command Where the request is to a love like mine If you will go Hostilius you have your liberty But let this dear embrace and this convince you That when we separate you carry with you The better half of your lov'd Romulus Host. Witness sweet Heavens with what constraint I leave him No cause but one cou'd make so sad divorce To be a Friend I leave my Friend for ever I 'le now to unfrequented Woods and seek To lose Mankind for after Romulus Who wou'd know other Men and who wou'd see A Woman that hath once known Hersilia Farewel thou God of Friendship once more Farewel Embrace I go imperfect You keep back my heart With such a groan the Soul and body part Exit Rom. He 's gone O sacred power of Love was e're affection Like this of his to quit his Mistress for his Friend Nay more to quit both Friend and Mistress rather Than injure me O truly Noble Roman Who can his passion in due terms express Had he not loved amiss his love were less Enter Hersilia and Feliciana Attendants Feli. Why did you bring me hither Sister Here 's no Hostilius Hers. Wou'd you have dyed in silence Shou'd I let you Weep by your self till I had lost my Sister And in a Fountain full of Maiden tears Found all the poor remains of my Feliciana You must not grieve so much indeed you shall not Do not I stand engaged to make you happy Feli. Softly for Heavens sake Your Lover's there I would not he shou'd hear you for the world Rom. My dear Hersilia O my only comfort I have a Pitious tale to tell my Love Hostilius my best friend is now my Rival Hers. Hostilius Rom. Yet so admir'd a Friend he still remains That to secure my love and ease his own He hath forsaken Rome and given himself To a perpetual Exile Feli. aside Heart hold a little Life do not yet forsake me The other killing word and then farewel Rom. I 'le borrow a few minutes of my Love To view the works and give abroad new orders And then you shall have all the wondrous story Exit Hers. Feliciana Sister do but here me O she faints Feliciana faints back into one of her Womens Armes Cornelia Portia Cloe Give all you help here quickly O she 's gone The fatal news was too too rough her ear Too tender to endure it Bend Bend her forward Give her more air kind Heavens she comes again Feli. O too unkind O cruel Romulus Was it not death enough for him to tell me Hostilius loves my Sister But he must kill me o're again and say He 's gone for ever Why do you thus torment me Why do you shew me Rome again and not Hostilius in it But I will follow him If he be yet in this vexatious world I 'le find my Love or lose my self in searching If to the world below he be retir'd I shall be there almost as soon as he The way is easie thither and I can't miss it Hers. Conduct her gently to repose Cornelia What a surprizing turn was this Poor Sister I have engaged beyond performance for her Ye Gods that favour innocence be kind Keep her wits safe and cure her troubled mind Exeunt ACT. III. SCENE I. Scene the Sabine Camp Enter Tarpeia in Mans Apparel Tarp. FOrgive me Maiden shame that in this Habit I seek to ease a Passion for whose sake The Gods have taken more undecent formes Yet still I am resolv'd to keep my Honour Safe and entire I would but see him once Again and then farewell the thought for ever Enter a Centry Cent. Stand and reveal your self who are you there From whence and whither going Tarp. I come from Rome my business to Lord Curtius If you can bring me Soldier to his presence Take this and this for expedition Cent. Gold as I live if that be all Sir follow me Exeunt Enter Curtius Cur. Hard fate of Lovers The wounds that I receiv'd From that Hostilius far less afflict me Than to discover that he is my Rival In vain I fear have I procur'd this War Of Tatius in vain did I exasperate The good old Prince against his Daughters Lover And vilified the Noble Romulus If thus the Roman Hydra Love produces New heads to be cut off before we Conquer Think Curtius think in time not only how To gain Hersilia but to save thy Honour Enter Soldier Sold. A Youth attends without from Rome he sayes He has affairs to you and prays admittance Cur. Let him Enter and do you withdraw Exit Sol. Enter Tarpeia Tarp. Would I were off again now I should speak Heavens how I am confounded Aside Cur. Would you with me young Roman Tarp. I am imploy'd Sir from the Sabine Ladies Now Roman Wives Hersilia and Cur. Oh speak that Name again sweet youth and win My Soul for ever Is this Hersilia's message And to me There 's Musick in thy voice Tarp. aside What means this transport The happy lye it seems Is well accepted Hersilia Sir and all Your other Sabine Beauties now in Rome Have bid me tell you and by you Tatius Since the kind ties of Love are stricter far Than those of blood they cannot leave their Husbands