Enter NUMITORIUS, ICILIUS, and VIRGINIA. Num. Noble Icilius, welcome: teach yourself A bolder freedom here; for, by our love, Your suit to my fair niece doth parallel Her kindred's wishes. There's not in all Rome A man that is by honour more approv❜d, Nor worthier, were you poor, to be belov❜d.

Icil. You give me, noble lord, that character Which I could never yet read in myself: But from your censure † shall I take much care To adorn it with the fairest ornaments Of unambitious virtue. Here I hold My honourable pattern; one whose mind Appears more like a ceremonious chapel Full of sweet music, than a thronging presence. I am confirm'd the court doth make some show Fairer than else they would do; but her port, Being simple virtue, beautifies the court.

Virginia. It is a flattery, my lord,

You breathe upon me; and it shows much like The borrow'd painting which some ladies use: It is not to continue many days;

My wedding-garments will outwear this praise. Num. Thus ladies still foretell the funeral Of their lords' kindness.

Enter APPIUS CLAUDIUS melancholy; after, MARCUS CLAUDIUS.

Mar. Claud. My lord,

App. Claud. Thou troublest me.

Mar. Claud. My hand's as ready arm'd to work your peace,

As my tongue bold to inquire your discontents: Good my lord, hear me.

App. Claud. I am at much variance Within myself; there's discord in my blood; My powers are all in combat; I have nothing Left but sedition in me.

Mar. Claud. Trust my bosom

To be the closet of your private griefs:
Believe me, I am uncrannied.

App. Claud. May I trust thee?

Mar. Claud. As the firm centre to endure the

burden

Of your light foot; as you would trust the poles To bear on them this airy canopy,

And not to fear their shrinking. I am strong, Fix'd, and unshaking.

App. Claud. Art thou? then thine ear: † I love.

Mar. Claud. Ha ha! he!

App. Claud. Can this my ponderous secrecy Be in thine ear so light? seems my disturbance Worthy such scorn that thou derid'st my griefs Believe me, Claudius, I am not a twig That every gust can shake, but 'tis a tempest That must be able to use violence On my grown branches.

thou, then?

Wherefore laugh'st

Mar. Claud. Not that you're mov'd: it makes me smile in scorn,

That wise men cannot understand themselves, Nor know their own prov'd greatness. Claudius laughs not

To think you love; but that you are so hopeless Not to presume to enjoy whom you affect.

* Scene III. A room in the house of Appius Claudius. † earl Old copy, ever.”

What's she in Rome your greatness cannot awe, Or your rich purse purchase? Promises and threats

Are statemen's lictors to arrest such pleasures As they would bring within their strict commands:

Why should my lord droop, or deject his eye? Can you command Rome, and not countermand A woman's weakness? Let your grace bestow Your purse and power on me: I'll prostrate you.* App. Claud. Ask both, and lavish them to

purchase me

The rich fee-simple of Virginia's heart. Mar. Claud. Virginia's!

App. Claud. Hers.

Mar. Claud. I have already found

An easy path which you may safely tread,
Yet no man trace you.

App. Claud. Thou art my comforter.
Mar. Claud. Her father's busied in our foreign

wars,

And there hath chief employment: all their pay Must your discretion scantle; keep it back; Restrain it in the common treasury:

Thus may a statesman 'gainst a soldier stand,
To keep his purse weak, whilst you arm his
hand.

Her father thus kept low, gifts and rewards
Will tempt the maid the sooner; nay, haply

draw

The father in to plead in your behalf.

But should these fail, then siege her virgin tower
With two prevailing engines, fear and power.
App. Claud. Go, then, and prove a speeding ad-
vocate:

Arm thee with all our bounty, oratory,
Variety of promise.

Enter VALERIUS.

Val. Lord Appius, the Decemvirate entreat Your voice in this day's senate. Old Virginius Craves audience from the camp, with earnest suit For quick despatch.

App. Claud. We will attend the senate.Claudius, be gone.

[Exeunt MARCUS CLAUDIUS and VALERIUS,

Enter OPPIUS and SENATORS. †

Opp. We sent to you to assist us in this council Touching the expeditions of our war.

* I'll prostrate you] Seems to mean-I'll prostitute, pander for you,-a Latinism; one of the senses of prosterno being to prostitute.

+ Enter Oppius and Senators] Here, of course, the

App. Claud. Ours is a willing presence to the trouble

Of all state-cares.-Admit him from the camp.

Enter VIRGINIUS.

Opp. Speak the camp's will.

