My Lord. App. By your favour If that your claim be just how happens it that you have discontinued it the space of fourteen years Orat. I shall resolve your Lordship Icil. I vow this is a practis'd Dialogue comes it not rarely off Virg. Peace give them leave Orat. 'T is very true this Gentleman at first thought to conceal this accident and did so only reveal'd his knowledg to the mother of this fair bond-woman who bought his silence during her life time with great sums of Coyn. App. Where are your proofs of that Orat. Here my good Lord with depositions likewiâ—… App. Well go on Orat. For your question of discontinuance Put case my slave run away from me dwell in some near City the space of twenty years and there grow rich it is in my discretion by your favor to seize him when I please App. That 's very true Virginia Cast not your nobler beams you reverend Judges on such a putrified dunghil App. By your favour you shall be heard anon Virg. My Lords believe not this spruce Orator Had I but fee'd him first he would have told as smooth a tale on our side App. Give us leave Virg. He deals in formal glosses cunning showes and cares not greatly which way the Case goes Examine I beseech you this old woman who is the truest witness of her birth App. Soft you is she your only witness Virg. She is my Lord. App. Why is it possible such a great Lady in her time of child birth should have no other Witness but a Nurse Virg. For ought I know the rest are dead my Lord. App. Dead no my Lord belike they were of counsel with your deceased Lady and so sham'd twice to give colour to so vile an act Thou Nurse observe me thy offence already doth merit punishment beyond our censure pull not more whips upon thee Nurse I defie your whips my Lord. App. Command her silence Lictors Virg. O injustice you frown away my Witness Is this Law is this uprightness App. Have you viewed the Writings This is a trick to make our slaves our heirs beyond prevention Virg. Appius wilt thou hear me You have standred a sweet Lady that now sleeps in a most noble Monument Observe me I would have ta'ne her simple word to gage before his soul or thine App. That makes thee wretched Old man I am sorry for thee that thy love by custome is growne natural which by nature should be an absolute loathing Note the Sparrow that having hatch'd a Cucko when it sees her brood a Monster to her proper kind forsakes it and with more fear shuns the nest then she had care i' th' Spring to have it drest cast thy affection then behind thy back and think Orat. Be wise take counsel of your friends You have many souldiers in their time of service father strange children Virg. True and Pleaders too when they are sent to visit Provinces You my most neat and cunning Orator whose tongue is Quick-silver Pray thee good Janus look not so many several wayes at once but go to th' point Orat. I will and keep you out at points end though I am no souldier App. First the oath of the deceased bond-woman Orat. A very vertuous Matron App. Join'd with the testimony of Clodius Orat. A most approved honest Gentleman App. Besides six other honest Gentlemen Orat. All Knights and there 's no question but their oaths will go for currant App. See my reverend Lords and wonder at a Case so evident Virg. My Lord I knew it Orat. Observe my Lord how their own Policy confounds them Had your Lordship yesterday proceeded as 't was fit to a just sentence the Aparrel and the Jewels that she wore more worth then all her Tribe had then been due unto our Client now to cosen him of such a forfeit see they bring the maid in her most proper habit bond-slave like and they will save by th' hand too Please your Lordships I crave a sentence Virginius Appius Virginia My Lord. Icil. Lord Appius Virginius Now by the Gods here 's juggling Numit. Who cannot counterfeit a dead mans hand Virginius Or hire some villainâ—… to swear forgeâ—…ies Icil. Clodius was brought up in your house my Lord and that 's suspicious Numit. How is' t probable that our wife being present at the child-birth whom this did nearest concern should nere reveal it Virg. Or if ours dealt thus cunningly how haps it her policy as you term it did not rather provide an Issue male to chear the father Orat. I 'l answer each particular App. It needs not Here 's witness most sufficient witness Think you my Lord our Lawes are writ in snow and that your breath can melt them Virginius No my Lord We have not such hot livers Mark you that Virginia Remember yet the Gods O Appius who have no part in this Thy violent Lust shall like the biting of the invenom'd Aspick steal thee to hell So subtil are thy evils in life they 'l seem good Angels in death divels App. Observe you not this scandal Icil. Sir 'T is none I 'l show thy Letters full of violent Lust sent to this Lady App. Wilt thou breath a lye 'fore such a reverend Audience Icil. That place is sanctuary to thee Lye see here they are App. My Lords these are but dilatory shifts Sirrah I know you to the very heart and I 'l observe you Icil. Do but do it with Justice Clear thy self first O Appius ere thou judg our imperfections rashly for we wot the Office of a Justice is perverted quite when one thief hangs another 1. Senator You are too bold App. Lictors take charge of him Icil. 