The Inflexible Captive Part 4

_Reg._ If Rome would thank me, I will teach her how.

--Know, Fathers, that these savage Africans Thought me so base, so very low of soul, That the poor wretched privilege of breathing, Would force me to betray my country to them.

Have these barbarians any tortures left To match the cruelty of such a thought?

Revenge me, Fathers! and I'm still a Roman.

Arm, arm yourselves, prepare your citizens, s.n.a.t.c.h your imprison'd eagles from their fanes, Fly to the sh.o.r.es of Carthage, force her gates, Dye every Roman sword in Punic blood-- And do such deeds--that when I shall return, (As I have _sworn_, and am resolv'd to do,) I may behold with joy, reflected back, The terrors of your rage in the dire visages Of my astonish'd executioners.

_Ham._ Surprise has chill'd my blood! I'm lost in wonder!

_Pub._ Does no one answer? must my father perish?

_Man._ Romans, we must defer th' important question; Maturest councils must determine on it.

Rest we awhile:----Nature requires some pause From high-rais'd admiration. Thou, Hamilcar, Shalt shortly know our final resolution.

Meantime, we go to supplicate the G.o.ds.

_Reg._ Have you a doubt remaining? Manlius, speak.

_Man._ Yes, Regulus, I think the danger less To lose th' advantage thy advice suggests, Than would accrue to Rome in losing thee, Whose wisdom might direct, whose valour guard her.

Athirst for glory, thou wouldst rush on death, And for thy country's sake wouldst greatly perish.

Too vast a sacrifice thy zeal requires, For Rome must bleed when Regulus expires.

[_Exeunt Consul and Senators._

_Manent_ REGULUS, PUBLIUS, HAMILCAR; _to them enter_ ATTILIA _and_ LICINIUS.

_Ham._ Does Regulus fulfil his promise thus?

_Reg._ I've promis'd to return, and I will do it.

_At._ My father! think a moment.

_Lic._ Ah! my friend!

_Lic. and At._ O by this hand we beg----

_Reg._ Away! no more.

Thanks to Rome's guardian G.o.ds I'm yet a slave!

And will be still a slave to make Rome free!

_At._ Was the exchange refus'd? Oh ease my fears.

_Reg._ Publius! conduct Hamilcar and myself To that abode thou hast for each provided.

_At._ A foreign residence? a strange abode?

And will my father spurn his household G.o.ds?

_Pub._ My sire a stranger?----Will he taste no more The smiling blessings of his cheerful home?

_Reg._ Dost thou not know the laws of Rome forbid A foe's amba.s.sador within her gates?

_Pub._ This rigid law does not extend to thee.

_Reg._ Yes; did it not alike extend to all, 'Twere tyranny.--The law rights every man, But favours none.

_At._ Then, O my father, Allow thy daughter to partake thy fate!

_Reg._ Attilia! no. The present exigence Demands far other thoughts, than the soft cares, The fond effusions, the delightful weakness, The dear affections 'twixt the child and parent.

_At._ How is my father chang'd, from what I've known him!

_Reg._ The fate of Regulus is chang'd, not Regulus.

I am the same; in laurels or in chains 'Tis the same principle; the same fix'd soul, Unmov'd itself, though circ.u.mstances change.

The native vigour of the free-born mind Still struggles with, still conquers adverse fortune; Soars above chains, invincible though vanquish'd.

[_Exeunt_ REGULUS _and_ PUBLIUS.

ATTILIA, HAMILCAR _going; enter_ BARCE.

_Barce._ Ah! my Hamilcar.

_Ham._ Ah! my long-lost Barce: Again I lose thee; Regulus rejects Th' exchange of prisoners Africa proposes.

My heart's too full.--Oh, I have much to say!

_Barce._ Yet you unkindly leave me, and say nothing.

_Ham._ Ah! didst thou love as thy Hamilcar loves, Words were superfluous; in my eyes, my Barce, Thou'dst read the tender eloquence of love, Th' uncounterfeited language of my heart.

A single look betrays the soul's soft feelings, And shows imperfect speech of little worth.

[_Exit_ HAMILCAR.

_At._ My father then conspires his own destruction, Is it not so?

_Barce._ Indeed I fear it much; But as the senate has not yet resolv'd, There is some room for hope: lose not a moment; And, ere the Conscript Fathers are a.s.sembled, Try all the powers of winning eloquence, Each gentle art of feminine persuasion, The love of kindred, and the faith of friends, To bend the rigid Romans to thy purpose.

_At._ Yes, Barce, I will go; I will exert My little pow'r, though hopeless of success.

Undone Attilia! fall'n from hope's gay heights Down the dread precipice of deep despair.

So some tir'd mariner the coast espies, And his lov'd home explores with straining eyes; Prepares with joy to quit the treacherous deep, Hush'd every wave, and every wind asleep; But ere he lands upon the well-known sh.o.r.e, Wild storms arise, and furious billows roar, Tear the fond wretch from all his hopes away, And drive his shatter'd bark again to sea.

ACT III.

SCENE--_A Portico of a Palace without the gates of Rome--The abode of the Carthaginian Amba.s.sador_.

_Enter_ REGULUS _and_ PUBLIUS _meeting_.

_Reg._ Ah! Publius here at such a time as this?

Know'st thou th' important question that the Senate This very hour debate?--Thy country's glory, Thy father's honour, and the public good?

Dost thou know this and fondly linger here?