 | Bonduca |  |
35
ACT V.
A wood.Caratach, Hengo by him sleeping.
Caratach.
Thus we afflicted Britons fly for safeties,
And to avoid our dangers, seek destructions;
Thus we awake to sorrows.
The boy begins to stir; thy safety made,
'Would my soul were in Heav'n!
Hengo.
Oh, noble uncle,
Look out! I dream'd we were betray'd.
Car.
No harm, boy.
[A soft dead march within.
Hengo.
What are those,
(Look, uncle, look!) those multitudes that march there?
They come upon us stealing by.
Car.
I see 'em;
And prithee be not fearful.
Hengo.
Now you hate me:
'Would I were dead!
Car.
Thou know'st I love thee dearly.
Hengo.
Did I e'er shrink yet, uncle? Were I a man now,
I should be angry with you.
Enter Drusius, Regulus, and Soldiers, with Penius's hearse; drums and colours.
Car.
My sweet chicken!—
See, they approach us; and, as it seems, they bear
Some soldier's body; by their solemn gestures,
And sad solemnities, it well appears too
To be of eminence. We are perhaps unknown,
And may enquire.—Most worthy soldiers,
Let me entreat your knowledge to inform me
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With such a sad and ceremonious grief,
As if ye meant to wooe the world and Nature
To be in love with death?
Sold.
It is the body
Of the great captain Penius, by himself
Made cold and spiritless.
Car.
Penius, that generous foe? Oh, stay, ye Romans!
The name of Penius is most dear to me,
To me his memory for ever sacred.
Stay, I conjure you, for a moment stay!
By the religion which ye owe those gods
That lead ye on to victories!
Drus.
Stay.—
What's thy will, Briton?
Car.
But set down the body,
The body of the noblest of all Romans;
That with your griefs an enemy may mingle,
(A noble enemy, that loves a soldier)
And lend a tear to Virtue! Ev'n your foes,
Your wild foes, as you call'd us, are yet stor'd
With fair affections, our hearts fresh, our spirits,
Tho' sometime stubborn, yet, when Virtue dies,
Soft and relenting as a virgin's prayers:
Oh, set it down!
Drus.
Set down the body, soldiers.
Car.
Thou hallow'd relick, thou rich diamond
Cut with thine own dust; thou for whose wide fame
The world appears too narrow; thus I bow
To thy most honour'd ashes! Tho' an enemy,
Yet friend to all thy worths, sleep peaceably!
Happiness crown thy soul, and in thy earth
Some laurel fix his seat, there grow and flourish,
And make thy grave an everlasting triumph!
Farewell all glorious wars, now thou art gone,
And honest arms adieu! All noble battles,
Maintain'd in thirst of honour, not of blood,
Farewell for ever!
Hengo.
Was this Roman, uncle,
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Car.
Thou never knew'st thy father.
Hengo.
He died 'fore I was born.
Car.
This worthy Roman
Was such another piece of endless honour,
Such a brave soul dwelt in him; their proportions
And faces were not much unlike, boy. Excellent nature!
See how it works into his eyes! mine own boy!
Hengo.
The multitudes of these men, and their fortunes,
Could never make me fear yet; one man's goodness—
Car.
Oh, now thou pleasest me; weep still, my child,
As if thou saw'st me dead! with such a flux
Or flood of sorrow, still thou pleasest me.
And, worthy soldiers, pray receive these pledges,
These hatchments of our griefs, and grace us so much
To place 'em on his hearse. Now, if ye please,
Bear off the noble burden;
And ever-loved, ever-living be
Thy honour'd and most sacred memory!
[Exeunt. A dead march.
Car.
Now dry thine eyes, my boy.
Hengo.
Are they all gone?
I could have wept this hour yet.
Car.
Come, take cheer,
And raise thy spirit, child; if but this day
Thou canst bear out thy faintness, the night coming
I'll fashion our escape.
Hengo.
Pray fear not me;
Indeed I'm very hearty.
Car.
Be so still;
His mischiefs lessen, that controuls his ill.
[Exeunt.
The Queen's Fort.
Enter Suetonius, Junius, Decius, Demetrius, Curius, and Soldiers: Bonduca, two Daughters, and Nennius above. Drum and colours.
Suet.