'T is very good Will no man view these papers What not one Jove thou hast found a Rival upon earth his nod strikes all men dumb My duty to you The Ass that carried â—…sis on his back thought that the superstitious people kneel'd to give his dulnesse humble reverence If thou thinkst so proud Judg I let thee see I bend low to thy Gown but not to thee Virg. There 's one in hold already Noble youth fetters grace one being worn for speaking truth I 'l lye with thee I swear though in a dungeon the injuries you do us we shall pardon but it is just the wrongs which we forgive the gods are charg'd therewith to see revenged App. Come y' are a proud Plebâ—…ian Virg. True my Lord. Proud in the glory of my Ancestors who have continued these eight hundred years the Heralds have not knowne you these eight months App. Your madness wrongs you by my soul I love you Virg. Thy soul O thy opinion old Pythagoras Whither O whither should thy black soul fly into what ravenous bird or beast most vile only into a weeping Crocodile Love me Thou loy'st me Appius as the earth loves rain thou fain wouldst swallow me App. Know you the place you speak in Virg. I 'l speak freely Good men too much trusting their innocence do
you would be kind unto the Camp App. Wherein Icilius doth the Camp touch thee Icil. Thus Old Virginius now my father in Law kept from the publick pay consumes himself sels his Revenues turnes his plate to coyn to wage his souldiers and supply the Camp wasting that useful substance which indeed should rise to me as my Virginia's Dowry App. We meet that opposition thus Icilius. The Camps supplies doth not consist in us but those that keep the common Treasury speak or intreat we may but not command But Sir I wonder you so brave a Youth son to a thrifty Romane should ally you and knit your strong armes to such falling branches which rather in their ruine will bear down your strength then you support their rottenness Be swayed by me fly from that ruinous house whose fall may crush you and contract with mine whose bases are of Marble deeply fixt to â—…uger all gusts and impending stormes Caâ—… off that beggars daughter poor Virginia whose dowry and beauty I 'l see trebled both in one â—…lly'd to me Smile you Icilius Icil. My Lord my Lord think you I can imagine your close and sparing hand can be profuse to give that man a Palace whom you late deny'd a cottage Will you from your own coffers grant me a treble Dowry yet interpose me a poor third from the common Treasury You must move me by possibilities for I have brains give first your hand and Seal that old Virginius shall receive his pay both for himself and souldiers and that done I shall perhaps be soon induc'd to think that you who with such willingness did that App. Is my Love mispriz'd Icil. Not to Virginia App. Virginia Icil. Yes Virginia Lustful Lord. I did but trace your cunning all this while You would bestow me on some Appian Trull and for that dross to cheat me of my Gold for this the Camp pines and the City smarts All Rome fares worse for thy incontinence App. Mine boy Icil. Thine Judg. This hand hath intercepted thy Letters and perus'd thy tempting guests these ears have heard thy amorous passions wretch these eyes beheld thy treacherous name subscrib'd A Judg a Divel App. Come I'â—…hear no more Icil. Sit still or by the powerful Gods of Rome I 'l nail thee to the Chair But suffer me I 'l offend nothing but thine ears App. Our Secretary Icil. Tempt not a Lovers fury if thou dost now by my vow insculpt in heaven I 'l send thee App. You see I am patient Icil. But withal revengeless App. So say on Icil. Hope not of any grace or the least favour I am so covetous of Virginia's love I cannot spare thee the least look glance touch Divide one bare imaginary thought into a thousand thousand parts and that I 'l not afford thee App. Thou shalt not Icil. Nay I will not Hadst thou a Judges place above those Judges that judg all souls having power to sentence me I would not bribe thee no not with one hair from her fair temples App. Thou shouldst not Icil. Nay I would not Think not her Beauty shall have leave to crown thy lustfull hopes with the least spark of blisse or have thine ears charm'd with the ravishing sound even of her harshest phrase App. I will not Icil. Nay thou shalt not Shee 's mine my soul is crownd in her desire to her I 'ld travell through a land of fire App. Now have you done Icil. I have spoke my thoughts App. Then will thy fury give me leave to speak Icil. I pray say on App. Icilius I must chide you and withall tell you your rashnesse hath made forfeiture even of your precious life which wee esteeme too deer to call in question Iâ—… I wisht you of my allyance graft into my blood condemn you me for that Oh see the rashnesse and blind misprision of 〈◊〉 youth As for the Maid Virginia wee are far even in least thought from her and for those Letters Tokens and Presents wee acknowledg none Alas though great in place wee are not gods If any false impostor hath usurpt our hand or greatnesse in his own behoof can wee help that Icilius there 's our hand