 | The Tragedy of Sertorius |  |
SCEN. XI.
An Altar discover'd. Enter the Flamen of Mars, attended by the Salij. While Sertorius and Perpenna stand on each side the Altar, is Sung this SONG.
In Erebus, and in the lowest shades,
Of ancient Chaos, and old Kingdom Night,
Where the fierce Element of Fire ne'r fades,
Where horrors, and the Terrors of the sight
The Pow'rs Immortal, tho secure, affright:
Thou, in the Genius of Alcides, Reign'd,
And made the God-like Labors soon obtain'd.
Of ancient Chaos, and old Kingdom Night,
Where the fierce Element of Fire ne'r fades,
Where horrors, and the Terrors of the sight
The Pow'rs Immortal, tho secure, affright:
Thou, in the Genius of Alcides, Reign'd,
And made the God-like Labors soon obtain'd.
21
Son of Juno, God of War,
Who in bloud and death delights,
Which still adorn thy mighty Car,
And fire the brave in fiercest fights:
From Thrones Etherial, see, O see,
The strictest bonds of unity,
Through Death and Wounds offer'd to thee.
Who in bloud and death delights,
Which still adorn thy mighty Car,
And fire the brave in fiercest fights:
From Thrones Etherial, see, O see,
The strictest bonds of unity,
Through Death and Wounds offer'd to thee.
Sert.
Bebricius, hast to Osca; Summon all
The Roman Orders, to the Sacred place
Of Jupiter Feretrius: There assembled,
In a full Senate, tell the Conscript Fathers,
Sertorius leads their Pow'r to Sucron Fields;
And Heav'n indulgent, with a mighty force
Whom fam'd Perpenna to their Army joyns,
Eager for fight, as famish'd men for food,
Hasts to revenge on the Tyrannic Fo.
Then, to Terentia thy self address;
Say, that Sertorius invocates the hours
Swiftly to move the Orb which rules the Day,
And fleetest Time counts tardy in his flight,
Till the long'd minute ushers my return.
Bebr.
None more can covet to obey, than I;
Tho the great Goddess I adore comes on,
Fiercest Bellona, whom in bloud I court:
But, such the Magic is which Friendship holds,
I'll fly to Osca and neglect the Day.
Perp.
to Auf.
Yet hold thy hasty steps, till Cneius speaks.
Bring Fulvia hither, thou my best of Friends,
In Battel often try'd, as Gold by fire,
But far out-stripping Plutus Mines of Ore.
[Ex. Auf.
Let me intreat the mighty man of War,
[To Sert.
When he the weakness of Perpenna knows,
That he'd forget the frailty of that man
Whose silent hours (if such the Great can know)
22
Our Patron Mars oft, from his Seat of War,
To Revel with the beauteous Queen of Love,
Forgets his best-lov'd sound for soft embrace.
But see, she coms! now let her beauty plead.
| The Tragedy of Sertorius | |