Hor. But that the princes love his son, brave Titus, y dagger should have pierced his throat ere now, nd sent him to his mother earth forever! e shall be watched.-Come, come with me, Valerius. Val. The gods restore thee to thyself, And us to thee! Bru. [Alone.] A little longer, [Exit, L. U. E. [Exit, L. U. E A little longer yet support me, patience! Enter TITUS, R. Tit. Welcome to Rome! Would I might welcome thee to reason, too! Speak to thy son. Bru. I had a thing to say, But I have lost it. Let it pass-no matter. Tit. Look not upon me with those eyes, but speak What is it that annoys thee? tell thy friend How can I serve thee? What dost lack ? Bru. Preferment. Thou canst do much at court. Tit. Ah, this is nothing! Bru. So much the fitter for a fool's petition, And a court promise. Tit. Oh, this trifling racks me. Bru. Lend me thine ear: I'll tell a secret to thee Worth a whole city's ransom. This it is: Nay, ponder it, and lock it in thy heart There are more fools, my son, in this wise world, Than the gods ever made. Tit. Say'st thou, my father? Expound this riddle. If thy mind doth harbour Aught that imports a son like me to know, Or, knowing, to achieve, declare it. Bru. Now, my son, Should the great gods, who made me what thou see'st, Repent, and in their vengeance cast upon me Tit. Oh, my lamented father, Would the kind gods restore thee to thy reason Bru. Then, Titus, then I should be mad with reason. Had I the sense to know myself a Roman, This hand should tear this heart from out my ribs, Ere it should own allegiance to a tyrant. If, therefore, thou dost love me, pray the gods Tit. We are Romans Not slaves Bru. Not slaves? Why, what art thou? Dost thou not know me? Bru. You abuse my folly. I know thee not.-Wert thou my son, ye gods, Tit. [Starts.] Defend me, gods! Saidst thou for liberty ?-It cannot be. Bru. Indeed!-'tis well-no more. Tit. What would my father? Bru. Begone! you trouble me. Tit. Nay, do not scorn me. Bru. Said I for liberty? I said it not: The awful word, breathed in a coward's ear, Were sacrilege to utter. Hence, begone! [Crosses, R. Said I, you were my son ?-'Tis false: I'm foolish ; Tit. Ah, do not leave me; not in anger leave me. Anger is madness, and above my aim ! Hark! here is music for thee,-food for love, And beauty to serve in the rich repast. arquinia comes. Go, worship the bright sun, [Exit, R. [Soft music. TARQUINIA enters, R. U. E., preceded by Damsels bearing a Crown of Gold, some with Censors, &c., proper for the ceremonials of a dedication to Fortune. What dedication, or what holy service, Tar. I go to Fortune's temple, to suspend Tit. Though the goddess, In her blind bounty, should unthrone the world, Tar. Thy gentle manners, Titus, have endeared thee, Although a subject Roman, to Tarquinia. My brother Sextus wears thee next his heart; That patriot gratitude could shower upon me, Tar. Approve that firmness in the shock of trial, And if my love can recompense thy virtue, Nor tortures, nor temptations, nor the wreck Of Rome and empire, shall divide me from thee. To this I pledge my hand. Now to the temple! [Exeunt omnes. END OF ACT I. ACT II. SCENE I.-The Tent of Sextus in the Camp before Ardea. A magnificent Banquet. SEXTUS, R., COLLATINUS, R. c., CLAUDIUS, L. c., and ARUNS, L., discovered, drinking. Sex. Come, then, here's to the fairest nymph in Italy. And she's in Rome. Aruns. Here's to the fairest nymph in Italy; And she is not in Rome. Sex. Where is she, then? Aruns. Ask Collatine; he'll swear she's at Collatia. Sex. His wife! Aruns. Even so. [They rise and come forward Claud. Is it so, Collatine? Well, 'tis praiseworthy, in this vicious age, Col. Laugh on, though I'm the subject! If to love My wife's ridiculous, I'll join the laugh; Though I'll not say if I laugh at or with you! Aruns. [Ironically.] The conscious wood was witness to his sighs, The conscious Dryads wiped their watery eyes, And so did I;-but I shall not betray. Here now he is, however, thanks to me That is, his semblance, for his soul dwells hence. ow was it when you parted? [Mimicking.] She—' my 'love, Fear not, good sooth, I'll very constant prove.' Te : -And so will I,-for whereso'er I steer, 'Tis but my mortal clay; my soul is here.' [All laugh. Sex. And pr'ythee, Collatine, in what array Did the god Hymen come to thee? How dressed, And how equipped? I fear me much, he left His torch behind, so that thou couldst not see A fault in thy beloved; or was the blaze So burning bright, that thy bedazzled eyes Have since refused their office? Col. And doth Sextus Judge by his own experience, then, of others? ever Fruitful in schemes to please their changeful fancies, At virtue, whereso'er she passes by them. idle, |