guise his sufferings from hunger, have, perhaps, more pathetic effect than all the amorous scenes of parting lovers ever exhibited. It has been asserted that the character of Hengo forms the sole interest of the play; but surely with very little consideration or knowledge: For, were this prime jewel of the tragedy altogether removed, there is sufficient merit remaining to constitute a drama of high value. The character of Caratach throughout, the truly Roman death of Penius, and many other scenes, would ensure applause to any tragedy in any age or country.

To point out each individual passage to merited admiration, would be a needless encroachment on the reader's time; but there are a few which we cannot resist noticing. The glorious speech of Caratach on the duties of a people invaded by foreign foes, is infinitely superior to a similar one which saved the tragedy of Pizarro from the fate it so richly deserved. The soliloquy of the same character, at the beginning of the last act, breathes the very soul of poetry; and the following personification of Death, ranging over a field of battle, may be quoted as one of the most terribly grand that our language has produced, and yet as being only one in a drama containing many others of scarcely inferior splendour:

"Death rides in triumph, Drusius, and Destruction
Lashes his fiery horse, and round about him

His many thousand ways to let out souls."

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

Caratach, general of the Britons, cousin to Bonduca. Nennius, a great soldier, a British commander. Hengo, a brave boy, nephew to Caratach and Bonduca. Suetonius, general to the Roman army in Britain. Penius, a brave Roman commander, but stubborn to the general.

Junius, a Roman captain, in love with Bonduca's daughter.

-Petillius, a merry Roman captain, but somewhat

Judas, a corporal, a cowardly hungry knave,

Herald.

Druids.

Soldiers.

Guides.

Bonduca, queen of the Iceni, a brave virago.
Her two Daughters, by Prasutagus."

SCENE,-Britain.

• Bonduca, queen of the Iceni, a brave virago, by Prosutagus. Her two daughters.] Thus runs the folio of 1679, from which the editor of the octavo [1711] inconsiderately copied. The reader will see, by the course of the play, that the alteration made here is undoubtedly what the drawer-up of the dramatis persona intended. Sympson.

It appears, from act III. sc. H., that the name of the youngest daughter was Bonvica; that of the eldest does not appear.

The principal Actors were,

Richard Burbage,

Henry Condel,
William Eglestone,
Nich. Toolie,

William Ostler,
John Lowin,

John Underwood,
Richard Robinson.

Fol. 1679.

1

BONDUC A.

ACT I. SCENE I.

The British Camp.

Enter BONDUCA, Daughters, HENGO, NENNIUS, and Soldiers.

Bond. The hardy Romans? Oh, ye gods of Britain,

The rust of arms, the blushing shame of soldiers!

Enter CARATACH.

Are these the men that conquer by inheritance? The fortune-makers? these the Julians,

That with the sun measure the end of nature, Making the world but one Rome, and one Cæsar? Shame, how they flee! Cæsar's soft soul dwells. in 'em,

Their mothers got 'em sleeping, Pleasure nursed

'em;

Their bodies sweat with sweet oils, love's allure

ments,

Not lusty arms. Dare they send these to seek us, These Roman girls? Is Britain grown so wanton? Twice we have beat 'em, Nennius, scatter'd 'em;