University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

The Forum.
Decius Magius with Perolla, and two or three of his Clients among the Citizens.
Mag.
A garrison in Capua! O! prevent,
Resist their Entrance, block their Passage up.
Remember Pyrrhus, and the Tarentines;
His insolent Rule, and their subjected State.

Per.
They are already enter'd.

Mag.
Let 'em not possess themselves,
Expel 'em, drive 'em out:
Or if, by a brave memorable Blow,
You wou'd redeem your baseness to your Friends,
Cut 'em in pieces, and compound with Rome.

Per.
They are not of your Party. They fall off.

[Citizens sneak off.
Mag.
Old honesty is us'd to stand alone.

Per.
Here comes my Father.

Mag.
Good young Man retire:
I may say something that you wou'd not hear.

Pacuvius with the Senators in their Robes, crossing the Stage.
Pac.
Widen our Gates; let our encircling Walls
Sink in the Earth, that nothing may appear,
Ev'n in a seeming Opposition,
To stand against the conquering Hannibal:
The Conqueror of Rome, but Capua's Friend.

1 Sen.
We need no Ramparts now, no Bulwarks, Walls,
We're strongly Fortify'd in Hannibal.

Mag.
What are the Forces that he brings along?
Not only Affricans, but Nations drawn
From the extreamest limits of the Earth;
Hercules's Pillars, and the Ocean's Bounds:
Who have no knowledge of Humanity:
And but in Humane Speech differ from Beasts:
Brutal, and Bloody: but their Leader has
Advanc'd their natural Barbarity:
Erecting Monstrous Bridges of the Dead,
On Human Bodies urging his proud way—

2 Sen.
Nay, Decius Magius.

Mag.
And, as an absolute Master of the Warr,
Defying Famaine in his horrid Camp,
Has taught 'em to devour the Flesh of Men.

1 Sen.
Now, Magius, you grow Dangerous indeed.

Mag.
Are these to be our Friends? these our Allies?
Who that is but a Son of Italy,
Can see, and suffer such detested Slaves,
Whom but to touch is a Pollution;
Such obscene Villains to become our Lords?
What! shall we turn a Province to their Power?
Who wou'd depend on Affrick for her smiles,
That looks upon the fair-fac'd Italy?
Can you consent, that she shou'd fall at last;
A sober Matron, and unsully'd yet,
With all her Graces, to the swarthy spoil
Of hot Numidians, and lust-burnt Moors?

Pac.
We'll hear no more. Perolla, if thou art a Son of mine,
Leave him, and follow me. Forward, my Lords.

Mag.
I have done with Hannibal.
And now, Pacuvius, a word to thee.

Per.
I know my Duty here, and will withdraw
From what I fear, a Father's Infamy.

[Exit.
Pac.
This you must answer.

Mag.
To the Gods, and Men,
I'le answer it; wou'd thou cou'dst do as much,
For what thou hast done.

Pac.
I have serv'd the Common-wealth—

Mag.
Thou hast served thy self.

Pac.
And 'tis thy Envy rails.

Mag.
O! that there was no juster cause to speak!
But sure there's not so reprobate a Wretch,
To envy thee the ruin of thy Country.

Pac.
The ruin of thy peevishness and pride.

Mag.
That Fame unenvi'd shall be wholly thine.
Thou canst not as a free-born Citizen,
But understand, that true prosperity
Lives in a common share of liberty:
Not in the plunder of our Neighbours rights.

Pac.
Who has invaded 'em?

Mag.
Thou wouldst be first:
And would thou hadst been so, in dignity
Of honest deeds: but that was not enough.

Pac.
I find I am arraign'd: What was there more?

Mag.
Thou hast long practised on the Government:
Poys'ning its wholesome Constitution,
By lawless, bold experiments of power.
And now they are broke out in Tyranny,
To infect the health and life of Liberty.

Pac.
Because I have appear'd the peoples friend.

