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Show (104) And fhe as much as fhe by this does lofe ; Valour oppreft by number will excufe. Old HORACE. I'm not concern'd what mercy Rome confers^ I have a Father's rights diftincl: from hers; And know what genuine Virtue would have done, It might be worfted, but not trampled on ; True valour never knows a bafe allay, And though it lofe, can never yield the day. But let us hear what does Valerius bring. SCEN. II. Old Horace, Camilla, Valerius. VALERIUS. I'm fent to wait upon you from the King,' ^ W h o mourns your lofs-- OLD HORACE. That merits not his care, And I the needlefs complement can fpare ; I m y Sons deaths rather than (hamc would;know And tears than blufhes better can allow ; They that are {lain, like men of honor dy'd, And that's enough--- V A L. • But they are all fupply'd By him that lives, and his immortal Fame. Old H O R. Would he had perifh'd too and all m y Name f VAL. Can only you his Virtue dif-efteem ? Old H OR. 'Tis I alone that ought to punifli him. VAL. And what offence has in his conduct been ? Old H OR. But what great Virtue in his flight was feen ? VAL. (105) . VAL. Flight in this cafe wears an illuftrious Name* Old H O R. W h y do you Cover m y gray hairs with fliame ? Th' example's rare indeed 1 and few would die, If men could* catch bright honor when they Hie VAL. ' D o you a fhame, and a confufion call, T' have had a Son who has preferv d us all; W h o with new triumphs did Rome's Empire fave? What greater honors could a Father have ? Old H O R. What Honors and what Triumphs brings he home, W h e n Alba muft difpofe the Fate of Rome ? VAL. What great fuccefs of Alba has appeared ? Or have you yet but half the ftory heard ? Old H O R. Was not the Cembat ended by his flight ? V A L & So Alba thought at that miftaken fight, But fhe foon found, he fled but as became A man entrufted with his Country's Fame. HOR. Does Rome triumph ? VAL. O ! his great ftory hear, T o whom you fo un/uftly are fevere. W h e n he againft three Foes was left alone, Each of them having wounds, he having none * Too weak for all, too ftrong for either s rage, He dext'roufly himfelf did disengage ; The ftratagem of feeming flight he try'd, And fo th' abufed Brothers does divide ; They all purfue, yet not with equal hafte, But as their wounds permit them, flow or faft 2 Horace looks back his fcatter'd Foes upo% W h o m he already thinks half overthrown ? He |