University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

Prison.
Horatius, Valerius, L. Icilius, M. Icilius, P. Num. C. Num.
P. N.
As speedily as certainly we die,
The Instruments of Blood are now preparing;
The Tyrant is determin'd.

Hor.
The Eternal Plagues reward him.

Val.
I will not curse but scorn him.

L. Icil.
He cannot make us die unlike our selves;
No, equal to our Lives shall be our Deaths:
Our Lives and Deaths, both worthy of the Men
Who know that they were only Born t'advance
The great design of Destiny and Jove;
Which is to make Rome Mistress of the Universe?

M. Icil.
But two Hours more and we had seen her free.

L. Icil.
We wrought her Freedom tho' we see it not,
And all Posterity shall speak of us,
As of her great Deliverers.

Val.
Then let the Instruments of Fate come on,
Since 'tis as natural to die as live;
The business is not when, but how we die:
Death's but a Scarecrow which the Gods have plac'd
To fright weak Men from tasting Immortality;
Then Death and Appius we alike defie.

All.
Yes, Death and Appius we alike defie.

L. Icil.
O! Roman Spirits in this low Estate,
Fearless of Death, as Gods, whom Fate secures,
Sure they who have the God-like force of Mind
To scorn him thus, alone ought ne'r to feel him:
But yet it grieves my Soul that I must leave
My Dear Virginia in this dreadful Hour.
Yet with a dauntless Brow I'll meet my Fate:
But oh! that I could killing Appius Die,
At once Triumphing over him and Death;
Lucius Icilius would commence Immortal,
By such Revenge as Gods are pleas'd to act.
But who comes here? who should come here but Death?
One of the Tyrant's Instruments of Blood.
Ha! Claudius!

Enter Claudius.
P. N.
Claudius! Amazement! How got you admittance?
When 'tis the Cruel Tyrant's strict Command,
To let no Friends come near us.

Claud.
The Prefect of this Prison was my Slave,
By me first manumitted, then prefer'd
To Appius when he first was made Decemvir,
Who through a grateful Sense of what he owes me,
And on my Oath to stand 'twixt him and Danger,
And on his knowledge of the Army's March,
Has ventur'd to oblige me.
They say the Tyrant Dooms you all to dye,
To know the truth of that report I come.

P. N.
He just has given us notice to prepare for't.

Claud.
Now by yon Heaven, he's mad as are the Winds,
When for the Empire of the Main they strive.

L. Icil.
Of Life or Death, I have no time t'enquire,
For my Virginia takes up all my Soul.

Claud.
Just now I from the Roman Forum come,
Where I have seen a Sight.

L. Icil.
Speak on!
My Soul is rapt in dreadful expectation,
And listens to thee, as if Fate were speaking.

Claud.
Lucius I know thee Manly, Brave, Intrepid,
One of Rome's Noblest Offspring:
Yet have I seen a Sight, I dare not tell thee,
Thou can'st not bear the hearing.

L. Icil.
By this thou tell'st me much, but yet say on,
And I will bear it all with dauntless Courage.

Claud.
Then hear what I who saw it scarce believe,
Against plain Proofs of Reason, nay of Sense;
Virginia is adjudg'd a Slave to Fulvius.

L. Icil:
Ye Furies that have seiz'd my lab'ring Soul
Be still but for a moment.

Claud.
Which Lawless practice when I cou'd not bear,
But vehemently and bitterly reprov'd;
And with a Spirit all inflam'd, foretold
The dismal Consequence. (Oh! all ye Gods!
Who cou'd Serenely see th'unnatural Deed.)
I by the Tyrant's order straight was dragg'd—

L. I.
You?

Claud.
Yes I, his Unkle, eldest of his House,
Was by his order Infamously dragg'd,
Both from the Court and Forum.

L. I.
For which, thou soon wilt see the Villain dragg'd
To the opprobrious Rock, and thrown from thence,
As one whom Nature and Mankind casts out.

