_Reg._ Barbarian! peace. I've heard too much.--Go, call thy followers: Prepare thy ships, and learn to do thy duty. _Ham._ Yes!--show thyself intrepid, and insult me; Call mine the blindness of barbarian friendship. On Tiber's banks I hear thee, and am calm: But know, thou scornful Roman! that too soon In Carthage thou may'st fear and feel my vengeance: Thy cold, obdurate pride shall there confess, Though Rome may talk--'tis Africa can punish. [_Exit._ _Reg._ Farewell! I've not a thought to waste on thee. Where is the Consul? why does Publius stay? Alas! I fear--but see Attilia comes!-- _Enter_ ATTILIA. _Reg._ What brings thee here, my child? what eager joy Transports thee thus? _At._ I cannot speak--my father! Joy chokes my utterance--Rome, dear grateful Rome, (Oh, may her cup with blessings overflow!) Gives up our common destiny to thee; Faithful and constant to th' advice thou gav'st her, She will not hear of peace, or change of slaves, But she insists--reward and bless her, gods!-- That thou shalt here remain. _Reg._ What! with the shame---- _At._ Oh! no--the sacred senate hath consider'd That when to Carthage thou did'st pledge thy faith, Thou wast a captive, and that being such, Thou could'st not bind thyself in covenant. _Reg._ He who can die, is always free, my child! Learn farther, he who owns another's strength Confesses his own weakness.--Let them know, I swore I would return because I chose it, And will return, because I swore to do it. _Enter_ PUBLIUS. _Pub._ Vain is that hope, my father. _Reg._ Who shall stop me? _Pub._ All Rome.----The citizens are up in arms: In vain would reason stop the growing torrent; In vain wouldst thou attempt to reach the port, The way is barr'd by thronging multitudes: The other streets of Rome are all deserted. _Reg._ Where, where is Manlius? _Pub._ He is still thy friend: His single voice opposes a whole people; He threats this moment and the next entreats, But all in vain; none hear him, none obey. The general fury rises e'en to madness. The axes tremble in the lictors' hands, Who, pale and spiritless, want power to use them-- And one wild scene of anarchy prevails. _Reg._ Farewell! my daughter. Publius, follow me. [_Exit_ PUBLIUS. _At._ Ah! where? I tremble---- [_Detaining_ REGULUS. _Reg._ To assist my friend-- T' upbraid my hapless country with her crime-- To keep unstain'd the glory of these chains-- To go, or perish. _At._ Oh! have mercy!