University of Virginia Library

SCENA V.

The old Horatius, Sabina, Camilla.
Old Horat.
I come to bring unto you sorrowful news;
my daughters, but in vain I should conceale it you,
which could not but a little time be hidden;
your Brothers are in fight, the Gods ordain'd it.

Sab.
I must confess this news doth much astonish me,
I thought there was in the Divinities
much less injustice, and much more of goodness:
comfort us not, reason is troublesome
when it dares to oppose such a misfortune;
we have the end of our griefs in our hands,
who can resolve to dye, can brave disaster.
We easily could make, Sir, in your presence
a feigned constancy of our despaire;
but when one can without shame be without
resolved courage, 'tis a cowardise
to counterfeit it: the use of such art
we leave to men, and will not pass for that
but what we are: It is not our desire
that such a stout spirit should abase it self
by our example to complain of fortune;
receive these mortal tidings without trembling,
behold without mingling your own with them
our tears flow down our cheeks; lastly we crave
(as all the favour we desire in such
calamities,) that you will keepe your constancy,
and suffer our sad sighs.

The old Horat.
I am so farre
from blaming the tears which I see you shed,
that I can scarce defend me from their force,
and should perhaps yeild to such strong assaults,
if herein we had both like interest:
not that your Alba by her choice hath made me
to hate your brothers, all three are deare persons
yet unto me; but amity is not
of the same ranke, and hath not the effects
of love nor blood. I do not feele for them
the griefe that doth torment Sabina as
a Sister, and Camilla as a Lover;
I can behold them as our enemies,
and give without regret my prayers and wishes
unto my Sons; they are (thanks to the Gods)
worthy their Country; no astonishment
e'r perished their glory, and I saw
their honour increase highly when their courages
refus'd the pity of both campes. If they
by any weakness had desired it,
if their high vertue had not presently
refused it, my hand should have reveng'd me
upon them of the affront which their effeminate
consent had done me; but when in despight
of them they would have other combatants,
I'le not deny't, I joyn'd my prayers with yours;
if pitiful Heaven had hearkned to my voice,
Alba should be reduc'd to chuse anew,
we should see then the Horaces triumph
without seeing their hands stain'd with the blood
of the bold Curiatii, and upon
the event of a combat farre more reasonable
the honour of the Romane name would now
depend. The prudence of the Gods doth otherwise
dispose thereof, on their eternall order
my spirit doth repose, it armes it self
on this occasion with generosity,
and of the publick good makes its felicity.
Indeavour both of you to do as much,
to ease your griefs, and think that you are Romanes:
you are become so, you (Camllia) born such;
so glorious a title is a treasure;
a day, a day will come that Rome shall make
its glorious name fear'd like the thunderbolts
through the whole earth, and all the universe
shall shake under its lawes, it will become
th'ambition of Kings; for the Gods have promis'd
this glory unto our Æneas.