THE Fate of CAPUA.   

THE Fate of CAPUA. A TRAGEDY. As it is Acted at the THEATRE In Lincolns-Inn-Fields. BY His MAJESTY's Servants. Written by Thomas Southern.  
Caetera, neque temporum sunt, neque aetatum omnium, neque locorum: Haec studia adolescentiam alunt, senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis perfugium, ac solatium praebent: Delectant domi, non impediunt foris: Pernoctant nobiscum, peregrinantur, rusticantur.  Cicero Orat. pro Archia Poeta. 
LONDON, Printed for Benjamin took, at the Middle-Temple-Gate, in Fleetstreet. 1700.   

Persons Represented.  

Of Hannibal's Faction. 

Pacuvius Calavius By Mr. Hodgson.  
Virginius Mr. Betterton.  
Marius Blosius Mr. Berry.  
Vibius Virius Mr. Bayly.    
Of the Roman Interest. 

Decius Magius Mr. Boman.  
Perolla Mr. Scudamore.  
Junius Mr. Verbruggen.  
Favonia Mrs. Barry.    
Senators, Deputies, Officers, Guards, Capuan and Carthaginian, Messengers, Clients.   
The Scene Capua.   

PROLOGUE.  Written by the Honourable Charles Boil, Esq; 
OUR Bard resolved to quit this wicked Town,  
And all Poetic Offices lay down:  
But the weak Brother was drawn in again,  
And a cast Mistress tempted him to Sin.  
Thus many a cautious Gallant in this Throng,  
May wed, when old, whom they debauched when young.  
Thus the repenting fair Ones vow in vain  
From Cards, from Love, from Scandal to refrain,  
For Easter over, they relapse again.  
To write well's hard: But I appeal to y'all,  
Is't not much harder not to write at all?  
Some Men must write, for Writings their Disease,  
And every Poet's sure one Man to please.  
Some meddling Coxcombs, rather than sit still,  
And perfectly do nothing, must do ill.  
Some are with busy Dulness so o'errun,  
They seem designed by Heaven to tease the Town,  
Yet when these Fools have spawned some sickly Play,  
We have so many greater Fools than they,  
They'll pack a crowded Audience the third Day.  
This Poet has no sly inveigling Arts,  
He'll try to gain, but he'll not steal your Hearts.  
His Muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain,  
The Men of squeamish Tastes to entertain:  
Who none but Duchess' will deign to toast,  
And Favours only from front Boxes boast.  
That's all Grimace: When Appetites are good,  
Be the Dress course, the Air and Manners rude,  
You can take up with wholesome Flesh, and Blood.  
But he despairs of pleasing all the Nation,  
'Tis so debauched with Whims of Reformation.  
HE has done his best: Here is no wanton Scene  
To give the wicked, Joy, the godly, Spleen.  
Not one poor bawdy Jest shall dare appear,  
For now the battered, Veteran Strumpets here  
Pretend at least to bring a modest Ear.  
Here is some Love, 'tis true, some Noise, some War,  
Enough to please the Bells, the Beaux to scare.  
Some bustling Patriots too, some Rabble-rout,  
And Senators of the weak side thrown out.  
But in all this, here's nothing can offend,  
Nothing to lose one ancient midnight Friend:  
He hopes then, when his Cause comes on, they'll all attend.  
Let Critic Foes remember 'tis past Lent,  
And all good Christians Curses than were spent.   

EPILOGUE.  Written by Coll. Codrington, and spoken by Mrs. Barry. 
POets fine Titles for themselves may find:  
I think 'em the Fool-mongers of Mankind.  
The charitable Quacks indeed pretend,  
They trade in Fools, only those Fools to mend.  
Yet they would scarce the nauseous Task endure,  
But that, like Bedlam Doctors, they are sure  
To get, by showing Fools they cannot cure.  
Equal in this, all Plays must be confessed;  
Fool is the favourite Dish of the whole Feast.  
In Farce, the Wit's a Fool, or Fool's a Wit.  
In Comedy, the Beau pretends a right.  
But Tragic Writers still agree to plot  
The greatest Hero, for the greatest Sot.  
Our Bard t' indulge your Taste with vast delight,  
Served up a Senate full of Fools to Night:  
Same bustled hard for Hannibal, and some  
Would venture all the Brains they had for Rome.  
Thus fight Fools support ambitious Knaves:  
whoever prevailed, the Capuans still were Slaves.  
Our pair of Friends shine far above the rest,  
With double share of Fool, and Hero blessed.  
Our Lover would not tempt the Lady's Honour;  
Yet had he boldly pushed, and fairly won her,  
You'll all allow, he would less harm have done her.  
Joys well contrived are had at easier price.  
Thank Heaven our British Friends are not so nice.  
Our most important Fool is still behind:  
The Man was married, Sirs, and sick in mind.  
'Twas a mere whim of Honour cost his Life.  
The squeamish Capuan would not share his Wife.  
Why Wives are Wives: And he that will be billing,  
Must not think Cuckoldom deserves a kill.  
What if the gentle Creature had been kissing,  
Nothing the good Man married for, was missing.  
Besides the Rights of Ladies sacred are:  
He should have been content with Neighbours Far.  
But she, by her coy Gallant's Crime, was good,  
And was not won, because she was not wooed.  
Had he the secret of his Birthright known,  
'Tis odds the faithful Annals would have shown,  
The Wives of half this Race, more lucky than his own.   

THE Fate of Capua.  

ACT I.  

SCENE I.  The Senate. Pac. 
THIS only I would offer to you more:  
My known Alliances, and kindred Blood,  
By intercourse of Marriages with Rome,  
Cementing long the Honour of my House,  
With all the interests of that glorious State,  
May well protest for me, that I advise  
Abandoning the Romans to their Fate,  
As necessary to avert our own.  2 Sen. 
To avert our own!  Pac. 
At least you'll join with me,  
It may be needful to advance our own.  2 Sen. 
Ay, there I close with you when you speak plain.  
The Romans Loss at Cannae shows itself  
Plainly in this, that their Confederates,  
Who had stood Ages fast and firm for Rome,  
From that most dreadful Day began to fail;  
Deserting her in absolute Despair  
Of her lost Empire, not to be restored.  1 Sen. 
You have a List of all the several States,  
People, and Cities that are fallen away  
From Rome to the Carthaginians:  
Let it be read—  Pac. 
It has been read already.  
Their Number and Example should advise  
Their Neighbours, who intent to follow 'em  
As we must do, to follow cheerfully;  
To jump into our Resolutions;  
What must be done, to have it frankly done;  
To make a merit of our Forwardness;  
And not disgrace the Service we intent,  
By cold Debates, Indifference and Delay.  2 Sen. 
Our Rabble are in barefaced Mutiny.  3 Sen. 
And have declared themselves for Hannibal.  Shouts in several quarters of the City. 1 Sen. 
The noise comes this way now.  2 Sen. 
'Tis every where.  Enter Decius Magius. [Within.] 
Make way for Decius Magius.  Pac. 
Decius Magius!  
I thought he had given o'er the Commonwealth.  Mag. 
I thought so too: But there is nothing certain:  
I was in hopes I might have stayed at home:  
But when a City is in general Flame,  
Cripples will find their Legs to cry out Fire.  
Age has not much to lose: But I am come  
To awake, to rouse, and warn you of your Ruin.  Pac. 
What is this Ruin, Decius Magius?  Mag. 
In such an honourable Argument,  
As yours may be, in the Tarentine War,  
A Peace from Pyrrhus was proposed with Rome:  
The Question almost was resolved for Pyrrhus:  
When Appius, as we have it on Record,  
Aged and blind, disabled long before  
To the State's Service, and the public Cares,  
Was led into the Senate, and inspired  
By Indignation, and his Country's Cause,  
Swayed the Debate, never to make a Peace  
With any foreign Foe in Italy.  
I come by his Example: He was happy  
In his Success; and so may I be blessed,  
So may I thrive to Day, as this great Cause  
That lies before you now is of more worth,  
Of weightier worth, and threatening Consequence.  Pac. 
A long Preamble: What will be the Tale?  Mag. 
They say, you are upon deserting Rome,  
And joining Hannibal: I have a Voice  
Before it comes to that, and must be heard.  Pac. 
We have all Voices for our Country's good.  Mag. 
Our Country's Honour is her chiefest good.  
Can we forget what Rome has been to us?  
A fostering Neighbour of our Infant State:  
A kind rejoicer in our Growth and Strength:  
Ever a Friend: And in Adversity,  
(As we have tasted of that bitter Cup,  
Now swilled in Pleasures to the giddy Brim  
Of drunken Riot, and Forgetfulness:)  
In our bad Days, I say, she still has been  
A Comforter, a Parent, and Protector.  Pac. 
Well, Decius Magius, had you minded us,  
If we had been inclining to forget  
What, as Allies and Friends, we own to Rome.  
But Vibius Virius, you our Legate were,  
Commissioned to Rome's Consul: You can say—  Vib. 
That we have paid all our Respects of Grief;  
Condoled their Dire Misfortunes, offering  
Supplies of all things wanting to their Wars:  
This in the general Name of Capua:  
But Cordials to the Dead are so applied:  
Fortune has left 'em nothing to supply.  
The Roman Legions, Ensigns, Horse, and Arms,  
Men, Money, and Provisions, routed, spoiled,  
All in the Day of Cannae were destroyed,  
Or on the Morrow's Plunder of both Camps.  Pac. 
So that 'tis not enough to aid 'em now:  
If you do any thing you must resolve  
To undertake their War with Hannibal.  Mag. 
And can you undertake a worthier Cause?  
Is there a worthier, than a social War?  
Our Ancestors compelled within these Walls,  
No longer able to Defend the City,  
The Samnites, Cidicines, investing us,  
Sinking in Ruin, who upheld us then?  
Who, but the Romans, could have saved us then?  
They took us trembling to Protection:  
Sustained a War for near a Hundred Years,  
With Fortune often varying the Event,  
Dreadful to Italy, against the Samnites,  
Which they begun, and carried on for us:  
And is there nothing to be done for them?  4. Sen. 
Why, that is true; if we could do it,  
Without an injury to ourselves.  Mag. 
Have we not always been affianced Friends?  
Our Laws, our Customs, Coustitutions  
Almost akin, and, as our Marriages,  
Mingled, and wove into our mutual Weal?  
The Citizens of Rome, and Capua,  
Enjoying common rights of Burghesie,  
Speak us indeed one People in two States.  
So that whatever mischiefs fall on them,  
Betid us too; and we must stand obliged,  
By all the Bonds of honest Interest,  
To save a Country, equal to us both.  5 Sen. 
That I don't so well understand neither.  Mag. 
This is no. Samnite, no Hetrurian War;  
Where if one lose a Neighbour State must win;  
And tho' the Empire should be torn from Rome,  
It still remains with us in Italy.  
We shall not find it so with Foreigners:  
The Carthaginians are these Foreigners:  
The Carthaginians are our Enemies—  Pac. 
Hold, have a care—  Mag. 
I will, to speak the truth;  
And say again they are our Enemies:  
Rivals of Empire, in this second War:  
And therefore to be thought the common Foes  
Of Rome, of Capua, and of Italy.  4 Sen. 
Urged home, and boldly.  Mag. 
O! let us pay the debt of Glory now!  
Tho' Rome be drooping, we may raise her Head.  
Our Forces are unbroken, fresh, entire:  
Full thirty thousand Foot, four thousand Horse,  
Upon our Musters in Campania:  
Money, Munitions, and Provisions,  
With the proud Train and Equipage of War,  
Martialled, and ready Harnessed for the Field,  
All high of Heart, and full of able Proof.  
If then our Friendship, and Fidelity,  
Answer the firmness of our Strength and Power,  
Hannibal will not perceive his Victory;  
No, nor the Romans feel their sore defeat.  Shouts again. Enter a Messenger. 3 Sen. 
Here comes another Messenger.  4 Sen. 
The news?  Mess. 
If I had breath, it is not to be told.  
The madding Rabble have at last possessed  
The sober part, the peaceful Citizens,  
Infected by their fury, are in Arms;  
And Capua now is but one Multitude.  Pac. 
There is no time for Foreign Argument  
Of right and just; of future good or ill:  
Since what we have to fear, is present now,  
Imminent, and breaking on our Heads at home.  Enter Marius Blosius. 
Make way— good Marius Blosius take your seat:  
We know 've done the best you can for us:  
When you're collected, you will tell us all.  Blo. 
Disorders, Tumults, and Confusions,  
Raging with Horror up and down our Streets,  
Had spent themselves in Opposition  
Of their contending Parties; there we hoped  
The Uproar would have end: But now they join,  
Rabble and Citizens, in horrid League,  
And all combined in Violence, resolve  
On Mischiefs more premeditate and bold.  1 Sen. 
Resolve on what?  2 Sen. 
What Mischiefs are resolved?  Blo. 
All who are Romen found in Capua,  
(As we have Families transplanted here)  
Tho' in the service of our State employed,  
Or in their private Callings, they have seized—  Mag. 
How! seized!  Blo. 
Men, Women, Children, huddled in the Rout,  
Without distinction hurried and shut up,  
Under the name of Safety, in our Baths,  
The public Baths, where choked with Heat and Smoke,  
Their struggling Souls must wretchedly expire,  
If timely not set free.  Mag. 
If this goes on  
Ruin must follow: I will spare no Pains  
For their Deliverance.  Magius goes out. 1 Sen. 
Wretched indeed!  2 Sen. 
Barbarous and cruel to our worst of Foes,  
Without a Name to our Allies and Friends!  Pac. 
No Friendship, no Alliance after this.  
What they have done, is a sad Argument  
They will do more to carry to their ends.  Blo. 
Nay, there is more in hand, and to be feared,  
Directed this way too: For, One and all,  
They cry, the Senate's Councils are too slow,  
That they intent to come and quicken 'em—  1 Sen. 
The Gods forbidden!  2 Sen. 
Avert this Danger, Heaven!  Blo. 
But that we shall no longer buy and sell  
Their Interests, with our mercenary Tongues:  
That we but hold the Government in trust  
For them, they all have Law enough for that,  
They say, they can recall it when they please.  
They'll do their Work themselves; they'll have no more  
To do with us; we never did 'em good,  
Before this time; and now against our will;  
Affording 'em such just occasion  
To throw us off, Senate and Tyranny.  3 Sen. 
Heaven grant it go no farther.  2 Sen. 
But I fear—  3 Sen. 
They bear us ancient hate on former Scores:  
And what the Privilege of such lawless Times,  
May set 'em on to act, is to be feared.  Blo. 
Nay, what portends the worst, and threatens most:  
This headlong Rout, this lewd ungovered Crew,  
Is Captained, headed, and led on by some,  
The noblest Blood, and foremost of our Youth:  
Who ne'er will think their services well paid,  
But at the price of universal Change.  1 Sen. 
They're at our Doors.  Shouts nearer. 2 Sen. 
What will become of us!  Enter a Messenger. Mes. 
Fly, fly you Senators of Capua:  
There is no safety for you, but in Flight:  
The People are determined in your Doom,  
And now come on to Execution:  
've vowed to Murder you, and so give up  
The Commonwealth void of all Government  
To Hannibal, and Carthaginian Power,  
To model new, and stamp what form he please:  
As the best Sacrifice, the justest Means,  
To atone his wrath, and punish your delay.  Pac. 
Let us not stand confounded in our fears:  Shouts again. 
Gaping on one another, as relief,  
Without our care, would drop into our Mouths.  2 Sen. 
What can we do?  1 Sen. 
We would do any thing.  3 Sen. 
No God to pity us!  4 Sen. 
Pacuvius, you have been the People's Friend;  
Would we had all.  1 Sen. 
Ay, good Pacuvius,  
You might do much, would you appear for us.  Pac. 
I had some credit with 'em: what 'tis now—  2 Sen. 
They will hear you.  Pac. 
I cannot promise that.  
But what I can, I will: perhaps I may  
Do more than you expect— but than you must  
Give up your Faith entire to what I do;  
Lay by your Feuds, and Factions in the Senate;  
Submitting all to my Direction.  Omn. 
Dispose of all, so you deliver us.  Exeunt.  

