 | The Vestal Virgin |  |
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SCENE VI.
The Guards give way at the assault of Favonius— Valerius advances with his sword drawn.Favon.
My father here!—O Heavens! I must not shed a father's blood!—
Valer.
Disarm this traitor to his country's peace!
[The Guards seize and disarm Favonius.
Favon.
Give me my sword again!—I had forgot—
O my lost love, Lavinia, I have betrayed thee!
[Casts off, and struggles with the Guards.
Valer.
Hold, hold him firm!—Call in the second watch,
[More enter.
To keep this raging lion in the toils.
Prepare the seats of justice!—
By the dread sword and scales of chaste Astræa,
We will not stir till we have tried these criminals!
[Seats brought in.
Inferior Pontiffs enter.
Lavinia, we do grieve to see a virgin,
Of senatorial rank, and fair repute,
Break from her consecrated sphere of duty,
And with her minion stroll the streets of Rome
At such an hour as this.
Lavin.
At any hour,
To 'scape the hard oppression of a tyrant.
Valer.
You have a better plea—this traitor here,
'Tis he who has seduced you!
Lavin.
Romans, no!—
He is no seducer!
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Of his degraded kin, degraded country!
This sun of brightness has no spot, no blemish—
Save that he is the offspring of Valerius!
[Valerius and inferior Pontiffs take their seats.
Favonius, stand before us!—You do need
No plea, young man, for I am seated here
Not as your judge, but father—not for trial,
But sentence absolute.—Attach him, lictors!—
Bind, bind him!—harder yet!—
Now take him to the dungeon's deepest cavern!
Favon.
O, unknown Father both of gods and men!
Is this my triumph?—Yet, 'tis thy decree—
Make me to triumph in it!
[Exit with Lictors.
Valer.
Now to a task,
Far, far more grievous, than the condemnation
Of my own child!—Lavinia, come before us!
You stand impeached, for that in violation
Of duty to great Jove and awful Vesta,
You did by night depart the sacred Fane,
To whose dread goddess thou wast consecrate.
Lavin.
I do not know by what authority
Of gods or men, the criminal should sit
In judgment o'er the party he has injured—
I therefore shall not plead at your tribunal!
But as my soul knows not a single thought
To closet from the world, I do avow,
To these free men of Rome, I did depart
The place in which your rapine had immured me.
Valer.
Record her free confession!
Lavin.
'Tis confess'd—
I did depart my prison, to restore
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A free born daughter to the longing arms
Of a fond father; that by deeds of justice,
I might undo the deeds of violence,
Of stern oppression!
Valer.
You stand here, Lavinia,
Not to charge others, but defend yourself!
And then you take no note, in your strong pleadings,
Of your associate, lady—the Endymion,
With whom, like wandering Dian, you have put
Your honour in eclipse!
Lavin.
O Romans, hear him—
This base detractor!—who, not satisfied
With having rent me from the noble stock
Of my great ancestors, proceeds to strike
At my immortal fame, my life of honour!
But ye beheld the associate—the Endymion,
With whom your cruel Pontiff would reproach me—
He is the very man, to whose protection
My noble father, Fabius, did consign me,
Under his signet here!
Valer.
And could your father
Consign you to the heir of the Valerii?
Write down—“Confess'd—eloped, by her consent,
“With her inamorato.”
Lavin.
I appeal
To gods and men, the Senate and the people—
To the free people of the state of Rome,
I here make my appeal!
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Lavinia, Rome,
Senate and people, have consigned, to me,
Their great palladium, their Eternal Fire,
With all the rites and sanctions of their worship,
Without appeal!—Lictors, bring forth the levers,
And raise the lid of death!—I'll not depart,
Till, by the justice of our laws, I see thee
Inhumed alive!
Lavin.
Where are ye, Romans?—O, there was a time,
When such a deed as this had overthrown
Your tyrants to the dust!—when such a trespass
On Lucrece, on Virginia, blew to flames
The smother'd embers of expiring Liberty,
And cast the Tarquins and Decemvirs forth
To banishment, to death!
| The Vestal Virgin | |