Horatius and still after them Thy name shall remain great illustrious famous though the occasion lesse high or resplendent deceives the unjust expectation of th' ignorant vulgar Hate then life no more at least live for me and to serve thy King and Country longer Sir I 've said too much but th' affair concerns you and all Rome speaks by my mouth Val. Sir suffer me Tull. Valerius it is enough your sound discourse by theirs is not defac'd I keep yet in my spirit the pressing'st reasons on 't and all your arguments are present with me still this hainous action almost before our eyes doth injure nature and even wounds the Gods A sudden motion of anger that produceth such a crime cannot excuse him lawfully the Lawes that are the least severe condemn the act and if we follow them he 's worthy death If otherwise we will look on the guilty this crime though great hainous and inexcusable proceeds from the same sword and arm that makes me now Master of two States Two Scepters in my hand and Alba subject unto Rome speak highly in the favour of his life Had it not been for him I should have yeelded obedience whereas now I give forth lawes and should be subject whereas now I am twice Soveraigne There are in all the Provinces many good subjects that by feeble prayers only acquit themselves toward their Princes all can love them but all cannot assure their States by some illustrious actions and th' art and power to establish Crowns are gifts which heav'n gives but to some choice persons such servants are the wealth and strength of Kings and also are to be above the Lawes let them be silent then let Rome dissemble what from her birth she sees in Romulus She can well suffer in her Liberator what she hath suffered in her first Authour Live then Horatius live magnanimous souldier thy Vertue sets thy glory 'bove thy crime It s generous heat produced thy offence th' effect of such a fair cause must be suffer'd Live to doe service to the State but love Valerius let not any hate nor anger remain between you and whether he follow'd or love or duty without any sentiment resolve to see him Hearken lesse Sabina unto the grief that presseth you remove from this great heart those marks of imbecilitie in drying of your tears you 'l shew your self true Sister of those Brothers you lament But we do owe to morrow to the Gods a sacrifice and should have heaven but little propitious to us if our Priests before the action finde not out the means to purge it His father shall take care on 't I believe it will not be hard for him to appease Camilla's Ghost I do deplore her fortune and to give to it what her amorous spirit may happily desire since in one day an equall heat of one and the same zeal finish'd her Lovers destinie and hers it is our will that one day as a witnesse of their two deaths may see in the earth's wombe their bodies laid and shut up in one tombe The King riseth and all follow him but Julia Jul. Camilla thus heaven well advertis'd thee what tragicall events were to succeed but alwayes it conceals a part o'th'secret even from the most refin'd and clearest spirits It seem'd to speak of thy approaching marriage it seem'd to promise all things to thy prayers and hiding so from us thy sudden death it's voyce too truly hath deceiv'd our sense Thy pray'rs are heard Alba and Rome shall be to morrow in a fair Confaederacie And thou with Curiatius shalt be joyn'd never to part So have the Gods enjoyn'd FINIS
Sr Wm Lower Pub May 21 1800 by WRichardson No 31 strond HORATIUS A ROMAN TRAGEDIE BY Sir WILLIAM LOWER KNIGHT LONDON Printed for G. BEDELL and T. COLLINS and are to be sold at their Shop at the Middle Temple Gate Fleetstreet 1656. The ACTORS TULLUS King of Rome The old HORATIUS A Roman Knight HORATIUS his Son CURIATIUS A Gentleman of Alba Lover of Camilla VALERIUS A Roman Knight in love with Camilla SABINA Wife to Horatius and Sister to Curiatius CAMILLA Mistresse to Curiatius and Sister to Horatius JULIA A Roman Lady friend to Sabina and Camilla FLAVIAN A Souldier in the Army of Alba PROCULUS A Souldier in the Army of Rome The Scene is at Rome in a Hall of Horatius house HORATIUS A ROMANE TRAGEDIE ACTUS Primus SCENA Prima Sabina Julia Sabina A Pprove my weakness and suffer my griefe It is but too just in so great a misery such storms as these ready to powr upon them will shake the stoutest courages the least dejected masc'line Spirit without disorder can't exercise its Vertue although mine receive amazement at these rude alarmes the trouble of my heart can nothing worke upon my teares and amongst all the sighs it send's to Heaven my constancy raignes still over mine eyes When one doth stop the course of the Souls sadness and affliction though it be less then man 't is more then woman in this extremity to command teares is to shew strength enough in our weake sex Julia Enough and too much for a common Soul that from the meanest danger doth expect but one misfortune a great heart doth scorne such an abasement it despaires of nothing though in occurrents doubtful the two armies stand in battalia before our walls but Rome knows not yet how to lose a