ACT IV.

They sound to arms with great vehemence, and at the alarm there enter on the stageScipio,Jugurtha, andCaius Marius.

Scipio.

What meaneth this? Who sounds the call to armAt such a time, my captains? Have ye foundSome maddened straggling men, who to their harmWould seek a sepulchre within this ground?Or hath some mutiny the war alarmProvoked with such an urgent, deafening sound?For this proud foe I hold so firmly nowI have more terror of the friend, I vow.

What meaneth this? Who sounds the call to armAt such a time, my captains? Have ye found

Some maddened straggling men, who to their harm

Would seek a sepulchre within this ground?

Or hath some mutiny the war alarm

Provoked with such an urgent, deafening sound?

For this proud foe I hold so firmly now

I have more terror of the friend, I vow.

EnterQuintus Fabius, with sword unsheathed.

Quintus Fabius.

Calm, prudent general, thine angry mood,For this my blade doth know the cause right well,Which now hath cost thee many a soldier good,Of those who most in manliness excel.Two Numantines, with pride and daring rude,Whose deeds of courage my applause compel,O'erleaping the wide ditch and battled height,Have waged within thy camp a cruel fight.They sallied through our guards and pickets first,To face a thousand spears in open fray,And dealt their blows with such a fury curst,That to our very camp they hewed their way;Into Fabricius' tent with rage they burst,And made of strength and valour such display,That in an instant six stout men and trueWere by their deadly steel pierced through and through.Ne'er did the burning bolt with speedier flightCleave in its onward course the smitten air;Ne'er did the meteor, with its stream of light,More quickly pass athwart the heavens fair;Than passed these two, exulting in their might,Through middle of thy host, and soaked the bareHard ground with Roman blood, which forth did streamWhere'er their flashing swords were seen to gleam.With breast pierced through the bold Fabricius lay;Horatius fell with head cleft to the brain;Olmida lost his right arm in the fray,And little hope of life doth now remain;Our brave Estatius made a full displayOf all his lithesome vigour, but in vain,For as he ran the Numantine to meet,His passage on to death was still more fleet.With speed of lightning, hurrying where they may,They ran from tent to tent, until they foundSome scraps of biscuit, which they seized as prey.With fury, still unquenched, they turned them round;The one escaped by flight and got away,A thousand swords made t'other bite the ground;Whence I infer that hunger made them bold,And raised their daring to a pitch untold.

Calm, prudent general, thine angry mood,

For this my blade doth know the cause right well,

Which now hath cost thee many a soldier good,

Of those who most in manliness excel.

Two Numantines, with pride and daring rude,

Whose deeds of courage my applause compel,

O'erleaping the wide ditch and battled height,

Have waged within thy camp a cruel fight.

They sallied through our guards and pickets first,

To face a thousand spears in open fray,

And dealt their blows with such a fury curst,

That to our very camp they hewed their way;

Into Fabricius' tent with rage they burst,

And made of strength and valour such display,

That in an instant six stout men and true

Were by their deadly steel pierced through and through.

Ne'er did the burning bolt with speedier flight

Cleave in its onward course the smitten air;

Ne'er did the meteor, with its stream of light,

More quickly pass athwart the heavens fair;

Than passed these two, exulting in their might,

Through middle of thy host, and soaked the bare

Hard ground with Roman blood, which forth did stream

Where'er their flashing swords were seen to gleam.

With breast pierced through the bold Fabricius lay;

Horatius fell with head cleft to the brain;

Olmida lost his right arm in the fray,

And little hope of life doth now remain;

Our brave Estatius made a full display

Of all his lithesome vigour, but in vain,

For as he ran the Numantine to meet,

His passage on to death was still more fleet.

With speed of lightning, hurrying where they may,

They ran from tent to tent, until they found

Some scraps of biscuit, which they seized as prey.

With fury, still unquenched, they turned them round;

The one escaped by flight and got away,

A thousand swords made t'other bite the ground;

Whence I infer that hunger made them bold,

And raised their daring to a pitch untold.

Scipio.

If worn with hunger, shut in utterly,They show such daring and such martial ire,What would they not have done, remaining free,With all their strength and ardour still entire?Unvanquished now, yet vanquished shall ye be,For all your reckless fury will expire,When matched against our prudence and our skill,Which have the power to crush the proudest will.

If worn with hunger, shut in utterly,

They show such daring and such martial ire,

What would they not have done, remaining free,

With all their strength and ardour still entire?

Unvanquished now, yet vanquished shall ye be,

For all your reckless fury will expire,

When matched against our prudence and our skill,

Which have the power to crush the proudest will.

[ExeuntScipioand his men, and presently they sound to arms in the town, andMorandroenters wounded and streaming with blood, with a littlewhite basket on his left arm, containing a small piece of biscuit stained with blood, and says:

Morandro.

Com'st them not, Leoncio, say?Friend, what hath befallen thee?If thou comest not with me,How can I without thee stay?Friend, where art thou, tell me, where?Dying? dead? Alas! to grieve me,Never, never wouldst thou leave me,It was I who left thee there!Can it be that thou art lost,All thy flesh in pieces torn,Tokens of the price forlornWhich this bread of mine hath cost?Why did not that fatal blow,Which hath laid thee with the dead,Rather fall upon my head,Take my life, and end my woe?But the Fates, in cruel mood,Would not have me thus to die;Gave me greater misery,Gave to thee the higher good!Thou wilt bear the palm for ever,Of the lealest, truest friend;And to thee my soul I'll send,To excuse my rash endeavour;Quickly, for a craving dreadLures me on my death to meetAt my dearest Lyra's feet,Giving her this bitter bread;Bread, which from the foe was taken,—Taken? 'Tis more precious food,Purchased with the very bloodOf two friends, by luck forsaken.

