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.
to serve you so hearken with your usuall clemency â—…o the relation of a lovers sufferings your figure still does revell in his dreames he banquets on your memory yet findes not thoughts enough to satisfie his wishes as if Virginia had compos'd his heart and fills it with her beauty Vir. I see he is a miser in his wishes and thinks he never has enough of that which onely he possesses but to give his wishes satisfaction let him know his heart and mine doâ—… 〈◊〉 so near together that hourely they converse and guard each other Clo. Is faire Virginia confident she knowes her favour dwels with the same man I plead for Vir. Unto Icilius. Clo. Worthy faire one I would not wrong your worth so to employ my language for a man so much beneath the merit of your beauty he I plead for has power to make your beauty populous your frowne shall awe the world and in your smile great Rome shall build her happinesse honour and wealth shall not be stil'd companions but servants to your pleasure Then shall Icilius but a refin'd Citizen boast your affection when Lord Appius loves you Vir. Blesse his great Lordship I was much mistaken let thy Lord know thou Advocate of lust all the intentions of that youth are honourable whil'st his are fill'd with sensuality And for a finall resolution know our hearts in love like twins alike shall grow Exit Clo. Had I a wife or daughter that could please him I would devote her to him but I must shadow this scorne and sooth him still in lust Exit Enter six Souldiers 1. What newes yet of Virginius returne 2. Not any 1. O the misery of Souldiers They doubly starve us with faire promises We spread the earth like haile or new reapt corne in this fierce famine and yet patiently make our obedience the confined â—…ile that starves us 3. Souldiers let us draw our swords while we have strength to use them 1. 'T is a motion which nature and necessity commands Enter Minutius Minut. Y' are of Virginius Regiment Omnes We are Minut. Why doe you swarme in troopes thus to your quarter Is our command growne idle to your trench Come I 'le divide you this your conference is not without suspect of mutiny 1. Souldiers shall I relate the grievances of the whole Regiment Omnes Boldly 1. Then thus my Lord. Minut. Come I will not hear thee 1. Sir you shall Sound all the Drums and Trumpets in the camp to drowne my utterance yet above them all I 'le rear our just complaint Stir not my Lord I vow you are not safe if you but move a sinew till you heare us Minut. Well sir command us you are the Generall 1. No my Lord not I I am almost starved I wake in the wet trench loaded with more cold iron then a Jaile would give a murderer while the Generall sleeps in a field bed and to mock our hunger feeds us with scent of the most curious fare that makes his tables crack our pay detained by those that are our Leaders and at once we in this sad and unprepared plight with the Enemy and Famine daily sight Minut. Doe you threaten us Omnes Sir you shall hear him out 1. You send us whips and iron manackles and shackles plenty but the devill a coine Would you would teach us that caniball trick my Lord which some rich men ' i th' City oft doe use shall 's one devoure another Minut. Will you hear me 1. O Rome th' art growne a most unnaturall mother to those have held thee by the golden locks from sinking into ruine Romulus was fed by a she wolfe but now our wolves instead of feeding us devoure our flesh carouse our blood yet are not drunk with it for three parts of 't is water Minut. Your Captaine noble Virginius is sent Rome for ease of all your grievances 1. 'T is false Omnes I 'T is false 1. Hee 's stolne away from 's never to returne and now his age will suffer him no more deale on the Enemy belike hee 'l â—…rne an usurer and in the City aire cut poore mens throats at home sitting in 's chaire Minut. You wrong one of the honorablest Commanders Omnes Honorable Commander 1. Commander I my Lord there goes the thrist in victories the Generall and Commanders share all the honour as they share the spoile but in our overthrowes where lies the blame the common souldiers fault ours is the shame What is the reason that being so far distant from the affrighted enemy wee lie ' i th' open field subject to the sick humors of heaven and earth unlesse you cood bestow two summers of us shall I tell you truth You account the expence of Ingines and of swords of horses and of armor dearer far then souldiers lives Omnes Now by the gods you doe 1. Observe you not the ravens and the crowes have left the City surfet and with us they make full banquets Come you birds of death and fill your greedy croppes with humane flesh then to the City flie disgorge it there before