field we need not fear her rather le ts applaud her since she goes forth to fight she goes to conquer then banish banish quite so vaine a fear and conceive brave desires worthy a Romane Sabina I am a Romane since my Hushands is so marriage makes me embrace Romes interest but it should hold my heart like a chain'd slave if it did make me to forget the place where I was born Alba where I began to breath my first aire Alba my deare Country and my first love when between us and thee I see the war commenc'd I feare our Victory as much as our destruction Rome if thou complain'st that I am partial herein fix upon enemies that I may hate When I see drawn up'fore thy walls both Armies my three brave Brothers in the one and my undaunted Husband in the other can I pray for thee and without impiety importune Heaven for thy felicity I know thy State yet in its infancy cannot without war fix its puissance I know it must grow great and that thy destinies will not at home be bounded with the Latins I know the Gods have promised to thee the Empire of the Earth and that thou can'st not See th' effect of it but by the war so far am I from off'ring to oppose this thirst of Glory which obeyes so readily the Gods decrees and posteth to thy greatness that I would see thy Crowned Troops already pass the Pyrenees carry thy battalions into the East plaint thy Pavillions upon the banks of Rhine make the proud columns of Hercules to shake under thy feet But love a town to whom thou owest Romulus Ingratful know that from her Kings rich blood thou tak'st thy name thy walls and thy first laws Alba is thy original stay and wisely consider that thou carryest the sword into thy Mothers bosome turn elsewhere the force of thy triumphant armes her joy will breake forth in her childrens happiness and overcome with a maternal love her prayers will be for thee if thou art not against her Julia This discourse surpriseth me since from the time that we first arm'd against her people I have seen so much indifference in you for her as if you had been born within our walls I admired in you the vertue that reduc'd your dearest interests unto your husbands and did pity you in the mid'st of your plaints as if our Rome had caused all your fears Sabina Whil'st they encountered but in light skirmishes not strong enough to cast each other down whil'st a glad hope of peace flatter'd my trouble it is true I tooke a vanity to be all Romane if I saw Rome prevail with some regret I suddenly condemn'd this secret motion again if I resented in her contrary success any malignant joy in favour of my three brothers suddenly to smother it calling my reason to me I lamented when Glory entered into their house But now alas that one of them must fall that Alba become slave or that Rome sinke and that after the battel there remaine no obstacle more to the conquerours nor hope unto the conquered I should shew an unnatural hate unto my Country if I could be all Romane yet and should ask of the Gods your triumph at the price of so much blood which is so precious to me I tye me not so strictly to the interest of a man that I should forget my Country I 'm not for Alba nor am I for Rome I am afraid for one and for the other in this last conflict and must be of that side which fortune shall afflict indifferent to both untill the Victory I will participate the ils without assuming any thing of the glory and will keep my tears in store for the conquered party and my hate for the conquerours Julia How often we see such traverses as these arise in diverse spirits diverse passions In this Camilla acts clean contrary her brother is your Husband yours her Lover but she sees with an eye far different from yours her blood in one camp and her Love in th' other when you did conserve a spirit all Romane hers irresolute and fearful incertain fear'd the storm of the least mixture of either party hated the advantage to the misfortune of the vanquished still gave her plaints and so she nourished eternal griefes but yesterday when she understood that the Armies did advance resolved to joyn battaile on her brow a sudden joy appear'd Sabina Oh Julia how I fear so quick a change Yesterday in her faire and pleasant humour she entertain'd Valerius without doubt she quits my brother for this happy rival her spirit shaken by the present objects finds nothing amiable in an absent one after two yeers But pray excuse the heat of a fraternal love the care I have of him doth make me fear all things from her I frame suspitions from too light a subject The day of battel is unfit to change with a new dart few hearts are wounded then in so great trouble one hath other thoughts But who can have such pleasant entertainments and such contentments as may equall hers Julia The causes are as obscure unto me as unto you I can't he satisfied by any thought any conjecture on 't 't is constancy
