 | Boadicia |  |
30
SCENE the third.
Dumnorix and Venusia.Venusia.
Now let my duty o'er my fear prevail,
Fill my whole breast with tenderness, and heal
With sweetest comfort thy distress.
Dumnorix.
My wife!
Thou most unlike to you degen'rate woman,
Her country's bane!
Venusia.
I tremble at thy words.
Dumnorix.
Be not dismay'd; the camp is still our own.
Night is impending, and the Romans halt.
Venusia.
But what of Boadicia?
Dumnorix.
Hear and mourn.
The Trinobantians scarce had fill'd the vale,
When from a narrow pass between the woods
Forth burst the Romans, wedg'd in deep array.
I found our struggle vain, and sent for aid
To Boadicia; she with scorn reply'd,
I did not want th'assistance of a woman;
Nor left her station, till my broken ranks
Were driv'n among th'Icenians: in a moment
All was confusion, slaughter and defeat.
| Boadicia | |