University of Virginia Library

SCENE VIII.

Enter Fulvia.
Behold that gift.

[pointing to Fulv.
Æt.
Fulvia!

Max.
What can this mean!
My soul is chill'd.

[aside.
Fulv.
Would Cæsar aught with Fulvia?

Val.
[to her.]
Attend in silence. [to Æt.]
Such a proferr'd blessing
Excites thy wonder: it exceeds belief:
But all thy fears are vain: my word is given,
And thus confirm'd. Ætius, receive her hand

Æt.
What sacrifice is ask'd from me to ensure
The dear possession here?

Val.
I ask but little:
Through love thou art guilty; and who lives a lover,
With ease forgives such guilt: I ask but this;
Truth undisguis'd: reveal thy whole design;
Let me entreat thee: let not Cæsar still
Be girt with constant fears.

Æt.
My love, farewell!
[to Fulvia.
Lead once more to my prison.

Val.
Shall I then
Endure such insolence?

[aside.
Fulv.
Alas!

Val.
Yet hear me—
[to Ætius.
And wilt thou thus, still obstinate in silence,
Forsake that Fulvia, prov'd to thee so faithful?
Speak, Ætius!—Yet the traitor answers not.

[aside.
Max.
What danger threatens!

[aside.
Val.
Dost thou hear me, Ætius?
Know'st thou to thee I speak? Are words of mine
Such as a criminal like thee should scorn?

Æt.
In speaking thus, thou canst not speak to Ætius.

Val.
[aside.]
'Tis now resolv'd—Guards—

Fulv.
[to Val.]
Let your anger first
Be turn'd on me.

Val.
[to Fulv.]
Canst thou not yet be silent?—
Release the prisoner.

[his chains are taken off.
Æt.
Ha!

Fulv.
What do I see!

Max.
O Heavens!

Val.
At length I know thy innocence:
Such firmness to reject a spouse belov'd,
Dwells not with him that's guilty—I repent
My rigour, Ætius; but succeeding gifts
Shall heal the unjust offence of past suspicion—
Go—Fulvia is thy own—and thou art free.

Fulv.
O happy change!

Æt.
Now, now, indeed my soul
First feels confusion—Who could e'er have hop'd
Such virtues in a rival and a monarch?
Thus to resign the treasure of his soul,
Thus to forget—

Val.
Haste then—Impatient Rome
Expects thy presence: bless her longing sight;
Banish her fears: there will be time enough
For fair exchange of mutual love and friendship.

Æt.
I blush to recollect my late demeanour—
A gift like this, Augustus—

Val.
Ætius, go
And learn henceforth the heart of Valentinian.

Æt.

[Exit.