University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

The Piaza near the Palace.
Enter Uberto, Donato, Odo, Alidossa.
Don.
His Sons condemn'd!

Uber.
Doom'd to the Whip, and Ax.

Don.
What both of them?

Uber.
Both, Sir, both his Sons.

Don.
What Julio too?

Uber.
Yes, Sir, his darling Julio.
Nay tho' he knows him innocent as I am,
'Tis all one, Sir, his Sentence stands like Fate.

Don.
Yet I'll intreat him.

Odo.
So will I.

Al.
And I.

Uber.
Intreat him! Yes, my Lords, you may intreat him,
As I have done; he is no more a Man;
He is not cast in the same common Mould;
His Spirit moves not, with our Springs, and Wards,
But fir'd with a glorious Emulation
Of the old Roman Glory, stands unmov'd.

Odo.
What can be done then? For it grieves my Soul
To think of Julio's Loss.

Uber.
There is no help:
And yet I have engag'd the Mournful Mother
To plead the Cause of her Unhappy Sons.
Enter Julio, Hangmen, Guards, &c.
But see, O Heav'n! Behold the gallant Julio,
The Mirror of all Sons, the White of Virtue,
Fill'd up with Blots, and writ all ore with Blood,
Bowing with Shame, his Body to the Ground.
Oh! Julio! Is this possible? this Shame!

Jul.
Oh my Uberto! call it not my Shame!
By all the Pow'rs, it is to Julio Honour;
My constant Suff'rings, are my only Glory.
What have I left besides?
But Oh! far better shall I bear my Death,
The easier end of Pain, and of Dishonour.

Enter Teraminta wounded, and her Hair disheveled.
Ter.
Where is he? Where is this Godlike Son
Of an Inhumane, Barbarous, Bloody Father?
Oh! bear me to him!

Jul.
Ha! Teraminta!—
There wanted only this to fill my Woe!
Is't possible, the very Boast of Beauty
Defil'd, and mangled thus! What barbarous Wretch
Has thus blasphem'd this bright Original?

Ter.
For me it matters not, nor my Abuses;
But Oh! For thee! Why have they us'd thee thus?
The Glory of the World, thus basely us'd.
And did thy Father doom thee thus? Oh Julio!
Forgive thy dying Part, if she believes
A Wretch so barbarous ne'er cou'd be thy Father.

Jul.
Oh! this last Wound! this Stab to all my Courage!
Hadst thou been well, I cou'd have born more Lashes!
And is it thus my Father do's protect thee?

Ter.
Ah! Julio! What thy Murderer, my Protector?
No; Let me fall again among the People,
Rather, than he protect me!
Let me be hooted like a Common Strumpet,
Toss'd as I was, and dragg'd about the Streets;
The Crie of all the Blood-hounds that did hunt me,
Ev'n to this Goal of Death, as thy Seducer,
This happy End of all my Miseries!
Here to breath out my last, to Wash thy Gashes,
To wash thy streaming Wounds, with Farewel Tears,
To Murmur, Sob, and lean my Aking Head
On thy dear Breast, and there send forth my Soul.

Enter Honoria, and Matrons Mourners, &c.
Hon.
Come Ladies haste, and let us to the Senate,
For we by Heav'ns Permission, will to day,
Be part of the Assembly!—Oh! my Son!—
See here the bloody Justice of a Father!
See how his Vengeance rains on his own Bowels!
Is he not Mad?—If he refuse to hear us,
We'll bind his Hands, as one bereft of Reason.
Haste then,—Oh! Julio! I wou'd stay to Moan thee,
But that I fear his Orders are gone out
For something Worse; for Death!—to take the Heads
Of all the Kindred of these Wretched Women.

Ter.
Come then, I think, I have some Spirits left
To join thee, O! most Pious! best of Mothers!
To melt his Rocky Heart!—give me your Hand.—
Thus let us march before this wretched Hoast,
And offer to that God of Blood our Vows.
If there be ought that's Humane left within him,
Perhaps my Wounds, and horrible Abuses,
Help'd by the Tears, and Groans of this sad Troop,
May batter down the best of his Resolves.

Jul.
Hark, Teraminta!

Ter.
No, my Lord, away.

[Exeunt Women.
Jul.
Oh! my Uberto! Was there ever day
Through all the Legends of recorded Time,
So sad as this? But see my Father comes!
Enter Cosmo, follow'd by Lorenzo, Executioners, Guards, &c.
Lorenzo too has undergone the Lash,
Give him the Patience Heav'n of Martyr'd Julio,
And he will bless those Hands that have chastis'd him.

Lor.
Enjoy the bloody Conquest of thy Pride,
Thou barbarous Sire of these unhappy Sons!
Thou impious Saturn, or more black Thyestes:
This Cormorant sees, and owns us for his Sons
Yet preys upon us,
With Thirst of Blood, and Hunger fetch'd from Hell.
But end Barbarian, end thy horrid Vengeance,
Which thou so impiously hast begun.
Perfect thy Justice, as thou Tyrant call'st it,
Sit like a Fury, on thy black Tribunal,
Grasp, with thy monstrous Hands, these goary Heads,
And let thy flattering Orators adore thee,
For Triumphs, that Barbarians wou'd disown.

