My name pronounc'd. [Both, c.] Was it by thee, Virginia ? O! would'st thou tell me why thou nam'dst Icilius! Has told him of the new Decemvirate, How they abuse their office. You, he knows, Have favoured their election, and he fears Virginia. I thank the gods! Virginia? Do you thank the gods for me? Virginia. Icilius, leave me! Icil. Leave thee, Virginia ? O! a word-a word The thought that moves thee, now, and thou wilt let me Of uttering it. Virginia. Icilius, will you leave me ? Icil. Love! Love! Virginia! Love! Thy thought aright, ne'er be it said again, If I have spoke The heart requires more service than the tongue Virginia, speak [Virginia covers her face with her hands. So much the more extatic my delight. To find thee mine at length. Virginia. My secret's yours. Keep it, and honour it, Icilius. Enter VIRGINIUS and DENTATUS behind, M. D. Vir. Icilius here! Virginia. I ask thee now to leave me. Icil. Leave thee! who leaves a treasure he has coveted So long, and found so newly, ere he scans it Again, and o'er again; and asks and answers, Repeats and answers, answers and repeats, The half-mistrustful, half-assured question And is it mine indeed ? Virginia. Indeed! indeed! Now leave me. Icil. I must see thy father first, And lay my soul before him. Virginia. Not to-night. Icil. Now worse than ever, dear Virginia! Can I endure his doubts; I'll lay my soul Naked before him-win his friendship quite, Or lose myself for ever! Vir. (R. C.) Stop, Icilius! [Going, is met by Virginius Thou seest that hand? It is a Roman's, boy; Of honour.-Dost thou think so? Vir. (R.) Then you'll believe And is the foe of falsehood! By the gods, Icil. I dare, Virginius. Vir. Then take it! Is it weak in thy embrace? I overheard thee say, thou wast resolv'd Den. To be sure, he will! At your convenient time, appoint a day Your friends and kinsmen may confer with me- To lead Virginia in, or will you do it? – Virginia stands [Icilius goes eagerly to Virginia, and exit with he, R, Come on, I say; come on. Your hand, Dentatus. [Exeunt, H. END OF ACT I ACT II SCENE I.-A Street. Enter PUBLIUS, R. and SEXtus, L. Pub. This way! We muster at the Flaminian gate. Pub. No; were he ten times Decius. They'll have already begun their march. Come on. Enter NUMITORIUS. Num. Do you belong to the fourth legion? Pub. We do. Num. They are upon their march, then. Pub. I told you so. Come on! come on! [Exeunt Soldiers. Enter LUCIUS. Luc. Numitorius, what soldiers were those that just now parted from you? Num. Soldiers hasteuing to overtake the army, that's now upon it's march. Luc. 'Tis all confirmed then; the Sabines are in force upon our borders. Num. I pray you tell me something new! Know you not the senate has met, and the Decemvirs have come off triumphant, in spite of all opposition ? Luc. Should they have been opposed in such a strait as this? Num. Aye, should they. They dared not have armed a single citizen without the order of the Senate; which, had they not obtained, the country would have been left naked to the foe, and then they had been forced to make room for more popular magistrates. Caius Luc. Why were they not opposed then? Num. Did not I tell you they were opposed. Claudius, Appius's own uncle, and Honorius, that noble senator, opposed them: and it was like to go against them, but for the brawling insolence of Spurius Oppius, and the effrontery of the head Decemvir, backed by the young Patricians. Luc. So they are empowered to take up arms? Num. To be sure they are; and they have done so. One body has already marched, and by this time, no doubt, has come to blows with the enemy. The levy is still proceeding. All the Decemvirs, but Appius, take the field. He remains in Rome to keep good order, that is the violater of all order. Why, where have you been, Lucius, to have felt no movement of so great and wide a stir? Your brother meets Virginius at his house to-day. Come with me thither; for you, I know, are bid. Lucius, there's no huzzaing for your Decemvirs now!Come on, we have outstaid the hour. [Exeunt, L. SCENE II.-Virginius's House. Enter VIRGINIUS, ICILIUS, NUMITORIUS, LUCIUS, und others, L. Vir. (c.) Welcome, Icilius! Welcome, friends! Icilius, I did design to speak with you of feasting And merriment, but war is now the word; One that unlovingly keeps time with mirth, Unless war's own-whene'er the battle's won, And safe carousing comrades drink to victory! Icil. Virginius! have you changed your mind? Vir. My mind? What mind? How now! Are you that boy, Icilius ! You set your heart so earnestly upon A dish of poor confections, that to balk you Makes you look blank! I did design to feast you Vir. Well? Icil. Virginius! Vir. How the boy Reiterates my name. Icil. There's not a hope I have, but is the client of Virginius. Vir (c.) Well, well! I only meant to put it off; We'll have the revel yet! the board shall smoke! The cup shall sparkle, and the jest shall soar And mock us from the roof! Will that content you? Some tongue, that now needs only wag, to make So petrifying, that it cannot utter it! I'll make all sure, that you may be my guest At any rate-altho' you should be forced [Shows a parchment to Icilius. How think you? Will it meet the charge? Luc. (L.) How feel you now, Icilius? Whom the next moment makes, or quite unmakes. Suspense, my breathing thickens, and my heart Beats heavily, and with remittant throb, As like to lose its action-See! my hope [Exit, R. [Stands, L. Enter VIRGINIUS, R. conducting VIRGINIA, with NUMITORIUS. Vir. (R.) [Holding his daughter's hand] You are my witnesses, That this young creature I present to you, I do pronounce-my profitably cherish'd Since [[cilius rushes towards Virginius and kneels, You are upon your knees, young man, look up; A lover would be! Icil. All that man should be To woman, I will be to her! L'ir. The oath Is registered! [Icilius rises.] Didst thou but know, [Takes a hand of each.] young man, How fondly I have watch'd her, since the day с |