 | The Fate of Capua |  |
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?
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.
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:
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.
| The Fate of Capua | |