Horatius A Roman Tragedie |
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| 3. | SCENA III. |
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SCENA III.
Curiatius, Camilla, Julia.Curiat.
Camilla, doubt it not, behold a man
who neither is the conquerour, nor yet
the slave of Rome: fear not to see my hands
blush with the shameful weight of Irons, or
the blood of Romanes; I believ'd you lov'd
glory and Rome enough for to despise
my chaine, and hate my Victory, and so
in this extremity I equally
feared captivity and Victory.
Camilla.
It is sufficient, Curatius,
I do divine the rest, thou fly'st a battel
so fatall to thy wishes, and thy heart
wholly mine, to the end thou mayst not lose me,
denies to lend thy arm unto thy Country:
let who will herein look on thy Renowne,
and blame thee to have too much loved me,
Camilla must not disesteeme thee for't;
the more thy Love appears, the more she ought
to cherish thee: and if thou owest much
unto the place that gave thee birth, the more
thou quit'st for me, the more thy Love appears.
But hast thou seen my Father? can he suffer
thee in his house thus? doth he not preferre
the State before his private Family?
regardeth he not Rome more then his daughter?
Lastly, is our good fortune well assur'd?
hath he beheld thee as a Son in law,
or as an Enemy?
Curiat.
He look'd upon me
as son in law with tenderness and love,
which witnessed enough an entire Joy:
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unworthy honour, enter in his house:
I give not up the interest of my towne,
I love my honour yet, though I adore
Camilla; so long as the war hath lasted,
I have approv'd my self as good a Citizen,
as faithful lover. I would with my Love
reconcile Alba's quarrel, I sigh'd for you
in combating for her; and if we must
yet come to strokes, I should, alas! fight for her,
and sigh for you: in spight of the desires
of my charm'd soul, if the warre should continue,
I should be in the Army: it is peace
that giveth me a free accesse unto you,
peace, unto which our love oweth this happinesse.
Cam.
Peace! by what means may one believe this miracle?
Julia.
Camilla, at the least believe the Oracle,
and know we fully by what blest effects
the happines of a battle hath produc'd
this peace.
Curiat.
Ye Gods, who ever could have thought it!
Already the two Armies animated
unto the combate, with an equal heat
threatned each other with their eyes, and fiercely
advancing, look'd for nothing but the signall
to give the charge, when our discreet Dictator
putting himself some distance 'fore the ranks,
demanded of your Prince a minutes silence;
it being granted him, “What do we, Romans,
‘(said he) what divel provoketh us to arms?
‘let reason rule, and cleer your understandings.
‘We are your neighbours, your fair daughters are
‘our wives, and ours are yours; Hymen hath joyn'd us
‘by so many reciprocal strong knots
‘that there are few of our sons which are not
‘your Nephews; and to speak the truth, we are
‘but one blood, and one people in two Towns;
‘why should we tear our selves by civil warrs,
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‘the conquerors, and the most beautious triumph
‘is watered with tears? Our common enemies
‘expect with joy, when one of us defeated,
‘shall leave the other as a prey unto them;
‘they have too long enjoy'd the benefit
‘of our divisions: let us for the future
‘joyne all the forces that we have against them,
‘and let us drown these petty differences
‘for ever in Oblivion, which make
‘so ill allies of such good Warriours:
‘but if th'ambition to command each other
‘maketh your troops and ours to march to day,
‘if we would but appease her with lesse blood,
‘she will unite, farre from dividing, us.
‘Let us name Combatants for th'common cause,
‘each people fix it self unto their own,
‘and as the chance of Arms shall dispose of them,
‘the weakest party shall obey the strongest;
‘but with this reservation, that the conquered
‘without indignity to such brave Warriours,
‘shall not be slaves, but subjects, free from tribute
‘or shame, without other subjection
‘then to be bound to follow in all places
‘the Colours of the Conqueror. Thus our
‘two States wil make but one resplendent Empire.
He ended here, every one figh'd with joy,
and looking each into the others ranks,
knew there a friend, a cozen, or a brother:
they wondred how their hands, greedy of blood,
flew rashly to so many parricides,
and shew'd a face at once cover'd with horror
of battaile, and with ardour for this choice:
At last the offer was accepted, and
the desir'd peace on those conditions
was swore of both sides, three should fight for all:
but for to make the better choice, our Chiefs
will take a little leisure. Your election
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Cam.
O Gods, how this discourse contents my minde!
Curiat.
Within three hours or there abouts, by common
accord, the fortune of our warriours
shall rule our fortune; in the meane time all
are free, expecting when they shall be nam'd;
Rome's in our Campe, and our Campe is in Rome;
free access being allowed of both sides,
every one goes to finde his ancient friend,
and to receive his Love; for my part, Madame,
my passion made me seeke your noble Brothers,
and my desires met with so good success,
that th'Authour of your dayes hath promised
to give me the unparallell'd happiness
of your faire hand to morrow; you will not,
I hope, become a Rebell to his power.
Cam.
The duty of a daughter is obedience.
Curiat.
Come then, receive that sweet command which must
heape up my happiness to its full height.
Cam.
I follow you, but for to see my Brothers,
and to know th'end too of our miseries.
Julia.
Go, whilst that I at the foot of the Altars,
freed so propitiously from their feirce rods,
give thanks for you to the immortall Gods
| Horatius | |