University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

A hall of a prison, several passages leading to different dungeons. Guards at the entrance of the dungeons.
Enter Honoria.
[entering, to a guard.]
Let Ætius be conducted hither—See
The imperial signet speaks the will of Cæsar.
—His danger gives new ardour to my passion,
And pity for his suffering fans the flame
That glows within me, till the united force
Of love and soft compassion in my breast
Is but a sole affection. See he comes!
With what a haughty mien and firm deportment!
He must be innocent, or never, never,
Can outward looks bespeak the secret heart.

SCENE II.

Enter Ætius in chains, from one of the dungeons, guards attending.
Æt.
[advancing to Hon.]
These are thy brother's gifts.
[shews his chains.
Couldst thou, Honoria,
Have e'er believ'd what now thy eyes behold?
A few short moments change the fate of Ætius:
At setting sun thou saw'st me crown'd with laurels,
And seest me, with the dawning day, in chains.

Hon.
Ætius, each mortal born must feel the force
Of Fortune's sway. Thou art not leader, first
To prove her fickle change. It rests with thee
To amend her late injustice: at my suit,
Cæsar forgets his wrath; he loves thee, Ætius,
Forgives the past, and claims thee for his friend.

Æt.
Can it be possible?

Hon.
Yes: Cæsar asks
This sole return; secure his future peace:
Disclose the secret plan of impious treason,
And thou art free. What less can Cæsar ask?

Æt.
Little indeed he seeks—He wills that Ætius
Accuse himself through fear: my innocence
Must be the sacrifice to raise his pride,
And make him seem more generous; well he knows
My loyal truth, and blushes thus to wrong me:
Hence would he wish to find me criminal,
Or see my death.

Hon.
Let not thy haughty spirit
Thus justify his anger: if thou art innocent,
With modest, calm demeanour, plead thy cause,
Take from him every power to find thee guilty,
Nor leave to Cæsar courage to condemn thee.

Æt.
I have not yet, Honoria, learnt such baseness
To save a wretched life.

Hon.
Thou runn'st on death.

Æt.
Then let me die: death is not sure the worst
Of human ills, which frees us from the converse
Of wicked men.

Hon.
Thou shouldst consider, Ætius,
Thou yet hast liv'd but little for thy country.

Æt.
We must not measure life by years, but deeds;
The base, Honoria, useless to mankind,
And worthless to themselves, who never felt
The godlike flame of glory, though they drag
An age of being, cannot boast they live.
But those, who tread the paths, which I have trod,
Though short their date of life have liv'd enough.

Hon.
If thy own safety cannot move thee, Ætius,
Think of my peace—

Æt.
What say'st thou?

Hon.
Yes—I love thee—
I can no more dissemble—when I fear
The loss of Ætius, I forget my wrongs,
And pride of rank but little guards my weakness.

Æt.
And is Honoria one that counsels Ætius
To learn humility? By such distinction
She but inflames his pride. O! could I bend
My soul to love, as I admire, thy virtue—
Then suffer me to die, the heart that feels
Another wound, would live to thee ungrateful.

Hon.
Live, though ingrate—take from me every hope,
Despise me still, be cruel still—but live:
Or if thou hatest life, as dear to me,
Yet seek a death more worthy of thy courage,
And die a conqueror, wielding glorious arms,
Envied, not pitied by the gazing world.

Æt.
In prison, or in battle, Ætius knows
To give a great example how to die:
Even here my fate shall kindle virtuous envy.

[Exit to the dungeon, guarded.
Hon.
Heavens! what undaunted courage! to the last
He meets his fate with triumph! how I tremble!

SCENE III.

Enter Valentinian.
Val.
My sister, hast thou aught obtain'd from Ætius?
Does he relent?

Hon.
O no! he's still unshaken.

Val.
This I foresaw: then let him bear the forfeit;
'Twere now beneath my dignity to save him.

Hon.
And yet I cannot think him criminal:
Such firmness argues sure a mind unspotted.

Val.
It rather proves his guilt; the traitor trusts
In popular opinion—he shall die.

Hon.
Think better, Cæsar, Ætius dead may prove
A foe more to be fear'd than Ætius living.

Val.
What would'st thou counsel then?

Hon.
Seek out some way
To bend his stubborn temper; try by mildness
To wrest his secret from him.

Val.
Say, what means
Have I not prov'd?

Hon.
The only certain means.
Ætius I see in love is vulnerable:
You must assail him there: he dotes on Fulvia;
Make him this sacrifice; resign her to him.

