University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE Carthage. A Room in Hamilcars House.
Enter Xantippus and Elisa.
Xan.
Darling of Heaven, tis to you, to you
Carthage owes all the Fortune of this day.
The Gods wou'd ne're ha' ruin'd Regulus,
To preserve Carthage had not you been here.

Eli.
If Heaven loves me it is for loving you?
Oh! fie! I shew my self too fond, I spoil you.
With how much cruelty you tore your self
Away from me, when I was all in tears
I shed for you? yet you cou'd laugh at me;
I'll manage Love as all wise women do.
The best and finest shall not come abroad,
But on great solemn times to make a shew:
Mean while you shall have course and homespun love
I swear I will not give you a good look.
This—

Xan.
This—how long? come say it if you dare.

Eli.
I will not say how long because I'l cross you.

Han.
You will not say't left you should cross your self.

Eli.
Well 'tis in vain to hide my love from you.
It is too great for any covering;
I'l trust thee generously with my heart.

Xan.
Now thou appear'st in thy own beautious form
All kind and sweet; I knew 'twou'd soon be so,
For Nature always is too hard for Art.
Do not believe my heart barren of Love,
If thou perceiv'st in me a dearth of words,
That I abound not in professions.
We Spartans weed from talk superfluous words,
Let time declare how I will use thy heart.

Eli.
I doubt this pleasure is too great to last.

A shout within.
Enter a Gentleman.
Xan.
How now? what new disturbance in the Town

Gen.
My Lord your glorious Captive Regulus
Is sent in Fetters to the Dungeon,
And the rude Rabble triumph over him.

Xan.
How came this Climate, Love, to produce you?
Since 'tis as opposite to Excellence,
As others are to Poyson; I confess
Valour and Wit here is, those noble Fires
Your damps of Luxury have not yet choak'd.
But as they'r us'd 'twere to be wish'd they had.
Wit here is all imploy'd in knavish Craft;
The valiant glory in oppression.
Give speedy orders to the Guard from me,
The Consul to the Senate be return'd.
I'll hasten thither, and if possible
Prevail with 'em better to treat, themselves:
If not he's mine, and I will force him from 'em.

El.
Just as I thought you must be gone again,
'Tis a sad thing to be a Soldiers wife,
One has but half a Husband of a Soldier.
Wars and Campaigns have half of him and more
And Wounds have a large share of t'other half:
And yet this noble parcel of a man,
Is better than a wanton soft Gallant
Who is no man, but makes Summer Campaigns
In Gardens, Groves, at Springs, or Bowling-greens,
Or with a Whore, as much a man as he.
But go I'm pleas'd thou shou'dst do gallant things,
Because in all thy glory I have share.

Xan.
That's like a Spartans wife, for she prefers
Her Husbands honour far above his life;
Weeps if his Bucklers lost, though he be safe.
But she rejoyces though he be brought home
Dead on his Buckler; and the greater Love
She had for him; the greater is her joy.

El.
Now I believe that joy is not sincere,
Widows I find are artful every where:
In Sparta for their poor departed Dears
Joy they Dissemble, and in Carthage tears.

Exit.
SCENE The Senate House. The Senate sitting. Hamilcar in the Chair.
Ham.
I knew the General wou'd be displeas'd

1. Sen.
What if he be, my Lord? do our decrees
Depend upon his will? when he subdu'd
This Roman Consul, did he conquer us?
I thought he fought to guard, not seize our freedom.

Ham.
That we have freedom we may thank his Sword;
But no man can have freedom, to do ought
Which honour and humanity forbids.

1. Sen.
He and his Spartan Friend are dangerous men,
And the more dangerous for their deserts;
We must let no man grow too great for us.

(aside to a Senator.
2. Sen.
'Tis true, but now let us not shew our selves.

Enter an Officer.
Offi.
My Lords, the General's here.

Ham.
Attend him in.

[Enter Xantippus.
Xan.
My Lords, I'm told y'ave doom'd the bravest man
To what the vilest scarcely can deserve,
To Chains, a Dungeon, stench, and want o' bread.

Ham.
My Lord, 'tis true the Senate has decreed
The Roman Consul shall be treated roughly
Unless he will comply with their desires.
I hope the Senate only threaten him.

2. Sen.
No more I hope, most noble General
We much commend your generous tenderness
Of this fallen gallant man; we'd pity him too
Wou'd he shew pity to our Countrymen,
And grant us peace, which you know how we need,
But he refuses us all our desires.

