REGULUS, _Mr. Henderson._ PUBLIUS, his Son, _Mr. Dimond._ MANLIUS, the Consul, _Mr. Blisset._ LICINIUS, a Tribune, _Mr. Brown._ HAMILCAR, the Carthaginian } _Mr. Rowbotham._ Ambassador, } ATTILIA, daughter of Regulus, _Miss Mansell._ BARCE, a Carthaginian captive, _Miss Wheeler._ Guards, Lictors, People, &c. SCENE--_Near the Gates of Rome._ THE INFLEXIBLE CAPTIVE. ACT I. SCENE--_A Hall in the Consul's Palace._ _Enter_ LICINIUS, ATTILIA, _Lictors and People_. _Lic._ Attilia waiting here? Is't possible? Is this a place for Regulus's daughter? Just gods! must that incomparable maid Associate here with Lictors and Plebeians? _At._ Yes, on this threshold patiently I wait The Consul's coming; I would make him blush To see me here his suitor. O Licinius, This is no time for form and cold decorum; Five lagging years have crept their tedious round, And Regulus, alas! is still a slave, A wretched slave, unpitied, and forgotten; No other tribute paid his memory, Than the sad tears of his unhappy child; If _she_ be silent, who will speak for Regulus? _Lic._ Let not her sorrows make my fair unjust. Is there in Rome a heart so dead to virtue That does not beat in Regulus's cause? That wearies not the gods for his return? That does not think all subjugated Afric A slender, unimportant acquisition, If, in return for this extended empire, The freedom of thy father be the purchase? These are the feelings of Imperial Rome; My own, it were superfluous to declare. For if _Licinius_ were to weigh his merit, That he's _thy father_ were sufficient glory. He was my leader, train'd me up to arms; And if I boast a spark of Roman honour, I owe it to _his_ precepts and _his_ virtues. _At._ And yet I have not seen Licinius stir. _Lic._ Ah! spare me thy reproaches--what, when late A private citizen, could I attempt? 'Twas not the lust of power, or pride of rank, Which made me seek the dignity of tribune; No, my Attilia, but I fondly hop'd 'Twould strengthen and enforce the just request Which as a _private_ man I vainly urg'd; But now, the people's representative, I shall _demand_, Attilia, to be heard. _At._ Ah! let us not too hastily apply This dang'rous remedy; I would not rouse Fresh tumults 'twixt the people and the senate: Each views with jealousy the idol, Power, Which, each possessing, would alike abuse. What one demands the other still denies. Might _I_ advise you, try a gentler method; I know that every moment Rome expects Th' ambassador of Carthage, nay, 'tis said The Conscript Fathers are already met To give him audience in Bellona's temple. There might the Consul at my suit, Licinius, Propose the ransom of my captive father.