Vortigern Studies Index

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SCENE III. - THE BASSE-COURT OF THE TOWER.

Enter AURELIUS and UTER.

Uter. Where, brother, are the sons of Vortigern?

Aur. I bade them with their gentle mother stay;
For much 'twould have offended righteous heaven,
If, 'gainst their father, they had join'd with us.
For here there always is a sacred tie,
Which suffers not a son's uplifted hand
To strike a father, be he e'er so vile.
Did he not give him birth, and nourish him ?
And when thy direst foe becomes thy slave,
Say, shouldst thou use revenge ? No, rather shame him
With pity and all-softening charity,
Then on a golden bed thou lay'st thy soul,
And art on earth a blessed angel.

Uter. Brother, I do commend thee for this deed;
Worthy a prince, worthy a Briton, too.
But, come! now for the tyrant Vortigern!

Enter Officer.

Aur. What's the news?

Off. Th' ill-fated King doth flee tow'rds Caesar's tow'r,
While half his troops have fall'n into our hands.

Aur. Did ye obey mine orders?

Off. Ay, my good lord, in ev'ry circumstance.

Aur. Then Uter, look; you march towards that same tow'r.
Let me, ye gods! but meet with this vile traitor;
And should his soul not shrink beneath my sword,
Heav'n has no justice. [Exeunt.

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