Part 15 (1/2)

_Lic._ Lay down your arms--let Regulus depart.

[_To the People, who clear the way, and quit their arms._

_Reg._ G.o.ds! G.o.ds! I thank you--you indeed are righteous.

_Pub._ See every man disarm'd. Oh, Rome! oh, father!

_At._ Hold, hold my heart. Alas! they all obey.

_Reg._ The way is clear. Hamilcar, I attend thee.

_Ham._ Why, I begin to envy this old man! [_Aside._

_Man._ Not the proud victor on the day of triumph, Warm from the slaughter of dispeopled realms, Though conquer'd princes grace his chariot wheels, Though tributary monarchs wait his nod, And vanquish'd nations bend the knee before him, E'er shone with half the l.u.s.tre that surrounds This voluntary sacrifice for Rome!

Who loves his country will obey her laws; Who most obeys them is the truest patriot.

_Reg._ Be our last parting worthy of ourselves.

Farewell! my friends.--I bless the G.o.ds who rule us, Since I must leave you, that I leave you Romans.

Preserve the glorious name untainted still, And you shall be the rulers of the globe, The arbiters of earth. The farthest east, Beyond where Ganges rolls his rapid flood, Shall proudly emulate the Roman name.

(_Kneels._) Ye G.o.ds, the guardians of this glorious people, Who watch with jealous eye aeneas' race, This land of heroes I commit to you!

This ground, these walls, this people be your care!

Oh! bless them, bless them with a liberal hand!

Let fort.i.tude and valour, truth and justice, For ever flourish and increase among them!

And if some baneful planet threat the Capitol With its malignant influence, oh, avert it!-- Be Regulus the victim of your wrath.-- On this white head be all your vengeance pour'd, But spare, oh, spare, and bless immortal Rome!

Ah! tears? my Romans weep? Farewell! farewell!

ATTILIA _struggles to get to_ REGULUS--_is prevented--she faints--he fixes his eye steadily on her for some time, and then departs to the s.h.i.+ps_.

_Man._ (_looking after him._) Farewell! farewell! thou glory of mankind!

Protector, father, saviour of thy country!

Through Regulus the Roman name shall live, Shall triumph over time, and mock oblivion.

Farewell! thou pride of this immortal coast!

'Tis Rome alone a Regulus can boast.

EPILOGUE.

WRITTEN BY DAVID GARRICK, ESQ.

SPOKEN BY MISS MANSELL.