Com'st them not, Leoncio, say?

Friend, what hath befallen thee?

If thou comest not with me,

How can I without thee stay?

Friend, where art thou, tell me, where?

Dying? dead? Alas! to grieve me,

Never, never wouldst thou leave me,

It was I who left thee there!

Can it be that thou art lost,

All thy flesh in pieces torn,

Tokens of the price forlorn

Which this bread of mine hath cost?

Why did not that fatal blow,

Which hath laid thee with the dead,

Rather fall upon my head,

Take my life, and end my woe?

But the Fates, in cruel mood,

Would not have me thus to die;

Gave me greater misery,

Gave to thee the higher good!

Thou wilt bear the palm for ever,

Of the lealest, truest friend;

And to thee my soul I'll send,

To excuse my rash endeavour;

Quickly, for a craving dread

Lures me on my death to meet

At my dearest Lyra's feet,

Giving her this bitter bread;

Bread, which from the foe was taken,—

Taken? 'Tis more precious food,

Purchased with the very blood

Of two friends, by luck forsaken.

[Lyraenters with some robes, which she is taking to be burned, and says:

Lyra.

What is this mine eyes behold?

Morandro.

Him, whom soon no more thou'lt see,For my pains are crushing meWith a speed I cannot hold.Ended, Lyra, is the strife,And my promise kept have I,That thou shouldst not have to dieWhile I have one spark of life.Even better might I say,That thou soon wilt come to know,How thy strength with food will grow,And my life will pass away.

Him, whom soon no more thou'lt see,

For my pains are crushing me

With a speed I cannot hold.

Ended, Lyra, is the strife,

And my promise kept have I,

That thou shouldst not have to die

While I have one spark of life.

Even better might I say,

That thou soon wilt come to know,

How thy strength with food will grow,

And my life will pass away.

Lyra.

What say'st thou, Morandro dear?

Morandro.

Lyra, thou wilt lose thy hungerWhile, by fate in cruel anger,Life I lose, and end it here.But my blood so freely poured,Mingled with the bread ye eat,Will, belovèd one and sweet,But a bitter meal afford.Here thou hast the bread well-guardedBy full eighty thousand fiends;And which cost two faithful friendsLife, and all they most regarded.Love, that so for thee hath bled,Well, my lady, may'st thou cherish;I, that love thee so, must perish,And Leoncio lieth dead.My affection pure and bright,Take it with thy hand of love,That is food all price above,And will give thee most delight.Since in hours of joy and doleThou hast been my love, I vow,Take, O take my body now,As thou hast received my soul.

Lyra, thou wilt lose thy hunger

While, by fate in cruel anger,

Life I lose, and end it here.

But my blood so freely poured,

Mingled with the bread ye eat,

Will, belovèd one and sweet,

But a bitter meal afford.

Here thou hast the bread well-guarded

By full eighty thousand fiends;

And which cost two faithful friends

Life, and all they most regarded.

Love, that so for thee hath bled,

Well, my lady, may'st thou cherish;

I, that love thee so, must perish,

And Leoncio lieth dead.

My affection pure and bright,

Take it with thy hand of love,

That is food all price above,

And will give thee most delight.

Since in hours of joy and dole

Thou hast been my love, I vow,

Take, O take my body now,

As thou hast received my soul.

[He falls dead, andLyragathers him in the folds of the robes.

Lyra.

O Morandro, sweetest one,How art thou, what dost thou feel?How hath all thy strength of steelPassed away, and been undone?Woe is me, and is it trueThat my spouse is lying dead?O event of direst dread,That misfortune ever knew!Who hath made thee, sweetest friend,Having excellence supreme,Valiant lover to extreme,Luckless soldier at the end?Thou didst sally to the strife,Husband mine, in such a way,That to give my death delayThou hast robbed me of my life!O thou bread, with blood bestained,Which for me was freely shed,I do not esteem thee bread,It is poison I have gained!To my mouth I'll carry thee,Not to give me nourishment,But to kiss, to my content,That dear blood which flowed for me!

O Morandro, sweetest one,

How art thou, what dost thou feel?

How hath all thy strength of steel

Passed away, and been undone?

Woe is me, and is it true

That my spouse is lying dead?

O event of direst dread,

That misfortune ever knew!

Who hath made thee, sweetest friend,

Having excellence supreme,

Valiant lover to extreme,

Luckless soldier at the end?

Thou didst sally to the strife,

Husband mine, in such a way,

That to give my death delay

Thou hast robbed me of my life!

O thou bread, with blood bestained,

Which for me was freely shed,

I do not esteem thee bread,

It is poison I have gained!

To my mouth I'll carry thee,

Not to give me nourishment,

But to kiss, to my content,

That dear blood which flowed for me!

[At this point there enters a youth, speaking in an exhausted way, who is the brother ofLyra.

Brother.

