SCENE I.--_The Senate-house_.

_Enter_ Tarquin, Porsenna, Tullia, Sextus, _and_ Aruns.

Tarquin. Next King Porsenna, whom we tender dearly, Welcome, young Sextus! thou hast to our yoke Suppressed the neck of a proud nation, The warlike Sabines, enemies to Rome.

Sextus. It was my duty, royal emperor, The duty of a subject and a son. We at our mother’s intercession likewise Are now atoned with Aruns, whom we here Receive into our bosom.

Tullia. This is done Like a kind brother and a natural son.

Aruns. We interchange a royal heart with Sextus, And graft us in your love.

Tarquin. Now, King Porsenna, Welcome once more to Tarquin and to Rome.

Porsenna. We are proud of your alliance: Rome is ours, And we are Rome’s; this our religious league Shall be carved firm in characters of brass, And live for ever to succeeding times.

Tarquin. It shall, Porsenna. Now this league’s established, We will proceed in our determined wars, To bring the neighbour nations under us. Our purpose is to make young Sextus general Of all our army, who hath proved his fortunes, And found them full of favour. We’ll begin With strong Ardea;--ha’ you given in charge To assemble all our captains, and take muster Of our strong army?

Aruns. That business is dispatched.

Sextus. We have likewise sent For all our best commanders, to take charge According to their merit,--Lord Valerius, Lord Brutus, Cocles, Mutius Scevola, And Collatine,--to make due preparation For such a gallant siege.

Tarquin. This day you shall set forward. Sextus, go, And let us see your army march along Before this king and us, that we may view The puissance of our host prepared already To lay high-reared Ardea waste and low.

Sextus. I shall, my liege.

Tullia. Aruns, associate him.

Aruns. A rival with my brother in his honours.

[_Exeunt_ Aruns _and_ Sextus.

Tarquin. Porsenna shall behold the strength of Rome, And body of the camp, under the charge Of two brave princes, to lay hostile siege Against the strongest city that withstands The all-commanding Tarquin.

Porsenna. ’Tis an object To please Porsenna’s eye.

[_Soft march_.

Tarquin. The host is now Upon their march. You from this place may see The pride of all the Roman chivalry.

_Enter_ Sextus, Aruns, Brutus, Collatine, Valerius, Scevola, Cocles, _with_ Soldiers, _drum and colours. They march over the stage, and congee to the_ King _and_ Queen.

Porsenna. This sight’s more pleasing to Porsenna’s eye Than all our rich Attalia’s[5.36] pompous feasts Or sumptuous revels: we are born a soldier, And in our nonage sucked the milk of war. Should any strange fate lour upon this army, Or that the merciless gulf of confusion Should swallow them, we, at our proper charge, And from our native confines, vow supply Of men and arms to make these numbers full.

Tarquin. You are our royal brother, and in you Tarquin is powerful and maintains his awe.

Tullia. The like Porsenna may command of Rome.

Porsenna. But we have in your fresh varieties Feasted too much, and kept ourself too long From our own seat: our prosperous return Hath been expected by our lords and peers.

Tarquin. The business of our wars thus forwarded, We ha’ best leisure for your entertainment, Which now shall want no due solemnity.

Porsenna. It hath been beyond both expectation And merit; but in sight of Heaven I swear, If ever royal Tarquin shall demand Use of our love, ’tis ready stored for you Even in our kingly breast.

Tarquin. The like we vow To King Porsenna. We will yet a little Enlarge your royal welcome with rarities, Such as Rome yields: that done, before we part, Of two remote dominions make one heart. Set forward then. Our sons wage war abroad, To make us peace at home: we are of ourself. Without supportance; we all fate defy: Aidless, and of ourself, we stand thus high.

[_Exeunt_.