your rashnesse we remit let 's have hereafter your love and best opinion For your suit repair to us at both our better leisures wee 'l breathe in it new life Icil. I crave your â—…don App. Granted ere crav'd my good Icilius. Icil. Morrow App. It is no more indeed Morrow Icilius. If any of our servants wait without command them in Icil. I shall App. Our Secretary we have use for him Icilius send him hither Again good morrow Exit Icilius. Go to thy death thy life is doom'd and cast Appius be circumspect and be not rash in blood as th' art in lust Be murderous stil but when thou strik'st with unseen weapons kill Enter Clodius Clod. My Honourable Lord. Appius Deride me dog Clod. Who hath stirr'd up this tempest in your brow App. Not you Fie you Clod. All you Panthean Gods confound me if my soul be accessary to your distractions Appius To send a ruffian higher even to my closet first to brave my Greatness play with my beard revile me taunt me hisse me nay after all these deep disparagements threat me with steel and menace me unarm'd to nail me to my seat if I but mov'd all these are slight slight toyes Clod. Icilius do this App. Ruffian Icilius he that in the front of a smooth Citizen bears the rugged soul of a most base Bandetto Clod. He shall die for 't App. Be not too rash Clo. Were there no more men to support great Rome even falling Rome should perish ere he stand I 'l after him and kill him App. Stay I charge thee Lend me a patient ear To right our wrongs we must not menace with a publick hand we stand in the worlds eye and shall be taxt of the least violence where we revenge We should smile smoothest where our hate 's most deep and when our spleen 's broad waking seem to sleep Let the young man play still upon the bit till we have brought and train'd him to our lure Great men should strike but once and then strike sure Clod. Love you Virginia still App. Do I still live Clod. Then she 's your own Virginius is you say still in the Camp App. True Clod. Now in his absence will I claim Virginia to be the daughter of a bond woman and slave to me to prove which I 'l produce firme proofs notes probable sound Witnesses then having with your Lictors summond her I 'l bring the cause before your Judgement Seat where upon my infallid evidence you may pronounce the sentence on my side and she become your Strumpet not your Bride App. Thou hast a copius brain but how in this shall we dispose Icilius Clod. If he spurne clap him up close there 's wayes to charm his spleen By this no scandal can redound to you the Cause is mine you but the Sentencer upon
drovvns them in the Western â—…ea But 〈◊〉 â—…hese 〈◊〉 as too high for your dâ—…ll appâ—… 〈◊〉 Shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you at the Tryal to morrow 1. Serving. By 〈◊〉 â—…lp 〈◊〉 â—…e there 2. Serving. And I if I liâ—… Corb. And I if I dye for 〈◊〉 Here 's my hand I 'l meet you It is thought my old master will be there at the Bar for though all the timber of his house yet stand yet my Lord Numitorius hath sent one of his Posts to the Camp to bid him spur cut and come to the sentence Oh we have a house at home as heavy as if it were covered with lead But you will remember to be there 1. Serving. And not to fail Corb. If I chance to meet you there and that the Case go against us I will give you a quart not of Wine but of Tears for instead of a new Role I purpose to break my Fast with sops of sorrow Explicit Actus tertius Actus Quartus Scena Prima Enter Virginius like a slave Numitorius Icilius Valerius Horatio Virginia like a slave Julla Calphurina Nurse Virginius THanks to my noble friends itnow appears that you have rather lov'd me then my fortune for that 's near shipwrackt chance you see still ranges and this short dance of life is full of changes Appius how hollow that name founds how dreadful It is a question whether the proud Leacher will view us to our merit for they say his memory to vertue and good men is still carousing Lethâ—… O the Gods not with more terror do the souls in hell appear before the seat of Rhadamant then the poor Clyent yonder Numit. O Virginius Why do you wear this habit it ill fits your noble person or this reverend place Virg. That 's true old man but it well fits the case that 's now in question If with form and shew they prove her slaved all freedome I 'le forgoâ—… Icilius. Noble Virginius put out a bold and confident defence search the Imposture like a cunning Tryer false meâ—…als bear the touch but brook not fire their brittleness betrayes them let your breath discover as much shame in them as death did ever draw from Offenders Let your truth nobly supported void of fear or art welcome what ever comes with a great heart Virginius Now by the Gods I thank thee noble youth I never fear'd in a besieged Town Mines or great Engines like you Lawyers Gown Virginia O my dear Lord and father once you gave me a noble freedom do not see it lost without a forfeit take the life you gave me and sacrifice it rather to the gods then to a villains Lust. Happy the Wretch who born in bondage lives and dies a slave and sees no lustful projects bent upon her and neither knowes the life nor death of honor Icil We