Hor.
His Cruelty's come home to his own House,
And he himself must suffer by it next.

L. I.
But was Virginius there?

Claud.
Just then arriv'd:
After this base affront to my old Age,
The Tyrant now shall take my Life, my Burden:
So hearing of the Doom that's past on you,
With you to live and dye, resolv'd I come.

P. N.
We in this place are like to be o'erheard,
But yonder's an Apartment of this Prison
That's more retir'd, more gloomy, and more dismal,
And fit to talk of Fate.
[Exeunt.]
Lucius Icilius Solus.
They're gone! and with them all my tow'ring Pride,
And with my Pride my boasted Constancy,
And I am now become like vulgar Minds;
Oh! I am softer, weaker than a Woman,
When I reflect on my Virginia's Wrongs,
While I the most undone and lost of Men,
Want power to help her in this dire Necessity.
Nay, but the following Moment I must dye,
And leave her to the Cruel Tyrant's Rage.
Leave her to what? Death and eternal Darkness
Come seize me straight, and hide me from that thought! Ha!
What noise is that? bless me! what dreadful noise?
Ah Gods! there Fate is at it's Bloody work,
Horatius and Valerius cry aloud,
And Marcus now is vehement and high,
And Publius too, and Caius! hark! Confusion!
Their last expiring Groans are in my Ears.
Genius of Rome I come, nor will survive
Thy Noblest Sons; do thou, do thou protect
My dearest part which I must leave behind,
Ye Gods be Guardians to the poor Virginia.

[Exit.
SCENE Draws.
Appius, Virginius, Virginia, Fulvius, Guards discover'd.
App.
What is not Sentence past? I'll hear no more.

Virg.
Oh! Appius! I have hitherto had patience,
Under what mighty Grief great Jove can tell,
But when Injustice rages at its height,
Ev'n Gods can bear no more, much less can Mortals.
But oh! beware the Fury of a Man
Who much and long can bear.

App.
What is it thou dar'st do?

Virg.
Go ask the Sabines, Volsci, and the Æqui;
They will with Groans tell what Virginius dares:
Or if thou woud'st thy self be an Eye-witness,
See where the Foes of Rome, with their rude Hands
Have writ my bold Exploits.
The Wounds thou see'st upon my mangled Breast,
In the defence of Rome I got, to save
The spotless Honour of each Roman Daughter;
Think'st thou I dare not then defend my own?

App.
Defend her! where's your power?

Virg.
Since Right is mine, the Power of Jove is mine;
For that's concern'd to vindicate his Justice.

App.
That shall be quickly try'd, what, Fulvius! Hoa!

Virg.
Villain stand off! or certain Death attends thee.
Appius, if thour't a Man, thou wilt desist,
Or mighty Jove, resolv'd on thy destruction,
Degrades thee, to prepare thee for thy Fate,
And takes his Sacred Image Reason from thee.
Therefore thou see'st not that thou tott'ring stand'st
Upon a Ghastful Precipice's brink,
While Hell beneath thee yawns for thy reception.

App.
Tho' Hell it self shou'd from the Center burst
And blast the Day, I'd not be scar'd from Justice.

Virg.
From Justice! O Blasphemer!
O Impious mock of a most Sacred Name!
Hear it ye dreadful Judges of the Damn'd,
And in your Adamantine Books record it;
That when from the Tarpeian Rock he plunges,
To lowest Hell, he may have dismal Justice.

[Appius descends from his Tribunal.
App.
Fulvius, Command the Guards to keep at distance,
And let Virginia with respect be treated:
Hear me Virginius! thou wer't once my Friend,
My lov'd, and valu'd, best, and kindest Friend;
Of all our Romans thee I most esteem'd,
And I rever'd and lov'd thy God-like Vertue.
I see thou art disturb'd, and the just Grief
Of one who once was to my Breast so dear,
Has touch'd my Soul, obliging me to tell thee,
There still is one way left to save thy Daughter.