Lyra, sister, pained am I,For my sire is dead and gone,And my mother, left alone,Dieth now as I must die!Hunger fell hath laid them low;Sister mine, and hast thou bread?Bread, how slowly hast thou sped,For I cannot taste thee now!Hunger makes my throat to shrinkWith such rigour, though the breadWere as water pure instead,Not one droplet could I drink!Take it to thee, sister dear,For, my senses to confound,Now I see the bread abound,Whilst my life is ebbing here!

Lyra, sister, pained am I,

For my sire is dead and gone,

And my mother, left alone,

Dieth now as I must die!

Hunger fell hath laid them low;

Sister mine, and hast thou bread?

Bread, how slowly hast thou sped,

For I cannot taste thee now!

Hunger makes my throat to shrink

With such rigour, though the bread

Were as water pure instead,

Not one droplet could I drink!

Take it to thee, sister dear,

For, my senses to confound,

Now I see the bread abound,

Whilst my life is ebbing here!

[He falls down dead.

Lyra.

Brother dear, and art thou gone?Neither breath nor life hath he;Ill is good in some degreeWhen it cometh all alone.Fortune, wherefore dost thou grieve me,With one loss and then another?Wherefore at one time togetherOrphan, widow, dost thou leave me?O thou cruel Roman host!How thy sword doth gird me roundWith two corpses on the ground,Spouse and brother, both are lost!Sweetest husband, tender brother,You I'll match in loving well,For in heaven or in hellSoon I'll see the one and other!In the manner of my deathI to part from you am loath;For the sword and hunger bothHave to take my latest breath.Rather will I give my breastPoint of dagger, than this bread;For to one who lives in dreadDeath is gain and sweetest rest.Am I coward, can it be?Arm of mine, what dost thou fear?Sweetest husband, brother dear,I am coming, wait for me!

Brother dear, and art thou gone?

Neither breath nor life hath he;

Ill is good in some degree

When it cometh all alone.

Fortune, wherefore dost thou grieve me,

With one loss and then another?

Wherefore at one time together

Orphan, widow, dost thou leave me?

O thou cruel Roman host!

How thy sword doth gird me round

With two corpses on the ground,

Spouse and brother, both are lost!

Sweetest husband, tender brother,

You I'll match in loving well,

For in heaven or in hell

Soon I'll see the one and other!

In the manner of my death

I to part from you am loath;

For the sword and hunger both

Have to take my latest breath.

Rather will I give my breast

Point of dagger, than this bread;

For to one who lives in dread

Death is gain and sweetest rest.

Am I coward, can it be?

Arm of mine, what dost thou fear?

Sweetest husband, brother dear,

I am coming, wait for me!

[At this point there enters a woman flying, and behind her a Numantian soldierwith a short sword in his hand to kill her.

Woman.

Eternal Sire! O Jove compassionate!Protect me in this dire extremity!Soldier.Although thou hurry with a speed more great,Beneath my ruthless hand thou hast to die!

Eternal Sire! O Jove compassionate!Protect me in this dire extremity!

Eternal Sire! O Jove compassionate!

Protect me in this dire extremity!

Soldier.

Although thou hurry with a speed more great,Beneath my ruthless hand thou hast to die!

Although thou hurry with a speed more great,

Beneath my ruthless hand thou hast to die!

[Exit the woman, andLyrasays:

Lyra.

Thy cutting sword, thy warlike arm of weight,Onmetheir fatal power, good soldier, try;Let her who prizes life with life remain,And take mine own, for it is full of pain!

Thy cutting sword, thy warlike arm of weight,

Onmetheir fatal power, good soldier, try;

Let her who prizes life with life remain,

And take mine own, for it is full of pain!

Soldier.

Although it is the Senate's stern command,That not one woman shall in life abide,Where shall we find the bold audacious handWho would not from thy beauty turn aside?I, lady, am not one of such a band,Nor do I wish to be thy homicide;Some other hand and sword must strike for me,For I was born alone to worship thee.

Although it is the Senate's stern command,

That not one woman shall in life abide,

Where shall we find the bold audacious hand

Who would not from thy beauty turn aside?

I, lady, am not one of such a band,

Nor do I wish to be thy homicide;

Some other hand and sword must strike for me,

For I was born alone to worship thee.

Lyra.

This mercy which to me thou dost extend,O valiant soldier, I do swear to thee,And Heaven above its seal to this will lend,That I esteem it harshest cruelty!I would have held thee as a very friend,If with a steady hand and courage freeThou hadst transpierced my heart, so full of woes,And brought my wretched being to a close.But since thou wilt thy pity now bestow,Against my wish, and to increase my gloom,Then to my wretched spouse like pity show,And help me now to bear him to his tomb:Take thou my brother too, who lieth lowUpon the ground, cut off with life in bloom;My husband went to death to save my life,While hunger bore my brother from the strife.

This mercy which to me thou dost extend,

O valiant soldier, I do swear to thee,

And Heaven above its seal to this will lend,

That I esteem it harshest cruelty!

I would have held thee as a very friend,

If with a steady hand and courage free

Thou hadst transpierced my heart, so full of woes,

And brought my wretched being to a close.

But since thou wilt thy pity now bestow,

Against my wish, and to increase my gloom,

Then to my wretched spouse like pity show,

And help me now to bear him to his tomb:

Take thou my brother too, who lieth low

Upon the ground, cut off with life in bloom;

My husband went to death to save my life,

While hunger bore my brother from the strife.

Soldier.

