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Show J Old H O R. M y Son, it were a rigor too extream, If for thy fault m y felf I ftould condemn. If m y command fhould thee to Death engage, W h y not to life > wHo Ihall fupport my age If thou fhould'ft fail ? let m y concernments clear This doubt h but ftay the Kings approach I hear. - I S C E N . II. » Tullus, Old Horace, Young Horace, Valerius, Proclusj and Guards. Sir, to my houfe you too much honor bring, I could not here expeft to fee m y King. Upon m y knees--- KING. i ........Rife Father, rife, the grace ! I now perform, is what becomes m y place. T o him, I cannot too much honor fhow, T o whofe great merit I a Kingdom owe. I came to make m y former promife good. As I behev'd, I fince have underftood That you declar'd, when your two Son's were left, That conftant courage which their Fame fhall boaft. To fuch a publick and heroick Soul, I thought twould be fuperfluous to condole. But you, foon confolation well may need, For your victorious Son's unworthy deed. He to the publick too much zeal did fhow, When, like a Sacrifice, he rudely flew His only Sifter, 'twas that made me fear, H o w you this unexpeded grief could bear. OldHOR, ? ("7) Old H O R. W I t h great refentment, yet with patience. KING. That ftews the Vertue of experience. Your age hatfftaught you how in all eftates III fortune with our good participates. Few know like you, this remedy V apply But let their vertue for their intereft dye. If m y compaffion can allay your grief, I give m y felf, when I give you relief You and m y felf the fame extreams do move, But let your forrow not tranfeend m y Love' VAL. Sir, fince the powers above does Kings intruft To diftribute below what's fit and juft, ' Subjeds from them ( by confluence) may ctave That Vice and Virtue their rewards may have. Thefe men the matter falfely reprefent, As fit for pity, not for puniftment. Suffer •* Old H O R. »-.-A Conqueror to dye ! KING. ">»>.M Yet hear With patience, and th' event you need not fear. In this we imitate the powers divine Our juftice both on good and bad does fhine. And vertue by rewards muft be preferr'd, As much as vice by punifhment detefr'd. * VAL. Then Sir, be pleas'd to lend a gracious ear And think in mine the voice of Rome you hear. W e envy not his Fame or high report, Nor do we wifh that his reward fall fhort Tta QF |