the heart See the fair Queen of Cyprus does appear While all the wither'd beauties of the year Start up and smile to feel her bring Something more welcome than the Spring The Rose and Iessamine perfume the air Yet do her Garlands take their sweetness from her hair She comes she comes she comes a Lovers pace With all the smiles of Heaven in her face Chorus Why should not than the brave be fortunate Why shou'd the fair be hapless in their Love When the Coelestial powers that rule their fate Keep such a kind intelligence above Feli. Fetch me a Roman Pile aud Sabine Shield I 'le after the ungrateful Runegade Starting up And force him back to duty alas alas Laugh at me good Cornelia prithee laugh Can I force him whom mighty Cupid could not I saw the little God shoot all his Arrows at him And still Hostilius fenced and fenced and fenced 'Em all away and still as they came He filcht them all into his own Quiver At last the boy sate down and wept for having lost His Arrows But what did I I went up boldly to the pretty Child And strok't him thus be comforted said I Stroaks Cor. I 'le give thee new Artillery sweet infant I 'le give my boy a Quiver full of sighs At this the Urchin smil'd Ah! foolish Girl said he Sighs are indeed sort of Arrows but they Can only wound her breast that shoots ' em Cor. and Cloe. Dear Madam try to sleep once more Feli. I will I will I will I will Sits down again But then you must not sing another Trumpet I hate the thought of war Hostilius is Too much a Soldier Sing any thing but that And I will try to sleep in earnest SONG Where art thou God of dreams for whose soft chain The best of Mankind ever do complain Since they affect to be thy Captives before Liberty Vnkind and disobliging Deity He flies from Princes and from Lovers Eyes Yet every night with the poor Shepheard lies II. Shew thy self now a God and take some care Of the distressed Innocent and fair To rest to rest dispose the pitty'd Maid her eye-lids close Gently as evening dews shut up the Rose Then bear in silent whispers to her ear Such pleasing words as Virgins love to hear Cloe. She sleeps she sleeps Cornelia Happy minute Let us withdraw for fear we should disturb The blessed slumber They come forward and the Scene shuts upon Feliciana Cloe. But while our care 's imploy'd her for Feliciana We must not lose the memory of Hersilia We are obliged in Honour to find some means To free the Noble Lovers Cor. Poor Cloe what are we weak helpless Maids To attempt so brave and act when all the force In Rome can hardly hope to do it Enter Portia weeping Port. If you have any tears in store now now Is the sad fatal hour arriv'd to spend 'em If you have eyes shew it and weep for mine Already are quite lost in sorrows The Noble Romulus and his Hersilia That Glorious pair of Captives are by Tatius O cruel Sabine O scandal of our Nation Sentenc'd to death and now the cursed minute Comes on apace when the inhumane Sentence Must have a more inhumane Execution Cloe. So sad a tale as this tho but a fiction Cannot be heard without some tears Weeps For sure my Portia you but dissemble with us Or if you be in earnest yet Tatius is not He cannot be so barbarous Port. Oh never hope it he is grown a Monster Justice the best of vertues is in him The worst of vices since he can act A cruelty like this and call it Justice Cloe. And is this true Happy Feliciana Whose want of sense secures her from this new sorrow Wou'd I too were distracted Cor. I will not be so vain to wish where I Can rule my fate I 'le die with my dear Lady I need no other Tyrant then my grief Sorrow shall do the part of Tatius to me Port. I love my Queen as much as any can I cou'd indure a thousand prisons for her Suffer a thousand sorrows nay I could wish Wish heartily that I were dead to save her But when I think I am a dying Oh how I tremble death is a thing of such An ugly form so old and full of horror It never can agree with a young Virgins fancy Cloe. How poor a thing it is to be a woman Ah helpless sex we have desires yet still Want power to act them Come my sad Companions Let us all try to melt away in tears In such a death no frightful shape appears Insensibly we shall be eased from care As Eccho once in sighs dissolv'd to air Exeunt SCENE III. The Street Enter Hostilius Host. I Cannot go out of the sight of Rome How long have I been wandring to no pupose Like strangers straying in a wood I think To Travel forward but am indeed Brought back insensibly to my first station Sure something is forgot shou'd not I see Hersilia ' ere I part It must be so Goodmanners say I shou'd O I dare not To see her O to stay for ever here And lose my generous thought my boasted friendship No I will on I 'le spur my testy Nature And make the dull Jade travel forward forward It is a glorious journy and I will go Exit Enter Tarpeia in Mans Apparel but different from the former Tarp. 