Of tottering Ardea, like a whirlwind burst
On this devoted city, whelm its towers,
And crush the traitorous hive beneath their ruins!
[Crosses to R.
Now, Titus, where is now thy promis'd faith?
Didst thou not swear no dangers should divide us?
Ti. I did; and, constant to my oath, behold me
Thy faithful guardian in this night of terrors.

Tar. Be still my guardian; snatch me from these terrors,

Bear me to Ardea, be the friend of nature,
And give the rescued daughter to the arms
Of her protecting parent; thus you gain
The praise of men, the blessings of the gods,
And all that honour, all that love can grant.

Ti. Despair! Distraction! Whither shall I turn me? Tar. Why do you waver? Cast away this weakness; Be glorious in your cruelty, and leave me.

By all the demons who prepare the heart
To rush upon the self-destroying steel,

The same dire moment which gives thee to Brutus,
Gives me to death.

T. Horror! Tarquinia, hold!

Tar. Lo! I am arm'd. Farewell! [crosses to L.] How I have loved you,

My death shall witness-how you have deceived me, Let your own conscience tell. Now to your father! Now go and mingle with the murderers;

Go, teach those fiends what perjury can do,

And show your hands bathed in Tarquinia's blood:
The filial deed shall welcome you to Brutus,
And fill his gloomy soul with savage joy.

Ti. Take, take me hence for ever! Let me lose,

In these dear arms the very name of son,

All claims of nature, every sense but love!

Tar. The gods that guard the majesty of Rome, And that sweet power, whose influence turns thy heart To pity and compliance, shall reward

And bless thee for the deed!

Ti. Can he be blest

On whom a father's direful curse shall fall?
Tar. A madman's imprecation is no curse.

Be a man.

Ti. Oh, while thy love upholds me, I can stand Against the world's contempt; remember, only, For whose dear sake I am undone; remember, My heart was honour's once.

Tar. And shall be ever.

Come, I will show thee where bright honour grows,
Where thou shalt pluck it from the topmost branch,
And wear it in its freshest, fairest bloom.

[Exeunt TITUS and TARQUINIA, L.

SCENE II.-A Street in Rome.

Enter HORATIUS and CELIUS, L.

Hor. Brutus and Collatinus are appointed
To sovereign sway, as consuls for the ycar.
Their self-elected senate meets to-morrow.
Though some remain, too honest for their views,
These for security exact conditions-

They ask a chief, whose well establish'd fame
May win the hearts of this inconstant people;
A chief so brave, that, should we prove victorious,
He may compel the king to keep his faith;
Or, if we fall, boldly revenge our deaths-

And such a chief I've found.

Cel. Indeed! In whom?

Hor. The consul's son-his much loved son-young Titus.

Cel. What! to rebel against his father's power!
Hor. Ay, he is ours. This very night, Tarquina
Will lead him forth to the Quirinal gate,

Whence they straight hasten to the camp at Ardea,
Impetuous youth is wrought upon with ease.
Though 'tis his father's frown upon his love,
And early vows pledged to the fair Tarquinia
Alone, which prompt him thus to head our band:
Once in our power, we'll mould him to our ends:
His very name will prove a tower of strength;
And Rome, once more, shall be restored to Tarquin.
Cel. Bravely resolved! But tell me where is Tullia?
Hor. A captive, and confin'd in Rhea's temple ;
Watch'd by the vestals, who there guard the flame
Upon the tomb where lies her murder'd father.
Unhappy Tullia! our swords shall soon release thee.
Come! Hence at once! The hour draws near-away!
Ere two days pass these reptiles shall be crush'd,
And humbled Rome sue for its monarch's pardon.

[Exeunt HORATIUS and CELIUS. r.

Enter LUCRETIUS and VALERIUS, L.

Val. That was Horatius 'parted, was it not?
Luc. The same.

Val. Am I deceived? Methinks I heard
Something like discontent and treason mutter'd.
Luc. I fear all is not safe. Assembled groups
Of Tarquin's friends have been seen close in con-
ference,

Muttering his name aloud. Ay, and some base
Degenerate Romans call'd for a surrender.

