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I come to bring unto you sorrowful news; my daughters, but in vain I should conceale it you, which could not but a little time be hidden; your Brothers are in fight, the Gods ordain'd it.
I must confess this news doth much astonish me
I thought there was in the Divinities much less injustice, and much more of goodness: comfort us not, reason is troublesome when it dares to oppose such a misfortune; we have the end of our griefs in our hands, who can resolve to dye, can brave disaster. We easily could make, Sir, in your presence a feigned constancy of our despaire; but when one can without shame be without resolved courage, 'tis a cowardise to counterfeit it: the use of such art we leave to men, and will not pass for that but what we are: It is not our desire that such a stout spirit should abase it self by our example to complain of fortune; receive these mortal tidings without trembling, behold without mingling your own with them our tears flow down our cheeks; lastly we crave (as all the favour we desire in such calamities,) that you will keepe your constancy, and suffer our sad sighs.
I am so farre from blaming the tears which I see you shed, that I can scarce defend me from their force, and should perhaps yeild to such strong assaults, if herein we had both like interest: not that your Alba by her choice hath made me to hate your brothers, all three are deare persons yet unto me; but amity is not of the same ranke, and hath not the effects of love nor blood. I do not feele for them the griefe that doth torment Sabina as a Sister, and Camila as a Lover; I can behold them as our enemies, and give without regret my prayers and wishes unto my Sons; they are (thanks to the Gods) worthy their Country; no astonishment e'r perished their glory, and I saw
their honour increase highly when their courages refus'd the pity of both campes. If they by any weakness had desired it, if their high vertue had not presently refused it, my hand should have reveng'd me upon them of the affront which their effeminate consent had done me; but when in despight of them they would have other combatants, I'le not deny't, I joyn'd my prayers with yours; if pitiful Heaven had hearkned to my voice, Alba should be reduc'd to chuse anew, we should see then the Horaces triumph without seeing their hands stain'd with the blood of the bold Curiatii, and upon the event of a combat farre more reasonable the honour of the Romane name would now depend. The prudence of the Gods doth otherwise dispose thereof, on their eternall order my spirit doth repose, it armes it self on this occasion with generosity, and of the publick good makes its felicity. Indeavour both of you to do as much, to ease your griefs, and think that you are Romanes: you are become so, you (Camllia) born such; so glorious a title is a treasure; a day, a day will come that Rome shall make its glorious name fear'd like the thunderbolts through the whole earth, and all the universe shall shake under its lawes, it will become th' ambition of Kings; for the Gods have promis'd this glory unto our Aeneas.