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Show A 0*8) O f his deferts ; whatever grace is meant T o him, we all fhall joyn with full confent; But if his valor muft triumph have, His murther does as much require a grave. Nothing but death can make that tempeft ceafe, If you would reign, and Rome preferve in peace; W h e n Rome zndAlba did in Friendfhip live,* They to each others did in Marriage give. Daugthers and Sons, but in the fatal ftrifo, H o w many Sons and Brothers loft their life ? The fad refentment fon our private lofs, The publick joy of every houfe did croft. If he this arbitrary power enjoy, Whoever he diflikcs, he will deftroy : Whofe life will this bold Conqueror forbear, W h e n his o w n Sifters blood he would not fpare ? And found that generous way to end the cryes O f a fad Lady, when, her Lover dyes. Even Rome it felf his triumph did enflave, W h e n power of life and death to him ihe gave. W e of our lives no longer are fecure, Then whirft his clemency is pleas'd t'indure. T o th' intereft of Rome, I here could add, O f his rafh act, that fpectacle fo fad. Still that pure blood, which all his glory ftains, In drops upon his guilty cheek remains ; For youth amd beauty would compaffion move From him, whofe hate he facriiic'd to love. But why fhould Art the eyes of juftice blind ? The morning is for facrifice defign'd. Can he be fit before the gods to ftand, T o offer Incenfe with that guilty hand ? If in their fervices fuch men w e dare Employ, northern, nor us will vengeance fpare : Not from his power did thofe three conquefts come, But from the Genius-of vi&orious'R^e ; O f the fame day, which he ui triumph came, 'Tis juft the night fliould fee his funeral flame, And l^ (119) And that his blood may purify that * place *Where Romulus flew bi$ Brotkr RCffiU*. Where the vile Parricide committed was. KING. Horace defend thy felf HORACE. A ,• , .. . You know the fad, And I believe your juftice fo exaft, That the leaft confcious man can hardly clear Himfelf, when to his Prince his crimes appear. W h y fhould I plead, when what I fhould defend, Onely on your difpofal muft attend ', And mine o w n innocence I dare not truft W h e n you believe m y accufation juft ? 'Tis but m y Life which freely I refigne, Let others ask, butlthatfuit decline: Nor feek for that, which I would gladly lofe j Nor blame m y Sifters Lover, to accufe Her Brother : for her death, m y voice confpires With his, and we have both the fame defires; In this we only differ, he would ftain, M y honor with a death I would maintain. Few great and vertuous actions ftand fo clear, But envy makes fome fpots and ftains appear : Which, as occafion ferves, is more or lefs, Such as the ftanders by are pleas'd to guefs: And thofe who have done miracles before, They ftreight contemn if they can do no more. 'Tis but in vain, the mention to renew, O f what your Majefty did lately view 5 And therefore, fince I can perform no more, Such noble acrions as I did before, 'Tis fit, great Sir, your fentence to attend, That fore m y life may with m y honor end- I no affiftance heretofore did need, But tow, without your leave I dare not bleed * My |