Mag.
Thou did'st betray the people to themselves,
By taking off their safe restraining Laws:
And then the Senate to the Peoples rage:
That by the credit of redeeming both,
Thou might'st betray Us all to Hanibal.

Pac.
'Tis very well; go on; let him go on.

Mag.
What is the puny part that thou must act
In this poor Farce of thy Ambition?
What will it end in? O! thou would'st be fear'd,
Rather than lov'd; thou shalt be hated too;
And then what comes of thee? Who can be happy
On such conditions of an anxious Life;
That ev'n his Murd'rer shall not only 'scape
Unpunisht, but shall be rewarded too?
All good Men will combine against thy life:
Tho this may want design to lay the Plot;
A second, Courage to attempt the Deed;
Another want an Opportunity;
All will consent, and wish to have it done.
It is enough for gallant Minds to know
How honourable in the enterprize,
How grateful in the general benefit,
How glorious in the Renown and Fame,
It is to kill a Tyrant. Hannibal,
Immur'd in walls of Steel, cannot be safe.

Pac.
O! he'll take care to save himself from you.

Mag.
Where then can'st thou from Justice hide thy head?

Pac.
The Laws are living still, to punish such
Licentious tongues.

Mag.
By Death, or Banishment?
Say which, thou Tyrant; which do'st thou pronounce?
Death drives us from the fellowship of mankind:
But Banishment from only such as thee.
Before I take my Journey, I prefer
These two Petitions to the immortal Gods:
The First, That I may leave my Country free:
The next, Pacuvius, thou wilt joyn me in:
And we will bind all our posterity
In the strong Charm, as guilty of this Vow:
That all that does belong to thee, and me,
Our Children, Kindred, Family, and Name,
May flourish, or decay, may rise, or rot;
Be blest, or curst, as thou and I deserve
From Capua, and from the Commonwealth.

Pac.
Thou hast Curst thy self, and so expect thy Fate.

Pacuvius goes out with the Senators: Magius remains only with his Clients: Perolla returns to him.
Mag.
When I was Young, I fought for Capua,
And wonnot now desert her, being Old:
But all my bravery is in my Tongue,
I can but talk, and that unminded too.

Per.
I fear you'll find you've done and said too much.

Enter An Officer.
Off.
Stand, Decius Magius—

Mag.
Well, I am the Man.

Off.
I come from Hannibal, to summon you to appear before him.

Mag.
Tell your Hannibal
His Punick Language is not currant here:
We do not understand his summoning:
He has no right upon a Capuan:
I am free-born, and therefore wonnot come.

[Exit Officer.
Per.
O Sir, you are undone.

Mag.
I think not so.

Cli.
The Snares are set, you cannot 'scape 'em now.

Per.
You are encompass'd round with Enemies.

Mag.
Better encompass'd round with Enemies,
Than live to be forsaken of our Friends.
Distress is Virtue's Opportunity;
We only live, to teach us how to dye.

[Exeunt.
Favonia enters.
Fav.
What is this Pomp of Hannibal to me?
I cannot lose my self ev'n in the Crowd;
His coming wou'd be welcome, cou'd it guard
All other Images from entring here.
While I am gazing on the Triumph, one,
Meaning no harm, cries, This is the reward
Of Cannæ's Field: I start, and take the hint,
Pursuing it quite through that Scene of Blood,
Till it presents at last my Junius slain:
My Junius, O! the guilt of that Surprize!
Why must I harbour in my Bosom Thoughts
Thus to surprize me to my sin and shame?
I shall betray my self in Company,
Therefore most fit for me to stay at home.
Oh! let the steps of Youth be cautious,
How they advance into a dangerous World;
Our Duty only can conduct us safe:
Our Passions are Seducers: but of all,
The strongest, Love: he first approaches us,
In childish play, wantoning in our Walks,
If heedlesly we wander after him,
As he will pick out all the dancing way,
We're lost, and hardly to return agen;
We shou'd take warning, he is painted blind,
To show us, if we fondly follow him,
The Precipices we may fall into.
Therefore let Virtue take him by the hand,
Directed so, he leads to certain joy.