SCENE, The Outside of the Palace.  Shouts again. Pacuvius enters with Guards. Virginius heading the Rabble. Pac. 
Shut up the Gates; none to pass in or out,  
But by my Orders: if a Senator  
Escapes your Guard, you answer with your lives  
To our great Lords the People.  1 Cit 
Why, here's a Lord indeed.  Vir. 
He does not think himself too great  
To be the People's Friend.  2 Cit 
No, no, Lord Pacuvius has been always our Friend:  
And we will be his upon Occasion: for he shall find himself,  
Within this half hour, the only Senator unhanged in Capua.  Pac. 
My Countrymen; my fellow Citizens!  
'Tis in your Power now to revenge yourselves  
On this detested Senate, justly fallen  
Under your Sentence; odious grown to all,  
Who love the People, or the Commonwealth.  
I offer you a full and safe Revenge,  
A free Revenge, nothing to Interrupt,  
But you may do your Work with decency:  
No Tumult for one Senator to scape in.  
Without the danger of invading 'em  
In their particular Houses, which would be  
Defended by their Friends, Clients, and Slaves,  
I have 'em here, defenceless, and alone,  
Imprisoned in the Palace. Say the word  
What shall be done with ' 'em?  1 Cit 
Come, come, open the Gates,  
We'll quickly dispose of ' 'em.  2 Cit 
Ay, ay, we are Men of Expedition,  
And so they shall find us, to their Cost:  
Every Man take his Senator; We'll hang 'em  
Upon the Battlements of the Palace, for a stinking  
Example to all Commonwealths.  1 Cit 
Hold you, hold you, I don't like hanging:  
There's a great deal to be done in a handsome Execution.  3 Cit 
Look you, my Masters, I am but a plain Man to see  
to, as a body may say, but I can speak my Mind without being  
asked, as soon as those that are wiser: Look you, time is precious,  
and we have a great deal to do with it; make as short  
work as you can, I advise; even cut their Throats, and  
there's an end on't.  1 Cit 
Cutting of Throats is but a  
Slovenly way of doing Justice:  
I am for doing things decently, Neighbours, and I believe  
I have hit it: This is not an ordinary Day with us, you know,  
Why then let's make a Holiday of it indeed;  
Set the Palace a Fire about the Senators Ears,  
And there's a Bonfire to our Holiday.  Om. 
Agreed, agreed, a Bonfire, a Bonfire.  Pac. 
It was the very thing I was thinking of—  1 Cit 
Why very well.  Pac. 
Nay, it is excellent,  
To have the old Drones smothered in their Hives.  Om. 
No more to be said, Boys;  
About it instantly, my Lads.  2 Cit 
We are all in a mind once in our Lives.  Om. 
Fire the Palace, down with it, Fire the Palace.  Pac. 
And yet what has this noble building done?  
A public Ornament, a reverend Pile,  
That has stood Ages— but if you please to think  
It has stood long enough, why, down with it;  
Who shall find fault? It is the Commonwealths,  
The People's, and you may dispose your own.  1 Cit 
How's that? The Palace Ours!  
Let's hear him a little upon that Subject.  Pac. 
The Senators! blow them up in a Blaze:  
You will miss nothing of 'em, but their Beards:  
Or if you should, they cheaply are supplied.  
But if the Senate House be laid in Ashes,  
Who shall repair the Ruin?  Vir. 
At a time when Capua stands the Rival of great Rome,  
You would not strip her of her Palaces,  
To leave her naked to her Neighbour's scorn?  Om. 
No, no, We don't desire that neither.  Vir. 
This venerable Structure may stand up  
With our most celebrated public Domes,  
Sacred and Common, Temples, Theatres,  
And all our numerous progeny of Art,  
The Monuments of famous Ancestry,  
That speak as loud for us, as Rome's for her.  
And would you throw it down?  Pac. 
If you repent, when it is down, who builds it up again?  
The public Purse alone, the common Stock  
(The Citizens freeborn Inheritance)  
Whoever does the mischief, pays for all.  1 Cit 
If it be so, my Masters!  2 Cit 
'Tis as he says, Man, and the case is quite altered.  1 Cit 
Why, my Lord, we're at a loss here  
For want of Employment.  2 Cit 
You have saved the Building, 'tis true,  
And we thank you for't: But the Senators—  Om. 
Ay, ay, the Senators, the Senator's—  Pac. 
I am their Gaoler still, to answer their forthcoming,  
When you please, and to promote the Justice you intent,  
Since you are not agreed among yourselves,  
I do propose to bring each Senator  
Upon the trial of his single Merit,  
To stand or fall, just as his Cause deserves:  
Yourselves to be the Judges.  2 Cit 
Why there you have hit it, my Lord?  1 Cit 
Every honest Man must be  
Of your Lordship's Mind.  Vir. 
Yourselves to be the Judges!  
Mark you that?  1 Cit 
Well, my Lord, Pray proceed in your own Method:  
We know you're a Friend to us,  
We'll be governed by you.  Pac. 
Then in the first place, I would have you  
So govern your Anger, that your Anger get  
Not the upper hand of your Interest and Safety.  
For I suppose your Hatred extends to these Senators only;  
You like the Constitution well enough—  2 Cit 
My Lord, that's more than we can say  
With a safe Conscience.  Pac. 
What! Not like a Senate!  1 Cit 
To tell you the truth, we don't approve of th' Order,  
And would banish it the City, if we could.  Vir. 
You must have a Government among you.  Pac. 
You must have a Senate; a Senate is  
But the great Council of a free People,  
And that's for your Good you must own.  2 Cit 
Well, if we must have a Senate—  Pac. 
Why, that's well said:  
Then in order to a Reformation, my Masters,  
There are two things that call upon you at the same time;  
The dissolving your old Senate,  
And choosing a new one in the room.  1 Cit 
Why, there I grant you,  
A Senate of our own choosing we may like.  2 Cit 
We'll choose a Senate, I warrant you.  Pac. 
I will summon the Senators,  
One after another, to appear before you:  
What you judge of 'em shall be executed:  
I will only gather your Voices.  1 Cit 
This is method now.  Pac. 
Unbar the Gates, and bid the Senators  
Prepare themselves to appear upon their Names.  2 Cit 
Ay, this is doing business.  Pac. 
But one thing you must promise me, my Friends,  
To punish none, however criminal,  
Before you choose an able, honest Man  
Into his place, as a new Senator.  1 Cit 
That's fair on every side.  Pac. 
Here is a Roll, agree among yourselves  
Whom to cite first—  
This Day must crown our hopes.  Going to Virginius. Vir. 
The Deputies are returned from Hannibal.  Pac. 
Let 'em be ready, I shall want 'em strait.  2 Cit 
Let's see, let's see, where shall we begin,  
At the top or the bottom.  3 Cit 
Hold you, hold you; Titus Didius here; begin at him:  
I happened to get a Slave of his with Child,  
And he made me marry her, for which  
I should be very glad to see him hanged.  4 Cit 
Make 'em into Lots, I say,  
And let 'em be drawn fairly.  Om. 
Ay, ay, every Man take his chance.  They are busied in making the Lots, while Pacuvius and Virginius speak. Pac. 
O that Perolla, my degenerate Son,  
Would follow thy Ambition; but he pules,  
And Conscience bound in such a Cause as this,  
The Cause of Empire, basely stands for Rome  
Against his Country, and his Father's House.  Vir. 
That Decius Magius has infected him.  Pac. 
My old Opposer still.  Vir. 
He has been every where among the Crowd,  
To spread the Poison of his Politics:  
But we had dosed 'em with our Antidotes;  
Timely preventing all the giddy turns,  
That might have happened to that sickly State;  
Confirmed the crazy Constitution  
Of their weak, wavering Minds; and now we have  
Scattered, dispersed the Faction, and the Cause,  
Quite routed him, and his malignity.  Pac. 
So that the People all stand sound for us.  
But do not trust 'em with themselves too long:  
They will relapse into their natural fears,  
And cool, without your Fire to keep 'em warm.  Vir. 
These you'll take care of: I have other parties  
To Head, and bring up on occasion.  Exit. The Citizens come forward, one having drawn a Lot. 1 Cit 
So, so, without favour, or affection, now open it—  Pac. 
Who have you drawn?  2 Cit 
Rutilius Lupus.  Reading the name. Pac. 
Rutilius Lupus there, let him appear.  1 Cit 
Ay, ay, let him appear,  
And be hanged for his pains, I say.  3 Cit 
Ay, so say I  Om. 
And all of us.  Rutilius Lupus Enters. 2 Cit 
Here, here, he comes.  
He has always been an Enemy to the People.  1 Cit 
And now we'll quit scores with him.  Pac. 
Well, he is doomed: You do expel him first  
The Senate— but before his Punishment,  
You must elect a New one in his Room.  Om. 
Ay, ay, that's quickly done.  Pac. 
He may pass on, we'll talk with him anon.  1 Cit 
Who shall we choose Neighbours?  2 Cit 
Let's lay our Heads together,  R. Lupus withdraws. 
And do it to purpose, once in our Lives.  1 Cit 
Why, ay, who shall we choose?  2 Cit 
Let me see—  1 Cit 
Some body that deserves very well of the Commons.  Om. 
That's to be sure.  1 Cit 
One that is in the interest of his Country;  
And, if possible, will continue so  
In spite of Preferment—  2 Cit 
That's the Man, that's the Man.  3 Cit 
Who, who?  2 Cit 
Nay, good troth, I can't tell;  
We han't found him yet.  1 Cit 
He must be one, we have nothing to say against—  3 Cit 
Ay, marry, who may that be?  1 Cit 
One who wonot forget his Benefactors,  
The People that raised him.  2 Cit 
A very good Quality indeed;  
Now name the Man that owns it, and I give him my Voice.  1 Cit 
Nay, I name no Body.  3 Cit 
Name no Body! what! We must name some Body:  
Come, I'll name one— Cecilius Nepos.—  Om. 
Cecilius Nepos! there's a Man indeed!  3 Cit 
What do ye think of him?  Om. 
We don't think of him.  2. Cit 
Stay, stay, the Senators are called Fathers,  
You know—  1 Cit 
What then?  2 Cit 
Why, in that sense he may be qualified:  
And thou dost honestly to set him up.  
For he is naturally thy Senator,  
Being the Father of thy Family.  1 Cit 
No, no, we'll Father our Children without him,  
If we can, with our Wives leave, we'll none of him.  
Set up another.  4 Cit 
Titus Volcatius.  Om. 
That's worse and worse.  1 Cit 
What shall we do with him?  2 Cit 
He knows nothing of the matter.  1 Cit 
When he shows any management  
In his private Affairs, we may  
Begin to think of him for the Public:  
In the mean time, let him play the fool  
At his own expense, and in private;  
As he uses to do.  4 Cit 
Mamellius then.  1 Cit 
Mamellius! who is he?  2 Cit 
He is one, that was squeezed out of the Necessities of the Government; that has made a hard shift to get a mighty Estate, by the common Calamities; a plaguy rich Fellow.  1 Cit 
Rich! as a dunghill may be,  
By a Congregation of Filth and Villainy.  2 Cit 
Would he were to be so well bestowed;  
Carried out by a common consent, for he's a Nuisance  
As he is, and spread abroad for the enriching the Public.  1 Cit 
O, ho, I know him, a Viper, that has eaten through the Bowels of his Country, in hopes of coming to the Head on't: But I hope he will return as he came, and go out at the Tail.  2 Cit 
Well, Furius Philus.  1 Cit 
He's too proud for us.  2 Cit 
Marcus Mutius.  1 Cit 
Let him pay his debts.  2 Cit 
He pays no Body, as ' 'tis.  1 Cit 
And you would give him a privilege  
To ruin his Neighbours.  Pac. 
Well, are you agreed?  1 Cit 
Agreed, my Lord, there's nothing to agree upon:  
When we come to particulars, 'tis only to find fault:  
Men are but men; and, new or old,  
The Senate's the same.  Pac. 
Why do you dissolve this then?  2 Cit 
We don't dissolve it.  Om. 
No, no, we don't dissolve it.  1 Cit 
And for this Reason, Neighbours, to carry home to your Wives, to stop their Mouths withal; because the Evils that we are best acquainted with, are always the easiest to be born.  2 Cit 
Marry I think so too.  Om. 
And all of us.  2 Cit 
Therefore I am for setting  
The Senators at Liberty.  Om. 
Ay, ay, set 'em at Liberty.  2. Cit 
Provided they join with us in this business.  1 Cit 
Hearty, and speedily, or we shall visit 'em again.  
And so you may tell 'em, my Lord.  Exeunt shouting. Pac. 
I wonot fail.  Enter Senator's. 1 Sen. 
Pacuvius! O! what Honours are thy due!  
Statues, and Temples, thou Deliverer!  2 Sen. 
We cannot speak our humble thanks too low,  
In the deep sense of our acknowledgements.  3 Sen. 
Thou hast saved our Lives, dispose of them and us—  4 Sen. 
Our Fortunes, Friends, and dearest Interests.  1. Sen. 
Command in all, for we own all to thee.  Pac. 
I have been the happy Instrument indeed  
To serve the Senate—  2 Sen. 
Nay, to save the State.  Pac. 
And I am nobly paid in the good work.  1 Sen. 
The People tho' won't be so satisfied.  Pac. 
No, they are obstinate upon their Terms,  
You must comply with ' 'em.  2 Sen. 
We are agreed in every Article for Hannibal.  3 Sen. 
And would declare ourselves, did not our Friends—  Pac. 
Under the Roman Arms in Sicily—  3 Sen. 
As Hostages for our Fidelity,  
Withhold us, till we can provide for them.  Pac. 
That fear was urged before; but you shall have  
It fully answered by our Deputies:  
I see they are returned.  Om. 
O! welcome, welcome!  2 Sen. 
What have you done for us with Hannibal?  Dep. 
We bring most advantageous Terms of Peace.  
These the Conditions; the last of which  Offering a Paper. 
Removes the present fear, and does provide  
Expressly for our Friends in Sicily.  3 Sen. 
Let that be read.  Pac. 
Nay, read 'em not in parts.  Dep. 
He offers you three Hundred Roman Knights,  
Which you shall choose out of his Prisoners,  
To give the Romans, in a fair Exchange,  
For our Campanian Youth in Arms with them.  1 Sen. 
He has hit upon the sole Expedient,  
To ensure the Lives and Safety of our Friends.  Pac. 
He offers more than we could ask of him.  Dep. 
You'll find him in all points as generous.  Pac. 
Now are you satisfied?  3 Sen. 
We ask no more.  Dep. 
In the just confidence of proffered Love,  
He comes himself, the Hostage of his Faith,  
To Capua.  Blo. 
So my Advices say, but mention not the time.  Dep. 
He comes this Day: He's on his March already.  1 Sen. 
Let us prepare for his Reception.  Pac. 
Summon the People to the Forum then,  
And let the Articles be read to 'em:  
So hand in hand we shall proceed in Love,  
And act unenvied for our Country's good.  Going. Enter Decius Magius. Mag. 
Pacuvius! You have done most worthily,  
Saving the Senate: Would you would employ  
Your Interest with the People always so.  
The wretched Romans wanted such a Friend:  
I had no Power: But Death has set 'em free.  1 Sen. 
Dead! Are they dead?  The Senators go out one after another, and leave him alone. Mag. 
All perished in the Baths.  
And they are left behind, to blush in Blood  
For this Day's Treason, who encouraged it:  
It must be answered for to Gods and Men,  
And Capua rue it in her Sons unborn;  
An impious City of devoted Crimes!  
The Vengeance will fall heavy, and, I fear,  
Fall wide enough, even to involve us all.  1 Sen. 
Alas! We are not guilty of their Death.  Goes out. 2 Sen. 
But mourn alike with you the People's Rage.  Goes out. 3 Sen. 
What could we do?  Goes out. Mag. 
What are you doing now?  
Where are you going? Do you leave me too?  
But you indeed have left me long ago.  
Your Steps have erred long from the tract of Truth,  
And are not worth an honest Man's pursuit:  
But I will follow. If I can't prevent,  
I may protest against their Practices:  
That's in my Power: That will exempt me from  
The general Gild, and justify my Fame:  
Let me secure my Innocence, and then  
Death to an Old Man cannot come too soon.  Exit.  

