University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

Roman camp.
Enter Junius, Curius, and Decius.
Decius.
We dare not hazard it; beside our lives,
It forfeits all our understandings.

Jun.
Gentlemen,
Can ye forsake me in so just a service,
A service for the commonwealth, for honour?
Read but the letter; you may love too.

Dec.
Read it.
If there be any safety in the circumstance,
Or likelihood 'tis love, we will not fail you:
Read it, good Curius.

Cur.
Willingly.

Jun.
Now mark it.

Cur.
[reading.]
“Health to thy heart, my honour'd Junius,
“And all thy love requited! I am thine,
“Thine everlastingly; thy love has won me;
“For I have purpos'd a delivery
“Both of myself and fortune this bless'd day
“Into thy hands, if thou think'st good. To shew thee
“How infinite my love is, ev'n my mother
“Shall be thy prisoner, the day yours without hazard.
“Bring with thee, Junius,
“Spirits resolv'd to fetch me off. Just at the joining
“Of both the battles, we will be weakly guarded;
“And for a guide, within this hour, shall reach thee
“A faithful friend of mine. The gods, my Junius,
“Keep thee, and me to serve thee! Young Bonvica.”

Cur.
This letter carries much belief.

Dec.
Is that fellow
Come to you for a guide yet?

Jun.
Yes.

Dec.
And examin'd?

Jun.
Far more than that; he has felt tortures, yet
He vows he knows no more than this truth.

Cur.
If she mean
What she writes, as it may be probable,
'Twill be the happiest vantage we can lean to.

Jun.
I'll pawn my soul she means truth.

Dec.
Think an hour more;
Then if your confidence grow stronger on you,
We'll set in with you.

Jun.
Nobly done! I thank ye.
Ye know the time.

Cur.
We will be either ready
To give you present counsel, or join with you.

Jun.
No more, as ye are gentlemen. The general!

To them enter Suetonius, Petillius, Demetrius, and Macer.
Suet.
Draw out apace; the enemy waits for us.
Are ye all ready?

Jun.
All our troops attend, Sir.

Suet.
I'm glad to hear you say so, Junius;
I hope you're dispossess'd.

Jun.
I hope so too, Sir.

Suet.
Continue so. And, gentlemen, to you now!
Go on in full assurance! draw your swords
As daring and as confident as Justice!
The Gods of Rome fight for ye; loud Fame calls ye,
Pitch'd on the topless Apennine, where the snow dwells,
And blows to all the under-world, all nations,
The seas and unfrequented desarts; wakens
The ruin'd monuments; and there where nothing
But eternal Death and Sleep is, informs again
The dead bones with your virtues. Fight and conquer!
Up to your troops, and let your drums beat thunder;
March close and sudden, like a tempest: [March.
Keep your phalanx,
And so march like a moving fort. Ere this day run,
We shall have ground to add to Rome, well won.

[Exeunt.
A Druid Temple.
Musick. Enter in solemnity the Druids singing; then Bonduca, Daughters, Caratach, Nennius, and others.
SONG.
Hear us, great Ruguith, hear our prayers!
Defend, defend thy British isle,
Revive our hopes, disperse our fears,
Nor let thy altars be the Roman spoil!
Descend, ye pow'rs divine, descend
In chariots of etherial flame,
And touch the altars you defend!
Oh, save our nation and our name!
Hear us, ye Gods of Britain, hear us this day:
Let us not fall the Roman Eagle's prey!
Clip, clip their wings, or chase them home,
And check the tow'ring pride of Rome!

Bond.
Ye powerful gods of Britain, hear our prayers!
Rise from the dust, ye relicks of the dead,
Whose noble deeds our holy Druids sing;
Oh, rise, ye valiant bones! let not base earth
Oppress your honours, whilst the pride of Rome
Treads on your stocks, and wipes out all your stories!

