Philodamus :: :: University of Virginia Library

And hang the gay festoon on ev'ry column,
Bid my house laugh and imitate its owner.
I feel a joy equivalent to youth,
That dances at my heart. And to be joyful,
Is to be thankful to the gracious gods.
Come near, my children. You whom nature gave me,
Scarce dearer to me than these new acquir'd.
May all Heav'ns blessings light upon you all.

[Lays his hands on them.
Epicrates.
You have anticipated all in this:
Nor have you left me matter for a pray'r,
Save for continuance of the present happiness.

Philippus.
If you, my father, but from the reflection,
From the rebound of our content, perceive
Such warmth; think how our bosoms glow, on which
Felicity darts all her rays direct.

Philodamus.
[To the women.
Lost in deep thought! I have observ'd it often,
That any unexpected flow of joy
Borrows from grief its very mien and aspect,
And seems to sadden more than chear the heart.

Erato.
My thoughts were but petitions to high Heaven,
That such benignity might long preside
O'er all the happiness it has dispens'd.

Euphemia.
Mine, that a life entire of strict attention,
All care, and all affection, still must leave me
Bankrupt in duty to you.

Philodamus.
This I sought not.
I thank you all, however; most, the Gods;
Who have allow'd me to behold my children
Plac'd to my wish: and now I reach the hour
I long have ey'd at distance with desire,
Wherein to shift life's bus'ness from my shoulders,
And sport with the remainder of my days;

As one, who, all his baggage put on board,
Saunters, and plays with ev'ry shell and pebble
He meets upon the beach, till the wind veer,
And then puts off, when summon'd, without hurry.
I feel that I have leisure now to die.

Erato.
My dearest father, shun th'ill-omen'd word:
Nor draw a cloud 'thwart this solemnity,
With the sad thought, of, what the Gods avert!

Philodamus.
I only mean, my child, my work is done;
The ball wound up of all I had to do.
And as to dying—if this very day
It were to happen, why, I've liv'd enough.

Epicrates.
Why chuse this subject in these happy moments
Which gaiety and joy claim for their own?

Philodamus.
Th'Aruspex and the Augur! let us hear them.
Enter Aruspex and Augur.
Walk in. Have you perform'd the sacrifice?

Aruspex.
We have: and our litation was most perfect.
The flame upon the altar, bright and vivid,
Aspir'd to Heaven, and wreath'd its dancing point.
With scarce a groan the placid victim fell.
The form, sight, and complexion of the entrails
Auspicious all, without one threat'ning fibre.

Philodamus.
What says your observation?

Augur.
Accurately,
The Heav'ns we quarter'd, and remark'd the flight
Of ev'ry wing that wander'd thro' the air,
Listen'd to all that spoke to divination.
Num'rous the omens on the happy side,
Naught on the adverse that might derogate.

And to confirm and ratify the whole,
The eagle wheel'd him in a thousand rings,
Floating upon his wide-expanded vans;
Far on the left, in the blue sky serene
The thunder roll'd, disarm'd of all its fires.

Philodamus.
What draw ye from the whole?

Aruspex.
To all here present
Long years of happiness that crowd tow'rds light.

Augur.
To you, old age; to these a num'rous progeny.

Philodamus.
Call in the Minstrels, and begin the rites.
Enter Minstrells.
Hark ye, my friends, give me some decent hymn;
None of those licences, too oft permitted,
Rather encourag'd at these times, which turn
A nuptial feast into a brothel riot.

Minstrel.
We know our place too well.

Philodamus.
So then, begin.
And you, my gentle children, while they chaunt
The deity presiding over marriage,
Conceive your vows, heaping the grateful altar
With incense, that shall waft them up to Heaven.

Epithalamium.
For two Womens Voices.
1st voice.
Hymen, oh Hymen,

2d voice.
Haste, haste, Hesperus,

Both.
Thy decent steps/beaming lamp advance,
Love already chides thy stay

1st voice.
Lead on the graceful dance:

2d voice.
Shut, ah! shut ungrateful day.