the Senate and from thence arise a plague to choake all Rome Omnes And all the Suburbs Minut. Upon a souldiers word bold Gentlemen I expect every houre Virginius to bring fresh comfort Omnes Whom Virginius 1. Now by the gods if ever he returne wee 'le drag him to the slaughter by his locks turned white with riot and incontinence and leave a president to all the world how Captaines use their souldiers Enter Virginius Minut. See hee 's returned Virginius you are not safe retire your troopes are mutinous we are begirt with Enemies more daring and more fierce then is the common foe Virg. My Troopes my Lord Minut. Your life is threatned by these desperate men betake you to your horse Virg. My noble Lord I never yet pâ—…oiest to teach the art of â—…ying 〈◊〉 out troopes grown mutinous he dares not look on me with half a 〈◊〉 that spread this wildfire Where is our Lieutenant Val. My Lord. Virg. Sirrah order our companies Minut. What do you mean my Lord Virg. Take air a little they have heated me Sirrah i' st you will mutiny 3. Not I Sir Virg. Is your gall burst you Traitor 4. The gods defend Sir Virg. Or is your stomack sea sick doth it rise I 'l make a passage for it 5. Noble Captain I 'l dye beneath your foot Virg. You rough porcupine ha do you bristle do you shoot your quils you rogue 1. They have no points to hurt you noble Captain Virg. Wast you my nimble shaver that would whet your sword 'gainst your Commanders throat you sirrah 6. My Lord I never dream't on 't Virg. Slaves and cowards what are you cholerick now by the gods the way to purge it were to let you blood I am i' th' center of you and I 'l make the proudest of you teach the Aspen leaf to tremble when I breath Minut. A strange Conversion Virg. Advance your pikes
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
the motions honest App. Very good Icilius shall engage his honoured word for her appearance Clod. As you please my Lord But it were fitting her old Uucle there were jointly bound with him App. Well Sir your pleasure shall have satiety You 'l take our word for her appearance will you not Sir I pray Clod. Most willingly my Lord. App. Then Sir you have it and i' th' mean time I 'l take the honoured Lady into my guardianship and by my life I 'l use her in all kindness as my wife Icil. Now by the Gods you shall not App. Shall not what Icil. Not use her as your wife Sir App. O my Lord I spake it from my heart Icil. I very likely She is a Virgin Sir and must not lye under a mans forth coming do you mark not under your forth coming leacherous Appius Appi. Mistake me not my Lord Our Secretary Take bonds for the appearance of this Lady And now to you sir you that were my servant I here casheire you never shalt thou shrowde thy villanies under our noble roofe nor scape the whip or the fell hangmans book by warrant of our favour Clod. So my Lord I am more free to serve the Gods I hope now I have lost your service App. Harke you sirra who shall give bonds for your appearance ha to justifie your claim Clod. I have none my Lord. App. Away commit him prisoner to his chamber I 'le keep you safe from starting Clod. Why my Lord App. Away I wil not hear you A Judges heart here in the midst must stand and move not a haires bredth to either hand Exit Numit. O were thy heart but of the self same piece thy tongue is Appius how blest were Rome Icil. Post to the campe Sertorius thou hast heard th' effect of all relate it to Virginius I pray thee use thy ablest horsemanship for it concerns us near Serto. I goe my Lord. Exit Icil. Sure all this is damn'd cunning Virg. O my Lord seamen in tempests shun the flattering shore to bear full sails upon 't were danger more So men o're born with greatness stil hold dread false seeming friends that on their bosomes spread for this is a safe truth which never varies He that strikes all his sailes seldome miscarries Icil. Must we be slaves both to a tyrants will and confounding ignorance at once Where are we in a mist or is this hell I have seen as great as the proud Judge have fell the bending Willow yeilding to each wind shall keep his rooting firme when the proud Oak braving the storme presuming on his root shall have his body rent from head to foote Let us expect the worst that may befal and with a noble confidence beare all Exeunt Enter Appius Clodius and a servant App. Here bear this packet to Minutius and privately deliver 't make as much speed as if thy father were deceas'di'th ' Camp and that thou went'st to take th' Administration of what he left thee Fly Serv. I go my Lord. Exit App. O my trusty Clodius Clod. My dear Lord let me adore your divine policy You have poison'd them with sweet meats you have my Lord. But what contain those Letters App. Much importance Minutius