 | The Fate of Capua |  |
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ACT III.
SCENE I.
A Garden.Enter Pacuvius and Perolla.
Pac.
I've watch't thee with a careful Parents eye,
Follow'd through all the motions of thy Soul
And cannot find it, therefore have withdrawn,
To give thee place, and opportunity.
Per.
And therefore have I follow'd you, my Lord,
To tell you what it is I labour with.
Pac.
'Tis mighty sure, when the great Hannibal
Not only has forgiv'n, but honour'd thee,
At his high Table, bidding thee his Guest,
That can disgrace his Invitation,
Poyson his Feast, and in a general Mirth,
Make sad the brow of Youth with discontent.
Per.
'Tis a design to raise my Countries Fame.
Pac.
Thy Countries Fame!
Per.
You see this Dagger here,
A little instrument for so great a work,
But well employ'd, and gallantly struck home.
Pac.
Struck home!
Per.
Into the heart of Hannibal,
Wou'd yet attone our infamous revolt.
Pac.
O Jupiter! thou great deliverer!
Per.
I have resolv'd to make our peace with Rome,
And seal it with this Carthaginian's Blood.
'Tis fit that you should know what I intend:
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If not, take this occasion, and retire.
Pac.
By all the bonds of Duty, and of Love,
That tye a Son and Father's hearts in one,
I beg, implore, conjure thee to desist:
Let me arrest thee in this horrid course,
That leads through all the steps of infamy,
Into the gulf of sure Perdition.
Per.
I think not so.
Pac.
But now, before the Altars of the Gods,
We interchang'd our Souls, and plighted Faith,
With right-hands joyn'd, in solemn, holy league
Of Sacred Trust: and was there nothing meant
By these good rites of hospitality,
More than, when we had feasted, drank, and laught;
To get a nearer opportunity
To perpetrate the foulest act of shame,
And Stab our Entertainer?
Per.
How my Lord!
Our Entertainer? you compell'd me here.
Pac.
Your Benefactor; he has sav'd your life.
Per.
So is the Robber, that but takes my goods:
And shall I thank him for not doing more?
Pac.
If there is nothing Sacred; if you think
Religion, Faith, and Piety, restraints
But for the weak, then let loose all the Reins.
Yet when you undertake a Villany,
Act like a Man, not rashly throw away
Honour and life in the mad enterprize.
Per.
My life I have devoted to my Cause,
And Honour must attend it, when it goes.
Pac.
What! would you singly strike at Hannibal?
Where is the circle of his Officers?
His waiting Slaves, and his attending Guards?
The many eyes that only wake for him?
The many hands always in arms for him?
All blind, and dead? are they confounded all?
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Those looks of Terror, which arm'd Legions
Have trembled at, and Rome could not sustain?
Per.
I can surprize him in his riots here.
Pac.
O, no, my Son, hee's not to be surprized.
There is an awful guard of Majesty
About his Person, that denies approach:
A Majesty of glorious Actions,
Of famous Wars, and bloody Battels gain'd,
That are his Sword and Buckler every where.
They charge around him, like Numidian Spears,
To terrify and keep off all surprize.
Trebie, and Thrasimene, and Cannæ, all
Shelter him with the Laurels of their Fields.
The mighty Ghost of great Æmilius,
That waits him, as his guardian Genius now,
Would wish to die again, a death of shame,
To see a Boy attempt his Conqueror.
But grant you could surprize him, and his guards:
Yet I am there, what will you do with me?
I am his Fortress, I am his Defence.
Will you pursue him through a Father's Life?
If you will Stab him, Stab him then through me.
My breast oppos'd, first you must reach my Heart,
Before your Dagger can arrive at him.
Per.
O, Sir, your words have struck a Dagger here.
Pac.
Is then the thirst of thy revenge so hot,
Not to be slackt, but with a Father's Blood?
Per.
I'le pour out mine to quench your kindled Rage.
Pac.
Let me deter thee here, rather than go
To throw away thy self, and ruin me.
O let my Prayers prosper, and prevail
With thee, as for thee they prevail'd to day.
Per.
I must deny you nothing: but you have
Undone your Self, your Country, and your Son.
You have commanded me, and I will pay
That piety to you my Country claims.
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To have restored thee to thy Self and Rome.
I had prepar'd this Dagger in thy Cause:
But since my Father wrests it from my Hand;
I can no more, but with my Grief retire,
And in the Crowd expect the common Fate.
[Exit.
Virginius enters to Pacuvius.
Vir.
You have withdrawn your self in a bad time.
We wanted you within: the Publick has
Put on a different face from what it had:
But Smile, or Frown, we cannot mend it now.
Pac.
Pray, what's the matter?
Vir.
Why, the question rose
Upon the raking in the Tarentines.
Pac.
O, I was by, when their Ambassadors
Were introduced, and had their Audience.
Their business was welcom'd, and well receiv'd,
But not requiring: haste, soon laid aside,
And civily dismist, while I was there.