Nor will they ever think of coming back If by your Armes which yet they cannot fear You conquer Rome and make 'em yours again You 'l force their wills and do a fouler Rape Than that which brought 'em thither Cur. Unkind thou art a cunning and dissembling Boy Fie on such early falshood Wou'd any one But such a smoothdeceitful thing as you Have rais'd my hopes to glorious Expectations And so soon dash 'em all again to nothing Away then Syren-Traytor Tarp. Would I had never seen him O I love him more than ever Aside Cur. And is this all you have in charge Tarp. No my Lord I bring you news of Love Cur. The Villain mocks me Tarp. By all the Gods kill me if I dissemble Cur. O Venus shou'd this be from dear Hersilia Love find your eyes again but this short minute And be hereafter blind for ever aside Tell me Thou Charming Boy tell me my better Genius What is the sweet Intelligence Speak while A thousand Cupids hovering in the air Snatch at thy words and bear 'em all perfum'd About the Heavens Tarp. Oh I am ruin'd now beyond all cure His tender words strike through my very Soul Aside Cur. Will you not speak Why will you torture me With these delayes Tarp. Whither will this tumultuous passion drive me Now I am in it thrusts me headlong on And bids me stop at nothing Aside The Love my Lord comes from a Roman Lady My unhappy Sister Cur. T is gone again the empty shaddow leaves me Thy fortune Curtius laughs at all thy wishes And scorns thy Expectation Aside Tarp. She saw you Sir when you was last at Rome You came she saw you there and was o'recome Since as a Captive to your Name and merits She knows
Tarp. More more of Curtius I love to hear thee speak You paint so prittily the Man your favour Port. I favour him Tarpeia alas that needs not He little values any of our favours For he had never any Mistress yet At least that we can guess that 's his chief fault Tarp. I like this best of all I have no Rival aside Enter Cornelia Singing Vse your Youth use your Youth and happy hours while they remain Cheerfully Cheerfully while they are ours the blessings entertain For time once lost can ne're be found again For time once c. Tarp. See Portia see how unconcern'd she seems Careless of fate while the alarms of war Or feircer love disquiet all her Sex Have you no heart Cornelia Cor. Not to admit of love or fear Tarpeia The Boy-God never dar'd to wound my breast And if I 'me arm'd against a God why should I fear a Souldier Portia the Queen asks for you Port. Then we must part Farewel Tarpeia Ex. Port. Cor. Tarp. Farewell farewel Conelia ah happy Girl In her own Childish innocence secure She never dreams the smart which I endure Exit SCENE III. Romulus Hostilius Rom. HOW long Hostilius must I sue in vain To know the cause why I am thus afflicted That is why you are thus afflicted Cou'd I Have kept a secret from my Friend so long Cou'd I have let him beg so long for that Which should be his without so much as asking For every Friend or is or ought to be A confident nor shou'd I care to know it But only in design to ease your sorrow Had you a secret cause of joy I shou'd Not then have importuned you for it Why stand you thus silent and almost senseless As you wou'd say I cannot answer what You urge and will not what you ask Host. O worthyest of Mankind O Prince too good To be my Friend I wou'd not have you love But pitty me and let me still be silent Rom. I cannot must not dare not suffer it Good Hostilius Host. Then you will not pitty me I see I must appear foul and unworthy In denying or still more foul and more Unworthy in Confessing O mistaken goodness When you shall see my Soul naked and bare Of all its silent vernish when you have stript Off the disguise you 'l find so base an object So poor and so degenerate a Roman And such a Monster of abused Friendship You 'l start at the discovery and curse me for it Rom. Who but Hostilius durst have said this of Hostilius Or do you aime th' unworthy Character At some less dear and less deserving Roman Host. I do not know another Roman that deserves it No Sir t is I I am the unworthy owner Rom. Come all this is false and feign'd to put me off I see through your pretences if will not do Hostilius and I must know your discontent Host. Suppose then For such a Crime from one oblig'd like me Ought not to be discover'd but by supposition Suppose I had agreed with Tatius To give the City up betray the Army And make my Friend his Prisoner Rom. I could forgive it Host. Suppose I had designed prompted by my Ambition To stab my Friend basely and when ungarded Usurp his Crown and make my self the head of Rome Rom. T is all impossible but still I should forgive it Host. Higher yet Suppose I love Hersilia Your your Hersilia love her to enjoy her For that dear end suppose I 