Are these the costly charms he cannot purchase,
Except by making her the slave of Claudius,

His client, his purveyor, that caters for

His pleasures-markets for him-picks, and scents,
And tastes, that he may banquet-serves him up
His sensual feast, and is not now ashamed,

In the open, common street, before your eyes—
Frighting your daughters' and your matrons' cheeks
With blushes they ne'er thought to meet-to help him
To the honour of a Roman maid! my child!
Who now clings to me, as you sec, as if

This second Tarquin had already coiled

His arms around her. Look upon her, Romans!
Befriend her! succour her! see her not polluted
Before her father's eyes!-He is but one.

Tear her from Appius and his Lictors while

She is unstained.-Your hands! your hands! your hands! Citizens. They are yours, Virginius.

App. Keep the people back

Support my Lictors, soldiers! Seize the girl,

And drive the people back.

Icilius. Down with the slaves!

[The People make a show of resistance: but, upon the advance of the Soldiers, retreat, and leave ICILIUS VIRGINIUS, and his Daughter, &c. in the hands o

and his party.]

Deserted!-Cowards! traitors! Let me free

But for a moment! I relied on you;

Had I relied upon myself alone,

I had kept them still at bay! I kneel to you——
Let me but loose a moment, if 'tis only

To rush upon your swords.

Vir. Icilius, peace!

You see how 'tis, we are deserted, left

Alone by our friends, surrounded by our enemies,
Nerveless and helpless.

App. Separate them, Lictors!

Vir. Let them forbear awhile, I pray you, Appius:

It is not very easy. Though her arms

Are tender, yet the hold is strong by which

She grasps me, Appius-forcing them will hurt them;

They'll soon unclasp themselves.

You know you're sure of her!

App. I have not time

Wait but a little

To idle with thee; give her to my Lictors.
Vir. Appius, I pray you wait! If she is not

My child, she hath been like a child to me

For fifteen years.

I have been like a father to her, Appius,

If I am not her father,

They that have lived

For even such a time.

So long a time together, in so near
And dear society, may be allowed
A little time for parting. Let me take
The maid aside, I pray you, and confer

A moment with her nurse; perhaps she'll give me
Some token will unloose a tie so twined

And knotted round my heart, that, if you break it,
My heart breaks with it.

App. Have your wish. Be brief!
Lictors, look to them.

Virginia. Do you go from me? Do you leave? Father! Father! Vir. No, my child—

No, my Virginia-come along with me.

Virginia. Will you not leave me? Will you take me with you?

Will you take me home again? Oh, bless you! bless you! My father! my dear father! Art thou not

My father?

[VIRGINIUS, perfectly at a loss what to do, looks anxiously around the Forum; at length his eye falls on a butcher's stall, with a knife upon it.]

Vir. This way, my child.—No, no; I am not going To leave thee, my Virginia! I'll not leave thee. App. Keep back the people, soldiers! Let them not Approach Virginius! Keep the people back!

Well, have you done?

[VIRGINIUS Secures the knife.

Vir. Short time for converse, Appius,

But I have.

App. I hope you are satisfied.

Vir. I am

I am that she is my daughter!

App. Take her, Lictors! [VIRGINIA shrieks, and falls

half-dead upon her Father's shoulder. Vir. Another moment, pray you. Bear with me

A little 'Tis my last embrace.

"Twon't try

Your patience beyond bearing, if you're a man!

Lengthen it as I may, I cannot make it

Long. My dear child! My dear Virginia! [Kissing her. There is one only way to save thine honour

"Tis this. [Stabs her, and draws out the knife. ICILIUS breaks from the Soldiers that held him, and catches her.

Lo, Appius, with this innocent blood

I do devote thee to the infernal gods!
Make way there!

App. Stop him! Seize him!

Vir. If they dare

To tempt the desperate weapon that is maddened

With drinking my daughter's blood, why, let them; thus It rushes in amongst them Way there! Way!

[Exit through the Soldiers.

THE WIFE: A TALE OF MANTUA.

MARIANA'S Story of her Love.

MARIANA, Ward of the Curate ANTONIO, is betrothed to LEONARDO GONZAGA, Duke of Milan, who, disguised as a Peasant, has won her heart. The Duke leaves MARIANA, and during his absence her hand is sought by COUNT FLORIO, whose suit is supported by FERRADO, usurping Duke of Milan. MARIANA rejects the Count, and proceeds to Mantua, and relates her Story to LORENZO, an Advocate, Nephew to ANTONIO.

ANTONIO, MARIANA, and LOREnzo.

Antonio. Lo, nephew! here's the maid, To answer for herself!

Lorenzo. Guardian-is he your relation too?

Mariana. No,-would he were ! That stay had needs

be strong,

Which failing, we've no other left to cling to.

Lor. Have you a vow

Or promise to another ?—that were a plea
To justify rejection. You are silent.

And yet you speak-if blushes speak, as men
Declare they do. Come, come, I know you love.
Give me to know the story of your love,
That, thereupon, I found my proper plea.
To show your opposition not a thing

Of fantasy, caprice, or forwardness,

But that for which all hearers shall commend you,
Proves it the joint result of heart and reason,
Each other's act approving. Was't in Mantua
You met?

Mar. No, Signor; in my native land.
Lor. And that is-

Mar. Switzerland.

Lor. His country too?

Mar. No, Signor, he belonged to Mantua.

Lor. That's right—you are collected and direct In your replies. I dare be sworn your passion Was such a thing, as by its neighbourhood

Made piety and virtue twice as rich

As e'er they were before. How grew it? Come, Thou know'st thy heart-look calmly into it,

And see how innocent a thing it is

Which thou dost fear to show. I wait your answer,

How grew your passion?

Mar. As my stature grew,

Which rose without my noting it, until

They said I was a woman. I kept watch

Beside what seemed his death-bed. From beneath

An avalanche my father rescued him,