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
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
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
forth without your leave as it belongs to you you must dispose on 't to shed it otherwise is to rob you of it Rome wants not store of generous warriours enough besides me will sustaine your Laurels henceforward let your Majestie dispense with me herein And if what I have done deserves a recompence permit great King that with this conquering arm I sacrifice me to my Glory not my Sisters cryes SCENA III. Tullus Valerius The old Horatius Horatius Sabina Julia Sab Sir hear Sabina and see in her soul the sorrows of a Sister and a Wife who wholly desolate at your sacred feet laments her Family and fears her Husband It is not that I would by any artifice endeavour to take out o' th' hand of Justice a guilty person Whatsoever he hath done for you use him as such a one and punish Sir in me this noble Criminall with my unfortunate blood wash off his crime You shall not change your Victime for all that nor shall you herein take an unjust pitie but sacrifice the dearest mosty of him The knots of marriage and his extreme love makes him live more in me then in himself and if you grant that I shall die to day he will die more in me then in himself the death which I beg and would fain obtain will raise his punishment and finish mine See the excesse Sir of my sad afflictions and the deplorable condition whereto I am reduc'd What honour is it t' embrace a man whose sword hath cut the thred of of all my family and what impiety to hate a Husband for his service to you his Country and his Friends What shall I love an arm stain'd with the blood of all my Brothers Shall I not love an Husband that doth put a period to our common miseries O Sir deliver me by an happy death both from the crimes of loving and not loving I shall esteem that Sentence a great favour My hand can give me what I crave of you but this death shall be much more sweet unto me if I can free my Husband from his shame and by my bloud appease the anger of the Gods in dying satisfie the Ghost of his offended Sister and conserve to Rome so good and glorious a Defender Old Horat. Sir it concerns me then to give an answer unto Valerius I see my children conspire with him against me and all three would ruine me they arm themselves unjustly against that little blood 's left in my house Thou that by griefs contrary to thy duty would'st leave thy Husband to go to thy Brothers go rather to consult their generous Ghosts 'T is true they are dead but they dy'd for Alba and hold them happy in 't since Heav'n would have it she should be subject if that any sentiment remaineth after life lost this misfortune seems lesse and its stroaks not so rigorous since all the honour of it falls on us All three will disapprove thy grief thy tears and sighs they will condemn the horrour which thou hast of a brave Husband Be their Sister Sabia and observe thy duty like them Valerius in vain lifts up himself 'gainst this dear Husband a first motion was never held a crime and praise is due in stead of punishment when Vertue onely produceth this first motion To love our enemies even with idolatry madly to curse the Country for their death to wish the State an everlasting ruine is that which we name crime and that which he hath punished the onely love of Rome provok'd his arm He should be innocent if he had lov'd her lesse What have I said Sir he is so and this my paternall arm had punish'd him already were he guilty I would have better used the full power I have upon him by the lawes of birth I love honour too well and am not of a quality to suffer in my blood affront or crime of this I do desire no other witnesse but Valerius he saw what rigorous entertainment I prepar'd to give my Son when ignorant as yet of half the combat I believ'd that by his flight he had betray'd the State What makes him so officiously to trouble himself with the cares of my Family What makes him to desire in spight of me to vindicate my daughter By what reason in her just death takes he an interest a father doth not meddle with He fears that after this severity to his Sister he 'll not spare others Sir we have no part but in the shame of ours and in what manner another may act what concerns us not makes us not blush Valerius thou maist weep and in Horatius sight he takes no interest but in the crimes of his race who is not of his blood can do no injury unto th' immortall Lawrels that impale his brow Ye Lawrels sacred boughs which envie would reduce to dust you that conserve his head from the confounding thunder will you leave him unto the infamous Ax that makes offenders fall underneath the executioners hands Romans will you permit that they should sacrifice a man without whom Rome had not been Rome at this time and that any Roman should traduce the glory of a Conquerour to whom all owe so fair a character Tell us Valerius tell since he must perish where thou wouldst chuse fit a place for his punishment Is it within these walls which many thousands of voyces make resound yet with the noise of his exploits Is it without the walls in the midst of those places which smoak yet with the blood of the conquer'd