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 -Is that the dreadful crime?
Alas, but spare him, spare thy friend, Horatius,
And I will cast him from my breast for ever.
Will that oblige thee?" Only let him die

"By other hands, and I will learn to hate him.” Pub. Why wilt thou talk thus madly? Love 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
First "tear me, blast me, scatter me on winds,
"And" pour out each unheard-of vengeance on me!
Pub. Do not torment thyself thus idly-Go,
Compose thyself, and be again my sister.

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-
Oh, if you have not quite cast off affection!
ou detest not your distracted sister-

Horatius. Shame of thy race, why dost thou hang

upon him?

Wouldst thou entail eternal infamy

On him, on me, and all?

Horatia. Indeed I would not,

I know I ask impossibilities;
Yet pity me, my father!

Pub. Pity thee !

Begone, fond wretch, nor urge my temper thus.
By Heaven, I love thee as a brother ought.
Then hear my last resolve; if Fate, averse
To Rome and us, determine my destruction,
I charge thee wed thy lover; he will then
Deserve thee nobly. Or, if kinder gods
Propitious hear the prayers of suppliant Rome,
And he should fall by me, I then expect
No weak upbraidings for a lover's death,
But such returns as shall become thy birth,

A sister's thanks for having sav'd her country. [Exit.
Horatia. Yet stay-Yet hear me, Publius-But one

word.

Horatius. Forbear, rash girl, thou'lt tempt thy fa

ther

To do an outrage might perhaps distract him.

Horatia. Alas, forgive me, sir, I'm very wretched, Indeed I am-Yet I will strive to stop

This swelling grief, and bear it like your daughter. Do but forgive me, sir.

Horatius. I do, I do

Go in, my child, the gods may find a way

To make thee happy yet. But on thy duty,

Whate'er reports may reach, or fears alarm thee, I charge thee come not to the field.

Horatia. I will not,

If you command it, sir. But will you then,
As far as cruel honour may permit,

Remember that your poor Horatia's life

Hangs on this dreadful contest?

Horatius. "Lead her in."

[Exit Horatia,

[Looking after her.] Spite of my boasted strength, her griefs unman me.

-But let her from my thoughts! The patriot's breast

No hopes, no fears, but for his country knows,
And in her danger loses private woes.

[Exit,

ACT III. SCENE I.

Continues. VALERIUS and VALERIA meeting.

Valerius.

Now, my Valeria, where's the charming she
That calls me to her with a lover's haste
I fly to execute the dear command.

Valeria. 'Tis not the lover, but the friend she wants, If thou dar'st own that name.

Valerius. The friend, my sister!

There's more than friendship in a lover's breast, More warm, more tender is the flame he feelsValeria. Alas! these raptures suit not her distress!

She seeks th' indulgent friend, whose sober sense,
Free from the mists of passion, might direct
Her jarring thoughts, and plead her doubtful cause.
Valerius. Am I that friend? Oh, did she turn her
thought

On me for that kind office?

Valeria. Yes, Valerius.

She chose you out to be her advocate

To Curiatius; 'tis the only hope

She now dares cherish; her relentless brother
With scorn rejects her tears, her father flies her,
And only you remain to sooth her cares,
And save her ere she sinks.

Valerius. Her advocate

To Curiatius!

Valeria. 'Tis to him she sends you,

To urge her suit, and win him from the field.
But come, her sorrows will more strongly plead
Than all my grief can utter.

Valerius. To my rival!

To Curiatius plead her cause, and teach

My tongue a lesson which my heart abhors!

Impossible! Valeria, pr'ythee say

Thou saw'st me not; the business of the camp
Confin'd me there. Farewell.

Valeria. What means my brother?

[Going.

You cannot leave her now; for shame, turn back;
Is this the virtue of a Roman youth ?
Oh, by these tears 1-

Valerius. They flow in vain, Valeria:

Nay, and thou know'st they do. Oh, earth and

heaven!

This combat was the means my happier stars
Found out to save me from the brink of ruin;
And can I plead against it, turn assassin
On my own life?

Valeria. Yet thou canst murder her
Thou dost pretend to love; away, deceiver!
I'll seck some worthier messenger to plead
In beauty's cause; but first inform Horatia,
How much Valerius is the friend she thought him.
[Going.
Valerius. Oh, heavens ! stay, sister; 'tis an arduous

task.

Valeria. I know the task is hard, and thought I knew

Thy virtue too.

Valerius. I must, I will obey thee.

Lead on. Yet pr'ythee, for a moment leave me,
'Till I can recollect my scatter'd thoughts,
And dare to be unhappy.

Valeria. My Valerius !

I fly to tell her you but wait her pleasure.

[Exit.

Valerius. Yes, I will undertake this hateful office;

It never can succeed.-Yet at this instant

It may be dangerous, while the people melt
With fond compassion.-No, it cannot be ;
His resolution's fix'd, and virtuous pride
Forbids an alteration. To attempt it

rakes her my friend, and may afford hereafter