 | Horace |  |
SCEN. III.
To them Sabina.SABINA.
See in Sabina's face drawn to the life,
The sorrows of a Sister and a Wife.
All that I ask, is, but that only I
May suffer, with my own lost Family;
What I desire, will be twice just, t'increase
His misery, and make my own to cease.
Think on the streights I am in, must I embrace
The sole destroyer of our Noble Race?
Nor is't impiety in me to hate
That Princes servant, who confounds our State:
With my three Brothers blood I stand defil'd,
When to their murtherer I'm reconcil'd;
And your just sentence will two crimes remove,
That though I should not, yet I needs must love.
That which I seek, my own weak hand can give:
But I would be condemn'd that he might live.
121
Whom his too rigid virtue did displease;
I shall Camilla's injur'd Ghost attend,
Nor you want him, whose hand did Rome defend.
Old HOR.
You, who your duty to your griefs submit,
[To Sabina.
And for your Brother, your brave Husband quit,
Consult their Ghosts who for their Country fell;
And for that cause in blest Elizium dwell.
They are content the gods decree should stand,
That Rome and Sabina Nation should command:
They happy are, secure from hopes and fears,
Nor sighs for sighs, nor tears return for tears.
Be like them, and from their example learn
Thy duty, and pursue thy chief concern.
He 'gainst the Husband does the Wife enflame.
My Son's brave action a foul crime does name,
Such as not punishment deserves, but praise,
When Virtue did in Horace passion raise.
To love our Foes is meer Idolatry,
And rage to curse our Country when we dye.
Her prayers for mischief with her parting breath,
He thought a crime, and punish'd it with death.
Love to his Country his high passion mov'd,
He had been faultless had he Rome not lov'd:
Valerius if he please can tell how high
My sense of Honor and revenge did flye,
When me a false report did first perswade,
That my Son's flight his Country had betray'd;
But who with my affairs did him intrust,
Boldly to judge Camilla's death unjust?
Why in my house does he presume to own,
An interest which I my self lay down?
My Son's crime pardon'd may the same produce,
No matter, if it find the same excuse.
122
[To Valerius.
Nor into our concernments make approach;
My Son affronted by th'Horatian blood,
The crimes of his own Family withstood:
And now thou basely wouldst to ashes turn
Those Laurels, which his conquering brows adorn:
Thou who for fear didst from that thunder hide
Thy head, wouldst him condemn of Paricide.
Rome, canst thou see him sacrific'd, by whom
Thou hast the honor to be still call'd Rome?
Within the Roman Walls he cannot dye,
Where his exploits ten thousand voices cry;
Nor in the fields which his victorious arm,
Glutted with Sabine blood (which still is warm)
Nor near those three new Tombs, which stand t'express
His courage, and our Nations happiness.
Rome will afford but a few standers by,
And Alba, when they see his Face will fly.
Four of my off-spring saw the morning Sun,
(To the King.
Of which Rome's interest has left but one
To serve your self, and Rome; be pleas'd to give
The Father leave to advise the Son to live.
Horace, believe not that the stupid crowd,
(To his Son.
Fit Judges of true virtue are allow'd:
Uncertain rumor from their groundless cries,
Grows in one moment, in another dyes.
Do like thy Ancestors, and then thy Name
Will be recorded in the books of Fame;
Virtue and Honor lift themselves too high,
To be the objects of a Vulgar eye:
Then hate not life, but for thy Country live,
Thy King, and me, who thee that Life did give:
And the result of all I say, is this,
That Rome has spoken in my voice, not his.
123
Sir suffer me—
KING.
Valerius, no replies;
What each hath said in my remembrance lies:
In equal scales both arguments I lay,
And that shall be my rule, which most does weigh.
I must confess that his enormous deed,
All bounds and laws of Nature did exceed:
But that high crime was acted by that hand,
By which our laws, and Rome it self does stand;
And like a foul ingratitude 'twould show,
To take that life, to which themselves they owe.
It was his single valor chang'd our doom,
Rome had serv'd Alba, as that now serves Rome;
And I my self had then a subject been,
Now on my head two Diadems are seen:
All my good subjects may good wishes bring,
And with devout obedience serve their King:
But few that favor from the gods obtain,
To save one Kingdom, and another gain:
And those whose power makes the Laws obey'd
Of the same Laws, ought not to stand afraid.
Our Father Romulus his brother kill'd,
And on his blood did Romes foundation build:
Why therefore should they find a different Fate,
Who redeem'd Rome and who did Rome create?
Thy merits if thou liv'st may higher climbe,
And raise thy honor far above thy crime;
Enjoy that life which rescu'd Rome and me:
Our selves we must condemn condemning thee.
You and Valerius now like Friends shall live,
And each the others passions may forgive;
Both may be well excus'd, for thine did move,
From too much zeal, and his from too much love.
Sabina be advis'd, too long to grieve,
[To Sabina
What each hath said in my remembrance lies:
In equal scales both arguments I lay,
And that shall be my rule, which most does weigh.
I must confess that his enormous deed,
All bounds and laws of Nature did exceed:
But that high crime was acted by that hand,
By which our laws, and Rome it self does stand;
And like a foul ingratitude 'twould show,
To take that life, to which themselves they owe.
It was his single valor chang'd our doom,
Rome had serv'd Alba, as that now serves Rome;
And I my self had then a subject been,
Now on my head two Diadems are seen:
All my good subjects may good wishes bring,
And with devout obedience serve their King:
But few that favor from the gods obtain,
To save one Kingdom, and another gain:
And those whose power makes the Laws obey'd
Of the same Laws, ought not to stand afraid.
Our Father Romulus his brother kill'd,
And on his blood did Romes foundation build:
Why therefore should they find a different Fate,
Who redeem'd Rome and who did Rome create?
Thy merits if thou liv'st may higher climbe,
And raise thy honor far above thy crime;
Enjoy that life which rescu'd Rome and me:
Our selves we must condemn condemning thee.
You and Valerius now like Friends shall live,
And each the others passions may forgive;
Both may be well excus'd, for thine did move,
From too much zeal, and his from too much love.
Sabina be advis'd, too long to grieve,
124
On thy great Heart will marks of weakness leave.
Those tears, which for thy gallant Brothers flow,
When dry'd, will thee much more their Sister show.
To morrow we to thank the gods resolve,
And if our Priests young Horace can absolve,
The Heavenly powers our sacrifice will please,
Her Father shall Camilla's Ghost appease:
As yesterday did end their love and life,
This day one Tomb shall make them Man and Wife.
Those tears, which for thy gallant Brothers flow,
When dry'd, will thee much more their Sister show.
To morrow we to thank the gods resolve,
And if our Priests young Horace can absolve,
The Heavenly powers our sacrifice will please,
Her Father shall Camilla's Ghost appease:
As yesterday did end their love and life,
This day one Tomb shall make them Man and Wife.
Some hearing of this great deliverance,
Are come, Sir, to present you with a dance.
Are come, Sir, to present you with a dance.
[Exeunt Omnes.
| Horace | |