 | The Fate of Capua |  |
ACT V.
SCENE I.
The Forum.Pacuvius, Vibius Virius Marius Blosius, with the Senators in their several Parties.
1 Sen.
We are met here, and only to be made
More certain of inevitable Fate:
Each Moment brings us Matter of Despair,
And no one to propose a Remedy.
Blo.
The Mauritanians, who were hir'd, and sent,
And, as Deserters, undertook to pass
The Roman Camp, and get to Hannibal,
Discover'd by the Consuls to be Spies,
Fifty in number were condemn'd to be
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In that most lamentable plight driv'n back
To Capua, to let us see the News.
2 Sen.
To let us see what we are to expect.
3 Sen.
To let us read in bloody Characters
The Vengeance that is laid in store for us.
4 Sen.
The Spectacle has sunk the People so,
They dare no longer think of a Defence,
And talk of nothing but Surrendring now.
Pac.
This Accident has cut our Commerce off,
All our Intelligence with Hannibal.
We've nothing farther to expect from him.
Blo.
And the God's know, but little from our selves.
Within.
Bear back, make way for our Deliverer.
Do you not know good Decius Magius.
Enter Decius Magius.
1 Sen.
O! Decius Magius! you'r a wellcome Man
Among us, you were never wanted more.
Mag.
'Tis a bad Day for Capua, when a Weak,
Old, useless Man comes to be wanted so.
But any thing is welcome in Distress.
I'm sorry for the Cause that brings me here,
Tho' it has brought me back to Liberty,
From Dungeon Darkness to the Heavenly Light.
2 Sen.
We never were in such a wretched need.
Mag.
I hear how Matters go with us, all wrong,
And fear me, 'tis too late to set 'em right.
My Pow'r is very poor, but yet you may
Employ it, as you please, for Capua,
For I am still devoted to her Cause.
1 Sen.
We cannot hope to have the Town reliev'd.
2 Sen.
Nor are we able to defend it long.
3 Sen.
The Roman Clemency has oft been try'd
On desperate Occasions, and been found,
When all has fail'd, the only Remedy.
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And let us not despair of its effects,
Its good effects on us.
Blo.
What do you mean?
1. Sen.
To pacifie the fury of our Fate.
2. Sen.
Not to enrage it by opposing it.
3. Sen.
But freely give what they have pow'r to take.
1. Sen.
We have agreed, the greatest part of Us,
To send our Legates to the Consuls Camp,
And offer up the Town, to save our lives.
4. Sen.
And you are come, good Decius Magius,
The fittest Suppliant in your Country's Cause.
1. Sen.
You have deserv'd, and you may well pretend
An Interest with the Roman Generals.
Mag.
An Interest against their Interest!
There's very little to expect from that.
1. Sen.
We will surrender at discretion.
Mag.
And that is but a wretched Embassie.
But if you think it is the only way
To do you Service, and you are agreed.
2. Sen.
We are agreed there is no other way.
Mag.
What says Pacuvius? You are yet to speak.
Pac.
I wou'd ill become my character, to joyn
In this advise of supplicating Rome,
In our distress, who, may be, was the first
To urge her Ruine, by deserting her.
But if I were no more obnoxious,
No more accountable for our revolt,
Than he that acted least, yet I must think,
From what we've done to them, and they to us,
There is no hope of pardon at their hands.
Blo.
A Pardon! 'tis a Play-thing for a Child,
To still the present fit of frowardness;
A Man can never set his heart upon't.
Pac.
Now, when a Foreign Enemy insults,
And Hannibal himself that Enemy,
When all things are permitted to the Sword,
Brandish'd, and flaming over Italy,
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And every threatned danger, to send here
Both Consuls, with their Armies Consular,
Looks as they did intend to make their Wars
Only on us, not Carthage more abhorr'd
Than Capua, as if they did not come
For Fame, or Victory, but for revenge.
Mag.
It may be so, and that they come to raise
A Monument, to warn succeeding times,
Never to injure, in whatever State
Their Fortune is, the Citizens of Rome.
Pac.
The very Savages, and fiercest Beasts,
Do but approach their Dens, and they will leave
Their destin'd Prey, to save their helpless Young.
The Romans are more eager yet than they.
For not the leaguer of their City Rome,
Their Wives, their Children (whose imploring cries,
And lamentations almost reach 'em here)
Their Altars, Hearths, the Temples of the Gods,
The Sepulchers of their great Ancestors.
In danger to be violated all
By Hannibal, can once remove 'em hence,
From the determin'd spoil of Capua.
So greedy are they of our Punishment,
Of such a burning thirst to drink our Blood.