SCENE, Virginius' House.  Favonia at work with her Women. 

A Song written by a Lady.  
WHAT's Beauty? Bright Favonia, tell.  
The Mistress of it knows it well.  
'Tis not Colour, 'tis not Feature,  
Easy Fashion, nor good Nature:  
Good Teeth, and Hair, a smiling Grace,  
Can't give Perfection to a Face:  
Not yielding Lips, or wishing Eyes:  
But she is handsome who denies.   

A Song in Answer written by a Gentleman.  
WHAT Beauty is, let Strephon tell,  
Who oft has tried it, knows it well:  
Not all the Wonders of a Face,  
Where Nature triumphs in each Grace,  
Not Snowy Breasts, through which is seen  
The purple Flood that boils within,  
Not Lips, when Wit with ease beguiles,  
Whilst playsom Cupid's dance in Smiles,  
Not Youth, not Shape, not Air, not Eyes,  
She only charms me who complies.   Virginius enters to ' 'em. Vir. 
Among your Women in your Housewifry!  
Fie, 'tis a Profanation of the Day,  
Sacred, and set apart from common use,  
And dedicated to the public Joy.  Fav. 
The public Joy, my Lord!  Vir. 
The general Joy:  
In which I have secured a part for thee,  
A liberal share for my Favonia.  Fav. 
May I secure my private Peace at home:  
And for the public, let the Joy, and Grief,  
Fall to their different Fates, who rise and fall.  
The State does not concern a Woman's Care:  
Yet, Sir, I thank you for remembering me.  Vir. 
Dost thou! Well, there's something even in that;  
There is a kind of Gratitude in Thanks,  
Tho' it be barren, and bring forth but Words.  Fav. 
I do not understand—  Vir. 
Thou dost not; true:  
And that's the very root of my Complaint,  
That any thing relating to my Love  
Should still be strange, not understood by thee.  Fav. 
My Lord—  Vir. 
O! thou art cold in my reception,  
Thou canst not think thyself, but thou art cold.  
I would have met my Welcome in thy Arms,  
My eager Welcome in thy longing Arms,  
That should have crushed me inward to thy Heart,  
Into thy Heart, if it were possible,  
Throbbing and beating with the Pulse of Love:  
That, that had been a Welcome fit for me;  
And a just Recompense of all my Pains.  Fav. 
Indeed, my Lord, I own you every thing,  
In recompense of what you have done for me:  
But for your welcome, that you bring along  
With you; 'tis yours, as you are Master here:  
And if I have not served it up to you,  
As does become the Duty of my place,  
With that frank Cheerfulness to give content,  
Let me not answer for my Nature's Faults.  Vir. 
Nay, now thou art too serious.  Fav. 
I am unhappy in the want of all  
Those necessary, natural Arts to please.  Vir. 
Thou art above the little reach of Arts,  
And canst want nothing, but the Will, to please.  Fav. 
What is there that I can invite you to,  
That you do not dispose of?  Vir. 
Nothing, nothing:  
Thou art all mine; and let me tell my Heart,  
That hourly grows more covetous of thy Love,  
And therefore busy to torment itself,  
Its Fears are vain, and thou art wholly mine.  Fav. 
I own your Title, and you are the Lord  
Of every thing that does belong to me.  Vir. 
Why, what would I have more? There's nothing more.  
I do confess that I am happier  
Than I deserve to be; much happier:  
I commit many Faults, but none to thee.  
O! could thy gentleness of Soul infuse  
Its Spirit into my Breast, to temper mine;  
How should I then be blessed! But who can tell?  
Perhaps 'tis better ordered as it is.  
Indifference would never suit my Fate.  
My Passions are unruly, and sometimes  
Break lose on my best Friends: But than you should  
Consider 'em as the effects of Love:  
As the effects! Nay, they are Love itself  
For Love itself is all the Passions,  
At least to me: Whether it be Desire,  
Or Hope, or Fear, or Anger, or Revenge,  
In all its different Motions, still 'tis Love.  
Love, Love! The great Incendiary here!  
His Torch sets all this little World on Fire:  
And let it burn, to purify my flame:  
For Life and Love shall both burn out together.  Servant enters to him. Seru. 
Sir, you are stayed for.  Vir. 
So, so, well, I come.  
I have forgot myself, my business too,  
With looking on thee. Canst thou tell me, Love,  
What 'twas I came about?  Fav. 
Business, you say.  Vir. 
I fancied I had mighty business here:  
But now I find 'twas but a fond pretence  
To come and visit thee.  Fav. 
You're always kind.  Vir. 
The hurry and the struggle of the Day,  
You were Informed in by my Messengers.  Fav. 
They hourly brought me the particulars.  
And there are somethings done, which I could wish—  Vir. 
Things which I thought I could not have allowed.  
And, but to raise thy Fortune, never would—  Fav. 
Pray heaven they do not overturn it quite.  Vir. 
But they must pass with others in the Crowd,  
There will be mischief in confusion:  
I had forgot: Thou art a Stranger still  
To the sad News: Thy Rival is no more.  Fav. 
My Rival!  Vir. 
Yes, thy Rival in my heart:  
You had it all between you, Wife and Friend:  
Junius, that Friend is dead.  Fav. 
Dead! Is he dead?  Vir. 
He fell at Canna: Had he been alive,  
And still a Roman in his interest;  
I never could have been a Foe to Rome.  
I have an hour of grief to Dedicate—  
But this is not the time. I'm called upon.  
Hannibal comes, the glorious Hannibal.  
His entry will be most Magnificent,  
And will reward your Curiosity.  
I will provide you Place, and send for you.  Exit. Favonia alone. Fav. 
What? what is there that I can want on Earth,  
To fill the measure of my happiness?  
Why am I not contented with my Lot?  
So kind a Husband falls not to the fate  
Of every Wife: All that he says, and does,  
All his designs are working still for me:  
And yet I cannot thank him, as I ought.  
Not but I ever had a duteous Sense—  
But that is not the payment of the Heart.  
He asks my Love, and not my Gratitude.  
And why is that denied? O! Junius!  
But thou art dead, and I may name thee now.  
I made it Criminal to pronounce his Name,  
Avoiding every way all news of him,  
Endeavouring to forget him, if I could.  
But Oh! the torment, and the rack of Soul!  
To keep our thoughts for ever on the bent  
Upon themselves, still labouring to forget,  
What, by the labour, we remember more.  
Why didst thou come between him, and my Heart?  
Why rather did my Husband place thee there,  
By bringing thee into the Family?  
I saw no danger, till it was too late.  
But what have I not done, and suffered too,  
To drive thee thence, to make Virginius' room?  
I have maintained an everlasting War  
Within this Breast, still fight on his side:  
Have summoned all my succours to my Aid;  
My Native Powers, and the Confederate Force  
Of Reason, Duty, Virtue; nay brought down  
The Woman's last Reserve of all, my Fame:  
Weak Aids, alas! against the Tyrant Love.  
But he's deposed, and Death has set me free:  
A greater Tyrant gives me Liberty.  Exit.   

ACT II.  

