University of Virginia Library

SCEN. VIII.

Terentia, Cassius.
Ter.
Are you not well, my Lord, that you retire
From the society of Friends? we're now
Beyond the barbarous extents of Rome;
Forget the base Proscribing City, and
W' inhabit, and enjoy a Paradise.
What sullen thought can then usurp your brest?
If in Sertorius pow'r, or mine, it lyes,
Your merit pleads, and Friendship bids command.

Cass.
Nor you, nor he must grant; the gift's so great,
And my ambition swell'd to such a height,
None but the only Jewel of his Crown
Will calm the rage of warring passions here.
(What have I said? what Devil did inspire
With words so killing to my Fame? I'm lost;
Hurry'd to ruin, by resistless Charms.)

[Aside.
Ter.
Ransack his Tresury, and call it yours;
Did it contain more wealth than India knows:
No gift can equal such a Friend as you.

Cass.
Ah, Madam, you're so excellently good,
Plac'd in a Sphere remote, beyond the World;
But wretched I, wander in endless night,
And hate the Day, which brought my misery.
In vain I hope redress; in vain complain
Unto the Air; large floods of brinish tears
With sighs, commix:—(Heav'n, strike me dumb for ever,)
Or I shall tell the Cause of all my griefs;
And, with it, bring inevitable Fate!

[Aside.
Ter.
'Tis wondrous strange! But; Cassius, I must know
From what hid Spring these mighty Torrents rise.
I always thought you worthy, and would strive,
Knew I but how, to ease these fits of grief:
You said, a Jewel; can a Toy, like that,
Render confus'd the nobleness of mind?
Cassius is wiser; and, I fear, has felt
The change of quiet, by his Country's change:
Met some obdurate Fair, inur'd to scorn,
Stranger unto your worth. Is't not from thence?
Tell me; and, by our Friendship, were she Flint,
Harder than Adamant, I'd melt her brest;
Infuse into her Soul the pangs of Love,
And make her proud to merit such a choice.

Cass.
(Something I fain would say; but when my words
Do croud for utt'rance, they're confus'd and lost.
I will—yet I will not—Death here shall rule,
E're I the fatal Secret do reveal.)
[Aside.
Your pity, Madam's ill bestow'd on me,
Who labor under the extreams of Fate,
Foresee the Goal which I shall ne're arrive,
And languish in the sight of Heav'n I wish:
Yet, there is somthing, in your words, creates
A kind of quiet here, and rest unknown,
Allays the mutiny of warring thoughts,
And breaks, like light, thorough my Chaos sense.

Ter.
Give me your hand; consider as we go;
If I am worthy of the secret Cause,
Fear not success; I'll be your Advocate:
Or, if a Kingdom's loss can buy your peace,
Sertorius, to regain a Friend like you,
With hands profuse would slight the gaudy Rule,
And, in th'extreams of Friendship, prove a Friend.

Cass.
Upon the utmost rim of Earth I stand;
And, the least motion, down the Precipice
Headlong I fall, giddy with doubts and fears:
I see my Fate, but cannot Fate prevent.

[Exeunt.