Xan.
Bring him to me.
[Regulus is brought in fetter'd.
He's chain'd! tormenting sight!
I beg you noble Consul credit me,
Those Chains are no impieties o' mine;
Rather my sufferings and impos'd on me.

Reg.
Sir, I believe you, for I've found you brave.

Xan.
What is it you desire of this great man?

1. Sen.
That he and all his Troops quit Africa.
Yield every Town and Pris'ner he has got.

Reg.
I will not give you the least Village back.
And this I speak from reason, not vain pride.
Our power is dwarfish here compar'd with yours,
Yet now we have you down, blow upon blow
May bring you in short time to your last gasp.
But if we give you the least breathing while
To gather strength, you'l rise and drive us hence:
Nay we shall see you at the Gates of Rome.
Rather than I will give you back one Fort,
I will pull all the Towers on my head.

1. Sen.
Hast to the Dungeon, nay the wrack with him,
We'll frighten bold invaders from our Coast.

Xan.
The Dungeon? stead o' that strike off his Chains.
He is my right, the purchase o' my blood,
And I'll dispose my own.

1. Sen.
So we are master'd
In our own Senate-house.

Xan.
And with good reason.
I do not find that you can rule your selves,
And therefore I have brought a force to rule you.
Govern your selves, and we will be your Servants.

2. Sen.
How General?
Are you our Enemy?

Xan.
I am your Friend.
And hinder you from Crimes, may bring on you
Curses from men, and vengeance from the Gods.

2. Sen.
You hinder us from honourable peace?

Xan.
Can shameful ways get honourable Peace.

1. Sen.
There is no shame in justice, he brought war
Into the bowels of the Common-wealth,
Hunger shall war upon his Bowels now.
Go to the Dungeon with him, and there starve him.

2. Sen.
Senator, let the General play the fool.
(aside.
We owe him much, and this will quit all Scores.

Ham.
I'll mediate, let the Consul be confin'd,
And let it be reported he's ill us'd,
He has weak parts, which may that way be bent;
Children, Relations, Friends; and one soft part,
His belov'd Fulvia.

Xan.
Ha! that startles him.

Reg.
Fulvia, was made that I might feel some pain,
I wish I could forget, and be forgot
By her I love; I fear this Policy.

aside.
Xan.
My Lord, y'ave found a way to touch his heart,
Which with the Senates leave I will improve.
Sir, can your Camp make peace?

Reg.
Yes Sir, they can.

Xan.
Sir, I'm a Servant to this Commonwealth,
Her Faults and Passions I'm not bound to serve;
I am her Rights and Interests to promote;
I think 'tis fit she shou'd regain her own.
And I've one way to force peace out of you.
Sir, by that right we have in you by war
We will employ you as our Embassador
To your own Camp, there to negotiate
With your Friends Tears. You smile, for you believe
I fool my self, and give you all you want
To fortify your glorious Victories,
By strengthning that weak side; but I believe
You'll not be there the Regulus y'are here.
Your mutual greifs will master all of you.

Reg.
You shew more art, and understanding Sir,
Of a great mind, than all the Senate does.
I shall but harden more under their usage;
None but vile Slaves are master'd by a Rod,
But I believe the sorrows of my Friends
Will melt my heart, and I shall yield a while.
Y'entice me into a dangerous Ambuscade,
The only place where I can be subdu'd.
But I shall o'recome and win more glory,
Therefore accept the Embassy with thanks.

Xan.
What say your Lordships?

Senate.
Ay, ay, ay.

Xan.
Consul, you have the leave of all the Senate,
Now go, and if you can perswade your Friends
To give you up to Death.

1. Sen.
Hold e're you go,
Give us good hostages for your return.

Xan.
I'l be a hostage for him.

Ham.
So will I.

1. Sen.
You are both priviledg'd by your deserts
We cannot touch you, we'll have other persons.

2. Sen.
Come we'll oblige the Consul to befriend us.
We'll take his word.

1. Sen.
No, we will have his Oath.

Reg.
You have my solemn Oath.

Xan.
'Tis more than needs.
Great men, were there no Gods, would keep their words
In reverence to themselves; but Gods there are,
Whom none needs rouse by Oaths to witness Truth.
Now let me tell you, (if I can for grief
For I much honour you) if you return
Without a lasting Peace, which frees these Lands
From all those seeds of War, your Garrisons,
You will return to a tormenting Death,
And all my power cannot save you, Sir.

