University of Virginia Library

ACTUS Primus

SCENA Prima.

Sabina Julia.
Sabina.
Approve my weakness, and suffer my griefe,
It is but too just in so great a misery;
such storms as these ready to powr upon them,
will shake the stoutest courages; the least
dejected masc'line Spirit without disorder
can't exercise its Vertue; although mine
receive amazement at these rude alarmes,
the trouble of my heart can nothing worke
upon my teares, and amongst all the sighs
it send's to Heaven, my constancy raignes still
over mine eyes. When one doth stop the course
of the Souls sadness and affliction,
though it be less then man, 'tis more then woman:
in this extremity to command teares,
is to shew strength enough in our weake sex.

Julia.
Enough, and too much for a common Soul,
that from the meanest danger doth expect
but one misfortune; a great heart doth scorne
such an abasement, it despaires of nothing,
though in occurrents doubtful; the two armies
stand in battalia before our walls;
but Rome knows not yet how to lose a field,
we need not fear her, rather lets applaud her;
since she goes forth to fight, she goes to conquer:
then banish, banish quite so vaine a fear,
and conceive brave desires worthy a Romane.

Sabina.
I am a Romane, since my Husbands is so,
marriage makes me embrace Romes interest;
but it should hold my heart like a chain'd slave,
if it did make me to forget the place
where I was born. Alba, where I began
to breath my first aire, Alba, my deare Country,
and my first love, when between us and thee
I see the war commenc'd, I feare our Victory
as much as our destruction. Rome, if thou
complain'st that I am partial herein,
fix upon enemies that I may hate:
When I see drawn up 'fore thy walls both Armies,
my three brave Brothers in the one, and my
undaunted Husband in the other, can I
pray for thee, and without impiety
importune Heaven for thy felicity?
I know thy State, yet in its infancy,
cannot without war fix its puissance:
I know it must grow great, and that thy destinies
will not at home be bounded with the Latins;
I know the Gods have promised to thee
the Empire of the Earth and that thou can'st not
See th'effect of it, but by the war:
so far am I from off'ring to oppose
this thirst of Glory, which obeyes so readily.
the Gods decrees, and posteth to thy greatness,
that I would see thy Crowned Troops already
pass the Pyrenees, carry thy battalions
into the East, plaint thy Pavillions
upon the banks of Rhine, make the proud columns
of Hercules to shake under thy feet:
But love a town to whom thou owest Romulus:
Ingratful, know that from her Kings rich blood
thou tak'st thy name, thy walls, and thy first laws:
Alba is thy original; stay, and wisely
consider that thou carryest the sword
into thy Mothers bosome; turn elsewhere
the force of thy triumphant armes: her joy
will breake forth in her childrens happiness;
and overcome with a maternal love,
her prayers will be for thee, if thou art not
against her.

Julia.
This discourse surpriseth me,
since from the time that we first arm'd against
her people, I have seen so much indifference
in you for her, as if you had been born
within our walls: I admired in you
the vertue that reduc'd your dearest interests
unto your husbands, and did pity you
in the mid'st of your plaints, as if our Rome
had caused all your fears.

Sabina.
Whil'st they encountered
but in light skirmishes, not strong enough
to cast each other down; whil'st a glad hope
of peace flatter'd my trouble, it is true,
I tooke a vanity to be all Romane:
if I saw Rome prevail, with some regret
I suddenly condemn'd this secret motion;
again, if I resented in her contrary
success any malignant joy in favour
of my three brothers, suddenly to smother it,
calling my reason to me, I lamented
when Glory entered into their house.
But now alas! that one of them must fall,
that Alba become slave, or that Rome sinke,
and that after the battel there remaine
no obstacle more to the conquerours,
nor hope unto the conquered, I should
shew an unnatural hate unto my Country,
if I could be all Romane yet, and should
ask of the Gods your triumph, at the price
of so much blood which is so precious to me.
I tye me not so strictly to the interest
of a man, that I should forget my Country:
I'm not for Alba nor am I for Rome;
I am afraid for one, and for the other,
in this last conflict, and must be of that side
which fortune shall afflict; indifferent
to both untill the Victory, I will
participate the ils without assuming
any thing of the glory, and will keep
my tears in store for the conquered party,
and my hate for the conquerours.

