At once the frown of war, and stern defiance? Pub. Think not, oh, king, howe'er resolv'd on combat, I sit so loosely to the bonds of nature, As not to feel their force. I feel it strongly. To what we owe the public. Partial ties Cease to be men. As in our earliest days, Tullus. Now I dare trust thee; go and teach thy brothers To think like thee, and conquest is your own. This is true courage, not the brutal force Of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve Of virtue and of reason. He who thinks A dream, a vapour, or an ague fit May make a coward of him.-Come, Horatius, They should behold their sister thus alarm'd. Haste, soldier, and detain them. [To one of the guards. Horatius. Gracious sir, We'll follow on the instant. Tullus. Then farewell. When next we meet, 'tis Rome and liberty! [Exit with guards. Horatius. Come, let me arm thee for the glorious toil. I have a sword, whose lightning oft has blaz'd Whose temper'd edge has cleft their haughty crests, [Going. -And yet, my Publius, shall I own my weakness; Though I detest the cause from whence they spring, I feel thy sister's sorrows like a father. She was my soul's delight. Pub. And may remain so. This sudden shock has but alarm'd her virtue, Not quite subdued its force. D At least, my father, Time's lenient hand will teach her to endure The ills of chance, and reason conquer love. Pub. By no means, my lord; You heard the king's commands about my brothers, Horatius. It shall be so. We'll think no more of her. 'Tis glory calls, [Exit. AS HORATIUS goes off, HORATIA enters at another Door. Horatia. Where is my brother?-Oh, my dearest Publius, If e'er you lov'd Horatia, ever felt That tenderness which you have seem'd to feel, Oh, hear her now! Pub. What wouldst thou, my Horatia? Horatia. I know not what I would-I'm on the rack, Despair and madness tear my lab'ring soul. -And yet, my brother, sure you might relieve me. Pub. How! by what means? By Heaven, I'll die to do it. Horatia. You might decline the combat. Horatia. I do not Expect it from thee. Pr'ythee, look more kindly. --And yet, is the request so very hard? I only ask thee not to plunge thy sword Into the breast thou lov'st, not kill thy friend; Horatia; Thou know'st I dearly love thee, nay, thou know'st Horatia. 'Tis not virtue Which contradicts our nature, 'tis the rage Of over-weening pride. Has Rome no champions Who might without a crime aspire to conquest, Pub. Away, away! Talk to thy lover thus. But 'tis not Caius Thou wouldst have infamous. Horatia. Oh, kill me not With such unkind reproaches. Yes, I own I love him, more Pub. Than a chaste Roman maid Should dare confess. Horatia. Should dare! What means my brother? I had my father's sanction on my love, And duty taught me first to feel its power. -Should dare confess I-Is that the dreadful crime? "By other hands, and I will learn to hate him.” still! And if we fall the victims of our country, (Which Heav'n avert!) wed, and enjoy him freely. Horatia. Oh, never, never. What, my country's bane! The murderer of my brothers! may the gods Re-enter HORATIUS, with the Sword. Horatius. This sword in Veii's field--What dost thou here? Leave him, I charge thee, girl--Come, come, my Publius, Let's haste where duty calls. Horatia. What! to the field? He must not, shall not go; here will I hang→ If you detest not your distracted sister |