Bring up the catapults, and shake the wall;
38
Jun.
See, Sir,
See the Icenian queen in all her glory,
From the strong battlements proudly appearing,
As if she meant to give us lashes!
Dec.
Yield, queen.
Bond.
I'm unacquainted with that language, Roman.
Bring up your catapults, and shake the earth,
You cannot shake our souls. Bring up your rams,
And with their armed heads make the fort totter,
Ye do but rock us into death.
Suet.
Yield, honour'd lady, and expect our mercy;
You cannot 'scape our strength; you must yield, lady;
You must adore and fear the power of Rome.
Bond.
If Rome be earthly, why should any knee
With bending adoration worship her?
She's vicious; and 'tis fitter I should reverence
The thatched houses where the Britons dwell
In careless mirth; where the bless'd houshold gods
See nought but chaste and simple purity.
Suet.
Beat the wall deeper!
Bond.
Beat it to the centre,
We will not sink one thought.
2 Daugh.
Oh, mother, these are fearful hours; speak gently
To these fierce men, they will afford ye pity.
Bond.
Pity? thou fearful girl! Wouldst thou live less?
Wast not thou born a princess?
The lives of kings rest in their diadems,
And ceasing to be kings, they cease to live.
Shew such another fear, and, by the Gods,
I'll fling thee to their fury.
Suet.
Once more, mercy,
Mercy to all that yield!
Bond.
I scorn to answer:
Speak to him, girl; and, weak one, hear thy sister.
1 Daugh.
General,
Hear me, and mark me well, and look upon me;
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Into my soul, and see what there inhabits:
The children of as great as Rome, as noble,
Our names before her, and our deeds her envy,
Must we gild o'er your conquest? swell your triumph?
No, no, ye Romans, we have ways to scape ye,
To make ye curse our patience.
We'll make our monuments in spite of fortune;
In spite of all your eagles' wings, we'll work
A pitch above ye; and from our height we'll stoop
As if we prey'd on heartless doves.
Suet.
Decius, go charge the breach.
[Exit Decius.
Bond.
Charge it home, Roman!—
Bring up the swords, and poison.
Enter one with swords and a great cup.
Behold us, Romans!
Suet.
Mercy yet.
Yield, and be a queen still, a mother, and a friend.
2 Daugh.
Mercy, mother!
Bond.
Oh, gods! fear in my family?
Take it, and nobly.
1 Daugh.
Take it, worthy sister;
'Tis nothing; 'tis a pleasure: We'll go with you.
2 Daugh.
Oh, if I knew but whither!
1 Daugh.
To the blessed.
2 Daugh.
That steels me;
A long farewell to this world!
[Takes the cup.
1 Daugh.
The next is mine. Would ye learn
How to die bravely, Romans, to fling off
This case of flesh, lose all your cares for ever?
Live as we have done, well, and fear the gods;
So shall ye learn the noblest part, to die.
Bond.
Spoke like my daughter!—Here, ye wretched Romans,
Here is a draught would ask no less than Cæsar
40
Suet.
Make up your own conditions.
Stay! Be any thing.
Bond.
A saint, Suetonius,
When thou shalt fear, and die a slave. Ye fools,
Ye should have tied up death first, when ye conquer'd;
Ye toil for us in vain else: See him here;
He's ours still, and our friend.—I feel the poison.
[Drinks.
Poor vanquish'd Romans, with what matchless tortures
Could I now rack ye! But I pity ye;
Nay, I will give ye counsel ere I die:
If you will keep your laws and empire whole,
Place in your Roman flesh a Briton soul.
[Scene closes.
Suet.
Desperate and strange!
Are those come in yet, that pursued bold Caratach?
Dem.
Not yet, Sir, for I think they mean to lodge him.
Suet.
Draw out three companies,
Yours, Curius, Junius, and thou, Demetrius,
And make up instantly to Caratach;
He's in the wood before you; we shall follow.
Enter Decius.
Well, Decius?
Decius.
The fort is won, the Britons
Taken or put to th'sword, the queen Bonduca
And both her Daughters self-destroy'd by poison.
Suet.
Hapless Bonduca! give her fair funeral;
For she was truly noble, and a queen.
[Flourish. Exe.
Open Country. Macer and Petillius meeting.
Pet.
How now, Macer?
