University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

Fabius sits, Lavinia's head leaning on his lap. Favonius rises, steps back, and stands in fixed, though wild astonishment.—Valerius enters with his party.
Valer.
Dead!—dead, Lavinia!—then our day is done,
And the world's work at stand!—You may retire—
[To his Attendants.
No further way on earth remains to travel!

Favon.
Hush!—
Wake not my Love!—Behold, how sweet she sleeps,
Fann'd by the hovering doves!—and smiles and dreams
Of her Favonius!
How, how is this!—a corse put in her place!
So pale!—so pale and breathless!—
Villain! 'tis thou who hast done this!

[Seizes his Father.
Valer.
Yes, strike!—
It is my wish!—I am ready!

Favon.
Ha!—my father!—
What fiend has arm'd my hand against a father?—
My brain! my brain!—the seat of memory
Quite overthrown!—and yet some cause!—O, now
I recollect—I had, I think, a father!—
Sir, do you know my father?

Valer.
Too well! too well!

Favon.
He was a noble father, had his heart
Been made of aught but iron!—Sure my heart
Is not of iron—for it weeps to think,
He ever had a child!

Valer.
Alas, alas!

Favon.
Wilt bear a message to him?

Valer.
Yes, most faithfully!

Favon.
Bid him not fear—tell him I cannot kill him!—
But some way—some way—he must do me justice!—
He would not let me have a child to sport with—
'Tis then but right, that, in return—thus—thus—
I leave him childless!

[Stabs himself, and falls dead without a groan.
Valer.
O my son, my son!—
Then all is ended!

[Falls.
Fab.
Wretched Valerius! thou art fallen, indeed—
Beneath my vengeance—to compassion fallen!—
O pair of priceless pearls—you two have left
The world to beggary! short was your course,
But swift, and full of virtue!—Lo, vain man,
How thou dost build for happiness!—In clouds,
Thou layest thy corner stone—the pleasing structure
Rises in pride, and promises to lift
Its pinacles to Heaven—then comes a blast,
A sudden blast, and sweeps away the fabric,
With all its builders!—Virtue, Virtue only,
Can out-last frail mortality—can reach
To other worlds—a future life ensure—
And raise, on death, the Pile that stands for ever!