Val.
How easy 'tis to give to others counsel
Which pains not the adviser.

Hon.
Sir, my counsel
Holds forth my own example: know I love
No less than thee: with thee I lose my all:
Thy heart is Fulvia's, and I sigh for Ætius.

Val.
Dost thou love Ætius?

Hon.
O! too well I love him:
Judge if I gave thee then so lightly counsel.

Val.
Hard is the task my sister now enjoins.

Hon.
Thy courage and thy virtue both united
Shall shame thy fortune. Let a woman teach
Augustus fortitude.

Val.
O Heaven!

Hon.
Be now
The victor o'er thyself, and let thy subjects
Learn hence the heart of Cæsar.

Val.
'Tis enough:
Send Fulvia hither—this shall too be tried.
O! didst thou know the struggle of my soul,
How hard the contest!

Hon.
From my own too well
I feel thy sufferings: yet submit to bear them:
'Tis some relief to know, that not alone
We feel those pangs, in which another shares.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.

Valentinian
alone.
Call Varus to me straight. [to an attendant without.]
If he refuse
To yield to this excess of clemency,
He shall not live a moment.

Enter Varus.
Varus.
Cæsar.

Val.
Hear me;
Dispose thy trustiest soldiers near conceal'd
In the dark dungeon's entrance; and when Ætius
Shall quit this place, if thou behold'st him singly,
And issue unaccompanied by Cæsar,
Let him be slain.

Varus.
I shall obey: but know'st thou
What tumult has been rais'd by Ætius' seizure?

Val.
I know it all—for this has Maximus
Provided well.

Varus.
'Tis true—but yet I fear—

Val.
No more—obey my will, and take good heed
The deed be secret, dost thou understand me?

Varus.
I understand thee well.

[Exit.

SCENE V.

Valentinian
alone.
[to the guards at the dungeon.]
Bring once again
The prisoner hither. Hence my just resentment!
Deep in my heart be now my hatred buried,
Nor let my looks betray the war within.

SCENE VI.

Enter Maximus.
Max.
All tumult is appeas'd, and Cæsar now
May hasten, at his will, the fate of Ætius:
Rome will applaud, and all thy friends expect it.

Val.
What mean'st thou, Maximus? 'twill then be said
That Valentinian is a rude barbarian,
Impious, unjust—it fits us now to follow
Another bright example.

Max.
Wherefore! say—

Val.
Peace: Ætius comes.

SCENE VII.

Enter Ætius in chains.
Max.
What counsel thus has mov'd him?

[aside.
Æt.
Call'd from my dungeon, here I came, prepar'd
To meet a punishment unmerited,
But find a greater—I behold Augustus.

Val.
[aside.]
Unheard-of boldness!—Ætius, let us speak
No more of hatred.—See me now thy friend:
My rigour I detest and come resolv'd—

Æt.
I know it well—the rest I'm not to learn,
Honoria has prevented thee: enough:
If thou hast nothing further to impart,
I shall regain my prison—but even now
I commun'd with Honoria.

Val.
Yet she knew not
What Valentinian means to offer Ætius.

Æt.
I heard it all: she nam'd my liberty,
The former friendship and the love of Cæsar,
Thy purpos'd gifts.

Val.
Yet she conceal'd the greatest.

SCENE VIII.

Enter Fulvia.
Behold that gift.

[pointing to Fulv.
Æt.
Fulvia!

Max.
What can this mean!
My soul is chill'd.

[aside.
Fulv.
Would Cæsar aught with Fulvia?

Val.
[to her.]
Attend in silence. [to Æt.]
Such a proferr'd blessing
Excites thy wonder: it exceeds belief:
But all thy fears are vain: my word is given,
And thus confirm'd. Ætius, receive her hand

Æt.
What sacrifice is ask'd from me to ensure
The dear possession here?

Val.
I ask but little:
Through love thou art guilty; and who lives a lover,
With ease forgives such guilt: I ask but this;
Truth undisguis'd: reveal thy whole design;
Let me entreat thee: let not Cæsar still
Be girt with constant fears.

Æt.
My love, farewell!
[to Fulvia.
Lead once more to my prison.

Val.
Shall I then
Endure such insolence?

[aside.
Fulv.
Alas!

Val.
Yet hear me—
[to Ætius.
And wilt thou thus, still obstinate in silence,
Forsake that Fulvia, prov'd to thee so faithful?
Speak, Ætius!—Yet the traitor answers not.

[aside.
Max.
What danger threatens!