[Exit.
Citizens enter.
3 Cit.

Is there no more to be seen? is the Shew over already?
Is this all?

1 Cit.
All, Why, what did you expect?

3 Cit.
Expect, marry, I expected.

2 Cit.
You saw Hannibal, did you not?

3 Cit.
Yes, yes, I saw Hannibal:

But, what? I thought he had been half as big as one of his Elephants:
Your Heroes, I find, are little more than other
Men, when you come near to examine 'em.

1 Cit.

But did you mind his looks?

2 Cit.

How terrible he lookt with that one Eye!

3 Cit.

Very terrible indeed.

1 Cit.

I stood by him a good while, and heard all that he
said to the Senate when they met him.

2 Cit.

And what, what did he say?

1 Cit.

Why, he began very civilly, that's the truth on't,
and thankt us for preferring his Friendship before our Alliance
with the Romans.

2 Cit.

And what more?

1 Cit.

Why, he assur'd us, that Capua should, in a little
time, be the Capital City of Italy.

3 Cit.

Ay, marry Sirs.

1 Cit.

And that the Romans themselves, as well as other
People, shou'd do Homage to us, and fall under our Government.

2 Cit.

Nay, Pacuvius told us as much; that when the War
was at an end, and Hannibal the Conqueror, he wou'd carry
back his Forces into Afric, and leave us the Empire of Italy.
We shall all be Great Men.

1 Cit.

But I did not so well like the end of his Speech.

2 Cit.

How so?

1 Cit.

'Twas all against Decius Magius: and truly he came
to plain speaking at last, and told 'em roundly, He expected
they shou'd deliver him into his Power.

2 Cit.

And what said the Senators?

1 Cit.

Why truly, not much to the purpose at that time:
Some said Magius did not deserve to be so us'd neither; others,
That such a beginning would have an ill end; but they agreed
at last to deny nothing to Hannibal, and so gave the old Man
up to his mercy.

2 Cit.
See where he comes.

3 Cit.
O what a Sight is here?

1 Cit.
A Rope about his Neck, and bound in Chains.

2 Cit.
A Carthaginian Guard upon him too.

An Officer enters with a Guard of Carthaginians before and behind Magius, chain'd with a Rope about his Neck, and led along by a Lictor.
Offi.
Have your Eyes every way upon the Crowd;
If any man but seems to pity him,
[To the Guards.
Secure him as an Enemy to the State.

Mag.
You see, my Countrymen, the liberty
You have brought home at last for you, and yours,
Here, in the Forum, in the barefac'd Sun,
You see a Citizen of Capua,
Second to none in Name and Dignity,
Torn from his Friends, and forc'd in Chains to death;
Go meet your Hannibal, crowd all your Streets;
Dress up your Houses, and your Images,
And put on all the City's Finery,
To consecrate this Day a Festival
Of Barbarous Triumph over you and me.

Offi.
I'll spoil your speech-making; drag him along.

[Exeunt, The Lictor, dragging Magius off the Stage.
1 Cit.
O! piteous Spectacle.

3 Cit.
Piteous indeed,

1 Cit.
This is the setting out of Slavery.

2 Cit.
'Tis well if it goes no farther:
Not allow us to pity our Fellow Citizens!

3 Cit.
Ay, did you mark that?

2 Cit.
They begin to shew themselves already.

1 Cit.
In Colours I don't like:
We may repent too late what we have done.

Enter more Citizens to 'em.
4 Cit.

O you have lost the best of the Shew, the sight of the
Prisoners, and the Bushel of Gold-Rings.

1 Cit.

What! there were so many Roman Knights kill'd,
and taken at Cannæ, that their several Rings, in a heap together,
fill'd a Bushel.

4 Cit.

So they say, indeed.

1 Cit.

Why, then their Bushel lies out of all measure, in
my opinion.

