University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

(without the Camp.)
Enter Manlius.
MANLIUS.
He's gone;
My Junius, to assay my prudence, flies,
And leaves me to indulge those secret thoughts
Which henceforth have prov'd foes to Reason's voice.
Let my warm fancy own her sober sway;
Nor, like a mettled steed, defy controul,
And spurn the even rein. But hither comes,
With pensive step, the great Porsenna's friend,
Our noble chief Lentellus.

Enter Lentellus.
LENTELLUS.
(apparently surprised on beholding Manlius).
Welcome, our army's pride, whom long I've sought—
How fares the noble Manlius?

MANLIUS.
More eager after fame, since thus he hears
The lavish'd praise from one so great in power
As brave Lentellus.

LENTELLUS.
Thou hast a soldier's mind; a breast that glows
With reverence for Etruria and thy friends.

MANLIUS.
I'd freely bleed to aid my country's rights,
And die to serve the chosen of my soul.

LENTELLUS.
I know thou wou'dst—
And to revenge thy kindred and thy friend.

MANLIUS.
If treachery dealt the blow, I'd seek revenge,
And compass it, tho' in the jaws of death.

LENTELLUS.
Manlius, thou had'st once a brother—

MANLIUS.
I had, Lentellus; and a brother's love
Still mourns his ashes long inurn'd in death.

LENTELLUS.
He bravely fell—and by a Roman hand.

MANLIUS.
He died that death which best befits a man—
Covered with honor's wounds; with gashes gain'd
In brave defence of all we should hold dear,
Our land, our gods, our king, and liberty.

LENTELLUS.
Wou'dst thou embrace thy brother's murderer,
In chains and at thy will?

MANLIUS.
'Twas not th'assassin's steel that drank his blood;
'Twas man 'gainst man. A Roman arm oppos'd,
And fought his country's cause, as did my brother:
Such is no murderer: yet such a man
I cou'd not fondly link within my arms;
All Nature wou'd cry shame upon the deed.
Yet being quite defenceless, I wou'd scorn
Ignoble vengeance—To the upright soul,
No arms so strongly shield a foe from death,
As when in chains he waits upon your mercy.

LENTELLUS.
But in the field—

MANLIUS
(hastily interrupting him).
I'd hunt him, till he own'd my conquering steel,
Or sent my soul to seek my brother's shade.

LENTELLUS.
Revenge might have been thine.

MANLIUS.
Ye gods! and did it 'scape me in the field?
Then curse the dire mischance.

LENTELLUS.
But for Porsenna, it might still be thine.

MANLIUS.
Porsenna!

LENTELLUS.
Aye!
His wav'ring soul to Rome wou'd fain grant peace:
He shrinks at slaughter and a just revenge.

MANLIUS.
What mean'st thou, noble chief?

LENTELLUS.
But for Porsenna, Rome is in our power,
And ample vengeance thine.

MANLIUS.
Rome at our mercy!

LENTELLUS.
By famine, flame, and sword assail'd.

MANLIUS.
And therefore on a fallen foe, must I
Most dastard-like deal out revenge?—Never—
No—rather wither these my sinews up;
Grow stiff my joints, and blast my bud of youth,
Ere Manlius stoop to such dishonor.

LENTELLUS
(aside).
His virtues mar my plann'd intent.—Treason,
Thy flame will never kindle in his breast:
Let love and jealousy my purpose work.
(Aloud)
Manlius, thy virtues now blaze forth indeed;
I've rous'd them into action, and applaud
That gentle mercy which thou dost uphold.
Forgive me, if to learn thy inmost thoughts
I practis'd fraud: but friendship urg'd me thus
To teach my tongue the language of deceit.

MANLIUS.
I'm much beholden to Lentellus' love.

LENTELLUS
(with apparent feeling).
I wou'd thy friendship and thy fervent love
Met the desert they merit.

MANLIUS.
What means my chief?

LENTELLUS.
Does thy soul own no touch of tenderness?
Is no fair form engraven there?

MANLIUS
(with anxiety).
Speak, I conjure you.

LENTELLUS.
Know'st thou the name of Silvia?

MANLIUS
(strenuously).
I do! I do!

LENTELLUS.
Thou hast a friend—

MANLIUS
(fervently).
Aye, and a tried one, too.

LENTELLUS.
Then mark my words, most noble, generous youth!
Trust not thy love—and of thy friend beware;
Beware of Junius.

[Exit—Manlius vainly endeavouring to detain him.
MANLIUS.
What damning words were those:
“Trust not thy love, and of thy friend beware!”
What wild contagion thro' my soul they spread,
And give me up to racking doubts and fears?
Will the bless'd gods to vice propitious prove?
Will Justice' even scale preponderate,
And with the guilty side? Will Phœbus turn
His wonted course? Will Nature sterile prove?
Or Virtue copulate with Vice? Such things
Were likelier far than that my love and friend
Should both prove false.—But see where Junius comes—
Beneath that front, can villany reside?
See how he smiles—the very seal of Truth
Is stamp'd upon his brow.—But why those words?
What should Lentellus thus to baseness urge?
Again I rage with jealousy and love.

Enter Silvia.
SILVIA.
Why this disordered mien? this glaring eye?
Those limbs convuls'd? Oh, speak! unveil thy soul,
And let not Junius long entreat in vain.

MANLIUS.
His voice; his air;—ye gods! 'tis basely false,
Else could I all my sum of rage retain?
Could guilt the searching eye of truth defy,
And not be blasted with the gaze?—'Tis false,
'Tis calumny; my Junius is my friend.

SILVIA
(feelingly).
And did thy mind e'er harbour doubt? Just heav'n!
That Manlius ever should mistrust his friend!

MANLIUS.
That look! that starting tear!—it cannot be—
For ever from my mem'ry blot the thought—
And take the wanderer Junius to my heart—

(they embrace.)
SILVIA.
Yet why the motive of these doubts conceal?
Explain—that I may vindicate my truth.

MANLIUS.
By our dear friendships, I entreat thee cease,
Nor further urge my speech.

SILVIA.
To prove my friendship, I'm for ever mute,
Since Manlius will it so. We'll to the camp,
And there forget the past.

MANLIUS.
Lead on—thy friend attends thee.
[Exit Silvia.
Lentellus shall the secret source unfold
Of this base calumny. I'll question home,
And either prove my friend and Silvia false,
Or gain the liar's name, and vengeance take
For this detested machination.

[Exit.