Therefore, for my part, I will seek no aid
Out of my self: while I am Master of
My liberty, I can take care for one.
1. Sen.
You, who have made your selves unworthy of
Pardon, and mercy, justly may despair.
But we have hopes in Decius Magius.
Mag.
Alas!
2. Sen.
Take the three hundred Roman Knights
Along with you, that are our Prisoners.
3. Sen.
That was a lucky thought, make all the Friends—
Mag.
Adversity will find but very few.
3. Sen.
What force you can.
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And all, I fear, too weak,
(Exit with his Party.
Pac.
You then, who seem to have another sense
Of what we owe to the Immortal Gods,
And our immortal selves, in these extremes,
I do invite you to take part with me,
In the kind entertainment of this Night,
Which I've prepar'd for many more good Friends.
The Wine, and Company I know are good:
The Supper chosen well, and elegant:
For who can tell but it may be our last.
If it so prove; indulge the Genius,
Enlarge the Soul, and feast the senses high:
We'll sacrifice at last to Liberty.
(Exeunt.
Enter Virginius and Junius.
Vir.
O Junius! 'tis unworthy of the Man,
Who calls you Friend, so scandalous a Fate.
But do not think that I am reconcil'd,
Humbled, and tam'd to my dishonour, no.
Jun.
I know you can't be wanting to your self.
Vir.
I wanted to acquit my self to you,
And therefore I have found you luckily,
To go with me—
Jun.
You may command your Friend.
Vir.
To be a witness that I treat the Wretch
As She deserves from me, and my revenge.
(Exeunt
Virginius's House.
Favonia enters with a Dagger in one hand, and a Bowl in tother.
Fav.
A Fathers Present to a luckless Child!
His sending it, and by a Husbands hands,
Shou'd have determin'd me, before this time,
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And that I've meditated, study'd long;
And often wisht; but yet this Dagger here,
This Ruffian Dagger, like a Murderer,
That does delight in Blood, looks terrible.
There's nothing horrid in this friendly Bowl:
And it will do the deed as certainly,
And satisfie my angry Fate as well.
She drinks, throws the Bowl one way and the Dagger another.
'Tis past; the little argument of Life
Is at an end; and Death will soon conclude.
This is the fatal period of our Crimes,
Ending at last in certain Punishment.
And yet my Crimes, methinks, might well have past
For my misfortunes, to be pity'd,
Rather than punish'd; but I must not tax
The justice of the Gods; they have their ends
In every thing they do; they have thought fit
To judge 'em Crimes, and so to doom 'em here.
Perhaps to warn too negligent a World,
By my example, how they do engage
In little things, that may be dangerous.
If there is any profit of my Death,
'Tis well, I do not grudge the benefit;
For I begin to find its comfort here.
(Laying her self down on the Floor.
Enter Virginius, and Junius to Favonia; Junius runs to her assistance.
Jun.
Extended on the Floor; is this a sight
To triumph in?
Vir.
The Dagger, or the Bowl,
Has rescu'd her, and disappointed me.
I fear she's almost got out of my reach.
(Virginius kneels at her feet, Junius at her head.
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She's in the Pangs of Death.
Vir.
There let her stay,
And linger Ages out in Agony,
To glut my Eyes, and satiate my revenge.
Jun.
She's going! O! Favonia! she is gone!
(Favonia dyes, Junius weeping over her.
Vir.
Why let her go, and with her all my Plagues.
Jun.
I came to be a witness of thy Truth,
And Innocence; but shou'd have come before
To save thy Life—
Vir.
Methinks you are too much
Concern'd for her.
Jun.
Begone, and leave me here.
Your Title carry'd to the end of life;
No farther; you have put an end to that:
And now I honestly may set up mine.
Vir.
What Title?
Jun.
To revenge her Death on you.
Junius starts upon his knees, seizes upon Virginius, they rise in a struggle, Junius draws his Sword upon him.
You have involv'd me in this Murder here:
And made me an Accomplice of a deed,
To damn us both down to the lowest Hell.
If you dare justifie it, draw your Sword.
Vir.
Dare justifie it?
Jun.
Dare.
Vir.
You know I dare.
Another Man had prov'd my daring too,
Before this time.
Jun.
So every Coward says,
Vir.
Nay, then 'tis past; this only answers that.
(They Fight, both wounded.
Jun.
'Tis as it shou'd be: I was not to live.
Vir.
I cannot long.
(Junius falls by Favonia.
Jun.
Then I have been a Friend
Indeed, if I have hasten'd on your Death.
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You'll find I only have prevented you
From laying violent hands upon your grief,
Cursing the light, and falling to despair.