SCENE I. The Forum.  Decius Magius with Perolla, and two or three of his Clients among the Citizens. Mag. 
A Garrison in Capua! O! prevent,  
Resist their Entrance, block their Passage up.  
Remember Pyrrhus, and the Tarentines;  
His insolent Rule, and their subjected State.  Per. 
They are already entered.  Mag. 
Let 'em not possess themselves,  
Expel 'em, drive 'em out:  
Or if, by a brave memorable Blow,  
You would redeem your baseness to your Friends,  
Cut 'em in pieces, and compound with Rome.  Per. 
They are not of your Party. They fall off.  Citizens sneak off. Mag. 
Old honesty is used to stand alone.  Per. 
Here comes my Father.  Mag. 
Good young Man retire:  
I may say something that you would not hear.  Pacuvius with the Senators in their Robes, crossing the Stage. Pac. 
Widen our Gates; let our encircling Walls  
Sink in the Earth, that nothing may appear,  
Even in a seeming Opposition,  
To stand against the conquering Hannibal:  
The Conqueror of Rome, but Capua's Friend.  1 Sen. 
We need no Ramparts now, no Bulwarks, Walls,  
We're strongly Fortified in Hannibal.  Mag. 
What are the Forces that he brings along?  
Not only Africans, but Nations drawn  
From the extremest limits of the Earth;  
Herculeses Pillars, and the Ocean's Bounds:  
Who have no knowledge of Humanity:  
And but in Humane Speech differ from Beasts:  
Brutal, and Bloody: but their Leader has  
Advanced their natural Barbarity:  
Erecting Monstrous Bridges of the Dead,  
On Human Bodies urging his proud way—  2 Sen. 
Nay, Decius Magius.  Mag. 
And, as an absolute Master of the War,  
Defying Famaine in his horrid Camp,  
Has taught 'em to devour the Flesh of Men.  1 Sen. 
Now, Magius, you grow Dangerous indeed.  Mag. 
Are these to be our Friends? these our Allies?  
Who that is but a Son of Italy,  
Can see, and suffer such detested Slaves,  
Whom but to touch is a Pollution;  
Such obscene Villains to become our Lords?  
What! shall we turn a Province to their Power?  
Who would depend on Africa for her smiles,  
That looks upon the fair-faced Italy?  
Can you consent, that she should fall at last;  
A sober Matron, and unsullied yet,  
With all her Graces, to the swarthy spoil  
Of hot Numidians, and lust-burnt Moors?  Pac. 
We'll hear no more. Perolla, if thou art a Son of mine,  
Leave him, and follow me. Forward, my Lords.  Mag. 
I have done with Hannibal.  
And now, Pacuvius, a word to thee.  Per. 
I know my Duty here, and will withdraw  
From what I fear, a Father's Infamy.  Exit. Pac. 
This you must answer.  Mag. 
To the Gods, and Men,  
I'll answer it; would thou couldst do as much,  
For what thou hast done.  Pac. 
I have served the Commonwealth—  Mag. 
Thou hast served thyself.  Pac. 
And 'tis thy Envy rails.  Mag. 
O! that there was no juster cause to speak!  
But sure there's not so reprobate a Wretch,  
To envy thee the ruin of thy Country.  Pac. 
The ruin of thy peevishness and pride.  Mag. 
That Fame unenvied shall be wholly thine.  
Thou canst not as a freeborn Citizen,  
But understand, that true prosperity  
Lives in a common share of liberty:  
Not in the plunder of our Neighbour's rights.  Pac. 
Who has invaded ' 'em?  Mag. 
Thou wouldst be first:  
And would thou hadst been so, in dignity  
Of honest deeds: but that was not enough.  Pac. 
I find I am arraigned: What was there more?  Mag. 
Thou hast long practised on the Government:  
Poisoning its wholesome Constitution,  
By lawless, bold experiments of power.  
And now they are broke out in Tyranny,  
To infect the health and life of Liberty.  Pac. 
Because I have appeared the people's friend.  Mag. 
Thou didst betray the people to themselves,  
By taking off their safe restraining Laws:  
And then the Senate to the People's rage:  
That by the credit of redeeming both,  
Thou mightst betray Us all to Hannibal.  Pac. 
'Tis very well; go on; let him go on.  Mag. 
What is the puny part that thou must act  
In this poor Farce of thy Ambition?  
What will it end in? O! thou wouldst be feared,  
Rather than loved; thou shalt be hated too;  
And than what comes of thee? Who can be happy  
On such conditions of an anxious Life;  
That even his Murderer shall not only ' scape  
Unpunished, but shall be rewarded too?  
All good Men will combine against thy life:  
Tho this may want design to lay the Plot;  
A second, Courage to attempt the Deed;  
Another want an Opportunity;  
All will consent, and wish to have it done.  
It is enough for gallant Minds to know  
How honourable in the enterprise,  
How grateful in the general benefit,  
How glorious in the Renown and Fame,  
It is to kill a Tyrant. Hannibal,  
Immured in walls of Steel, cannot be safe.  Pac. 
O! he'll take care to save himself from you.  Mag. 
Where then canst thou from Justice hid thy head?  Pac. 
The Laws are living still, to punish such  
Licentious tongues.  Mag. 
By Death, or Banishment?  
Say which, thou Tyrant; which dost thou pronounce?  
Death drives us from the fellowship of mankind:  
But Banishment from only such as thee.  
Before I take my Journey, I prefer  
These two Petitions to the immortal Gods:  
The First, That I may leave my Country free:  
The next, Pacuvius, thou wilt join me in:  
And we will bind all our posterity  
In the strong Charm, as guilty of this Vow:  
That all that does belong to thee, and me,  
Our Children, Kindred, Family, and Name,  
May flourish, or decay, may rise, or rot;  
Be blessed, or cursed, as thou and I deserve  
From Capua, and from the Commonwealth.  Pac. 
Thou hast Cursed thyself, and so expect thy Fate.  Pacuvius goes out with the Senators: Magius remains only with his Clients: Perolla returns to him. Mag. 
When I was Young, I fought for Capua,  
And wonot now desert her, being Old:  
But all my bravery is in my Tongue,  
I can but talk, and that unminded too.  Per. 
I fear you'll find 've done and said too much.  Enter a Officer. Off. 
Stand, Decius Magius—  Mag. 
Well, I am the Man.  Off. 
I come from Hannibal, to summon you to appear before him.  Mag. 
Tell your Hannibal  
His Punic Language is not currant here:  
We do not understand his summoning:  
He has no right upon a Capuan:  
I am freeborn, and therefore wonot come.  Exit Officer. Per. 
O Sir, you are undone.  Mag. 
I think not so.  Cli. 
The Snares are set, you cannot ' scape 'em now.  Per. 
You are encompassed round with Enemies.  Mag. 
Better encompassed round with Enemies,  
Than live to be forsaken of our Friends.  
Distress is Virtue's Opportunity;  
We only live, to teach us how to die.  Exeunt. Favonia enters. Fav. 
What is this Pomp of Hannibal to me?  
I cannot lose myself even in the Crowd;  
His coming would be welcome, could it guard  
All other Images from entering here.  
While I am gazing on the Triumph, one,  
Meaning no harm, cries, This is the reward  
Of Cannae's Field: I start, and take the hint,  
Pursuing it quite through that Scene of Blood,  
Till it presents at last my Junius slain:  
My Junius, O! the guilt of that Surprise!  
Why must I harbour in my Bosom Thoughts  
Thus to surprise me to my sin and shame?  
I shall betray myself in Company,  
Therefore most fit for me to stay at home.  
Oh! let the steps of Youth be cautious,  
How they advance into a dangerous World;  
Our Duty only can conduct us safe:  
Our Passions are Seducers: but of all,  
The strongest, Love: he first approaches us,  
In childish play, wantoning in our Walks,  
If heedlessly we wander after him,  
As he will pick out all the dancing way,  
We're lost, and hardly to return again;  
We should take warning, he is painted blind,  
To show us, if we fond follow him,  
The Precipices we may fall into.  
Therefore let Virtue take him by the hand,  
Directed so, he leads to certain joy.  Exit. Citizens' enter. 3 Cit 
Is there no more to be seen? is the Show over already? Is this all?  1 Cit 
All, Why, what did you expect?  3 Cit 
Expect, marry, I expected.  2 Cit 
You saw Hannibal, did you not?  3 Cit 
Yes, yes, I saw Hannibal: But, what? I thought he had been half as big as one of his Elephants: Your Heroes, I find, are little more than other Men, when you come near to examine ' 'em.  1 Cit 
But did you mind his looks?  2 Cit 
How terrible he looked with that one Eye!  3 Cit 
Very terrible indeed.  1 Cit 
I stood by him a good while, and heard all that he said to the Senate when they met him.  2 Cit 
And what, what did he say?  1 Cit 
Why, he began very civilly, that's the truth on't, and thanked us for preferring his Friendship before our Alliance with the Romans.  2 Cit 
And what more?  1 Cit 
Why, he assured us, that Capua should, in a little time, be the Capital City of Italy.  3 Cit 
Ay, marry Sirs.  1 Cit 
And that the Romans themselves, as well as other People, should do Homage to us, and fall under our Government.  2 Cit 
Nay, Pacuvius told us as much; that when the War was at an end, and Hannibal the Conqueror, he would carry back his Forces into Afric, and leave us the Empire of Italy. We shall all be Great Men.  1 Cit 
But I did not so well like the end of his Speech.  2 Cit 
How so?  1 Cit 
'Twas all against Decius Magius: and truly he came to plain speaking at last, and told 'em roundly, He expected they should deliver him into his Power.  2 Cit 
And what said the Senators?  1 Cit 
Why truly, not much to the purpose at that time: Some said Magius did not deserve to be so used neither; others, That such a beginning would have an ill end; but they agreed at last to deny nothing to Hannibal, and so gave the old Man up to his mercy.  2 Cit 
See where he comes.  3 Cit 
O what a Sight is here?  1 Cit 
A Rope about his Neck, and bound in Chains.  2 Cit 
A Carthaginian Guard upon him too.  An Officer enters with a Guard of Carthaginians before and behind Magius, chained with a Rope about his Neek, and led along by a Lictor. Offi. 
Have your Eyes every way upon the Crowd;  
If any man but seems to pity him,  To the Guards. 
Secure him as an Enemy to the State.  Mag. 
You see, my Countrymen, the libert,  
You have brought home at last for you, and yours.  
Here, in the Forum, in the barefaced Sun,  
You see a Citizen of Capua,  
Second to none in Name and Dignity,  
Torn from his Friends, and forced in Chains to death;  
Go meet your Hannibal, crowd all your Streets;  
Dress up your Houses, and your Images,  
And put on all the City's Finery,  
To consecrate this Day a Festival  
Of Barbarous Triumph over you and me.  Offi. 
I'll spoil your speech-making; drag him along.  Exeunt, The Lictor, dragging Magius off the Stage. 1 Cit 
O! piteous Spectacle.  3 Cit 
Piteous indeed,  1 Cit 
This is the setting out of Slavery.  2 Cit 
'Tis well if it goes no farther:  
Not allow us to pity our Fellow Citizens!  3 Cit 
Ay, did you mark that?  2 Cit 
They begin to show themselves already.  1 Cit 
In Colours I don't like:  
We may repent too late what we have done.  Enter more Citizens to ' 'em. 4 Cit 
O you have lost the best of the Show, the sight of the Prisoners, and the Bushel of Gold-Rings.  1 Cit 
What! there were so many Roman Knights killed, and taken at Cannae, that their several Rings, in a heap together, filled a Bushel.  4 Cit 
So they say, indeed.  1 Cit 
Why, then their Bushel lies out of all measure, in my opinion.  4 Cit 
The three hundred Knights that were delivered to us, would have been worth your seeing; gallant Fellows indeed, and wounded most of ' 'em.  2 Cit 
Some body said, That Junius was found among the Prisoners.  4 Cit 
Yes, yes, Junius, our Countryman was among 'em; he was said to be killed at Cannae, but he's alive again, and in a way to do very well.  1 Cit 
He's a Prisoner, you say.  4 Cit 
No, his old Friend Virginius, upon the merit of his violence, and the credit of his Father Pacuvius, Has made an interest with Hannibal, And, they say, has got him his liberty.  2 Cit 
All in good time: but Decius Magius,  
Let's follow all, to know what comes of him.  Exeunt. Enter Virginius and Junius with an Officer, and Guard. Vir. 
O Junius! how art thou restored to life!  
And I by miracle to happiness!  
For though the bounteous Gods have blessed my Fate  
With all the good things, else of this great World;  
Yet wanting thee, wanting my other self,  
I could not be entire to my content,  
Not absolute, nor perfect in my joy.  
But they have brought thee back to me again,  
And through such ' mazing paths of Providence,  
We cannot trace, and only can admire.  
Thus thy good fortune rises from the bad.  
Hadst thou not been at Cannae, taken there;  
Had we not leagued our State with Hannibal;  
Thou hadst not been among the Prisoners,  
The Roman Knights, to be delivered here:  
Thou hadst not seen thy Country, City, Friends;  
Nor should I had the interest and power  
With Hannibal, to gain thy liberty.  Jun. 
I wonot be obliged, for any thing,  
I do not understand a benefit.  
I'm Pris ner of an honourable War;  
And do despise my Freedom, but on terms  
As brave and honest, as I parted with it:  
Such terms I must despair of finding here.  Vir. 
We do invite you to an equal share  
Of all the advantages of Government,  
Of Place, and Power, with us in Capua.  Jun. 
Therefore I do refuse my liberty.  Vir. 
You wonot sure refuse it from a Friend.  Jun. 
I have no Friend, nor I pretend to none.  Vir. 
You have been mine, and you have thought me yours.  Jun. 
That was in our young days; when every thing  
Was swallowed, and went credulously down.  
Our pleasures hurrying on in the same course,  
When we pursued 'em with the same desires,  
With the same stretch, and eagerness of Youth:  
Our manners too in every thing allied;  
Then we were Friends for our convenience.  
But when the business of the World comes on,  
Justling between ambitious interests,  
'tis then, in the great voyage of our Life,  
As if our Vessels struck upon a Rock,  
Each shifts a several way to ' scape the wreck,  
And sink, or swim, my Friend; nay, plunge him down,  
So by his ruin, I get safe to shore.  Vir. 
It never can be so between us two.  
I have no ambition, have no interest,  
That Friendship can suspect, or split upon.  
Friendship is riches, power, all, to me.  
Friendship's another Element of life:  
Water and Fire not of more general use,  
To the support and comfort of the World;  
Than Friendship to the being of my Joy.  
I would do every thing to serve a Friend.  Jun. 
And I would serve a Friend in honest things:  
I do pretend no farther. You, and I,  
You see, have very different sentiments;  
Therefore unlikely to continue Friends.  
If from our former Brotherhood of Love,  
You do suspect I may have any claim,  
Against her interest, that should have it all,  
Here I renounce it, I resign it here.  
And now let's hearty shake hands, and part;  
To your high Fortune, You; I to my Fate.  Vir. 
My Fortune and your Fate shall be but one.  Jun. 
They are impossible to reconcile:  
You happy, I am born to be a Wretch:  
You free, and I condemned to be a Slave.  
O! had I fallen with Honour in the Field,  
How many miseries had ended there!  
Death had secured me then from being led  
In Triumph here, over my Country's Shame.  
I hate your Hannibal, I hate your Cause:  
And now can only be a Friend to Rome.  
And if I ever come at Liberty,  
It shall be but to strike against you all.  Offi. 
You hear him, he is not to be reclaimed.  Vir. 
This is the present sense of suffering;  
The grief of unhealed Wounds: all will be well.  Offi. 
You cannot trust him with his liberty.  Vir. 
With my own life I will.  Jun. 
Have you resolved  
About the trifle of disposing me?  Vir. 
My House your Prison, I must be your Guard.  Jun. 
With your own hands you set it then on fire.  Offi. 
He has warned you, and the consequence be yours.  Exeunt Junius following Virginius.  

SCENE, Virginius 's House.  Favonia enters, a Woman following. Fav. 
I'll hear no more: when next thou speakest to me,  
Let blood, and death, and ruin be the Theme.  
Talk of the Massacres of Families,  
Plunder of Cities, and whole Country's waste.  
A private mischief is not worth the news.  
Tell me that all the dire Calamities  
Of raging War, chained up in discipline,  
Are now broke lose, trooping in horrid march,  
To fright the World, the brood of Cerberus,  
And worry all, like the blackguard of Hell.  
That Lust and Rapine do divide the Spoil:  
That Giant Murder does bestride our Streets,  
Stalking in state, and wading deep in Blood.  
My Father Butchered, weltering in his Gore:  
A Dagger in the Throat of my dear Child:  
And thou shalt be as welcome then as now.  Exit Woman. 
That Capua is in Universal Blaze;  
All, all the winds of Heaven driving this way,  
And nothing but my Tears to quench the Flame.  
— Junius alive! even that would give me Death.  
In Capua too! that brings it nearer still.  
In the same house! that stabs the Dagger home:  
It hurries me to Execution,  
And Execution too upon the Rack:  
Let me be out of pain, before he comes.  
What corner shall I find to hid this head in?  
Where is that Dungeon-darkness that can blind  
The eye of Jealousy? my Husband comes  
To draw me to the hateful Light again,  
To drag me to the trial of my truth.  
What can I plead? O guilty, guilty Wretch!  
There is no courage, but in Innocence:  
No constancy, but in an honest cause.  
Thy Conscience is a thousand witnesses:  
And Junius, the chief Accessary, he  
Stands out against thee, and confesses all.  
I'll hear no more: pronounce my sentence quick,  
Let it be Death, to end me any way.  Exit. Enter Virginius and Junius. Vir. 
I need not tell you, you command all here,  
And that you have your Liberty entire.  
Ha! Junius! why that paleness on thy face?  
Thy altered looks speak thy condition,  
Thou art not well.  Jun. 
Indeed I am not well.  Vir. 
Expense of Spirits, and the loss of Blood.  
With needful care they will recruit again.  
Rest on my arm, and let me lead you in.   