4 Cit.

The three hundred Knights that were deliver'd to us,
wou'd have been worth your seeing; gallant Fellows indeed,
and wounded most of 'em.

2 Cit.

Some body said, That Junius was found among the
Prisoners.

4 Cit.

Yes, yes, Junius, our Countryman was among
'em; he was said to be kill'd at Cannæ, but he's alive again,
and in a way to do very well.

1 Cit.

He's a Prisoner, you say.

4 Cit.

No, his old Friend Virginius, upon the merit of his
violence, and the credit of his Father Pacuvius,

Has made an interest with Hannibal,
And, they say, has got him his liberty.

2 Cit.
All in good time: but Decius Magius,
Let's follow all, to know what comes of him.

[Exeunt.
Enter Virginius and Junius with an Officer, and Guard.
Vir.
O Junius! how art thou restor'd to life!
And I by miracle to happiness!
For tho the bounteous Gods have blest my Fate
With all the good things, else, of this great World;
Yet wanting thee, wanting my other self,
I could not be entire to my content,
Not absolute, nor perfect in my joy.
But they have brought thee back to me again,
And through such 'mazing paths of Providence,
We cannot trace, and only can admire.
Thus thy good fortune rises from the bad.
Hadst thou not been at Cannæ, taken there;
Had we not leagu'd our State with Hannibal;
Thou had'st not been among the Prisoners,
The Roman Knights, to be deliver'd here:
Thou had'st not seen thy Country, City, Friends;
Nor should I had the interest and power
With Hannibal, to gain thy liberty.

Jun.
I wonnot be oblig'd, for any thing,
I do not understand a benefit.
I'm Pris'ner of an honourable War;
And do despise my Freedom, but on terms
As brave and honest, as I parted with it:
Such terms I must despair of finding here.

Vir.
We do invite you to an equal share
Of all the advantages of Government,
Of Place, and Power, with us in Capua.

Jun.
Therefore I do refuse my liberty.

Vir.
You wonnot sure refuse it from a Friend.

Jun.
I have no Friend, nor I pretend to none.

Vir.
You have been mine, and you have thought me yours.

Jun.
That was in our young days; when every thing
Was swallow'd, and went credulously down.
Our pleasures hurrying on in the same course,
When we pursu'd 'em with the same desires,
With the same stretch, and eagerness of Youth:
Our manners too in every thing ally'd;
Then we were Friends for our convenience.
But when the business of the World comes on,
Justling between ambitious interests,
Tis then, in the great voyage of our Life,
As if our Vessels struck upon a Rock,
Each shifts a several way to 'scape the wreck,
And sink, or swim, my Friend; nay, plunge him down,
So by his ruin, I get safe to shore.

Vir.
It never can be so between us two.
I have no ambition, have no interest,
That Friendship can suspect, or split upon.
Friendship is riches, power, all, to me.
Friendship's another Element of life:
Water and Fire not of more general use,
To the support and comfort of the World;
Than Friendship to the being of my Joy.
I would do every thing to serve a Friend.

Jun.
And I would serve a Friend in honest things:
I do pretend no farther. You, and I,
You see, have very different sentiments;
Therefore unlikely to continue Friends.
If from our former Brotherhood of Love,
You do suspect I may have any claim,
Against her interest, that should have it all,
Here I renounce it, I resign it here.
And now let's heartily shake hands, and part;
To your high Fortune, You; I to my Fate.

Vir.
My Fortune and your Fate shall be but one.

Jun.
They are impossible to reconcile:
You happy, I am born to be a Wretch:
You free, and I condemn'd to be a Slave.
O! had I fal'n with Honour in the Field,
How many miseries had ended there!
Death had secured me then from being led
In Triumph here, over my Country's Shame.
I hate your Hannibal, I hate your Cause:
And now can only be a Friend to Rome.
And if I ever come at Liberty,
It shall be but to strike against you all.

Offi.
You hear him, he is not to be reclaim'd.