have neither Justice no nor violence which should reform corruption sufficient to cross their black premeditated doom Appius will seize her all the fire in hell is leapt into his bosom Virginius O you Gods extinguish it with your compassionate tears although you make a second deluge spread and swell more high then Tenerifâ—…'s high head Have not the Wars heapt snow sufficient upon this aged head but they will stil pile winter upon winter Enter Appius Oppius Clodius six Senators Lictors Appius Is he come say Now by my life I 'l quit the General Numit. Your reverence to the Judge good brother Virginius Yes Sir I have learnt my complement thus Blest mean estates who stand in fear of many and great are curst for that they fâ—…ar not any App. What is Virginius come Virg. I am here my Lord. App. Where is your daughter Numit. Here my reverend Lord. Your habit shewes you strangely Virginia O 't is fit it sutes both time and cause Pray pardon it App. Where is your Advocate Virg. I have none my Lord. Truth needs no Advocate the unjust Cause buyes up the tongues that travel with applause in these your thronged Courts I want not any and count him the most wretched that needs many Orator May it please your reverend Lordships App. What are you Sir Orat. Of counsel with my Clyent Marcus Clodius Virg. My Lord I undertake a desperate combat to cope with this most eloquent Lawyer I have no skill i' th' weapon good my Lord I mean I am not travell'd in your Lawes My suit is therefore by your special goodness they be not wrested against me App. O Virginius the gods defend they should Virg. Your humble servant shall ever pray for you Thus shall your glory be above your place or those high titles which you hold in Court for they dy blest that dy in good report Now Sir I stand you Orat. Then have at you Sir May it please your Lordships here is such a Case so full of subtilty and as it were so far benighted in an ignorant mist that though my reading be sufficient my practice more I never was intangled in the like pursenet Here is one that claimes this woman for his daughter Here 's another affirms she is his Bond-slave Now the Question with favour of the Bench I shall make plain in two words only without circumstance App. Fall to your proofs Orat. Where are our papers Clod. Here Sir Orat. Where Sir I vow y' are the most tedious Clyent Now we come to 't my Lord. Thus stands the Case the Law is clear on our sides Hold your prating That honourable Lord Virginius having been married about fifteen year and Issuless this Virgins politick mother Seeing the Land was likely to descend to Numitorius I pray Sir listen You my Lord Numitorius attend we are on your side Old Virginius imployed in forraign wars she seâ—… him 〈◊〉 she was with child observe it I beseech you and note the trick of a deceitful woman she in the mean time faiâ—… the passions of a great bâ—…llyed woman counterâ—…s their passions and their 〈◊〉 and verily all Rome held this for no â—…posterous stuff What 's to be done now here 's a rumor spread of a young Heir gods bless it and belly bumbasted with a cushion but their wants What wants there nothing but a pretty babe bought with some piece of mony where it skils not to furnish this supposed lying in Nurse I protest my Lord the fellow i' th' night cap hath not spoke one true word yet App Hold you your prating woman til you are call'd Orat. 'T is purchast Where From this mans bond-woman The mony paid What was the sum of mony Clod. A thousand Drachmas Orat. Good a thousand Drachmas App. Where is that bond-woman Clod. She 's dead my Lord. App. O dead that makes your Cause suspicious Orat. But here 's her deposition on her death bed with other testimony to confirm what we have said is true Wilt please your Lordship take pains to view these writings Here my Lord we shall not need to hold your Lordships long we 'l make short work on 't Virg.
not betake them to that just defence which Gods and Nature gave them but even wink in the black tempest and so fondly sink App. Let us proceed to sentence Virg. Ere you speak One parting farwel let me borrow of you to take of my Virginia App. Now my Lords we shall have fair confession of the truth Pray take your course Virg. Farewel my sweet Virginia never never shall I taste fruit of the most blessed hope I had in thee Let me forget the thought of thy most pretty infancy when first returning from the Wars I took delight to rock thee in my Target when my Girl would kiss her father in his burganet of glittering steel hung'bout his armed neck and viewing the bright mettal smile to see another fair Virginia smile on thee When I first taught thee how to go to speak and when my wounds have smarted I have sung with an unskilful yet a willing voice to bring my Girl asleep O my Virginia when we begun to be begun our woes increasing still as dying life still growes App. This tediousness doth much offend the Court. Silence attend her Sentence Virg. Hold without Sentence I 'l resign her freely since you will prove her to be none of mine App. See see how evidently Truth appears Receive her Clodius Virg. Thus I surrender her into the Court Kills her of all the Gods And see proud