'T is requisite I should redeem my honour In the same garb I lost it my designe Is much too Masculine for my own habit O Curtius Curtius that I cou'd remove thee From Rome and from the world with as much ease As from Tarpeia's much abused affection But let it be The greater difficulty The greater glory Wert thou arm'd with thunder Fenced with a wall of Adamant and Seas Deeper and feircer than the Adriatick I 'de find a way to thy perfidious heart And tell thee there what 's due from injur'd Love Enter Hostilius Host. How much in vain do we resolve to act What fate forbids The Gods have drawn a line And tho I strain and summon all my powers They hold me back and laugh at my endeavors I must not cannot pass the fatal limits Rome I am thine again The Gods that bring me here Let them preserve my Honour Tarp. Now fortune if thou art a Goddess help me Honour if thou art more then a bare name Assist me since I act not for revenge Alone but Romulus my injured King Host. Ha! did not that boy name Romulus I cannot Hear that dear name but I must wish to see him You mentioned Youth the King Is he this way Tarp. Where has the brave Hostilius been to ask That question Can Romulus be a Captive And he his nearest friend not know it Host. What do I hear Speak out thou fatal Messenger Of killing news delay me not with questions But answer mine directly Where is my King My Romulus Tarp. In the West-Tower a Captive there to Tatius Host. Was
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
ROMULUS AND HERSILIA OR THE SABINE WAR A TRAGEDY Acted at the Dukes THEATRE Militat omnis Amans habet sua Castra Cupido Ovid. LONDON Printed for D. Brown at the Black-Swan and Bible without Temple-Bar and T. Benskin in St. Brides Church-yard Fleet-street 1683. PROLOGUE Spoken by Mrs. Butler HOw we shall please ye now I cannot say But Sirs 'Faith here is News from Rome to day Yet know withal we 've no such Packets here As you read once a Week from Monkey Care But ' stead of that Lewd Stuff that clogs the Nation Plain Love and Honour tho quite out of fashion Ours is a Virgin Rome long long before Pious Geneva Rhetorick call'd her Whore For be it known to their Eternal Shames Those Saints were always good at calling Names Of Scarlet Whores let 'em their Wills devise But let 'em raise no other Scarlet lies Lies that advance the Good Old Cause and bring Into Contempt the Prelate with the KING Of what will such vile Brutes be now affraid When Rats and Weazles gnaw the Lyon's Beard And then in Ignoramus Holes they think Like other Vermin to lie close and stink What have ye got ye Conscientious Knaves With all your Fancy'd Power and Bully Braves With all your standing to 't your Zealous Furies Your Lawless Tongues and Arbitrary Juries Your Burlesque Oaths when one Green-Ribbon-Brother In Conscience will be Perjur'd for another Your Plots Cabals Your Threats Association Ye shame Ye very Nusance of the Nation What have ye got but one poor Word Such Tools Were Knaves before to which you 've added Fools Now I dare swear some of you Whigsters say Come on now for a swinging Tory Play But Noble Whigs pray let not those Fears start ye Nor fright hence any of the Sham Sheriffs Party For if you 'l take my censure of the story It is as harmless as e're came before ye And writ before the times of Whig and Tory. The PERSONS Romulus King of Rome Hostilius A Noble Roman his Friend Spurius Tarpeius Commander of a Fort in Rome Tatius General of the Sabines Curtius A Commander of Note in the Sabine Army WOMEN Hersilia Daughter of Tatius and Wife to Romulus Feliciana Her Sister young and Innocent Tarpeia Daughter of Tarpeius Sabine Ladies attending Hersilia Portia Cloe Cornelia Souldiers and Attendants The Scene Rome Romulus Hersilia OR THE Sabine War ACT. I. SCENE I. Romulus Hersilia Hostilius and Attendance Rom. WHY weeps Hersilia What malicious sorrow envies the world the luster of those eyes and draws a Cloud o're beauties richest treasure Has love appear'd injurious Do you repent the blessings you have given your Romulus And do I seem to you too the hated Ravisher your severe Father makes me Hers. Pardon my dearest Lord pardon these tears t is the soft flame of love here at my heart makes these warm drops distillt is for you Had I less value for my Romulus I had not known these sorrows Witness you Heavens I wish I had a voice might reach the ear of every Roman every Sabine nay through all Italy while thus I vindicate my Romulus from any force on me but that of love You Gods was this a Rape no it was all consent and all mutual design But what is love what 's Truth what 's Justice when my Flint-hearted Father calls it a Rape and vows revenge Rom. And is this all my Love are these the fears that cause the precious shower If this be all stay those dear streams whose every