To all that thou requirest I adhere,Provided on the way thou wilt relateWhat brought thy loving spouse, and brother dear,To this the last extremity of fate.

To all that thou requirest I adhere,

Provided on the way thou wilt relate

What brought thy loving spouse, and brother dear,

To this the last extremity of fate.

Lyra.

My friend, I have no strength to speak, I fear.

Soldier.

Art thou exhausted? Is thy pain so great?Bear thou thy brother, for the load is less;And I thy spouse; it giveth more distress.

Art thou exhausted? Is thy pain so great?

Bear thou thy brother, for the load is less;

And I thy spouse; it giveth more distress.

[Exeunt, bearing the two bodies.

Here enters a woman armed with a shield on the left arm, and a short lance in her hand, who representsWar; along with her comesSickness, leaning on a crutch, her head swathed with bandages, wearing a yellow mask; andHungerfollows, clad in a robe of yellow buckram, wearing a yellow or discoloured mask; these figures may be represented by men, as they wear masks.

War.

Hunger and Sickness, ministers most direOf my commands, which make the world to quail!Of life and health devourers in your ire,With whom nor cries, nor threats, nor rights avail!Since ye are cognisant of my desire,It needs not that again I tell the tale,How pleasure and content will fill my breast,If quickly ye fulfil mystern behest.The Fates, with that inexorable might,Whose energy none living can impair,Constrain me now my forces to uniteWith these sagacious Roman soldiers there,Who for a time will rise to glory's height,While those poor Spaniards perish in despair;But time will come when I shall change it all,Will smite the mighty, and assist the small.For I,who am the greatand powerful War,(By countless mothers all in vain abhorred,Though he who curses me at times errs far,Unconscious of the worth that owns me lord)Do know right well that through all lands that areShall flash the valour of the Spanish sword,At that sweet season when shall rule the landA Charles, a Philip, and a Ferdinand.

Hunger and Sickness, ministers most dire

Of my commands, which make the world to quail!

Of life and health devourers in your ire,

With whom nor cries, nor threats, nor rights avail!

Since ye are cognisant of my desire,

It needs not that again I tell the tale,

How pleasure and content will fill my breast,

If quickly ye fulfil mystern behest.

The Fates, with that inexorable might,

Whose energy none living can impair,

Constrain me now my forces to unite

With these sagacious Roman soldiers there,

Who for a time will rise to glory's height,

While those poor Spaniards perish in despair;

But time will come when I shall change it all,

Will smite the mighty, and assist the small.

For I,who am the greatand powerful War,

(By countless mothers all in vain abhorred,

Though he who curses me at times errs far,

Unconscious of the worth that owns me lord)

Do know right well that through all lands that are

Shall flash the valour of the Spanish sword,

At that sweet season when shall rule the land

A Charles, a Philip, and a Ferdinand.

Sickness.

If Hunger now, our true and trusty friend,Had not so swiftly done her work and well,And made her homicidal power extendO'er all the folk that in Numantia dwell,Thy will through me would have secured its end,In such an easy manner as to swellThe rich reward the Roman will obtain,Much better far than what he hopes to gain.Though Hunger, in so far as she hath sway,Now holds the Numantines in such a strait,That shut and barred is every open wayOf happy exit from their adverse fate,Yet Fury's falchion, with its fearful play,The adverse sign with its tremendous weight,Within their midst with such a rigour reign,There is no need of hunger or of pain.Fierce rage and madness, thy attendant brood,Have taken foul possession of each breast,And thirst with equal relish for their blood,As if they did the Roman's grim behest.Fire, fury, slaughter are their chiefest good,To die—they reckon of all fates the best;To snatch the triumph from the Roman bands,Themselves will perish by their very hands.

If Hunger now, our true and trusty friend,

Had not so swiftly done her work and well,

And made her homicidal power extend

O'er all the folk that in Numantia dwell,

Thy will through me would have secured its end,

In such an easy manner as to swell

The rich reward the Roman will obtain,

Much better far than what he hopes to gain.

Though Hunger, in so far as she hath sway,

Now holds the Numantines in such a strait,

That shut and barred is every open way

Of happy exit from their adverse fate,

Yet Fury's falchion, with its fearful play,

The adverse sign with its tremendous weight,

Within their midst with such a rigour reign,

There is no need of hunger or of pain.

Fierce rage and madness, thy attendant brood,

Have taken foul possession of each breast,

And thirst with equal relish for their blood,

As if they did the Roman's grim behest.

Fire, fury, slaughter are their chiefest good,

To die—they reckon of all fates the best;

To snatch the triumph from the Roman bands,

Themselves will perish by their very hands.

Hunger.

Now turn your eyes, and see the flaming fire,That blazes from the tall roofs of the town!List to the fearful sighings that expireFrom thousand breasts, while they their terror drown!Hark to the wailings terrible and direOf beauteous women, who to death go down;Their tender limbs in flame and ashes lie,No father, friend, or love to heed their cry!As timid sheep, upon their careless way,Whom some ferocious wolf attacks and drives,Go hurrying hither, thither, all astray,With panting dread to lose their simple lives;So, fleeing from the swords upraised to slay,Do these poor children, and these tender wives,Run on from street to street, O fate insane!To lengthen out their certain death, in vain.Within the breast of his belovèd brideThe husband sheathes his keen and glittering brand;Devoid of pity, and of filial pride,The son against the mother turns his hand;The father, casting clemency aside,Against his very offspring takes his stand,And while with furious thrusts to death they bleed,He finds a piteous pleasure in the deed!No square, or street, or mansion can be found,That is not filled with blood and with the dead;The sword destroys, the fierce fire blazes round,And Cruelty with fearsome step doth tread!Soon will ye see upon the level groundThe strongest and the loftiest turrets spread,The humble dwellings, and the temples high,Shall turn to dust and ashes by and by!Come, ye shall see how in the bosoms dearOf tender children and belovèd wifeTheogenes, with courage all austere,Doth prove the temper of his cruel knife;And when the deadly work is over here,So little recks he of his wearied life,He seeks for Death, and by a mode unknown,Which causes other ruin than his own!