1 Daugh.
Thou great Tiranes, whom our sacred priests,
Armed with dreadful thunder, place on high
Above the rest of the immortal gods,
Send thy consuming fires and deadly bolts,
And shoot 'em home; stick in each Roman heart
A fear fit for confusion; blast their spirits,
Dwell in 'em to destruction; thro' their phalanx
Strike, as thou strik'st a proud tree!

2 Daugh.
Oh, thou god,
Thou feared god, if ever to thy justice
Insulting wrongs, and ravishments of women,
With virgin incense, have access, now hear me!
Now snatch thy thunder up, now on these Romans
Revenge thyself; take to thy killing anger,
An utter rooting from this blessed isle
Of what Rome is or has been! Can ye be gods,
And these sins smother'd?

Car.
Cease your fretful prayers,
Your whinings, and your tame petitions!
The gods love courage: Hear how I salute em:
Divine Andate, thou who holdst the reins
Of furious battles,and disorder'd war,
Give us this day good hearts, good enemies,
Good blows o' both sides; steel us both with angers
And warlike executions fit thy viewing;
Let Rome put on her best strength, and thy Britain,
Thy little Britain, but as great in fortune,
Meet her as strong as she! And who does best,
Reward with honour; who Despair makes fly,
Unarm for ever, and brand with infamy!
Grant this, divine Andate! 'tis but justice:
And my first blow thus on thy holy altar
I sacrifice unto thee.

[A flame arises.
Bond.
It flames out.

[Musick.
Car.
Now sing, ye Druids.

[Druids.]
DUET.
To arms, to arms! your ensigns strait display:
Now, now, now, set the battle in array.
The oracle for war declares;
Success depends upon our hearts and spears.
CHORUS.
Britons, strike home! Revenge your country's wrongs:
Fight, and record yourselves in Druids' songs!

[Exe.
Champain Country.
Enter Caratach and Nennius.
[A march.
Nen.
The Roman is advanc'd; from yond' hill's brow
We may behold him, Caratach.

Car.
Let's thither.
[Drums within at one place afar off.
Suetonius is a soldier. See how bravely
The body moves, and in the head how proudly
The captains stick like plumes; he comes apace on.
Good Nennius, go, and bid my stout lieutenant
Bring on the first square body to oppose 'em,
And, as he charges, open to inclose 'em;
The queen move next with hers, and wheel about,
To gain their backs, in which I'll lead the vanguard!
We shall have bloody crowns this day, I see by't.
Haste thee, good Nennius! I hear our musick,
[Exit Nennius. Drums in another place afar off.
And must attend it. Hold, good sword, but this day,
And bite hard where I hound thee! and hereafter
I'll make a relick of thee, for young soldiers
To come like pilgrims to, and kiss for conquests.

[Exit.
Alarms. Enter the Two Daughters, with Junius, Curius, Decius, Soldiers, and Servants.
2 Daugh.
Bring 'em in;
Tie 'em, and then unarm 'em.

1 Daugh.
Valiant Romans,
Ye're welcome to your loves!

2 Daugh.
Your death, fools!

Dec.
We deserve 'em;
And, women, do your worst!

Enter Caratach.
Car.
Where,
Where are these ladies? Ye keep noble quarter!
Your mother thinks you taken.—Sure these faces
I have beheld and known; they're Roman leaders!
How came they here?

2 Daugh.
A trick, Sir, that we us'd;
A certain policy conducted 'em
Unto our snare.

Car.
Taken by treachery?
Catch'd up by craft?

2 Daugh.
By any means that's lawful.

Car.
A woman's wisdom in our triumphs? Out!
Out, out, ye follies! From our swords
Filch our revenges basely?—Arm again, gentlemen!
Soldiers, I charge ye help 'em.

2 Daugh.
By Heaven, Uncle,
We will have vengeance!

Car.
He that stirs to execute,
Or she, tho' it be yourselves,
Shall feel mine anger! One great day given us,
And must we shame the gods from whence we have it,
With setting snares for soldiers?
Give 'em their swords.

