University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Regulus, Attendants.
Regulus.
O no! it cannot be:—what, stay with Honour?
Avowing Perjury, to stay with Honour?
If Oaths be disregarded—Come Confusion;
Come wild Disorder, leading, by the Hand,
The Harlot Vice, disfeatur'd of Humanity,
And every social Grace—Hot Violation,
With Harpy-talon'd Rapine, close the Scene,
Razing all Virtue from the human Heart:—
I must return to Carthage:—Who comes yonder?—

Servant.
The great Metellus, Sir; our fam'd Pro-Consul,
Attended by a Croud of shouting Romans,
Just ent'ring Rome.

Regulus.
'Tis he by all my Hopes:—
It is a timely Meeting;—for I find
My Spirits faint—As if some unseen Pow'r
Had mingled Water with the Stream of Health,
And lower'd the rich Juice:—But see, he comes.