SCENE Changes to Favonia's Apartment.  Favonia leaning on her hand in a Chair. Virginius leading Junius into the Room. Vir. 
Favonia—  Fav. 
Ha! who calls?  Jun. 
I can no more: I must end here,  Faints at the sight of Favonia, She Shrieks at sight of Him. Fav. 
Ha!  Vir. 
Fall into these Arms,  
They never will refuse to bear thee up.  
Favonia, call for help; he comes again;  
Stay; lend your hand; soft, gently, set him down.  In the Chair She rises out of. 
How is it now?  Jun. 
Conofunded in my shame,  
That my infirmity should here intrude.  
Your pardon, Madam, will recover me.  Vir. 
Rally your routed spirits to your aid,  
Rest will compose and bring 'em back again.  
I cannot stay with you, but will return  
To cheer, to comfort you, and to renew  
The past endearments of our former Friendship.  
I will provide you Balm for all your Wounds:  
My Wife herself, your kind Physician,  
Will wait upon you, till I come again.  Exit. Favonia, and Junius. Jun. 
I'm hunted to the brink of the Abyss:  
Plunge in I must, and to the bottom now.  
But first upon my Knees let me fall down,  
Trembling, and awed, and fearful of your Frown,  
Bespeaking pardon, if I wildly show d,  
In questioning the Gods upon my Fate,  
Say any thing towards disturbing you.  Fav. 
O rise, I must not hear you on your Knees.  Jun. 
I m blessed, that you will hear me any way.  
But O! the Accent of my Voice is changed:  
You cannot know it now in misery.  
There was a time, in the gay Spring of Life,  
When every Note was as the mounting Lark's  
Merry, and cheerful, to salute the Morn;  
When all the day was made of Melody.  
But it is past, that day is spent, and done,  
And it has long been night, long night with me.  
I have been happier, you have known me so.  Fav. 
Alas! there is no Fortune perfect here.  Jun. 
Indeed I find it: When I entered first  
Into the List of this contending World,  
I promised fair for a more prosperous course:  
The Favourite of Fortune, and the Friend,  
To perfect all, of my Virginius:  
We lived the envy of our Capuan Youth,  
The most aspiring to the Glorious Fame  
Of Friendship, only imitated us.  
So blessed you found us.  Fav. 
Would to all the Gods,  
I ne'er had come between you, to divide,  
To part such Friends.  Jun. 
O! had we parted there:  
He to the rich possession of your Charms;  
I to a poorer Fortune in my Love;  
Yet rich enough, and happy in content,  
All had been well: But he would have me home.  Fav. 
O! I remember his impatience.  Jun. 
To be a Witness of his happiness.  
And so I was. I heard him every day  
Transported in the Riot of the Theme;  
Full of the ravishing Discoveries  
He hourly made in that blessed Land of Love:  
The ever rising Springs of flowing Joy;  
The hoarded Mines of treasures, yet unborn:  
With such a rapture of variety  
Of Pleasures that were ever growing there.  
It was not safe to hear, I found it so.  Fav. 
O Cursed effect of foolish Vanity!  Jun. 
What was it to approach then, to behold,  
And face to face examine and compare  
The Copied Beauties with the Original?  
O! they were faint, and the description cold,  
Heavy and dead, to the inspiring Life:  
And what I thought Extravagance before,  
Proved easy to the Wonders I saw there.  Fav. 
What will this end in?  Jun. 
Can we resolve to gaze upon the Sun  
With steady Eyes? soon blinded by that Pride  
I lost my way; and found myself too late,  
Born down the torrent of a Passion,  
That always ended in a Sea of Woe:  
I plainly saw Ruin attend my Steps;  
Therefore resolved to lead 'em far away,  
Where they might never come to trouble you.  
But O! it was with all the violence  
Of Pangs, in Death, that I at last resolved,  
And yielded to that only Remedy:  
A Remedy worse than the worst of Deaths  
To fly the Place, where I must die for Love,  
Or live a Traitor to my Friend and Fame.  Fav. 
What have you said?  Jun. 
If I have said too much,  
Believe, I rather had in silence died,  
Than to have spoke at all: This was the fate  
I laboured to avoid. But who can shun  
His Destiny? it follows every where:  
Capua, or Rome, or Cannae, still the same.  
I would have welcomed it, that fatal day;  
But there it lost me in the Crowd of Death.  
This was the place of Execution;  
And it has caught, and seized, and bound me here:  
I'm on the Rack: What I discover now,  
Is only the expression of my Pain,  
Wrung from my heart, long overcharged, and full,  
Which else should burst with its Convulsive throws,  
Rather than ease its Labour by a Groan,  
A trembling Sighs, that might offend your Ear.  Fav. 
O Junius! whither are you going? hold.  Jun. 
A little farther, and I shall arrive  
At my long home, the Goal of my Despair.  
To ask your Pardon, would repeat my Fault:  
To ask your Pity, were to draw you in,  
By steps of mercy, to a tenderness,  
Criminal, and guilty, to reprieve a Wretch,  
Who, for the Common Peace, and yours, must die.  
There is no Ward against such Blows as these;  
They stagger me, and I at last must fall.  
Since I am doomed to be a Sacrifice  
Of fatal friendship, and of hopeless love.  Falls at her Feet, she breaks his Fall, and knelt by him to recover him. 
Here let me fall, I would be offered here;  
Allow me dying to confess my Love  
In my last Sigh, and at your feet expire.  Fav. 
'Tis I am bound, and torn upon the Rack!  
I cannot bear it, Junius, Junius:  
Look up, and live, and I'll confess enough  
For you, and for myself, all that I know, all that I ever heard of wretchedness;  
What you have undergone, what I have felt;  
What I now feel from this tormenting Love.  
Where am I going? help there— O he comes  
Again to life— fly, fly to my relief.  Women enter, run to assist Junius, and lead him off. 
Use all your Arts, his weakness to restore;  
My cure must be, never to see him more.  Exit at another Door. 
The End of the Second Act.    

ACT III.  

SCENE I. A Garden.  Enter Pacuvius and Perolla. Pac. 
I'VE watched thee with a careful Parents eye,  
Followed through all the motions of thy Soul  
And cannot find it, therefore have withdrawn,  
To give thee place, and opportunity.  Per. 
And therefore have I followed you, my Lord,  
To tell you what it is I labour with.  Pac. 
'Tis mighty sure, when the great Hannibal  
Not only has forgiven, but honoured thee,  
At his high Table, bidding thee his Guest,  
That can disgrace his Invitation,  
Poison his Feast, and in a general Mirth,  
Make sad the brow of Youth with discontent.  Per. 
'Tis a design to raise my Country's Fame.  Pac. 
Thy Country's Fame!  Per. 
You see this Dagger here,  
A little instrument for so great a work,  
But well employed, and gallantly struck home.  Pac. 
Struck home!  Per. 
Into the heart of Hannibal,  
Would yet atone our infamous revolt.  Pac. 
O Jupiter! thou great deliverer!  Per. 
I have resolved to make our peace with Rome,  
And seal it with this Carthaginian's Blood.  
'Tis fit that you should know what I intent:  
If you approve the deed, then see it done;  
If not, take this occasion, and retire.  Pac. 
By all the bonds of Duty, and of Love,  
That tie a Son and Father's hearts in one,  
I beg, implore, conjure thee to desist:  
Let me arrest thee in this horrid course,  
That leads through all the steps of infamy,  
Into the gulf of sure Perdition.  Per. 
I think not so.  Pac. 
But now, before the Altars of the Gods,  
We interchanged our Souls, and plighted Faith,  
With right-hands joined, in solemn, holy league  
Of Sacred Trust: and was there nothing meant  
By these good rites of hospitality,  
More than, when we had feasted, drank, and laughed;  
To get a nearer opportunity  
To perpetrate the foulest act of shame,  
And Stab our Entertainer?  Per. 
How my Lord!  
Our Entertainer? you compelled me here.  Pac. 
Your Benefactor; he has saved your life.  Per. 
So is the Robber, that but takes my goods:  
And shall I thank him for not doing more?  Pac. 
If there is nothing Sacred; if you think  
Religion, Faith, and Piety, restraints  
But for the weak, then let lose all the Reins.  
Yet when you undertake a Villainy,  
Act like a Man, not rashly throw away  
Honour and life in the mad enterprise.  Per. 
My life I have devoted to my Cause,  
And Honour must attend it, when it goes.  Pac. 
What! would you singly strike at Hannibal?  
Where is the circle of his Officers?  
His waiting Slaves, and his attending Guards?  
The many eyes that only wake for him?  
The many hands always in arms for him?  
All blind, and dead? are they confounded all?  
Can you alone undaunted stand against  
Those looks of Terror, which armed Legions  
Have trembled at, and Rome could not sustain?  Per. 
I can surprise him in his riots here.  Pac. 
O, no, my Son, he's not to be surprised.  
There is an awful guard of Majesty  
About his Person, that denies approach:  
A Majesty of glorious Actions,  
Of famous Wars, and bloody Battles gained,  
That are his Sword and Buckler every where.  
They charge around him, like Numidian Spears,  
To terrify and keep off all surprise.  
Trebie, and Thrasimene, and Cannae, all  
Shelter him with the Laurels of their Fields.  
The mighty Ghost of great Aemilius,  
That waits him, as his guardian Genius now,  
Would wish to die again, a death of shame,  
To see a Boy attempt his Conqueror.  
But grant you could surprise him, and his guards:  
Yet I am there, what will you do with me?  
I am his Fortress, I am his Defence.  
Will you pursue him through a Father's Life?  
If you will Stab him, Stab him then through me.  
My breast opposed, first you must reach my Heart,  
Before your Dagger can arrive at him.  Per. 
O, Sir, your words have struck a Dagger here.  Pac. 
Is then the thirst of thy revenge so hot,  
Not to be slacked, but with a Father's Blood?  Per. 
I'll pour out mine to quench your kindled Rage.  Pac. 
Let me deter thee here, rather than go  
To throw away thyself, and ruin me.  
O let my Prayers prosper, and prevail  
With thee, as for thee they prevailed to day.  Per. 
I must deny you nothing: but you have  
Undone yourself, your Country, and your Son.  
You have commanded me, and I will pay  
That piety to you my Country claims.  
O my dear Country! this was my last hope,  
To have restored thee to thyself and Rome.  
I had prepared this Dagger in thy Cause:  
But since my Father wrists it from my Hand;  
I can no more, but with my Grief retire,  
And in the Crowd expect the common Fate.  Exit. Virginius enters to Pacuvius. Vir. 
You have withdrawn yourself in a bad time.  
We wanted you within: the Public has  
Put on a different face from what it had:  
But Smile, or Frown, we cannot mend it now.  Pac. 
Pray, what's the matter?  Vir. 
Why, the question risen  
Upon the taking in the Tarentines.  Pac. 
O, I was by, when their Ambassadors  
Were introduced, and had their Audience.  
Their business was welcomed, and well received,  
But not requiring haste, soon laid aside,  
And civility dismissed, while I was there.  Vir. 
It was so, and the Revellings went on.  
But then, from all the quarters of the Town,  
We were alarmed by clamorous complaints,  
Of every kind, against the Soldiers.  
Women, and Wine, we knew, of right were theirs,  
But in a natural, and manly use,  
Not to break through, or overleap the bounds  
Of Government, by brutal violence.  
But when they came, without distinction,  
To seize on all, proceeding so to Blood,  
To Plunder, Murder, and to Ravishment,  
'Twas high time to complain.  Pac. 
High time indeed.  Vir. 
Some called on you, others petitioned me:  
And every Client to his Patron ran,  
To save him, or redress his injuries.  Pac. 
What followed then?  Vir. 
Maherbal standing by,  
The Carthaginian General of the Horse,  
With his blunt honesty, told Hannibal,  
That from the Soldiers Luxury, he foresaw  
Capua would prove to him and his affairs,  
Fatal, as ever Cannae did to Rome.  Pac. 
Ha! that was home.  Vir. 
Hannibal roused at that,  
And gave his orders for a speedy March:  
But not so much, on what Maherbal said,  
It is believed, as on some News from Rome.  Pac. 
We never wished him to continue here.  Vir. 
But what should be the News that has so soon  
Altered his Measures?  Pac. 
O, no matter what  
Can come from Rome; he has served the present turn,  
And we can serve ourselves against the next:  
We must be near him, while he stays with us.  Exeunt.  

SCENE Virginius 's House.  Enter Junius. Jun. 
IT was her hand that raised me from the Grave;  
It was her Mercy that reprieved my Fate:  
She meant it in a kind Compassion,  
Tho it had been the tenderest Charity,  
To let the rigour of the Sentence pass  
Upon my Life, and put me out of pain.  
I am redeemed from the arrest of Death,  
To pine, and languish in a wretched Life.  
Is there no Remedy; Want will be heard,  
And answered too; I could turn Beggar here:  
When once it comes to the extremity  
To take, or starve, there is no more a right  
Of Property; all things lie common then  
In Nature's Field; from Heaven to Hell is ours,  
For our support, to compass any way.  
What hinders then but I may be relieved?  
I have discharged myself from all the Bonds  
Of friendship, duty, that encumbered me;  
And I am left at large, and free to take  
All opportunities that can assist  
To make me— What? a Villain. Am I free?  
Discharged of all my obligations?  
Why am I here, placed as another Lord  
Over this Family, and not a friend?  
Is then the Trust and Confidence reposed  
In me, and my fidelity, no Bond?  
These are State Morals; but adversity  
Has ever been an evil Counsellor;  
And always will be so: I'll hear no more.  
I have nothing left me but my honesty,  
To write my Epitaph, and grace my Tomb:  
Thither I'm going, O Favonia! stay,  
I see you shun me, let me only take  
A parting look, I wonot dare to speak,  
If I should sigh, it is my last adieu.  Exit.  

