Reg. And has the name of death such terror in it, To strike with dread the mighty soul of Manlius? 'Tis not to-day I learn that I am mortal.

The foe can only take from Regulus

What wearied nature would have shortly yielded ;
It will be now a voluntary gift,

"Twould then become a tribute seiz'd, not offer'd.
Yes, Manlius, tell the world that as I liv'd
For Rome alone, when I could live no longer,
"Twas my last care how, dying, to assist,
To save that country I had liv'd to serve.

Man. O unexampled worth! O godlike Regulus!
Thrice happy Rome! unparalleled in heroes!
Hast thou then sworn, thou awfully good man!
Never to bless the Consul with thy friendship?

Reg. If thou wilt love me, love me like a Roman. These are the terms on which I take thy friendship. We both must make a sacrifice to Rome,

I of my life, and thou of Regulus:
One must resign his being, one his friend.
It is but just, that what procures our country
Such real blessings, such substantial good,

Should cost thee something-I shall lose but little.
Go then, my friend! but promise, ere thou goest,
With all the consular authority,

Thou wilt support my counsel in the senate.
If thou art willing to accept these terms,

With transport I embrace thy proffer'd friendship.
Man. (after a pause.) Yes, I do promise.

Reg.
Bounteous gods, I thank you!
Ye never gave, in all your round of blessing,
A gift so greatly welcome to my soul,

As Manlius' friendship on the terms of honour!
Man. Immortal Powers! why am not I a slave ?

By heav'n! I almost envy thee thy bonds.

Reg. My friend! there's not a moment to be

lost;

Ere this, perhaps the senate is assembled.

To thee, and to thy virtues, I commit

The dignity of Rome-my peace and honour.
Man. Illustrious man, farewell!

Reg.

Farewell, my friend!

Man. The sacred flame thou hast kindled in my

soul

Glows in each vein, trembles in every nerve,
And raises me to something more than man.
My blood is fired with virtue, and with Rome,
And every pulse beats an alarm to glory.
Who would not spurn a sceptre when compar'd
With chains like thine? Thou man of every virtue,
O farewell! may all the gods protect and bless thee.
[Exit MANLIUS.

Enter LICINIUS.

Reg. Now I begin to live: Propitious Heaven

Inclines to favour me.

-Licinius here?

Lic. With joy, my honour'd friend, I seek thy

presence.

Reg. And why with joy?

Lic.

Because my heart once more Beats high with flattering hope. In thy great cause

I have been labouring.

Reg.

Say'st thou in my cause?

Lic. In thine and Rome's. Does it excite thy

wonder?

Couldst thou then think so poorly of Licinius,
That base ingratitude could find a place
Within his bosom ?-Can I then forget
Thy thousand acts of friendship to my youth?
Forget them too at that important moment
When most I might assist thee?-Regulus,
Thou wast my leader, general, father-all.
Didst thou not teach me early how to tread
The path of glory; point the way thyself,
And bid me follow thee?

Reg.

But say, Licinius,

I have defended

What hast thou done to serve me?

Lic.

Thy liberty and life!

Reg.

Ah! speak-explain.

Lic. Just as the fathers were about to meet,
I hasten'd to the temple-at the entrance
Their passage I retarded, by the force
Of strong entreaty; then address'd myself
So well to each, that I from each obtain'd
A declaration, that his utmost power
Should be exerted for thy life and freedom.

Reg. Great gods! what do I hear? Licinius too!
Lic. Not he alone; no, 'twere indeed unjust

To rob the fair Attilia of her claim

To filial merit.—What I could, I did.

But she thy charming daughter-heav'n and earth, What did she not, to save her father?

Reg.

Who?

Lic. Attilia, thy belov'd-thy age's darling!

Was ever father bless'd with such a child!

Gods! how her looks took captive all who saw her!
How did her soothing eloquence subdue

The stoutest hearts of Rome! How did she rouse
Contending passions in the breasts of all!
How sweetly temper dignity with grief!

With what a soft, inimitable grace,

She prais'd, reproach'd, entreated, flatter'd, sooth'd. Reg. What said the senators?

Lic.

What could they say?

Who could resist the lovely conqueror?

See where she comes--Hope dances in her eyes,
And lights up all her beauties into smiles.

Enter ATTILIA.

Att. Once more, my dearest father

Reg.

Ah, presume not

To call me by that name. For know, Attilia,
I number thee among the foes of Regulus.

Att. What do I hear? thy foe? my father's foe?
Reg. His worst of foes-the murd❜rer of his glory.
Att. Ah! is it then a proof of enmity

To wish thee all the good that gods can give thee,
To yield my life, if needful, for thy service?
Reg. Thou rash, imprudent girl! thou little
know'st

The dignity and weight of public cares.
Who made a weak and inexperienc'd woman
The arbiter of Regulus's fate?

Lic. For pity's sake, my Lord!

Reg.

Peace, peace, young man! Her silence better than thy language pleads. That bears at least the semblance of repentance. Immortal powers!- -A daughter and a Roman! Att. Because I am a daughter, I presum'dLic. Because I am a Roman, I aspired T' oppose th' inhuman rigour of thy fate.

Reg. No more, Licinius. How can he be call'd
A Roman who would live with infamy?
Or how can she be Regulus's daughter,

Whose coward mind wants fortitude and honour?
Unhappy children! now you make me feel
The burden of my chains: your feeble souls
Have made me know I am indeed a slave.

[Exit REGULUS.

Att. Tell me, Licinius, and oh! tell me truly, If thou believ'st in all the round of time There ever breath'd a maid so truly wretched? To weep, to mourn, a father's cruel fateTo love him with soul-rending tendernessTo know no peace by day, or rest by night— To bear a bleeding heart in this poor bosom, Which aches and trembles but to think he suffers: This is my crime-in any other child

"Twould be a merit.

Lic.

Oh! my best Attilia,

Do not repent thee of the pious deed:
It was a virtuous error. That in us
Is a just duty, which the godlike soul
Of Regulus would think a shameful weakness.
If the contempt of life in him be virtue,
It were in us a crime to let him perish.
Perhaps at last he may consent to live;

He then will thank us for our cares to save him:
Let not his anger fright thee. Though our love
Offend him now, yet, when his mighty soul
Is reconcil'd to life, he will not chide us.
The sick man loaths, and with reluctance takes
The remedy by which his health's restor❜d.

Att. Licinius! his reproaches wound my
I cannot live, and bear his indignation.

soul.

Lic. Would my Attilia rather lose her father Than, by offending him, preserve his life?

Att. Ah! no. If he but live, I am contented. Lic. Yes, he shall live, and we again be bless'd: Then dry thy tears, and let those lovely orbs Beam with their wonted lustre on Luciuius, Who lives but in the sunshine of thy smiles.

[Exit LICINIUS.

Att. (alone.) Oh Fortune, Fortune, thou capricious goddess!

Thy frowns and favours have alike no bounds;
Unjust, or prodigal in each extreme.

When thou wouldst humble human vanity,
By singling out a wretch to bear thy wrath,
Thou crushest him with anguish to excess;
If thou wouldst bless, thou mak'st the happiness
Too poignant for his giddy sense to bear.-
Immortal gods, who rule the fates of men,
Preserve my father! bless him, bless him,
If your avenging thunderbolts must fall,
Strike here this bosom will invite the blow,
And thank you for it: but in mercy spare,

heav'n!