Reg.
Of all the torments I shall suffer here,
The Griefs of such a noble Heart as yours
Will most afflict me; if you wou'd spare me,
Be sparing of your self; pity me not
Till I'm become a pitiful poor wretch,
Despoil'd of all my resolution,
And made indeed a Captive by base fear.

Xan.
The good Gods graciously direct you, Sir.

Reg.
And you most noble Spartan, of all men
I e're encounter'd, the most generous.

SCENE A Prison.
Enter Asdrubal, Hiarbas, Giscon, Batto.
Bat.

Oh! I'm afraid our head's lost, oh! if they take my head, what shall
I do.

Hiar.

The Rabble are fine fellows to trust to.

Gis.

Well I can say for my honour, I ever hated the vulgar. I have undone
thousands of 'em, and I never did one of 'em good in my life.

Bat.

Nor I.

Gis.

Sir you have had the impudence to cheat Persons o' Quality. If you
had only cheated poor fellows, you shou'd have had a friend o' me.

Asd.
My ruine wou'd be great delight to me,
If by my fall Carthage were overwhelm'd.

Hiar.
That it may be spite o' this great success.
Though Regulus is taken Rome is not.

Gis.
I'll tell your Highness very excellent news,
The Romans burnt this day in our own Ports,
Above threescore of our best men of war. ha! ha!

Asd.
Ha! art thou sure of that?

Gis.
I'm very sure.
(all laugh.
The Romans now may land what men they will;
If they don't take the Town I'gad I'l hang.

Bat.
But will they take the Town before we hang?

Gis.
That I can't say.

Bat.

Nay if we hang, let who will have the Town. Well, I am horridly
afraid to dye. I'd go to Prayers if I thought t'wou'd signify any thing.

Gis.

Whom wou'dst thou pray to? thou hast no Friends in Heaven, thou
never mad'st the least acquaintance there: thou hast traded to all parts but
Heaven.

Bat.

I doubt none of us have any great store of Friends in Heaven; if
we had, they'd ne're ha' suffer'd us to come to this.

Asd.
Right, therefore Heaven has no great Friend o'me.
Ha! I'm a fool to open thus my heart
To fools; who though they should have honesty
May be outwitted into knavery.
But now it is in vain to look my heart,
For all the dangerous secrets are gone out.
(aside.
—Well, Sirs, what do you think? are we in danger?
I do not think we are; what have we done?
Much have we talk'd indeed, in merriment,
About I know not what, of this and that,
Of altering some Forms of Government.
But that was only matter of discourse,
We could not be in earnest, for we know
'Twas wholly impracticable.

Gis.
Do you hear.

(aside to Hiar.
Hiar.
That shall not bring him off, he was in earnest.

Gis.
Were not you so?

Hiar.
No, I abhor the thought.

Gis.
You mov'd him to't.

Hiar.
A trick to try him.

Gis.
Pox o' your tricks, you have noos'd me,
To save my neck I have been forc'd to make
Shameful Confessions.

Hiar.
Well, y'are serv'd right, why wou'd you be a knave,
And plot to take your Countries liberty.

Gis.
A knave? how cou'd I chuse but be a knave,
Keeping such knavish company as yours.

Hiar.
'Tis very well.

Asd.
Ha! wrangling Gentlemen?
What, I believe y'are discompos'd by fear?
Fear nothing, for I say, what have we done?
Shew'd our Affection to the Commonwealth
In a mistaken way? will they put men
To death, for being subject to mistakes?
Then it will be a fault to be a man.
But do not fear, for I have one sure Friend,
Money I mean, which shall buy all our pardons?

Bat.
Oh! dear, Sir, will your Highness buy my pardon?

Asd.
Thine? what art thou to me? these are my Friends
And Gentlemen: thou art a barterer
Canst traffique for thy self; buy thy own head.

Bat.
And so I wou'd at reasonable rates.

Gis.
De'e hear? de'e hear? we have been silly knaves,
I wou'd I had all my confession back.

(aside.
Hiar.
W'ave been too hasty, I am sorry for it.

(aside.
Asd.
I must keep up the spirits of these fools.
(aside.
Be merry Sirs; I warrant you your lives.
Who's there?

(Enter Keeper.
Keep.
My Lord.

Asd.
Bring in my Wine and Music
Enter Wine and Singers.
Here is sincere Wine.

Gis.
And here are sophisticated Knaves, pity they shou'd be put together.

Asd.
Come, sing us a Catch.

A SONG.
Chorus.

Enough, be gone.

Asd.
I wonder Gisgon your fine Persian Wife
Comes not to visit you.