SCENE the Forum.  Enter three or four Citizens of the better sort. 1 Cit 
ARE these our Friends? what could they have done worse by us, if they had been our Enemies?  2 Cit 
If our City had been taken by Storm, they could but have ravished our Wives and Daughters.  3 Cit 
And put us to the Sword; you forget that Man.  2 Cit 
No, we were reserved for a worse Punishment, to stand by, and look on, as scandalous Witnesses of our infamy and disgrace.  1 Cit 
There's nothing free from their insolence and outrage.  2 Cit 
Every place profaned by their Rioting and Drunkenness.  1 Cit 
They have invaded every thing that's dear to us.  2 Cit 
No Property in any thing.  3 Cit 
Especially the Petticoat; nay, it has been very bad indeed; but 'twill mend now, they are marched away to the Tarentines; and Tarentum take 'em, I say.  1 Cit 
Hannibal is marched indeed with his Army, but has left a Garrison behind him; What does he mean by that?  2 Cit 
To protect us against the Romans.  1 Cit 
The Romans! why, we have been told all along there was no danger of them.  2 Cit 
I wish we may find it so.  1 Cit 
There's no believing any thing now a-days; not a Syllable of truth in the Mouth of Report, for an honest Man to walk by.  2 Cit 
'Tis all Party, and serving a turn.  1 Cit 
There was no News currant a great while, but the Distress of the Romans, the Misery they were brought to, and the utter impossibility of ever appearing in arms again; that was all the reason we had for deserting our old friends.  2 Cit 
Now that turn's served, and not so much care taken to stifle Intelligence; we hear of nothing but their Industry and Virtue; the Preparations and Power of the Romans: I am credibly informed they have a Consular Army in the Field, and in a condition to try their fortune again with Hannibal, if he pleases.  1 Cit 
He may thank himself, if they should beat him now.  2 Cit 
If he had marched directly to Rome from Cannae, as he was advised.  1 Cit 
But he stayed there playing the Merchant, and selling his Prisoners.  2 Cit 
Which provoked Maherbal to tell him, That he knew how to conquer, better than to use his Victory.  3 Cit 
If the Romans are so strong, what may become of us then?  2 Cit 
Nay, we have pulled our old Houses upon our Heads, and may be buried in the Ruins, for aught we know.  1 Cit 
We have deserved as ill as we can of ' 'em.  2 Cit 
And have nothing to pray the Gods, but that they may never have it in their Power to reward us to our Deserts.  Omn. 
That's all we have to trust to.  Exeunt. Enter Pacuvius and Virginius. Vir. 
Is't possible! he cannot be so base, forgetful, so ungrateful to his Friends.  Pac. 
Contain yourself, at least here in the Street; let us not be the first in our complaints, who were the forwardest—  Vir. 
And we are paid most richly for our pains.  Pac. 
I will come home  
To you, and there we will enlarge our hearts—  Vir. 
In spite of all his Guards, and speak bold Truths:  
I shall expect you with impatience.  Exit. Pac. 
Bold Truths! they may return upon ourselves:  
For if I speak Truth boldly, as it is,  
I cannot be surprised, that Hannibal  
Should leave a Garrison, should not trust me  
With full command, which I had just before  
Abused, betrayed, and given up to him:  
To him, I mean to my Ambition:  
This little stand of Fortune gives me time  
To look about, and see what I have done.  
The many violent steps that I have made  
To bring me here, to my untimely fall,  
It may be too, when Thrasimene was fought,  
Being chief Magistrate of Capua,  
Had Hannibal marched this way, I had designed  
The Senate's slaughter, to deliver up  
The City so. I was prevented then:  
But now have done it— not so bloodily.  
What was the Romans murder in our Baths,  
Was not that Bloody, and set on by me?  
I had forgot: 'tis dangerous to awake  
A guilty Memory. Decius Magius too  
Stands out to accuse me— but he's still alive.  
O I remember all his Curses now:  
May they be blown about, and lost in Air;  
Not shed their Venom upon me and mine.  Exit.  

SCENE Changes to Virginius 's House.  Enter Junius. Jun. 
ALL close, and silent! as in depth of Night  
Wrapped up in darkness! in the inner room  
I spy a winking Lamp, that weakly strikes  
The ambient Air, scarce kindling into Light:  
That, seeble as it is, shall be my guide.  
There I shall find her in her pomp of Grief.  
Dare I invade her sacred solitude?  
My Heart sinks in me, and my trembling knees  
Knock, and forsake me, when I would go on;  
Warning me not to touch forbidden ground.  
Forbidden! so are all good things to me.  
Nothing to hope, I nothing have to fear.  Exit.  

SCENE changes, and shows Favonia asleep on a Couch in an undress.  Junius returns. Jun. 
She consecrates the Place, where e'er She is,  
With reverence: We enter Temples so.  
Where are the Terrors, that should keep me back?  
Her frowns, the greatest, are disarmed in sleep.  
O may the softest down of sweet repose  
Receive thee gently on the Bed of Peace,  
And fold thee close in the kind arms of rest:  
That undisturbed, this Opportunity  
May now be mine, to feed my famished Eyes.  
The sickening light is envious, and grows pale,  
With looking on her: 'tis a sight indeed  
For the high mounted Sun, in all his Pride,  
To stop, and wonder at— let me fix here—  
Stretch wide the Gates of sight to take her in,  
In the full triumph of her conquering charms.  
My eager Eyes devour her Beauties up,  
Insatiable, and hungering still for more.  
O! the rich Glutton, that enjoys this store!  
Nothing to spare from superfluity,  
To feed my wants, my Fever burns me up,  
O! let me quench it at this healing Spring.  
The Spring is sacred; a Divinity  
Protects the place; thrice happy, happy, he  
Who may plunge in, and bathe, and wanton there.  
But I may taste the coolness of the stream.  
And I will drink the Cordial of a kiss,  
From this dear hand, reached out to comfort me.  knelt, and kisses her hand. 
She wakes!  Virginius and Pacuvius at the Door entering. 
What noise! I may retire unseen.  Exit. Vir. 
A Man here with my Wife! O give me way  Breaks from Pacuvius. Fav. 
Who's there? my Lord?  Vir. 
Where is the Villain? where?  Runs after Junius. Fav. 
O! where indeed? my Father! on my knees  
Let me protest, and swear my Innocence.  
I am betrayed, and lost.  Pac. 
Thou art indeed.  Virginius' returns. Vir. 
This was contrived, and laid for his escape:  
And this Apartment fitted, and prepared  
To be the Scene of their adulterous Lust.  
Where is there such another Wretch on earth?  
Ruined, undone in every interest,  
Betrayed, and ruined in my dearest trust!  
But I will be the Executioner  
Of my just rage, and here begin revenge—  Pac. 
Strike home, it is the Sword of Justice now.  Vir. 
Have you condemned her?  Pac. 
I applaud the deed.  She opens her arms. Vir. 
I wonot kill thee in thy Father's sight.  
That were to act a murder upon him.  
Here, take her, Sir, I give her up to you.  
Your House's honour is engaged with mine.  
Do with her what is fit for you, and me.  
You are her Judge, condemn, or set her free.  Exeunt.   

ACT IU.  

SCENE I. The Forum.  Junius with Citizens'. Jun. 
LET Capua sink under the Rods of Rome:  
Her Axes hue your Branches to the stock,  
The Liteless trunk, never to sprout again.  
The God's appointment always is the best,  
But every way your ruin will be just.  1. Cit 
If all our Nobles are of your mind, what must become of the City in a little time?  Jun. 
It must become the injured Roman's spoil,  
At the best, that, and you their faithless Slaves,  
As you deserve, unworthy to be Friends.  
Now, now the day of your account draws on.  
The Roman Consuls come as Ministers  
Of Wrath, and Terror to this guilty Town,  
Armed with the kindled Justice of the Gods  
Against your Crimes, with their avenging Bolts  
From Heaven, and the devouring Flames of Hell,  
To burn, destroy, and ruin you, and yours.  
They have invested you with Fire, and Sword.  
Famine, and Pestilence will follow soon  
In the starved rear, to seize, and fasten on  
Those Wretches, who just scape the stroke of War.  
You have variety of Misery  
Before you, in this siege, to pick, and choose  
What Death you please, but think not to escape.  
Your Hannibal has left you, with the Gods,  
And all good Men, to sure perdition.  Exit. 2. Cit 
A sorry comforter—  1. Cit 
Of t'other side; no friend of ours; no matter what he says. He wishes it were worse, if possible.  3. Cit 
Nay, 'tis even bad enough; and how 'twill be better I don't know.  2. Cit 
We're in a miserable condition, that's the truth on't, and which way to apply ourselves for a remedy—  1. Cit 
Ay, that's the way, if we could hit on't.  2. Cit 
Let's to the Forum,  
There we shall find our fellow Citizens,  1. Cit 
We'll join with them, for something must be done.  exeunt. Junius Returns. Jun. 
What is't to me, my Country, Capua?  
Who does maintain, or who deserts her Cause?  
Favonia is the Province of my Care.  
And her I have deserted, basely left,  
How! basely! nay, abandoned to the Rage,  
It may be, of a jealous Husband too.  
Ha! whether am I hurried by my Fears?  
Had I foreseen but half the Accidents,  
That threaten now, what would I not have done?  
I would have snached her from his cruel Hands.  
And may do still. I will declare my Love,  
Clear her suspected Honour to the World,  
Or justify my Passion by Revenge.  Exirt  

SCENE changes to Pacuvius' House.  Enter Pacuvius and Servant. Pac. 
Let him dispose of her, as he thinks best:  
It was a Task unnaturally imposed,  
And therefore willingly I lay it down.  
Besides there is a public Conflict here,  
Within this Breast, admits not private Cares.  
Say, have you sent to Vibius Virius,  
And Marius Blosius?  Ser. 
As you ordered, Sir.  Pac. 
And what?  Ser. 
They will come home to you.  Pac. 
'Tis well.  
Let no body disturb me, till they come.  
They sent no News?  Ser. 
There's none worth sending, Sir.  Pac. 
Worth sending! true, 'twill come itself too soon.  
But we may boldly hear what we must feel.  
'Tis natural to inquire how the World goes—  Ser. 
Towards an end with us, 'tis to be feared,  
And Capua, the Expedition is  
Incredible, that carries on the Siege.  Pac. 
We often ask, in Cases of Despair,  
When we are sure the Answer cannot please.  Ser. 
Hannibal tried to raise it, but in vain:  
And now 'tis said that he is marched to Rome:  
That way to draw the Consuls from our Walls,  
To save their City, and defend themselves.  Pac. 
Leave me, and bring in what Reports you hear.  Exit the Servant. 
We cannot answer for unborn Events:  
The Gods have placed 'em in the Hands of Fate,  
To Shape, and Fashion for their high Decrees;  
At their appointed time, to bring 'em forth,  
To baffle human Wit, and Industry.  
Else in the Course of Probability;  
And as Appearances presented things,  
Rome was to fall, and Capua was to rise.  
But Fate, it seems, has otherwise ordained.  
There is a secret Power within the Scene  
That works unseen, and makes so quick a ch  
I cannot stand the Taunts of bad Success,  
And therefore wonot meet 'em in the crow  
I have hitherto been on the winning side.  
We have another Game of Fortune now,  
And I will lose as little as I can.  
I cannot make the Figure that I would,  
But need not make a bad one; that's in me;  
If it grows worse, I know my Remedy.  Exit.  

SCENE changes to the Forum.  A crowd of Citizens. 3. Cit 
No Tidings to comfort us?  4. Cit 
Sad Times, sad Times, and running on to be worse, as fast as they can drive.  2. Cit 
Did ever People fall from such a Pinnacle of Prosperity, unto such a Gulf of Destruction, in so little a time?  3. Cit 
Never, never.  2. Cit 
Our Sallies did something at first to hinder their Works, but to no purpose now, they're beaten back upon every Attempt, and dare not look the Romans in the Face.  3. Cit 
There's no peeping upon the Walls.  4. Cit 
The Engines play so thick, they're about your Ears before you're ware of ' 'em.  3. Cit 
Not a Spade employed in the Trenches, but digs a Capuan Grave.  4. Cit 
we're in a sad Condition indeed.  1. Cit 
There's no Body to Command, but Bostar, and Hanno, the Carthaginians, and how the Capuans obey them, you may believe.  2. Cit 
The Garrison fights hard for us, to save themselves; but they'll pay their Quarters before they leave us.  3. Cit 
They have brought us into the Crime, and wont forsake us in the Punishment.  1. Cit 
Nay, they have done all they can for us with Hannibal.  2. Cit 
And for themselves, for they must pay our Scores; but what was that all?  1. Cit 
Why, they sent to him, to complain that he had abandoned the Town, and, as it were, yielded it up himself to the Fury of the Romans; and withal beseeching him, that he would come to their Relief, who were not only Besieged, but shut up in the Works, and almost in the Hands of the Enemy,  2. Cit 
Upon which he came to look upon his Patients at a distance, shook his Head in despair of our State, and went to Rome for better Advice.  3. Cit 
He sent us his Reason for so doing.  2. Cit 
But the Consuls are here still, for all his Reason, and the Praetor too; their Armies are not drawn off, as soon as Hannibal marched out of Capua, the Romans came upon us, you know, as if they had hit the opportunity, they had been aiming at solong; they did not come here to be drawn away by every Motion of the Enemy.  4. Cit 
No, no, they want leave us so.  2. Cit 
Therefore my Advice is, either to try what our Despair can do, in making a bold push, or take the Benefit of the Consul's Proclamation.  3. Cit 
What's that? What does the Proclamation say?  2. Cit 
It offers Life, and liberty to all those that surrender themselves in four and twenty Hours.  3. Cit 
Why, ay, why don't we lay hold on the Proclamation?  4. Cit 
At least let's stay for an Answer from Hannibal. Some Mauritanians have undertaken, in the Name of Deserters, to get to him through the Roman Camp.  2. Cit 
And will be wise enough never to come back again. In the mean time, we stand like Condemned Men, with the Halter about our Necks, but no body attempts any thing for himself, or the Public.  1. Cit 
What would you have us do? The chief Citizens have shut themselves up in their Houses, expecting their Ruin, with the Destruction of their Country.  3. Cit 
The Nobles have deserted us, and the Care of the Commonwealth.  2. Cit 
Why then, in the first place, let us go, and set Decius Magius at Liberty.  Omn. 
Agreed, agreed; 'twas luckily thought upon.  3. Cit 
He's a good Man, and a lover of his Country.  4. Cit 
And a Lover of the People.  1. Cit 
Nay, he never quarrelled with us, but for our Faults, when we deserved it.  3. Cit 
If we had been governed by him, Friend's—  2. Cit 
Let us clap him up at the Head of the Government.  3. Cit 
And his Enemies in his place.  4. Cit 
We can't do better.  1. Cit 
And then we'll go about the City to Summon the Senate, and tell the Senators plainly what they must trust to; that unless they assemble immediately to look after the Public, we'll set their Houses on Fire about their Ears, and begin with them in the Ruin of Capua.  2. Cit 
We'll Sacrifice them to their Country, rather than give up our Wives and Children to the Enemy.  3. Cit 
And so we'll tell 'em plainly.  4. Cit 
There's nothing else to be done.  1. Cit 
If we are to be Ruined, let it begin at our Betters?  2. Cit 
'Tis time enough for us, when it comes to our turn.  
And I'll take my turn, tho' it be at the Gallows.  1. Cit 
Why, that's well said, there's something to be expected from our honest endeavours. Therefore all hands to Decius Magius.  Exeunt.  

SCENE Virginius' House.  Virginius enters with a Servant. Vir. 
You know the rest, tell her that I am here.  Exit Servant.  