this weakness Sister quarrel with Heaven and Earth curse envious fortune but think no more of death after the combat Sir I will leave you but a moment with her since we must go together where bright honour doth call us Exit Horatius SCENA V Camilla Curiatius Cam. Wilt thou go my deare Heart art thou pleas'd with this fatall honour so farre as to purchase it at the expense of all our happiness Curiat Alas I see I must do what I can either of grief die or Horatius hand I go to this illustrious imployment as to my punishment a thousand times I curse th' accompt they make of me I hate that Valour which doth make Alba esteeme me my flame doth pass from despaire even to crime it quarrells with and doth assault the Gods I wail you and my self but I must go Cam. No no I know thee better thou desir'st that I should pray thee and that so my power excuse thee to thy Country Thou art but too famous by thy other brave exploits Alba already hath receiv'd by them all what thou ow'st her none then thee hath better sustain'd this war none with dead bodies hath more covered this ground thy name cannot grow greater there is nothing wanting to it suffer some other here t' ennoble his Curiat Should I premit and see before mine eyes another head crown'd with immortal lawrels which glory doth prepare me and my Country reproach this to my vertue that it might have trimphed if I had combated and by my Love my Valour lull'd asleepe crown so many exploits with such an infamy No Alba after th' honour thou hast given me thou shalt not fall nor vanquish but by me thou hast committed to my hands thy fate I 'le give to thee a good accompt of it and live without reproach or dye with shame Cam. I hope thou wilt not so betray my trust Curiat Before I 'm yours I must be for my Country Cam. But wilt thou for it so deprive thy self of brother in law thy sister of her husband I of my brothers Curiat Such is our misfortune the choice of Alba and of Rome takes off all sweetness from the names sometime so sweet of Brother in law and Sister Cam. Wilt thou also come to present me with his head and ask my hand for guerdon of thy Victory Curiat In the condition wherein I am I must no more think of it without hope to love you is all that which I can do You weepe my dear Heart Cam. I have cause to weepe my cruell Lover doth ordain me death and when our Hymen lights his torch alas he with his hand doth put it out and opens a tombe unto me this unpitiful heart is obstinate to my destruction and sayes it loves me when it murthers me Curiat What powerful discourse hath a Mistress when she 's blubbered with tears and how strong is a faire eye with such help how tender is my heart become at this so sad a sight my constancy against it laboureth with some regret Assault not with your griefes my glory and leave me alone to save my vertue from your tears I feele it tottering and ill defends it self the more I am your Lover the less am I Curiatius already weake in combating 'gainst Amity should it o'rcome at once both love and pity Begone love me no more shed no more tears where I oppose th' offence to such strong Armes I shall defend me better 'gainst your anger and to deserve it I 'le no more looke on you revenge your self of an ingratfull person and punish an inconstant Shew you not your self as sensible of this injury I have no more eyes for you Yet you have for me must there be more yet I renounce my faith unto you Rigorous vertue whose Victime I am What! canst not thou resist without th' assistance of a crime Cum Commit no other crime and I attest the Gods that farre from hating thee I 'le love thee more yes I will cherish thee false and ingrateful and cease t' aspire unto the name of fratricide Why am I Romane or why Art not thou so I would prepare thee Laurell with my hand I would encourage thee and not distract thee and I would treate thee as I do my brother Alas I was to day blinde in my wishes I did against thee when I did for him He returns what misfortune if the love of his wife workes no more upon his soul then mine doth upon thine SCENA VI Horatius Curiatius Sabina Camilla Curiat Good Gods Sobina followes him Is not Camilla strong enough to shake my heart but you must joyn my Sister too And leaving her tears to conquer me bring you her hither to seeke the same advantage Sab No no Brother oh no I come not here but to embrace you and to bid you adieu your blood 's too good feare not that there is any baseness in it nothing that may offend the constancy of these great hearts if this illustrious fate should shake either of you I should not own him for brother or for husband may I yet make a request unto you worthy of so brave a Husband and so brave a Brother I would at once take off impiety render unto the honour that expects it its purity without mingling of crimes set its faire lustre on it in a word I faine would make you lawfull enemies I am the sole bond of that sacred knot which joyneth you when I shall be no more you shall be nothing unto one another breaking this chaine you breake off your alliance and since your honour doth require effects of hatred purchase by my death the right and priviledge to hate Alba and Rome will have it so 't is fit that you obey them let one of you two kill me and the other revenge me then your fight shall not be strange or at least one of you shall justly fight for to revenge