Prepares with joy to quit the treacherous deep, ACT III. SCENE. A Portico of a Palace without the gates of Rome.-The abode of the Carthaginian ambassador. Enter REGULUS and PUBLIUS meeting Reg. Ah! Publius here at such a time as this? Know'st thou the important question that the senate This very hour debate ?-Thy country's glory, Thy father's honour, and the public good? Dost thou know this, and fondly linger here? Pub. They're not yet met, my father. Reg. Haste-awaySupport my counsel in th' assembled senate, Confirm their wav'ring virtue by thy courage, And Regulus shall glory in his boy. Pub. Ah! spare thy son the most ungrateful task. What!-supplicate the ruin of my father? Reg. The good of Rome can never hurt her sons. Reg. Dost thou then think that mine's a franctic That Regulus would rashly seek his fate? Publius! how little dost thou know thy sire! Misjudging youth! learn, that like other men, But that I find in guilt, and this in virtue. Of my dear bleeding country? to me, therefore, Reg. E'en when in hostile fields he bleeds to save her, pays; And, like a tender and indulgent mother, Loads him with comforts, and would make his state Such gifts, my son, have their alloy of pain, Th' advantages it yields;-let him retire, And from the sacred laws which guard those blessings; With kindred brutes one common shelter seek prey, And with their shaggy tenants share the spoil; There let him live, and vaunt his wretched freedom : Pub. With reverence and astonishment I hear thee! Thy words, my father, have convinc'd my reason, But cannot touch my heart;-nature denies Obedience so repugnant. I'm a son. Reg. A poor excuse, unworthy of a Roman! Brutus, Virginius, Manlius-they were fathers. Pub. 'Tis true, they were; but this heroic great ness, This glorious elevation of the soul, Has been confin'd to fathers,-Rome, till now, Reg. Then be the first to give the great example- Reg. Publius, no more; begoneAttend the Senate-let me know my fate, "Twill be more glorious if announc'd by thee. Pub. Too much, too much, thy rigid virtue claims From thy unhappy son. O nature, nature! Reg. Publius! am I a stranger, or thy father? In either case an obvious duty waits thee; If thou regard'st me as an alien here, Learn to prefer to mine the good of Rome; Pub. Ah! couldst thou look into my inmost sou!, And see how warm it burns with love and duty, Thou wouldst abate the rigour of thy words. Reg. Could I explore the secrets of thy breast, The virtue I would wish should flourish there Were fortitude, not weak complaining love. Reg. Th' important hour draws on, and now my soul Loses her wonted calmness, lest the Senate Ye guardian gods! look down propitious on her, Enter MANLIUS (speaking). See that the lictors wait, and guard the entranceTake care that none intrude. Reg. What can this mean? Man. Ah! Manlius here? Where, where is Regulus? The great, the godlike, the invincible? Oh let me strain the hero to my breast.— Reg. (avoiding him) Manlius, stand off, remember I'm a slave? And thou Rome's Consul. Man. I am something more: I am a man enamour'd of thy virtues; Thy fortitude, and courage have subdued me. Than all the honours Rome can give without it. Man. I confess, Thy grandeur cast a veil before my eyes, Which the reverse of fortune has remov'd. Now, thou hast conquer'd fortune and thyself, He rises now a god. Reg. Manlius, enough. Cease thy applause; 'tis dang'rous; praise like thine Might tempt the most severe and cautious virtue. Reg. Manlius, and is it thus, is this the way Mistaken Consul! I vainly hop'd from all my years of bondage? O Manlius! either give me proofs more worthy Man. Dost thou not know, that, this exchange Inevitable death must be thy fate? |