Curiatii between their three tombs in that field of honour the witnesse of his valour and our happinesse Thou canst not from his Victory conceal his Punishment within the walls without them all speak his glory all oppose themselves to the indeavour of thy unjust love which would with such a glorious blood defile so fair a day Alba cannot endure so sad a spectacle and Rome with her tears will put an obstacle to 't But Royall Sir you will prevent them and by a just sentence you can embrace her interest much better What he hath done for her he can yet do he can secure her still from adverse fortune despair not yet Sir of my feeble years Rome now hath seen me father of four children three in her quarrell are already dead there is but one left me keep him for her remove not from her walls so strong a prop and suffer me t' addresse my self unto him to make an end Horatius do not think the stupid people should be absolute masters of a substantiall honour their vain voice tumultnous enough makes often noise but as a moment raiseth it a moment destroyes it and whatever they contribute to our renown i'th'twinkling of an eye it vanisheth to smoak It doth belong to Kings to great ones to accomplish'd spirits to see that Vertue in its least effects be full it is from them alone that we receive true glory they alone assure the memory of the true Heroes live still in
my own shall execute it on then who holds you on inhumane hearts I shall have means enough to force you to it you shall not be busie at the at the fight but in the mid'st this body shall arrest your Swords and spight of your refusals force them to make way here before they reach at you Horat. O my wife Curiat O my sister Cam. They begin to mollifie Sab You sigh your Visages grow pale are you those great hearts those brave Heroes which Rome and Alba have tane for defenders Horat. Wife what have I done to thee wherein have I offended thee that thou seek'st out against me such a revenge what have my honour done thee and wherefore comest thou with all thy force tassault my vertue satisfie thy self at least to have astonish'd it and leave me to finish this great business Thou would'st faine reduce me to strange point if thou lov'dst thy husband thou wouldst not seeke to prevaile be gone then and no longer leave the Victory doubtful and in suspence the dispute on 't makes me asham'd already suffer me to end my dayes with honour Sabina Well proceed feare me no more he comes to thy assistance SCENA VII The old Horatius Horatius Curiatius Sabina Camilla The old Horatius How comes this Children doth your love lull you asleepe or do you hearken to its charme Lose you yet time with women even ready to shed blood looke you on effeminate tears begone and leave these blubber'd fooles to their misfortunes their complaints have too much art and tenderness for you they would participate their weakness to you and there is no way to shun those stroakes but onely to fly from them Sabina Feare nothing from them they are worthy of you in spight of our endeavours I perceive you may expect what ever you desire both from a Son and Son in law and if our weakness could have changed them we leave you here to encourage them come Sister come let us lose no more tears against such vertues they are but weake armes 't is but to despaire that we must have recourse Go Tigers go to fight and we will go to die Exeunt women SCENA VIII The old Horatius Horatius Curiatius Horat. Father I do beseech you entertain these passionate Women above all things see they come not forth their troublesome affection would come with glory by their cryes and tears to interrupt our combat and what they do to us would with justice do we may be perhaps suspected of this evil artifice The honour of so faire a choice would be too dearly bought if we should be suspected of any cowardize The old Horat. I will have care of them begone your Brothers do attend you think of nothing but what 's due unto your Country Curiat What fare-well shall I bid you and what complements use t' express my self The old Horat. Oh! do not mollifie my sentiments here to encourage you my voyce wants language my heart cannot form thoughts strong enough At this adieu I have my self tears in mine eyes Do what you ought and in your combat have no other thought The end of the second Act ACTUS III. SCENA I. Sabina MY soul we cannot stand indifferent one side 't is requisite I take I must be wife unto Horatius or sister to Curiatius cease we to divide our fruitless cares let us desire something and fear a little less but which to take alas I know not in a chance so contrary it is a hard extremity to chuse a husband or a brother for an enemy Nature or Love doth speake for each of them and by the laws of duty I am ty'd unto them both on their high sentiments rather le ts rule our own be the wife of th' one and sister of the other both together let 's looke upon their honour as a good unparallell'd let 's imitate their constancy and let us feare no more the death which threatens them is such a faire death that we should not be afraid to heare the news o' nt let 's not call then the destinies inhumane let us think upon the cause and not upon the hands let us behold the conquerours as if we had no other