Att. Oh feeble grasp!-and is he gone, quite gone? Hold, hold thy empire, reason, firmly hold it, Or rather quit at once thy feeble throne, Since thou but serv'st to shew me what I've lost, To scare sweet peace, and banish hope itself. And thou shalt grow, and twine about her heart, (stands in an attitude of silent grief.) Enter LICINIUS. Lic. At length I've found thee-ah, my charming maid! How have I sought thee out with anxious fondness! Alas! she hears me not. My best Attilia! Ah! grief oppresses every gentle sense. Still, still she hears not-'tis Licinius speaks, And hush thy tender sorrows into peace. Att. Who's he that dares assume the voice of love, And comes unbidden to these dreary haunts? And breaks the league despair and I have made ? To talk of peace, of comfort, and of joy. Att. Didst thou not mock me with the sound of joy? Thou little know'st the anguish of my soul, If thou believ'st I ever can again, So long the wretched sport of angry fortune, For I, alas! am wedded to despair, And will not hear the sound of comfort more. Lic. Cease, cease, my love, this tender voice of wo, Though softer than the dying cygnet's plaint: She ever chants her most melodious strain When death and sorrow harmonize her note. Att. Yes, I will listen now with fond delight; For death and sorrow are my darling themes. Well!--what hast thou to say of death and sorrow? Believe me, thou wilt find me apt to listen, And, if my tongue be slow to answer thee, Instead of words I'll give thee sighs and tears. Lic. I come to dry thy tears, not make them flow; The gods once more propitious smile upon us, Joy shall again await each happy morn, And ever-new delight shall crown the day! Yes, Regulus shall live. Att. Ah, me! what say'st thou ? If I deceive thee! Regulus shall live, When nature's glimmering lamp goes gently out, Together drop the sweetly-painful tear, Lic. Thou know'st what influence the name of tribune Gives its possessor o'er the people's minds: Att. By what gradation does my joy ascend! I cannot bear my joy with moderation : Heaven should have dealt it with a scantier hand, And not have shower'd such plenteous blessings on me; They are too great, too flattering to be real; Compose thy sweet emotions ere thou see'st him. For joys, like sorrows, in extreme, oppress: ACT V. An Apartment in the Ambassador's palace-Guards and other attendants seen at a distance. Ham. WHERE is this wondrous man, this match- This arbiter of kingdoms and of kings, Ham. Well, Regulus! At last- Ham. What dost thou mean by uproar and Hamilcar does not come to vent complaints; He rather comes to prove, that Afric too Produces heroes, and that Tiber's banks Reg. Be it so.-'Tis not a time for vain debate: Collect thy people.-Let us strait depart. Reg. O patience, patience! Ham. It is esteem'd a glory to be grateful? Reg, The time has been when 'twas a duty only, But 'tis a duty now so little practis'd, That to perform it is become a glory. Ham. If to fulfil it should expose to danger?- Hath nobly given my Barce to my arms; Reg. Ah! what say'st thou ? Wilt thou preserve me then? Ham. Reg. I will. But how? Ah! Ham. By leaving thee at liberty to fly. Reg. Ham. I will dismiss my guards on some pretence, Meanwhile do thou escape, and lie conceal'd : I will affect a rage I shall not feel, Unmoor my ships, and sail for Africa. Reg. Abhorr'd barbarian! Ham. Well, what dost thou say? I am indeed. Art thou not much surpris'd? Reg. Ham. Thou couldst not then have hoped it ? Reg. No! I could not. Ham. And yet I'm not a Roman. Reg. (smiling contemptuously.) I perceive it. Ham. And wherefore stay? |