 | Virginia |  |
SCENE THE FIRST.
Numitoria, Virginia.Nu.
What thus delays thee? Come: to our abode
Let us return.
Virginia.
Mother, whene'er I pass
This forum, recollections deep and lofty
Delay my progress. It was in this place
That erewhile thunder'd from Icilius' lips
The sentiments of freedom: heard no more:
Absolute power long since has made him mute.
How just are both his anger and his grief!
Nu.
To-day, perhaps, to his so many griefs
May yield some solace, if he truly love thee.
Virginia.
To-day? ... If he sincerely love me? ... Speak! ...
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Virginia, yes: at last thy father hears,
And grants fulfilment to thy fervent wishes:
He from the camp has written, and proposes
Himself to accelerate thy nuptial rites.
Virginia.
Is it then true, that, of my lingering hopes,
I gain at last the object? Dearest mother,
How happy thou hast made me!
Nu.
To Virginius,
Not less than to thyself, for a long time
Icilius has been dear: they both are Romans:
And are so more by actions than by name.
It was not ever possible for thee
To fix more loftily thy partial fondness
Than in Icilius' heart: nor did thy father,
Till equal to thy beauty was thy virtue,
Affiance thee to him: he would thou wert
Worthy Icilius, ere Icilius' spouse.
Virginia.
And does he think me so to-day? oh joy
Immense and unexpected! To obtain
A husband like Icilius, seems to me
The first of every blessing: yet it is
A far superior blessing to deserve him.
Nu.
Thou meritest his hand; and he alone,
Of all the Roman youth, does merit thine;
He that dares shew himself a Roman yet,
While Rome debased in guilty silence stands
Astonish'd, and, though plunged in servitude,
Thinks herself free. Ah, were they like to him,
Th'illustrious traitors to the commonwealth,
Who, while with exultation they recount,
Disgrace, the achievements of their ancestors.
Sense, virtue, valour, uncorrupted faith,
Have, in Icilius' bosom, found a home.
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He is not noble, that for me suffices,
Nor to the tyrants of his country sold:
Hence is he grateful to my unspoil'd heart.
Upon his liberal, enterprising brow,
I see the magnanimity enthroned
That designates a genuine son of Rome.
In these degenerate times, when even they
Who flatter, tremble, his intrepid speech,
His unperturbed heart, his noble rage,
These are the qualities by him possess'd,
Which have enthrall'd the affections of my heart.
Myself plebeian, I dare boast myself
The equal of Icilius; I should weep,
Since I were then to him inferior,
Were I from noble ancestors descended.
Nu.
Thou didst imbibe, e'en with thy milk from me,
A detestation of patrician blood.
Foster that hatred; 'tis their due, who are,
As prosperous accidents, or adverse, rise,
Now proud, now humble, always infamous.
Virginia.
Shall I belie my birth? Thou know'st not, mother,
A cause, which that magnanimous contempt
In me redoubles. I will now relate
Some private injuries hitherto concealed.
Nu.
Let us meanwhile press forward.
Virginia.
Thou shalt hear
To what this beauty, only prized by me,
Since grateful to Icilius, hath exposed me.
| Virginia | |