Licinia. Do you think

Caius hath aught to do with Vettius' trial?

Cor. Think what is passing on Olympus! One way
Or the other, what concerns it us? Men have
Their proper business, which no part it is

Of ours to help to manage.-Why, that thread's
A crimson one you're taking to the leaf!

[any thing Licinia. Cornelia! Mother! [Rises.] Do you know About Caius?-I'm sure you do! You praise

My work, when I discourse of him-When I ask you
Concerning him, your answer but puts off

The proper one, "which were it good to have
Would you not give it me?" I fear, I know
Not what. O tell me what have I to fear-
Keep me not in the dark.-A thing we see not
Stirring will startle us; which, when light comes,
We smile to find could do it.

Cor. Take your seat again,

And I'll sit down by you; and listen to me.
Licinia. [Both sit] I thank you now,”
Cor. Thank me, by and by,

You should; but I doubt you will not.
Of Caius' measures.

Cornelia !

I know nothing

Licinia Measures!-Hath he "measures !"

Cor. Hath he hands and feet?-Hath he brains and

A man?-What do you take him for?-Have men
No parts to play but lovers ?--What! Are they
Not citizens as well?-Have they not crafts,
Callings, professions?-Women act their parts
When they do make their ordered houses know them.
Men must be busy out of doors-must stir
The city;-yea, make the great world aware
That they are in it; for the mastery

Of which they race, and wrestle, and such feats
Perform, the very skies, in wonderment,

Echoing back earth's acclaim, cry out of them!

Enter LICINIUS, L.

What want you with me, my Licinius? [Goes to him and takes him aside.] You

Have come to tell me something.-Caius hath spoken
For Vettius.-I was certain he would do it.-

He has enter'd the lists! He has stripp'd for the course!

I know

He will not get fair play, no more than his brother!

These fears are not good omens, my Licinius!--
But let him run it nobly!

Licin. Nobly he

Hath started.-Vettius is acquitted.

Cor. So far

All's well!-Away! Hurry him home to us—
The sooner here the better !

Licinia. [Rises.] Stay, Licinius!

Cor. (c.) I'll tell you all, Licinia-Let him go.

Caius hath spoken in the Forum for

[Exit LICINIUS, L.

His brother's friend, and they've acquitted him. Licinia. [Bursting into tears.] An hour ago, I was the happiest wife

In Rome!

Cor. Licinia, if you are Caius' wife, I am his mother.-Is he not dear to me? My youngest son, and last!

What I do know must come!

Yet do I bear,

I know my son!

Know thou thy husband-know thou Caius Gracchus.
He loves his mother well-Licinia better-

His country best! As I, his mother, grudge not,
That he prefers thee-thou, his wife, repine not,
That he prefers his country.-Both of us
Make up our minds to all may follow.

Enter LUCIUS, L.

Lucius. My master's coming, Cornelia, attended by a crowd of citizens, who rend the air with shouts. They say, he has procured the acquittal of the noble Vettius. -Rome is all joy and exultation.

Cor. Run to the door, and wait upon thy master.
[Exit LUCIUS.

Hear you, Licinia? Away with these sad looks!
Damp not thy husband's triumph! Can you hear
The people's shouts, and not partake their joy?

Licinia. I can remember, when Tiberius fell,
Not one of all of them had voice enough
To bid his murderers stop!

Cor. "Tis well, Licinia!

Had he not fallen in a generous cause,

1 should have thought of that as well as you.

[Shouts, L.

Enter CAIUS GRACCHUS, LUCIUS, and Attendants, L.
My son! my Caius, give you joy! You've saved
The life of your brother's friend!

C. Grac. Licinia knows it?

Cor. She does-go to her.

C. Grac. She has more to learn.

Scarce had I left the Forum, when a message
From the Consul follow'd, giving me the post
Of Questor, and requiring me on the instant
To join Opimius.

Cor. What, and must you leave us?

I did not look for this.-At once, my Caius ?-
Well, son, I'm ready.-Go, prepare thy wife.

C. Grac. What, my Licinia!
Caius?

[Goes up. Don't you speak to [Crosses to LICINIA.

Licinia. You never said a word of it to me!

