Continence of Scipio

—What with admiration Struck every heart was this.—A noble virgin, Conspicuous far o'er all the captive dames, Was mark'd the general's prize. She wept and blush'd, Young, fresh, and blooming like the morn. An eye As when the blue sky trembles through a cloud Of purest white. A secret charm combined Her features and infus'd enchantment through them. Her shape was harmony.—But eloquence Beneath her beauty fails; which seem'd on purpose, By nature lavish'd on her, that mankind Might see the virtue of a hero try'd Almost beyond the stretch of human force. Soft as she pass'd along, with down cast eyes, Where gentle sorrow swell'd, and now and then Dropt o'er her modest cheek a trickling tear. The Roman legions languish'd, and hard war Felt more than pity. Ev'n their chief himself As on his high tribunal rais'd he sat, Turn'd from the dangerous sight, and chiding ask'd His officers, if by this gift they meant To cloud his virtue in its very dawn.

She, question'd of her birth, in trembling accents, With tears and blushes broken, told her tale, But when he found her royally descended, Of her old captive parents the sole joy; And that a hapless Celtiberian prince, Her lover and belov'd, forgot his chains, His lost dominions, and for her alone Wept out his tender soul; sudden the heart Of this young, conquering, loving, god-like Roman Felt all the great divinity of virtue. His wishing youth stood check'd, his tempting power Restrain'd by kind humanity.—At once He for her parents and her lover call'd. The various scene imagine: how his troops Look'd dubious on, and wonder'd what he meant: While stretch'd below the trembling suppliants lay, Rack'd by a thousand mingling passions, fear Hope, Jealousy, disdain, submission, grief, Anxiety and love in every shape. To these as different sentiments succeeded, As mixt emotions, when the man divine Thus the dread silence to the lover broke. " We both are young, both charm'd. The right of war " Has put thy beauteous mistress in my power; " With whom I could in the most sacred ties " Live out a happy life: but know, that Romans " Their hearts, as well as enemies can conquer. " Then take her to thy soul; and with her take " Thy liberty and kingdom. In return " I ask but this. When you behold these eyes, " These charms, with transport; be a friend to Rome.