his wife or else his sister But what you would fully so faire Glory if any other quarrell should provoake you your zeal unto your Country doth forbid you such cares you should do very little for it if less then this unto it you must sacrifice and without hate a Brother in law no more then deferre that which you ought to do begin and practise by his wife to shed his blood begin to peirce his bosome by his sister begin to make a worthy sacrifice of your illustrious lives to your deare praties by the death of Sabina y' are enemies you unto Alba your to Rome and I to both of them what think you to reserve me to see a Victory where I shall behold the laurles of a brother or a husband smoake with a blood that I so cherished can I between you two govern my heart then fulfill the duty of sister and wife embrace the conquerour in weeping for the conquered no no before Sabina shall feel this stroake the death which expect from one of you shall readily prevent it If you deny your hands
unto their Countries quarrel one was mov'd with pity and another seiz'd with horrour some wonder'd at the madness of their zeal others extoll'd their vertue to the Heavens and some presum'd to name it sacrilegious and brutish all these diverse sentiments had yet but one voice every one accused their Chiefs all with a general consent abhorr'd their choice not able to endure so barbarous a combat they cry'd out on 't advaunced therupon and parted them Sab Great Gods what incense do I owe unto you for hearing my devotions Jul. Sabina you are not yet where you imagin now you may hope you have less to fear but yet there doth remain unto you cause enough wherewith to wail you Vain was the indeavour to free them from so sada fate these generous or rather cruel combatants could not consent unto 't the glory of this choice seemed so precious to them and so much charm'd their ambitious souls that when they were deplored they esteemed themselves happy and tooke the pity that was shew'd unto them for an affront The trouble of both camps seem'd unto them to sully their renown they rather would combat with both the armies and dye by the same hands that parted them then quit the honours were confer'd upon them Sab What were those Iron hearts so obstinate Jul. They were so but the armies mutany'd and uttering their cryes both at one time demanded other combatants or battaile Scarce was the presence of the Chiefs respected their power was doubtful their words not attended the King himself was much astonish'd at it Since every one said he dislikes this discord let us consult the sacred Majesty of the great Gods and see we if this change be pleasing to them where 's that impious soul will dare oppose their will when in a sacrifice they shall be pleas'd to manifest it to us He held his peace and these words seemed charmes yea from six combatants snatch'd away their armes and this desire of honour which shut up their eyes though blind respected yet the Gods their boiling heat submitted to the counsell of Tullus and were it by an appeale or by a ready scruple in both armies 't was made a law as if they both acknowledg'd him for King the victimes death will shew the rest Sab The Gods will not allow an impious combat I hope well of it since it is deferr'd and I begin to see what I desir'd SCENA III. Sabina Camilla Julia Sab Sister I 'le tel you good news Cam. I believe I know it if we may but name it such I was in presence when 't was told unto my Father but I gather nought from thence that may asswage my grief this intermission of our misfortunes will but make their stroaks more rude 't is but a longer time allow'd to our inquietudes and all the comfort that one may hope from thence is onely this to lament those we love a little later Sab The Gods have not in vain inspir'd this tumult Cam. Let 's rather say sister that we consult them in vain the same Gods have inspir'd this choice into the brest of Tullus and the publick is not always their voice much less descend they into such low receptacles but in the brest of Kings their living Images whose absolute power is and authority a secret ray of their divinity Jul. It is to form you ostacles without reason to seeke their voices otherwise then in their oracles and you can't to your self figure all lost without belying that was rendered to you yesterday Cam. An Orale can ne'r be comprehended for the more we think to understand it commonly the less we understand it farre from setling on such a sentence who sees nothing in't obscure ought to believe that all is so Sab Let us build more assurance upon that which makes for us and entertain the sweetness of a just hope when Heaven is favourable halfe wayes to ope its armes who doth not promise some good thence to himself deserves it not he oftentimes hindereth this favour from shewing it self and when it doth descend his cold refussall sendeth it away Cam. Heaven acteth without us in these events and ordereth them not on our sentiments Jul. He makes you not affraid but for your good Adiew I goe to know what 's done at last asswage your fears hope at my return to entertain you Ladies