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Show (8.) But why fo ftern, and fo unpleas'd a Brow ? Does this offend you ? CURTIUS. No, but does furprize J The honor much above m y Merit flie*. FLA. Muft the Dictator (who m e hither fent) Be told you hear it with this difcontent ? This cold reception m e too does furprize. CtU R T IU S. Tell him in fpight of Loves and Frienddiip ties, Yet Curtius, and his Brothers mean to fight Aeainft the Horaces, for Albas Right. 5 FLA. Againft them ! 'tis too much ! but tell m e how. 5 CURTIUS. Carry m y anfwer back, and leave m e now. Exit Flavirn SCEN. III. Horace and Curtius. CURTIUS. Let Heav'n, and Earth, and Hell, now all engage T o aft againft us their united rage j Let Gods, and Men, and Fate, and Devils too, Prepare againft us all that they can do j Yet to reduce us to a worfe Eftate, I dare defie Heav'n, E arth, and Hell, and Fate: Horror it felf. hath fomewhat lefs fevere Then this our difmal Honor does appear. HORACE. Fortune hath careful of our Glory been, And gives a noble Scene to fhow it in ', Laborioufly fhe forms us a diftrefs Somewhat proportion'd to our Courages, N o vulgar thought fhe does in us furvey, And And therefore treats us in no common way. For publick fafety to attaque a Foe, And fingly fight a man w e do not know, Is what a vulgar Virtue may beget, Thoufands have done it, and may do it yet', W h o would not for their Country lofe their breath? Nay would not factious grow for fuch a death > But to refign her all that can be dear, And from our bofoms half our hearts to tear; With a deftru&ive fury to purfue A Sifter's I over, a Wife's Brother too, And breaking all thefe knots to fight with him, Whofe life w e would, with our own blood, redeem j This is a Virtue only fit for us, And for which few will be follicitous: Few men have hearts of that exalted frame, That dare at fuch a rate pretend to Fame, CURTIUS. 'Tis true, time never fhall our names deface, And we rhe brave occafion muft embrace j O f a rare virtue w e fhall mirrors be, But yours feems fomewhat barbarous to m e : There are not many Hero's would grow vain By this harfli way, Eternity to gain. H o w much foe'er you prize that empty noife, Obfcurity were now the better choice* I dare avow it, and you might have feen I have not doubtful in m y duty beea: Nor could m y Friendship, nor m y love prevail, T o hold m y Mind in an uncertain Scale. But fince m y Country by her Vote does fhew She values m e as much as yours does you : 1 hope to do, what you, or dare, or can, M y Hearts as great, but I a m ftill a man. I fee m y death alone your Fame fecures, And that m y Honor lies in afting yours; I muft (lied blood, with which I would combine^ So crofs are all m y Country's Stars to mine: Pp Though |