University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

The Street.
Enter Valeria and a Servant.
Valeria.
[in Disorder.
Regard not me.—Did you not say, my Brother
Was here? Where is he?—Yet I know not why
I wish him here, but that my bursting Heart
May vent its Griefs, and find a Refuge for them.

Servant.
Madam, my Lord approaches.

Enter Valerius.
Valeria.
O Valerius,
Horatia, poor Horatia's lost for ever;
Her unrelenting Brother—

Valerius.
Dearest Sister,
Compose your Fears. She has escap'd his Rage.
But now I saw her Father, and his Care
Has sav'd her from the Blow, and begs your Aid
To sooth her tortur'd Mind.

Valeria.
What says my Brother?
How sav'd? alas, too sure she dies this Moment.
She had no Father there; these Eyes beheld
The fatal Stroke, and these sad Arms receiv'd her.
Nor had I left her now but to obey
Her own Command, and by Intreaties force
Her cruel Brother to her.

Valerius.
[With Amazement.
When was this?
Where was it?—Say, Valeria—

Valeria.
When I left you
To seek some diff'rent Way our hapless Charge,
Led by the Noise from Street to Street I ran,
And came at last where through the gather'd Crowd
I saw but could not reach her. Wild she seem'd,
Struggling with all that would oppose her Passage,
And trying every Method to provoke
Her Brother's Fury: With dire Blasphemies,
Which shock'd my trembling Soul, her Tongue profan'd
Each awful Name, and not a God escap'd
Her imprecating Rage.

Valerius.
Well, well, enough;
But come to him.

Valeria.
Silent awhile he stood,
As the dead Calm before the Thunder rolls,
Nor answer'd to her Rage: Then, rous'd at once,
As if some Inspiration touch'd his Soul,
His Bosom heav'd, he rais'd his Eyes to Heav'n,
Then burst in Tears, and whilst he wept he drove
The Poiniard to her Heart, and thus, he cried,
Thus perish all the Enemies of Rome!

Valerius.
Thou seem'st to plead his Cause.

Valeria.
Alas, my Brother,
I speak but what I saw.

Valerius.
Where was her Father?

Valeria.
I know not, but some Chance, they said, detain'd him;
He scarce had left the Crowd, and thought her safe.

Valerius.
Scarce left the Crowd, and thought her safe?—O Gods,
'Twas I, 'twas I detain'd him; in that Moment
The horrid Deed was done.—Where are they now?

Valeria.
I hope with her. She fear'd some fatal Violence,
And therefore beg'd me to intreat them to her.

Valerius.
And have you seen them? Are they Friends?

Valeria.
O no,
I found them high in Wrath: The poor old Man
Torn with contending Passions threaten'd oft
Destruction on his Son, who with Disdain
Laid bare his Breast, and bade him strike the Blow.
The Patriot then took Place, and he would wish
He never had a Daughter. My Approach
Alarm'd them both; but Publius soon resum'd
His wonted Firmness, bade her Father go
And mingle Tears with hers, he would not see her,
Nor dared pollute his Conquests with her Presence.
Hast thou no Heart, the Father cried, and look'd
Unutterable Sorrow; at which Sight
He yielded, and obey'd. I left them then
To seek you out.—My Brother, you regard not
What I have said.—You hear me not.

Valerius.
Valeria,
Revenge is busy here. Yes, thou proud Chief,
In spite of all the Glories which surround thee,
I yet may crush thy Pride!

Valeria.
You will not kill him?

Valerius.
Kill him, Valeria!—'Tis no common Death
Which he shall die: I will have noble Vengeance.
The Thought delights my Soul!

[Going.
Valeria.
What Thought, my Brother?
Nay tell me, or you go not.—Stay at least
'Till you hear more.—I feel Horatia's Wrongs
As strong as you.—
[Exit Valerius.
He's gone. Tho' my Heart bleeds
For my poor dying Friend, I must pursue him.
His fatal Rashness may distress her more,
And bring fresh Sorrows on an aged Sire
Oppress'd too much already.

[Exit.