Virg.
Name it!

App.
Persuade her to be mine, by Marriage mine.

Virg.
Thou know'st she's Contracted to Icilius.

App.
My Rival's dead!

Virg.
Dead!

App.
Icilius and his Brother both are dead,
Thy Brother Numitorius and his Son;
And those who publick Fools, Horatius and Valerius.

Virg.
Is't possible?

App.
I gave my Orders upon pain of Death;
And passing by the Prison Gates my self,
I heard their dying Groans.

Virg.
Icilius Murder'd! and must I persuade
My Daughter to espouse his Murderer?
The Murderer of her Husband, Cousin, Unkle;
And those two best and bravest of the Romans,
Illustrious Patriots, Horace, and Valerius!
If being guilty of such Infamy
Wou'd save the World from Ruin, it shou'd perish.

App.
My time is precious, and brooks no delay,
For this last time I leave thee with thy Daughter.
Hoa! Fulvius! let your Slave be left a while
With her reputed Father:
Short is the time allow'd thee, use it well;
Either prevail upon her to be mine,
Or thou shalt dye; and what thou wilt not grant
By boundless Power I'll take. Fulvius!

Ful.
My Lord!

App.
If this disdainful Beauty don't comply
In half an hour at furthest, let her Father
Be hurry'd to his Fate in the same Prison
Where the Horatii and the rest expir'd:
And bring the Daughter home to thy own House,
Aptly adjacent to the Roman Forum;
Whither with utmost secrecy I'll go,
Attended with two faithful Servants only,
My Guards I leave with thee, ho! Guards, attend
On Fulvius, and on pain of Death obey him.

[Exeunt.
Manent Virginius, Virginia.
Virg.
Ah poor Virginia! we must part Virginia.

Vir.
You part from your Virginia!
And am I not your Daughter then at last?
Your dear! your valued! tho' your wretched Daughter:
Yes, by th'unequall'd Honour which I bear you,
And by that mighty Grief, which kills my Heart
Within my Breast, but at the name of parting,
I find I am your Daughter.

Virg.
And let my Grief, and all the dreadful Passions
That rend my miserable Heart asunder;
Let those assure thee, that I am thy Father.

Vir.
Then while I live you will not leave me sure;
You cannot leave me to the Tyrant's fury;
Nay, must not, shall not, still there is a way
By which I may avoid it.

Virg.
There is indeed, and he himself propos'd it,
But such a way—
How much below thy Honour and my own!
'Tis in thy choice, to be the Tyrant's Wife.

Vir.
No, Lucius, I am faithful still to thee,
Tho' thou art absent from thy dying Bride.

Virg.
Of him, as of thy Lover, think no more.

Vir.
Not think of him?

Virg.
He has for ever left us.

Vir.
He leave us! he! no, he was ever true,
And ever kind, and bears a God-like mind;
He wou'd not leave the lost Virginia sure.

Virg.
Thou of Icilius judgest as thou ought'st,
No faith, no truth, cou'd ever equal his;
But oh! thy tender and thy faithful Lover,
The pride and flower of Romans is no more.

Vir.
Oh Earth and Heaven! my Lucius then is dead.

Virg.
Ay, murder'd.

Vir.
Ah murder'd!

Virg.
Yes, by the most inhumane Tyrant murder'd,
The Fate thy Father is to undergo,
As soon as e'r he leaves thee.

Vir.
Ah Gods! my Father too! O horrour! horrour!
Lucius is dead, my Father too is dying,
And can Virginia live?

Virg.
What, can thy tender Spirit think of dying?
Can'st thou relinquish all the Sweets of Life?

Vir.
Death has rob'd Life of all that it had sweet,
To make himself inviting.

Virg.
Yes, to preserve thy Vertue pure and spotless,
Oh! that a Father shou'd pronounce that doom,
Thou darling of my Soul thou need'st must dye.