with no other discourse but love and that we shall imploy the end of this day to the sweet preparatives of a blest marriage Sab I hope it also Cam. And I dare not to dream on 't Jul. Th' effect will make it plaine t'y ' which knows best to judge thereof SCENA IIII. Sabina Camilla Sab In the midst of our sorrows give me leave to blame you so much trouble in your soul I can no way approve of if you were in my case Sister what would you do then if you had so much cause to fear as I and were to expect from their fatall armes such ils as mine and such unparalle'd losses Cam. Speak more indifferently of your sufferings and mine every one sees those of another not with the same eye that he sees his own but to look well on mine wherein heaven plungeth me yours after them would seem ty ' as a dream Horatius death is onely to be fear'd by you a brother 's nothing to a husband the marriage that tyeth us unto another family untyeth us from that wherein we lived maids these knots so different are not to be compar'd we must leave Parents Friends and all the world to follow a deare husband But if Sister so neer unto a marriage the Lover which a glad farther gives is less unto us then husband and not less then brother surely our sentiments between them do remain suspended our choice is impossible and our desires confounded Thus you have in your complaints where to direct your wishes and terminate your fears but if heaven should resolve to presecute us for my part I must fear all things and can hope for nothing Sab When one must dye and by the others hand 't is but an ill dispute this which you make let the knots be as different as they will we must not leave our parents in oblivion although we leave them Hymen doth not raze out those deepe engraven characters to love a husband we are not oblig'd to hate our brothers nature alwayes doth conserve her first rights when the death of either one or other is propos'd we cannot chuse they are as well unto us as a husband our other selves and all evils are alike when that they are extreme but happily the Lover that doth charme you and for whom you burn is not so to you as you 'd have him an evil humour or a little zealousie may banish him your good opinion and put him quite out of your fantasie what they do often do the same by reason and leave your blood out of comparison T' oppose voluntary bonds to those whom birth hath rendred
rate ought to be sweet unto us in the death of a dear Lover you lose but a man whose losse is easie to repair in Rome after this victory there is no Roman but will be proud to give his hand to you I must go to Sabina with this news this stroak without doubt will be grievous to her her Brothers stain all by her Husbands hand will give her juster tears and plaints then you But I hope easily to dissipate the violence thereof and that a little discretion assisting her great courage will make the generous love she owes unto the Conqueror reign on so noble heart In the mean time smother this unbecoming and poor low passion If he comes receive him and shew no weaknesse make your self appear to be his Sister and that in one womb Heaven form'd you both of the same blood and substance SCENA IV. Camilla sola Yes I will make appear plainly unto him that a true Love can brave the Destinies and cannot take Lawes from those cruell Tyrants whom an injurious Star gives us for Parents Thou blam'st my grief thou dar'st to name it base so much the more I lov't unpitifull Father as the more it offends thee by a just indevour I will make it equall to the rigours of my fortune Was there ever seen any yet whose rude traverses took in so short time so many severall faces that was so often sweet so often cruel and gave so many various stroaks before the mortall strok Was ever seen a soul more seis'd with joy and greif with hope and fear subjected as a slave to more events and made the pitious pastime of more changes An Oracle assures me a Dream frights me Battel dismayes me and Peace pleaseth me my Marriage is prepar'd and in a moment my Lover's chosen forth to fight my Brother The two Camps in a mutiny disavow'd such an unjust choice they brake off the partie the Gods renew it Rome seems vanquished and only of three Albans Curiatius hath not at all in my blood stain'd his hands God! did I not then feel too little grief for Rome's misfortune and two Brothers death Flatter'd I not myself too much when I thought I might love him yet without a crime and nourish some hope His death scourgeth me enough for that and the inhumane manner wherewith my terrified heart receiv'd the news thereof his Rival told it me and in my presence making the recital of so sad a successe upon his front he wore an open joy which griev'd my heart and made the publick good lesse then my losse So building in the air upon anothers misfortune he triumphed over him like to my Brother But this is not all 't is nothing unto that which doth remain In such a fatall stroke they ask my joy I must applaud the Conqueror's exploits and kisse a hand that pierceth my sad heart in so great and so just a cause of plaints it is a shame to