Julia.
How often
we see such traverses as these arise,
in diverse spirits diverse passions!
In this Camilla acts clean contrary;
her brother is your Husband; yours, her Lover;
but she sees with an eye far different
from yours; her blood in one camp, and her Love
in th'other; when you did conserve a spirit
all Romane, hers irresolute and fearful,
incertain, fear'd the storm of the least mixture,
of either party hated the advantage,
to the misfortune of the vanquished
still gave her plaints, and so she nourished
eternal griefes; but yesterday when she
understood that the Armies did advance
resolved to joyn battaile, on her brow
a sudden joy appear'd.

Sabina.
Oh Julia, how I fear so quick a change!
Yesterday in her faire and pleasant humour
she entertain'd Valerius; without doubt
she quits my brother for this happy rival;
her spirit shaken by the present objects
finds nothing amiable in an absent one
after two yeers. But pray excuse the heat
of a fraternal love; the care I have
of him, doth make me fear all things from her;
I frame suspitions from too light a subject,
The day of battel is unfit to change,
with a new dart few hearts are wounded then,
in so great trouble one hath other thoughts:
But who can have such pleasant entertainments,
and such contentments as may equall hers?

Julia.
The causes are as obscure unto me
as unto you, I can't be satisfied
by any thought, any conjecture on't;
'tis constancy enough in so great danger,
to see it, to attend it without griefe;
but surely 'tis too much t'expresse it further
even unto joy.

Sabina.
See how a gentle Genius
hath fittly sent her to us! Try to make her
discourse upon this point, she loveth you
too well to conceal any thing from you:
I leave you, Julia, entertain my Sister.
I am asham'd to shew so much of melancholy,
and my heart burthened with a thousand fears,
seeks solitude to hide its sighs and tears.

SCENA. II.

Camilla, Julia.
Camilla.
Why flyes she, and would have me entertain you?
thinks she that my grief's less then hers, and that
as more insensible of such misfortunes,
I should mix less plaints with my sad discourse?
My soul's affrighted with the same alarmes.
I shall lose in the one and th'other army
aswell as she; I shall behold my Lover,
nay more, my onely Joy die for his Country,
or ruine mine; and this dear object of
my love become for my afflicting punishment,
or worthy of my teares, or of my hate.
Alas!

Julia.
Yet she is more to be lamented
then you: one may change Lover, but not Husband;
leave Curiacius, and receive Valerius,
so shall you fear no more for th'adverse party,
so shall you be all ours, and your spirit
released of it's trouble, shall have nothing
to lose more in the camp of th'Enemy.

Camilla.
Give me advises that may be more lawful,
and, without proposition of crimes,
wail my misfortunes; although I can scarce
resist my evils, yet I would rather suffer,
then merit them.

Julia.
How, Madame! do you call
a fair and reasonable change a crime?

Camilla.
What? think you that the breach of faith is pardonable?

Julia.
Towards an enemy what should oblige you?

Camilla.
Who can absolve us from a Solemn vow?

Julia.
'Tis to no purpose to disguise a thing
that is so cleare: I saw you yesterday
receive Valerius court-ship, and the favour
which he receiv'd from you, gives him encouragement
to nourish a sweet hope.

Camilla.
She continues.

Julia.
A dream for the most part should be interpreted
in a contrary sense.

Camilla.
I should believe it so, since I desire it;
but notwithstanding all my prayers and wishes
I see a day of battel, not of peace.

Julia.
Thereby the war will end, and peace will follow.

Camilla.
Last still the ill, if this must be the remedy!
Whether Rome fall, or Alba be o'rthrown,
dear Lover, think no more to be my Husband:
my heart (how great soever the fire be
that doth consume it) will not have the conquerour,
nor Slave of Rome. But what new object here
presents it selfe? Is it thee, Curiacius?

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:
but he beheld me not, by any treason
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,
‘where the death of the conquered weakneth
‘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
is in the Senate, our within a Tent.

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