drop's a pearl of value to redeem a Captive King I Honour Tatius as Hersilia's Father but if he brings us War and as a Foe approaches Rome swelling with empty threats I 'll tell him in the language of my Father Mars I slight his anger smile at his Revenge Hers. But I must be unhappy whoever wins you must lose sufficiently Whether my Father or my Husband bleeds still I am wounded good Heavens why have you made the sweets of love ever to be allay'd with so much bitterness Rom. You kill me with your tears My love my love wou'd you have me weep too Forbear or I shall lose my Manhood while all that 's Roman in me melts away to see you thus desolved in sorrows what wou'd you have me do Sweetest of all thy Sex at your Command I 'll fall at Tatius feet and bid him cut my head off because I love his Daughter more then ten thousand lives Hers. Forbid it all you Gods no live my Lord live to defend Hersilia your Hersilia from a cruel Father who wou'd not let her live that is not love her Romulus Live to defend that Romulus Hersilia's better self from an unjust invader Methinks I feel inspired a courage truly brave and truly Roman let the malicious world assault me with all its fury while I am thus inthron'd in your dear Armes I am secure of Fortune Rom. Ay! now I 'm blest now now I Reign indeed now at this omen I see my Infant Rome lift her aspiring head above the Nations while all the Ocean and the remotest Isles dance at her smiles and tremble at her frowns O thou brighter Venus thou more Majestick Iuno can you say this to me and not transfer at the same time the whole worlds Empire hither Hostilius Friend why are you silent speak my best Friend am I not truly great can there be greater Host. aside Oh tormenting Question How shall I answer this and not discover a base unfriendly envy Away degenerate Passion I 'll tear thee from my long abused heart or tear that heart out Rom. What means this silence Does ill fate appear in all its various forms of sorrow to me Here drown'd in tears and there in silent groans She cannot sure keep long from me since she has made so near approaches You two divide my Soul The best of Women and the worthiest Friend and do you strive whose grief shall most afflict me Host. Forgive me Sir or rather pitty me t is I am only wretched amidst this common Joy opprest with an ill timed and causeless Melancholly 'T is a disease I know let it not be infectious why should you be concern'd to hear me sigh Are not you blest in your Hersilias love you are an Emperour a God in that and you deserve it which of all the immortal beings woud not change Heavens with Romulus Woud you contemplate the Celestial Glories You have 'em here Wou'd you see brighter Stars than those above behold 'em in these eyes Woud you have Musick far beyond that of the higher Orbs Hersilias voice shall give it Woud you be immortal and taste Ambrosia You have it in these Lips The dyet of the Gods is pall'd and course to that But I 'm a Devil damn'd to dispair and silence Aside Rom. Can I be happy and Hostilius wear a Mourning look My Joys should be all yours or mine your sorrows if I 'm thus highly blest and sure I am pertake of all my
Fortune Command Rule Reign over my Rome and me Have I a City Subjects Crown and my Friend not the same Is not Hostilius Romulus and Romulus Hostilius Take and enjoy then all that makes me happy but leave your mournful silence Host. Aside Oh Royal bounty oh unheedful kindness he knows not what he sayes nor I to answer to this invidious Friendship Enter Feliciana Feli. Oh Sister O dear Hersilia what will become of us Hers. Why Sister what surprizing fright has caus'd this Question Feli. The City 's all allarm'd While from the Tarrace yonder I saw the distant-hills towards the west-gate covered with Armed Sabines drawing this way I hear they come to have us back alive or dead are these the effects of your Heroick Passions indeed Hersilia tho I respect you dearly you had not had my Company if I had thought I shoud have dyed for Love Rom. Innocently pretty fear not Feliciana these are but shews of terrour there 's nothings real in ' em Come Hostilius let us go view the Enemy and give such orders as may secure the Ladies fears and make the Sabines know Romans and Lovers are not to be Conquered Exeunt Rom. Host. Feli. Sister how great a change do we find here from the still life we 'mongst the Sabines led while at our Fathers Silvan Pallace there frighter from love and seldome seen of Men we spent so many dayes in the adjoyning Groves that all the wild Inhabitants knew us as part of them the Thorstle Nightingale and little Redbrest with all the other pretty feather'd Quire at our approach wou'd flock about and fill the Air with a compleat and chearful consort The speckled Dear woud fearless bring their Fawns and seek their food from me Hers. True Feliciana