thought but of the glory which all their house receiveth from their Victory without considering what blood is shed to raise their vertue to that glorious hight let 's make our interests of their Family in the one I am wife in th' other daughter and hold of both by such strong obligations that they cannot triumph but by my armes Fortune whatever evils thy rigour sends me I have the means to derive joy from thence and to see now the combat without fear the dead without despaire the conquerours without confusion Flattering illusion sweet and gross error vaine indeavour of my sonl impuissant light whose false sparks take a priviledge to dazle me how little thou last's and how soon vainshest much like unto those lightnings which in the thick shades thrust forth a sudden day and afterward renders the night more gloomy and obscure thou struck'st mine eyes but with a moments brightness to overwhelme them with eternal night Thou too much flattered'st my punishment and Heaven offended at it selleth me this moment of refreshment very deare I feele my sad heart pierc'd with all the stroakes that now deprive me of a brother or a husband when I think upon their death what ever I propose I think by what arme and not for what cause nor can I •ehold the conquererours in their illustrious ranke but to consider at what bloods expense the house o' th' vanquish'd party onely touches my soul in one I 'm daughter wife in th' other and hold of both by such strong obligations that they cannot triumph but by my armes This is that peace then I so much desired Too favourable Gods you heard my prayers what thunder-bolts dart you when you are wronged when even your favours are so full of cruelties And in what manner punish you offence if thus you use the prayers of innocence SCENA II. Sabina Julia Sab Is it done Julia what news bring you me Is it a bro•ers or a husbands death Or hath the sad fate of their impious armes of all the combatants made as many sacrifices and envying me the horrour which I had o' th' conquerours condemned me to tears for all o• them together Julia Know you not what hath pass'd yet Sab How should I understand it know you not that Camllia and my self are shut up in this house as in a prison Julia they fear our tears we should without doubt have interpos'd our selves between their armes and by the just despaires of a chast amity we should have drawn some pity from both Camps Julia There was no need of such a tender spectacle their sight brought obstacle enough unto their fight assoon as they were ready to measure their swords both one and th' other Camp began to murmur that persons so neer ally'd should sacrifice each others life
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
necessary is a crime indubitable If heaven should resolve then to persecute us I have the most reason to feare all fortunes and despaire of all things but for your part duty directeth you in your complaints where to addresse your wishes and terminate your fears Cam. Sister I see you never lov'd you know not Love nor felt his darts one may resist him in the birth but when he 's grown and become Master of us we cannot banish him especially when the consent of Father in engaging our faith hath made this tyrant lawfull King He entereth with sweetness but he raignes by force and when the soul hath tasted once his sweet temptation to love no more is that it cannot do since it cannot desire but what he will his chaines are for us as strong as faire SCENA V. The old Horatius Sabina Camilla Old Horat. I come to bring unto you sorrowful news my daughters but in vain I should conceale it you which could not but a little time be hidden your Brothers are in fight the Gods ordain'd it Sab I must confess this news doth much astonish me I thought there was in the Divinities much less injustice and much more of goodness comfort us not reason is troublesome when it dares to oppose such a misfortune we have the end of our griefs in our hands who can resolve to dye can brave disaster We easily could make Sir in your presence a feigned constancy of our despaire but when one can without shame be without resolved courage 't is a cowardise to counterfeit it the use of such art we leave to men and will not pass for that but what we are It is not our desire that such a stout spirit should abase it self by our example to complain of fortune receive these mortal tidings without trembling behold without mingling your own with them our tears flow down our cheeks lastly we crave as all the favour we desire in such calamities that you will keepe your constancy and suffer our sad sighs The old Horat. I am so farre from blaming the tears which I see you shed that I can scarce defend me from their force and should perhaps yeild to such strong assaults if herein we had both like interest not that your Alba by her choice hath made me to hate your brothers all three are deare persons yet unto me but amity is not of the same ranke and hath not the effects of love nor blood I do not feele for them the griefe that doth torment Sabina as a Sister and Camila as a Lover I can behold them as our enemies and give without regret my prayers and wishes unto my Sons they are thanks to the Gods worthy their Country no astonishment e'r