University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Enter Arminius, Officers and Soldiers.
Arminius.
My fellow-warriors, my brave gallant friends,
Ye gen'rous sons of freedom, you are welcome
To the Visurgi's banks. Arminius
With open arms receives you. Though repuls'd
By the superior numbers of the foe,
You have dar'd nobly.—Inguiomer, thou brave,
Heroic chief, th'invader will not long
Enjoy his victory. I come in force
To check his pride; from all the German states,
Far as the Danube to the Northern ocean,
I bring embodied nations to the field.

Inguiomer.
I form'd a close blockade; but still Segestes,
The base, the willing slave of his new masters,
Scorn'd to capitulate. Meantime Cæcina
Advanc'd against me with superior numbers.
My little army call'd aloud to battle.
I led them on.

Arminius.
I know it, Inguiomer;
I know each circumstance; you've acted bravely.
And has Segestes with his garrison
March'd forth to swear fidelity to Rome?

Inguiomer.
So says the voice of fame.

Segimund.
And there my sister,
My lov'd Veleda, she must there remain
In sad captivity?

Arminius.
Thou generous youth,
Thou worthy son of an ignoble father,
Much I esteem your ardour; much I honour
Your early virtue. But, your keen reflection
Plants daggers in my heart. Arminius's wife
Led in captivity! Distracting thought!
Come, dire revenge! inspire me with the rage
Of the stern God of War, that I may pour
Destruction on th'Italian spoiler's head,
And whelm his legions in one mangled heap,
A sacrifice to vengeance.

Inguiomer.
You have rouzed
All that is man within me, for that scene
Of glorious havoc, for that just revenge
My bosom pants. Come, lead me to the onset.
I burn to follow through the thickest ranks,
And there to vie with your heroic deeds.

Arminius.
Inguiomer, we oft have fought together,
And seen each other's valour. In my tent
A council shall be held. We there will plan
The time, and order of our grand assault.
Cæcina is deliver'd by the gods,
He and his army, to the slaught'ring sword.
This moment, Segimund, do you go forth,
And issue orders, that our scouts may range
The country round, and with due care explore
The motions of the enemy; their works,
And station of their camp.

Segimund.
Forthwith your orders,
Shall be obeyed.
[Exit Segimund.

Inguiomer.
A warlike soul like thine
Thinks nothing done, while aught is unperform'd.
One glorious onset will consummate all,
And that, I see, is lab'ring in your breast.
The time for fiery expedition calls;
One blow decides the war. By cold delay
We hazard all; for should Germanicus—

Arminius.
Does he alarm you?

Inguiomer.
In the adverse camp
He is expected with his vet'ran legions.
So say the pris'ners, whom our troops have led
O'er the Visurgis: it is sure intelligence.

Arminius.
Have you not heard the great, the glorious tidings?
Germanicus, in a career of victory,
Far as th'Amisia's banks had led his legions.
He there made halt; he paus'd, and saw the danger
Of tracing back his steps far as the Rhine,
Midst hostile nations, all in ambush waiting
To hang upon his rear. The coward fled
For shelter to his ships; he spread his sails,
And trusted to the waves. The Northern ocean,
Vast in circumference, tempestous, deep
Gave him no refuge. Soon a storm arose,
And heav'd the mountain billows to the sky.
His fleet was scatter'd; some in distant isles
Were dash'd on pointed rocks; by whirlwinds driv'n;
The rest have perish'd in the brawling surge.

Inguiomer.
So perish all, who dare invade our country.

Arminius.
Where now Germanicus?—Upon some rock
Perhaps he rolls his eyes around the wat'ry main,
And there surveys the wreck of all his hopes;
His boasted eagles in the roaring deep
All sunk, and swallow'd up. No aid from him
Cæcina can expect. In yonder camp
We hold another Varus and his legions.