'de be a Traytor A Devil repine and covet those sweet joyes Which only you can merit envy all The Heaven which you possess in her embraces How say you now Now am not I a Villian Rom. No but a foul desembler of a foul false scandal Do not I know Hostilius I 'me sure he cannot Think a Crime like these I know he cannot Since my Remus dyed I never had so near a Friend Remus and I Were not such Twins in blood as we two in Affection Are not we Aeneas and Achates Host. T is true I know you are God born like him As good as great a friend as he you are The more Divine Aeneas But where is now Faithful Achates O I am not worthy I must confess all that I said was false But that which most concern'd you I love Hersilia Aye there it is that strikes the very root Of friendship now I 'me sure you can't forgive me Nor is it fit you should I can't forgive my self As good and God like as you are you shou'd Not stand unmov'd thus like a Temple Idol But draw and sheath your Sword here in this breast That dar'd to harbour such injurious passion Come Sir you see how wide my bosome opens To receive your Justice I 'le meet your Sword And pull it home with my own hands Are you still motionless I shall not think You love Hersilia as you ought unless You kill me Rom. A Friend who can confess offending thoughts And like you hate 'em e're they grow to action Pleading against himself with so much Rigour Is still a friend Our inclinations Are not at our Election but he that can Like you govern his rebel thought by the Strict rules of Justice and true reason Ought to be lov'd and honoured as a King Be reconciled Hostilius to your self For you are still as dear to me as ever Hostilius's Honour and Hersilia's Vertue Admit no Jealous scruples Host. Is this your Sentence on Hersilia's Lover Do you thus treat a Rival unheard of friendship Mark then what I decree with better Justice For my own Penance Since you now have known How false my passions are how strong that love That ought not to be nam'd to free you of suspicion I 'le leave your Rome for voluntary Exile And never see again my Romulus nor his Hersilia Rom. Must I be punisht then because you say You have offended must I lose so dear A Friend because that Friend thinks he had wronged me We will not part I 'le lose an eye before Hostilius no I will hazard all the ills His love can do me Host. Will you out-rival me in Honour too Will you not let me have that Mistress free O you are cruel If you were kind you would not keep me here Ever in sight of Heaven yet in a state Of such Damnation I cannot hope Nor ought I to enjoy it Rom. I 'le woe Hersilia to smile upon you I know she will for my sake Host. I dare not trust my self before her smiles They will unhinge my vertue besides A smile tho much above my merit yet to A love like mine gives little satisfaction And yet she ought not to give more and yet O I am wild the more I think of this The more I am confounded Thus low I beg Kneels You 'd let me leave you By all the tyes Of friendship by all the love you owe Hersilia allow my absence for only that Can cure my phrenzy Rom. To beg with such concern is to
have this skirmish grow into a Battle Ho Lausus Bid those Rutilian succours halt till further Orders 1. Sab. The Romans Sir draw from their works apace Cur. No matter I know they are too brave To use their odds O are you come Sir Enter Hostilius and other Romans Host. To his party Stand here approach no nearer As you respect your lives Cur. To his Withdraw to the same distance And leave me single to my Generous Enemy Host. Curtius I see you are Noble and dare be brave I ought in Justice then to ask your Pardon That I e're questioned it they were rash words And I repent ' em Cur. Spare your Apologies First try what truth Is in the appearance If I indeed have Courage You may have cause enough Sir to repent But if you find me shrink chastize me for it Host. The same for me Come Sir this is for Romulus The best of Men and sweet Hersilia's cause They fight and pause Cur. Sure Hostilius you but dally and hardly think me Such an Enemy as may deserve you utmost force Know then if you are Romulus Champion I am his secret Rival I love Hersilia Tho she her self yet never knew it And with so strong a Passion That were not Tatius for this war should he Forget his Daughter yet I my self Would raise an Army to redeem my Mistress This sure will make you fight in earnest Host. Unhappily discovered O I am wounded In the most tender part about me thou hast Unkindly rob'd me of my Honour That which I late design'd my dear Friends quarrel Is now my own my boasted Friendship spight Of all my reason basely yeilds to love The near extinguished flame rages again Now I have found a Rival Hold Curtius Let me reward your secret with a another