Cos.
Lead to the Palace.

Lor.
Go to the Palace then—
There make thy Boasts how thou hast doom'd thy Children
To Whips, and Ax, for which just Heav'n reward thee!
Away,—my Spirit scorns more Conference with thee.
The Ax will be as Laughter,—but the Whips,
That drew these Stains, for this—I begg of Heav'n,
With my last Breath, for every Drop, that falls
From these vile Wounds, to thunder Curses on thee.

[Exit Guarded.
Cos.
Uberto haste, the Senate does attend us.

[Exit cum suis.
Jul.
Uberto e'er you go, let me conjure you
By all the Earth holds honourable,
Grant to thy dying Julio one request.

Ub.
I'll grant thee any thing; but do not talk
Of dying Yet; for much I dare confide
In that sad Company, that's gone before.
I know they'll move him to preserve his Julio.
For tho' you mark'd him not, as hence he parted,
I cou'd perceive, with Joy, a silent Shour
Run down his Silver Beard.—Therefore I hope—

Jul.
Hope say'st thou? Oh! Heav'nly Powr's! hope Life!—
To live! to live! and after this Dishonour!
No, my Uberto, do not make me rave!
But if thou hast a Soul, that's sensible,
Let me conjure thee when we reach the Palace
To thrust me through the Heart.

Uber.
Not for the World.

Jul.
Do't or I swear thou hast no Friendship for me.
First, Thou wilt save me from the hated Ax,
The Hangman's Hands! for by yon Heav'n! I tell thee
Thou mayst, as well go stop the rapid Sun,
And drive him back, as turn my Father's Purpose.
Next, and what more my Soul intreats thee for,
I shall perhaps in Death procure his Pity;
For to die thus, beneath his killing Frown,
Is damning me before my Execution.

Uber.
I will consider.

Jul.
As you are Captain of the People,
The Law secures you in a Deed like this;
For Execution is your proper Province,
Tho still in Vulgar Fates to others 'tis deputed.

Uber.
'Tis granted!—By my Soul I swear to end thee.
For when I weigh, with my more serious Thought,
Thy Father's Conduct in this dreadful Justice,
And the Necessity of our State,
I find it is impossible to save thee.

Jul.
Let me clasp thee;
Boil out my Thanks, thus with my Farewell Spirits,—
[Embracing.
And now away,—the Taper's almost out,
Never, Uberto, to be lighted more—
Lead on then,—and don't forget thy Promise.

Exeunt Omnes.
Scene the Palace, the Senate Sitting.
Cosm.
Most awful Fathers, that my Sons are Traitors,
Their Tongues, and Hands are Witnesses confess'd;
Therefore I have already past their Sentence,
And wait with you to see their Execution.

Donat.
Cosmo, The Senate do not ask their Deaths,
They are content with what's already done,
And all intreat, you wou'd remit the Ax.

Cos.
I thank you Fathers, but refuse the Favour.
By the Assaulted Majesty of Florence,
I swear there is no way to quit the Grace,
To right the Common-wealth, attone just Heav'n,
But by the Sacrificing of my Sons.
Take then, ye sad Revengers of the Publick,
These Traitors hence, strike off their Heads, and then,
My Sons,—no more,—their Doom is past—away;—
Thus we shall stop the Course of curs'd Sedition,
When none is safe by being great, if Guilty.
O! Reverend Fathers! 'tis on this Foundation,
Florence shall build her future Peace and Safety.

Don.
Excellent Cosmo, the Senate thank thee.

Enter Honoria, Teraminta, with the rest of the Mourners, follow'd by Uberto, Julio, &c. and Cosmo, a little Boy in Arms.
Hono.

Cos.
Away and leave me,

Hon.
Or if you think it better for your Purpose,
Because he has the Pow'r of Life, and Death,
Entreat him thus, throw all your heartless Breasts
Low at his Feet, and like a God adore him;
[All Kneel.
Nay, make a Rampier round him, with your Bodies,
And block him up. I see he wou'd be going;—
Yet that's a Sign, that our Complaints have mov'd him.
Continu'd falls of ever streaming Tears,
Such, and so many of the chastest too
Of all the Pious Matrons throughout Florence,
Perhaps may melt his Adamantine Temper.—
Not yet; nay hang your Bodies then upon him,
Some on his Arms, and some upon his Knees,
And lay this Innocent about his Neck,
This little smiling Image of his Father,
See how he Bends, and Stretches to his Bosom,
Oh! all ye pittying Pow'rs! the Darling weeps,
His prety Eyes, Ruddy, and Wet with Tears,
Plead for our Griefs, more than, a Thousand Tongues.

Cos.
What hoa! without there: Are my Orders heard?