[aside.
Val.
Dost thou hear me, Ætius?
Know'st thou to thee I speak? Are words of mine
Such as a criminal like thee should scorn?

Æt.
In speaking thus, thou canst not speak to Ætius.

Val.
[aside.]
'Tis now resolv'd—Guards—

Fulv.
[to Val.]
Let your anger first
Be turn'd on me.

Val.
[to Fulv.]
Canst thou not yet be silent?—
Release the prisoner.

[his chains are taken off.
Æt.
Ha!

Fulv.
What do I see!

Max.
O Heavens!

Val.
At length I know thy innocence:
Such firmness to reject a spouse belov'd,
Dwells not with him that's guilty—I repent
My rigour, Ætius; but succeeding gifts
Shall heal the unjust offence of past suspicion—
Go—Fulvia is thy own—and thou art free.

Fulv.
O happy change!

Æt.
Now, now, indeed my soul
First feels confusion—Who could e'er have hop'd
Such virtues in a rival and a monarch?
Thus to resign the treasure of his soul,
Thus to forget—

Val.
Haste then—Impatient Rome
Expects thy presence: bless her longing sight;
Banish her fears: there will be time enough
For fair exchange of mutual love and friendship.

Æt.
I blush to recollect my late demeanour—
A gift like this, Augustus—

Val.
Ætius, go
And learn henceforth the heart of Valentinian.

Æt.

[Exit.

SCENE IX.

Valentinian, Fulvia, Maximus.
Val.
Go then and take thy fate.

[aside.
Max.
My hopes are lost!

[aside.
Fulv.
Most generous prince! on thee may righteous Heaven
Return that happiness thou giv'st to Fulvia!
Thy goodness ever shall be treasur'd here;
Yet, ah! permit me on this sacred hand
To seal my grateful vows.

Val.
No, Fulvia—stay,
Be first my gift complete: thou know'st not yet
How far it leaves thy every vow behind,
How far exceeds thy hopes.

Max.
What dost thou, Cæsar?
This mercy now misleads thee.

Val.
Thou shalt see
That mercy not misleads, nor Cæsar errs;
All cares and fears shall end.

Max.
What peace can follow
If Ætius be releas'd?

SCENE X.

Enter Varus.
Val.
Varus, is now
My will obey'd?

Varus.
Cæsar, thy will's obey'd,
Ætius is dead.

Fulv.
What say'st thou! Ætius dead!

Varus.
My faithful soldiers in the pass surpris'd him,
Nor had he time for fear, his breast transfix'd
Receiv'd the weapon's point—he groan'd and fell!

Max.
O unexpected chance!

[aside.
Fulv.
O! Heavens! I faint—

[leans against the scene.
Val.
Haste, hide from every eye his bloody vestments,
And let the death of Ætius be conceal'd
From each that owns his cause.

Varus.
It shall be done.

[Exit.
Val.
And still is Fulvia silent? 'Tis thy time
To speak—and wherefore dost thou now forbear
To praise this generous prince?

Fulv.
Inhuman tyrant!
I cannot speak—unhappy, wretched Ætius!

Max.
Permit her, Cæsar, for awhile to indulge
The first impulse of grief.

SCENE XI.

Enter Honoria.
Hon.
Most gladsome tidings
I bring to Cæsar's ear.

Val.
What says Honoria?
Her cheerful looks betoken happiness.

Hon.
Ætius is innocent.

Val.
How! innocent!

Hon.
Æmilius has confess'd.—I found the traitor
Conceal'd in my apartment, parting life
Scarce breathing on his lips.

Max.
Distracting chance!

[aside.
Val.
In thy apartment?

Hon.
Yes: wounded by thee,
He there had lurk'd the live-long night conceal'd:
From him I learn'd the innocence of Ætius:
The dying, Cæsar, never can deceive us.

Val.
But did he not reveal the wretch whose guilt
Urg'd him to Cæsar's death?

Hon.
He said, the guilty
Was one most dear to Cæsar, one by him
Injur'd in love.

Val.
His name?

Hon.
He strove to speak it,
Collecting on his lips his fleeting soul,
But buried with a sigh the name within him.

Val.
O inauspicious fate!

Max.
O dangerous trial!

[aside.
Fulv.
Now, tyrant, speak—say was my consort guilty?
Or justly punish'd? What avails to me
Thy vain regret for Ætius innocent?
Who, cruel man, shall now restore his life?

Hon.
What say'st thou, Fulvia? Ætius dead!