Appius see although not justly I have made her free And if thy Lust with this Act be not fed bury her in thy bowels now shee 's dead Omnes O horrid act App. Lay hand upon the Murderer Virg. Oh for a ring of pikes to circle me What have I stood the brunt of thousand enemies here to be slain by hang-men No. I 'l fly to safety in the Camp App. Some pursue the villain others take up the body Madness and rage are still th' Attendants of old doting age Enter two Souldiers 1 Is our Hut swept clean 2 As I can make it 1 'T is betwixt us two but how many think'st thou bred of Roman blood did lodg with us last night 2 More I think then the Camp hath enemies they are not to be numbred 1. Comrague I fear Appius will doom us to Acteons death to be worried by the Cattel that we feed How goes the day 2 My stomack has struck twelve 1 Come see what provant our knapsack yeilds This is our store our Garner 2 A smal pitâ—…ance 1 Feeds Appius thus is this a City feast This crust doth taste like date stones and this thing if I knew what to call it 2 I can tell you cheese struck in years 1 I do not think but this same crust was bak'd and this cheese frighted out of milk and whey before we two were souldiers though it be old I see 't can crawl what living things be these that walk so freely 'tween the â—…ind and pith for here 's no sap left 2 They call them Gentles 1 Therefore 't is thought fit that Souldiers by profession Gentlemen should thus be fed with Gentles I am stomack sick I must have some strong water 2 Where will you hav 't 1 In you green ditch a place which none can pass but he must stop his nose thou know'st it well there where the two dead dogs lye 2 Yes I know 't 1 And see the Cat that lyes a distance off be flead for supper Though we dine to day as Dutch men feed their souldiers we will sup bravely like Roman Leaguerers 2 Sir the General 1 Wee 'l give him place but tell none of our dainties lest we have too many guests to supper Enter Minutius with his souldiers reading a Letter Minut. Most sure 't is so it cannot otherwise be Either Virginius is degenerate from the ancient vertues he was wont to boast or in some strange displeasure with the Senate Why should these letters else from Appius confine him a close prisoner to the Camp and which confirmes his guilt why should he fly needs then must I incur some high displeasure for negligence to let him thus escape which to excuse and that it may appear I have no band with him but am of faction oppos'd in all things to the least mildeed I will casheir him and his Tribuneship bestow upon some noble Gentleman belonging to the Camp Souldiers and friends you that beneath Virginius Colours marchâ—… by strict command from the Decemvirat we take you from the charge of him late 〈◊〉 and his Authority Command and Honour we give this worthy Roman Know his Colours and prove his faithful Souldiers Roman Warlike General my courage and my forwardnesse in battel shal plead how well I can deserve the title to bee a Roman Tribune Enter the first mutinous Souldier in haste Minut. Now the newes 1. Sould. Virginius in a strange shape of distraction enters the Campe and at his heels a legion of all estates growths ages and degrees with breathlesse paces dog his frighted steps It seemes half Rooâ—…'s unpeopled with a traine that either for some mischiefe done pursue him or to attend some uncouth novelty Minut. Some wonder our fear promises Worthy souldiers martial your selves and entertaine this novel within a ring of steele Wall in this portent with men and harnesse be it ne're so dreadful Hee 's entred by the clamour of the camp that entertaines him with these ecchoing showts Affection that in Souldiers hearts is bred survives the wounded and out lives the dead Enter Virginius with his knife that and his arms stript up to the elbowes all bloudy coming into the midst of the souldiers he makes a stand Virg. Have I in all this populous Assembly of souldiers that have prov'd Virginius valour one friend Let him come thrill his partisan against this brest that through a large wide wound my mighty soule might rush out of this prison to flie more freely to yon christal pallace where honour sits inthronis'd What no friend Can this great multitude then yeild an enemy that hates my life Here let him seise it freely What no man strike am I so wel beloved Minutius then to thee If in this camp there lives one man so just to punish sin so charitable to redeem from torments a wretched souldier at his worthy hand 〈◊〉 a death Minut. What means Virginius Virg. Oâ—… if the Generals heart be so obduâ—… to an old begging souldier Have I here no honest Legionary of mine own Trooâ—… at whose bold hand and sword if not 〈◊〉 I may command a death 1. Sould. Alas good Captain Minut. Virginius you have no command at all your Companies are elsewhere now bestowed Besides we have a Charge to 〈◊〉 you here and make you the Camps prisoner Virg. General thanks For thou hast done as much with one harsh word as I beg'd from their weapons Thou hast kill'd me but with a living death Minut. Besides I charge you to speak what means this ugly face of blood you put on your distractions What 's the reason all Rome