traine
that either for some mischiefe done, pursue him,
or to attend some uncouth novelty.
Minut.
Some wonder our fear promises. Worthy souldiers,
martial your selves, and entertaine this novel
within a ring of steele: Wall in this portent
with men and harnesse, be it ne're so dreadful.
Hee's entred by the clamour of the camp,
that entertaines him with these ecchoing showts.
Affection that in Souldiers hearts is bred,
survives the wounded, and out lives the dead.
Enter Virginius with his knife, that and his arms stript up to the elbowes all bloudy; coming into the midst of the souldiers, he makes a stand.
Virg.
Have I in all this populous Assembly
of souldiers that have prov'd Virginius valour,
one friend? Let him come thrill his partisan
against this brest, that through a large wide wound,
my mighty soule might rush out of this prison
to flie more freely to yon christal pallace,
where honour sits inthronis'd. What, no friend?
Can this great multitude then yeild an enemy
that hates my life? Here let him seise it freely.
What, no man strike? am I so wel beloved?
Minutius then to thee. If in this camp
there lives one man so just to punish sin,
so charitable to redeem from torments
a wretched souldier, at his worthy hand
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Minut.
What means Virginius?
Virg.
Or if the Generals heart be so obdure
to an old begging souldier, Have I here
no honest Legionary of mine own. Troop
at whose bold hand and sword, if not entreat
I may command a death?
1. Sould.
Alas good Captain.
Minut.
Virginius, you have no command at all,
your Companies are elsewhere now bestowed.
Besides, we have a Charge to stay you here,
and make you the Camps prisoner.
Virg.
General, thanks.
For thou hast done as much with one harsh word
as I beg'd from their weapons. Thou hast kill'd me
but with a living death.
Minut.
Besides, I charge you
to speak what means this ugly face of blood.
you put on your distractions? Whats the reason
all Rome pursues you, covering those high hils,
as if they dog'd you for some damned act?
What have you done?
Virg.
I have plaid the Parricide,
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 drayn
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,
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by Appius Lictors to be claim'd a slave,
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 Prostitute and Permour
to the rude twinings of a leacherous Judge;
Then, then, O loving Souldiers, (I'l not deny it)
for 'twas mine honor, my paternal 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.
Virginius guiltless of his daughters death.
Minut.
If 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 you have Souldiers. Why might not this
have hapned you? Which of you all, deer freinds,
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.
Let's make Virginius General.
Omnes.
A General, a General, lets 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 so fair 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
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Offers to kill himself.
1. Sould.
Stay noble General.
Minut.
You much forget revenge Virginius.
Who, if you dye, will take your cause in hand,
and proscribe Appius, should you perish 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 'mongst the Elysian Vestals,
my house yeilds none fit for his Lictora spoil.
You that have wives lodg'd in yon prison Rome,
have Lands unrifled, houses yet unseis'd,
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 choice, in hope to guard yon all
from my inhumane sufferings. Be't my pride
that I have bred a daughter whose chast blood
was spilt for you, and for Romes lasting good.
Explicit Actus Quartus.
| Appius and Virginia | |