To idle with thee; give her to my Lictors. They that have liv'd Let me take The maid aside, I pray you, and confer A moment with her nurse; perhaps she'll give me And knotted round my heart, that if you break it App. Have your wish. Be brief! Lictors, look to them. Virginia. Do you go from me? Do you leave me ? Father! Father. Vir. No, my child; No, my Virginia-come along with me. Virginia. Will you not leave me? Will you take me with you? Will you take me home again? O, bless you, bless you! My father! my dear father! Art thou not? My father? [Virginius, perfectly at a loss what to do, looks anxiously around the Forum; at length his eye falls on a butcher's stall, L. with a knife upon it. Vir. This way, my child-No, no; I am not going [Virginius secures the knife in the folds of his toga. Well, have you done? Vir. Short time for converse, Appius; But I have. App. I hope you are satisfied. Vir. I am- I am that she is my daughter! App. Take her, Lictors! [Virginia shrieks, and falls half dead upon her Vir. Another moment, pray you. Bear with me Lengthen it as I may, I cannot make it [Kissing her. There is only one way to save thine honour"Tis this [Stabs her, and draws out the knife. She fulls and aïes, L. Lo! Appius! with this innocent blood, I do devote thee to the infernal gods! Make way there! App. Stop him! Seize him! Vir. If they dare To tempt the desperate weapon that is madden'd With drinking my daughter's blood, why let them: Thus It rushes in amongst them. Way there! Way! [Exit through the Soldiers. "Enter HONORIUS and Valerius. Hon. What tumult's this? The fair Virginia Kill'd by her father's hand, to save her from The lust of Appius Claudius! Most foul cause App. Remove The body, Lictors. Icil. At the peril of Their lives! Death is abroad, at work, and most He opens his exploits! App. Obey me, slaves! Hon. Defend the body, freemen. There's a spark Remaining still, which, though not strong enough To light it up with its own beauteous life, May yet rekindle liberty, and save Expiring Rome! Citizens. It shall not be removed! Val. Back, slaves! Give place to freemen [A tumult ensues; the people deprive the Lictors of their fasces, and drive them, with the Soldiers, with Appius Claudius, &c. off the stage, then return shouting. Icil. Ay, shout and shout: a far more glorious cause Call'd for your voices, and you had not then The breath to whisper. How that ear had thank'd you, Had you as tender been of the jewel of Its precious sense as of the empty casket! Hon. A litter, citizens, to lift the body, And bear it through the streets; the spectacle Hon. Icilius, listen to me! Thou art not thyself, and knowest not There is a sweeter strain than that of grief- Thy bride along the streets; a second, but Icil. Rome and freedom! There is your ransom! such a costly one- END OF ACT IV. [Exeunt." ACT V. SCENE I-A Street. Enter APPIUS, L. App. I do abjure all further league with them : Power gone, life follows! (c.) Well! 'tis well we know Whose heel it treads upon. Enter VIBULANUS, hastily, and other Decemvirs, with MARCUS, L. Vibul. Honorius and Valerius are elected To the Consulate.-Virginius is made Tribune. App. "No doubt they'd fill their offices, when ours The head of the revolted troops, with all F App. Look to my safety, say you? A man, that's tumbling from a precipice You would bid A hundred fathoms high, and midway down, Vibul. Withdraw awhile From Rome. And honours. We shall recall you with applause App. Yes! you saw me on the brink— Beheld it giving way beneath my feetAnd saw me tottering o'er the hideous leap, Whose sight sent round the brain with madd'ning whirl. With but a twig to stay me, which you cut, Because it was your friend that hung by it Most kindly. Vibul. Nay," employ the present time In looking to your safety-" that secured, Reproach us as you will." App. I am in your hands, Lead me which way you please. Icilius. [Without.] Hold! Stand! Enter ICILIUS, with HONORIUS and VALERIUS as Consuls, NUMITORIUS and Lictors, L. Icil. Did I not tell you 'twas the tyrant? Look, Was I not right? I felt that he was present Ere mine eye told it me.-You are our prisoner App. On what pretence, Icilius? Icil. Ask of poor Virginius, tottering between despair And madness, as he seeks the home, where once He found a daughter! App. I demand due time To make up my defence. Icil. Demand due time! Appius!-Assign the cause, why you denied Her liberty provisionally, while Her plea remain❜d unjudg'd. No answer, Appius [Exeunt Appius and Lictors, R. Icilius and Numilorius, ↓ Vibul. Let all his friends, that their own safety prize, Solicit straight for his enlargement; doff Their marks of station, and to the vulgar eye [Exeunt severally. SCENE II.-Virginius's House. Enter LUCIUS and SERVIA, L. Luc. (c.) Is he not yet come home? I dread his coming home, good Lucius. Luc. (L.) A step! "Tis Numitorius and Virginius. Servia. Gods! how he looks!-See, Lucius, how he looks! Enter VIRGINIUS, attended by NUMITORIUS and others, L. Vir, (c.) 'Tis ease! 'Tis ease! I am content! 'Tis peace, "Tis any thing that is most soft and quiet. And after such a dream!-I want my daughter; Send me my daughter! Num. Yes, his reason's gone. Scarce had he come in sight of his once sweet As one struck dead. When to himself he came, We found him as you see. How is it, brother? Vir. How should it be but well? Our cause is good. Think you Rome will stand by, and see a man Robb'd of his child? We are bad enough, but yet They should not so mistake us. "We are slaves, But not yet monsters."-Call my daughter to me. What keeps her thus? I never stept within The threshold yet, without her meeting me With a kiss. She's very long coming. Call her Num. Icilius comes! See, my Icilius, see! Enter ICILIUS, L. Vir. Come, come, make ready. Brother, you and he Go on before: I'll bring her after you. Icil. Ha! Num. My Icilius, what a sight is there! |