University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Tullus. Galesus.
Galesus.
I listen'd, Tullus, to th'important Scene
That lately pass'd before us, with most strict
Unprejudic'd Attention; and have since
Revolv'd it in my Mind, both as a Man,
Ally'd to all Mankind, and as a Volscian.
Indeed our Terms are high, and by the Manner
In which they were prescrib'd by Coriolanus,
Are what we cannot hope will e'er be granted.
They should be soften'd. Let us yield a little,
Conscious ourselves to a great Nation's Pride,
The Pride of human Nature. Could the Romans
Stoop to such Peace, commanded by the Sword,
They then were Slaves, unworthy our Alliance.

Tullus.
Gods! do I hear in thee, one of the Chiefs
Intrusted with the Honour of the Volsci,
An Advocate for Rome?

Galesus.
I glory, Tullus,
To own myself an Advocate for Peace.
Peace is the happy natural State of Man;
War his Corruption, his Disgrace—

Tullus.
His Safeguard!
His Pride! his Glory!—What but War, just War,
Gave Greece her Heroes? Those who drew the Sword
(As we do now) against the Sons of Rapine;
To quell proud Tyrants, and to free Mankind.

Galesus.
Yes, Tullus, when to just Defence the Warrior
Confines his Force, he is a worship'd Name,
Dear to Mankind, the First and Best of Mortals!
Yet still, if this can by soft Means be done,
And fair Accommodation, that is better.
Why should we purchase with the Blood of Thousands,
What may be gain'd by mutual just Concession?
Why give up Peace, the best of human Blessings,
For the vain cruel Pride of useless Conquest?

Tullus.
These soothing Dreams of philosophic Quiet
Are only fit for unfrequented Shades.
The Sage should quit the busy bustling World
Ill suited to his gentle Meditations,
And in some Desart find that Peace he loves.

Galesus.
Mistaken Man! Philosophy consists not
In airy Schemes, or idle Speculations:
The Rule and Conduct of all social Life
Is her great Province. Not in lonely Cells
Obscure she lurks, but holds her heavenly Light
To Senates and to Kings, to guide their Councils,
And teach them to reform and bless Mankind.
All Policy but her's is false, and rotten;
All Valour not conducted by her Precepts
Is a destroying Fury sent from Hell
To plague unhappy Man, and ruin Nations.

Tullus.
To stop the Waste of that destroying Fury,
Is the great Cause and Purpose of this War.
Art thou a Friend to Peace?—subdue the Romans.
Who, who, but they, have turn'd this antient Land,
Where, from Saturnian Times, harmonious Concord
Still lov'd to dwell, into a Scene of Blood,
Of endless Discord, and perpetual Rapine?
The Sword, the vengeful Sword, must drain away
This boiling Blood, that thus disturbs the Nations!
Talk not of Terms. It is a vain Attempt
To bind th'Ambitious and Unjust by Treaties:
These they elude a thousand specious Ways;
Or if they cannot find a fair Pretext,
They blush not in the Face of Heaven to break them.

Galesus.
Why then affronted Heaven will combat for us.
Set Justice on our Side, and then my Voice
Shall be as loud for War as thine; my Sword
Shall strike as deep; at least my Blood shall flow
As freely, Tullus, in my Country's Cause.
But as I then would die to serve the Volscians,
So now I dare to serve them by opposing,
Even with my single Voice, th'impetuous Torrent
That hurries us away beyond the Bounds
Of temperate Wisdom; and presume to tell thee,
It is thy Passion, not thy Prudence dictates
This haughty Language.

Tullus.
Yes, it is my Passion,
A Passion for the Glory of my Country,
That scorns your narrow Views of timid Prudence.
Our injur'd Honour drew our Swords, and never
Shall they be sheath'd while I command the Volscians,
Till Rome submits to Antium.—

Galesus.
Rome will perish
Ere she submit; and she has still her Walls,
The Strength of her Allies, her native Valour,
Which oft has sav'd her in the worst Extremes,
And, stronger yet than all, Despair, to aid her.

Tullus.
All these will nought avail her, if our Fears
Come not to her Assistance—But, Galesus,
Why urge you this to me? Go, talk to Marcius.
The War has given him all his Pride could hope for,
To see Rome's Senate humbled at his Feet:
He now may wish to reign in Peace at Antium,
And thou, perhaps, art come an Envoy from him,
To learn if I shall prove a quiet Subject.

Galesus.
Thro' this unguarded Opening of thy Soul,
I see what stings thee—Ah! beware of Envy!
If that pale Fury seize thee, thou art lost!
Tullus, 'tis easier far, from the clear Breast,
To keep out treacherous Vice, than to expel it.
Farewel. Remember I have done my Duty.

[Goes out.
Tullus,
alone.
This Man discerns my Heart—Well: What of that?
Am I afraid its Movements should be seen?
I, whose clear Thoughts have never shunn'd the Light,
Must I now seek to hide them? O Misfortune!
To have reduc'd myself to such a State,
So much beneath the Greatness of my Soul,
That, like a Coward, I must learn to practise
The wretched Arts of vile Dissimulation!
By Heaven I will not do 't—I will not stoop
To veil my Discontent a Moment longer.
But see! my Rival comes, the happy Marcius.
His haughty Mien, his very Looks, affront me.