2 Daugh.
Oh, Gods!

Car.
Bear off the women
Unto their mother!—Learn to spin,
[Exe. Daughters.
And curse your knotted hemp!—Go, gentlemen,
Safely go off, up to your troops; be wiser:
There thank me like tall soldiers; I shall seek ye.

[Exit.
Cur.
A noble worth!

Dec.
Well, Junius?

Jun.
Pray ye, no more!

Cur.
He blushes; do not load him.

Dec.
Where's your love now?

Jun.
Puff! there it flies. Come, let's redeem our follies.
But see there, Curius, see,
[Drums loud again.
See that huge battle moving from the mountains!
Their gilt coats shine like dragons' scales, their march
Like a rough tumbling storm; say they fail, look,
Look where the armed carts stand; a new army!
Look how they hang like falling rocks! As murdering
Death rides in triumph, Curius, fell Destruction
Lashes his fiery horse, and round about him
His many thousand ways to let out souls.
Let us to where they charge, and where the mountains
Melt under their hot wheels, and from their ax'trees
Huge claps of thunder plough the ground before 'em!
Come on! charge! follow me!

[Exeunt. Alarm.
Enter Suetonius, Petillius, Demetrius, and Macer.
Suet.
Oh, bravely fought!
Honour till now ne'er shew'd her golden face
I'th' field: Like lions, gentlemen, you've held
Your heads up this day. Where's young Junius,
Curius, and Decius!

Pet.
Gone to Heav'n, I think, Sir.

Suet.
Their worths go with 'em! Breathe a while. How do ye?

Pet.
Well; some few scurvy wounds; my heart's whole yet.

Enter Junius, Decius, and Curius.
Jun.
Lead up to th'head, and line sure! The queen's battle
Begins to charge like wildfire. Where's the general?

Suet.
Oh, they are living yet. Come, my brave soldiers,
Live, and lead armies all! Ye bleed hard.

Jun.
Best;
We shall appear the sterner to the foe.

Dec.
More wounds, more honour.

Pet.
Lose no time. We'll grow to't.
Is not this better now than lowsy loving?

Jun.
I am myself, Petillius.

Pet.
'Tis I love thee.

Suet.
Away then!
And stand this shock, ye've stood the world.

[Exeunt.
Alarm. Enter Bonduca, Daughters, and Britons.
Bond.
Shame! whither fly ye, Britons? Back, ye cowards!
Leave your queen desolate? her hapless children
Enter Caratach and Hengo.
To Roman rape again, and fury?

Car.
Charge 'em i'th' flank!—Oh, you have play'd the fool,
The woman fool! Why did you give the word
Unto the carts to charge down, and our people,
In gross before the enemy? We pay for't;
Our own swords cut our throats! Get thee gone, woman!
Shame tread upon thy heels! All's lost, all's lost!
[Loud shout within.
Hark how the Romans ring our knells!

Bond.
Nay, cousin!

Car.
Woman, away! Shame tread upon thy heels!

[Exeunt Bond. &c.
Hengo.
Good uncle,
Let me go too.

Car.
No, boy; thy fortune's mine;
I must not leave thee. Get behind me; shake not!
Thou might'st have been the heir to Britain's crown.
Oh, woman! oh, Bonduca! what fell curses
This day belong to thy improvidence!
To Britain, by thy means, what sad millions
Of widows' weeping eyes! The strong man's valour
Thou hast betray'd to fury, the child's fortune
To fear, and want of friends; whose pieties
Might wipe his mournings off, and build his sorrows
A house of rest by his bless'd ancestors:
The land th'hast left a wilderness of wretches.—
We must be gone, my boy; but Heav'n knows where;
For Britain now submits to Roman pow'rs,
And nothing but our lengths of earth are ours.

[Exeunt.