CARACTACUS.

ACT I. SCENE I.

AULUS DIDIUS, with Romans.

Aulus Didius.

THIS is the secret centre of the isle :

Here, Romans, pause, and let the eye of wonder
Gaze on the solemn scene; behold yon oak,

How stern he frowns, and with his broad brown arms
Chills the pale plain beneath him: mark yon altar,
The dark stream brawling round its rugged base,
These cliffs, these yawning caverns, this wide circus,
Skirted with unhewn stone: they awe my soul,
As if the very genius of the place

• Himself appear'd, and with terrific tread

• Stalk'd thro' his drear dómain. And yet, my friends,' (If shapes like his be but the fancy's coinage)' Surely there is a hidden power, that reigns "Mid the lone majesty of untam'd nature, Controuling sober reason; tell me else,

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Why do these haunts of barb'rous superstition
O'ercome me thus? I scorn them, yet they awe me.
Call forth the British princes in this gloom
I mean to school them to our enterprize.

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SCENE II.

AULUS DIDIUS, VELLINUS, ELIDURUŞ.

Ye pledges dear of Cartismandua's faith,
Approach and to my uninstructed ear
Explain this scene of horror.

El. Daring Roman,

Thy footsteps press on consecrated ground:
These mighty piles of magic-planted rock,
Thus rang'd in mystic order, mark the place
Where but at times of holiest festival

The Druid leads his train.

Aul. Did. Where dwells the Seer?

Vel. In yonder shaggy cave; on which the moon Now sheds a side-long gleam. His brotherhood Possess the neighbouring cliffs.

Aul. Did. Yet up the hill

Mine eye descries a distant range of caves,
Delv'd in the ridges of the craggy steep :

And this way still another..

El. On the left

Reside the sages skill'd in nature's lore;

The changeful universe, its numbers, powers,
Studious they measure, save when meditation

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• Gives place to holy rites: then in the grove

◄ Each hath his rank and function.' Yonder grots Are tenanted by bards, who nightly thence,

Rob'd in their flowing vests of innocent white,
Descend, with harps that glitter to the moon,
Hymning immortal strains. The spirits of air,
Of earth, of water, nay, of Heav'n itself,
Do listen to their lay: and oft, 'tis said,
In visible shapes dance they a magic round
To the high minstrelsy.' Now, if thine eye
Be sated with the view, haste to thy ships;
And ply thine oars; for, if the Druids learn
This bold intrusion, thou wilt find it hard
To foil their fury.

Aul: Did. Prince, I did not moor

My light-arm'd shallops on this dangerous strand, To sooth a fruitless curiosity :

I come in quest of proud Caractacus ;

Who, when our veterans put his troops to flight,
Found refuge here.

El. If here the monarch rests,

Presumptuous chief! -thou might'st as well essay
To pluck him from yon stars; earth's ample range
' Contains no surer refuge,:' underneath
The soil we tread a hundred secret paths,
Scoopt thro' the living rock, in winding maze,
Lead to as many caverns, dark and deep:
'Mid which the hoary sages act their rites
Mysterious, rites of such strange potency,
As, done in open day, would dim the sun,

Tho' thron'd in noontide brightness. In such dens

He may for life lie hid.

Aul. Did. We know the task

Most difficult; yet has thy royal mother

Furnish'd the means.

El. My mother, say'st thou, Roman ?

Aul. Did. In proof of that firm faith she lends to Rome,

She gave ye up her honour's hostages.

El. She did: and we submit,

Aul. Did. To Rome we bear ye;

From your dear country bear ye; from your joys, Your loves, your friendships, all your souls hold pre

cious.

El. And dost thou taunt us, Roman, with our fate? Aul. Did. No, youth, by heav'n, I would avert that fate,

Wish ye for liberty?

Vel, and El. More than for life..

Aul. Did. And would do much to gain it?

Vel. Name the task.

Aul. Did. The task is easy, Haste ye to these

Tell them ye come, commission'd by your queen,
To seek the great Caract̃acus; and call
His valour to her aid, against the legions,
Which, led by our Ostorius, now assail
Her frontiers. The late treaty she has seal'd
Is yet unknown and this her royal signet,
Which more to mask our purpose was obtain'd,'

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Shall be your pledge of faith. The eager king
Will gladly take the charge; and, he consenting,
What else remains, but to the Meinai's shore
Ye lead his credulous step? there will we seize him:
Bear him to Rome, the substitute for you,
And give you back to freedom.

Vel. If the Druids

Aul. Did. If they or he prevent this artifice,

Then force must take its way: then flaming brands,
And biting axes, wielded by our soldiers,'

Must level these thick shades; and so unlodge
The lurking savage.

El. Gods, shall Mona perish 2

Aul. Did. Princes, her ev'ry trunk shall on the -ground!

Measure its magnitude; unless, ere dawn,
Ye lure this untam'd lion to our toils."
Go then, and prosper; I shall to the ships,

And there expect his coming. Youths, remember,
He must to Rome to grace great Cæsar's triumph:
Cæsar and Fate demand him at your hands.

[Exeunt Aulus Didius and Romans.

SCENE III.

ELIDURUS, VELLINUS.

El. And will Heav'n suffer it? Will the just Gods, That tread yon spangled pavement o'er our heads, Look from their sky and yield him? Will these Druids, Their sage vicegerents, not call down the thunder;