Vir.
Your words have stuck attention in my heart.
Jun.
Favonia is most innocent, and wrong'd:
And you, and I the only guilty here.
Vir.
But prove her so, and I shall dye with joy.
(Falling at her feet.
Jun.
In lov'd her, for I may avow it now,
And you may thank your self, who were the cause,
By bringing me into your Family.
I lov'd her with a passion, that no bounds
Cou'd circumscribe, no violence cou'd tame,
No Council moderate, no Friendship cure.
Therefore I went to Rome, resolv'd to breath
My sighs in Foreign Air, not to disturb
Your Interest, or Favonia's Innocence.
I languisht many Years; my Fate thought fit
To bring me back; and you wou'd have me home.
Vir.
In left her with you.
Jun.
I that conflict, I
Confess'd what I had suffer'd for my love:
She pity'd me; and I desir'd no more.
Vir.
Say on, while I have leisure to attend.
Jun.
The Man you found in her Apartment, was
Your wretched Friend: I thought to 'scape unseen.
But that poor caution has undone us all.
Vir.
What was your Business there?
Jun.
I went to take
A parting look, resolv'd to end my griefs,
And trouble her no more. Favonia was
Ev'n Innocent of my being there.
I found her sleeping with her harmless Thoughts:
And She but wak'd, as you approach'd the Room,
In a surprize, to find her self undone.
This Writing I have drawn to vouch for me,
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And the Gods try me by the Truth it bears.
(Dyes.
Vir.
A solemn adjuration! and no doubt
Most heavenly true; and all this is the work
Of my own folly; had I been content
With that fair portion of felicity,
The Gods bestow'd upon me in a Wife;
How happy had I been! but I must bring
My Friend home to usurp upon her right.
And what's the consequence! Ruine, and Death.
The approach of Death makes me less sensible.
I've lost my Wife, and Friend, and now my self.
(Dyes.
SCENE Pacuvius House.
Pacuvius, Vibius Virius, Marius Blosius, with Seven or Eight Senators rising from a Feast.
Pac.
Who, who wou'd basely lag behind in life,
Only to see how many wretched ways
Our Enemies will find out to punish us?
5 Sen.
These Eyes shall never be Spectators of
My Countries Ruine.
Vib.
Nor will I behold
The ravage, and the havock of our Spoils—
6 Sen.
Nor Capua's Honours trampled in the dust—
7 Sen.
Nor shining horrid with involving Flames.
Blo.
Shall our chast Matrons, and our blushing Maids,
Our generous Youth, bred up to nobler hopes,
Attempted, seiz'd, o'erpow'rd, be tam'd at last,
To the insults of all unnatural Lusts?
Vib.
If there was nothing else to undergo—
Blo.
You cannot call it living on such terms.
Pac.
If we agree, that Life wou'd be a load,
Not to be Born, with these Indignities:
Here is the helping hand to throw it off.
(A Servant gives him a Bowl.
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Hannibal carries Poyson in a Ring,
Still to be near him in adversity.
I have prepar'd this cordial Draught for us.
A noble, and preventing remedy:
To free our Bodies from the Punishment,
Our Minds from the Reproach, and Infamy,
Our Eyes and Ears, from being Witnesses
Of all those Cruelties, that are design'd.
Contriv'd, reserv'd, and wait for conquer'd Men.
Vib.
We wonnot rob our Virtue of its Fame,
To think that any here can stand in need
Of words, to argue him into a deed,
Of this high consequence and character.
Blo.
We are confirm'd in reason, and resolv'd.
Pac.
Then thus I offer you deliverance:
And do begin a Health to Liberty.
(Drinks.
5 Sen.
A generous Health, and send it round to all.
Blo.
Fill all the Bowls at once, that we may joyn
In that most noble Pledge; let no Man have
Priority, or Place, in this last Scene,
But all unite in honour of the deed.
Vib.
Let us unite our Hands, as well as Hearts,
In this great Work: and since we are to part,
We'll part like Friends, lockt in a strict embrace.
(They embrace in a circle.
Magius enters as they are in the Ceremony.
Mag.
I must not be shut out. I come to be
Admitted to the gallant Fellowship
Of your great Enterprize. I hear you are
Determin'd and resolv'd.
(Servants give each Man a Bowl.
Give me a Cup
Among the rest.
5 Sen.
'Tis Poyson—
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Not to me.
Or if it shou'd be so, I come to dye.
6 Sen.
We'll show you then the way.
Mag.
I'm old, and weak,
And cannot follow fast, unless you stay,
To take me with you in your Company.
6 Sen.
We will.