Gis.
I wonder more
She does not come to kiss your Highness Hands.
For she has brought with her from Persia
Her Country Adoration of all Princes.

Lady
within.
Where's my Husband?

Gis.
Hark! I hear her voice.

Enter a Persian Lady supported by her Women.
Lad.
Oh! Princely Sir, I humbly kiss the Earth
Y'are pleas'd to honour, with your sacred Feet.

Asd.
Oh! Madam, you are not in Persia.

Lady.
No Sir, I wou'd you were, your Royal Blood
Wou'd not there meet this profanation.
Now Sir, shall I implore your Princely leave
To have some Conference with your Slave my Husband?
Oh! are you there Sir.

(to Gis.
Gis.
Ha! I am afraid
She has been told I'm turning an informer.

(aside.
Lady.
You are a worthy person.

Gis.
Ha! 'tis so.

(aside.
Lady.
Did not I bring much Honour to your Bed?

Gis.
Madam you did.

Lady.
Much Fortune too?

Gis.
You did.

Lady.
Have not I kept the Honour which I brought?

Gis.
Madam you have.

Lady.
Have not I manag'd too
Your Fortune with the utmost care and wisdom?

Gis.
Exquisite Wisdom.

Lady.
Of your person too
Have I not been most tender?

Gis.
Most obliging:

Lady.
Then why have you been a base man to me?

Gis.
'Tis so, (aside)
in what respect most noble Madam?

Lady.
In such an odious way I loath to name it.
This Valiant Gentleman, this Noble Spark,
Has sold his Honour, for vile shameful life.
He has submitted cowardly to confess
Your Highness plotted to be Monarch here.

Asd.
Oh! dog! can I not get him near the wall,
That I may brain him? (aside)
have you done this Gisgon?

Gis.
Yes, Sir, I have, and Sir you know 'tis true.

Lady.

Say it be true; have you not told me, Sir, he has a right to reign?
that he's descended from King Strato.

Gis.

Well, let him be descended from fifty Kings, I don't care. I'll not
be a slave to him, nor to any Prince upon earth.

Asd.
Oh! Madam, it was all but railery.
And he was one that started first the jest;
Now by his fooling I lose life and honour.

Lady.
His fooling, Sir? his cowardly treachery.
What e're you were, he was in earnest Sir.
He has a thousand times boasted to me,
What Honours he shou'd have, when you were King.
Then, though your Highness be most innocent,
And will escape (I hope and beg the Gods)
He shall dye; I'll swear he is a Traytor,
Double, false, both to the Prince and People.

Gis.
Oh! Whore!

(aside.
Lady.
So is that Reverend person too.

Asd.
And has the Priest been dabbling.

Lady.
Deeply Sir.
He has been at his Revelations;
His Commentaries, Sir, on your dark Text.

Asd.
I'll take him by the beard, and wring his head off

Hiar.
Well, Sir, I did as I was bound in conscience.
I'll not betray my Countries Liberty.

Asd.
No—then thou't not a Priest.

Lady.
Ah! foolish men, they might have liv'd and dy'd
With glory, and have got a thousand Friends.

Hia.
They'd ha' done us much good when we were hang'd.

Lady.
More good than infamous base life will do.
Now all will spit upon you. I abhor you,
Who lately ador'd you, and resolv'd to do
The greatest things for you.

Gis.
What cou'd you do?

Bat.
Oh! Madam can you do us any kindness?
Oh! if you can I will present your Honour,
I will give any thing for my head in reason.

Lady.
Hold thy tongue fool, I think not of such fellows.
But for my Husband and his Reverence too,
I wou'd have done what had amaz'd the world;
If they had done as great men ought to do.
I'd have convey'd 'em through the Town in pomp,
In spite of all the Senate.

Gis.
Through the Town?

Lady.
Yes when your glorious Martrydom was past,
I wou'd ha' crown'd you such Funerals—

Gis.
Pox o' your Funerals.

Hiar.
Mind your own Funerals;
Vex not your head with ours.

Asd.
Oh! Madam bury 'em dead or alive,
Or the corrupted Rogues will breed a pest.

Lady.
I cannot serve his Reverence as I wou'd
And he deserves; but it is in my power
To do my Husband justice, I'll right him.

Gis.
She'l be the death of me.
I must retard her while I get my Pardon.
(Aside.
I have consider'd on't—I would retract
My confession, and rather dye than live
In all the shame I've brought upon my self,
But I'm afraid they'l torture me to death.