Enter LICINIUS, L.

Licin. Come, Caius, are you ready?

Licinia. Ready for what?

C. Grac. To take a ride, wife, and a long one too! Licin. The general waits.

[LUCIUS and Attendants return, bearing CAIUS' Helmet, Sword, and Cloak, and remain, L. Licinia. The general waits! What general? Where are you going, Caius? O, ye gods! What's to become of me? Tell me the worst.

C. Grac. Love, I'm appointed Questor to Opimius;
And but a moment have for the farewells
Would take a day to speak, and many still
Left over!-Wife-Licinia-If you love me !-
Licinia. If I love you!-

Cor. (R.) Ay, Licinia, if you love him.
Would'st have thy husband be the lowest man
In Rome? Thou knowest none may hope to gain
The honours of the state, who have not shown
Their prowess in the field. A Roman wife
Is married to her husband's glory, not

His ease and pleasure! Come, take leave of him.
"Licinia. I'll see you to your horse.

Cor. What, with that face?"

Licinia. Will you not see your boy before you go?

C. Grac. I saw him, sweet, as I came in.

Licinia. Well, Caius,

Farewell!

C. Grac. Now, that's my own Licinia.

I'll send you letters, love, day after day.

Now, that's my own brave girl, to give me a smile!

"Tis like a sunny morning to a traveller

At setting out, fills him with happiest omens!
Farewell!

Licinia. I'll see you to the door!

C. Grac. So do.

Keep up your heart, love; I can come to you,
You know, at a day's calling-think of that!
Or you can come to me ;-and you will write
Me letters, won't you? Every word of which
I'll kiss, and think it is the hand that trac'd them!
There now-and, love, remember, as I shall,

23

Sad parting makes sweet meeting. Now, my Licinia! [Exeunt, L.

END OF ACT I.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-A Street in Rome.

Enter FANNIUS, R.

Fan. The gods provide for him. Fame talks of him, As of a theme she could emblazon the more

The more she should dilate on't.

"Enemies

Contend with friends which shall outdo the other

In vaunting of him." Yea, the hands that hate him,
Supply him but with richest kindnesses;

The bane they'd give him turning into good.
This Questorship, for his undoing meant,
Has built him up a thousand times the man
He was before-that scarce a day can pass,
But something's added, to swell up the amount
Of his too prosperous fortunes.

Enter FLAMINIUS, L.

Flam. Health to Fannius.

Opimius is arrived.

Fan. I am glad of it.

Flam. Something to temper joy-would you believe

it?

Gracchus is now in Rome, or soon to be.

Fan. Ha! it was that which brought Licinius to His house. I saw him enter it just now.

Flam. What think you?

Fan. That, if he returns to Rome,

Rome's at his feet.

Flam. Come to the Senate; [Crosses to R.] something

Must be resolved upon to hurt his credit,

And slake the people's joy at seeing him.

Fan. Effect but that, thou art a god to Rome!

[Exeunt, R.

SCENE II.-Caius Gracchus's House.

CORNELIA, LICINIA, and LICINIUS discovered.-
LICINIA seated at a table, L.

Cor. Are not you pleas'd at this, Licinia?
Licinia. No.

Nor pleas'd, nor yet displeas'd, Cornelia.
What care I, that the world allows him good
And wise? Did I not know him so before?
"Had I a doubt of it? Whom did I ask

To give their oath of it? I was content

With mine own knowledge!" Why should I be glad
That all do praise him? For his sake? Alas!
For any cause but that !-Whom all do praise,
Hath but a thousand eyes for one bent on him'
Can lower, as well as smile! I did not wed
Thy son, as one would choose an idle gem
To other's eyes to sparkle; but because
He shone to mine.

Cor. Hear her!-Go on, Licinius.

Licin. His very fame more profit brings to Rome, Than the exploits themselves of other men.

His fair renown has charm'd Micipsa so,

That he has sent large store of corn to the army;
And his ambassadors have made it known

To the Senate, in full assembly, that their master
Performed this from his mere respect for Caius.

Cor. O, glorious boy! Surpass thy mother's hopes. What said the Senate? Were they not struck with this?