SCENE opens and shows Favonia on the Ground.  
Where are you? on the ground! it does become  
The present Posture of your fallen Estate,  
Fallen from the highest pitch of Happiness,  
Into the lowest depth of Misery.  
Yet I will raise you; would I could restore you  
To the admired height, in which you stood,  
Of Fame, and Virtue; but it cannot be.  
As well I may refix a new fallen Star,  
In his bright Orb, to light the World again.  
I come to visit you.  Fav. 
I thank you, Sir.  Vir. 
I durst not trust you in a Father's Hand.  Fav. 
I have no Friend.  Vir. 
O! that the time should come,  
That you should ever say you have no Friend,  
When I am near you. Yes, you have a Friend,  
A Friend you should not have, no more of that.  
I am to tell you what a Friend 've lost:  
And then compute your Gains.  Fav. 
I have lost all  
That ever was of Value to my Peace.  Vir. 
You have destroyed all that was in your Power:  
And you well know your Power to ruin me.  
've thrown away a Husband, and his Love,  
That followed you, as Nature does her Works;  
To nurse, and raise you to Perfection.  
Had all the good things of this Earth been mine,  
And mine the Power to draw their Spirits off,  
Into a Quintessence of Happiness,  
I had bestowed the precious Draught on you.  
And in return.—  Fav. 
O I could make you none,  
To your Deserts.  Vir. 
In barbarous Return,  
You have reached out the Gall of Bitterness  
To dash my Cup, and poison all my Joys.  
I could have sweetened it with my Revenge,  
Which I restrained. I held your Father's Hand,  
Stretched out to take away your guilty Life.  
For when I heard he had pronounced your Death,  
And Signed the Execution, tho' I knew  
You had deserved it of my Wrongs, and Me,  
I could not hold, but flew to your Relief.  
And why? Is it because my Nature is  
Insensible, and cannot feel a Wrong?  
Stupid, and deadned to the Sense of Shame?  
Or that I'm noted for my Easiness  
In finding out Excuses to forgive?  
And pardon faster than they injure me?  
Is that the Reason that I rescued you?  
You know me better, no, Favonia, no,  
'Twas Pity came into the Place of Rage.  
But do not therefore think that I am sit,  
For my Disgrace, because I pitied you.  
Justice her self-Condemns with a Remorse,  
And pity's while she strikes, besides I thought,  
That you, and you, who for so many Years  
Had lived, as Friends, should have a time to part.  Fav. 
O Misery! that I must nothing say  
In my Defence, to clear my Innocence,  Vir. 
Hold, have a care, no more of Innocence,  
Or a Defence, if you insist on that,  
I shall break through the Temper I proposed,  
And then I cannot say where I shall end.  Fav. 
Well, I have done.  Vir. 
Not but you have an Advocate still here,  
Within this Breast, and not to be removed,  
That in Defiance of a Cause so foul,  
So desperate, and so lost, will yet be heard.  
But than it does pretend but to advise,  
And warn me to be cautious what I do,  
Well to consider what I undertake,  
Pondering to weigh the heavy Consequence,  
And not revenge myself upon myself.  
As that's the case, unless I am resolved.  
Never to want what I would throw away.  
And who can know his Resolution?  
Who can be sure, that he is well enough  
Acquainted with the Temper of his Heart.  
To answer for its Proof and Constancy?  
To know its strength sufficient to support  
So great a Loss, to bear a Loss, like yours?  
The Loss of all, that ever I held dear.  
A Loss, to beggar me, and all my Hopes.  
These were the Thoughts that flew to your Relief,  
And have preserved you for this Interview.  Fav. 
More terrible than Death itself to me.  Vir. 
You cannot think I come to pardon you.  
No, all that I endeavour, or can gain  
Upon my Wrongs, is to disarm my Rage.  
And let it pass among the strange Effects  
Of that commanding Power, you always had  
Upon my Heart, that you are yet alive.  
But I am still contriving my Revenge;  
Still meditating how to punish you;  
And I am in a way that pleases me:  
It satisfies my Justice better too,  
Than the Atonement of your spotted Blood.  Exit. Fav. 
There is no Remedy, no way to save  
My Innocence, but by accusing him,  
Who always has been dearer than my Life.  
It must be he, that could pursue me there.  
If he has scaped with safety, I am paid,  
Tho' 'tis a heavy loss of Life, and Fame.  Virginius returns with a Child in his Hand. Vir. 
Here is a little Innocent, that comes  
To Mourn with you: Soon as she can speak plain,  
She'll tell you, 'tis an undone Mother's Loss  
Has brought her hither, to be Nursed in Tears.  Fav. 
O! may she never know her Mother's Fate.  Vir. 
Nor the Dishonour of her Father, but  
Inheriting her Parent's Infamy,  
She must grow up with the Disgrace, and Shame.  
Look on her well.  Fav. 
My Eyes, and Heart are full of her.  Vir. 
Look on her as it were to be the last,  
The last, last look that you may ever have.  Fav. 
This Object I would wish to close my Eyes.  Vir. 
You must remember how she has been bred,  
The fondled Darling of our rival Loves.  Fav. 
Who are to strive in fondness of her now?  
Who to supply a tender Mother's Care?  Vir. 
O! that the Reason of my Love should prove,  
Should ever prove the reason of my Hate!  
How have I hung upon the little Lines  
Of that dear Face, with a fond Father's Joy,  
To find the Mother there in Minature,  
By Nature's Hand Copied in every Look!  
I prayed the God's she might resemble you,  
And now abhor the Likeness I desred—  
I cannot look upon her, but she brings  
Her Mother's Crimes into my Memory—  
When you are in your Grave, the sight of her  
Will raise you from the Dead, to haunt my Peace,  
To plague, and punish me, take her away.  
I wonot throw her out to Beggary,  
But for your sake will neve see her more.  Fav. 
O miserable Woman! must I be  
The Ruin of my Child!  She snatches up the Child, the Women come about her to take the Child. Vir. 
Away with her.  
Why am I not obeyed? Force her away.  Fav. 
O let her stay but for a parting hour—  Vir. 
No, not a Minute, not a Moment's stay.  Fav. 
To take a farewell Kiss.  Vir. 
've seen your last of her.  
Now she has wound herself about your Heart,  
Now she has hold of all the Strings of Life,  
Now tear her thence— that you at last may feel  Forcing the Child from her she falls on the Floor. 
Some of the Tortures you prepared for me.  Fav. 
The God's must give me Patience to support  
What they inflict, this is a thousand Deaths.  Vir. 
When I can entertain you at this rate,  
I'll visit you again, in the mean time  
You know your Lodging, I must see you in.  
You'll have sufficient leisure to reflect  
Upon the Follies that have brought you here.  
've made yourself unworthy of the World,  
And therefore never shall appear again,  
But live forlorn, immured within these Walls.  
Who's there?  A Servant enters with a Dagger in one Hand, and a Bowl in tother, and gives 'em to Virginius, who places 'em on a Table by Favonia. 
I have your Father's Present yet to bring.  
He sends a Dagger, and a poisoned Draught,  
In your Extremity to comfort you.  
When you are weary of this Slavery:  
You have that wretched choice to set you free.  The Scene shuts upon Favonia, he goes off.   

ACT V.  

SCENE I. The Forum.  Pacuvius, Vibius Virius Marius Blosius, with the Senators in their several Parties. 1 Sen. 
WE are met here, and only to be made  
More certain of inevitable Fate:  
Each Moment brings us Matter of Despair,  
And no one to propose a Remedy.  Blo. 
The Mauritanians, who were hired, and sent,  
And, as Deserters, undertook to pass  
The Roman Camp, and get to Hannibal,  
Discovered by the Consuls to be Spies,  
Fifty in number were condemned to be  
First stripped, and Scourged, then with their Hands cut off,  
In that most lamentable plight driven back  
To Capua, to let us see the News.  2 Sen. 
To let us see what we are to expect.  3 Sen. 
To let us read in bloody Characters  
The Vengeance that is laid in store for us.  4 Sen. 
The Spectacle has sunk the People so,  
They dare no longer think of a Defence,  
And talk of nothing but Surrendering now.  Pac. 
This Accident has cut our Commerce off,  
All our Intelligence with Hannibal.  
've nothing farther to expect from him.  Blo. 
And the God's know, but little from ourselves.  
Within. Bear back, make way for our Deliverer.  
Do you not know good Decius Magius.  Enter Decius Magius. 1 Sen. 
O! Decius Magius! you're a welcome Man  
Among us, you were never wanted more.  Mag. 
'Tis a bad Day for Capua, when a Weak,  
Old, useless Man comes to be wanted so.  
But any thing is welcome in Distress.  
I'm sorry for the Cause that brings me here,  
Tho' it has brought me back to Liberty,  
From Dungeon Darkness to the Heavenly Light.  2 Sen. 
We never were in such a wretched need.  Mag. 
I hear how Matters go with us, all wrong,  
And fear me, 'tis too late to set 'em right.  
My Power is very poor, but yet you may  
Employ it, as you please, for Capua,  
For I am still devoted to her Cause.  1 Sen. 
We cannot hope to have the Town relieved.  2 Sen. 
Nor are we able to defend it long.  3 Sen. 
The Roman Clemency has oft been tried  
On desperate Occasions, and been found,  
When all has failed, the only Remedy.  4. Sen. 
And let us not despair of its effects,  
It's good effects on us.  Blo. 
What do you mean?  1. Sen. 
To pacify the fury of our Fate.  2. Sen. 
Not to enrage it by opposing it.  3. Sen. 
But freely give what they have power to take.  1. Sen. 
We have agreed, the greatest part of Us,  
To send our Legates to the Consul's Camp,  
And offer up the Town, to save our lives.  4. Sen. 
And you are come, good Decius Magius,  
The fittest Suppliant in your Country's Cause.  1. Sen. 
You have deserved, and you may well pretend  
An Interest with the Roman Generals.  Mag. 
An Interest against their Interest!  
There's very little to expect from that.  1. Sen. 
We will surrender at discretion.  Mag. 
And that is but a wretched Embassy.  
But if you think it is the only way  
To do you Service, and you are agreed.  2. Sen. 
We are agreed there is no other way.  Mag. 
What says Pacuvius? You are yet to speak.  Pac. 
I would ill become my character, to join  
In this advice of supplicating Rome,  
In our distress, who, may be, was the first  
To urge her Ruin, by deserting her.  
But if I were no more obnoxious,  
No more accountable for our revolt,  
Than he that acted least, yet I must think,  
From what 've done to them, and they to us,  
There is no hope of pardon at their hands.  Blo. 
A Pardon! 'tis a Play-thing for a Child,  
To still the present fit of frowardness;  
A Man can never set his heart upon't.  Pac. 
Now, when a Foreign Enemy insults,  
And Hannibal himself that Enemy,  
When all things are permitted to the Sword,  
Brandished, and flaming over Italy,  
At such a time, forgetting Hannibal,  
And every threatened danger, to send here  
Both Consuls, with their Armies Consular,  
Looks as they did intent to make their Wars  
Only on us, not Carthage more abhorred  
Than Capua, as if they did not come  
For Fame, or Victory, but for revenge.  Mag. 
It may be so, and that they come to raise  
A Monument, to warn succeeding times,  
Never to injure, in whatever State  
Their Fortune is, the Citizens of Rome.  Pac. 
The very Savages, and fiercest Beasts,  
Do but approach their Dens, and they will leave  
Their destined Prey, to save their helpless Young.  
The Romans are more eager yet than they.  
For not the leaguer of their City Rome,  
Their Wives, their Children (whose imploring cries,  
And lamentations almost reach 'em here)  
Their Altars, Hearths, the Temples of the Gods,  
The Sepulchers of their great Ancestors.  
In danger to be violated all  
By Hannibal, can once remove 'em hence,  
From the determined spoil of Capua.  
So greedy are they of our Punishment,  
Of such a burning thirst to drink our Blood.  
Therefore, for my part, I will seek no aid  
Out of myself: while I am Master of  
My liberty, I can take care for one.  1. Sen. 
You, who have made yourselves unworthy of  
Pardon, and mercy, justly may despair.  
But we have hopes in Decius Magius.  Mag. 
Alas!  2. Sen. 
Take the three hundred Roman Knights  
Along with you, that are our Prisoners.  3. Sen. 
That was a lucky thought, make all the Friends—  Mag. 
Adversity will find but very few.  3. Sen. 
What force you can.  Mag. 
And all, I fear, too weak,  Exit with his Party. Pac. 
You then, who seem to have another sense  
Of what we own to the Immortal Gods,  
And our immortal selves, in these extremes,  
I do invite you to take part with me,  
In the kind entertainment of this Night,  
Which I've prepared for many more good Friends.  
The Wine, and Company I know are good:  
The Supper chosen well, and elegant:  
For who can tell but it may be our last.  
If it so prove; indulge the Genius,  
Enlarge the Soul, and feast the senses high:  
We'll sacrifice at last to Liberty.  Exeunt. Enter Virginius and Junius. Vir. 
O Junius! 'tis unworthy of the Man,  
Who calls you Friend, so scandalous a Fate.  
But do not think that I am reconciled,  
Humbled, and tamed to my dishonour, no.  Jun. 
I know you can't be wanting to yourself.  Vir. 
I wanted to acquit myself to you,  
And therefore I have found you luckily,  
To go with me—  Jun. 
You may command your Friend.  Vir. 
To be a witness that I treat the Wretch  
As She deserves from me, and my revenge.  Exeunt Virginius 's House. Favonia enters with a Dagger in one hand, and a Bowl in t'other. Fav. 
A Fathers Present to a luckless Child!  
His sending it, and by a Husband's hands,  
Should have determined me, before this time,  
In what I have to do, 'tis but to die.  
And that I've meditated, studied long;  
And often wished; but yet this Dagger here,  
This Ruffian Dagger, like a Murderer,  
That does delight in Blood, looks terrible.  
There's nothing horrid in this friendly Bowl:  
And it will do the deed as certainly,  
And satisfy my angry Fate as well.  She drinks, throws the Bowl one way and the Dagger another. 
'Tis past; the little argument of Life  
Is at an end; and Death will soon conclude.  
This is the fatal period of our Crimes,  
Ending at last in certain Punishment.  
And yet my Crimes, methinks, might well have passed  
For my misfortunes, to be pitied,  
Rather than punished; but I must not tax  
The justice of the Gods; they have their ends  
In every thing they do; they have thought fit  
To judge 'em Crimes, and so to doom 'em here.  
Perhaps to warn too negligent a World,  
By my example, how they do engage  
In little things, that may be dangerous.  
If there is any profit of my Death,  
'Tis well, I do not grudge the benefit;  
For I begin to find its comfort here.  Laying herself down on the Floor. Enter Virginius, and Junius to Favonia; Junius runs to her assistance. Jun. 
Extended on the Floor; is this a sight  
To triumph in?  Vir. 
The Dagger, or the Bowl,  
Has rescued her, and disappointed me.  
I fear she's almost got out of my reach.  Virginius knelt at her feet, Junius at her head. Jun. 
She's in the Pangs of Death.  Vir. 
There let her stay,  
And linger Ages out in Agony,  
To glut my Eyes, and satiate my revenge.  Jun. 
She's going! O! Favonia! she is gone!  Favonia dies, Junius weeping over her. Vir. 
Why let her go, and with her all my Plagues.  Jun. 
I came to be a witness of thy Truth,  
And Innocence; but should have come before  
To save thy Life—  Vir. 
Methinks you are too much  
Concerned for her.  Jun. 
Begun, and leave me here.  
Your Title carried to the end of life;  
No farther; you have put an end to that:  
And now I honestly may set up mine.  Vir. 
What Title?  Jun. 
To revenge her Death on you.  Junius starts upon his knees, seizes upon Virginius, they rise in a struggle, Junius draws his Sword upon him. 
You have involved me in this Murder here:  
And made me an Accomplice of a deed,  
To damn us both down to the lowest Hell.  
If you dare justify it, draw your Sword.  Vir. 
Dare justify it?  Jun. 
Dare.  Vir. 
You know I dare.  
Another Man had proved my daring too,  
Before this time.  Jun. 
So every Coward says,  Vir. 
Nay, then 'tis past; this only answers that.  They Fight, both wounded. Jun. 
'Tis as it should be: I was not to live.  Vir. 
I cannot long.  Junius falls by Favonia. Jun. 
Then I have been a Friend  
Indeed, if I have hastened on your Death.  
For when I have confessed a few sad Truths,  
You'll find I only have prevented you  
From laying violent hands upon your grief,  
Cursing the light, and falling to despair.  Vir. 
Your words have stuck attention in my heart.  Jun. 
Favonia is most innocent, and wronged:  
And you, and I the only guilty here.  Vir. 
But prove her so, and I shall die with joy.  Falling at her feet. Jun. 
In loved her, for I may avow it now,  
And you may thank yourself, who were the cause,  
By bringing me into your Family.  
I loved her with a passion, that no bounds  
Could circumscribe, no violence could tame,  
No Council moderate, no Friendship cure.  
Therefore I went to Rome, resolved to breathe  
My sighs in Foreign Air, not to disturb  
Your Interest, or Favonia's Innocence.  
I languished many Years; my Fate thought fit  
To bring me back; and you would have me home.  Vir. 
In left her with you.  Jun. 
I that conflict, I  
Confessed what I had suffered for my love:  
She pitied me, and I desired no more.  Vir. 
Say on, while I have leisure to attend.  Jun. 
The Man you found in her Apartment, was  
Your wretched Friend: I thought to ' scape unseen.  
But that poor caution has undone us all.  Vir. 
What was your Business there?  Jun. 
I went to take  
A parting look, resolved to end my griefs,  
And trouble her no more. Favonia was  
Even Innocent of my being there.  
I found her sleeping with her harmless Thoughts:  
And She but waked, as you approached the Room,  
In a surprise, to find herself undone.  
This Writing I have drawn to vouch for me,  
In all the circumstances of this tale:  
And the Gods try me by the Truth it bears.  Dies. Vir. 
A solemn adjuration! and no doubt  
Most heavenly true; and all this is the work  
Of my own folly; had I been content  
With that fa●… portion of felicity,  
The Gods beslowed upon me in a Wife;  
How happy had I been! but I must bring  
My Friend home to usurp upon her right.  
And what's the consequence! Ruin, and Death.  
The approach of Death makes me less sensible.  
I've lost my Wife, and Friend, and now myself.  Dies.  

