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Show M ^7^ The FATE of CAPUA. ^™ tt ^ Day began to fail, Deferting her in abfolute Defpair Of her loft Empire, not to be reftor d. i Sen You have a Lift of all the feveral States, People, and Cities that are fain away From Rome to the Carthaginians: Let it be read ?*<:. It ha" been read already. Their Number and Example fhould advife Their Neighbours, w h o intend to follow'em; As w e muft do, to follow chearfully- T o jump into our Refolutionsi What muft be done, to have it frankly done* T o make a Merit of our Forwardnefsj And not difgrace the Service w e intend, By cold Debates, Indifference and Delay. 2 Sen. Our Rabble are in barefacd Mutiny. % Sen. And have declar'd themferves for Hannikl * ' [Shouts in feveral Quarters oj k (fy j Sen. T h e Noife comes this way now. 2 Sen. 'Tis every where. ^ Enter Decius Magius. [Within] Make way lot DecimMagius* Vac. Decius Magius \ I thought he had giv'n o'er the Common-wealth. Mag. I thought fo too: But there is nothing certain: I was in hopes I might have ftaid at home: But when a City is in general Flame, Cripples will find their Legs to cry out Fire. Age has not much to lofe: But I am come T o awake, to rouze, and warn you of your Ruin. 1 Pac. What is this Ruin, Decius Magtusl Mag. In fuch an honourable Argument, As yours may be, in the Tarentine War, A Peace from Tyrrhus was propos'd with Rome: The Queftion alrnoft was refolv'd for ?yrrhus>< W h e n Appius, as w e have it on Record, Aged and blind, difabled long before f I T^FATE */CAPUA. 273 To the State's Service, and the publick Cares Was led into thc Senate, and infpir'd ' By Indignation, and his Country's Caufe Sway'd the Debate, never to make a Peace With any foreign Foe in Italy. I come by his Example: H e was happy In his Succefsj and fo may I be bleft, So may I thrive to Day, as this great Caufe That lies before you n o w is of more Worth, Of weightier Worth, and threatning Confequence' Pac. A long Preamble: What will be the Tale?* Mag. They fay, you are upon deferting Rome, And joining Hannibal: I have a Voice Before it comes to that, and muft be heard. fac. W e have all Voices for our Country's Good. Mag Our Country's Honour is her chiefeft Good. Can we forget what Rome has been to us? A foftering Neighbour of our Infant State: A kind Rcjoicer in our Growth and Strength: Ever a Friend. And in Adverfity, (As we have tafted of that bitter Cup, Now fwill'd in Plcafures to the giddy Brim Of drunken Riot, and Forgetfulncfs:) la our bad Days, I fay, (he ftill has been A Comforter, a Parent, and Protector. Pac. Well, Decius Magius, had you minded us,' If we had been inclining to forget What, as Allies and Friends, w e o w e to Rome. But Vibins Virius, you our Legate were, CommiiTion'd to Rome's Conful: You can f a y - - Vib. That w e have paid all our Refpecls of Grief.* Condol'd their dire Misfortunes, offering Supplies of all things wanting to their Wars j This in the general N a m e of Capua: But Cordials to the Dead are fo apply'd : Fortune has left 'em nothing to fupply. The Roman Legions, Enfigns, Horfe, and Arms, Men, Mony, and Provifions, routed, fpoil'd, All in the Day of Canna were deftroy'd, ty on the Morrow's Plunder of bath Camps. Mi" fael |