Vir.
This is the present sense of suffering;
The grief of unheal'd Wounds: all will be well.

Offi.
You cannot trust him with his liberty.

Vir.
With my own life I will.

Jun.
Have you resolv'd
About the trifle of disposing me?

Vir.
My House your Prison, I must be your Guard.

Jun.
With your own hands you set it then on fire.

Offi.
He has warn'd you, and the consequence be yours.

[Exeunt Junius following Virginius.
SCENE, Virginius's House.
Favonia enters, a Woman following.
Fav.
I'le hear no more: when next thou speak'st to me,
Let blood, and death, and ruin be the Theme.
Talk of the Massacres of Families,
Plunder of Cities, and whole Countries waste.
A private mischief is not worth the news.
Tell me that all the dire Calamities
Of raging War, chain'd up in discipline,
Are now broke loose, trooping in horrid march,
To fright the World, the brood of Cerberus,
And worry all, like the black-guard of Hell.
That Lust and Rapine do divide the Spoil:
That Giant Murder does bestride our Streets,
Stalking in state, and wading deep in Blood.
My Father Butcher'd, weltring in his Gore:
A Dagger in the Throat of my dear Child:
And thou shalt be as welcome then as now.
[Exit Woman.
That Capua is in Universal Blaze;
All, all the winds of Heaven driving this way,
And nothing but my Tears to quench the Flame.
—Junius alive! ev'n that would give me Death.
In Capua too! that brings it nearer still.
In the same house! that stabs the Dagger home:
It hurries me to Execution,
And Execution too upon the Rack:
Let me be out of pain, before he comes.
What corner shall I find to hide this head in?
Where is that Dungeon-darkness that can blind
The eye of Jealousie? my Husband comes
To draw me to the hateful Light again,
To drag me to the tryal of my truth.
What can I plead? O guilty, guilty Wretch!
There is no courage, but in Innocence:
No constancy, but in an honest cause.
Thy Conscience is a thousand witnesses:
And Junius, the chief Accessary; he
Stands out against thee, and confesses all.
I'le hear no more: pronounce my sentence quick,
Let it be Death, to end me any way.

[Exit.
Enter Virginius and Junius.
Vir.
I need not tell you, you command all here,
And that you have your Liberty entire.
Ha! Junius! why that paleness on thy face?
Thy alter'd looks speak thy condition,
Thou art not well.

Jun.
Indeed I am not well.

Vir.
Expence of Spirits, and the loss of Blood.
With needful care they will recruit again.
Rest on my arm, and let me lead you in.

SCENE Changes to Favonia's Appartment.
[Favonia leaning on her hand in a Chair. Virginius leading Junius into the Room.
Vir.
Favonia—

Fav.
Ha! who calls?

Jun.
I can no more: I must end here,

[Faints at the sight of Favonia, She Shrieks at sight of Him.
Fav.
Ha!

Vir.
Fall into these Arms,
They never will refuse to bear thee up.
Favonia, call for help; he comes again;
Stay; lend your hand; soft, gently, set him down.
[In the Chair She rises out of.
How is it now?

Jun.
Conofunded in my shame,
That my infirmity should here intrude.
Your pardon, Madam, will recover me.

Vir.
Rally your routed spirits to your aid,
Rest will compose and bring 'em back again.
I cannot stay with you, but will return
To cheer, to comfort you, and to renew
The past endearments of our former Friendship.
I will provide you Balm for all your Wounds:
My Wife her self, your kind Physician,
Will wait upon you, till I come again.

[Exit.
Favonia, and Junius.
Jun.
I'm hunted to the brink of the Abyss:
Plunge in I must, and to the bottom now.
But first upon my Knees let me fall down.
Trembling, and aw'd, and fearful of your Frown,
Bespeaking pardon, if I wildly should,
In questioning the Gods upon my Fate,
Say any thing towards disturbing you.

Fav.
O rise, I must not hear you on your Knees.

