Already is the ague creeping o'er Thy flesh, at longer trial of the test Would shake the weapon from thy hand, tho' clench'd With thousand oaths!That I should see her thus ! I must not look on her again-nor speak to her— I'll call her maid to watch by her, and then I will to bed and sleep-or feign to sleep! Let him not go forth! They'll kill my Caius ! [Going. Keep him in, mother! C. Grac. [Returning.] She is dreaming of me. Some horrible conceit her fancy frames To cheat her with.-Had I not better wake her? For what?-To do in earnest, what I would not O proper kindness!- -Whatsoe'er it was, "Tis gone!-How calm!-He ne'er hath look'd on sleep, That hath not caught it lighted on the lids [Going. Licinia. [At first in her sleep, then awaking and rushing forward.] O spare him! him to his wife! Strike here! Strike here! Save him! Give [CAIUS catches her in his arms.] My Caius !-'Twas a dream! But press me to thy heart.-Speak to me, Caius ! 1 know 'tis you-but press me-speak to me ! It was a horrid dream! C. Grac. Ne'er mind it, 'Tis you! love! Dreams are but dreams. This is our house-and 'tis our sitting room We are talking in; and it is night-still night- Licinia. Indeed you do-and when you smile, Is meant to hide, not show.-Gods! husband, what's The matter? 7 C. Grac. Sweet, you frighten'd me just now. F C. Grac. Ay! A woman's shriek starts terrors, Licinia. And did I shriek? I knew not what I did.-"Twas such a dream! C. Grac. No, never mind, Licinia. Are you afraid to hear it? C. Grac. Afraid of a shadow! No, Licinia. "Twould pain you to go over it. Licinia. Not it! Pain me? Is not your arm around me, Caius? That you hold your hand to your forehead? To walk bareheaded yesternight in the garden, His weapon like a soldier? Licinia. Like a demon! C. Grac. No doubt!-no doubt! C. Grac. It would be An idle dream had not the thrift to turn A man into a demon! Pr'ythee, love, What figure took he next? Licinia. You make a jest Of me. I'll tell no more of it. I'm glad You are so merry. C. Grac. Merry! Licinia. Are you not? C. Grac. Not if it does not please you, love. But it does!-Be ever merry !-You'll be merry Will I, and so will all the house.-Now why, C. Grac. Indeed, Licinia, I cannot tell. Licinia. You cannot tell !-You, Caius! The birth-day of our boy! There was a time Licinia. Is that the way to think of our boy? To make a father proud, although it is His mother says it. C. Grac. So he is-We'll go To rest, love. Licinia. Nay, I am not weary, Caius ;Sit up a while and talk. C. Grac. I would not talk To-night. Licinia. No more would I.-We'll go to rest. [Takes the lights. Come, Caius. Now, I have not told you half The reason we shall be so happy, love, To-morrow.-Can't you guess? C. Grac. What is't, Licinia? Licinia. Have we not reason to be happy? I have! Have not you? Sha'n't we be happy? Say we shall ! C. Grac. We shall! To be sure Licinia. Say it out! C. Grac. To be sure we shall ! Why should we not? Why should we-Come to rest Come to rest.-It grows to torture! Licinia. What, my Caius? C. Grac. The pain I told you of. You do not look as you were well-nor speak. — All's wrong if you're not well. C. Grac. A little sleep Will set all right. Licinia. It will! It will! C. Grac. Come, love! Licinia. I would not for the world you should be ill To-morrow-or any day-but most of all 'To-morrow. C. Grac. Come to rest, love! Licinia. Are you sure "Tis nothing needs be fear'd? You're ill indeed, then! you are very ill! C. Grac. You drive me mad! Don't mind me, love !-Don't mind me!-Come to rest." END OF ACT IV. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I.-The Street before Caius's House.-Lamps a little off-Citizens asleep in various postures, armed-some watching. Enter TITUS, L. Tit. Almost the morning dawns. What! rouse ye, friends! Up, drowsy comrades, up! 'Tis time, 'tis time! [They rise. Enter C. GRACCHUS from the house, R. C. Gruc. Ha! Is it time, my friends? C. Grac. What noise of steps is that? Crossing the end of the street. C. Gruc. Go on before, my friends. I'll follow you! [Exeunt TITUs and Citizens, L. I will but take a last look of the house. To think of what I leave within that house!I left her sleeping. Gods! upon the brink Of what a precipice!-and she must down!— I cannot save her. My last kiss, when I Did print upon her cheek, she breath'd my name, Had urg'd upon me-I must have forgone C. Grac. My Licinia, Why do you quit your bed? Licinia. To seek you, Caius ! "To bring you back with me! Come into the house!" C. Grac. What fear you, love? Licinia. I know not what I fear; But well I know that I have cause to fear! Your looks and answers when you did come back- A thousand thousand things that I could name, C. Grac. Licinia!-Wife! Collect yourself, and listen to me, now. I must go forth, and may not be prevented- His wonted time and take a walk, but he Licinia. I cannot quit you, Caius! I cannot let you go! Spite of myself, I cling to you, as though my arms were bound |