University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

An open Plain, with the German Camp at the further end; German Soldiers in different Groupes.
Egbert, Gothmund.
Egbert.
Gothmund, this hurry, this tumultuous uproar
Is big with doubt, and fear, and wild distraction.

Gothmund.
The harbinger perhaps of victory.

Egbert.
Would it were true: This soldier may inform us.

Enter a Soldier.
Soldier.
Far as my eye could stretch, I saw our men,
From yonder western bank, march o'er the bridge.

Gothmund.
Perhaps some canton sends auxiliary force
To join Arminius's army.

Enter Segimund.
Egbert.
Segimund!
What have you seen? What tidings do you bring us?

Segimund.
From yon steep hill, imbrown'd with waving woods,
I saw the Roman eagles; saw their legions
On the embattled plain; I saw them rush
With force resistless on the broken ranks
Of our inferior numbers. Flush'd with victory
They hung upon our rear, till the Visergis
Check'd their career of slaughter. Lo! this way
The valiant Inguiomer.

SCENE II.

Enter Inguiomer, followed by Officers and Soldiers.
Inguiomer.
Ye Gods of Germany, forgive your soldier,
If overpow'r'd by number I retreated,
To save my gallant warriors from the sword.
What man could dare, I ventur'd. Witness for me
This blunted sabre, and this shiver'd javelin,
And this my shield with honourable marks
Pierc'd and indented.

Segimund.
In your country's cause
Your zeal and ardour have been long the theme
Of gen'ral praise.

Inguiomer.
Yet to be thus compell'd
To raise the siege, afflicts and goads my heart.
It withers all my laurels.

Segimund.
Does my father
Follow the Roman banners?

Inguiomer.
Yes; Segestes
Is fix'd in guilt. Ere this, brave Segimund,
The castle has surrender'd to the Romans.

Segimund.
And is Veleda, is my sister left
To pine in bondage? Must Arminius' swife
Be led in sad captivity to Rome?

Inguiomer.
Too sure she must: her father wills it so.

Segimund.
This vile indignity with ten-fold rage
Will fire our gallant chief; will kindle fury
In ev'ry German breast, and send the javelin
Launch'd with redoubled vigour to its mark.

Inguiomer.
Thou brave young man, had your heroic virtue
Inspir'd Segestes, he had now been happy,
Lov'd by Arminius, honour'd by his country;
But now the tainted rebel brands his name.

Segimund.
He seiz'd me in his arms, and from my friends
Bore me unconscious, yet of tender years,
To join the Romans. At the Ubian altar
Administer'd an oath; an impious oath,
To list me in his league against my country.
Three years have pass'd, since last these eyes beheld him.
I scarce should know him now. As soon as reason
Dawn'd on my soul, I saw the horrid guilt
Of waging war against my native land.
I fled through forests drear; I lurk'd in caves,
And roam'd from place to place, from state to state,
Till late I join'd the standard of Arminius.

Inguiomer.
Yonder I see him; Lo! he comes this way.

SCENE III.

Enter Arminius, Officers and Soldiers.
Arminius.
My fellow-warriors, my brave gallant friends,
Ye gen'rous sons of freedom, you are welcome
To the Visurgi's banks. Arminius
With open arms receives you. Though repuls'd
By the superior numbers of the foe,
You have dar'd nobly.—Inguiomer, thou brave,
Heroic chief, th'invader will not long
Enjoy his victory. I come in force
To check his pride; from all the German states,
Far as the Danube to the Northern ocean,
I bring embodied nations to the field.

Inguiomer.
I form'd a close blockade; but still Segestes,
The base, the willing slave of his new masters,
Scorn'd to capitulate. Meantime Cæcina
Advanc'd against me with superior numbers.
My little army call'd aloud to battle.
I led them on.

Arminius.
I know it, Inguiomer;
I know each circumstance; you've acted bravely.
And has Segestes with his garrison
March'd forth to swear fidelity to Rome?

Inguiomer.
So says the voice of fame.

