 | Boadicia |  |
SCENE the Third.
Boadicia, Dumnorix, Icenians, Trinobantians, Ænobarbus and Flaminius.Ænobarbus.
Come, let us know our fate.
Boadicia.
Prepare for Death.
Ænobarbus.
Then cease to loiter, savage.
Dumnorix
to Ænobarbus.
Now by heav'n
Wert thou no Roman, I could save and love thee.
That dauntless spirit in another breast,
And in a blameless cause were truly noble;
But shews in thee the murderer and ruffian.
6
Thy hate, or favour are alike to me.
Flaminius
to Dumnorix.
May I demand, illustrious Trinobantian,
Why must we fall, because uncertain war
Hath made us captives.
Dumnorix.
If in open battle
With gen'rous valour to have fac'd our arms
Were all our charge against thee, thou mightst rest
Secure of life; but leading thee to die
Is execution on a gen'ral robber.
Ænobarbus
to Flaminius.
And dost thou meanly sue to these barbarians?
Flaminius
to Dumnorix.
Though our rapacious countrymen have drawn
Your just resentment, we are guiltless borh.
Boadicia
to Flaminius.
So are ten thousand infants, whom the name,
The single name of Roman shall condemn,
Like thee, to perish by th'unsparing sword.
Flaminius.
Yet more than guiltless, we may plead desert
With Boadicia.
Boadicia.
Insolent pretension!
A Roman plead desert with Boadicia!
This shall enlarge the portion of thy suff'rings;
For this not only shall thy blood embrue
Andate's shrine but torture shall be added,
And fury wanton in thy various pains.
Ænobarbus
to Boadicia.
Produce thy tortures, them and thee we scorn.
Tenantius
to the Trinobantians.
Fall back with rev'rence, Trinobantian soldiers.
See, who advances from your gen'ral's tent.
| Boadicia | |