Long scenes of lasting peace, and smiling years Valeria. I will again go seek him; pray, be calm; Success is thine if it depends on him. [Exit. Horatia. Success! alas, perhaps even now too late 1 labour to preserve him; the dread arm Of vengeance is already stretch'd against him, Oft as I fram'd thy web, He sate beside me, and would say in sport, And one must conquer. Enter VALERIUS and VALERIA. Valerius. Save you, gracious lady; On the first message which my sister sent me Ere to their champions each resign'd her charge, Valerius. No, not yet engag'd; Soft pity for a while suspend the onset; The sight of near relations, arm'd in fight Horatia. My blessings on them! Valerius. The chiefs themselves Are resolute to fight. Horatia. Insatiate virtue! I must not to the field; I am confin'd A prisoner here; or sure these tears would move An humble suitor from the veriest wretch Valerius. Dear lady, speak! What would you I should do? Valerius. To whom? Horatia. To Curiatius bear this scarf: And tell him, if he ever truly lov'd; If all the vows he breath'd were not false lures To catch th' unwary mind-and sure they were not! O tell him how he may with honour cease To urge his cruel right; the senators Of Rome and Alba will approve such mildness. "By this dear pledge of vow'd affection, swears,” "Valeria. Well, well, he will. Do not torment thyself. [Horatia catches hold of the scarf, which she looked upon attentively while Valeria spoke. "Horatia. Look here, Valeria, where my needle's art "Has drawn a Sabine virgin, drown'd in tears "For her lost country, and forsaken friends; "While by her side the youthful ravisher "Looks ardent love, and charms her griefs away. "I am that maid distress'd, divided so "Twixt love and duty. But why rave I thus ? "Haste haste to Curiatius-and yet stay; "Sure I have something more to say to him: "I know not what it was." Valerius. Could I, sweet lady, But paint your grief with half the force I feel it, Horatia. It may be so. Stay, stay; be sure you tell him, If he rejects my suit, no power on earth Valeria. Away, my brother! But, Oh, for pity, do your office justly! [Aside to Valerius. Let not your passion blind your reason now; Valerius. By my soul, I will, Valeria. Her distress alarms me; [Exit. "Valeria. Come, dearest maid, indulge not thus your sorrows; "Hope smiles again, and the sad prospect clears. "Who knows th' effect your message may produce? "The milder senators ere this perhaps "Have mov'd your lover's mind; and if he doubts, "He's yours." Horatia. He's gone-I had a thousand thingsAnd yet I'm glad he's gone. Think you, Valeria, Your brother will delay-They may engage Before he reaches them. Valeria. The field's so near, That a few minutes brings him to the place. "And 'tis not probable the senators "So soon should yield a cause of so much justice. "Horatia. Alas! they should have thought on that before. E "'Tis now too late. The lion when he's rous'd "Must have his prey, whose den we might have pass'd "In safety while he slept. To draw the sword, "And fire the youthful warrior's breast to arms "With awful visions of immortal fame, "And then to bid him sheath it, and forget "He ever hop'd for conquest and renown— "Vain, vain attempt! "Valeria. Yet when that just attempt "Is seconded by love, and beauty's tears "Lend their soft aid to melt the hero down, "What may we not expect? "Horatia. My dear Valeria ! "Fain would I hope I had the power to move him.” Valeria. My dear Horatia, success is yours already. Horatia. And yet, should I succeed, the hard-gain'd strife May chance to rob me of my future peace. He may not always with the eyes of love Look on that fondness which has stabb'd his fame. He may regret too late the sacrifice He made to love, and a fond woman's weakness; And think the milder joys of social life But ill repay him for the mighty loss Valeria. Pray, forbear; And search not thus into eventful time For ills to come. "This fatal temper, friend, "Alive to feel, and curious to explore 1 |