University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Fabius enters.
Fab.
Alas,
They tell me that our dear Valeria here
Was suddenly affected.

Julia.
And is that
Your care, my lord?

Fab.
Why should it be a question?

Julia.
Indeed, I once had hope, that, in this house,
You harbour'd none with purpose to insult us!

Fab.
What may this mean?—Sure, Julia ought to know,
That, o'er my heart and house, and all in them,
She rules supreme.

Julia.
When Julia married Fabius,
Her hand, the world presumed, no trifling honour
To the first man in Rome.

Fab.
The world was just!

Julia.
It brought you wealth, and high alliance, sir—
And, sure, such gifts are poorly recompensed,
By insult to Valeria.

Valeria.
Dearest madam,
Recall your temper to its wonted calmness!—
My lord is not to blame.

Fab.
Tell me, or in this house, in peopled Rome,
Or through her vast domain, who has offended?
And instant satisfaction shall be made,
Till it o'erpass the limit!

Julia.
'Tis well—but, tell me first, my honour'd lord—
This same Lavinia—is she of your blood?—

Fab.
No, madam!

Julia.
Daughter, as I take it, of—
A worthless widow—one—

Fab.
Terentia, madam!

Julia.
The same—and her you took to your adoption,
To heir the honours of the boasted Fabii!

Fab.
I did—but, madam, I was then the master
Both of my proper fortunes and affections.

Julia.
Right, sir—extremely right!—But now be told,
This daughter of your fortunes and affections
Must not expect to brave us, unreproved—
This is no mansion, sir, for her and Julia
To mate together.

Fab.
She shall quit it, then.
Who's there?

Servant enters
Serv.
My Lord.

Fab.
Haste thee to Terentia,
And bring her hither!
[Exit Servant.
But, why should we disturb our houshold peace
With causeless altercation?—Pray, unfold—
Wherein offends Lavinia?

Julia.
She, my lord,
Flies much too high a pitch; an eaglet soaring,
Her eye upon the sun!—My daughter, here,
She holds unworthy of a hero's bed;
Steps in between Valeria and our choice,
And deems herself, alone, of eminence
To mate with the great heir of the Valerii—
To marry with Favonius!

Fab.
With Favonius?—
She knows him not.

Julia.
Most surely.

Fab.
Impossible!

Julia.
She knows him, and is known.

Fab.
Is known?

Julia.
Familiar!—Perhaps—

Fab.
O, fye, fye, fye!—
As chaste, I swear by Sol's unsully'd rays,
As are the virgin-purities, who tend
The sacred vigils of the vestal-fire!
Beside, her honest heart is, long since, plighted
To a young soldier, who once saved her honour.
But come—be temperate—she shall answer this,
Even at your own tribunal, face to face!—
Prepare your heaviest charge—Who waits?

A Servant enters.
Serv.
My Lord?

Fab.
Bid Lavinia hither!—
[Exit Servant.
I now remember,
That when the Pontiff would have join'd your hands,
Young Cimbrius, with a coldness most unseemly,
Drew back, and question'd somewhat, did he not,
Touching another daughter?

Valeria.
Yes, my Lord—
That question sent a dagger to my heart;
And, fatal as a sybil's sentence, told me,
He meant no other than the blest Lavinia.

Fab.
Lavinia? no—it cannot, must not be—
Their births, their stations, are too much unsorted!—
No, Julia, no—although I hold her dear,
Dear from her infant years of lisping sweetness,
Bred at my knee, and cherish'd in my bosom—
Yet would I rather weep upon her urn,
Than see our labour'd structure thus o'erthrown;
Than see her wedded to Favonius Cimbrius.

Julia.
Indeed, my Lord, your justice bade me look
For nothing less—the house of the Valerii,
Can merit no dishonour at the hands
Of Fabius.

Fab.
None—all honour—and shall have it!—
But here she comes—Soft, Julia—good, my love,
Restrain your anger—do not wound her gentleness
By too severe an accent!

Julia.
I am lesson'd.