Vir.
Then strike, I am prepar'd.

Virg.
What hast thou said? Is that a Father's office?
Thou mak'st a fearful horrible request
Which Heaven forbids, and Nature starts to hear.

Vir.
Law is the Sacred Child of Heaven and Nature,
And Roman Law gives Roman Parents power
At pleasure to resume that Life they gave.

Virg.
Yes, to resume it from their wicked Children,
Thy Vertue's absolute, as is thy Beauty,
And thou, who justly wer't before esteem'd
The most Accomplish'd of our Roman Virgins,
Hast now discover'd new amazing Vertues:
And can thy wretched Father give thee Death?
When he admires thee most, when his fond Heart
Dissolves with tenderness, and breaks with woe:
Not Jove was fonder of his own Creation,
When it appear'd so wondrous good and fair.

Vir.
Vertue and Jove himself cry out aloud to you,
To free my Soul, and to secure my Vertue;
Since 'tis impossible to live with honour,
Th'immortal Gods have summon'd me to dye.

Virg.
O greatness, worthy Rome, and worthy me!
O! Thou'rt the perfect Image of my Soul,
And all our Gods as well as I confess thee:
Now by yon Heaven my Soul is all on Fire!
O! thou hast rouz'd it to Immortal Greatness,
And my Breast teems with some prodigious Birth:
And thou dread God—
Whatever God thou art, who command'st Nature,
And forcest her to Deeds she most abhors,
Assist me with thy dreadful Spirit now;
Recoil thou Sun, as at the Feast of Atreus,
And hide the World in universal Darkness;
That neither Heaven, nor Earth, nor Gods, nor Men,
May see a Deed that will amaze the Universe.
My Soul! my Soul! oh what art thou about?
Strike me with Madness, some propitious Power,
That I may lose all thought, and all remembrance,
And never know what my curst Hand performs:
And thou great Jove, who gav'st me my Virginia,
Thy best, thy noblest, thy divinest Gift;
Pure as thy Heaven thou sent'st her down to me,
Spotless as Heaven receive her now again.
And thus in spight of the mad Tyrant's Rage;
Oh! thus thy Father vindicates thy Freedom,
And thus secures thy Vertue; Tyrant, Tyrant,
Thus with the sprinkling of this sacred Blood,
I consecrate thee to the Infernal Powers.

Vir.
I'm Free;
And Rome that will it's Freedom owe to me,
Upon the Wings of her victorious Eagles
Shall through all Times and Places bear my Vertue:
I die a Roman now, and die your Daughter,
And worthy of Icilius who expects me.

[Dies.
Virg.
Tell him that soon he may expect thy Father;
Or rather tell him I expect him here;
Bid him arise, and bring Revenge to day
From it's Infernal Mansion.

Enter Fulvius.
Ful.
What hast thou done?
So black a Deed not Hell it self e'er saw.

Virg.
Then Villain hye to Hell, and tell the damn'd
[Kills him.
Here's one on Earth that has outdone them all:
And now the amazing Vengeance is begun,
And now the Regions of pale Ghosts are mov'd;
I hear, I hear, th'Infernal Thunder roar,
And dire Revenge the dreadful Larum takes;
And with a baleful Equipage ascends,
A thousand bleeding Ghosts by Appius murder'd,
And at their Head th'invincible Dentatus,
Valerius, Horace, and the Numitorii;
But above all the fierce Icilius rages,
And breaths Destruction to the bloody Appius.
Ha! Either reason now gives place to madness,
Or I in very deed behold him yonder;
O Heaven and Earth! 'tis he, 'tis he himself,
And I grow stiff with horror and amazement.

Enter Attendants, L. Icilius.
L. Icil.
Here are the Villains, Bloodhounds, seize them all.
My Father!

Virg.
Art thou Icilius?

L. Icil.
Where is Virginia? Is she safe from Appius?

Virg.
She is safe from Appius's power.