Fulv.
He's dead!
Ah! princess, fly thy barbarous brother's sight;
A ruthless savage, that delights in blood,
In guiltless blood—let him be shunn'd by each;
He mocks at all remorse—he knows no horror
For such a deed; forgets his fame, his honour;
Thy life, Honoria, is not safe.

Hon.
Inhuman!
And could'st thou then—

Val.
Alas! forbear, Honoria,
Insult me not—I know, I own my crime;
But ah! I merit pity more than blame.
Yet counsel now my fears: all present here
Are dearest to my heart; in which of these
Shall I explore the traitor? When, alas!
I know not which of these I e'er have wrong'd?

Hon.
Not wrong'd!—Then let thy thoughts recall the past,
Remember Maximus his spouse: remember
Thy love that laid its snares for female honour.

Max.
What means to save me now!

[aside.
Val.
And must I think
That mindless of my favours since conferr'd,
His soul still broods relentless o'er a vain
And youthful transport?

Hon.
Know'st thou not the offender
Forgets the offense he gave, the offended never?

Fulv.
What danger threats my father!

[aside.
Val.
Ah! too truly
Thou speak'st, but say, in this extreme, Honoria,
What course remains?

Hon.
Com'st thou to me for counsel?
Since thou alone hast brought this evil on thee,
Be it thine alone, O tyrant! now to heal it.

[Exit.

SCENE XII.

Valentinian, Maximus, Fulvia.
Max.
Cæsar, thou ill repay'st my loyal truth,
If thou suspect'st it now.

Val.
Honoria's words
Have rouz'd me from my lethargy: the occasion
Calls on thee, Maximus, to clear thy honour;
Since still the criminal remains conceal'd,
In thee I must believe him.

Max.
Wherefore, Cæsar?
What deed of mine? Must then Honoria fix
The guilt of Maximus?—Is this thy justice?

Fulv.
Unhappy father!

Val.
Certain are my fears.
Æmilius, dying, nam'd the traitor one
Dear to my heart; one whom I wrong'd in love:
All this too plainly, Maximus, to thee
Refers, to thee alone—If thou art guiltless
Produce the proofs; meanwhile my safety bids
Secure thy person—

Fulv.
[aside.]
Gracious powers! assist me.

Val.
What other bosom could have nurs'd such treason?
Ho, guards!

Fulv.
[to Val.]
Barbarian, hear—'tis I am guilty:
I to Æmilius gave the deathful charge;
I am that hapless one so dear to Cæsar;
I, cruel man, am one you wrong'd in love,
When late you profferr'd Ætius to Honoria.
Had not the stars been adverse to my wishes,
Vengeance had now been mine, my spouse had reign'd,
The world and Rome no longer then had groan'd
Beneath a tyrant's heart and powerless hand:
Delusive hopes and unpropitious stars!

Max.
[aside.]
O! pious fraud!

Val.
My soul is lost with wonder!

Fulv.
[aside.]
Save but my father, perish all mankind.

Val.
[to Fulv.]
Could'st thou contrive, pursue so black a treason,
And canst thou own it too?

Fulv.
The guiltless Ætius
Dies for my crime, and shall I suffer too
My father innocent to die for Fulvia?

Val.
Then Maximus at least is true?

Max.
Augustus,
I now am criminal—Since impious she
Has in oblivion steep'd her sacred faith,
The father's guilty in the daughter's crime.
Punish—secure thy safety with my death:
That partial love, which every bosom feels
For its own offspring, may some future day
Corrupt a father's truth.

Val.
Fate, as thou wilt
Dispose me now, I yield me to thy mercy:
I'm weary of suspense: if life demand
Such anxious cares, it is not worth my keeping—
In these extremes of doubt I find new courage,
And resolution strengthens from despair.

[Exit.

SCENE XIII.

Maximus, Fulvia.
Max.
At length he's gone. By thee I live, my daughter,
By thee I breathe—How did I struggle late
To hide my tender feelings! Let me now,
O let me clasp thee to my eager bosom,
My hope, my dear support, my life's preserver!

[would embrace her.
Fulv.
Away, inhuman father!

[drawing back.
Max.
Why, my daughter,
Why dost thou shun me thus?

Fulv.
All, all my sufferings
I date from thee—Suffice it, that to save thee
I have accus'd myself: O! hence, nor call
To my remembrance what for thee I've lost,
What by thy guilt I am, and what thou art.

Max.
And would'st thou still forbid a grateful father
To pay love's faithful tribute—come—

[would embrace her.
Fulv.
In pity
Leave me at peace—If thou would'st prove thee grateful,
Unsheath thy sword, my father, kill me, kill me:
With tears a daughter begs this recompense,
Begs from a parent whom she has preserv'd.

