University of Virginia Library

SCENE VI.

Fabius and Terentia enter.
They stand a while in mute astonishment.
Fab.
My child!

Teren.
My soul's begotten!

Lavin.
O my father!—
[Embrace.
My mother, too—still mother of Lavinia!—
Do we then meet again?—The guardian powers
Are bounteous beyond bearing!

Fab.
O my daughter!
To have thee thus restored, above all hope,
To my enfolding arms, enfolding heart—
It is, as if, upon a second birth,
I clasped thee to my bosom, as the sole
Sole hope of new existence!—Pardon, hero,
Deliverer of thy country!—dearer yet,
Deliverer of the Fabii, in this gem
Of all their opulence!

[Embrace.
Favon.
My lord, my father!—
Henceforth I am a Fabius! I renounce
All other terms of honour or alliance!—
But, sir, 'tis time we part—should this be rumour'd,
Some obstacle may rise; and I would spare
The blood of Romans!—we shall meet again,
I trust, and shortly!—O, my noblest father!
My honour'd mother, too!—till then, farewell!
[Embrace.
Come, Love!—

Lavin.
Stay yet—a little—somewhat checks me!—
The joy, I think, of this extatic meeting—
It has o'erpower'd me!—

Favon.
Ah, your lustre wanes!—
What can this mean?—

Fab.
Alas!—perhaps, my child,
You've taken of that opiate which I gave you.

Lavin.
Not much.—

Fab.
Haste, fly Terentia! bring the antidote—
You'll find it on the left within my cabinet—
A crystal phial squared!—These veteran wounds
Have left me slow of pace!

[Exit Terentia.
Favon.
Your colour comes again!—How fares my blessing?

Lavin.
I feel, as I grew weary—

[She sits—Favonius and Fabius support her on each side, kneeling on one knee.
Fab.
O, that fatal drug!—e'er I had given it,
Would that kind death had closed my miseries!

Lavin.
Not so, my father!
In truth I took but little—I am not pained,
But weak and faintly breathed!—O my Favonius!

Favon.
Mirrour of sweetness!—Ah, with what a force
That eager look has seized upon my heart,
And tears the strings of life!

Lavin.
My love!—my Junius!—
I should be loth to leave you.—Thus to part!—
To leave the world were nothing!

Favon.
Speak not of it!—
The very thought freezes the fount of life,
And shudders through my veins!—

Lavin.
My father, too!—

Fab.
Courage, my Love!—relief will soon arrive.

Lavin.
I doubt—I doubt!—

Fab.
Alas, my child is lost!

Lavin.
Hold—hold me to ye both!—Let me not part ye!—
Yet closer!—
A swimming kind of darkness comes upon me,
And drinks remembrance up!—I go—I go!—
I know not—Oh, farewell!—

[Dies.