L. Icil.
Where is the Tyrant?

Virg.
Each moment I expect him.

L. Icil.
But why this grief? this horror! this amazement!

Virg.
They told me thou wert murder'd,
Thou and the rest of our Illustrious Friends.

L. Icil.
Why yes, the Tyrant had design'd it well.

Virg.
Nay Appius says he heard their dying groans.

L. Icil.
I thought my self I heard the rest expiring,
As in the next Apartment of the Prison,
I was lamenting my Virginia's danger;
But flying to their aid, I quickly found
Their murderers were dying, and not they.
The Præfect of the Prison gain'd by Claudius,
Had given them Weapons; and I found 'em fighting,
With that Success that nought was left for me.
But can Virginius hear of our deliverance
And yet retain his Grief, when his Friends safety
Is follow'd by the Liberty of Rome.

Virg.
The Liberty of Rome?

L. Icil.
The everlasting Liberty of Rome!
Horatius and Valerius have conven'd
The Senate, who in full Assembly Vote,
The Abolition of the curst Decemvirate.
Your Brother Numitorius and his Son
Have part by Promises, and part by Threats,
Prevail'd upon the Forces left at Rome
To abandon Appius; and my Brother Marcus
Joyns the tempestuous Legions from Fidenæ,
That now ere entring Rome with furious March
To joyn the other Army.
I have Assembled here the raging People
To rescue my Virginia from her danger,
And crush the Impious Tyrant.

Virg.
O! wou'd th'avenging Thunderbolt of Jove
Fall down amain on this devoted Head,
And drive me headlong to th'Infernal Powers.

L. Icil.
Ha! Why these starts? this horror, and this trembling!
Where is Virginia?

Virg.
My Lucius! be advis'd by one who loves thee,
Fate has made thee the God-like Instrument
Of raising up thy Country from a State
Of wretchedness to Liberty and Glory.
Let Rome and Glory be henceforth thy Mistress,
And never think of thy Virginia more.

L. Icil.
Damnation! There has mighty mischief happen'd,
And I can bear no more; where is Virginia?

Virg.
Art thou prepar'd to taste Infernal Horrors?

L. Icil.
Even for the worst of Fates I am prepar'd.

Virg.
If you dar'st see a sight will blast thy Eyes,
Look there, and see where poor Virginia was.

L. Icil.
Hah! where she was indeed,
Ay! here's the dreadful Thunderbolt of Fate,
That drives the lost Icilius to the Grave.
She's gone, for ever gone, the King of Terrors
Lays his rude Hand upon her lovely Limbs,
And blasts her Beauties with his Icy Breath.
The cruel Gods but let her just appear;
Just sent her down from Heaven to shew the Earth
There are Diviner forms, more perfect Beauties,
Than we frail Mortals use t'admire below;
Then greedily they snatch'd her to themselves,
As too Divine to be enjoy'd by Man.

Virg.
Oh Lucius! Lucius!

L. Icil.
Oh my Father!
But for one Hour I will have Truce with woe,
And Vengeance in my Soul shall take its room.

Virg.
Wilt thou Revenge her?

L. Icil.
Will I revenge her? yes, at such a rate,
That even the World's last Age shall hear and
Tremble.
Where is the Wretch who did the dreadful Deed?

Virg.
Then Swear as soon as ee'r he's in thy power
Thou'lt strike thy Dagger to his Impious Heart.

L. Icil.
Then by the Soul of that departed Dear one,
Who hov'ring in the mournful Air attends me,
I Swear that I, that only I will kill him:
As I could bear no Rival in my Love,
So no one in the dear Revenge shall share.

Virg.
Then strike!

L. Icil.
Ha! where?

Virg.
Here.

L. Icil.
What hast thou said? O wretched, wretched Man!
Disastrous Beauty! execrable Tyrant!
And Oh! the woful Father's dire necessity!

Virg.
Why dost thou stand Tormenting a lost Wretch?
Why hast thou not already pierc'd my Heart?