Val. Horatius' arts may justly wake suspicion :
And Rome, we know, is still disgraced by many
Too base, too sordid, to be bravely free.
Let us go forth and double all the guards,

See their steps watch'd, and intercept their malice
Luc. Nay, there's a safer course than that; arrest
them!

Val. The laws and rights we've sworn to guard, forbid it!

Let them be watch'd. We must not venture farther. To arrest a Roman upon bare surmise

Would be at once to imitate the tyrant

Whom we renounce, and from his throne have driven ! [Exit LUCRETIUS and VALERIUS, R.

A little dark.

SCENE III.-Rome.

The Temple of Rhea, with a large central door leading to the Tomb of SERVIUS TULLIUS, late King of Rome. On one side of the stage a statue of Rhea, and on the other a statue of Vesta, with altars, and incense burning before each.

PRIESTESS of Rhea. VIRGINS of the Temple.
Pr. Daughters of Rhea, since the lords of Rome
Have to your holy hands consign'd the charge
Of their now captive Queen, inform the Priestess
How your sad prisoner abides her durance.
Is her proud soul yet humbled, or indignant
Doth it still breathe defiance and contempt?

Vir. Sullen and silent she resolves on death:
She will not taste of nourishment. She comes,

Enter TULLIA, L.

Pr. I pray you, royal lady, be entreated-
Tul. I tell you, no!

Pr. Think what a train of weary hours have pass'd Since you had taste of food.

Tul. 'Tis well!

The fewer are to come.

Pr. How can you live to meet your royal husband, To fold your children in your arms again,

If you resist support?

Tul. Hah! well remember'd!'

What news from Ardea? Will he march for Rome? Hark! Do you hear his trumpet? Is he coming? Ay, this is hope, and worth the feeding.

"Tis well. "Tis well.

But, tell me-doth the king know of this kindness? Pr. What king?

Tul. What king?

Brutus, the king of Rome,-knows he of this?
Pr. He does.

Tul. And would he I should live?

Pr. He would.

Tul. Merciful villain!

Yes, he would have me live to page his triumphs: I know the utmost of his mercy

Subtle traitor!

་

I'll not taste food, though immortality

Were grafted to each atom-Hark! What's that?
Heard you that groan?

Pr. It is your fancy's coinage.

Tul. Again! "Tis deep and hollow:

It issues from the vault-Set the door open!

Open, I say.

Pr. It is your father's sepulchre.

Tul. My father! righteous gods! I kill'd my father! Horrible retribution!

Pr. Wretched daughter,

If thou hast done this deed, prepare thy spirit

By wholesome meditation for atonement,

And let no passion interrupt the task

Of penitence and prayer.

Tul. I'll pray no more.

There is no mercy in the skies for murder,
Therefore no praying, none.

I have a plea for my impenitence

Madness!

These groans have made me mad; all the night through

They howl'd distraction to my sleepless brain!
You've shut me up with furies to torment me,
And starved me into madness. Hark! again!
Unbar the door! Unbar it! By the gods
The voice is more than human which I hear!
I'll enter there-I will be satisfied,

Although the confirmation should present
His awful form-

[She rushes forward. The PRIESTESS and VEstals, in confusion and alarm, spring to the bar, which, falling with a crash, the door flies open, and discovers a monumental figure of SERVIUS TULLIUS, with lamps burning on each side of it. TULLIA recoils, shrieks, falls, and expires. The others groupe around her, and the Curtain falls to soft music.

END OF ACT IV.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-A Street in Rome, with the Temple of Mars in view.

Enter BRUTUS and COLLATINUS, as Consuls, with LICTORS, VALERIUS, LUCRETIUS, and numerous followers, L.

Br. You judge me rightly, friends. The purpled

robe

The curule chair, the lictors' keen edged axe,
Rejoice not Brutus ;-'tis his country's freedom:
When once that freeedom shall be firmly rooted,