weep a crime to sigh Their bruitish vertue would that in this case I should esteem me happy so with them one must be barbarous to be generous But we 'll degenerate my Heart from such a vertuous Father let us unworthy of such a generous Brother 'T is a glory to passe for abject spirits when bruitishnesse is held the highest Vertue My just Griefs break forth to what end should I keep you in When one hath lost all what 's more to be fear'd Have no respect for this inhumane Conqueror Fiar from avoyding of him come athwart him trouble his Victorie provoke his anger and take if possible pleasure to displease him He comes prepare we shew constantly what a kind Mistresse owes unto the death of him she loves SCENA V. Horatius Camilla Proculus and two other Souldiers carrying each of them a sword of the Curiatii Horat. Sister behold the arm that hath reveng'd our two brave brother that hath broke the course of our contrary Destinies that makes us Masters of Alba lastly see the arm that makes today the fortune of two States Behold these marks of honour these faire testimonies of glory and give what thou ought'st unto the happinesse of my Victory Cam. Receive then my tears 't is that which I do owe unto it Horat. Rome Will see none after such high exploits and our two brothers slain in the misfortune of arms are paide enough with blood there needs no tears to mingle with it When the losse is reveng'd 't is recovered Cam. Since they are satisfi'd by the blood that shed I 'll cease to mourn more for them and forget their death which your hand reveng'd But who shall now revenge my Lovers to make me forget his losse too Horat. What saist thou unfortunate Cam. O my dear Curiatus Horat. Infinite boldnesse of an unworthy Sister Must the name of a publick enemy whom I have conquered be in thy mouth and his love in thy heart Thy criminall heat aspireth to revenge thy mouth demands it and thy heart longs for it follow thy passion lesse stint thy desires make me not blush to understand thy sighs thy flames henceforth ought to be smothered banish them from thy soule and think upon my trophies let them ever be hereafter thy onely entertainment Cam. Give me then a heart like thine barbarian If thou wouldst have me to speak my thoughts restore unto me my Curiatius or leave my flame to act my joy and griefs depend upon his fortune I ador'd him living and I mourne him dead Seeke not thy sister where thou left'st her thou shalt see no more in me but an offended Love which like a furie fix'd to thy steps incessantly shall haunt thee and still reproach thee with his death Inhumane blood thirsty Tiger that forbid'st me teares that wouldst that in his death I should finde charmes and that extolling thy exploits to heaven I should my self kill him a second time May such misfortunes waite upon thy life that thou fall'st to the point to beare me envie and sullie soone by some unworthy act that glory deare to thy brutalitie Horat. O heaven who ever saw so high a madness Believ'st thou then that I should be insensible of such an outrage and that I should suffer this foule dishonour in my blood Love love that death which makes our happinesse but preferre that which thy birth owes to the interests of Rome before the memory of a man Cam. Rome th' only object of my sad resentment Rome unto whom thine arm hath sacrific'd my Lover Rome that gave thee birth and whom thou dost adore Lastly Rome that I hate because she honours thee May all her neighbours conspire together in a league against her and sap her yet unsettled foundations and if this of all Italie be not sufficient let the East joyn with the West against her let a thousand severall Nations from the ends of the Universe passe the seas and mountains to destroy her let her self orethrow her walls upon her self and with her own hands tear her bowels let
a service and of such importance requires the rar'st and most illustrious honour you had for pawn thereof his word already I could no longer have deferred it I know by his report which I ne'r doubted how brave and like your self you bear the death of your two sons and that your soul already being resolv'd my consolation would be superfluous but I come to know what strange misfortune hath follow'd the vertue of your victorious Son and how it comes that his too much love for the publick cause bath tane an onely daughter from his father by his own hands I know what such a stroak can do upon the strongest spirit and doubt how you may bear this death Old Horat. Sir with displeasure but yet with patience Tull. 