Vir.
It was so, and the Revellings went on.
But then, from all the quarters of the Town,
We were allarmed by clamorous complaints,
Of every kind, against the Soldiers.
Women, and Wine, we knew, of right were theirs,
But in a natural, and manly use,
Not to break through, or over-leap the bounds
Of Government, by brutal violence.
But when they came, without distinction,
To seize on all, proceeding so to Blood,
To Plunder, Murder, and to Ravishment,
'Twas high time to complain.
Pac.
High time indeed.
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Some call'd on you, others petition'd me:
And every Client to his Patron ran,
To save him, or redress his injuries.
Pac.
What follow'd then?
Vir.
Maherbal standing by,
The Carthaginian General of the Horse,
With his blunt honesty, told Hannibal,
That from the Soldiers Luxury, he foresaw
Capua would prove to him and his affairs,
Fatal, as ever Cannæ did to Rome.
Pac.
Ha! that was home.
Vir.
Hannibal rouz'd at that,
And gave his orders for a speedy March:
But not so much, on what Maherbal said,
It is believ'd, as on some News from Rome.
Pac.
We never wish'd him to continue here.
Vir.
But what should be the News that has so soon
Alter'd his Measures?
Pac.
O, no matter what
Can come from Rome; he has serv'd the present turn,
And we can serve our selves against the next:
We must be near him, while he stays with us.
[Exeunt.
SCENE Virginius's House.
Enter Junius.
Jun.
It was her hand that rais'd me from the Grave;
It was her Mercy that repriev'd my Fate:
She meant it in a kind Compassion,
Tho it had been the tendrest Charity,
To let the rigor of the Sentence pass
Upon my Life, and put me out of pain.
I am redeem'd from the arrest of Death,
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Is there no Remedy; Want will be heard,
And answer'd too; I could turn Begger here:
When once it comes to the extremity
To take, or starve, there is no more a right
Of Property; all things lie common then
In Nature's Field; from Heav'n to Hell is ours,
For our support, to compass any way.
What hinders then but I may be reliev'd?
I have discharg'd my self from all the Bonds
Of friendship, duty, that encumber'd me;
And I am left at large, and free to take
All opportunities that can assist
To make me—What? a Villain Am I free?
Discharg'd of all my obligations?
Why am I here, plac'd as another Lord
Over this Family, and not a friend?
Is then the Trust and Confidence repos'd
In me, and my fidelity, no Bond?
These are State Morals; but adversity
Has ever been an evil Counsellor;
And always will be so: I'll hear no more.
I have nothing left me but my honesty,
To write my Epitaph, and grace my Tomb:
Thither I'm going, O Favonia! stay,
I see you shun me, let me only take
A parting look, I wonnot dare to speak,
If I shou'd sigh, it is my last adieu.
[Exit.
SCENE the Forum.
Enter three or four Citizens of the better sort.
1 Cit.
Are these our Friends? what cou'd they have done
worse by us, if they had been our Enemies?
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If our City had been taken by Storm, they could but
have ravish'd our Wives and Daughters.
3 Cit.
And put us to the Sword; you forget that Man.
2 Cit.
No, we were reserv'd for a worse Punishment, to
stand by, and look on, as scandalous Witnesses of our infamy
and disgrace.
1 Cit.
There's nothing free from their insolence and outrage.
2 Cit.
Every place prophan'd by their Rioting and Drunkenness.
1 Cit.
They have invaded every thing that's dear to us.
2 Cit.
No Property in any thing.
3 Cit.
Especially the Petticoat; nay, it has been very bad
indeed; but 'twill mend now, they are marcht away to the
Tarentines; and Tarentum take 'em, I say.
1 Cit.
Hannibal is march'd indeed with his Army, but has left
a Garison behind him; What does he mean by that?
2 Cit.
To protect us against the Romans.
1 Cit.
The Romans! why, we have been told all along there
was no danger of them.
2 Cit.
I wish we may find it so.
1 Cit.
There's no believing any thing now a-days; not a
Syllable of truth in the Mouth of Report, for an honest Man
to walk by.
2 Cit.
'Tis all Party, and serving a turn.
1 Cit.
There was no News currant a great while, but the
Distress of the Romans, the Misery they were brought to, and
the utter impossibility of ever appearing in arms agen; that
was all the reason we had for deserting our old friends.
2 Cit.
Now that turn's serv'd, and not so much care taken
to stifle Intelligence; we hear of nothing but their Industry
and Virtue; the Preparations and Power of the Romans: I
am credibly informed they have a Consular Army in the Field,
and in a condition to try their fortune again with Hannibal, if
he pleases.
1 Cit.
He may thank himself, if they should beat him
now.
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If he had march'd directly to Rome from Cannæ, as
he was advis'd.
1 Cit.
But he stay'd there playing the Merchant, and selling
his Prisoners.
2 Cit.
Which provoked Maherbal to tell him, That he
knew how to conquer, better than to use his Victory.
