Horatius, a Roman tragedie, by Sir William Lower.

ACTUS Primus, SCENA Prima.

Sabina Julia.

Sabina.

A Pprove my weakness, and suffer my griefe, It is but too just in so great a misery; such storms as these ready to powr upon them, will shake the stoutest courages; the least dejected masc'line Spirit without disorder can't exercise its Vertue; although mine receive amazement at these rude alarmes, the trouble of my heart can nothing worke upon my teares, and amongst all the sighs it send's to Heaven, my constancy raignes still over mine eyes. When one doth stop the course of the Souls sadness and affliction, though it be less then man, 'tis more then woman: in this extremity to command teares, is to shew strength enough in our weake sex.

Julia.

Enough, and too much for a common Soul, that from the meanest danger doth expect

but one misfortune; a great heart doth scorne such an abasement, it despaires of nothing, though in occurrents doubtful; the two armies stand in battalia before our walls; but Rome knows not yet how to lose a field, we need not fear her, rather lets applaud her; since she goes forth to fight, she goes to conquer: then banish, banish quite so vaine a fear, and conceive brave desires worthy a Romane.

Sabina.

I am a Romane, since my Hushands is so, marriage makes me embrace Romes interest; but it should hold my heart like a chain'd slave, if it did make me to forget the place where I was born. Alba, where I began to breath my first aire, Alba, my deare Country, and my first love, when between us and thee I see the war commenc'd, I feare our Victory as much as our destruction. Rome, if thou complain'st that I am partial herein, fix upon enemies that I may hate: When I see drawn up'fore thy walls both Armies, my three brave Brothers in the one, and my undaunted Husband in the other, can I pray for thee, and without impiety importune Heaven for thy felicity? I know thy State, yet in its infancy, cannot without war fix its puissance: I know it must grow great, and that thy destinies will not at home be bounded with the Latins; I know the Gods have promised to thee the Empire of the Earth and that thou can'st not See th' effect of it, but by the war: so far am I from off'ring to oppose this thirst of Glory, which obeyes so readily the Gods decrees, and posteth to thy greatness, that I would see thy Crowned Troops already pass the Pyrenees, carry thy battalions into the East, plaint thy Pavillions

upon the banks of Rhine, make the proud columns of Hercules to shake under thy feet: But love a town to whom thou owest Romulus: Ingratful, know that from her Kings rich blood thou tak'st thy name, thy walls, and thy first laws: Alba is thy original; stay, and wisely consider that thou carryest the sword into thy Mothers bosome; turn elsewhere the force of thy triumphant armes: her joy will breake forth in her childrens happiness; and overcome with a maternal love, her prayers will be for thee, if thou art not against her.

Julia.

This discourse surpriseth me, since from the time that we first arm'd against her people, I have seen so much indifference in you for her, as if you had been born within our walls: I admired in you the vertue that reduc'd your dearest interests unto your husbands, and did pity you in the mid'st of your plaints, as if our Rome had caused all your fears.

Sabina.

Whil'st they encountered but in light skirmishes, not strong enough to cast each other down; whil'st a glad hope of peace flatter'd my trouble, it is true, I tooke a vanity to be all Romane: if I saw Rome prevail, with some regret I suddenly condemn'd this secret motion; again, if I resented in her contrary success any malignant joy in favour of my three brothers, suddenly to smother it, calling my reason to me, I lamented when Glory entered into their house. But now alas! that one of them must fall, that Alba become slave, or that Rome sinke, and that after the battel there remaine no obstacle more to the conquerours,

nor hope unto the conquered, I should shew an unnatural hate unto my Country, if I could be all Romane yet, and should ask of the Gods your triumph, at the price of so much blood which is so precious to me. I tye me not so strictly to the interest of a man, that I should forget my Country: I'm not for Alba nor am I for Rome; I am afraid for one, and for the other, in this last conflict, and must be of that side which fortune shall afflict; indifferent to both untill the Victory, I will participate the ils without assuming any thing of the glory, and will keep my tears in store for the conquered party, and my hate for the conquerours.

Julia.

How often we see such traverses as these arise▪ in diverse spirits diverse passions! In this Camilla acts clean contrary; her brother is your Husband; yours, her Lover▪ but she sees with an eye far different from yours; her blood in one camp, and her Love in th' other; when you did conserve a spirit all Romane, hers irresolute and fearful, incertain, fear'd the storm of the least mixture, of either party hated the advantage, to the misfortune of the vanquished still gave her plaints, and so she nourished eternal griefes; but yesterday when she understood that the Armies did advance resolved to joyn battaile, on her brow a sudden joy appear'd.

Sabina.

Oh Julia, how I fear so quick a change! Yesterday in her faire and pleasant humour she entertain'd Valerius; without doubt she quits my brother for this happy rival; her spirit shaken by the present objects

finds nothing amiable in an absent one after two yeers. But pray excuse the heat of a fraternal love; the care I have of him, doth make me fear all things from her; I frame suspitions from too light a subject, The day of battel is unfit to change, with a new dart few hearts are wounded then, in so great trouble one hath other thoughts: But who can have such pleasant entertainments, and such contentments as may equall hers?

