 | Regulus |  |
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.
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?
33
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.
34
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.
35
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.
| Regulus | |