is commanded by that packet to hold Virginius prisoner in the Camp on some suspect of Treason Clod. But my Lord how will you answer this App. Tush any fault or shadow of a Crime will be sufficient for his committing thus when he is absent we shall in a more calm and friendly sea sail to our purpose Clod. Mercury himself could not direct more safely App. O my Clodius Observe this rule one ill must cure another as Aconiâ—…um a strong poison brings a present cure against all Serpents stings In high attempts the soul hath infinite eyes and 't is necessity makes men most wise Should I miscarry in this desperate plot this of my fate in after times be spoken I 'l break that with my weight on which I am broken Exeunt Enter Two Serving men at one door at the other Corbulo the Clowne melancholy 1 Serving. Why how now Corbulo thou wast not wont to be of this sad temper What 's the matter now Corb. Times change and seasons alter some men are born to the Bench and some to the halter What do you think now that I am 1. Serving. I think thee to be Virginia's man and Corbulo Corb. No no such matter ghess again tell me but what I am or what manner of fellow you imagine me to be 1. Serving. I take thee to be an honest good fellow Corb. Wide of the â—…ow hand stilâ—… Corbulo is no such man 2. Serving. What art thou then Corb. Listen and I 'l describe my self to you I am something better then a Knave and yet come shorâ—… of being an honest man and though I can sing a â—…ble yetâ—…m accounted bâ—… 〈◊〉 one of the base being indeed and aâ—… the caâ—… stands with me at this present inferiour to a rogue and three degrees worse then a Rascal 1. Serving. How comes this to passe Corb. Only by my services successe Take heed whom you serve Oh you serving Creatures for this is all I have got by serving my Lady Virginia 2. Serving. Why what of her Corb. She is not the woman you take hee to be for though she have borrowed no money yet she 〈◊〉 entered into bonds and though you may think her a woman not sufficient yet 't is very like her bond will be taken The truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 challenged to be a bond woman now if she be a bond woman and a slave and I her servant and Vassal what did you take me to be I am an Aâ—… a Coat a worm a Woodcock amongst birds a Hodmondâ—…d amongst flies amongst Cuâ—…s a trindle tale and amongst fishes a poor Ipèr but amongst Serving men worse worse then the mans man to the under Yeomen Fewâ—…rer 1. Serving. But is it possible thy Lady is challenged to be a slave What witness have they Corb. Witness these Fountains these Flood-gates these Well-springs the poor Gentlewoman was Arrested in the open Market I offered I offered to bail her 〈◊〉 though she was I could not be taken The grief hath gone so â—…ar my heart that 〈◊〉 I be made free I shall never be mine own man The Lord Appius hath committed her to Ward and it is thought she shall neither lye on the Knight side not in the Troping Ward for if he may have his will of her he means to put 〈◊〉 in the Hole His Warrant hath beâ—… out for her but how the case stands with him or how matters will be taken up with her â—…s yet uncertain 2. Serving. When shall the Tryal be Corb. I take it to be as soon as the morning is brought a bed of a new son and 〈◊〉 2. Serving. And vvhen is that Corb. 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every morning you knovv brings forth a nevv â—…n bâ—… they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 short liv'd for every night shee
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
hear me noble Romans Virginius thou dost but supply my place I thine Fortune hath lift thee to my Chair and thrown me headlong to thy pleading bar If in mine eminence I was stern to thee shunning my rigor likewise shun my fall And being mild where I shewed cruelty establish still thy greatness Make some use of this my bondage With indifference survey me and compâ—…e my yesterday with this sad hour my heighth with my decline and give them equal ballance Virg. Uâ—…certain fate but yesterday his breath â—…'d Rome and his least â—…ved frown was death I cannot chuse but pity and lament So high a rise should have such low discent Icil. He 's ready to forget his injury Oh too relenting age Thinks not Virginius if he should pardon Appius this black deed and set him once more in the Ivory Chair he would be wary to avoid the like become a new man a more upright Judge and deserve better of the Common Weal Virg. 