C. Grac. Give me an answer, Drusus! C. Grac. Are you the creature of the Senate ? C. Grac. Do you juggle with the people? Dru. A traitor! C. Grac. Ay! Dru. To whom?. C. Grac. 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 Juggle them out of the few friends they have left? C. Grac. The friend of neither The Senate's tool!-a traitor to the people !- "Talk moderation-patience-with one foot Step out, and with the other back again”— With one eye, glance his pity on the crowd, And with the other, crouch to the nobility; "At any public grievance raise his voice, And like a harmless tempest, calm away; Idle, and noted only for his noise." Such men are the best instruments of tyranny. By his external badge; your order wears Dru. I'll leave you, Caius, And hope your breast will harbour better councils. [Exit. The people following, with shouts, L C. Grac. Go! I have till'd a waste; and, with my sweat, Brought hope of fruitage forth-the superficial The first harsh wind that sweeps it, leaves it bare! I lov'd them and I serv'd them!-Let them go ! Enter VETTIUS, L. T'et. Why, Caius, what's the matter, that the people So follow Drusus? C. Grac. Matter!-Know you why The wind was all the morning in the south, [Crosses to L. Vet. More wonder yet! There stood a group of Senators Under a portico, and as they pass'd, They cheer'd them-cheer'd the Senators!-I thought They must be mad. C. Grac. No, no! they are not mad. There's not a day in the month, or year, they are Enter LICINIUS, L. Licin. Caius! Ha! Well met. Bad news! C. Grac. Bad news, and well met, say you! Why, so it is: for, "were you Pluto's herald, You could not pluck a smile from Caius' cheek, Would pay the labour of destroying." Come! Your news? Licin. Opimius will be Consul. C. Grac. Well! I'm Tribune! Licin. Pray you, show yourself among The people, or their hearts are lost to you. Your enemies have won them half already. 66 Hands they would look at ere they took a gift from them, They now do shake, as they pertain❜d to friends After long travel greeted: breath they'd turn'd from, Though wafting fortune's kindest errand, now Confounded. 66 Quinctius is no more Curtius, For Servius' shoe!" Let them not, Caius, have C. Grac. Never did I play The beggar yet, nor will I now; 'tis not Enter POMPONIUS, L. Pom. Where is Caius ? C. Grac. Here! Here!-What makes the man in such To your office! Half the votes are promis'd 'gainst The people's favour back again; or, mind! You are no longer Tribune. Licin. "Follow him not, you will but lose your la bour." Let us go to the people, and persuade them, I know, is sworn to his undoing; Hath no impediment, once Consul, if Caius should lose the Tribuneship.-Come, come. [Exit LICIN, L. Pom. Follow him, Caius, seek ouce more the people. I'll stir to win them. Though the price of their love For dogs, suppose they fawn'd on them ?-No wonder I should not-cannot-will not go among them! [Exit R. followed by VETTIUs and Poм. END OF ACT III. ACT IV: SCENE I.-A Street in Rome. Enter VETTIUS and POMPONIUS, R. Pom. It was a false return. He had their votes, Pom. This morning, Caius and he met near the Capitol. E Flaccus had Caius by the arm.-Opimius, On seeing him, makes a dead stand, and then With eyes fixed on him thus, and folded arms, He follows him right round, and cries to him, 'What, hoa! you, Caius Gracchus, whither now? 'What plot's on foot ?'-then falls on him with such A torrent of vile terms, as it would sting The tamest looker-on to hear. Vet. And how Did Caius bear it? Pom. Why, as one, that, seeing He pass'd in silence on. Opimius had His Candiot troops with him.-But where is Flaccus? Vet. Gone to bring Caius to the Forum. How Have you dispos'd our Latin friends? Pom. About The Rostrum. Vet. Fear not!-If it comes to numbers, Ours can tell theirs thrice over. Enter LICINIUS, L. Licin. Friends, well met! Something's on foot that bodes not good to Caius ! His finger on his lip. You may be sure Vet. All Rome perceives it.-Men inquire for him Lay heads together, and, with eyes glanced towards them, Whisper with looks portentous." Some do smile That never smil'd before on aught that lov'd him.— That's the worst sign.-" A smile from those that hate us, Looks at some scowl of fate about to fall If not already lowering !" Pom. What's to be done? Licin, Meet force with force! |