University of Virginia Library

SCENE VIII.

Valeria enters attended.
Valeria.
Where's my Lord Pretor?—O, dread tidings!

Valer.
What?

Valeria.
My mother heard Favonius and Lavinia
Had 'scaped the Temple—when, with sudden passion,
She blacken'd and expired!

Valer.
Most dreadful—yet, how natural, thus to close
The tenor of a life for ever vehement!

Valeria.
Ah, what a scene is here!—For whom, I pray,
This fearful apparatus?—How!—Lavinia!—
O, Lamb of Peace! art thou the sacrifice,
These savages intend?

Lavin.
Indeed, my sister,
You timely came to take a last embrace!
My arms are open—you were ever gentle,
[They embrace.
And precious to my nature.—Can you pardon
The involuntary sorrows which I caused you?
My sister, pardon me!—This hapless barrier
Will quickly be removed!—

Valeria.
Not so, not so—
I could not bear it; I should sleep no more!—
Curst be the hour in which imperious parents
Thrust me between your loves!—My Lord, my uncle,
My only parent now, have mercy!—Mark,
I yield him—your contested hero!—I
Restore him to his blessedness, this dove
Of Heaven, his just election!

Valer.
Off, weak girl!—
Wouldst thou intrude between the gods, and me
Their substitute?—Your office, lictors!—Down,
Down with the ladder and the short lived lamp!

Valeria.
Yet stay.—I will not part her!—By the gods
Celestial and infernal, I'll not part her!
Lavinia—I have no mother now—no love,
But thee, my sister!—spight of selfish jars,
And love wrought-jealousies, thou ever wert
The chosen of my heart—throughout the world
My chiefest good!—leave me not now!—Come lictors,
And bury us together!

Lavin.
Ah, Valeria!
I give thee place—thou hast deserved the laurel!
I now perceive my veryest littleness
In thy uprising.—O, may Favonius
Behold you with my eyes!—and, when you are blest,
Seated in pleasing intercourse together,
If your Lavinia's name should chance to come
Amid your converse, drop a pitying tear,
And take her spirit to your circle!—Ah!
My sister's pale!—her breath comes quick and faintly!
Support her!—bear her hence!—I cannot want,
At this tremendous hour, a further weight
To sink me!

[Valeria is taken away.
Valer.
On, Lavinia!

Lavin.
Yes, my Lord,
Exalted as the conqueror on his car;
Meek as the lamb, when laid upon the altar!—
O Maker of my Junius! if these worlds,
As he affirms, are all thy doings—if
Thou art, Thyself, the beauty of thy works,
Grace to the eye, and music to the ear,
Thrilling the soul to rapture—if Thou art
The heart's sweet prompter, tuning all its cords
To goodness—O preserve the soul Thou hast given!—
Though now I die to all things else, Blest Power,
Still let me live to Thee!

[Lavinia descends—The iron cover is replaced, and the scene closes.