Asks both the strength of Brutus, and the wisdom COLLATINUS enters wildly, a bloody dagger in his hand, followed by VALERIUS and LUCRETIUS, R. My wife! my wife! dear, dear, wronged, murdered wife! Ye mighty gods, where are your thunders now? Enter BRUTUS, L. Bru. I dare,—and so dare every honest Roman. Col. By her own hand she died! Bru. Heroic matron! Now, now the hour is come! By this one blow Her name's immortal, and her country's saved! [Crosses, c. Hail! dawn of glory! [Snatching the dagger.] Hail, thou sacred weapon! Virtue's deliverer, hail! Hear,omans, hear! did not the Sibyl tell you, A fool should set Rome free? I am that fool: Val. What can this mean? [Crosses, L. Bru. It means that Lucius Junius has thrown off Val. Ha! The voice Of inspiration speaks! Col. Oh, glorious Brutus, Let me in tears adore the bounteous gods Who have restored thee to redress my woes; And, in my woes, my country! Bru. No more of this. Stand not in wonder. Every instant now Is precious to your cause. Rise! Snatch your arms! [Kneels. Hear me, great Jove! and thou, paternal Mars, Here, I adjure ye by this fatal dagger, All stained and reeking with her sacred blood, All. We swear! Bru. Well have ye said: and, oh, methinks I see Friends! Romans! Countrymen! (for hither see By youthful fancy when the blood strays wild, The worthiest of the worthy! Oh, my countrymen You all can witness, when that she went forth, Forgot its crutch, labor its task,-all ran; And mothers, turning to their daughters, cried, [Rises. “There, there's Lucretia!" Now, look ye, where she lies! That beauteous flower, that innocent sweet rose, Torn up by ruthless violence-gone! gone! gone! All. Sextus shall die! Bru. But then-the king-his father 1st Rom. What shall be done with him? 2d Rom. Speak, Brutus ! 3d Rom. Tell us! Tell us! [Shout. Bru. Say, would you seek instruction? would ye ask Ask yon deserted street where Tullia drove Go to the tomb where lies his murdered wife, Bru. And we will be revenged, my countrymen! Which will, when you're revenged, be dearer to him 1st Rom. Down with Tarquin! 2d Rom. We'll have no Tarquins! 3d Rom. We will have a Brutus ! [Shout 1st Rom. Let's to the Capitol, and shout for Brutus ! Brutus your king ?-No, fellow-citizens ! If mad ambition in this guilty frame Had strung one kingly fibre,-yea, but one- Bru. Now take the body up. Bear it before us ^ A pile for these chaste relics, that shall'send Her soul amongst the stars. On! Romans, on! The fool shall set you free! [Exeunt the mob shouting.] : THE ROMAN FATHER. From the Tragedy of Brutus, by J. Howard Payne. Characters:-BRUTUS, COLLATINUS, VALERIUS, CENTURION, SOLDIERS AND FOLLOWERS. SCENE I.—A street in Rome. Enter BRUTUS and COLLATINUS, the Consuls, with LICTORS, VALERIUS, and numerous followers, L. Bru. You judge me rightly, friends. The purpled robe, The curule chair, the lictor's keen-edged axe, Rejoice not Brutus; 'tis his country's freedom! When once that freedom shall be firmly rooted, Then with redoubled pleasure, will your consul Exchange the splendid miseries of power For the calm comforts of a happy home. Enter a CENTURION, R. Cent. Health to Brutus! Shame and confusion to the foes of Rome! Burst on the sudden through the barrier guard, A young Patrician Bru. Ha! Patrician? Cent. Such His dress bespoke him, though to me unknown. Cent. The lady being taken, This youth, the life and leader of the band, Cent. Their leader seized, The rest surrendered. Him, a settled gloom Possesses wholly, nor, as I believe, Hath a word passed his lips to all my questions Still obstinately shut. Bru. Bring him before us. [Exit Centurion, R. Val. Oh, my brave friend, horror invades my heart. Bru. Silence-be calm. Val. I know thy soul A compound of all excellence, and pray The mighty gods to put thee to no trial Bru. No, they will not Nay, be secure-they cannot. Pr'ythee, friend, Be verified, turn back, and give some sign What thou hast seen.-Thou canst excuse this weakness, Ha! enough! [Valerius gives the sign.] I understand thee:-Since it must be so, Do your great pleasure, gods! Now, now it comes! TITUS brought in, R., guarded. Tit. My father!-Give me present death, ye powers! Cent. What have I done!-Art thou the son of Brutus? Tit. No, Brutus scorns to father such a son! Oh, venerable judge, wilt thou not speak? Turn not away; hither direct thine eyes, And look upon this sorrow-stricken form, Then to thine own great heart remit my plea, And doom as nature dictates. Val. Peace, you'll anger him— Be silent, and await! Oh, suffering mercy, [Brutus turns away from his son, waves his hand to the Bru. Come hither, Collatinus. The deep wound You suffered in the loss of your Lucretia, Demanded more than fortitude to bear; I saw your agony-I felt your woe— Col. You more than felt it-you revenged it, too. Fell nobly, as a Roman spirit should She fell, a model of transcendent virtue. · Col. My mind misgives. What dost thou aim at, Brutus ? |