SCENE Pacuvius House.  Pacuvius, Vibius Virius, Marius Blosius, with Seven or Eight Senators rising from a Feast. Pac. 
Who, who would basely lag behind in life,  
Only to see how many wretched ways  
Our Enemies will find out to punish us?  5 Sen. 
These Eyes shall never be Spectators of  
My Country's Ruin.  Vib. 
Nor will I behold  
The ravage, and the havoc of our Spoils—  6 Sen. 
Nor Capua's Honours trampled in the dust—  7 Sen. 
Nor shining horrid with involving Flames.  Blo. 
Shall our chaste Matrons, and our blushing Maids,  
Our generous Youth, bred up to nobler hopes,  
Attempted, seized, o'erpow'rd, be tamed at last,  
To the insults of all unnatural Lusts?  Vib. 
If there was nothing else to undergo—  Blo. 
You cannot call it living on such terms.  Pac. 
If we agree, that Life would be a load,  
Not to be Born, with these Indignities:  
Here is the helping hand to throw it off.  A Servant gives him a Bowl. 
This Bowl I have reserved to crown the Feast.  
Hannibal carries Poison in a Ring,  
Still to be near him in adversity.  
I have prepared this cordial Draught for us.  
A noble, and preventing remedy:  
To free our Bodies from the Punishment,  
Our Minds from the Reproach, and Infamy,  
Our Eyes and Ears, from being Witnesses  
Of all those Cruelties, that are designed.  
Contrived, reserved, and wait for conquered Men.  Vib. 
We wonot rob our Virtue of its Fame,  
To think that any here can stand in need  
Of words, to argue him into a deed,  
Of this high consequence and character.  Blo. 
We are confirmed in reason, and resolved.  Pac. 
Then thus I offer you deliverance:  
And do begin a Health to Liberty.  Drinks. 5 Sen. 
A generous Health, and send it round to all.  Blo. 
Fill all the Bowls at once, that we may join  
In that most noble Pledge; let no Man have  
Priority, or Place, in this last Scene,  
But all unite in honour of the deed.  Vib. 
Let us unite our Hands, as well as Hearts,  
In this great Work: and since we are to part,  
We'll part like Friends, locked In a strict embrace.  They embrace in a circle. Magius enters as they are in the Ceremony. Mag. 
I must not be shut out. I come to be  
Admitted to the gallant Fellowship  
Of your great Enterprise. I hear you are  
Determined and resolved.  Servants give each Man a Bowl. 
Give me a Cup  
Among the rest.  5 Sen. 
'Tis Poison—  Mag. 
Not to me.  
Or if it should be so, I come to die.  6 Sen. 
We'll show you then the way.  Mag. 
I'm old, and weak,  
And cannot follow fast, unless you stay,  
To take me with you in your Company.  6 Sen. 
We will.  Pac. 
I'm sorry to see you reduced to die.  Mag. 
I'm sorry to see you reduced to live.  Pac. 
That would be poverty of Soul indeed.  
'Tis, not so poor with me.  Mag. 
I'm glad of it.  6 Sen. 
Pacuvius has drank his cordial off.  Mag. 
Secure me mine, and then at leisure, I  
Will tell you the particulars at large,  
Of what I went about; the Consul's doom;  
And Capua's Fate—  Servant giveth Magius a Bowl, they all drink together. 
But this delivers me.  5 Sen. 
And all of us.  Blo. 
Now we defy the Doom.  
Pronounce it in the threatening Consuls words:  
Tho it should thunder from the judgement Seat,  
It shakes not us. We have our Pardon sealed.  Mag. 
I was not suffered to approach their Camp,  
But as a private Person, and a Friend.  
They utterly refused the Prisoners,  
Disdaining to receive 'em, as a Bribe.  
And would not hear me upon any terms,  
That I could offer; all I could obtain,  
Was to inform myself what they designed  
To do with us.  6 Sen. 
It must be terrible.  Mag. 
Why, Fourscore Senators are condemned to Death.  
Three Hundred of our noblest Families,  
To be dispersed into the Latin Towns,  
There to remain as Prisoners at large.  
Our Treasure all confiscated to Rome, our Lands and public Buildings forfeited:  
Capua to be disfranchised of her Rights,  
Her Liberties, and her chief Citizens:  
The Populace by outcry to be sold,  
Into the several States of Italy;  
And none permitted to inhabit here,  
But Slaves made Free, Strangers, and meanest Trades:  
Never to be incorporated more  
In a Community, to have a Voice  
In free Election of its Magistrates,  
But live enthralled under the Scourge of Rome.  Vib. 
More dreadful far than Fire, or Sword could be.  Blo. 
It had been Mercy to extirpate quite  
The Name, and Memory of Capua.  Mag. 
As to myself, 'tis true, they offered all,  
All honourable terms for me, and mine.  
But what is Honour, Fortune, when we have  
No Friends, no Country, to rejoice with us?  
I could not think of Life after that Loss,  
Therefore came timely to prevent it here.  Pac. 
O Magius! let me witness to the worth,  
I always envied. We have rivalled long  
For Capua's Love; but this last act of yours  
Has forced me to confess it was your due.  
Has thrown all emulation so behind,  
The Honour of the Race is wholly yours.  
Had I proceeded with that openess,  
With that clear Spirit, in my Country's cause—  Mag. 
May be it had been better for us all.  
This is no time for long Confessions.  
If you have done amiss, amend it now:  
And by the brave example of your Death,  
Correct the influence of an ill spent Life.  Pac. 
I've found this easy, honest way to Death:  
The only way, my Friends, to vanquish Rome,  
To rob her Consuls of their Triumph here,  
And bear ourselves the palm of Victory.  A Servant whispers Pacuvius, and gives him the Paper, that Junius left behind him. Mag. 
I thank the Gods I have lived long enough,  
To all the reasonable ends of Life:  
Lived to my Friends, my Country, and my Fame:  
Have glutted Nature with satiety,  
Tired all her various appetites of change.  
And 'twould be an unmannerly return,  
For my good cheer, and welcome of the Feast.  
When I have sat it out, to grudge to rise.  Blo. 
We are all ready now to take our leave.  Mag. 
But one word more, and then I go with you.  They support each other. Pac. 
She's Innocent, and well provided for.  Mag. 
The Dead live after in the memory  
Of those alive, so to be handed down,  
Through all the Ages of Posterity,  
As Tryers of their Fame; abhorred, or loved,  
According to their good, or ill, in Life.  Pac. 
I would be mentioned only in my Death,  Mag. 
Let it be said of us, we would have died  
To save our Country; since we could not that:  
Nothing could tempt us to survive its fate.  
Now lay us gently down.  Enter a Messenger. Vib. 
What is thy News?  Mess. 
Our Gates are opened to the Enemy:  
And Capua is no more.  Blo. 
Would it were so.  
Better be nothing than be miserable.  Pac. 
Thou comest too late to do us good, or harm,  
By any News that thou canst bring us now.  Mag. 
I pity our poor Friends that stay behind.  
Our Minds are going to their native home.  
And for the earthy part—  Pac. 
I've taken care.  
When we are honourably laid in Death,  
My Clients have their orders to bestow  
Our Bodies on a Funeral Pile, that's raised  
On purpose, to preserve our last remains.  Mag. 
'Tis well, now kindle it, and we shall mount  
Up to the Skies, in the aspiring Flame,  
And live Immortal in a glorious Name,  Dies 
FINIS.     

Books Printed for Benjamin took at the Middle-Temple Gate in Fleetstreet.  

SIR Richard Baker's Chronicle of the Kings of England, from the Time of the Roman Government unto the death of K. James I. Whereunto is added the Reign of K. Charles the I. and K. Charles II. The ninth Impression Corrected, Folio.  
Tables of Aesop and other Eminent Mythologist, with Morals and Reflections by Sir Roger Lestrange, Folio.  
Numismata a Discourse of Medals Ancient and Modern, together with some Account of Heads and Effigies of Illustrious and famous Persons in Sculps and Taille-Douce, of whom we have no Medals Extant, and of the use to be derived from them, to which is added a Digression concerning Physiognomy by John Evelyn Esq; S. R. S. Folio.  
Eight Chirurgical Treatises by Richard Wiseman Sergeant, Surgeon to K. Charles II. The Third Edition. Folio.  
A Catalogue of Books Printed in England since the Dreadful Fire of London 1666, to the end of Michaelmas Term 1695. Folio.  
A Collection of Cases and other Discourses lately written to Recover Dissenters to the Communion of the Church of England, by some Divines of the City of London. The Third Edition, Folio.  
The History of the Old and New Testament Extracted out of Sacred Scripture and Writings of the Fathers, the whole Illustrated with 234 Sculptures Supervised and Recommended by Dr. Horneck and other Orthodox Divines 4 to.  
Oroonoko a Tragedy written by Mr. Southern. 4 to.  
The She-Gallant a Comedy.  
Heroic Love a Tragedy both written by the Honourable George Granvile Esq;  
The Lover's Luck a Comedy written by Mr. Delks.  
The Old Troop, or Monsieur Raggou written by Mr. Lacy.  
The History of Massanello a Tragedy in two parts written by Mr. Dursey.  
A New Theory of the Earth from its Original to the Consummation of all things by William Whesson M. A. and Chaplain to the right Reverend the Bishop of Norwich. 8vo.  
Memoir and Observations made in a late Journey through the Empire of China, by Lewis le Compte Jesuit lately Missionary into the Eastern Countries. The Third Edition 8vo.  
A Relation of a Voyage made in the Years 1695, 1696, and 1697, on the Coast of Africa Streights of Magellan, and by a Squadron of Frenchmen of War under the Command of M. de Gennes, Illustrated with Figures 8vo.  
The Roman History from the Building of the City to the Removal of the Imperial Seat, by Constantine the Great in 2 vol. by Laurence Echard M. A. 8vo.  
Notes on Drydens' Virgil by Mr. Milburn. 8vo.  
The History of the Buccaneers of America, from their First Original down to this time, written in several Languages, and now Collected into one Volume, Illustrated with 25 Copper Plates. 8vo.  
Kalendarium Hortense, or the Gard'ners' Almanac. 8vo.  
Acelaria, or a Discourse of Salads being the Second part of the Kalendarium Hortense, both by John Evelyn Esq; T. R. S. 8vo.  
A Complete Body of Chirurgical Operations containing the whole Practice of Surgery, by M. de la Vaugaion M. D. and Intendant of the Royal Hospitals about Paris. 8vo.  
Reflections on what the World commonly calls Good Luck and Ill Luck, with Regard to Lotteries written by M. Le Clerk. 8vo.  
A New Voyage to Italy in two Volumes by M. Messon. 8vo.  
A Compendium of Universal History by M. Le Clerk, 8vo.  
Dr. Chamberlains Present State of England the 19 Edition. 8vo.  
The Christians Pattern, or a Treatise of the Imitation of Jesus Christ in four Books written in Latin by Thomas a Kempis made English by Dr. George Stanhope.  
Salvation by Jesus Christ alone agreeable to the Rules of Reason and to the Laws of Justice, by Tho. Staynoe Minister of Christ Church and St. Leonard Foster-Lane.