Now turn your eyes, and see the flaming fire,

That blazes from the tall roofs of the town!

List to the fearful sighings that expire

From thousand breasts, while they their terror drown!

Hark to the wailings terrible and dire

Of beauteous women, who to death go down;

Their tender limbs in flame and ashes lie,

No father, friend, or love to heed their cry!

As timid sheep, upon their careless way,

Whom some ferocious wolf attacks and drives,

Go hurrying hither, thither, all astray,

With panting dread to lose their simple lives;

So, fleeing from the swords upraised to slay,

Do these poor children, and these tender wives,

Run on from street to street, O fate insane!

To lengthen out their certain death, in vain.

Within the breast of his belovèd bride

The husband sheathes his keen and glittering brand;

Devoid of pity, and of filial pride,

The son against the mother turns his hand;

The father, casting clemency aside,

Against his very offspring takes his stand,

And while with furious thrusts to death they bleed,

He finds a piteous pleasure in the deed!

No square, or street, or mansion can be found,

That is not filled with blood and with the dead;

The sword destroys, the fierce fire blazes round,

And Cruelty with fearsome step doth tread!

Soon will ye see upon the level ground

The strongest and the loftiest turrets spread,

The humble dwellings, and the temples high,

Shall turn to dust and ashes by and by!

Come, ye shall see how in the bosoms dear

Of tender children and belovèd wife

Theogenes, with courage all austere,

Doth prove the temper of his cruel knife;

And when the deadly work is over here,

So little recks he of his wearied life,

He seeks for Death, and by a mode unknown,

Which causes other ruin than his own!

War.

Now let us go; and see that each prepareTo do his proper work within this spot;To what I say give undivided care,Nor swerve from my intention by one jot.

Now let us go; and see that each prepare

To do his proper work within this spot;

To what I say give undivided care,

Nor swerve from my intention by one jot.

[Exeunt.

[Theogenesenters with two youngSonsand a daughter and theirMother.

Theogenes.

If love paternal hath no longer swayTo check the fearful deed which I intend;Think, O my sons, if I can now give way,When thoughts of honour with my purpose blend!O poignant is the grief, the sore dismay,We feel when Life must have a sudden end;But mine is more, since I by Fate's decreeYour cruel executioner must be!Ye shall not live, O children of my soul,To be the Romans' slaves, nor shall their power,However much it rage beyond control,Above our lives and yours in triumph tower.The shortest road which leadeth to the goalOf our dear Liberty in this sad hour,Which Heaven offers us with piteous breath,Conducts us only to the arms of Death.Nor thou, dear consort, sweetest of thy race,Shalt suffer peril from the Roman bands;Nor shall they soil thy modesty and graceWith eyes lascivious, or with ruthless hands!My sword shall snatch thee from this foul disgrace,Their schemes shall baffled be by my commands,And this shall be the guerdon of their lust,To triumph o'er Numantia in the dust!Thou, dear, belovèd consort, it was IWho first advised that we, with one accord,Should rather perish than as cravens lieBeneath the terror of the Roman sword;I will not therefore be the last to die,Nor shall my children here.

If love paternal hath no longer sway

To check the fearful deed which I intend;

Think, O my sons, if I can now give way,

When thoughts of honour with my purpose blend!

O poignant is the grief, the sore dismay,

We feel when Life must have a sudden end;

But mine is more, since I by Fate's decree

Your cruel executioner must be!

Ye shall not live, O children of my soul,

To be the Romans' slaves, nor shall their power,

However much it rage beyond control,

Above our lives and yours in triumph tower.

The shortest road which leadeth to the goal

Of our dear Liberty in this sad hour,

Which Heaven offers us with piteous breath,

Conducts us only to the arms of Death.

Nor thou, dear consort, sweetest of thy race,

Shalt suffer peril from the Roman bands;

Nor shall they soil thy modesty and grace

With eyes lascivious, or with ruthless hands!

My sword shall snatch thee from this foul disgrace,

Their schemes shall baffled be by my commands,

And this shall be the guerdon of their lust,

To triumph o'er Numantia in the dust!

Thou, dear, belovèd consort, it was I

Who first advised that we, with one accord,

Should rather perish than as cravens lie

Beneath the terror of the Roman sword;

I will not therefore be the last to die,

Nor shall my children here.

Wife.

If, good my lord,There were some other way to set us free,Then Heaven knows how happy I should be!But since it cannot be, to my regret,And since my road to death is near and plain,Keep back the brutal Roman sword, and letThe trophy of our lives with thee remain.Though death be sure, it is my pleasure yetTo die within Diana's sacred fane;Good husband, lead us, and in loving ireConsign us to the sword, the rope, the fire!

