University of Virginia Library

SCENE XI.

Enter Ætius.
Æt.
I come to attend your will.

Val.
Ætius, I cannot bear, though for a moment,
To seem ungrateful to thee: Tiber sav'd
From foreign arms, my peace, my dignity,
All, all I've gain'd are but the happy fruits
Of Ætius' wisdom and his conquering sword.
Should Valentinian yield to thee his throne,
He gives not, but to thee restores thy own.
Thus, midst my wealth, when I would recompense
The virtues of a friend who conquers for me,
I find, in spite of empire, still I'm poor.

Æt.
When through the fight I toil'd for Rome and thee,
The deed itself became my great reward.
What would I more? Augustus' love will ever
Suffice for me.

Val.
But not for Valentinian.
The world shall learn that, while I vainly strove
To recompense thy worth, my gratitude
Left nought untried. Ætius, the blood of Cæsar
Shall be to thine united; ne'er on thee
Can I bestow a stronger pledge of love:
To-morrow's sun shall see thee wed Honoria.

Æt.
[aside.]
What do I hear!

Val.
Thou dost not answer—speak.

Æt.
So vast an honour doubtless must surprise me.
Honoria's rank demands a king and throne,
I have no crowns to boast, and Ætius, sir,
Is nothing but a subject.

Val.
Such a subject
As Ætius, far excels the proudest king.
If kingdoms are not thine, thy valorous arm
Can kingdoms give to others. To possess,
Is Fortune's gift alone; but to bestow them,
Is Virtue's task.

Æt.
Thy sister owes the world,
Great sir, a race of kings; to me united,
Will bring forth subjects only: well thou know'st
By these unequal nuptials that Honoria
To Ætius may descend, but Ætius never
Can rise to her.

Val.
My sister and the world
Sustain no loss by such a glorious union:
Or should they lose, yet, while I recompense
A hero's worth, my sister and the world
Can ne'er complain.

Æt.
I must not, sir, consent
That Cæsar, to be grateful thus to one,
Should prove unjust to many.

Val.
Let us speak
This once without concealment. Thy respect
Is but a veil to cover thy refusal.
What would'st thou more? Is then my gift so little?
Must Cæsar ever stand indebted to thee?
Remember, he who spurns at all reward
Is not less proud than he who asks too much.

Æt.
Well then, your frankness shall encourage mine:
What you have offerr'd, sir, for my reward
Would prove my punishment.

Val.
I did not think
Thy sovereign's sister, join'd to thee in marriage,
Would make thee wretched.

Æt.
Even this profferr'd gift
Is little to the man who loves another.

Val.
Where is the beauty who so far exceeds
Honoria's merits? Is she born my subject?
Are my dominions honour'd with her presence?
It shall be mine to knit these glorious ties:
Declare to me her name.

Æt.
Her name is Fulvia.

Val.
Fulvia?

Æt.
The same—He seems disturb'd.

[aside.
Val.
[aside.]
O Heaven!
And knows she of thy love?

Æt.
I think she does not:
[aside.]
Let me not raise his anger against her.

Val.
First gain the maid's consent—See if her choice
Opposes not thy suit.

Æt.
That care be mine:
Meantime thy sanction, Cæsar, shall suffice.

Val.
Some other lover may perchance have gain'd
On her affection.

Æt.
Never.—Where's the man
Whose rashness seeks to ravish such a prize
From him whose hand has sav'd imperial Rome?
I know him not.

Val.
But should there yet be one?

Æt.
He then should see that Ætius could no less
Assert his rights than guard his sovereign's empire:
Yes, he should find—

Val.
And what if I were he?

Æt.
That gift which costs a pang from Cæsar's heart
Would prove more glorious to me.

Val.
But a subject
Must not require, to recompense his service,
So vast a sacrifice from him who reigns.

Æt.
Cæsar is sovereign, Ætius asks from him
This sacrifice; Ætius, who, till this hour,
Has serv'd unrecompens'd: Cæsar, who knows
What gratitude exacts; who owes to me
His peace, his dignity; who has confess'd
That should he render up the throne to Ætius,
He gives not, but to him restores his own;
And that each moment but augments his fear
To seem ungrateful to him.

Val.
What presumption!
[aside.
I thought that when I call'd to mind thy merits,
And own'd each service, I in part repaid them.

Æt.
I call them to thy mind, when for reward—

Val.
No more—enough—I understand thee, Ætius.

[Exit.
Æt.
Now let us see if he'll oppose my love.