'T is like he would Icil. Nay if you thus begin I 'l fetch that shall anatomize his 〈◊〉 Exit Numit. Virginius you are â—…oo 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 deeds of this nature You must fashion now your actions to your place not to your passion severity to such acts is as necessary as pity to the tears of innocence A shout Minut. He speaks but Law and Justice Make good the streets with your best men at arms Valerius and Horatio know the reason of this loud uproar and confused noise Although my heart be melting at the fall of men in place and Office we 'l be just to punish murdrous Acts and censure Lust. Enter Valerius and Horatio Valer. Icilius worthy Lord bears through the street the body of Virginia towards this prison which when it was discovered to the people mov'd such a mournful clamour that their cryes pierc'd heaven and forc'd tears from their sorrowing eyes Horat. Here comes Icilius. Enter Icilius with the body of Virginia Icil. Where was thy pity when thou slewest this maid thou wouldst extend to Appius Pity See her wounds still bleeding at the horrid presence of you stern Murderer till she find revenge nor will these drops stench or these springs be dry till theirs be set a bleeding Shall her soul whose essence some suppose lives in the blood still labour without rest Will old Virginius murder her once again in this delay Virg. Pause there Icilius. This sight hath stiffned all my operant powers ic'd all my blood benum'd my motion quite I 'l powre my soul into my daughters belly and with a soldiers tears imbalm her wounds My only dear Virginia App. Leave this passion proceed to your just sentence Virg. We will Give me two swordâ—… Appius grasp this You Clodius that You shall be your own hang-men do Justice on your selves You made Virginius â—…uce his own blood lodg'd in his daughters brest which your own hands shall act upon your selves If you be Romans and retain their spirits redeem a base life with a noble death and through your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yoâ—…â—…ath App. Virginius is a noble Justicer had I my crooked paths levell'd by thine I had not swayed the ballance Think not Lords but he that had the sâ—…it to oppose the Gods dares likewise suffer what their powers inflict I have not dreaded famine fire noâ—… strage their common vengeance poison in my cup nor dagger in my bosom the revenge of private men for private injuries nay more then these not feâ—…'d to commit evil and shall I tremble at the punishment Now with as much resolved constancy as I offended will I pay the mulct and this black stain laid on my family then which a nobler hath not place in Rome Wash with my blood away Learn of me Clodius I 'l teach thee what thou never studiest yet that 's bravely how to dy Judges are term'd the Gods on earth and such as are corrupt read me in this my ruine Those that succeed me that so offend thus punish This the sum of all Appius that â—…in'd by Appius hand shall fall Kils himself Virg. He dyed as boldly as he basely err'd and so should every true bred Roman do And he whose lise was odious thus expiring in his death forceth pity Clodius thou wast follower of his fortunes in his being therefore in his not being imitate his fair example Clod. Death is terrible unto a conscience that 's opprest with guilt They say there is Elizium and Hel the first I have forfeited the latter fear My skin is not sword proof Icil. Why dost thou pawse Clod. For mercy mercy I intreat you all Is' t not sufficient for Virginia slain that Appius suffered one of noble blood and eminence in place for a Plebian Besides he was my Lord and might command me If I did ought 't was by compulsion Lords and therefore I crave mercy Icil. Shall I doom him Virg. Do good Icilius. Icil. Then I sentence thus Thou hadst a mercy most unmeâ—…riting slave of which thy base birth was not capable which we take off by taking thence thy sword And note the difference 'twixt a noble strain and one bred from the rabble both alike daâ—…'d to transgresse but see their odds in death Appius dy'd like a Roman Gentleman and a man both wayes knowing but this slave is only sensible of vitious living not apprehensive of a noble death Therefore as a base Malefactor we and timerous slave give him as he deserves unto the common Hangman Clod. What no mercy Icil. Stop 's mouth away with him the life of the Decemviri expires in them Rome thou at length art free restored unto thine ancient liberty Minut. Of Consuâ—… which bold Iunius Brutus first begun in Tarquins fall Virginius you and young Icilius shall his place succeed so by the peoples suffrage 't is decreed Virg. We martial then our souldiers in that name of Consuls honoured with these golden bayes Two fair but Ladies most infortunate have in their ruins rais'd declining Rome Lucretia and Virginia both renown'd for chastity Souldiers and noble Romans to grace her death whose life hath freed great Rome march with her Course to her sad Funeral Tomb. Exeunt Flourish FINIS