VIRGINIUS. ACT I SCENE I.-A Street in Rome. Enter SERVIUS and CNEIUS, and Citizens, L.-Citizens stand on L. Ser. CARBO denied a hearing! Cne. (c.) Ay, and Marcellus cast into prison, because he sued a friend of one of the Decemvirs for a sum of money he had lent him. Ser. (R. C.) And Appius resisted not? Appius! that in the first Decemvirate was a god to the people. Cne. Resisted not! Nay, was most loud in favour of the decree; but hither comes Virginius, who interested himself so much in Carbo's affair. He looks a little heated. Is not that Titus he is speaking to? Stand aside, Master, and listen. [Retire back on L. Enter VIRGINIUS and TITUS, R. Vir. (c.) Why did you make him Decemvir, and first Decemvir too? Tit. (R.) We had tried him, and found him honest. Vir. (L. c.) And could you not have remained content? Why try him again, to find him dishonest? Knew ye not he was a Patrician, and of the Claudian family? Tit. He laid down the Consulate Vir. Ha! ha! ha! to be elected into the Decemvirate, and he was so; and he laid down his office of Decemvir, to be re-elected into the Decemvirate, and he is so: Ay, by Jupiter! and to the exclusion of his late colleagues ! Did not Titus Genutius lay down the Consulate ? Tit. He did. Vir. (c.) Was he not next to Appius in the Decemvi rate? Tit. He was. Vir. Did you not find him honest ? Tit. We did find him honest. Vir. As honest as Appius Claudius? Tit. Quite as honest. Vir. Quite as honest! And why not re-elect him Decemvir? Most sapient people! You re-elect Appius into the Decemvirate for his honesty, and you thrust Titus out of the Decemvirate-I suppose for his honesty also? Why, Appius was sick of the Decemvirate ! [Goes, L. Ser. (c.) I never heard him say so. Vir. (L.) But he did say so-say so in my hearing; in presence of the senators, Valerius and Caius Claudius, and I don't know how many others. "Twas known to the whole body of the Senate-not that he was sick, but that he said so. Yes! yes! he and his colleagues, he said, had done the work of the Republic for a whole year, and it was now but just to grant them a little repose, and appoint others to succeed them. Tit. Well, well, we can only say he changed his mind. Vir. No, no, we need'nt say that neither; as he had laboured in the Decemvirate, perhaps he thought he might as well repose in the Decemvirate. Tit. I know not what he thought. He is Decemvir, and we made him so, and cannot help ourselves. Fare you well, Virginius. Come, let's to the Forum. [Exeunt Titus, Servius, and Cneius, R. Vir. [Still on L. looking after them and pointing.] You cannot help yourselves! Indeed, you cannot; You help'd to put your masters on your backs. They like their seat, and make you show your paces; They ride you-sweat you-curb you-lash you-and You cannot throw them off with all your mettle! But here comes one, whose share in giving you To such unsparing riders, touches me More nearly, for that I've an interest In proving him a man of fair and most Erect integrity. (c.) Good day, Icilius. Enter ICILIUS, R. S. E. Icil. (R. C.) Worthy Virginius! 'tis an evil day Vir. You, Icilius, had a hand In their election. You applied to me To aid you with my vote, in the Comitia; Icil. I would have pledg'd my life Vir. 'Twas a high gage, and men have stak'd a higher The understanding 'twixt the heads of the people- Twas every jot disclos'd to me. Icil. By whom? Vir. Siccius Dentatus. Icil. He disclos'd it to you? Siccius Dentatus is a crabbed man. Vir. Siccius Dentatus is an honest man! There's not a worthier in Rome! How now ? Has he deceiv'd me? Do you call him liar? My friend! my comrade! honest Siccius, Icil. Good Virginius, Siccius Dentatus is my friend-the friend Siccius Dentatus-yet he's a crabbed man. Vir. Yes, yes; he is a crabbed man. Icil. A man Who loves too much to wear a jealous eye. Vir. No, not a whit!-where there is double dealing. You are the best judge of your own concerns; Yet, if it please you to communicate With me upon this subject, come and see me. I told you, boy, I favour'd not this stealing And winding into place. What he deserves, An honest man dares challenge 'gainst the world But come and see me. [Going, R.] Appius Claudius chosen Decemvir, and his former colleagues, that Were quite as honest as himself, not chosen- No, not so much as nam'd by him-who nam'd B Dog fights with dog, but honesty is not A cur doth bait his fellow-and e'en dogs, In terms of faith and cordiality- Icil. (c.) Appius comes! The people still throng after him with shouts, Unwilling to believe their Jupiter [A shout, L. Has mark'd them for his thunder. Will you stay, Vir. Not I! Stay you; and, as you made him, hail him; And shout, and wave your hand, and cry, long live Rome owes you much, Icilius-Fare you well— I shall be glad to see you at my house. [Exeunt Virginius, R. Icilius, L. Enter APPIUS CLAUDIUS, CLAUDIUS, SICCIUs Dentatus, LUCIUS, TITUS, SERVIUS, MARCUS, and Citizens shouting, R. S. E. Tit. Long live our first Decemvir! Long live Appius Claudius! Most noble Appius! Appius and the Decemvirate for ever! [Citizens shout. App. (c.) My countrymen, and fellow citizens, We will deserve your favour. Tit. (L.) You have deserv'd it, And will deserve it. App. For that end we named Ourself Decemvir. Tit. You could not have nam'd a better man. Den. (R.) For his own purpose. Your gift it was; App. Be assur'd, we hold [Aside. [Exit Appius, &c. the people shouting, L. Den. [Going, c.] That was a pretty echo! (c.)-a most soft echo. I never thought your voices were half so sweet! a most melodious echo! I'd have you ever after make your music before the Patricians' Palaces; they give most exquisite responses —especially that of Appius Claudius! a most delicate echo! Tit. What means Deutatus ? Ser. He's ever carping-nothing pleases him. Den. (R.) ()! yes-you please me-please me mightily, I assure you. You are noble legislators, take most especial care of your own interest, bestow your votes most wisely too-on him who has the wit to get you into the humour; and withal, have most musical voices-most musical-if one may judge by their echo. Tit. (R.) Why, what quarrel have you with our choice? Could we have chosen better?—I say, there are ten honest Decemvirs we have chosen. Den. I pray you, name them me. Tit. There's Appius Claudius, first Decemvir. Den. Ay, call him the head; you are right. Appius Claudius, the head. Go on! Tit. And Quintus Fabius Vibulanus. Den. The body, that eats and drinks while the head thinks. Call him Appius's stomach. Fill him, and keep him from cold and indigestion, and he'll never give Appius the head-ache! Well?-There's excellent comfort in having a good stomach !-Well? Tit. There's Cornelius, Marcus Servilius, Minucius, and Titus Antonius. Den. (c.) Arms, legs, and thighs! Tit. And Marcus Rabuleius. Den. (R.c.) He'll do for a hand, and, as he's a Senator, we'll call him the right-hand. We could'nt do less, you know, for a Senator!-Well? Luc. At least, you'll say we did well in electing Quintius Petilius, Caius Duellius, and Spurius Oppius, men of our order! sound men! "known sticklers for the people" -at least you'll say we did well in that! Den. And who dares say otherwise?" Well?" one might as well say "ill" as "well." Well is the very skirt of commendation: next neighbour to that mire and gutter, "ill." "Well," indeed! you acted like yourselves! Nay, e'en yourselves could not have acted better! Why, had you not elected them-Appius would have gone without his left hand, and each of his two feet. Ser. (c.) Out! you are dishonest! Den. Ha! Ser. What would content you? |