Jun.
I'm blest, that you will hear me any way.
But O! the Accent of my Voice is chang'd:
You cannot know it now in misery.
There was a time, in the gay Spring of Life,
When every Note was as the mounting Lark's
Merry, and cheerful, to salute the Morn;
When all the day was made of Melody.
But it is past, that day is spent, and done,
And it has long been night, long night with me.
I have been happier, you have known me so.

Fav.
Alas! there is no Fortune perfect here.

Jun.
Indeed I find it: When I enter'd first
Into the List of this contending World,
I promis'd fair for a more prosperous course:
The Favourite of Fortune, and the Friend,
To perfect all, of my Virginius:
We liv'd the envy of our Capuan Youth,
The most aspiring to the Glorious Fame
Of Friendship, only imitated us.
So blest you found us.

Fav.
Would to all the Gods,
I ne're had come between you, to divide,
To part such Friends.

Jun.
O! had we parted there:
He to the rich possession of your Charms;
I to a poorer Fortune in my Love;
Yet rich enough, and happy in content,
All had been well: But he would have me home.

Fav.
O! I remember his impatience.

Jun.
To be a Witness of his happiness.
And so I was. I hear'd him every day
Transported in the Riot of the Theme;
Full of the ravishing Discoveries
He hourly made in that blest Land of Love:
The ever rising Springs of flowing Joy;
The hoarded Mines of treasures, yet unborn:
With such a rapture of variety
Of Pleasures that were ever growing there.
It was not safe to hear, I found it so.

Fav.
O Curs'd effect of foolish Vanity!

Jun.
What was it to approach then, to behold,
And face to face examine and compare
The Copied Beauties with the Original?
O! they were faint, and the description cold,
Heavy and dead, to the inspiring Life:
And what I thought Extravagance before,
Prov'd easie to the Wonders I saw there.

Fav.
What will this end in?

Jun.
Can we resolve to gaze upon the Sun
With steady Eyes? soon blinded by that Pride
I lost my way; and found my self too late,
Born down the torrent of a Passion,
That always ended in a Sea of Woe:
I plainly saw Ruin attend my Steps;
Therefore resolv'd to lead 'em far away,
Where they might never come to trouble you.
But O! it was with all the violence
Of Pangs, in Death, that I at last resolv'd,
And yielded to that only Remedy:
A Remedy worse than the worst of Deaths
To fly the Place, where I must die for Love,
Or live a Traitor to my Friend and Fame.

Fav.
What have you said?

Jun.
If I have said too much,
Believe, I rather had in silence dy'd,
Than to have spoke at all: This was the fate
I labour'd to avoid. But who can shun
His Destiny? it follows every where:
Capua, or Rome, or Cannæ, still the same.
I would have welcom'd it, that fatal day;
But there it lost me in the Crowd of Death.
This was the place of Execution;
And it has caught, and seiz'd, and bound me here:
I'm on the Rack: What I discover now,
Is only the expression of my Pain,
Wrung from my heart, long overcharg'd, and full,
Which else should burst with its Convulsive throws,
Rather than ease its Labour by a Groan,
A trembling Sigh, that might offend your Ear.

Fav.
O Junius! whither are you going? hold.

Jun.
A little farther, and I shall arrive
At my long home, the Goal of my Despair.
To ask your Pardon, wou'd repeat my Fault:
To ask your Pity, were to draw you in,
By steps of mercy, to a tenderness,
Criminal, and guilty, to reprieve a Wretch,
Who, for the Common Peace, and yours, must die.
There is no Ward against such Blows as these;
They stagger me, and I at last must fall.
Since I am doom'd to be a Sacrifice
Of fatal friendship, and of hopeless love.
Here let me fall, I wou'd be offer'd here;
[Falls at her Feet, she breaks his Fall, and kneels by him to recover him.
Allow me dying to confess my Love
In my last Sigh, and at your feet expire.

Fav.
Women enter, run to assist Junius, and lead him off.

[Exit at another Door.