 | Aetius |  |
SCENE XIV.
Honoria, Fulvia.Fulv.
Honoria, keep his transports hid from Cæsar:
Ætius is faithful still; he speaks but thus
Through disappointed love.
Hon.
Fulvia, methinks
Thou shew'st too much of fear and pity for him;
And does not pity sometimes spring from love?
Fulv.
Princess, you wrong me much, for well I know
To whom this bosom owes its first affections.
Hon.
Be not too warm—'twas but a slight suspicion.
Fulv.
If credit must be given to such suspicion,
Honoria too might furnish cause for doubt:
By thy resentment I perceive how well
331
Thou wert a lover, yet I'll not believe it.
Hon.
And when thou dar'st insult me with suspicions
Injurious to my honour, I might well
Rebuke thy arrogance, yet I forbear.
Though plac'd not yet on Cæsar's throne,
Already in thy looks are shown
The pride of sovereign state.
'Tis harder far with equal mind
To bear the good by Heaven assign'd,
Than all the frowns of Fate.
Already in thy looks are shown
The pride of sovereign state.
'Tis harder far with equal mind
To bear the good by Heaven assign'd,
Than all the frowns of Fate.
[Exit.
| Aetius | |