That 's yet unknown to all the world I love Hersilia I wish I cou'd not say Equal to Romulus and if my flame So hardly yeild to what I owe to him The Good the Great the God-born Romulus How can I hear thy Claim Have at thy heart Cur. Guard well thy own Hostilius my heart can know No wounds but what Hersilia gave Fight both Wounded Cur. How just and how invincible so e're You think your cause I see 't will not protect you You are not invulnerable You can bleed As well as I. Host. It is my glory Curtius I never loved my blood till now that it appears So ready to be spent in her dear cause For whom I have it Flow flow for ever You immortal Fountains the streams you see O Sabine Are not the Ebbs of life but springs of love Cur. That shall be thus determined Fight 1. Sab. Should we stand here and see the noble Curtius Fight to death 2. Sab. It is not reason His life 's not all his own but partly ours 1. Rom. See yonder Sabines move to assist their Leader We must not see the brave Hostilius fall opprest by number The Soldiers draw to their Principals and all engage Enter Romulus Rom. My Friend engaged and wounded it was a lucky Chance that brought me to this quarter He engages the Sabines beaten off Host. Ill timed assistance had not he appear'd Either I might have kill'd or dyed Fortune I cannot thank thee for this kindness Aside Rom. Still brave and still in noble danger why Are you so covetous of Honour Friend As thus to steal it from your Romulus And not acquaint me with the envy'd purchase Why that emphatick sigh I know 't is not your wounds Host. A wound how deep soever was never worth it But these are slight Rom. Slight as they are I 'le urge the cause no further Till I have seen 'em drest Host. I 'de rather make 'em wider why do we not Pursue the Enemy Let me but once again Engage with Curtius and I will never ask Another favour Rom. You shall not go Holds him I never us'd my power upon my friend till now Indeed you shall not go Host. Under how greivous a restraint am I Who can with pleasure neither live nor dye Exeunt SCENE II. The Pallace Enter Tarpeia Portia Port. WHat a sad sight Tarpeia have we had From yonder Tarrace The memory still afflicts me Methinks it is a most undecent thing To see brave men whom nature sure ordain'd For better ends and more to her advantage Like Tygers fight and wory one another Tarp. You tremble Portia that which chills your blood Has heated mine to noble Emulation Had I been man I had not stood with you Idle spectator of the brave engagement But run among 'em wild to the thickest action Port. Sure you but jest can any woman have Thoughts so extravagant Tarp. Nature as wrong'd me when she made me Woman Or else when I was form'd she heedless and hastily Snatch't the next Soul for me and left my Sex Imperfect Port. Love is our Province Women know no Wars But of the passions Hope Fear soft desires Sorrows and suddain joys make all our Battels Happy are you Tarpeia since your heart Thus arm'd seems proof against that passion Which kills and even damns so many of us Tarp. Wou'd it were so my Portia as you fancy But waveing this I prithee tell me freely Which you esteem the most deserving Men Our Romans or your Sabines Port. Ay this I like indeed I 'de rather talk Of gallant Men than see 'em fight and kill By Iuno then Tarpeia I esteem Your Roman Meen it speaks a Soul more great A finer shape a face more pleas'd a look More amorous than ours Tarp. Come this is all but Complement to me Methinks your Sabines much excel our Men Solid Majestical of such a look As speaks 'em truly just and even tempered More noble than to give a wrong but when Received duly requiting Port. Call 'em severe Tarpeiu and revengeful O did you know how strict they guard their Women Seldome or never seen abroad but at A Sacrifice or publick Rites to Heaven Thus Tatius kept his Daughters a Man so just He knows no mercy Tarp. But what of Curtius prithee Port. You have named the only he of all our Nation That 's like a Man indeed such as I 'de have him Young Courtly Brave well made and Noble born Mighty obliging and of as mighty Courage Tarp. She reads my closer thoughts before she spake My Soul had fram'd this Character of Curtius aside Port. But for that one we have a world of others Who though indu'd with vertue upon vertue Are yet of such a sullen gravity And so morosely wise you 'd think 'em out Of humour with the world yet more contented In a small House and Garden than Kings in Courts Tarp. But Curtius Port. Seems more a Roman than a Sabine he Scorns the low thoughts of dull Philosophy And since the Gods gave him a Princes Soul He overlooks the fate of a Plebeian Rome Rome must Rule the World it can't be otherwise Since she alone can shew a thousand such I fancy Romulus