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Show (9§) For w e are all too partial to our own; But when compar'd to m y diftrefs'd extreams, Your griefs will feem but melancholy dreams: A Husband s danger is your only care, With w h o m your Brother's never can comrjaer j W h e n to another Family ally'd, From our o w n Kindred w e are quite unty'd: Parents with Husbands no difpute admit, T o follow thefe, we thofe can gladly quit: But Love when by a Fathers will made good, Is lefs than Marriage, yet not lefs than Blood ; And fo betwixt them our concern is toft, Our choice fufpcnded, and our willies loft. But you may find a way amidft your fears, T o raife your withes*, and reftrain your tears: W h e n if Heav'n ftill its cruelty intend, I can wifh nothing, but all apprehend. ? SABINA. Againft each other when fuch foes are bent, There's fmall convi&ion in your argument', For blood as well as Marriage is a Knot, W e quit our Kindred, but forget them not: Never does Hymen Nature undermine, W h o loves her Husband, does not hate her Line. Since neither tye will their pretenfions lofe, W h e n life's concern'd, one knows not what to chufe j O n this fide, and on that, by turns w e fall, Extremity of forrow equals all: Whereas a Lover moft efteem'd, is ftill But a dependent on your fovcreign will, And a capricious or a jealous hour M a y make your rigor equal to your power ; What fancy can, your reafon may perfuade, Fo Love no more will Nature's rights invade; For 'tis a crime to pay no more refpeft T o tyes born with us, than thofe w e ele£r. Thus if Heavens angry cloud will farther fpread I nothing have to hope, but all to dread. (^99) But duty offers, (to dry up your Tears) Aim for your wifhes, Limits for your fears. C A M I L L A A h ! Sifter, I preceive your fetled Heart Never knew Love, nor felt his venom'd Dart: At firft indeed w e may the Boy refift, W h o once receiv'd, can never be difmifs'd j W h e n Duty to his flame does fuel bring, He grows a Tyrant from a Lawful King -, He enters gently, but by force he reigns j And when a heart once wears his golden chains, T o caft them off our wills too weak are grown? Becaufe that will no longer is our o w n : The fetters glitter, but are fetters ftill i • S C L IN. V . Old Horace, Sabina, Camilla. Old HORACE. Daughters, I bring you news that's very ill; But it would be in vain now to forbear, Since you the fatal ftory foon muft hear. Your Brothers fight-for fo the gods ordain. SAB. I muft confefs it horror does contain *, And the Divinity had once m y truft T o be more kind at leaft, if not more juft. Comfort us not, for reafon tedious grows, W h e n fuch a tide of forrow t' would oppofe i In our o w n hands, our remedy w e have 5 For who dares dye, may all misfortunes braVe. Perhaps w e our'defpair might feem to fcorn, And with falfe conftancy our felves adorn ; But when without a blufh w e may; admit O f grief, 'twere weaknefs to diffemblc it: 6 ' R r We |