Segimund.
And there my sister,
My lov'd Veleda, she must there remain
In sad captivity?

Arminius.
Thou generous youth,
Thou worthy son of an ignoble father,
Much I esteem your ardour; much I honour
Your early virtue. But, your keen reflection
Plants daggers in my heart. Arminius's wife
Led in captivity! Distracting thought!
Come, dire revenge! inspire me with the rage
Of the stern God of War, that I may pour
Destruction on th'Italian spoiler's head,
And whelm his legions in one mangled heap,
A sacrifice to vengeance.

Inguiomer.
You have rouzed
All that is man within me, for that scene
Of glorious havoc, for that just revenge
My bosom pants. Come, lead me to the onset.
I burn to follow through the thickest ranks,
And there to vie with your heroic deeds.

Arminius.
Inguiomer, we oft have fought together,
And seen each other's valour. In my tent
A council shall be held. We there will plan
The time, and order of our grand assault.
Cæcina is deliver'd by the gods,
He and his army, to the slaught'ring sword.
This moment, Segimund, do you go forth,
And issue orders, that our scouts may range
The country round, and with due care explore
The motions of the enemy; their works,
And station of their camp.

Segimund.
Forthwith your orders,
Shall be obeyed.
[Exit Segimund.

Inguiomer.
A warlike soul like thine
Thinks nothing done, while aught is unperform'd.
One glorious onset will consummate all,
And that, I see, is lab'ring in your breast.
The time for fiery expedition calls;
One blow decides the war. By cold delay
We hazard all; for should Germanicus—

Arminius.
Does he alarm you?

Inguiomer.
In the adverse camp
He is expected with his vet'ran legions.
So say the pris'ners, whom our troops have led
O'er the Visurgis: it is sure intelligence.

Arminius.
Have you not heard the great, the glorious tidings?
Germanicus, in a career of victory,
Far as th'Amisia's banks had led his legions.
He there made halt; he paus'd, and saw the danger
Of tracing back his steps far as the Rhine,
Midst hostile nations, all in ambush waiting
To hang upon his rear. The coward fled
For shelter to his ships; he spread his sails,
And trusted to the waves. The Northern ocean,
Vast in circumference, tempestous, deep
Gave him no refuge. Soon a storm arose,
And heav'd the mountain billows to the sky.
His fleet was scatter'd; some in distant isles
Were dash'd on pointed rocks; by whirlwinds driv'n;
The rest have perish'd in the brawling surge.

Inguiomer.
So perish all, who dare invade our country.

Arminius.
Where now Germanicus?—Upon some rock
Perhaps he rolls his eyes around the wat'ry main,
And there surveys the wreck of all his hopes;
His boasted eagles in the roaring deep
All sunk, and swallow'd up. No aid from him
Cæcina can expect. In yonder camp
We hold another Varus and his legions.

SCENE IV.

Enter Segimund.
Arminius.
Why, Segimund, that eager haste?—What means
That sudden clangor?

[A trumpet is heard at a distance.
Segimund.
As I took my station
Far as the verge of yonder level plain,
My straining eye perceiv'd a well-oar'd galley,
Cross the Visurgis: From the highest mast
The olive branch, the harbinger of peace,
Was manifest to view.

Arminius.
The olive branch!
This, Inguiomer, is Roman policy:
In their distress they are the friends of peace.

Inguiomer.
Lo! they are near at hand: might I advise,
Admit them to a calm, a patient hearing.

SCENE V.

Enter Marcus, with Roman Soldiers and Standards.
Marcus.
To thee, Arminius, our brave Roman chief
Sends me with terms of kind and friendly import.
To thee too, Inguiomer, he proffers friendship.
Oft have I seen you in the ranks of war
Enacting prodigies of valour.

Arminius.
Say,
Unfold your purpose. Why approach our camp?

Marcus.
Cæcina means to prove the moderation
That sways his councils, and by me he sends
A present, that he knows will glad your heart.
He sends your wife: Lo! where Veleda comes.

