University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter Ætius in triumph, preceded by martial music; slaves and other ensigns of the vanquished, followed by soldiers and people.
Æt.
Sir, we have conquer'd—to the inclement realms
Of the bleak north, the terror of mankind
Returns a fugitive. Yes, Ætius, first
Of Roman chiefs, can boast that he has seen
Fear seize on Attila. The sun ne'er view'd
A more extensive slaughter; scarce the field
Suffic'd to bear the ghastly piles of slain:
The blood in torrents flow'd; confus'd were heard
Threats and laments, and midst the mingled tumults
Of rage and dread, were blended undistinguish'd,
The brave, the base, the victor and the vanquish'd.
Not long suspended was the victory:
Terror and desperation seiz'd the tyrant;
He fled, and left (that nothing might retard
His hasty flight) to us the full possession
Of all his ill-got spoils. If you demand
A proof of this, behold yon captive bands,
Behold those conquer'd arms and streaming ensigns.

Val.
Ætius, 'tis not o'er Attila alone
Thou now hast triumph'd; in subduing him,
Thou triumph'st o'er the hopes of Valentinian.
Thou fixest on his brows the doubtful wreath;
Thou, once again, to Tiber hast restor'd
His martial honours. To thy fortitude
And valiant arm all Italy must owe
Her liberty and peace.

Æt.
All Italy
Owes not her peace to me. There are who hold it
From their own worth alone. A race of heroes
Meet in the bosom of the Adriatic,
And change to seats of rest the unstable seas.
With many a bridge they join the scatter'd isles,
And with huge works repel the ocean's tide,
While from afar the wondering traveller
Sees mighty walls and marble domes arise,
Where vessels once have sail'd.

Val.
Who has not heard
Of fam'd Antenor's race? To us 'tis known,
That when the flames of war were kindled first
By Attila, they left their fields and towns,
And in the bosom of the seas maintain'd
Their threaten'd liberty: full well we know
What wide extent their rising city forms;
In future times what may we hope to view it,
Since thus its infant state?

Æt.
Cæsar, I trace
The seeds of mighty actions yet to come:
The subject seas shall fear this people's nod;
The rage of powerful kings they shall resist;
Shall bear to distant realms their spreading sails,
And Asia's purple tyrants strike with fear.

Val.
The happy omens Heaven succeed!—Meanwhile
[descends from his throne.
My guardian thou, my falling empire's safety,
Within these arms receive a pledge of love.
What gifts have I to recompense thy worth,
Since all I have thy virtue has bestow'd,
And still must guard them mine? But know, 'midst all
My power, thou, Ætius, art my noblest treasure.

[Exit with Varus and Prætors.