University of Virginia Library

SCENE the ninth.

Venusia, Dumnorix, Tenantius, and Flaminius.
Tenantius
to Flaminius.
Thy helmet, cast aside, restores thee
To my remembrance, Lo! thy benefactors.

Flaminius.
Brave Domnorix!

Dumnorix.
My captive!

Flaminius.
Yes, Flaminius,
Who owes to thy humanity his life.

Dumnorix.
Where hast thou hid thee from my notice, rather
Whence now return'st, ennobled with command,
No more in thraldom, but a Roman leader?

Flaminius.
Amid the tumult of your late defeat
We sought th'adjacent forest; thence we pass'd
The vale below and reach'd the Roman tents.

Dumnorix.
And now are masters o our late retreat.—
Had I been cruel, Britain had been safe.

Flaminius.
Was this an act unworthy of a soldier?

Dumnorix.
Our woes are all the progeny of folly,
Not charg'd to thee or fortune.

Venusia.
Heav'n well pleas'd
Perhaps ordain'd this unforeseen event,
That our benevolence to brave Flaminius
Its due return of gratitude should find.

Flaminius.
The life, you gave me, to your mutual welfare
I here devote. My influence, my pow'r,
My thoughts, my care to soften your afflictions,
Shall all combine. Surrender to your friend,
Before Suetonius with his legions pours
On your defenceless camp, who long in arms
Hath stood, expecting the appointed signal,
Which he enjoin'd us with the dawn to rear.

Dumnorix.
Though thou didst well, accepting life from me,
That gift from thee must Dumnorix refuse.

Flaminius.
Thou willt not rob my gratitude of pow'r
To shew, how well thy goodness was bestow'd.

Dumnorix.
Thou canst not shew it. If thou sav'st my life,
Canst thou from bonds protect me and a triumph?

Flaminius.
Alas! I cannot.

Dumnorix.
Wouldst thou see me led
A sullen captive, and through haughty Rome
Inglorious count my paces to the clink
Of my own chains? this faithful woman too—

Venusia.
Like thee, disdains a being so preserv'd.

Flaminius.
O let me water with my tears your feet!
If ev'ry drop, which issues from my heart,
Could from the doom, you justly scorn, secure you,
Before you now the purple sluice should open.
Yet let my knees in humblest adoration
Before such elevated virtue bend.
O godlike Britons, my acknowledg'd patrons
And benefactors; if my soul retain not
Your memory for ever dear and sacred;
May disappointment, poverty and shame
Deform my life, and pining sickness close
My youthful eyes untimely in the grave.

Dumnorix.
Thou seem'st of all the Romans to possess
A heart, which feels for others. Rise, and hear.
Though we reject the wretched boon of life,
Thou may'st, Flaminius, yet repay our bounty.

Flaminius.
Then will I ask no other grace from heav'n.

Dumnorix.
We have two children.

Venusia.
O my bleeding heart!
My poor, deserted infants, whom these arms
No more must cherish, nor my lulling voice
Hush in the quiet of my sheltring bosom!

Dumnorix
aside.
Yet shall not this unman me. I will feel
A father's anguish, but conceal the pain.
To Flam.
Know then, I meant this faithful friend, Tenantius,
Should traverse yonder wood, and bear my sons
Far from these borders to extremest north,
Where they might dwell secure, nor share the ills,
Doom'd to their parents. Willt thou let him pass?

Flaminius.
I will, and Jove be witness to my word.

Dumnorix.
Give thy last charge, Venusia, to Tenantius.
One word apart with thee, my Roman friend.
As thou art gen'rous, answer me with truth.
When willt thou make thy signal?

Flaminius.
At the dawn,
Whose beams though faint already tinge the east.

Dumnorix.
What time will bring your legions near this tent.

Flaminius.
An hour at farthest.

Dumnorix.
I have heard, Flaminius,
Of your forefathers' spirit, how they fell
Oft on their swords to shun ignoble bondage;
This part have we to act: and, friendly Roman,
When thou shallt see our cold remains—my own
Are little worth attention—Oh! remember
Venusia's goodness, and her gentle clay
Defend from shame and insult.

Flaminius.
Thou dost pierce
My heart—I cannot answer—but believe
These tears sincere.

Dumnorix.
Enough. Perform thy promise.
Thy obligations will be then discharg'd.
Farewell. Fulfill thy gen'ral's commands.