 | Arminius |  |
77
SCENE VIII.
Enter Arminius, attended by guards.Arminius.
Inguiomer, these checks but serve to animate
The martial spirit of a warlike race.
Inguiomer.
Protected by the friendly gloom of night
Cæcina and his army stood at bay:
Around their camp no glim'ring ray of light
Shew'd us their works: mean time our lamps and torches
Made us a mark for all their missive weapons.
Our lights extinguish'd, courage then was useless;
Disorder and confusion follow'd. None could see
Where to assault: I sounded a retreat.
Arminius.
Wisely you judg'd: to-morrow's orient sun
Shall see his legions overwhelm'd in ruin.
Inguiomer.
Since then an officer has brought this letter:
It is address'd to you.
Arminius.
To me a letter!
Give it; let me see it.
[Reads.
“The sense of honour that governs the mind of a
“Roman general, will be seen in this letter. I write to
“caution you against a foul conspiracy. A Gaul this day
“deserted from your army. The villain has set a price
“upon your life, and for that reward is ready to end your
“days by poison. I need not tell you that I rejected his
“offer with indignation. An enemy in the field, I scorn
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“clandestine enemies. Farewell.”
If this be true, I can almost allow
A Roman still may have a sense of honour.
If any Gauls are lurking in our army—
Gothmund.
Their number is not great; but I have watch'd them
With an observant eye.
Arminius.
They are a traiterous race.
Had they made head against the Roman arms
Like men, who knew the value of their liberty,
Th'imperial Eagles soon had wing'd their flight
To their Italian realms; and slavery
Repass'd their Alpine hills, to dwell at Rome
And with their senate kneel at Cæsar's feet.
Inguiomer.
They fought in parties, and the whole was conquer'd.
Arminius.
All civil union was to them unknown;
Strangers to liberty, and now subdued
To crouch in bondage; the ambitious slaves
Would raise the tree of tyranny, and overturn
In every state, in all the nations round them,
The laws that hold society in peace.
Inguiomer.
We must be wary; Gothmund, we must look
With circumspective eyes; watch ev'ry motion,
All secret meetings, and by due attention
Mar this detested project.
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For his conduct
Cæcina claims both gratitude and praise.
But has he sent that false perfidious Gaul
Back to our camp?
Gothmund.
The traitor still is there.
Arminius.
Let a well chosen officer be sent
To tell Cæcina that his gen'rous action
Reflects a lustre on his name: but still
To crown the deed with glory, the assassin
Must be deliver'd up to justice; tell him
'Tis my request.
Inguiomer.
Soon as the slave arrives
A strict enquiry will afford a clue,
To guide us through the maze of their designs,
And trace the Gauls, who tamper'd in the treason.
Arminius.
Gothmund, do you select some trusty officer
To bear our message: let him strait depart.
[Exit Gothmund.
Inguiomer.
Cæcina will comply.
Arminius.
And if he does,
I in my turn will act a gen'rous part.
His little army shall have leave to march
Free, unmolested to the distant Rhine.
I'll sheath the sword, and for such splendid merit
Spare the effusion e'en of Roman blood.
How wears the night?
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'Tis now the second watch.
Arminius.
Are the troops all arrang'd, as I directed?
Inguiomer.
They're under arms, and at their sev'ral posts
All watchful stand, impatient to renew
The charge, and though repuls'd, with joy they find
They have sustain'd no loss.
Arminius.
They have sustain'd
A loss we all must feel, and long must mourn.
That brave, heroic youth, the gallant Segimund,
Whose early virtues were by all admir'd;
Who won each soldier's love; whose spring of life
Promis'd an harvest of immortal glory;
He is no more.
Inguiomer.
No hostile hand subdued him.
Arminius.
Alas! I know the whole disast'rous story.
I've seen Veleda; she has told me all.
I left her paying the last funeral rites
To her lov'd brother: to her father too
She grants sepulchral honours, though his crimes
Drew vengeance on his head. Veleda's virtue
Is ever lovely, and adorns her name.
She mourns a father lost, and while to him
She pours the heartfelt tribute of her tears,
Her filial piety demands our praise.
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