Lady.
Oh! I've so much Power with the great men.
Be you a noble valiant Gentleman
One I may own and love. Dye like a Hero
For this great high-born Prince, I'll undertake
The State shall not torment a man I love.

Gis.
She is a whore to the whole Commonwealth.

Lady.
I'll get you any kind of death you fancy.
And for his Reverence too, if he desire it.

Hiar.
I do not fancy any kind of death.
If you do Madam take your fill of it.
Poyson or hang your self, and if you like it
Come tell us so, and Madam we'll be hang'd.

Lady.
'Tis well—great Sir, I humbly take my leave
With infinite concernment for your danger.
I wou'd ha' sacrificed my Husband for you,
With all my heart.

Asd.
I do believe it Madam.

Lady.
Or my own life.

Asd.
You much oblige me, Madam.

Lady.
I take my leave in great confusion.

Gis.
She'd have sacrific'd me.

Hiar.
These women tamper here with State affairs,
And hang their Husbands, I'll be hang'd by no body.
I'm Heavenly mettal and belong to Gods,
And I will keep their Plate from batterry.
Troth Batto, I have done your business too.
I've let the Councel know your villany.
Not only trade with Romans, but conspire
To set a King over the Commonwealth,
And take away our Liberties and Laws?

Bat.
Oh! horrible! did you not move me to't?

Hiar.
Only to try you; I had heard of you.
I'm watchman for the Public; 'tis my Office
To have my Eye and Ear in every place,
And knock at every door. When I mov'd you,
I knock'd, and found a Knave within your bosom.

Bat.
And so you'd hang me?

Hiar.
I've endeavour'd it.

Bat.
Well, and I've endeavour'd to hang you.
I've let the Councel know your Villany.

Hiar.
Ha! have you so? Well see who shall have most credit.

Gis.
Nay none of us I think will have much credit.

Asd.
So, so, the Rogues are hanging one another.
If ever a turn comes, I'll hang you all.

Hiar.
Let a turn come; I fear not you or death,
For death will only change my vehicle.

Enter Keeper.
Keep.
My Lord, here are some Senators from the Senate,
To speak with your Highness

Asd.
To take my head; I'm lost. Wait on 'em in

Enter Senators.
1. Sen.
My Lord, the Senate sends to beg your Highness
To be Protector o' the Commonwealth.

Asd.
Protector, Sir?

1. Sen.
The Spartan General
Usurps upon the State, he forc'd the Senate
To release Regulus on his Parole.
The Common People think they are betray'd,
And have requir'd the Senate to free you,
And give you power, that you may punish him.

Asd.
Sir, I'm unfit for Power, these Gentlemen
Have accus'd me of very horrid Treasons.

2. Sen.
They'r not believ'd but look'd on as defamers;
And order'd to be kept in close confinement.

Gis.
Oh! brave! oh! brave!

Hiar.
Oh! curse on evidencing!

Asd.
Now Rascals!—Keeper, put these men in setters.
Now Noble Senators, I'll wait on you,
To my most honourable Lords the Senate.

(Ex.
SCENE the Roman Camp.
Enter on one side o' the Stage Metellus, Lepidus, and other Roman Commanders, on the other side Regulus.
Met.
Oh! Consul!

Reg.
Brave Metellus! brave friends all!
De'e weep? nay then it seems you are subdued.

Met.
Who ever saw such an amazing change?

Reg.
Does it amaze you to see fortune change?
The wonder wou'd be greater shou'd she fix.
She takes my freedom to maintain her own.
Remove your Eye from fortune my dark part,
And fix it on my self, who still remain
Not only unconquer'd, but invincible.
Yet o're victorious Carthage I'll triumph.

Met.
Oh! Sir! then have you terms for liberty?

Reg.
My liberty depends not on their will,
'Tis true, the freedom of my body does.
But that is born a slave, by nature bound
To serve the mind, a time prefixt by fate
And then turn'd over to new bonds in death.
Of this poor vassal I take little care.
How free my mind is, you shall soon perceive.

Met.
I tremble for him.

Reg.
Carthage to release
This Body, (which can never be releas'd
From vassallage to sufferings, and death)
Asks the refunding all our Victories.

Lep.
Agreed! one Regulus is worth 'em all.
For he'll regain 'em all.

