University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

The Curtain draws, and discovers Emilia, and Fulvia in Emilia's Apartment.
Emil.
When I behold this Cæsar, this Augustus,
Amidst the Pomp of his Imperial Glory,
Grief and Resentment then reproach my Mem'ry,
That his ungrateful Hand proscrib'd Toranius,
His faithful Tutor, and my tender Father,
To make his first Advance to mount this Throne.
Abandon'd then to my impetuous Rage,
I meditate a thousand Deaths on Cæsar,
Yet in the transports of a Wrath so just,
I Cinna love, more than I hate Augustus,
And I perceive the boyling Motions cool,
When to pursue 'em I expose a Lover,
When on the frightful Dangers I reflect,
On which I may precipitate my Cinna,
My self I irritate against my self;
For tho' his Love all Danger may despise,
Emilia shou'd consider ev'ry Fate
That threatens Subjects, when they strike at Kings.
Th'Event is doubtful; but the Danger certain.
A dastard, envious, or a faithless Friend,
May sacrifice the Cause, and Cinna's Life;
The Manner ill concerted, ill perform'd,
Or Opportunity not rightly taken,
Against my Cinna's Breast may turn the Blow,
At Cæsar destin'd—

Fulv.
Madam, strive to quell
This fatal Rage of Vengeance—O! no more
Indulge a Hate, that ev'ry Moment drowns
Your Eyes, and gives your Heart such stabbing Fears.

Emil.
But, can I fear? or shou'd I stoop to weep?
While greatly I revenge a Father's Blood.
Can I regret the Price by which his Death
I may retaliate on his Murtherer?
Banish, Emilia, banish the strong Terrors,
That seize, that wou'd debase thy Roman Soul:
And thou, O soft'ning Love! whose tender Pow'r,
Has rais'd this rending Tumult in my Heart,
Combat no more my Virtue, but obey,
And to its glorious Dictates be subservient.
Be gen'rous Love, and to my Duty yield;
Thou canst not conquer here, but to thy Shame.
Yes, I have sworn it Fulvia, and again,
Tho' I love Cinna, yes, tho' I adore him,
Again repeat, confirm my sacred Oath,
That Cinna never shall possess Emilia,
Till, by his Hand, this King by me proscrib'd
Shall perish; yes, his mounted Head alone,
Laid low a Victim to my just Revenge,
Shall bless the Hopes of Cinna's fervent Vows.
The Law my Duty has impos'd on me
I give to him.

Fulv.
Madam, the Sentiments
You from your Duty form, are truly Roman.
Your great Design must ever make you deem'd
Worthy the Blood of him you wou'd revenge;
Yet once again permit me to intreat,
That you wou'd moderate your just Resentment.
Those envy'd Favours, Cæsar ev'ry Day
Confers on you, seem to repair those Ills
Which once you suffer'd from his fatal Hand.
Your Pow'r at Court appears so much declar'd,
That they who share the most in Cæsar's Smiles,
Kneeling to you their humble Suits prefer.

Emil.
Can Benefits revive my slaughter'd Father?
In whatsoever State I am consider'd,
In Wealth abounding, or in Credit pow'rful,
I still remain the Child of one proscrib'd.
From Cæsar's lavish Hand I ev'ry Hour
Receive, but am not soften'd with his Bounties;
No! still my Hate and Courage are the same,
And more, my Pow'r to compass my Design.
In such a Cause, depriv'd of open Means,
Tho' 'gainst my Benefactor I conspire,
Treason is glorious; and I sell my Father,
If meanly yielding to the Grace of Cæsar,
I leave my Parent's Murther unreveng'd.

Fulv.
But will you let the World insult your Name,
With the detested Epithet, Ungrateful?
Indulge your Grief, and hate in private rather.
Thousands besides Emilia still retain
The sad Impression of those Cruelties,
By which the Tyrant has confirm'd his Throne.
The many daring and illustrious Romans,
That fell a Sacrifice to his Ambition,
Have to their Children left a brooding Grief,
Which must produce, on this detested Cæsar,
A general Revenge for all his Crimes.
Numbers of bold and enterprizing Spirits
Have vow'd the Deed, and thousands more will follow.
Who can live long that is the common Grievance?
Embark your Int'rest with the publick Cause;
But aid it only with your secret Wishes.

Emil.
Shall I attend from Chance the mortal Blow,
And satisfie the pressing Calls of Duty
With bashful Hate, and with obscure Revenge?
The Death of Cæsar wou'd be bitter to me,
If he to any Cause a Victim fell,
But my Revenge;—
Yet to the Pleasure of a filial Vengeance,
I'll joyn the Glory gain'd by killing Tyrants,
And Rome shall through all Italy proclaim,
Emilia's Vengeance set the Romans free:
Her Soul was touch'd with Pity, and her Heart
Pierc'd deep with Love; but at that Price alone,
She yielded to that Love.—

Fulv.
O fatal Passion!
That drives your Lover on to certain Ruin.
Think better to what Dangers you expose him,
How many on this Rock have split already.

Emil.
Forbear, alas!—My Soul's most tender Part;
Let Fulvia's Friendship cease to wound in vain.
When Fear for Cinna's Life invades my Heart,
Love triumphs o'er the faint Efforts of Duty;
But when Rome's Fetters,—when my Father's Murther,
Upbraid Emilia's tame, relenting Spirit,
Love's gentle Flame submits to fierce Revenge.
Thou shew'st the Dangers great—I own 'em great;
Yet what we venture is not always lost.
Tho' Cæsar were amidst a thousand Legions,
Not all the Caution, Fear or Guilt may give him,
Can guard his Life from Cinna's daring Hand,
When Love and Honour urge the glorious Deed.
'Tis Virtue's, 'tis my Glory's Enterprise,
And whether Cinna or Augustus perish,
I to the Manes of Toranius owe
This Sacrifice, which Cinna vow'd to me,
When, in return, I gave my plighted Faith,
Of which this Blow alone can make him worthy.
Besides it is too late to stagger now,
This fatal Day they meet, this Day determine
The Place, the Hour, the Hand—I know the worst;
If Cinna falls, Emilia follows him—
This is the usual Hour in which the Empress
Receives her Morning Court—

Fulv.
But Cinna promis'd,
That ere an Hour were pass'd, he'd find you here.

Emil.
If I omit to make my Court to Livia,
She, as a Favour, sends to know the Cause
That makes me fail, and what can I pretend
To her; if Cinna's Visit I receive—
We'll only show our selves, and strait return.—

[Exeunt.