Virginius. The camp wants money; we have

store of knocks,

And wounds God's plenty, but we have no pay:
This three months did we never house our heads
But in yon great star-chamber; never bedded
But in the cold field-beds; our victual fails us,
Yet meet with no supply; we're fairly promis'd,
But soldiers cannot feed on promises;

All our provant apparel's* torn to rags,
And our munition fails us. Will you send us
To fight for Rome like beggars? Noble gentle-

men,

Are you the high state of Decemviri,

| That have those things in manage? Pity us, For we have need on't. Let not your delays Be cold to us, whose bloods have oft been heated

To gain you fame and riches. Prove not to us (Being our friends) worse foes than we fight with: Let's not be starv'd in kindness. Sleep you now Upon the bench, when your deaf ears should

listen

Unto the wretchless clamours of the poor?
Then would I had my drums here, they might

rattle,

And rouse you to attendance! Most grave fathers,
Show yourselves worthy stewards to our mother,
Fair Rome, to whom we are no bastard sons,
Though we be soldiers. She hath in her store
Food to maintain life in the camp, as well
As surfeit for the city. Do not save
The foe a labour: send us some supply,
Lest, ere they kill us, we by famine die.
App. Claud. Shall I, my lords, give answer to
this soldier?

Opp. Be you the city's voice.

App. Claud. Virginius, we would have you thus possess'd:t

We sit not here to be prescrib'd and taught,
Nor to have any suitor give us limit,
Whose power admits no curb.

Virginius,

Next know,

The camp's our servant, and must be dispos'd,

audience were to suppose a change of scene. Perhaps a curtain was drawn, and Oppius and the Senators were discovered seated.

* provant apparel] i.e. clothing provided for the army. t possess'd] i.e. informed.

Or shall they perish?

App. Claud. What we will, we will;

Be that your answer: perhaps at further leisure
We'll help you; not your merit, but our pleasure.
Virginius. I will not curse thee, Appius; but I
wish

Thou wert i'the camp amongst the mutineers
To tell my answers, not to trouble me.
Make you us dogs, yet not allow us bones?
O, what are soldiers come to! Shall your camp,
The strength of all your peace, and the iron wall
That rings this pomp in from invasive steel,
Shall that decay? Then let the foreign fires
Climb o'er these buildings; let the sword and
slaughter

Are sunk in death? Hereafter! when disorder Hath swallow'd all our forces?

App. Claud. We'll hear no more.

Opp. Peace, fellow, peace! know the Decemviri And their authority: we shall commit you else. Virginius. Do so, and I shall thank you; be

reliev'd,

And have a strong house o'er me; fear no alarms
Given in the night by any quick perdu.
Your guilty in the city feeds more dainty
Than doth your general: 'tis a better office
To be an under-keeper than a captain :--
The gods of Rome amend it!

App. Claud. Break up the senate.
Virginius. And shall I have no answer?
App. Claud. So, farewell.

[Exeunt all except VIRGINIUS. Virginius. What slave would be a soldier, to be

censur'd

By such as ne'er saw danger? to have our pay,
Our worths, and merits, balanc'd in the scale
Of base moth-eaten peace? I have had wounds
Would have made all this bench faint and look

pale

But to behold them search'd. They lay their heads
On their soft pillows, pore upon their bags,
Grow fat with laziness and resty ease;
And us that stand betwixt them and disaster
They will not spare a drachma. O my soldiers,
Before you want, I'll sell my small possessions
Even to my skin to help you; plate and jewels,
All shall be yours. Men that are men indeed,

Rome,

To double-dye their robes in scarlet; let

The enemy's stripp'd arm have his crimson'd brawns

Up to the elbows in your traitorous blood;
Let Janus' temple be devolv'd; your treasures
Ripp'd up to pay the common adversaries
With our due wages. Do you look for less?
The rottenness of this misgovern'd state
Must grow to some disease, incurable
Save with a sack or slaughter.
App. Claud. You're too bold.

Virginius. Know you our extremities?
App. Claud. We do.

Enter NUMITORIUS, ICILIUS, VALERIUS, and VIRGINIA. Num. Your daughter, noble brother, hearing late

Of your arrival from the camp, most humbly
Prostrates her filial duty.

Virginius. Daughter, rise :—
And, brother, I am only rich in her,
And in your love, link'd with the honour'd

friendship

Of those fair Roman lords.-For you, Icilius,

I hear I must adopt you with the title

Of a new son: you are Virginia's chief;

And I am proud she hath built her fair election

Upon such store of virtues. May you grow, Although a city's child, to know a soldier, And rate him to his merit!

Icil. Noble father

(For henceforth I shall only use that name), Our meeting was to urge you to the process Of our fair contract.

Virginius. Witness, gentlemen,

Here I give up a father's interest,

But not a father's love; that I will ever
Wear next my heart, for it was born with her,
And grows still with my age.

Num. Icilius,

Receive her :--witness, noble gentlemen.

Val. With all my heart. I would Icilius

could

Do as much for me: but Rome affords not such Another Virginia.

Virginia. I am my father's daughter, and by him I must be sway'd in all things.

Num. Brother, this happy contract asks a feast, As a thing due to such solemnities:

It shall be at my house, where we this night
Will sport away some hours.
Virginius. I must to horse.
Num. What, ride to-night!

Virginius. Must see the camp to-night:
'Tis full of trouble and distracted fears,
And may grow mutinous: I am bent to ride.
Val. To-night!