Reg.
You shall not give
The smallest link out o' that golden Chain.
It fetters Carthage now, but if once broke
Carthage may scape, arise, nay enslave Rome.
I come to rule your dangerous love to me,
Which I fear more than Carthaginian Racks;
For these can give me but some painful hours
Which glory will allay, and death will end.
But you wou'd torture me with lingring shame,
Got by a treacherous and cowardly peace.
Then as your Consul, I command you all,
Give Carthage no more peace, than this short truce.

Met.
And what becomes o' you?

Reg.
I must return.

Man.
Oh! joyful news.

(Aside.
Lep.
Sir, you return to dye.

Reg.
It may be so.

Lep.
To a tormenting death.

Reg.
It may be so, my word and oath are past,
And nothing do I fear, like breach o' faith.

Met.
A glorious man.

(Aside.
Lep.
Will you forsake your friends,
To perish by your barb'rous enemies?

Reg.
I do not perish, if my honour lives;
But if I stay shall not my body dye?
Then shall I lose the honour I can keep,
To preserve life, which is not i' my power?
By keeping faith, o're Carthage I triumph,
A Roman Ghost will triumph over her.
Not by short pomp which blazes but some hours;
My triumph shall go on, from age to age,
While Rome shall stand, which shall the longer stand
For my example of unshaken Faith,
For what Foundation to a State like Faith?

Met.
Sir, I'm the less amaz'd at what I hear,
For all your life has been with wonders fill'd.
But I have not so great a heart as yours
I cannot let you go.

Lep.
He shall not go;
I will bring all the Army to his feet.

Reg.
Is't possible? I do command your stay.
Perform your duties both to Rome and me,
Let Rome have Carthage, and leave me to Heaven.
Metellus why de'e wrong your self and me?
Your Spirit equals mine, and for the World,
You wou'd not have me leave this glorious path.
Like Romans now receive my last adieus.

Lep.
He shall not go, his Troops shall stop his way.
(Aside.
Now take your leaves.

[Ex. Lep. Man. Commanders.
Met.
Oh! Sir! what you resolve
Has so much glory in't, I envy you.
But I must pity those, whom you forsake,
My self, your Children, my poor Fulvia.

Reg.
Metellus be assur'd, those you have nam'd,
Are dear to me, as they can be to you,
But Generals must discipline their thoughts.
The honor of the Gods and good of Rome
Must first command; next them I rank my friends,
These have o're me so great authority
I'm jealous o' my weakness, and their power;
And dare not trust my self with seeing 'em.
I'll ne're see Fulvia more.

Met.
Not see her, Sir?

Reg.
Oh! no, an enterview will raise our griefs
To such a tumult, 'twill not become me
To be seen in it. I'll serenely part,
And so retain my greatness to the last;
And this may less harm her.

Met.
Oh! Sir, she comes.

Reg.
Then I must fly, I cannot stay with her.

(Ex.
Enter Fulvia and her women.
Ful.
The Consul! Sir, the Consul! where is he?
A minutes absence more I cannot bear.

Met.
Oh! my unruly griefs will betray all.

(Aside.
Ful.
You sigh, nay more you strive to smother tears.

Met.
No you mistake.

Ful.
I do not; Sir, I see't.

Met.
Your fears impose on you.

Ful.
Convince me of it,
And let me see the Consul.

Met.
Wait awhile.

Ful.
I perish then.

Met.
Y'are rash, command your self.

Ful.
I cannot do it.

Met.
You must, he's busied now in a great work,
The greatest that was e're design'd by Man.

Ful.
Oh! what? and where?

Met.
Be not inquisitive.

Fulv.
Oh! why Sir, why? shall I not have a share
In all his Fortunes?

Met.
Ay, too much poor Girl.
(aside.
Let it suffice to know, his aims are now
Above what mortal Man ever attain'd.
And he will reach his aims now, seek no more.

(Exit)
Ful.
I must, I must enquire, I cannot rest;
This is all darkness and confusion.

Enter Lepidus.
Lep.
Oh! Madam! Madam! save the Consul's Life.

Ful.
Now the dire Mystery begins t'unvail.
I'm dying, speak whilst I have Life to hear.

Lep.
He cannot make an honorable peace,
So he is only come to command war;
Now to keep faith with faithless enemies,
Returns to dye.

Ful.
Y'ave struck me to the heart.

Lep.
Fly, Madam, or you'll never see him more.
His Army at the present bar his way,
But all their force will, without you, be vain.

Ful.
My reason, sence and life, before me fly;
The Consul will enjoy his cruel wish,
Nothing of mine will ever reach him more,
Unless my shreiks cut through the wounded air,
Or Winds hurl to him my torn scatter'd hair.