Enter Veleda.
Marcus.
Once more she's yours: (Takes her hand)
—I thus resign her to you.

Arminius.
Can this be possible? Surprize and wonder
O'erpow'r each faculty:—Once more Veleda,
Thus do I see you?—What no God could promise,
We are allow'd to meet again in life.
I shall go wild with joy: And do I see you
Once more restor'd to these fond circling arms?

Veleda.
My brave, my honour'd husband! Once again,
Free'd from captivity, releas'd from bondage,
A German wife, whose hymeneal gods
Form all her bliss, her only joy on earth,
Revisits her lost husband; in his arms
Enjoys her sacred rights—this rapture swells
Above all bounds, and thus in tears of joy
Will force its way.

[Embracing him.
Arminius.
Thou dear, thou tender pledge
Of constancy and love! To fold thee thus,
Is joy and victory. Not ev'n the day,
That saw me triumph o'er three slaughter'd legions,
And Germany reliev'd from proud oppression;
When not a Roman Eagle hover'd o'er us,
And with one loud acclaim consenting nations,
Hail'd me, “the brave deliverer of Germany;”
Not ev'n that day with such sincere delight
Inspir'd my soul, as that which now transports me,
When! Gracious Gods! When thus I call you mine.
[Embracing her.
And did your father, did that haughty rebel
Resign you to me?

Veleda.
No; it was his wish
With pride, and fix'd hostility to you,
To hold me still in bondage; but Cæcina
With mild humanity releas'd me to you.
My brother here! Here in Arminius' camp,
[Seeing Segimund.
The soldier of his country!

Segimund.
Oh! My sister,
Your great example in my country's cause
Inspires my soul with more than common ardour.

Veleda.
Thou brave, thou gen'rous youth!

[They embrace.
Marcus.
Cæcina scorns to wage a war with women.
Though adverse in the field, he still regards
A husband's rights, and sends you back your wife.

Arminius.
To own an obligation to a Roman,
To me is thraldom: Yet he has my thanks.

Marcus.
Cæcina means to give you stronger proof,
That moderation governs all his actions.
If you will listen to his just proposals,
By his ambassador he means to offer
Fair terms of peace.

Veleda.
I had forgot: Your brother,
Who came the leader of a Roman cohort,
To see me safe deliver'd to your arms,
Explain'd the Roman General's design.

Arminius.
Where is my brother now?

Marcus.
Close to yon bank
He halted with his men.

Arminius.
Inform your General,
When hostages in form have been exchang'd,
By his ambassador he then may send
His overtures of peace.

Marcus.
I shall report
Your answer to Cæcina.

Arminius.
Will you grace
Your Roman name by one more liberal act?

Marcus.
Speak your request.

Arminius.
My brother's near at hand;
You Romans call him Flavius: Will you grant
One friendly interview? Though leagu'd with Rome,
He is my brother still.

Marcus.
Withdraw your guards;
To Inguiomer deliver up your sabre,
That no rude outrage may disturb your meeting.

Arminius.
I promise it— (gives up his sabre)
—you have my plighted faith.

Marcus.
Together you may hold a friendly parley:
He shall attend you here.

Arminius.
You have my thanks;
Farewell, Veleda; Segimund conduct her
To my pavillion. You my friends retire.

[They go out.

SCENE VI.

Arminius
alone.
Since he revolted to the Roman banners,
Four times the sun hath made his annual round,
And in that time these eyes have not beheld him.
Inspire me, Gods, with mild persuasive speech,
With words of pow'r, to wake each tender feeling,
And melt into his heart. But lo! he comes.

SCENE VII.

Arminius, Flavius,
Arminius.
I wish'd to see a brother: By that name
Can I address you, while that Roman garb
Declares hostility, and speaks the man
Who has renounc'd his friends, abjur'd his country,
And bears a heart, that to the pulse of nature
Answers no more?

Flavius.
Accuse me not unjustly:
I meet Arminius with a brother's love.

Arminius.
Say you behold me, with the pious love
You owe your country, and with joy, with rapture
Arminius springs to clasp you in his arms.