those were our softer hours Thoughtless in that calm state we past the year And knew not what it was to love or fear But now I have learnt both since the brave Romulus first met me in those shades Ah fatal hour yet hour I still must love we often met and full of angry tears at the approaching night as often parted You know Feliciana how we dispairing ever to procure the severe Tatius to approve our love the generous Youth of Rome by my consent forc'd us and all our Train of Sabine Ladies from the great feast and Sacred Rights of Consus Feli. I know too much Woud I had never known more then the harmless joyes of our own dwelling Widdow'd for loss of me how will the Turtles grieve which I so often fed and kist in feeding Were they now here methinks I could instruct 'em to sigh and Coo and mourn with better Emphesis then their own feather'd Parents in a Grove of Cypress Weeps Hers. Alas my pretty Sister weep not however If the sweet toiles of Lovers are uneasie to you you may return Command a Chariot and a Convoy when you please why shoud I force my Sister to pertake my troubles Feli. Sure Hersilia cannot have so mean a thought of me to think I 'de leave her no I 'le die here Yet wear you not my Sister I coud not go from Rome I know not what it is but something here about my heart afflicts me and often pants and heaves and almost stops my breath and will not suffer me so much as wish to be again amongst the Sabines and my once loved pleasure Of late I alwayes weep and sigh when private yet know not why I seek to be alone hate Company yet know not well the cause of this uneasie humour Hers. Why these are all the innocent signs of stifled Love Feli. sighing Indeed it may be so Had it been any thing but that I might perhaps have known the cause and sought a cure but love 's so great a stranger I can't So much as guess at his proceedings Her How long have you been thus Fel. E're since the willing force that brought us hither I need not tell you for you well remember how at those publick Shews where we were taken Prisoners of Love when at the signal given Your Romulus seiz'd you and every Roman youth that Lady whom his choice or chance presented Hostilius for my quality no doubt as being your Sister not for my person made me his care and entertained me then with so much gallantry and such obliging kindness that I have never since had any ease but when I see him yet I had rather die than he should know it Hers. Fear not dying my Felciana I know Hostilius by his silent sighs melts with loves kindly flames as much as you Fel. That that 's my torment for silly as I am I see he loves but see withal I 'am not the Object Since that dear time of our first encounter he never treated me with one kind word But wheresoever I 'm present he looks another way and sighs and never speaks to me Hers. Pretty Feliciana weep no more but trust your Cares to me I will find out a Cure for this sweet innocent Passion Mean time let 's seek my Romulus I have not patience to endure his absence I know his friend is with him too Come Sister you shall see Hostilius Fel. O hold I dare not Sister Since I have told you all my weakness for Hostilius I am ashamed to let you see me see him Hers. Away you foolish Innocent remove Such idle scruples or ne're thrive in Love Exeunt ACT. I. SCENE II. Enter Romulus Hostilius Spurius Tarpeius Rom. THE Western Gate that fronts the Enemy with the adjoyning Fort Tarpeius I commit to your experienc'd Loyalty and Conduct Sp. Tar. It is an honour Sir which when I give you cause to wish undone take off my head Rom. Hostilius to you belongs all the Command I have my self in my own City Hostil Why shou'd you be so prodigal of favours Why shou'd you lavish thus my best of friends what Heaven and your own merits have conspired to make you only worthy of On me on me too One that can taste no happiness one whose dull sence has lost all relish of a blessing one born to be a wretch a curst unhappy wretch Rom. This is extravagancy sure friend you are not well Hostil My tongue too much betrays me woud I coud spit it out I must confess great Sir my mind of late is much distempered Which often makes my language out of order It is a causless transiant Cloud I know and soon will over I beg you take no notice of it I am too sensible of my own imperfection and am ashamed to have it known to others Rom. 'T is reason nobly urged I 'm silent but see Hersilia Enter Hersilia Feliciana Tarpeia c. Rom. Be safe my Love as your own wish can fancy Nor let the pretty Feliciana fear since Rome is now so guarded that the Sabines may as well hope to storm the Cloud as prevail here No arms but those of friendship can pass these Walls Her I think my Lord your cause will raise an Army
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
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