Den. A post in a hot battle! Out, you cur! Do you talk to me?

Citizen. [From behind.] Down with him, he does nothing but insult the people.

[The crowd approach Dentatus threateningly.

Enter ICILIUS, suddenly, L. S. E.

Icil. Stand back! Who is't that says down with Siccius Dentatus? Down with him! 'Tis what the enemy could never do; and shall we do it for them?

Who ut

Let

tered that dishonest word? Who uttered it, I say? him answer a fitter, though less worthy, mate, Lucius Ici

lius !

Citizens. Stand back, and hear Icilius !

Icil. (c.) What! hav'nt I voted for the Decemvirs, and do I snarl at his jests? Has he not a right to jest? the good, honest Siccius Dentatus, that, alone, at the head of the veterans, vanquished the qui for you. Has he not a right to jest? For shame! get to your houses! The worthy Dentatus! Cheer for him, if you are Romans! Cheer for him before you go! Cheer for him, I say!

[Exeunt Citizens shouting, R, S. E. Den. (c.) And now, what thanks do you expect from me, Icilius?

Icil. (R.c.) None.

Den. By Jupiter, young man, had you thus stepped before me in the heat of battle, I would have cloven you down-but I'm obliged to you, Icilius-and hark you! There's a piece of furniture in the house of a friend of mine, that's called Virginius, I think you've set your heart upon-dainty enough-yet not amiss for a young man to covet. Ne'er lose your hopes! He may be brought into the mind to part with it.-As to these curs, I question which I value more, their fawnings or their snarlings.I thank you, boy! Do you walk this way?—I am glad of it! Come "Tis a noble Decemvirate you have chosen for us! Come! [Exeunt, R.

SCENE II.-Virginius's House.

Enter VIRGINIUS and

SERVIA, with some of Virginia's work in her hand.

Vir. (c.) And is this all you have observed? I think There's nothing strange in that. An L and an I

Twin'd with a V. Three very innocent letters

To have bred such mischief in thy brain, good Servia!

Come, read this riddle to me.

Ser. (R. C.) You may laugh,

Virginius, but I'll read the riddle right.

The L doth stand for Lucius; and the I,
Icilius; which, I take it, will compose

Lucius Icilius.

Vir. So it will, good Servia.

Servia. Then, for the V; why, that is plain Virginia. Vir. And now, what conjuration find you here?

Ser. What should I find, but love? The maid's in love, And it is with Icilius. Look, the wreath

Is made of roses, that entwines the letters.
Vir. And this is all?

Ser. And is it not enough?

You'll find this figuring where'er you look:
There's not a piece of dainty work she does--
Embroidery, or painting-not a task
She finishes, but on the skirt, or border,
In needle-work, or pencil, this, her secret,
The silly wench betrays.

Vir. Go, send her to me

Stay! Have you spoken to her of it?

Ser. (R.) I! Not I, indeed; I left that task to you

Tho' once I asked her what the letters meant.

She laugh'd, and drew a scratch across them; but

Had scarce done so, 'ere her fair visage fell,

For grief that she had spoiled the cyphers-" and
A sigh came out, and then almost a tear;
And she did look as piteous on the harm
That she had done, as she had done it to
A thing, had sense to feel it." Never after
She let me note her at her work again.
She had good reason!

Vir. (L.) Send her to me, Servia.

[Exit Servia, R.

There's something here, that looks as it would bring me

Anticipation of my wish. I think

Icilius loves my daughter (c.)-nay, I know it;

And such a man I'd challenge for her husband ;-
And only waited, till her forward spring

Put on, a little more, the genial likeness
Of colouring into summer, (R. C.) ere I sought
To nurse a flower, which, blossoming too early,
Too early often dies; "but if it springs

Spontaneous, and, unlooked for, woos our hand
To tend and cherish it, the growth is healthful:

And 'twere untimely, as unkind, to check it."
I'll ascertain it shortly-soft, she comes.

Enter VIRGINIA, M. D.

[Sits, c.

Virginia. [Standing on his L.] Well, father, what's your

will?

Vir. I wish'd to see you,

To ask you of your tasks-how they go on-
And what your masters say of you-what last
You did. I hope you never play

The truant?

Virginia. The truant!

No, indeed, Virginius.

Vir. I am sure you do not-kiss me!
Virginia. O! my father,

I am so happy, when you're kind to me!

Vir. You are so happy when I'm kind to you! Am I not always kind? I never spoke

An angry word to you in all my life,

Virginia! You are happy when I'm kind!

That's strange; and makes me think you have some reasou To fear I may be otherwise than kind→→

Is't so, my girl?