Is Judas yet come in?
Enter Judas.
Macer.
Yes, and has lost
Most of his men too. Here he is.
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What news?
Judas.
I've lodg'd him; rouse him, he that dares!
Pet.
Where, Judas?
Judas.
On a steep rock i'th' woods; the boy too with him;
And there he swears he'll keep his Christmas, gentlemen,
But he will come away with full conditions,
Bravely, and like a Briton. He paid part of us;
Yet I think we fought bravely: For mine own part,
I was four several times at half-sword with him;
He's a mere devil, and no man. I'th' end, he swing'd us,
And swing'd us soundly too: He fights by witchcraft;
Yet for all that I saw him lodg'd.
Pet.
Take more men,
And scout him round. Macer, march you along.
What victuals has he?
Judas.
Not a piece of biscuit,
Not so much as will stop a tooth, nor water.
They lie just like a brace of bear-whelps, close; and crafty,
Sucking their fingers for their food.
Pet.
Cut off then
All hope of that way; take sufficient forces.
But use no foul play, on your lives! that man
That does him mischief by deceit, I'll kill him.
Macer.
He shall have fair play; he deserves it.
Judas.
Hark ye!
What should I do there then? You are brave captains,
Most valiant men: Go up yourselves; use virtue;
See what will come on't; pray the gentleman
To come down, and be taken. Ye all know him;
I think ye've felt him too: There ye shall find him,
His sword by's side, plumbs of a pound weight by him,
Will make your chaps ache: You'll find it a more labour
To win him living, than climbing of a crow's nest.
Pet.
Away, and compass him, we shall come up,
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Macer.
He shall flee thro' the air, if he escape us.
[Exeunt severally.
Scene changes, and discovers Caratach and Hengo on a rock.
Car.
Sleep still, sleep sweetly, child; 'tis all thou feed'st on!—
No gentle Briton near, no valiant charity,
To bring thee food? Poor knave, thou'rt sick, extreme sick,
Almost grown wild for meat; and yet thy goodness
Will not confess, nor shew it. All the woods
Are double lin'd with soldiers; no way left us
To make a noble 'scape. I'll forage for thee,
And, 'gainst thou wak'st, either get meat to save thee,
Or lose my life i'th' purchase. Good Gods comfort thee!
[Disappears.
Enter Macer and Judas, with meat and a bottle.
Macer.
Hang it o'th' side o'th' rock, as tho' the Britons
Stole hither to relieve him: Who first ventures
To fetch it off, is ours. I cannot see him.
Judas.
He lies close in a hole above, I know it,
Gnawing upon his anger. Ha! no; 'tis not he.
Macer.
'Tis but the shaking of the boughs.
Judas.
Pox shake 'em!
I'm sure they shake me soundly.—There!
Macer.
'Tis nothing.
Judas.
Make no noise; if he stir, a deadly tempest
Of huge stones falls upon's. 'Tis done! away, close!
[Exeunt.
Re-enter Caratach to Hengo on the rock.
Car.
Courage, my boy! I have found meat.
Hengo.
Oh, uncle,
My head swims, uncle! methinks the rock goes round.
Car.
'Tis but thy emptiness that breeds these fancies;
Thou shalt have meat anon. Look, look, my Hengo,
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Has hung a little food and drink: Cheer up, boy;
Do not forsake me now!
Hengo.
Uncle, I'm heart-whole, and would live.
Car.
Thou shalt, long I hope.
Hengo.
But my head, uncle!
Enter Macer and Judas, below.
Do not you hear the noise of bells?
Car.
Of bells, boy? 'Tis thy fancy;
Alas, thy body's full of wind.
Hengo.
Methinks, Sir,
They ring a strange sad knell, a preparation
To some near funeral of state. Oh, uncle,
I feel I cannot stay long; yet I'll fetch it,
To save your noble life. Nay, weep not, uncle,
Mine own sweet uncle! you will kill me sooner.
Car.
Oh, my poor chicken!
Hengo.
Fy, faint-hearted uncle!
Come, tie me in your belt, and let me down.
Car.
I'll go myself, boy.
Hengo.
No, as you love me, uncle!
I will not eat it, if I do not fetch it;
The danger only I desire; pray tie me.
Car.
