Should dare above her sex's narrow limits- Enter BARCE. Bar. Attilia! it is true that Regulus, In spite of Senate, people, augurs, friends, And children, will depart? Att. Bar. Oh! what romantic madness! Att. Yes, it is true. You forget Barce! the deeds of heroes claim respect. Bar. Dost thou approve a virtue which must lead To chains, to tortures, and to certain death? Att. Barce! those chains, those tortures, and that death, Will be his triumph. Bar. Thou art pleas'd, Attilia : By heav'n thou dost exult in his destruction! Att. Ah! pitying powers. (weeps.) Bar. I do not comprehend thee. Att. No, Barce, I believe it.-Why, how shouldst thou? If I mistake not, thou wast born in Carthage, Was taught to triumph in a father's chains. Bar. Yet thou dost weep-thy tears at least are honest, For they refuse to share thy tongue's deceit ; Att. Grief, that dissolves in tears, relieves the heart. When congregated vapours melt in rain, [Exit. Bar. Why, what a strange, fantastic land is this! This love of glory's the disease of Rome; It makes her mad, it is a wild delirium, An universal and contagious frenzy ; It preys on all, it spares nor sex nor age: The Consul envies Regulus his chainsHe, not less mad, contemns his life and freedomThe daughter glories in the father's ruinAnd Publius, more distracted than the rest, Resigns the object that his soul adores, For this vain phantom, for this empty glory. This may be virtue; but I thank the gods, The soul of Barce's not a Roman soul. [Exit. SCENE-within sight of the Tiber-Ships ready for the embarkation of Regulus and the Ambassador -Tribune and People stopping up the passageConsul and Lictors endeavouring to clear it. MANLIUS and LICINIUS advance. Lic. Rome will not suffer Regulus to go. Man. I thought the Consul and the Senators Had been a part of Rome. Lic. I grant they are— But still the people are the greater part. Man. The greater, not the wiser. The less cruel. Lic. We would preserve his life. Man. Lic. His honour ! Man. Yes. Time presses. And we his honour. Words are vain. Clear the way, my friends. Man. How dares Licinius thus oppose the Consul ? Lic. How dar'st thou, Manlius, thus oppose the Tribune? Man. I'll shew thee what I dare, imprudent boy! Lictors, force through the passage. Lic. Romans, guard it. Man. Gods! is my power resisted then with arms! Thou dost affront the majesty of Rome. Lic. The majesty of Rome is in the people; Thou dost insult it by opposing them. People. Let noble Regulus remain in Rome. Man. My friends, let me explain this treacherous scheme. People. We will not hear thee-Regulus shall Enter REGULUS, followed by PUBLIUS, ATTILIA, Reg. Let Regulus remain! What do I hear? A life of infamy? Is't possible? Where is the ancient virtue of my country? And shew your sons what their great fathers were. Deserv'd your hatred ? Lic. Hatred? ah! my friend, It is our love would break these cruel chains. Reg. If you deprive me of my chains, I'm nothing They are my honours, riches, titles, -all! They'll shame my enemies, and grace my country; The name of Regulus, the captive Regulus. The arms of Rome alone? no, 'twas her virtue; them : This still is mine-and I'll preserve it, Romans! Carthage herself was less my foe than Rome; My friends! if you deprive me of my chains, Yes, Regulus becomes a common captive, But if, to grace my bonds, you leave my honour, Lic. What faith should be observ'd with savages? What promise should be kept which bonds extort? Reg. Unworthy subterfuge! ah! let us leave To the wild Arab and the faithless Moor These wretched maxims of deceit and fraud: Examples ne'er can justify the coward · The brave man never seeks a vindication, Save from his own just bosom and the gods; From principle, not precedent, he acts: As that arraigns him, or as that acquits, My wearied life has almost reach'd its goal; The slacken'd sinew, and the dim sunk eye, I do request it of you as a friend, I call you to your duty as a patriot, And-were I still your gen'ral, I'd command you. Lic. Lay down your arms-let Regulus depart. (To the People, who clear the way, and quit their arms.) |