 | Horace |  |
Scena Secunda.
Sabina. Julia.Sabina.
Is it dispatcht my Julia, tell me plain:
Have I a Brother, or a Husband slain?
Or have their impious weapons made at once
A Sacrifice of all the Champions;
And to prevent my hate to th'Vanquishers,
T'a general obsequy condemn'd my tears?
Julia.
Can you so long be ign'rant of the news?
Sabina.
Is that your wonder? pray how should I choose?
Do you not know, that shut up here within,
Camilla and my self have pris'ners been?
We are secur'd, our tears are dang'rous grown,
We else e're this betwixt their Swords had flown,
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Perhaps from both the Camps, compassion.
Julia.
An object of that pity did not need,
Betwixt their noble courages to plead,
Since their appearance was enough alone,
To stay their furies execution.
No sooner were their plumed crests beheld,
Waving with warlike brav'ry in the Field,
But through both Armies strait a murmur rose,
To see friends so ally'd, chose out for foes.
This horror seizes, that soft pity fires,
A third the fury of their zeal admires;
This high applauds their vertue to the sky,
And that condemns it for barbarity.
Their various thoughts, met in one gen'ral voice,
All blame their Chieftains, and detest their choice:
And not enduring to behold the sight
Of that unnatural, and bloody fight,
Exclaiming loud, some do advance in haste,
And interposing part them at the last.
Sabina.
I owe you incense Gods! y'ave heard my prayer!
Julia.
You are not yet where you suppose you are.
You now may hope, and moderate your fears;
Yet there is still to justifie your tears.
In vain men strive t'avert them from their fate,
Their generosity is deaf to that.
The glory of this choice, their Reason blinds,
And has so dazled their ambitious minds,
That when men leave them to their desp'rate ways,
They're pleas'd, and take all pity for disgrace.
The Camps affliction foils their glories light;
Nay they had rather with both Armies fight,
And perish by those hands their fury staid,
Than quit their int'rests in th'election made.
Sabina.
Persist they then so obstinate?
Julia.
They do,
At which both Armies to sedition grow,
And vote from both sides, with a gen'ral voice,
Either for Battel, or another choice.
Their Leaders presence can no more perswade.
Authority's contemn'd, or disobey'd.
Nay, their ungovern'd heat went on so far,
Nought could reduce them, nor command, nor pray'r.
Until the King (held sometime in suspence
At so undisciplin'd an insolence)
Was fain himself at last his pow'r to try,
And thus attempt t'appease the mutiny.
“Since Souldiers thus (said he) you animate
“Your selves and fellows in this hot debate,
“Let us consult the sacred pow'rs and try,
“If with another choice the Gods comply;
“What impious mortal, when they once reveal
“Their dark decrees, dares then dispute their will?
At which both Armies to sedition grow,
And vote from both sides, with a gen'ral voice,
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Their Leaders presence can no more perswade.
Authority's contemn'd, or disobey'd.
Nay, their ungovern'd heat went on so far,
Nought could reduce them, nor command, nor pray'r.
Until the King (held sometime in suspence
At so undisciplin'd an insolence)
Was fain himself at last his pow'r to try,
And thus attempt t'appease the mutiny.
“Since Souldiers thus (said he) you animate
“Your selves and fellows in this hot debate,
“Let us consult the sacred pow'rs and try,
“If with another choice the Gods comply;
“What impious mortal, when they once reveal
“Their dark decrees, dares then dispute their will?
This said, his words seem'd to be powerful charms,
And even from the Champions forc'd their Arms;
That thirst of glory which so dimm'd their eyes,
Blind, as it was, ador'd the Deities.
Their heat submitted unto Tullius sence,
And aw'd by Piety or deference,
A Law of his advice both Armies made,
As both their Scepters he alike had sway'd:
The rest will from the Victims deaths be known.
And even from the Champions forc'd their Arms;
That thirst of glory which so dimm'd their eyes,
Blind, as it was, ador'd the Deities.
Their heat submitted unto Tullius sence,
And aw'd by Piety or deference,
A Law of his advice both Armies made,
As both their Scepters he alike had sway'd:
The rest will from the Victims deaths be known.
Sabina.
The Gods an impious Combat will not own.
Since 'tis deferr'd my dying hopes revive,
And I begin to see my wishes thrive.
| Horace | |