1st voice.
Hymen, oh Hymen.
Man, yet a savage stray'd,
And but of brutes the first;
By liberty was wretched made,
By love itself was curs'd.
Now violence alone employs
To heap his feast, and quench his cruel joys.

2d voice.
Haste, haste, Hesperus.
Unwillingly you shone,
And beautified the night;
While lust and rapine wak'd alone,
And bay'd thy silver light.
An uncouth world enjoy'd thy toil,
And man uncultur'd as his parent soil.

1st voice.
Hymen, oh Hymen.
Till at Jove's high behest
Thou ledd'st thy comely choir;
Order, and Right, behind thee prest,
And temperate Desire;
The social Duties round thee stood,
Link'd in the chains of amity and blood.

2d voice.
Haste, haste, Hesperus.
Oh loveliest of stars—

[Ends abrupt, on Cornelius entering with a Roman guard.
Philodamus.
Suspend the song. What means this Roman guard?
Retire, my daughters, till we know the cause.

[Exeunt women and all the attendants.
Philippus.
Ye are mistaken. Do ye know this house,
And where its owner ranks in Lampsacus?

Cornelius.
Saxa, and Rufus! Yonder is your guard.
No, no, there's no mistake. Yours, Mutius,
With these three others, all that colonnade.

The rest are ready planted. No mistake;
I know your house and rank, and know my orders.

Philippus.
[Low to Philodamus.
Let me but drive these fellows out of doors—

Philodamus.
Rash boy, forbear. These fellows are our masters.

Epicrates.
But the indignity—

Philodamus.
Are you a boy too?

Cornelius.
Be not alarm'd. I only follow orders,
And am plac'd here to honour Rubrius,
Who comes to take his quarters in your house.

Epicrates.
Why, this is not an inn for ev'ry comer
Who chuses to set up his staff in it.

Philippus.
A consul, or a prætor have found here
Worthy reception. Legate never claim'd
Such privilege, much less a legate's follower.

Philodamus.
Be still; 'tis not this honest soldier's fault.
Pray, tell me, friend, who is this Rubrius?

Cornelius.
To tell you the plain truth, he's one of those,
(We've quantity enough of them at Rome),
By hanging on the great, who's learn'd their manners,
Or rather overacts: at first admitted
For low buffooneries and mean submissions,
For being either any thing or nothing,
Receiv'd, rejected, feasted, sent on errands,
Their fool, companion, pimp, friend, slave, and equal;
Grown by degrees so necessary to them,
They recollect not their own manufacture,
But ev'n strike sail to'm, when he holds his head up,
As all such do, and higher than their masters,
This sword here earns me coarser bread, but honester.

Philodamus.
A guest indeed, who does me mighty honour!

The legate must have err'd thro' ignorance
Of my condition, and I go t'explain it.

[Going.
Cornelius.
With all my heart. I'll obey any orders.

Enter SOLDIER.
Rubrius comes.

Cornelius.
What, ho! Stand to your guard.

[Exit.
Philodamus.
So very quick! why, this is done on purpose
To make complaint too slow.

[Returning.
Philippus.
'Tis not too late
To shut the door in's face, give me but leave.

Philodamus.
Stay, madman! nor provoke bad things to worse,
Since we are slaves, why do we talk like freemen?
All that is left us, is submission.

Epicrates.
Surely
You won't—

Philippus.
No, sure, you won't, my father—

Philodamus.
Yes, but I will, and more. Upon your duties;
You shall absent you from my house the while.
I know your indignation and high spirits.
Would you renew the Lapithean fray,
And mingle wine with blood? No arguing.

Epicrates.
I only wish you have no need of us.

Philippus.
We may conduct the women to his house?

Philodamus.
Not glaring in the streets, amid the populace.
At close of evening I'll convey them to you.
Farewell, now disappear, I hear a bustle.

[Exeunt Epicrates and Philippus.
Guard,
within.
Stand by.

Second Guard.
Stand by, there!

Philodamus.
Now for my best face,
That it mark no resentment to my guest.