Don.
Oh! Cosmo see! they are too well perform'd!
See there the Bodies of the Guilty Youths!
All headless by thy Doom! and here Lorenzo's!

Tera.
See, Sir! Behold! is not this horrid Slaughter,
This cutting off one Limb from your own Body
Enough to satisfy the most bloody Law?
Oh! turn your Eyes! Oh! turn a Father's Eyes
On my poor Guiltless Julio!

Cos.
I must not hear you.

Ter.
Oh! indeed you must,
Not hear the Voice of Nature? that were impious;
Not spare the guiltless? that were most unjust.
[Going to Julio.
Look here my Lord, Oh! see his gushing Blood!
Enough to expiate Ten thousand Crimes,
Oh! Surely then for a Mistake too much!

Cos.
Hark Uberto.

Ter.
Oh! Julio! joyn thy Prayers, and Tears mith mine.
[Turning to Julio.
For my sake Julio; if thou dost not hate me
Or wou'dst relieve me from the worst of Racks!
Oh! Sir! Oh! Cruel Cosmo! I implore you
[Turning to Cosmo.
By all these Wounds upon my Virgin Breast,
Which I have suffer'd by your Cruelty,
Altho' you promis'd Julio to defend me,
Spare him, and I forgive it all!

Cos.
Observe my Order.

Ter.
Or if your Justice still requires more Lives,
Take mine, take mine, for only I am Guilty!
'Twas I betraid him to this fatal Error.
Oh! that I'd perish'd by a Thousand Daggers,
By Scourges, Racks, variety of Torments,
Ere to that Tryal by my Fears betraid.

Jul.
Have Patience, my Dear Love, all will be well.

Ter.
Patience! I would have none! Let Grief and Rage
Swell to th'enormous Height of wild Distraction.
[To Cosmo.]
Oh! false pretender to the Name of Justice!
Why? for my Crime wilt thou destroy thy Son?
Oh! Strike, Strike me, ye Ministers of Fate,
Transfix my Heart! or rack me a whole Age,
But save the best of Men, by me, by me undone!
[Turning to the Hangmen, &c.
But if in spight of Nature, and of Reason,
Turning to Cosmo.]
Julio must die! Oh! kill me first in Mercy,
Nor rack me e'er I perish with his Death!
Oh! Julio! Julio!

[Turning to Julio, and leaning on his Arm.
Jul.
Oh! Teraminta! this is worse than Death!

Honor.
Yet hold thy bloody Hand Tyrannic Cosmo,
And I'll forgive thee for my lost Lorenzo.
Grant me my Julio, Oh! in Death I ask thee,
Thou hast already broke Honoria's Heart,
Yet I will pardon that if Julio live.
Ah! cruel Judge! Ah pityless Avenger!
What art thou Whispering? Speak out the Horror,
For in thy Glowing Eyes I read a Murder.

Cos.
I charge thee by thy Oath Uberto,
As thou art here deputed by high Heaven,
And not a Subject of a Woman's Folly,
Take him away, and drag him to the Ax.

Uber.
It shall be thus then, not the Hangman's Hands.

[Runs him through, the Women Shriek, Honoria Swoons.
Jul.
Thou'st kept thy Word, my Friend,
And with my latest Breath I give thee thanks.

Cos.
Take hence this Woman; haste, and bear her home;
Why my Uberto didst thou rob my Justice?

Jul.
I wrought him to it, Sir, that thus in Death
I might have leave to pay my last Obedience,
And beg your Blessing for another World.

Ter.
Oh! do not take it Julio! Whate'er comes
From such a Monstrous Nature, must be blasting.
Ah! thou inhumane Tyrant!—But alas!
I loiter here when Julio waits for me,
Look here my Love, thou shalt not be before me,
[Stabs her self.
Thus to thy Arms then,—Oh! make haste my Julio,
I'm got already in the Grove of Death;
Oh!—I grope about, but cannot find thee.—

[Dies.
Jul.
I come thou matchless Virtue! Oh! my Heart!
Farewel, my Love! we'll meet again in Heav'n:
My Lord, I hope your Justice is atton'd.

Cos.
Thou hast so nobly born thy self in dying,
That not to Bless thee were to Curse my self,
Therefore I give thee thus my last Embrace.
Print this last Kiss upon his trembling Lips.—
So,—for I see thou'rt gone,—farewel for ever.
Th'eternal Pow'rs, to whom such Virtue's dear,
Reward, and Crown thee in another World.

Jul.
What Happiness has Life to equal this?
By yon bright Orb I would not live again.
To fall thus crown'd by Virtues fullest Wreaths,
And die thus blest in such a Fathers Arms.

Uber.
He's gon, the Gallant Spirit's fled for ever.

Cos.
Captain no more.—Let us not soil the Pomp
Of this Majestick Fate, with Woman's Wailings.
But hear me O ye Florentines!
What I have done to them, do you to me,
When I like them shall dare offend my Country.
All private Passions, and all ties of Blood,
We ought to offer to the Publick Good.