If, good my lord,

There were some other way to set us free,

Then Heaven knows how happy I should be!

But since it cannot be, to my regret,

And since my road to death is near and plain,

Keep back the brutal Roman sword, and let

The trophy of our lives with thee remain.

Though death be sure, it is my pleasure yet

To die within Diana's sacred fane;

Good husband, lead us, and in loving ire

Consign us to the sword, the rope, the fire!

Theogenes.

So may it be, nor let our steps be slow,For cruel Fate doth urge me on to death.

So may it be, nor let our steps be slow,

For cruel Fate doth urge me on to death.

Son.

Why weepest, mother? Whither do we go?Stay, stay, I am so faint, I have no breath!My mother, let us eat, 'tis better so,For me this bitter hunger wearyeth.

Why weepest, mother? Whither do we go?

Stay, stay, I am so faint, I have no breath!

My mother, let us eat, 'tis better so,

For me this bitter hunger wearyeth.

Mother.

Come to my arms, my darling sweet and good,And I to thee will give thy death for food!

Come to my arms, my darling sweet and good,

And I to thee will give thy death for food!

[Exeunt, and two lads enter flying, one of whom is he who will hurl himself from the tower, calledViriato, the otherServio.

Viriato.

Servio, whither shall we fly?

Servio.

I will go the way thou shewest.

Viriato.

Come, how lazily thou goest!Dost thou wish that both should die?Sad one, look behind, before,Thousand swords pursue to slay!

Come, how lazily thou goest!

Dost thou wish that both should die?

Sad one, look behind, before,

Thousand swords pursue to slay!

Servio.

Never can we get away,'Tis for us a task too sore.Tell me, what dost thou desire?Tell me, and I shall decide.

Never can we get away,

'Tis for us a task too sore.

Tell me, what dost thou desire?

Tell me, and I shall decide.

Viriato.

I shall run, and straightway hideIn the turret of my sire.

I shall run, and straightway hide

In the turret of my sire.

Servio.

Friend, 'tis well for thee to go,But I cannot, worn and weary,And the road so long and dreary,Hunger gnaws and pains me so.

Friend, 'tis well for thee to go,

But I cannot, worn and weary,

And the road so long and dreary,

Hunger gnaws and pains me so.

Viriato.

Wilt thou not?

Servio.

O leave me here.

Viriato.

If thou canst no longer fly,Here, alas, thou hast to die,Slain by hunger, sword, or fear!Go I must, for much I dreadAll that robs me of my life;Be it fire or cruel knifeWhich would lay me with the dead!

If thou canst no longer fly,

Here, alas, thou hast to die,

Slain by hunger, sword, or fear!

Go I must, for much I dread

All that robs me of my life;

Be it fire or cruel knife

Which would lay me with the dead!

[Exit, andTheogenesenters with two drawn swords, his hands bloody, and asServiosees him come he flees and goes behind.

Theogenes.

O blood, that from my very bosom flows,Since thou belongest to my children dear;O hand, which wounds thyself with deadly blows,Replete with honour and with might austere;Thou Fortune, who art privy to our woes;Ye Heavens, devoid of pity or of cheer,Afford me now, in this my bitter lot,Some glorious, speedy death upon the spot!O valiant Numantines, take ye accountThat some perfidious Roman foe am I,Avenge within my bosom your affront,And in its blood your hands and weapons dye!

O blood, that from my very bosom flows,

Since thou belongest to my children dear;

O hand, which wounds thyself with deadly blows,

Replete with honour and with might austere;

Thou Fortune, who art privy to our woes;

Ye Heavens, devoid of pity or of cheer,

Afford me now, in this my bitter lot,

Some glorious, speedy death upon the spot!

O valiant Numantines, take ye account

That some perfidious Roman foe am I,

Avenge within my bosom your affront,

And in its blood your hands and weapons dye!

[He hurls one sword from his hand.

Of these two swords take one, and quick confrontMy fury wild, my grief that rageth high;For, dying in the fight, we will not knowThe keenest rigour of the final blow!And he who cuts the other's vital thread,Let him, in token of the favour free,Entomb within the flame the wretched dead,A duty this of highest charity!Come quick, come now! O whither have ye sped?My life the highest sacrifice will be;That sweet compassion, which to friends ye show,Change now to rabid rage against the foe!

Of these two swords take one, and quick confront

My fury wild, my grief that rageth high;

For, dying in the fight, we will not know

The keenest rigour of the final blow!

And he who cuts the other's vital thread,

Let him, in token of the favour free,

Entomb within the flame the wretched dead,

A duty this of highest charity!

Come quick, come now! O whither have ye sped?

My life the highest sacrifice will be;

That sweet compassion, which to friends ye show,

Change now to rabid rage against the foe!

A Numantine.

Whom, brave Theogenes, dost thou invoke?What novel mode of dying dost thou seek?Why dost thou urge us onward, and provokeTo such a strange and lamentable freak?

Whom, brave Theogenes, dost thou invoke?

What novel mode of dying dost thou seek?

Why dost thou urge us onward, and provoke

To such a strange and lamentable freak?

Theogenes.

O valiant Numantine, if terror's yokeHath not unnerved thine arm and made it weak,Take now this sword, and prove its point on me,As if I were thy mortal enemy!This mode of dying better pleaseth me,Than any other in this time of woe.

