Of battles, and the long and perilous seige;
And when I laid me down at night to sleep,
'Twas with a lighten'd heart, . . I knew thee safe,
My visions were of thee.
And be thou wise in vengeance, so thy wife
Not vainly shall have suffered. I have wrought
My soul up to the business of this hour
That it may stir your noble spirits, prompt
Such glorious deeds that ages yet unborn
Shall bless my fate. At midnight I awoke,..
The Tarquin was beside me! O my husband!
Where wert thou then! gone was my rebel strength,..
All power of utterance gone! astonish'd, stunn'd,
I saw the coward ruffian, heard him urge
His damned suit, and bid me tamely yield, ..
Yield to dishonour. When he proffer'd death,..
Oh I had leapt to meet the merciful sword!
But that with most accursed vows he vow'd
That he would lay a dead slave by my side,
Murdering my spotless honour... Collatine!
From what an anguish have I rescued thee!
And thou my father, wretched as thou art,
Thou miserable, childless, poor old man,...