 | The Fate of Capua |  |
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.
This Bowl I have reserv'd to crown the Feast.
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—
Mag.
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,
There to remain as Prisoners at large.
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,
To rob her Consuls of their Triumph here,
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.
Mag.
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
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.
70
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—
71
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,
72
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,
73
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.
74
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
| The Fate of Capua | |