SCENE X.
Lucius brought in bound, attended by Roman
and British Chiefs.
Leon.
What, my friend
In bondage?—O, indignity to honour,
To virtue!—Truest nobleness, thus let me
Unbind my country's shame!—Thou art free, my Lucius,
Free, as at Rome, and full as well affected.
Command in Britain, task us to thy will
In all things—save, such bonds as these!
[Casting away the shackles.
Lucius.
O, great
In goodness, as in glory!—I rejoice
In the high fortunes of my Leonatus,
Though at the cost of Rome.
Cymb.
Lucius, in estimation of thy virtues,
We give, to every Roman captive, freedom;
With truce and entertainment to thy legions,
While they remain in Britain.—Next, to Cæsar
We shall appoint a special embassy,
With twice the value of his late demand—
But, not as tribute, Lucius!
Leon.
No, my friend!—
Wherefore should Rome from others wrest that Liberty,
Which, for herself, she prizes more than life?
From us she must not—No—the gods have given
To Britain, independence on all lands
By her enfolding waters, her wide field
Of future empire!—O, my mother's spirit
Swells my prophetic breast—I see the sails
Of Britain spread, from east to west, their wings
Of wide protection!—How the nations flock
Beneath them!—This, indeed, is true dominion—
To humble pride, and to subdue oppression;
To lift the fallen, and to sustain the weak;
To bind a willing world with her beneficence;
And wide, as rolling waves, or wafting wind,
Reign, the requested mistress of mankind!
