University of Virginia Library

SCENE LAST.
Enter Honoria.
Hon.
Is Cæsar safe?

Val.
Behold by whom he lives.

[points to Æt.
Hon.
[to Æt.]
What God, O chief, preserv'd thy life?

Æt.
The zeal
And piety of Varus.

Val.
How!

Varus.
I feign'd
His death completed—I deceiv'd thee, Cæsar,
But sav'd in Ætius thy deliverer.

Fulv.
O fair deceit!

Æt.
Heaven justly has decreed you
To owe your days, O Cæsar, to the hand
You deem'd unfaithful—Live—for Ætius seeks
No nobler triumph, and if still your mind
Harbours the smallest doubt of Ætius' loyalty,
Behold him once again a yielded prisoner.

Val.
Exalted hero! 'tis thyself alone
Can equal worth like thine: clasp'd to my breast,
Receive this pledge of penitence and love.
Behold thy bride. Honoria shall prepare
To be the spouse of Attila: I know
She gladly will resign thy generous hand
To constant Fulvia.

Hon.
To such matchless truth
This sacrifice is little.

Æt.
Happy hour!

Fulv.
Transporting pleasure!

Æt.
At our prayers, Augustus,
Grant Varus pardon, Maximus his life.

Val.
To such a pleader nothing is denied.

Chorus.
In life's uncertain track 'tis given
The mind of erring man to stray,
But Innocence, the star from Heaven,
Directs through shades our doubtful way.