University of Virginia Library

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.