Virginia. Indeed, I did not know

What I was saying to you!

Vir. Why, that's worse

And worse! What! when you said your father's kindness

Made you so happy, am I to believe

You were not thinking of him?

Virginia.

Vir. Go, fetch me

The latest task you did.

It is enough.

[Greatly confused.

[Exit Virginia, M. Ds

Her artless speech, like crystal, shows the thing "Twould hide, but only covers. "Tis enough! She loves, and fears her father may condemn.

Here, sir.

VIRGINIA, re-entering with a painting.

Vir. What's this?

Virginia. 'Tis Homer's history

Of great Achilles parting from Briseis.

Vir. You have done it well. The colouring is good,

The figure's well design'd. 'Tis very well!

Whose face is this you've given to Achilles?

Virginia. Whose face?

Vir. I've seen this face! Tut! Tut! I know it

As well as I do my own, yet can't bethink me
Whose face it is!

Virginia. You mean Achilles' face?

Vir. Did I not say so? "Tis the very face

Of-No! No! Not of him. There's too much youth
And comeliness; and too much fire, to suit

The face of Siccius Dentatus.

Virginia. O!

You surely never took it for his face!

Vir. Why, no; for now I look again, I'd swear
You lost the copy ere you drew the head,

And, to requite Achilles for the want
Of his own face, contriv'd to borrow one
From Lucius Icilius. My Dentatus,

Enter DENTATUS, L.

I am glad to see you!

[Rises. Virginia retires, R. Den. (L. c.) 'Tis not for my news, then.

Vir. Your news! What news?

Den. More violence and wrong from these new masters of ours, our noble Decemvirs-these demi-gods of the good people of Rome! No man's property is safe from them. Nay, it appears we hold our wives and daughters but by the tenure of their will. Their liking is the law. The Senators themselves, scared at their audacious rule, withdraw themselves to their villas and leave us to our fate. There are rumours, also, of new incursions by the Sabines.

Vir. Rome never saw such days.

Den. And she'll see worse, unless I fail in my reckoning. Is that Virginia? [Goes R. to her.] I saw her not before. How does the fair Virginia? Why, she is quite a woman. I was just now wishing for a daughter.

Vir. A plague, you mean.

Den. (R.) I am sure you should not say so.

Virginia. (R.) Indeed he should not; and he does not say so,

Dentatus-not that I am not a plague,

But that he does not think me one, for all
I do to weary him. I am sure, Dentatus,
If to be thought to do well is to do well,
There's nothing I do ill: But it is far

From that! for few things do I as I ought-
Yet every thing is well done with my father,
Dentatus.

Vir. [Goes to them.] That's well done, is it not, my

friend? [Aside. But if you had a daughter, what would you do with her?

Den. I'd give her to icilius. I should have been just now torn to pieces, but for his good offices. The gentle citizens, that are driven about by the Decemvirs' Lictors, like a herd of tame oxen, and, with most beast-like docility, only low applauses to them in return, would have done me the kindness to knock my brains out; but the noble Icilius bearded them singly, and railed them into temper. Had I a daughter worthy of such a husband, he should have such a wife, and a patrician's dower along with her.

Vir. I wish to speak with you, Dentatus. [They retire. to M. D.] Icilius is a young man whom I honor, but so far only as his conduct gives me warrant. He has had, as thou knowest, a principal hand in helping us to our Decemvirs. It may be that he is what I would gladly think him: but I must see him clearly, clearly, Dentatus. "If he has acted with the remotest understanding, touching the views of these new tyrants that we are cursed withal, I disclaim him as my friend! I cast him off for ever!"

[Exeunt Virginius and Dentatus, M. D. Virginia. (R.) How is it with my heart?

one

That has lost every thing, and just before
Had nothing left to wish for! He will cast
Icilius off!-I never told it yet;

But take of me, thou gentle air, the secret-
And ever after breathe more balmy sweet
I love Icilius! "Yes, although to thee
I fear to tell it, that hast neither eye
To scan my looks, nor voice to echo me,
Nor e'en an o'er-apt ear to catch my words;
Yet, sweet invisible confidant, my secret
Once being thiue-I tell thee, and I tell thee
Again and yet again," I love Icilius!
He'll cast Icilius off!--not if Icilius
Approve his honour. That he'll ever do ;

I feel as

He speaks, and looks, and moves, a thing of honour,
Or honour never yet spoke, look'd, or mov'd,
Or was a thing of earth. (c.) O, come Icilius;
Do but appear, and thou art vindicated.

Enter ICILIUS, L.

Virginia! sweet Virginia! sure I heard