perished their glory and I saw their honour increase highly when their courages refus'd the pity of both campes If they by any weakness had desired it if their high vertue had not presently refused it my hand should have reveng'd me upon them of the affront which their effeminate consent had done me but when in despight of them they would have other combatants I 'le not deny 't I joyn'd my prayers with yours if pitiful Heaven had hearkned to my voice Alba should be reduc'd to chuse anew we should see then the Horaces triumph without seeing their hands stain'd with the blood of the bold Curiatii and upon the event of a combat farre more reasonable the honour of the Romane name would now depend The prudence of the Gods doth otherwise dispose thereof on their eternall order my spirit doth repose it armes it self on this occasion with generosity and of the publick good makes its felicity Indeavour both of you to do as much to ease your griefs and think that you are Romanes you are become so you Camllia born such so glorious a title is a treasure a day a day will come that Rome shall make its glorious name fear'd like the thunderbolts through the whole earth and all the universe shall shake under its lawes it will become th' ambition of Kings for the Gods have promis'd this glory unto our Aeneas SCENA VI The old Horatius Sabina Camilla Julia The old Horat. Come you to tell us Julia the Victory Jul. But rather Sir the fatall sad effects of the fight Rome is subject unto Alba and your sons are defeated two o' th' three are dead her husband onely doth remaine Old Horat. O effect of a sad fight truely fatal Rome subject unto Alba and my Son to free her from it not imploy himselfe unto the last gasp No this cannot be Julia you are deceived Rome's not subject or my Son 's slaine Jul. A thousand from our Ramparts saw it as well as I he made himself adimir'd whil'st that his Brothers stood but when he saw himself alone against three adversaries ready to be encompassed by them he sav'd himself by flight Old Horat. Would not our souldiers dispatch the traitor would they give this coward retraite into their ranks Jul. I had no heart to see more after this defeat Cam. O my Brothers Old Horat. Soft mourn them not all two of them enjoy a fortune that doth make their father proud and jealous too See that their tombe be cover'd with the most noble flowers the glory of their death hath pay'd me for their loss this happiness hath followed their unconquer'd courage that they saw Rome free as long as they had life and would not have beheld her to obey but her own Prince nor to become the Province of an adjacent State Lament the other lament the irreparable affront his shamefull flight imprinteth on our brow lament the foul dishonour that he casts on all our race and the eternal stain he leaves unto the sometime glorious name of the Horatii Jul. What would you have him do Sir against three Old Horat What! I would have him dye a brave dispaire would have assisted him perhaps had he deferred his defeat a minute longer at least Rome would have been a little later subjected so would he have left my haire with honour grey and that were a reward worthy his life He is accomptable unto his Country of all his blood every drope spared perisheth his glory after this base bout every instant of his life doth publish with his own my shame I 'le breake the course of it and my just anger 'gainst an unworthy son using the rights of father shall make in his punishment appear the glorious disacknowledgment of such an action Sab Hearken somewhat less unto these generous heats and render us not altogether miserable Old Horat. Sabina your heart may easily be comforted hitherto our misfortunes touch you little you have no part yet in our miseries Heaven hath sav'd you your husband and your brothers if we are subject 't is unto your Country your brothers are the conquerous although we are betray'd and seeing the high point whereto their glory mounts you little looke upon our shame but your too much affection for that
so infamous husband will perswade you to grieve as well as we ere it be long your tears in his behalfe are but weak guards I swear by the great Gods the supreme powers that ere this day end these my proper hands shall wash off with his blood the stain from Rome Sab Let 's follow him anger transporteth him Gods shall we see nothing but such misfortnnes must we feare greater still and must o•r fates alwayes proceed from friends and parents hates The end of the third Act ACTUS IIII. SCENA I. The old Horatius Camilla Old Horat. NE'r speak unto me in the favour of an infamous person let him fly me as the Brothers of his wife to save a blood that he esteemes so precious he hath done yet nothing if he keep not from my sight Sabina may give order for 't or I attest the soveraigne power of all the Gods Cam. Oh father take a sweeter sentiment you shall see Rome herself to use him otherwise and by what fate soe'r she be oppres'd t' excuse a vertue so o'r-charg'd with number Old Horat. Romes Judgement herein makes but little for me Camilla I 'm a father and I have my rights apart I am not ignorant how the true vertue acts there is no triumph where number doth oppress her masculine vigour alwaies in the