Horatius A Roman Tragedie |
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| 2. | SCENA. II. |
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 | Horatius |  |
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,
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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.
If yesterday
I entertain'd him with a pleasing countenance,
think nothing on't but to his disadvantage;
of my content another was the object.
But to remove your error, know the cause on't;
I look on Curiacius with an amity
too pure to suffer my self longer to be
thought perjur'd. About five or six months after
my Brother marryed his Sister (Julia
you know it) he obtained of my Father
that I should be his Wife. This day was prosperous
and fatal to us both at once, uniting
our houses, it did disunite our Kings;
our marriage and the war were both concluded
at the same instant, our hope as soon dead
as born, all promises lost assoon as made:
Oh how extreme then were our miseries!
how many blasphemies did Curiacius
Vomit forth against Heaven? how many Rivers
flow'd from mine eyes? I need not tell it you,
you saw our farwels; you have since beheld
the troubles of my soul, you know what prayers
my flame hath made for peace, and what sad plaints
at every encounter I have uttered,
as fate dispos'd it; sometime for my Country,
and sometime for my Lover: my dispaire
at last constrained me to have recourse
Unto the Oracles. Hearken unto
the voyce that yesterday they gave unto me,
and give me your opinion, whether I
have reason thereupon to reassure
my dismay'd spirit. That Greek so much renown'd,
who for so many yeers foretold our destinies
at the foot of Aventine, he I mean,
that inspir'd by Apollo ne'r spake false,
doth promise in these verses a quick end
Unto my travels.
I entertain'd him with a pleasing countenance,
think nothing on't but to his disadvantage;
of my content another was the object.
But to remove your error, know the cause on't;
I look on Curiacius with an amity
too pure to suffer my self longer to be
thought perjur'd. About five or six months after
my Brother marryed his Sister (Julia
you know it) he obtained of my Father
that I should be his Wife. This day was prosperous
and fatal to us both at once, uniting
7
our marriage and the war were both concluded
at the same instant, our hope as soon dead
as born, all promises lost assoon as made:
Oh how extreme then were our miseries!
how many blasphemies did Curiacius
Vomit forth against Heaven? how many Rivers
flow'd from mine eyes? I need not tell it you,
you saw our farwels; you have since beheld
the troubles of my soul, you know what prayers
my flame hath made for peace, and what sad plaints
at every encounter I have uttered,
as fate dispos'd it; sometime for my Country,
and sometime for my Lover: my dispaire
at last constrained me to have recourse
Unto the Oracles. Hearken unto
the voyce that yesterday they gave unto me,
and give me your opinion, whether I
have reason thereupon to reassure
my dismay'd spirit. That Greek so much renown'd,
who for so many yeers foretold our destinies
at the foot of Aventine, he I mean,
that inspir'd by Apollo ne'r spake false,
doth promise in these verses a quick end
Unto my travels.
The Oracle.
Thy prayers are heard, Alba and Rome shall beto morrow in a faire confæderacy,
and thou with Curiacius shalt be joyn'd
never to part, so have the Gods enjoyn'd.
Upon this Oracle I ground a firme
beliefe, and as the successe pass'd may hope,
I gave my soul over to ravishments,
which pass'd the transports of the happiest Lovers:
Judge you of their excess. I met Valerius,
and he could not, as he was wont, displease me,
he spake to me of Love without my trouble;
I perceiv'd not that I discours'd with him,
I could not shew him coldness, nor contempt;
all that I saw seem'd Curiacius to me,
all that he said unto me, spake his fires,
all what I said assur'd him of my love.
A general fight to day is doubted much,
I heard the news on't yesterday, and was
not troubled at it, my Spirit did reject
these fatall objects, charm'd with the sweet thoughts
of marriage and peace: But this last night
hath dissipated those so charming errors.
A thousand fearful dreams, and bloody Images,
or rather heapes of slaughter and of horrour
snatch'd my joy from me, and fill'd me with fear:
I saw dead bodies, blood, and nothing else,
a spirit appearing suddenly tooke flight,
they defac'd one another, and each fantasme
redoubled my fear by its confusion.
beliefe, and as the successe pass'd may hope,
I gave my soul over to ravishments,
which pass'd the transports of the happiest Lovers:
Judge you of their excess. I met Valerius,
and he could not, as he was wont, displease me,
he spake to me of Love without my trouble;
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I could not shew him coldness, nor contempt;
all that I saw seem'd Curiacius to me,
all that he said unto me, spake his fires,
all what I said assur'd him of my love.
A general fight to day is doubted much,
I heard the news on't yesterday, and was
not troubled at it, my Spirit did reject
these fatall objects, charm'd with the sweet thoughts
of marriage and peace: But this last night
hath dissipated those so charming errors.
A thousand fearful dreams, and bloody Images,
or rather heapes of slaughter and of horrour
snatch'd my joy from me, and fill'd me with fear:
I saw dead bodies, blood, and nothing else,
a spirit appearing suddenly tooke flight,
they defac'd one another, and each fantasme
redoubled my fear by its confusion.
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?
| Horatius | |