University of Virginia Library

SCENA IIII.

Sabina, Camilla.
Sab.
In the midst of our sorrows, give me leave
to blame you: so much trouble in your soul
I can no way approve of; if you were
in my case, Sister, what would you do then!
if you had so much cause to fear as I,
and were to expect from their fatall armes
such ils as mine, and such unparallell'd losses?

Cam.
Speak more indifferently of your sufferings
and mine, every one sees those of another
not with the same eye that he sees his own;
but to look well on mine wherein heaven plungeth me,
your after them would seem t y' as a dream.
Horatius death is onely to be fear'd
by you, a brother's nothing to a husband;
the marriage that tyeth us unto
another family, untyeth us
from that wherein we lived maids; these knots
so different, are not to be compar'd;
we must leave Parents, Friends and all the world
to follow a deare husband. But if, Sister,
so neer unto a marriage, the Lover
which a glad farther gives, is less unto us
then husband, and not less then brother, surely
our sentiments between them do remain
suspended, our choice is impossible,
and our desires confounded. Thus you have
in your complaints where to direct your wishes,
and terminate your fears: but if heaven should
resolve to presecute us, for my part,
I must fear all things, and can hope for nothing.

Sab.
When one must dye, and by the others hand,
'tis but an ill dispute this which you make;
let the knots be as different as they will,
we must not leave our parents in oblivion;
although we leave them, Hymen doth not raze out
those deepe engraven characters; to love
a husband, we are not oblig'd to hate
our brothers; nature alwayes doth conserve
her first rights, when the death of either one
or other is propos'd, we cannot chuse,
they are as well unto us, as a husband,
our other selves, and all evils are alike
when that they are extreme: but happily
the Lover that doth charme you and for whom
you burn, is not so to you as you'd have him,
an evil humour, or a little zealousie,
may banish him your good opinion;
and put him quite out of your fantasie;
what they do often, do the same by reason,
and leave your blood out of comparison:
T'oppose voluntary bonds to those
whom birth hath rendred necessary, is
a crime indubitable: If heaven should resolve then
to persecute us, I have the most reason
to feare all fortunes, and despaire of all things;
but for your part, duty directeth you
in your complaints where to addresse your wishes,
and terminate your fears.

Cam.
Sister, I see
you never lov'd, you know not Love, nor felt
his darts: one may resist him in the birth,
but when he's grown, and become Master of us,
we cannot banish him, especially
when the consent of Father in engaging
our faith hath made this tyrant lawfull King.
He entereth with sweetness, but he raignes
by force; and when the soul hath tasted once
his sweet temptation, to love no more
is that it cannot do; since it cannot
desire but what he will, his chaines are for us
as strong as faire.