Max.

[Exit.

SCENE XIV.

Fulvia
alone.
Wretch that I am! Is this the air of Tiber
That Fulvia breathes? Or rove I through the paths
Of Thebes and Argos? Or from Grecian shores,
Fertile in impious deeds, domestic furies,
From Cadmus' or Atrides' fatal race,
Have visited these climes; while there a stern
Ungrateful monarch fills my soul with horror,
A barbarous father here, with treacherous guilt,
Freezes the springs of life; and ever present
A guiltless husband skims before my sight!
O fatal images! O dire remembrance!
Distracting thoughts, yet still I breathe and live!

[Exit.

SCENE XV.

The capitol. A crowd of people.
Maximus
without his mantle, Conspirators.
Tremble, O Rome! the dread of Attila,
The unconquer'd chief, thy great deliverer falls,
And falls by whom? The envy of Augustus
Has murder'd Ætius: such rewards as these
A tyrant's hand bestows. What hope is ours
From him whose rage oppresses worth like this?
Romans, revenge your hero: call to mind
Your ancient glory; from a shameful yoke
Release your country; from impending danger
Defend your fame, yourselves, your wives and children.

[going.

SCENE XVI.

Enter Varus.
Varus.
Hold, Maximus, what more than rebel madness
Inflames thee thus?

Max.
Cease, Varus, or consent
To aid my purpose—All who love their country
Unsheath the sword and follow—Lo! the place
[pointing to the capitol, all draw their swords.
Shall give to Rome her freedom and dominion.

[Exit with the rest towards the capitol.

SCENE XVII.

Varus
alone.
O! impious man; he leads to death the guiltless,
Then calls on Rome to avenge his own misdeeds.
Go then—but such designs shall fatal prove
To him whose heart conceiv'd them—Traitor, go!
—But hark! what sudden tumult fills my ears.
[trumpets and alarms.

[Exit.

SCENE XVIII.

The imperial guards are seen descending from the capitol fighting with the conspirators. The skirmish over, Valentinian appears without his mantle, defending himself with his drawn sword against two of the conspirators.
Enter Maximus with his sword drawn.
Val.
Ah! traitors!— [sees Max.]
Welcome, friend, thou com'st in time
To give thy sovereign aid.

[to Max.
Max.
[to his party.]
Forbear—'tis mine
To take the tyrant's life.

SCENE XIX.

Enter Fulvia.
Fulv.
What means my father?

Max.
To punish tyranny.

Val.
Is this the faith
Of Maximus?

Max.
Enough have I dissembled:
What though Æmilius ill perform'd my bidding,
Thou by this hand shalt perish.

Val.
Impious traitor!

Fulv.
That sword shall never reach the breast of Cæsar
Till first a father takes his daughter's life.

Max.
Augustus, perish!

SCENE XX.

Enter Ætius, Varus, with swords drawn, and soldiers.
Æt., Varus.
No, Augustus, live!

Fulv.
Ætius!

Val.
What do I see!

Max.
Unlook'd-for chance!

[throws away his sword.
SCENE LAST.
Enter Honoria.
Hon.
Is Cæsar safe?

Val.
Behold by whom he lives.

[points to Æt.
Hon.
[to Æt.]
What God, O chief, preserv'd thy life?

Æt.
The zeal
And piety of Varus.

Val.
How!

Varus.
I feign'd
His death completed—I deceiv'd thee, Cæsar,
But sav'd in Ætius thy deliverer.

Fulv.
O fair deceit!

Æt.
Heaven justly has decreed you
To owe your days, O Cæsar, to the hand
You deem'd unfaithful—Live—for Ætius seeks
No nobler triumph, and if still your mind
Harbours the smallest doubt of Ætius' loyalty,
Behold him once again a yielded prisoner.

Val.
Exalted hero! 'tis thyself alone
Can equal worth like thine: clasp'd to my breast,
Receive this pledge of penitence and love.
Behold thy bride. Honoria shall prepare
To be the spouse of Attila: I know
She gladly will resign thy generous hand
To constant Fulvia.

Hon.
To such matchless truth
This sacrifice is little.

Æt.
Happy hour!

Fulv.
Transporting pleasure!

Æt.
At our prayers, Augustus,
Grant Varus pardon, Maximus his life.

Val.
To such a pleader nothing is denied.

Chorus.
In life's uncertain track 'tis given
The mind of erring man to stray,
But Innocence, the star from Heaven,
Directs through shades our doubtful way.