O valiant Numantine, if terror's yoke

Hath not unnerved thine arm and made it weak,

Take now this sword, and prove its point on me,

As if I were thy mortal enemy!

This mode of dying better pleaseth me,

Than any other in this time of woe.

Numantine.

It suits me too, and I will pleasure thee,Since evil Fortune seems to will it so.On to the square, where now the fire we seeWhich burns to have our lives within its glow!Who conquers there may, without fear or shame,Consign the vanquished to the furious flame.

It suits me too, and I will pleasure thee,

Since evil Fortune seems to will it so.

On to the square, where now the fire we see

Which burns to have our lives within its glow!

Who conquers there may, without fear or shame,

Consign the vanquished to the furious flame.

Theogenes.

Thou speakest well; make haste, for my desireOutruns Fate's tardy step with panting breath;Let sword devour me, or the furious fire,I see our glory in whatever death!

Thou speakest well; make haste, for my desire

Outruns Fate's tardy step with panting breath;

Let sword devour me, or the furious fire,

I see our glory in whatever death!

[Exeunt.

Scipio,Jugurtha,Quintus Fabius,Caius Marius, and some Roman Soldiers.

Scipio.

Unless my thoughts be guilty of deceit,Or these be lying signs which ye have markedWithin Numantia's walls—the horrid din,The lamentable cries, the blazing fires—I fear and dread, and scarcely have a doubt,That these our barbarous foemen, brought to bay,Have turned their reckless rage against themselves.There are no people seen to man the towers,The watchmen give no customary calls,A death-like silence reigns within the town,As if these fierce and fiery NumantinesWere living there in peace, and at their ease.

Unless my thoughts be guilty of deceit,

Or these be lying signs which ye have marked

Within Numantia's walls—the horrid din,

The lamentable cries, the blazing fires—

I fear and dread, and scarcely have a doubt,

That these our barbarous foemen, brought to bay,

Have turned their reckless rage against themselves.

There are no people seen to man the towers,

The watchmen give no customary calls,

A death-like silence reigns within the town,

As if these fierce and fiery Numantines

Were living there in peace, and at their ease.

Caius Marius.

Thou may'st at once be quit of such a doubt,For if thou wishest it, I offer meTo scale the battlements, although in soothIt is a somewhat perilous risk to run;And solely to observe what our proud foesAre doing now within Numantia's walls.

Thou may'st at once be quit of such a doubt,

For if thou wishest it, I offer me

To scale the battlements, although in sooth

It is a somewhat perilous risk to run;

And solely to observe what our proud foes

Are doing now within Numantia's walls.

Scipio.

Plant then some ladder firm against the wall,And, Marius, make thy present promise good!

Plant then some ladder firm against the wall,

And, Marius, make thy present promise good!

Caius Marius.

Go, bring the ladder, and, Ermilius, youGive orders that my buckler quick be fetched,And eke my helmet with the snow-white plume;For, faith, I mean this day to lose my life,Or end the doubtings which possess the camp.

Go, bring the ladder, and, Ermilius, you

Give orders that my buckler quick be fetched,

And eke my helmet with the snow-white plume;

For, faith, I mean this day to lose my life,

Or end the doubtings which possess the camp.

Ermilius.

Thy buckler and thy helmet both are brought;And see, Olympius brings the ladder here.

Thy buckler and thy helmet both are brought;

And see, Olympius brings the ladder here.

Caius Marius.

Commend me now to great and mighty Jove,For I am ready to fulfil my pledge.

Commend me now to great and mighty Jove,

For I am ready to fulfil my pledge.

[He ascends the ladder.

Scipio.

Raise, Marius, raise the knee a little more,Contract thy body, and protect thy head!Courage! for thou hast reached the top at last.What see'st thou?

Raise, Marius, raise the knee a little more,

Contract thy body, and protect thy head!

Courage! for thou hast reached the top at last.

What see'st thou?

Caius Marius.

Holy gods! and what is this?

Jugurtha.

What startles thee?

Caius Marius.

It startles me to seeA ruddy lake of blood, and on the groundIn every street a thousand corpses lying!

It startles me to see

A ruddy lake of blood, and on the ground

In every street a thousand corpses lying!

Scipio.

And is there none alive?

Caius Marius.

I reckon not;So far, at least, as my own vision goes,There is no living being in the town.

I reckon not;

So far, at least, as my own vision goes,

There is no living being in the town.

Scipio.

Leap then within, and look thee well around!

[Caius Mariusleaps into the town.

My friend, Jugurtha, follow him as well;We all shall follow thee.

My friend, Jugurtha, follow him as well;

We all shall follow thee.

Jugurtha.

It doth not suitThy weighty office to take such a step;Assuage thy feelings, good my lord, and waitTill Marius or myself return to bringThe latest tidings of this haughty town.Hold firm the ladder there! Ye righteous heavens!O what a saddening spectacle and grimIs offered to my sight! O strange event!The smoking blood is bathing all the soil,The square and streets are crowded with the dead!I mean to leap within and see the whole.

It doth not suit

Thy weighty office to take such a step;

Assuage thy feelings, good my lord, and wait

Till Marius or myself return to bring

The latest tidings of this haughty town.

Hold firm the ladder there! Ye righteous heavens!

O what a saddening spectacle and grim

Is offered to my sight! O strange event!

The smoking blood is bathing all the soil,

The square and streets are crowded with the dead!

I mean to leap within and see the whole.