same point falls underneath the force but yields not to it Peace here comes Valerius What is his business with us SCANA II. The old Horace Valerius Camilla Valerius Sent by the King to consolate a father and to express for him Old Horat. Take you no care on 't it is a comfort which I have no need of I rather would behold them dead then covered with infamy that come to take me from an enemies hand they dy'd both for their Country like men of honour 't is sufficient Val. But Sir the other is a rarer blessing of all the three he ought to hold with you the chiefest place Old Horat. Would he have made the name of the Horatii perish with himself Val. You only treat him ill after the deed that he hath done Old Horat. His fault belongs to me onely to punish Val. What fault can you finde in his good conduct Old Horat. What brave vertue can you finde in his flight Val. His flight is glorious on this ocasion Old Horat. You redouble Sir my shame and my confusion sure th' example is rare and worthy memory to finde in flight a way to glory Val. What confusion and what shame is' t to you to have brought forth a Son that doth conserve us all that maketh Rome triumph and gaineth an Empire to her Old Horat. What preservation triumph and what Empire when Alba rangeth underneath her lawes our destiny Val. What speak you here of Alba and of her Victory you know not yet halfe of the story Old Horat. What is not the combat finished by his flight Val. Alba Though so at first but she perceived soon that he fled like a man that knew well how to manage Romes best advantage Old Horat. What! triumphs Rome then Val. Be pleas'd to understand the valour of this son whom wrongfully you do condemn resting alone 'gainst three but in this passage all the three being wounded and he free too weake for all too strong for either of them he thought it fit a little to retire him he fled to fight the better this quick policie fitly divides the brothers each of them follows him with a pace more or less eager as he doth finde himself more or less hurt their heat was equal to pursue his flight but their unequal blows did separate their pursuite when Horatius saw them thus scattered one from the other he return'd and thought them more then halfe conquer'd already he did expect the first and 't was your son in law who all enraged that he should stay for him in vain did make a great heart to appear assaulting him the blood that he had lost weakened his strength Alba began to fear a change of fortune she cry'd to the second that he should ayd his Brother he made hast and spent himself in vain attempts for her but found his Brother dead when he came up Cam. Alas Val. Quite out of breath he tooke his brothers place and soon redoubled Horatius Victory his courage without strength was a weak prop desirous to revenge his brothers death he fell down by him The air did resound with cryes which all sent unto heaven upon it Alba breath'd sorrow and the Romans joy As our brave Hero saw his enterprise neer at an end he would a little vaunt as well as conquer I am come said he from sacrificing two unto the Ghosts of my dead brothers Rome shall have the last of my three adversaries it is unto her int'rests that I offer him This said he presently flew at him between them the Victory remain'd not long time doubtful the Alban pierc'd with wounds could hardly stand and as a Victime brought before the Altar he seemed to present his yeelding throat unto the deadly stroak so he receiv'd it His death establisheth the power of Rome Old Horat. O my son O my joy O honour of my dayes O unexpected succour of a tottering State O vertue worthy Rome and blood worthy Horatius Thou support of thy deer Country glory of thy race When can I somother in my close imbracements the error wherewith I form'd such false sent'ments When my love bath thy victorious front with tears of joy Val. Sir presently you may Use your caresses the King goes to sent him unto you and deferres until to morrow the pompous sacrifice which we owe to the gods for such a benefit onely to day we pay them but with songs of Victory and ordinary vows The King doth lead him unto the Temple whilst he sendeth mee to do this office to you both of joy and grief together But this is not yet enough for him he will come here himself perhaps to day this noble action so highly toucheth him that he will thank you with his own mouth for giving your brave sons to the good of his State Old Horat. Such high acknowledgments have too much glory for me I account my self already too much paid by yours for the one service and the others blood Val. The King can't ' do an honour Sir by halfs and his Crown snatched from the enemies hands makes him esteem the honour he intends you beneath the Father's merit and Son's I 'll go to let him know what noble sentiments Vertue inspires into you and what ardour you expresse for his service Exit Valerius Old Horat. I shall be very redeonble to you for that good office SCENA III. The old Horatius Camilla Old Horat. Daughter this is no fit time to shed tears it is not handsome when we see such honours We mourn unjustly for domestick losses when publick Victories proceed from thence Rome triumphs over Alba and that is enough for us all our ills at this