Pac.
I'm sorry to see you reduc'd to dye.
Mag.
I'm sorry to see you reduc'd to live.
Pac.
That wou'd be poverty of Soul indeed.
'Tis, not so poor with me.
Mag.
I'm glad of it.
6 Sen.
Pacuvius has drank his cordial off.
Mag.
Secure me mine, and then at leisure, I
Will tell you the particulars at large,
Of what I went about; the Consuls doom;
And Capua's Fate—
(Servant gives Magius a Bowl, they all drink together.
But this delivers me.
5 Sen.
And all of us.
Blo.
Now we defy the Doom.
Pronounce it in the threatning Consuls words:
Tho it shou'd thunder from the judgment Seat,
It shakes not us. We have our Pardon seal'd.
Mag.
I was not suffer'd to approach their Camp,
But as a private Person, and a Friend.
They utterly refus'd the Prisoners,
Disdaining to receive 'em, as a Bribe.
And wou'd not hear me upon any terms,
That I cou'd offer; all I cou'd obtain,
Was to inform my self what they design'd
To do with us.
6 Sen.
It must be terrible.
Mag.
Why, Fourscore Senators are condemn'd to Death.
Three Hundred of our noblest families,
To be dispers'd into the Latin Towns,
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Our Treasure all confiscated to Rome, our Lands and publick Buildings forfeited:
Capua to be disfranchis'd of her Rights,
Her Liberties, and her chief Citizens:
The Populace by out-cry to be sold,
Into the several States of Italy;
And none permitted to inhabit here,
But Slaves made Free, Strangers, and meanest Trades:
Never to be incorporated more
In a Community, to have a Voice
In free Election of its Magistrates,
But live enthrall'd under the Scourge of Rome.
Vib.
More dreadful far than Fire, or Sword cou'd be.
Blo.
It had been Mercy to extirpate quite
The Name, and Memory of Capua.
Mag.
As to my self, 'tis true, they offer'd all,
All honourable terms for me, and mine.
But what is Honour, Fortune, when we have
No Friends, no Country, to rejoyce with us?
I cou'd not think of Life after that Loss,
Therefore came timely to prevent it here.
Pac.
O Magius! let me witness to the worth,
I always envy'd. We have rivall'd long
For Capua's Love; but this last act of yours
Has forc'd me to confess it was your due.
Has thrown all emulation so behind,
The Honour of the Race is wholly yours.
Had I proceeded with that openess,
With that clear Spirit, in my Countries cause—
Mag.
May be it had been better for us all.
This is no time for long Confessions.
If you have done amiss, amend it now:
And by the brave example of your Death,
Correct the influence of an ill spent Life.
Pac.
I've found this easie, honest way to Death:
The only way, my Friends, to vanquish Rome,
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And bear our selves the palm of Victory.
A Servant whispers Pacuvius, and gives him the Paper, that Junius left behind him.
Mag.
I thank the Gods I have liv'd long enough,
To all the reasonable ends of Life:
Liv'd to my Friends, my Country, and my Fame:
Have glutted Nature with satiety,
Tir'd all her various appetites of change.
And 'twou'd be an unmannerly return,
For my good cheer, and welcome of the Feast,
When I have sat it out, to grudge to rise.
Blo.
We are all ready now to take our leave.
Mag.
But one word more, and then I go with you.
(They support each other.
Pac.
She's Innocent, and well provided for.
Mag.
The Dead live after in the memory
Of those alive, so to be handed down,
Thro' all the Ages of Posterity,
As Tryers of their Fame; abhorr'd, or lov'd,
According to their good, or ill, in Life.
Pac.
I wou'd be mention'd only in my Death,
Mag.
Let it be said of us, we wou'd have dy'd
To save our Country; since we cou'd not that:
Nothing cou'd tempt us to survive its fate.
Now lay us gently down.
Enter a Messenger.
Vib.
What is thy News?
Mess.
Our Gates are open'd to the Enemy:
And Capua is no more.
Blo.
Wou'd it were so.
Better be nothing than be miserable.
Pac.
Thou com'st too late to do us good, or harm,
By any News that thou canst bring us now.
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I pity our poor Friends that stay behind.
Our Minds are going to their native home.
And for the earthy part—
Pac.
I've taken care.
When we are honourably laid in Death,
My Clients have their orders to bestow
Our Bodies on a Funeral Pile, that's rais'd
On purpose, to preserve our last remains.
Mag.
'Tis well, now kindle it, and we shall mount
Up to the Skies, in the aspiring Flame,
And live Immortal in a glorious Name,
(Dyes
FINIS.
| The Fate of Capua | |