University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

SESTIUS, APRONIUS.
Sestius.
'Twere wrong and dangerous to force the damsel.

Apronius.
Who has the moral fit upon him now?
Art thou a Roman, and decline a rape?
Dost thou not fear thy Sabine ancestress,
All pale, should start up from her urn, and chide
The dastard sp'rit of her degenerate son?
A rape in other nations may sound vile.—
In us, 'tis to commem'rate our progenitors.

[Exeunt.