Julia.

The causes are as obscure unto me as unto you, I can't he satisfied by any thought, any conjecture on't; 'tis constancy enough in so great danger, to see it, to attend it without griefe; but surely 'tis too much t'expresse it further even unto joy.

Sabina.

See how a gentle Genius hath fittly sent her to us! Try to make her discourse upon this point, she loveth you too well to conceal any thing from you: I leave you, Julia, entertain my Sister. I am asham'd to shew so much of melancholy, and my heart hurthened with a thousand fears, seeks solitude to hide its sighs and tears.

SCENA. II.

Camilla, Julia.

Camilla.

Why flyes she, and would have me entertain you? thinks she that my grief's less then hers, and that as more insensible of such misfortunes, I should mix less plaints with my sad discourse? My soul's affrighted with the same alarmes. I shall lose in the one and th' other army aswell as she; I shall behold my Lover, nay more, my onely Joy die for his Country,

or ruine mine; and this dear object of my love become for my afflicting punishment, or worthy of my teares, or of my hate. Alas!

Julia.

Yet she is more to be lamented then you: one may change Lover, but not Husband; leave Curiacius, and receive Valerius, so shall you fear no more for th' adverse party, so shall you be all ours, and your ••pirit released of it's trouble, shall have nothing to lose more in the camp of th' Enemy.

Camilla

Give me advises that may be more lawful, and, without proposition of crimes, wail my misfortunes; although I can scarce resist my evils, yet I would rather suffer, then merit them.

Julia.

How, Madame! do you call a fair and reasonable change a crime?

Camilla.

What? think you that the breach of faith is pardonable?

Julia.

Towards an enemy what should oblige you?

Camilla.

Who can absolve us from a Solemn vow?

Julia.

'Tis to no purpose to disguise a thing that is so cleare: I saw you yesterday receive Valerius court-ship, and the favour which he receiv'd from you, gives him encouragement to nourish a sweet hope.

Camilla.

If yesterday I entertain'd him with a pleasing countenance, think nothing on't but to his disadvantage; of my content another was the object. But to remove your error, know the cause on't; I look on Curiacius with an amity too pure to suffer my self longer to be thought perjur'd. About five or six months after my Brother marryed his Sister (Julia you know it) he obtained of my Father that I should be his Wife. This day was prosperous and fatal to us both at once, uniting

our houses, it did disunite our Kings; our marriage and the war were both concluded at the same instant, our hope as soon dead as born, all promises lost assoon as made: Oh how extreme then were our miseries! how many blasphemies did Curiacius Vomit forth against Heaven? how many Rivers flow'd from mine eyes? I need not tell it you, you saw our farwels; you have since beheld the troubles of my soul, you know what prayers my flame hath made for peace, and what sad plaints at every encounter I have uttered, as fate dispos'd it; sometime for my Country, and sometime for my Lover: my dispaire at last constrained me to have recourse Unto the Oracles. Hearken unto the voyce that yesterday they gave unto me, and give me your opinion, whether I have reason thereupon to reassure my dismay'd spirit. That Greek so much renown'd, who for so many yeers foretold our destinies at the foot of Aventine, he I mean, that inspir'd by Apollo ne'r spake false, doth promise in these verses a quick end Unto my travels.

The Oracle.

Thy prayers are heard, Alba and Rome shall be to morrow in a faire confaederacy, and thou with Curicius shalt be joyn'd never to part, so have the Gods enjoyn'd.

She continues.

Upon this Oracle I ground a firme beliefe, and as the successe pass'd may hope, I gave my soul over to ravishments, which pass'd the transports of the happiest Lovers: Judge you of their excess. I met Valerius, and he could not, as he was wont, displease me, he spake to me of Love without my trouble;

I perceiv'd not that I discours'd with him, I could not shew him coldness, nor contempt; all that I saw seem'd Curiacius to me, all that he said unto me, spake his fires, all what I said assur'd him of my love. A general fight to day is doubted much, I heard the news on't yesterday, and was not troubled at it, my Spirit did reject these fatall objects, charm'd with the sweet thoughts of marriage and peace: But this last night hath dissipated those so charming errors. A thousand fearful dreams, and bloody Images, or rather heapes of slaughter and of horrour snatch'd my joy from me, and fill'd me with fear: I saw dead bodies, blood, and nothing else, a spirit appearing suddenly tooke flight, they defac'd one another, and each fantasme redoubled my fear by its confusion.

Julia.

A dream for the most part should be interpreted in a contrary sense.

Camilla.

I should believe it so, since I desire it; but notwithstanding all my prayers and wishes I see a day of battel, not of peace.

Julia.

Thereby the war will end, and peace will follow.

Camilla.

Last still the ill, if this must be the remedy! Whether Rome fall, or Alba be o'rthrown, dear Lover, think no more to be my Husband: my heart (how great soever the fire be that doth consume it) will not have the conquerour, nor Slave of Rome. But what new object here presents it selfe? Is it thee, Curiacius?