I will, and all my care hang o'er thee! Come, child,
My valiant child!
Hengo.
Let me down apace, uncle,
And you shall see how like a daw I'll whip it
From all their policies; for 'tis most certain
A Roman train: And you must hold me sure too,
You'll spoil all else. When I have brought it, uncle,
We'll be as merry—
Car.
Go, i'th' name of Heav'n, boy!
Hengo.
Quick, quick, uncle! I have it.—Oh!
[Judas shoots Hengo with an arrow.
Car.
What ail'st thou?
Hengo.
Oh, my best uncle, I am slain!
Car.
I see you,
[Car. kills Judas with a stone.
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Go with thy coward soul!—How dost thou, boy?—
[Draws him up.
Hengo.
Oh, I bleed hard; I faint too; out upon't,
How sick I am!—The lean rogue, uncle!
Car.
Look, boy;
I've laid him sure enough.
Hengo.
Have you knock'd his brains out?
Car.
I warrant thee for stirring more. Cheer up, child.
Hengo.
Hold my sides hard; still I grow sicker, uncle.
Car.
Heaven look upon this noble child!
Hengo.
I once hop'd
I should have liv'd to have met these bloody Romans,
To have beaten 'em. Oh, hold me hard! But, uncle—
Car.
Thou shalt live still I hope, boy. Shall I draw it?
Hengo.
You draw away my soul then; I would live
A little longer, (spare me, Heavens!) but only
To thank you for your tender love! Good uncle,
Good noble uncle, weep not!
Car.
Oh, my chicken,
My dear boy, what shall I lose!
Hengo.
Why, a child,
That must have died however; had this 'scap'd me,
Fever, or famine—I was born to die, Sir.
Car.
But thus unblown, my boy—
Hengo.
I go the straighter
My journey to the gods. Sure I shall know you
When you come, uncle?
Car.
Yes, boy,
Hengo.
And I hope
We shall enjoy together that great blessedness
You told me of.
Car.
Most certain, child.
Hengo.
I grow cold;
Mine eyes are going.
Car.
Lift 'em up!
Hengo.
Pray for me;
And, noble uncle, when my bones are ashes,
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Car.
Mercy!
You blessed angels, take him!
Hengo.
Kiss me! so.
Farewell, farewell!
[Dies.
Car.
Farewell the hopes of Britain!
Thou royal graft, farewell for ever!—Time and Death,
Ye've done your worst. Fortune, now see, now proudly
Look what th'hast brought this land to. Oh, fair flower,
How lovely yet thy ruins shew, how sweetly
Ev'n Death embraces thee! Thee peace of Heav'n,
The fellowship of all great souls, be with thee!
Enter Petillius and Junius on the rock.
Ha! dare ye, Romans? Ye shall win me bravely.
Come, come up all, with all your antient valours;
Like a rough wind I'll shake your souls, and send 'em—
Enter Suetonius, and all the Romans captains.
Suet.
Yield thee, bold Caratach! By all the gods,
As I am soldier, as I envy thee,
I'll use thee like thyself, the valiant Briton.
Car.
Oh, Romans, see what here is! Had this boy liv'd—
Suet.
Excellent Briton, do me but that honour,
That more to me than conquests, that true happiness,
To be my friend! For Fame's sake, for thy sword's sake!
By all that's excellent in man, and honest—
Car.
I do believe. Ye've had me a brave foe;
Make me a noble friend, and from your goodness,
Give this boy honourable earth to lie in!
Suet.
He shall have fitting funeral.
Car.
I yield then;
Not to your blows, but this last courtesy.
Pet.
Thus we conduct then to the arms of Peace
The wonder of the world!
[They bring him down.
Suet.
Thus I embrace thee;
[Flourish.
And let it be no flatt'ry that I tell thee,
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Car.
How to thank ye,
I must hereafter find upon your usage.
I am for Rome?
Suet.
You must.
Car.
Then Rome shall know
The firmness of a Briton's soul; shall know
Britons can brave the chance of war: If Fortune
Smile on their arms, they spare the vanquish'd foe;
Vanquish'd themselves, in naked majesty,
Like their own knotted oak by thunder blasted,
Nobly they stand the tempest of their fate.—
Now, Roman, I am thine: Set on! I follow.
THE END.
| Bonduca | |