Flavius.
Though I come hither from the adverse camp,
And follow Cæsar's standard; yet my country,
The welfare of all Germany, the peace,
And happiness of millions, strongly plead
Here in this bosom; those the pow'rful motives
That urge me to the war.

Arminius.
And by that war,
Is slavery the boon you mean to grant
To your devoted country? For those bright,
Those noble motives, does that burnish'd helm
Display its lustre?

Flavius.
This high plumed helmet
(taking it off)
Germanicus with his own warlike hand
Plac'd on my brow.

Arminius.
And that unseemly scar,
That marks your forehead, and deforms your visage,
What gen'rous hand bestow'd it?

Flavius.
On the banks
Of the Adrana , where the Cattian nation,
After a battle obstinately fought,
Gave way at length to the undaunted valour
Of veteran troops, I saw a Roman press'd
By a fierce German with his lifted sabre,
When instantly I flew to his relief,
And then receiv'd this honourable wound,
But sav'd a Roman citizen from death.

Arminius.
For that exploit, that great heroic deed,
What was your recompence?

Flavius.
A civic crown,
A military chain, and other honours,
That grace the Roman's valour.

Arminius.
Did those honours
Glare in your eye, and lure you from your country?

Flavius.
They are my noblest pride.

Arminius.
(With a sneering laugh)
—You have the wages
Of a slave cheaply bought.

Flavius.
Controul this violence;
I have not merited this keen reproach.

Arminius.
And do those baubles pay you for your treason?
Contempt and laughter mix with indignation.
Thou base deserter!

Flavius.
Brother, if you knew
The Roman character—

Arminius.
Full well I know it.
The nations of the world too long have groan'd
Beneath their iron rod: And shall your Cæsars,
Your Cæsars deified, and for their crimes
Enroll'd among the Gods of Rome, shall they,
Who trample on their Senate, and their people,
Demand the homage of a free-born race,
And bid the Northern world embrace the yoke?

Flavius.
Germanicus is lov'd where'er he's known.
He leads the armies of Imperial Rome
To fame and victory. Where now the spirit
Of the Tubantes, and the Cattian state?
They have submitted, and the Roman chief
Ensures his conquest by the arts of peace.
He wins all hearts; he calls the wand'ring savage
From fens, from forests, and from hills of snow
To settled mansions; teaches them to form
New laws, new cities; to enjoy the sweets
Of civil union, and of polish'd life.

Arminius.
Their arts of polish'd life are Roman vices,
The baits of luxury; the balefull charm,
That mingles in the cup delicious poison
To sweeten slavery.

Flavius.
No more I'll bear
This torrent of abuse.

Arminius.
With patience hear me:
I now descend to humble supplications.
I now conjure you by the sacred ties
Of honour; by the love you owe your country,
Atone for what is past; renounce your treason.
By me your mother prays, implores, beseeches you,
Not to betray your family and friends.
Think of the vast renown of leading armies
To serve your country: To that glorious conduct
Will you prefer the vile detested name
Of a deserter, a perfidious traitor?

Flavius.
Here break we off; here end this impious strain
Against the lords, and sov'reigns of the world;
The friends of human kind. Opposing them,
'Tis you betray the interests of humanity.
Hither I came disarm'd, or my good falchion
Should vindicate the cause of Roman virtue.

Arminius.
Presumptuous man! I dare thee to the field.
What ho! bring forth my arms.

Enter Marcus.
Marcus.
Controul this rage;
On terms of peace this interview was granted,
Flavius withdraw; you're wanted at your post.

Flavius.
Farewell, Arminius; may we never meet
In the embattled field.

[Exit with Marcus.
Arminius.
Thou traitor, go,
And 'midst the armed files avoid my sword.
And yet,—must brothers meet in adverse arms?
In kindred blood must they imbrue their javelins?
'Tis ever thus, when discontent and faction
Brood over fancied ills, and fire with rage
Sons against fathers, brothers against brothers.
'Tis horror all, and worse than civil war.