I trust, than either life or fame-my wife. I pray thee leave this woman's work-farewell Take this last dear embrace.-Farewell for ever! South. My bursting breast! I fain would speak, but words Are poor-Farewell!— But we shall meet again, embrace in one SELECTION XV. CAIUS GRACCHUS-DRUSUS. Drusus. Your pleasure, Caius ? -Knowles. C. Gracchus. Pleasure!-Livius Drusus, Drusus. The caitiff! C. Gracc. Ah! ho! Now You are Livius Drusus! You were only then The man men took him for-the easy man, That, so the world went right, cared not who got A plain and homely piece of stuff, to see Drusus. The senate's tool! C. Gracc. Now what a deal of pains for little profit! If you could play the juggler with me, Livius To such perfection practice seeming, as To pass it on me for reality— Make my own senses witness against myself, I see as palpable as if they were— Twas worth the acting; but, when I am master As you do, that the prodigy's a lie, What wanton waste of labor!-Livius Drusus, Drusus. Well, let me be so! I will not quarrel with you, worthy Caius! C. Gracc. What barefaced shifting! What real fierceness could grow tame so soon! When open-mouthed I brave you, straight you play But only to be honest to the people. Drusus. Honest! C. Gracc. Ay, honest!-Why do you repeat My words, as if you feared to trust your own! Do I play echo? Question me, and see If I so fear to be myself. I act The wall, which speaks not but with others' tongues. I say you are not honest to the people. I say you are the senate's tool-their bait Their juggler-their trick-merchant.-If I wrong you, Burst out at once in full retort upon me Tell me I lie, and smite me to the earth!— Drusus. My good Caius, Restrain your ardent temper; it doth hurry you C. Gracc. Give me but an answer, and I'll be content. Are you not leagued with the senate? Drusus. Your senses leave you, Caius! C. Gracc. Will you answer me? Drusus. C. Gracc. Drusus. Drusus. C. Gracc. Throw off this humor! Give me an answer, Drusus! Are you the creature of the senate? C. Gracc. Do you juggle with the people? 'Tis all I want to know you are a traitor. Drusus. A traitor! C. Gracc. Ay! Drusus. To whom? C. Gracc. To the poor people! The houseless citizens that sleep at nights Thou art their magistrate, their friend, their father. Dost thou betray them? Hast thou sold them? Wilt thou Who loves alike the senate and the people. i am the friend of both. C. Gracc. The friend of neither The senate's tool!-a traitor to the people! With one eye, glance his pity on the crowd, By his external badge; your order wears Drusus. I'll leave you, Caius, And hope your breast will harbor better counsels. Grudge you the senate's kindness to the people? 'Tis well-whoe'er serves them shows love to me! (Exit.) C. Gracc. Go! I have tilled a waste; and, with my sweat, Brought hope of fruitage forth-the superficial And heartless soil cannot sustain the shoot: I loved them and I served them!-Let them go! SELECTION XVI. RIENZI-COLONNA-URSINI-FRANGIPANI-CAFARELLO-AN GELO-SAVELLI-THE NUNCIO-EMBASSADOR-NOBLES. Mitford. Rienzi. Why, this Is well, my lords, this full assemblage. Now And we shall be impregnable. (Advancing up the room.) Lord Nuncio, I should have asked thy blessing. I have sent A double welcome! Rome lacked half her state A suitor to thee. Martin Ursini Rie. When last his name was on thy lips- Thy suit, thy suit! If pardon take at once Angelo. Yet, mercy— Rie. Angelo, Waste not thy pleadings on a desperate cause My lord Colonna, This is a needful justice. Col. Noble Tribune, It is a crime which custom- (Exit Angelo.) Of the strong against the weak-your law, the law Rie. Therefore, A thousand times he dies. Ye are noble, sirs, And need a warning. Col. Sick, almost to death. Rie. Ye have less cause to grieve. Frangipani. New wedded. Rie. Ay, Madonna Laura is a blooming dame, And will become her weeds. Cafarello. Remember Tribune, He hath two uncles, cardinals. Wouldst outrage The sacred college? Rie. The lord cardinals, Meek, pious, lowly men, and loving virtue, Col. An Ursini! Head of the Ursini! Ursini. Mine only brother! Rie. And darest talk thou to me of brothers? Thou, Whose groom-wouldst have me break my own just laws, To save thy brother? thine! Hast thou forgotten When that most beautiful and blameless boy, The prettiest piece of innocence that ever Breathed in this sinful world, lay at thy feet, Slain by thy pampered minion, and I knelt Before thee for redress, whilst thou didst never Hear talk of retribution! This is justice, Pure justice, not revenge! Mark well, my lordsPure equal justice. Martin Ursini Had open trial, is guilty, is condemned And he shall die! If Col. Yet listen to us! Rie. Lords, ye could range before me all the peers, There, 'midst the dangerous coil unmoved, she stood, And those poor innocent babes between the stones Sav. Yet he is noble! Let him not die a felon's death. Rie. Again, |