SCENA III.

Curiatius, Camilla, Julia.

Curiat.

Camilla, doubt it not, behold a man who neither is the conquerour, nor yet the slave of Rome: fear not to see my hands blush with the shameful weight of Irons, or the blood of Romanes; I believ'd you lov'd glory and Rome enough for to despise my chaine, and hate my Victory, and so in this extremity I equally feared captivity and Victory.

Camilla.

It is sufficient, Curatius, I do divine the rest, thou fly'st a battel so fatall to thy wishes, and thy heart wholly mine, to the end thou mayst not lose me, denies to lend thy arm unto thy Country: let who will herein look on thy Renowne, and blame thee to have too much loved me, Camilla must not disesteeme thee for't; the more thy Love appears, the more she ought to cherish thee: and if thou owest much unto the place that gave thee birth, the more thou quit'st for me, the more thy Love appears, But hast thou seen my Father? can he suffer thee in his house thus? doth he not preferre the State before his private Family? regardeth he not Rome more then his daughter Lastly, is our good fortune well assur'd? hath he beheld thee as a Son in law, or as an Enemy?

Curiat.

He look'd upon me as son in law with tenderness and love, which witnessed enough an entire Joy:

but he beheld me not, by any treason unworthy honour, enter in his house: I give not up the interest of my towne, I love my honour yet, though I adore Camilla; so long as the war hath lasted, I have approv'd my self as good a Citizen, as faithful lover. I would with my Love reconcile Alba's quarrel, I sigh'd for you in combating for her; and if we must yet come to strokes, I should, alas! fight for her, and sigh for you: in spight of the desires of my charm'd soul, if the warre should continue, I should be in the Army: it is peace that giveth me a free accesse unto you, peace, unto which our love oweth this happinesse.

Cam.

Peace! by what means may one believe this miracle?

Julia.

Camilla, at the least believe the Oracle, and know we fully by what blest effects the happines of a battle hath produc'd this peace.

Curiat.

Ye Gods, who even could have thought it! Already the two Armies animated unto the combate, with an equal heat threatned each other with their eyes, and fiercely advancing, look'd for nothing but the signall to give the charge, when our discreet Dictator putting himself some distance fore the ranks, demanded of your Prince a minutes silence; it being granted him,

What do we, Romans, (said he) what divel provoketh us to arms? let reason rule, and cleer your understandings. We are your neighbours, your fair daughters are our wives, and ours are yours; Hymen hath joyn'd us by so many reciprocal strong knots that there are few of our sons which are not your Nephews; and to speak the truth, we are but one blood, and one people in two Towns; why should we tear our selves by civil warrs,

where the death of the conquered weakneth the conquerors, and the most beautious triumph is watered with tears? Our common enemies expect with joy, when one of us defeated, shall leave the other as a prey unto them; they have too long enjoy'd the benefit of our divisons: let us for the future joyne all the forces that we have against them, and let us drown these petty differences forever in Oblivion, which make so ill allies of such good Warriours: but if th'ambition to command each other maketh your troops and ours to march to day, if we would but appease her with lesse blood, she will unite, farre from dividing, us. Let us name Combatants for th' common cause, each people fix it self unto their own; and as the chance of Arms shall dispose of them, the weakest party shall obey the strongest; but with this reservation, that the conquered without indignity to such brave Warriours, shall not be slaves, but subjects, free from tribute or shame, without other subjection then to be bound to follow in all places the Colours of the Conqueror. Thus our two States wil make but one resplendent Empire.

He ended here, every one figh'd with joy, and looking each into the others ranks, knew there a friend, a cozen, or a brother: they wondred how their hands, greedy of blood, flew rashly to so many parricides, and shew'd a face at once cover'd with horror of battaile, and with ardour for this choice: At last the offer was accepted, and the desir'd peace on those conditions was swore of both sides, three should fight for all: but for to make the better choice, our Chiefs will take a little leisure. Your election

is in the Senate, our within a Tent.

Cam.

O Gods, how this discourse contents my minde!

Curiat.

Within three hours or there abouts, by common accord, the fortune of our warriours shall rule our fortune; in the meane time all are free, expecting when they shall be nam'd; Rome's in our Campe, and our Campe is in Rome; free access being allowed of both sides, every one goes to finde his ancient friend, and to receive his Love; for my part, Madame, my passion made me seeke your noble Brothers, and my desires met with so good success, that th' Authour of your dayes hath promised to give me the unparallell'd happiness of your faire hand to morrow; you will not, I hope, become a Rebell to his power.

Cam.

The duty of a daughter is obedience.

Curiat.

Come then, receive that sweet command which must heape up my happiness to its full height.

Cam.

I follow you, but for to see my Brothers, and to know th' end too of our miseries.

Julia.

Go, whilst that I at the foot of the Altars, freed so propitiously from their feirce rods, give thanks for you to the immortall Gods

The end of the first Act.