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Show ( 92 ) And our great choice would be too dearly bought, l£. w e were chare'd with one unworthy thought. Old HORACE. I fhall be careful, go, your Brothers ftay, Think only what your Countries claim to day. CURTIUS. H o w fhall I bid adieu, or by whatart-- Old HORACE. A h ! do not quite diflblve m y trembling heart, M y tongue fo fad a fareWel does deny, N'ot'&h' m y heart thoughts ftrong enough fupply; See' ev'rt m y Eyes fwell with unwilling tears, Go, do your parts, and let the gods do theirs. - < - ACT. I U SCEN. I. Sabina alone. IMuft m y party chufe in this fad ftrife, And either be all Sifter, or all Wife; 111 no more vain divided cares exprefs. But fomewhat wifh, and fear a little lefs: Yet ah ! what party in this difmal Fate ? Can I a Husband, or a Brother hate ? Nature and Love for each does intercede, And fence of Honor for them both does plead? Let their fublimer thoughts yet govern mine, And fo m y different duties will combine: Their Honor is the Objeft I'll adore, Their Vertue imitate, and fear no more. Since there's fuch beauty in the death they court, I nmft unmovd encounter the report, And no more think m y Fate companion wants, But weigh the Caufe, and not the Combatants: The Conque^W 111 with that gladnefs view, ^ La A C93) As will from all their Family be due', A nd not reflecting at whofe bloods expence* Their Virtues raife them to that eminence, MI, in their Houfes Fame, concern'd appear', Here I am Wife, and am a Daughter there, And to each party am fo ftriclly ty'd, That I muft be on the triumphant fide: Fortune though thou art ftudious in thy fpight* Yet I have learn'd thence to extracl delight; And now can fearlefs fee the fight, the flain Without defpair, the Vigors without pain. Flattering delufion ! fweet, but grofs deceit, M y labouring Spirits, weak and flying, cheat-, By whofe falfe light m y dazfed Soul's mifled, Alas how quickly is thy comfort fled ! A flafli of Lightning thus relieves the Night, Making that darker by its hafty flight; As thefe faint beams of joy m y Soul betray'd, But to involve it in a thicker fhade: For Heav'n which faw m y griefs, by this decreafe, Hath dearly fold m e this fhort minutes peace, And m y grievd heart from no one wound is freed At which a Husband, or a Brother bleed ; Which fad reflection fo much terror draws, I only view the -\clors, not the Caufe; Nor can the Conquerors fame falute m y thought But to remember with whofe Blood'twas bought: The vanquifh r Family claims all m y care, Here I'm a Wife, and am a Daughter there, And to each party am fo ftriclly ty'd, That I muft be on the unhappy fide. Is this the Peace I thought fo long deferr'd ? And thus great gods have you m y Prayers heard ? What Thunder-Bolts then can your anger find, Since y'are thus cruel when you would be kind ? Or which way will you punilh an offence, If thus you treat the Vows of Innocence ? CLq 2 SCEN* |