'T is plain this is the vertuous effect of your experience Many have taught by a long file of years as well as you that miseries succeed the sweetest happinesse few know like you t' apply this remedie and all their Vertue yeelds to their Interest If my compassion can ease your sorrow know that 't is extreme as is your evill and that Tullus laments you as much as he doth love you Val. Sir since Heaven doth put its justice in the hands of Kings and the force of the lawes and since the State asketh rewards for vertues and strict punishments for crimes of lawfull Princes suffer that a just occasion make you to remember that you lament too much what you should punish Suffer Old Horat. What! that we send a Conqueror to punishment Tull. Allow him leave to finish and I 'll do justice I am bound to render it to all at all hours and in every place it is by it that a King makes himself a demi-God and hence is' t that I pitie you that after such a service against him they should demand me justice Val. Suffer then O great King and the justest of all Kings that all good men speak to you by my mouth not that our hearts as jealous of his honours urge us to this if he receiveth much his high deeds do deserve it add unto it rather then lessen it we are also ready to contribute unto it but since he hath shew'd himself guilty of such a crime let him triumph as Conquerour and perish as malefactor stop his fury and save from his hands if you desire to reigne the remnant of the Romans hereupon depends the losse or safety of the rest seeing the blood shed by this fatall Warr and so many fair knots of marriage wherewith our happy destinies have so often united such neer nighbours few of us have enjoy'd such a happinesse as not I' have lost a Cosen or a brother in law an uncle or a son in law in Alba whereby to have occasion to shed tears for their own losses in the publick joy If it be an offence to Rome and that the fortune of his arms alloweth him to punish this crime of our tears what blood will this fierce Conqu'ror spare that would not pardon that of his Sister nor excuse the grief which the death of a Lover doth infuse into a Mistresse heart when ready to be lighted by the fair nuptiall Torch she sees her hope i' th' grave with him Making Rome thus to triumph he enslaves it by this means he hath a right of life and death upon us and our offending dayes shall last no longer then it shall please his clemency to suffer them I could add for the interests of Rome that such a stroak 's unworthy of a man I could demand to be brought here before you that rare exploit of a victorious arme you should see then a fair blood to accuse his rage retort into his cruel face you should behold horrours which cannot be conceiv'd her age and beauty sure would move you but I hate those means that show artifice You have deferr'd the sacrifice till to morrow Think you that the just Gods stil'd the revengers of Innocents will receive incense from a parricide hand This sacriledg would draw their punishment upon you Look upon him but as an object of their hate believe with us that the good destinie of Rome in all these three fights did more then his arm since these same Gods the Authors of his Victory permitted that he suddenly should fully the glory of it and that such a courage after so brave an Act should in one day be worthy of a Triumph and of Death It rests Sir that your Sentence decide this Rome never saw a parricide till now Fear what may follow and Heaven's anger save us from his unnaturall hand and fear the Gods Tull. Defend your self Horatius Horat. To what purpose shall I defend me Sir you know the action as being told it now what you think of it must be a law to me One ill defends himself against th' opinion of a King and th' innocentest soul that e'r was born is guiltie if he judg him to be so It is a crime t' excuse himself unto him Our blood 's his goods he can dispose thereof and we must think that when he doth do so he deprives not himself without just cause Then Sir pronounce I 'm ready to obey Others love life and I am bound to hate it I reproach not Valerius heat which makes him loving the Sister to accuse the Brother my wishes at this time conspire with his he asks my death 't is that which I desire We differ onely in this point that I seek to conserve my honour in 't and he to perish it Sir seldome is a subject offer'd to shew the vertue of a great and noble heart complete according to occasion it acts or more or lesse and appears strong or weak unto the eyes of those that are her witnesses The people that onely looks upon the outside judgeth its force by its effects and dares to think by an ill maxime that who doth a miracle must do it still After a complete action high and illustrious what glitters lesse ill answereth their expectation they would have us to be all times alike and in all places they examine not if one could better do then nor that if they see not still a wonder the occasion is lesse and Vertue equall Their injustice destroyes great names the honour of the first attchievements is forgotten by the second and when renown is pass'd beyond the mean if we 'll not fall thence we must act no more I will not boast th' exploits Sir of my arm your Majestie hath seen my three encounters hardly again shall I meet any such nor e'r the like occasion will be to shew my courage and crown the successe so that to leave here an illustrious memory death onely now can keep alive my glory and I must have it too as soon as I have conquer'd for I have outliv'd my honour Such one as I beholds his glory perish'd when he falls into any ignominie and my hand would have freed me on 't already if my bloud durst come