L. Icil.
No,
You held the Dagger, Appius struck the blow,
And he's the Visitant that Hell expects.
Where is the Tyrant?

Virg.
At Fulvius's House that Borders on this Forum,
To which he privately retir'd, to which
He order'd that dead Dog to bring Virginia;
Unless she wou'd consent to be his Wife.

L. Icil.
Damn'd, Damn'd Villain!

Virg.
I who was near him overheard that Order,
Which urg'd Virginia's miserable Fate.

L. Icil.
Then he is wholly ignorant of her Death.

Virg.
He yet can nothing know of what has past.

L. Icil.
Now by th'Avenging Furies here he comes.

Virg.
Attended as he went by only two;
Let us dispatch him instantly.

L. Icil.
No, hold!
Respect the Oath I've taken, and Retire.

Virg.
Farewel! th'accurst Virginius will retire,
But to the place from whence there's no return;
My poor Virginia was the only tye
That held me fast to Life; but she is gone,
And pulls her Father after her.

[Exit.
L. I.
To some small distance you my Friends withdraw,
For I wou'd take the Villain in his height;
Yes, in the height of his presumptuous Pride,
And in the foam of all his blustering Rage.
And when he's most secure, and highest soars,
Than dash him from his Mountains heap'd on Mountains,
And from his affectation of Divinity,
Down, down, to the Abyss; but dash him so
That he may feel the blow, and Dye blaspheming:
Humble his Pride, extinguish his mad rage,
And kill the Tyrant first, and then the Man.

Enter Appius.
L. I.
So the base Murderer starts when he beholds
The fearful Spectre of the Man he Murder'd.

App.
Perdition light upon thee! is it thou?
Know that I started out of Hate, not Fear,
As from an odious thing that shocks my Nature.

L. I.
Yes, by a sure Presage, because she knows
That I am sent by Fate for her Destruction.
But e'er thou dy'st, I'll make thee feel thy Death;
Which that thou may'st, I'll shew thee here a Sight,
That will at once astonish thee, and grieve thee:
[Shews him Fulvius.
Behold one Murder done without thy knowledge!

App.
Hast thou done this? and hop'st t'escape unpunish'd?

L. I.
Has this provok'd thee?
See then another that will make thee rave,
[Shews him Virginia.
And howl and tear thy very Flesh for rage.

App.
May Lightning blast thee, thou hast basely done this,
Because thou had'st no other way to rend her from me.
But by th'immortal, boundless Love I bore her,
I will revenge her, and her Murderer dies.

L. I.
Thou rav'st,
Thy Instruments of Mischief all have left thee.

App.
No matter, thou and all the World shall see,
Appius to kill thee, wants no help but Appius.

L. I.
Now thou shalt see what help Icilius needs,
And what a hideous change one Hour has made
In thy most abject Fortunes; thou art lost,
While thou wer't brooding o'er thy Bestial Lust,
And shunning like a Bird obscene the Day.
The Legions of both Armies have deserted thee,
The Senate have declar'd thy Empire void,
Thy own Flagitious Troops have left thee Naked;
Left thee their Scorn and utter Detestation.
The People raging like the Stormy Main,
Aloud for thy immediate Ruin roar.
See where in waving Crouds they all surround thee,
And at the smallest Signal that I give,
Will like an Inundation pour upon thee.
But yet because 'twill please Virginia's Ghost,
That thou shoud'st Dye by her Icilius hand,
And I have Sworn that only I will Kill thee,
To Single Mortal Combat I defie thee.
Yes, I will kill thy Pride before thy Person;
And thou shalt dye Convicted, thour't so far
From being worthy to Command the Romans,
That thou'rt not equal to the meanest Roman:
No, I, the meanest of the Sons of Rome,
Have Power from Nature and from Fate above thee;
Have Power to take thy Life and Empire from thee.

