University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

The house of Collatinus, at Collatia.
An apartment, lighted up. Lucretia discovered, surrounded by her maids, all employed in embroidery and other female occupations. Lavinia is by the side of Lucretia.
Luc.
How long is it, Lavinia, since my lord
Hath chang'd his peaceful mansion, for the camp
And restless scenes of war?

Lav.
Why, in my simple estimation, madam,
'Tis some ten days, or thereabout, for time
Runs as it should with me,—in yours, it may be
Perhaps ten years.

Luc.
I do not understand thee.
Say'st thou, with me time runs not as it should?
Explain thy meaning—What should make thee think so?

Lav.
All that I mean, is, that if I were married,
And that my husband were call'd forth to th' wars,
I should not stray through the grove next my house,
Invoke the pensive solitude, and woo
The dull and silent melancholy,—brood
O'er my own thoughts alone, or keep myself
Within my house mew'd up, a prisoner.
'Tis for philosophers
To love retirement; women were not made
To stand coop'd up like statues in a niche,
Or feed on their own secret contemplations.

Luc.
Go to; thou know'st not what thou say'st, Lavinia,
I thank the gods who taught me that the mind
Possess'd of conscious virtue, is more rich
Than all the sunless heards which Plutus boasts;
And that the chiefest glory of a woman
Is in retirement—that her highest comfort
Results from home-born and domestic joys,—
Her noblest treasure, a deserving husband!
—Who, not a prisoner to the eye alone,
A fair complexion or melodious voice,
Shall read her deeper.—nor shall time, which palls
The rage of passion, shake his ardent love,
Increasing by possession. This, (again I thank
The gracious gods)—this husband, too, is mine!
—Soft—I hear footsteps! Hour of rapture! Look!
My life, my love, my Collatinus comes!
Enter Collatinus, Sextus, Aruns, and Claudius. Lucretia rushes into the arms of Collatinus.
My lord, most welcome!

Col.
Welcome these, my friends,
Lucretia!—our right royal master's sons;
Passing this way I have prevail'd with them
To grace our humble mansion.

Luc.
Welcome yourself!
And doubly welcome, that you bring such friends.
Haste maidens, haste—make ready for our guests!
[Exeunt Attendants.
My heart is full of joy!

Ar.
Rather, fair lady,
You should be angry, that unseasonably,
And with abrupt intrusion, we've thus broke
Upon your privacy.

Luc.
No, my good lord;
Those to whom love and my respect are due,
Can ne'er intrude upon me;—had I known
This visit, you, perhaps, might have been treated
With better cheer.—not a more kind reception.
This evening, little did I think my house
Would have possess'd such lodgers.

Cl.
Rather, lady,
Such birds of passage,—we must hence to night.

Luc.
To night? Doth not my lord say no to that?

Col.
I would, Lucretia; but it cannot be.
If aught the house affords, my dearest love,
To set before your guests, I pray prepare it:
We must be at the camp ere morning dawn.
An hour or two will be the utmost limit
Allow'd us here.

Luc.
With all the speed I can
I'll play the caterer; though I am tempted,
Would that delay your journey, to be tardy
And prove a sluggish housewife.
[Exit Lucretia.

Sex.
This is indeed a wife! Here the dispute
Must end;—
And, Collatinus, we must yield to thee!

Ar.
I will not envy thee,—but 'tis a wife
Of wives,—a precious diamond, pick'd
From out the common pebbles. To have found her
At work among her maids at this late hour,
And not displeas'd at our rude interruption,—
Not to squeeze out a quaint apology,
As, “I am quite asham'd; so unprepar'd;
“Who could have thought! Would I had known of it!”
And such like tacit hints, to tell her guests
She wishes them away—thou'rt happy, Collatine.

Col.
Enough, enough.
The gods forbid I should affect indifference,
And say you flatter me. I am most happy.—
But Sextus heeds us not. He seems quite lost.

Sex.
Pray, pardon me,
My mind was in the camp. How wine could heat us
To such a mad exploit, at such a time
Is shameful to reflect on; let us mount
This instant, and return.

Col.
Now we are here,
We shall encroach but little on our time
If we partake the slender fare together
Which will, by this, await us. Pray, my lords,
This way.
[Exit Collatinus

Sex.
Along—I'll follow straight.

[Exeunt Aruns and Claudius
Sex.
(apart)
Had she staid here till now, I should have done
Nothing but gaze. Nymphs, goddesses
Are fables;—nothing can, in heaven or earth
Be half so fair!—But there's no hope!—Her face,
Her look, her eye, her manners, speak a heart
Unknowing of deceit; a soul of honour,
Where frozen chastity has fix'd her throne
And unpolluted nuptial sanctity.
—Peace, undigested thoughts!—Down—down! till ripen'd
By further time, ye bloom.

[Exit.