to know,
    Since you have learnt my name.”  With soft reply
    I said, “A name like mine can nought supply
    The notice of renown like yours to claim. 
    No smother’d spark like mine emits a flame
    To catch the public eye, as you can boast—­
    A leading name in Cupid’s numerous host! 
    Alike his future victims and the past
    Shall own the common tie, while time itself shall last. 
    But tell me (if your guide allow a space
    The semblance of those tendant shades to trace)
    The names and fortunes of the following pair
    Who seem the noblest gifts of mind to share.”—­
    “My name,” he said, “you seem to know so well
    That faithful Memory all the rest can tell;
    But as the sad detail may soothe my woes,
    Listen, while I my mournful doom disclose:—­
    To Rome and Scipio’s cause my faith was bound,
    E’en Laelius scarce a warmer friendship own’d: 
    Where’er their ensigns fann’d the summer sky,
    I led my Libyans on, a firm ally;
    Propitious Fortune still advanced his name,
    Yet more than she bestow’d, his worth might claim. 
    Still we advanced, and still our glory grew
    While westward far the Roman eagle flew
    With conquest wing’d; but my unlucky star
    Led me, unconscious, to the fatal snare
    Which Love had laid.  I saw the regal dame—­
    Our hearts at once confess’d a mutual flame. 
    Caught by the lure of interdicted joys,
    Proudly I scorn’d the stern forbidding voice
    Of Roman policy; and hoped the vows
    At Hymen’s altar sworn, might save my spouse. 
    But, oh! that wondrous man, who ne’er would yield
    To passion’s call, the cruel sentence seal’d,
    That tore my consort from my fond embrace,
    And left me sunk in anguish and disgrace. 
    Unmoved he saw my briny sorrows flow,
    Unmoved he listen’d to my tale of woe! 
    But friendship, waked at last, with reverent awe,
    Obsequious, own’d his mind’s superior law;
    And to that holy and unclouded light,
    That led him on through passion’s dubious night,
    Submiss I bow’d; for, oh! the beam of day
    Is dark to him that wants her guiding ray!—­
    Love, hardly conquer’d, long repined in vain,
    When Justice link’d the adamantine chain;
    And cruel Friendship o’er the conquer’d ground
    Raised with strong hand th’ insuperable mound. 
    To him I owed my laurels nobly won—­
    I loved him as a brother, sire, and son,
    For in an equal race our lives had run;
    Yet the sad price I paid with burning tears;—­
    Dire was the cause that woke my gloomy fears! 
    Too well the sad result my soul divined,
    Too well I knew the unsubmitting mind
    Of Sophonisba would prefer the tomb
    To stern captivity’s ignoble doom. 
    I, too, sad victim of celestial wrath,