[Jugurthaleaps into the city, andQuintus Fabiussays:

Quintus Fabius.

Without a doubt these fiery Numantines,By their barbaric fury goaded on,Have chosen rather to consign their livesUnto the sharp edge of their very swords,Than yield them up to our victorious hands,Whose sight and touch are horrible to them.

Without a doubt these fiery Numantines,

By their barbaric fury goaded on,

Have chosen rather to consign their lives

Unto the sharp edge of their very swords,

Than yield them up to our victorious hands,

Whose sight and touch are horrible to them.

Scipio.

If but one living being had remained,In Rome they had not me the triumph grudgedOf having curbed and crushed this haughty race,The fierce and mortal foemen of our name;In will determined, ready aye to faceThe greatest peril and the direst risk;Whom not a Roman here can ever boastOf having challenged with the naked sword;Whose valour, whose dexterity in arms,Have forced me, and with reason, to surroundAnd pen them in like fierce untamèd beasts,And gain that triumph with my art and skillWhich was impossible by dint of arms.But Marius now returns, it seems to me.

If but one living being had remained,

In Rome they had not me the triumph grudged

Of having curbed and crushed this haughty race,

The fierce and mortal foemen of our name;

In will determined, ready aye to face

The greatest peril and the direst risk;

Whom not a Roman here can ever boast

Of having challenged with the naked sword;

Whose valour, whose dexterity in arms,

Have forced me, and with reason, to surround

And pen them in like fierce untamèd beasts,

And gain that triumph with my art and skill

Which was impossible by dint of arms.

But Marius now returns, it seems to me.

[Mariusenters by descending from the wall, and says:

Caius Marius.

In vain, illustrious, prudent General,Have we expended all our strength and might;In vain hast thou been diligent withal;Thy hopes of victory, that seemed so bright,Assured thee by thy martial skill and lore,Have changed to smoke, and vanished out of sight!The mournful story, and the end full soreOf proud Numantia's unconquered town,Deserve to be remembered evermore.Their loss and fall have gained them good renown;Their dying, which displayed their firmness most,Hath snatched from thee the triumph and the crown.Our schemes are vain, and all our labour lost;Their death with honour better issue shewsThat all the power the Roman arms can boast.This people, wearied with their countless woes,Have snatched themselves from life and misery,And given their long account a sudden close.Numantia now is changed into a seaOf ruby blood, encumbered with the slain,Who fell by self-inflicted cruelty.Escaped have they from slav'ry's grinding chain,Whose load unequalled they declined to bear,With swift audacity that feared no pain.I saw within the middle of the square,[13]Exposed to view, a fiercely blazing fire,Fed with their corpses and their riches rare.And as I gazed, there came with kindling ireTheogenes, that valiant Numantine,Intent on death with an insane desire;And as he cursed his fate and luckless sign,He sprang into the middle of the flame,With fury suited to his mad design;And as he sprang, he cried: "O brilliant Fame,Come hither with thy countless tongues and eyes,Behold a deed it fits thee to proclaim!Approach, ye Romans, and receive the prizeOf this rich town, to dust and ashes changed,Its fruits and flowers to thistles turned likewise!"I went away, with steps and thoughts deranged,And paced the chief part of the city round.Through all the ruined streets and lanes I ranged,But not one single Numantine I found,Whom I could seize alive and bear away,To bring thee tidings with a certain sound,For what grave reason, in what fearful way,They hurried on to ruin utterly,With such a grand and terrible display.

In vain, illustrious, prudent General,

Have we expended all our strength and might;

In vain hast thou been diligent withal;

Thy hopes of victory, that seemed so bright,

Assured thee by thy martial skill and lore,

Have changed to smoke, and vanished out of sight!

The mournful story, and the end full sore

Of proud Numantia's unconquered town,

Deserve to be remembered evermore.

Their loss and fall have gained them good renown;

Their dying, which displayed their firmness most,

Hath snatched from thee the triumph and the crown.

Our schemes are vain, and all our labour lost;

Their death with honour better issue shews

That all the power the Roman arms can boast.

This people, wearied with their countless woes,

Have snatched themselves from life and misery,

And given their long account a sudden close.

Numantia now is changed into a sea

Of ruby blood, encumbered with the slain,

Who fell by self-inflicted cruelty.

Escaped have they from slav'ry's grinding chain,

Whose load unequalled they declined to bear,

With swift audacity that feared no pain.

I saw within the middle of the square,[13]

Exposed to view, a fiercely blazing fire,

Fed with their corpses and their riches rare.

And as I gazed, there came with kindling ire

Theogenes, that valiant Numantine,

Intent on death with an insane desire;

And as he cursed his fate and luckless sign,

He sprang into the middle of the flame,

With fury suited to his mad design;

And as he sprang, he cried: "O brilliant Fame,

Come hither with thy countless tongues and eyes,

Behold a deed it fits thee to proclaim!

Approach, ye Romans, and receive the prize

Of this rich town, to dust and ashes changed,

Its fruits and flowers to thistles turned likewise!"

I went away, with steps and thoughts deranged,

And paced the chief part of the city round.

Through all the ruined streets and lanes I ranged,

But not one single Numantine I found,

Whom I could seize alive and bear away,

To bring thee tidings with a certain sound,

For what grave reason, in what fearful way,

They hurried on to ruin utterly,

With such a grand and terrible display.

Scipio.

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