Virginius. I am engag'd: short farewells now must serve;

The universal business calls me hence,
That toucheth a whole people. Rome, I fear,
Thou wilt pay use for what thou dost forbear.
[Exeunt.

ACT II.-SCENE I.*

Enter CORBULO, the Clown, whispering VIRGINIA.† Virginia. Sirrah, go tell Calphurnia I am walking

To take the air: entreat her company;
Say I attend her coming.

Corb. Madam, I shall: but if you could walk abroad, and get an heir, it were better; for your father hath a fair revenue, and never a son to inherit.

Virginia. You are, sirrah,

Corb. Yes, I am sirrah; but not the party that is born to do that: though I have no lordships, yet I have so much manners to give my betters place.

Virginia. Whom mean you by your betters?

Corb. I hope I have learnt to know the three degrees of comparison; for though I be bonus, and you melior as well as mulier, yet my Lord Icilius is optimus.

Virginia. I see there's nothing in such private done

But you must inquire after.

Corb. And can you blame us, madam, to long for the merry day, as you do for the merry night? Virginia. Will you be sir? gone,

* Scene I.] A street.

To this stage-direction, the old copy adds, "after her M. Clodius with presents."

So high, to call this visit an intrusion;
For when she understands I took my message
From one that did compose it with affection,
I know she will not only extend pardon,
But grace it with her favour.

Virginia. You mediate excuse for courtesies, As if I were so barren of civility,

Not to esteem it worthy of my thanks:
Assure yourself I could be longer patient
To hear my ears so feasted.

Mar. Claud. Join all your voices till you make the air

Proud to usurp your notes, and to please her
With a sweet echo; serve Virginia's pleasure.

[Song.

As you have been so full of gentleness
To hear with patience what was brought to serve

you,

So hearken with your usual clemency
To the relation of a lover's sufferings.
Your figure still does revel in his dreams;
He banquets on your memory, yet finds
Not thoughts enough to satisfy his wishes;
As if Virginia had compos'd his heart,
And fills it with her beauty.

Virginia. I see he is a miser in his wishes,
And thinks he never has enough of that
Which only he possesses: but, to give
His wishes satisfaction, let him know

His heart and mine do dwell so near together,
That hourly they converse and guard each other.
Mar. Claud. Is fair Virginia confident she
knows

Mar. Claud. Worthy fair one,

*

I would not wrong your worth so to employ
My language for a man so much beneath
The merit of your beauty: he I plead for
Has power to make your beauty populous;
Your frown shall awe the world; and in your smile
Great Rome shall build her happiness;
Honour and wealth shall not be styl'd companions,
But servants to your pleasure.

Then shall Icilius (but a refin'd citizen)

Boast your affection, when Lord Appius loves you?

Virginia. Bless his great lordship! I was much
mistaken.

Let thy lord know, thou advocate of lust,
All the intentions of that youth are honourable,
Whilst his are fill'd with sensuality:
And for a final resolution know,

Our hearts in love, like twins, alike shall grow.

First Soldier. What news yet of Virginius' return?

Second Soldier. Not any.

First Sold. O, the misery of soldiers!

Webster's Appius and Virginia' (edit. Dyce, 11. 160), where this passage is met with as it is printed in the old copy:

'Let not Virginia wate her contemplation
So high, to call this visit an intrusion.'

It is clear that 'wate' must be wrong, and the editor suggests waie (i.e. weigh) as the fit emendation; when, as in the two preceding cases, he did not see that it is only a blunder of w for r, because the person who delivered the line could not pronounce the letter r: read rate for 'wate,' and the whole difficulty vanishes." Now, it was with something more than surprise that I read what I have just quoted; for in the first edition of the present work (vol. “II, 160,"-to which Mr. Collier so carefully refers), I gave the passage in question literatim thus,

"Let not Virginia rate her contemplation," &c. and the note on it in that edition is,

"rate] So the Editor of 1816. The old copy, 'wate.' Qy. if a misprint for 'waie,' i.e. weigh."

Why has Mr. Collier entirely suppressed the fact that

I inserted “ rate in the text of my former edition? and why has he not mentioned that the emendation "rate" was made by Mr. Dilke forty years ago?

We spread the earth like hail or new-reap'd corn
In this fierce famine; and yet patiently
Make our obedience the confinèd gaol
That starves us.

Third Sold. Soldiers, let us draw our swords
While we have strength to use them.
First Sold. 'Tis a motion

Which nature and necessity commands.

populous] "Populous," says the Editor of 1816, "must be used here in the same sense as popular. Should we not substitute it?" The following quotations show that the text requires no alteration :"It should have bene some fine confection,

That might have given the broth some daintie taste;
This powder was to grosse and populos."

The Tragedie of Arden of Feversham, 1592, Sig. B 4.
The edition of Arden, 1633, has "populous."
"You wrong my health in thinking I love them:
Do not I know their populous imperfections?
Why, they cannot live till Easter," &c.
Middleton's Your Five Gallants,- Works, ii. 245, ed. Dyce.

† Scene II.] The camp, before Algidum.