3 Cit.
If the Romans are so strong, what may become of us
then?
2 Cit.
Nay, we have pull'd our old Houses upon our Heads,
and may be buried in the Ruins, for ought we know.
1 Cit.
We have deserv'd as ill as we can of 'em.
2 Cit.
And have nothing to pray the Gods, but that they
may never have it in their Power to reward us to our Deserts.
Omn.
That's all we have to trust to.
[Exeunt.
Enter Pacuvius and Virginius.
Vir.
Is't possible! he cannot be so base, forgetful, so ungrateful
to his Friends.
Pac.
Contain your self, at least here in the Street; let us
not be the first in our complaints, who were the forwardest—
Vir.
And we are paid most richly for our pains.
Pac.
I will come home
To you, and there we will enlarge our hearts—
Vir.
In spight of all his Guards, and speak bold Truths:
I shall expect you with impatience.
[Exit.
Pac.
Bold Truths! they may return upon our selves:
For if I speak Truth boldly, as it is,
I cannot be surpriz'd, that Hannibal
Should leave a Garison, should not trust me
With full command, which I had just before
Abus'd, betray'd, and given up to him:
To him, I mean to my Ambition:
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To look about, and see what I have done.
The many violent steps that I have made
To bring me here, to my untimely fall,
It may be too, when Thrasimene was fought,
Being chief Magistrate of Capua,
Had Hannibal marcht this way, I had design'd
The Senate's slaughter, to deliver up
The City so. I was prevented then:
But now have done it—not so bloodily.
What was the Romans murder in our Baths,
Was not that Bloody, and set on by me?
I had forgot: 'tis dangerous to awake
A guilty Memory. Decius Magius too
Stands out to accuse me—but he's still alive.
O I remember all his Curses now:
May they be blown about, and lost in Air;
Not shed their Venom upon me and mine.
[Exit.
SCENE Changes to Virginius's House.
Enter Junius.
Jun.
All close, and silent! as in depth of Night
Wrapt up in darkness! in the inner room
I spy a winking Lamp, that weakly strikes
The ambient Air, scarce kindling into Light:
That, seeble as it is, shall be my guide.
There I shall find her in her pomp of Grief.
Dare I invade her sacred solitude?
My Heart sinks in me, and my trembling knees
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Warning me not to touch forbidden ground.
Forbidden! so are all good things to me.
Nothing to hope, I nothing have to fear.
(Exit.
SCENE changes, and shows Favonia asleep on a Couch in an undress.
Junius returns.
Jun.
She consecrates the Place, where e're She is,
With reverence: We enter Temples so.
Where are the Terrors, that shou'd keep me back?
Her frowns, the greatest, are disarm'd in sleep.
O may the softest down of sweet repose
Receive thee gently on the Bed of Peace,
And fold thee close in the kind arms of rest:
That undisturb'd, this Opportunity
May now be mine, to feed my famisht Eyes.
The sickning light is envious, and grows pale,
With looking on her: 'tis a sight indeed
For the high mounted Sun, in all his Pride,
To stop, and wonder at—let me fix here—
Stretch wide the Gates of sight to take her in,
In the full triumph of her conquering charms.
My eager Eyes devour her Beauties up,
Insatiable, and hungring still for more.
O! the rich Glutton, that enjoys this store!
Nothing to spare from superfluity,
To feed my wants, my Feaver burns me up,
O! let me quench it at this healing Spring.
The Spring is sacred; a Divinity
Protects the place; thrice happy, happy, he
Who may plunge in, and bathe, and wanton there.
But I may taste the coolness of the stream.
And I will drink the Cordial of a kiss,
From this dear hand, reach'd out to comfort me.
(kneels, and kisses her hand.
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Virginius and Pacuvius at the Door entring.
What noise! I may retire unseen.
(Exit.
Vir.
A Man here with my Wife! O give me way
(Breaks from Pacuvius.
Fav.
Who's there? my Lord?
Vir.
Where is the Villain? where?
(Runs after Junius.
Fav.
O! where indeed? my Father! on my knees
Let me protest, and swear my Innocence.
I am betray'd, and lost.
Pac.
Thou art indeed.
(Virginius returns.
Vir.
This was contriv'd, and lay'd for his escape:
And this Apartment fitted, and prepar'd
To be the Scene of their adulterous Lust.
Where is there such another Wretch on earth?
Ruin'd, undone in every interest,
Betray'd, and ruin'd in my dearest trust!
But I will be the Executioner
Of my just rage, and here begin revenge—
Pac.
Strike home, it is the Sword of Justice now.
Vir.
Have you condemn'd her?
Pac.
I applaud the deed.
(She opens her arms.
Vir.
I wonnot kill thee in thy Fathers sight.
That were to act a murder upon him.
Here, take her, Sir, I give her up to you.
Your Houses honour is engag'd with mine.
Do with her what is fit for you, and me.
You are her Judge, condemn, or set her free.
(Exeunt.
| The Fate of Capua | |