Ham. Come, come, I know full well——

——

Reg. Barbarian! peace. I've heard too much.—Go, call thy followers: Prepare thy ships, and learn to do thy duty.

Barbarian! peace.

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.

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!—

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.

I cannot speak—my father!

Reg. What! with the shame——

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.

Publius

Pub. Vain is that hope, my father.

Reg. Who shall stop me?

Who shall stop me?

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