App.
Back in thy Face I throw thy bold defiance,
Firmly resolv'd to Kill thee or to Dye:
Know next my Ardor to possess Virginia,
My eager'st wish has been to Cope with thee:
And let unequal Gods and partial Fortune,
Dispose of my uncertain Life and Empire
As it seems good to them; I'll make them know
Th'Immortal Greatness of my Mind's my own.
If I do fall by thy most hateful Hand,
I'll fall like Appius still, with such a Look,
With such a Voice, with such a dauntless Mind,
That Gods and Men, and thou thy self shalt own,
Spite of thy Malice, I was Born for Empire;
And that the Man who dar'd like me to Die,
Deserv'd to live to Lord it over thee,
And over all the Romans.

L. I.
This is the Language of thy Pride thy Frenzy,
But Bleeding soon will bring thee to thy self.
Thou hov'ring Soul of my ador'd Virginia,
And thou Immortal Liberty look down,
Behold the dreadful Vengeance that I take.

App.
Thy Deities are absent, mine are here,
My vast Ambition and my own Right Hand,
The only Gods that Appius will invoke.

L. I.
Then perish Appius, and his Gods together.
[Fight, Appius falls.
Now where's thy Pride, thy Rage, and thy
Presumption?
Now where's the Look, the Voice, the dauntless Mind,
That Gods and Men should say deserv'd an Empire?
They're gone, and in their Doom is dismal Horror,
Trouble, Despair, Distraction and Amazement!
That hideous Mein that's fit to welcome Hell,
That passes its Eternal Bounds to meet thee.
Be gone thou Loyterer, dispatch, descend,
Take that for brave Dentatus, that for Rome;
And this, and this, for my most wrong'd Virginia.
Ah! in that Groan he comes, Immortal Radamanthus
The Tyrant comes, prepare him a reception
Which Hell nee'r saw before: Attend ye Furies,
Attend ye Screaming Ghosts of Murder'd Romans;
Behold! your Judge now Sentenc'd in his Turn,
And doom'd to Pains at which the Damn'd will tremble,
And take their own for Joys.

Enter M. Icilius.
M. I.
My Brother!

L. I.
Oh Marcus! Oh my Brother!
Thou art a Stranger to what Fate has done.

M. I.
No, as I came, I met the raving Father,
Who in three Words has told a sadder Tale,
Than all the long Records of time can parallel.
Which made me Fly on all the Wings of Fear,
Lest Grief might hurry thee to something Fatal,
Below the greatness of thy Mind and Name.

L. I.
No Marcus, no my Brother,
The greatness of my Love and of my Grief,
Not by unmanly Moan or black Despair,
But by unparallel'd Revenge I'll shew,
Look there.

M. I.
The Tyrant here extended at his length,
And Slain by thee! It was a God-like Act.

L. I.
That's not enough, for all the Ten must Bleed,
And all their chief Accomplices must fall.

M. I.
Come to Mount Aventine, and thou shalt see
Revenge in all her Pomp, and all her Fury,
Where she impatiently expects thee Lucius.
For there the People and the Legions mingled,
Shew the delighted and the wond'ring Gods,
A Spirit worthy of that chosen Nation,
Predestin'd under them to rule the World:
And great Revenge and Liberty is now
Their Universal Cry. Just as I left them,
Horatius and Valerius were arriv'd,
Who from the Senate brought them the full Grant
Of all their Ancient Rights, their lov'd Appeal,
And power to chuse their Tribunes as before;
On which, thou Lucius first of all wer't nam'd,
The Father of Virginia next was mention'd,
And both with Universal Shout applauded.

L. I.
Suspend we then a while these Traytors Doom,
Till we restore the Ancient Rights of Rome:
Then shall Just Vengeance strike the World with awe,
And make Mankind respect Cœlestial Law,
Which he who breaks, like Appius runs so long,
From less Injustice to more crying Wrong
That some intollerable Crime at last,
Pulls halting Vengeance down for all that's past.

[Exeunt.