If aught the house affords, my dearest love, Luc. With all the speed I can, I'll play the caterer; though I am tempted, [Crosses, R. Sex. This is indeed a wife! Here the dispute Must end; And, Collatinus, we must yield to thee! Aruns. I will not envy thee,—but 'tis a wife Of wives-a precious diamond, picked [Exit. From out the common pebbles. To have found her And not displeased at our rude interruption Not to squeeze out a quaint apology, As, 'I am quite ashamed; so unprepared! 'Who could have thought! Would I had known of 't!' And such like tacit hints, to tell her guests She wishes them away—thou'rt happy, Collatine. Col. Enough, enough! The gods forbid I should affect indifference, Sex. Pray, pardon me : My mind was in the camp. He seems quite lost. How wine could heat us To such a mad exploit, at such a time, Col. Now we are here, We shall encroach but little on our time Which will, by this, await us. Pray, my lords, Sex. Älong-I'll follow straight. [Exit. [Exeunt Aruns and Claudius. [Apart.] Had she staid here till now, I should have done Nothing but gaze. Nymphs, goddesses Are fables; nothing can, in heaven or earth, Be half so fair! But there's no hope! Her face, Her look, her eye, her manners, speak a heart -Peace, undigested thoughts! Down-down! till, 1i pened By further time, ye bloom! [Exit, R. END OF ACT II. ACT III. SCENE I-Rome.-The Capitol.-Equestrian Statue of Tarquinius Superbus.-Night-Thunder and Lightning. Enter BRUTUS, L. U. E. Bru. [Alone.] Slumber forsakes me, and I court the horrors Which night and tempest swell on every side. A violent crash of thunder, and the Statue of Tur In vain-for what's a slave-a dastard slave? A fool, a Brutus? [Storm increases.] Hark! the storm rides on! The scolding winds drive through the clattering rain, Strange hopes possess my soul. My thoughts grow wild, Enter VALERIUS, followed by a MESSENGER, L. [Crosses behind, and exit, R. Bru. [Apart.] Ha! Collatinus and Lucretia's kinsmen ! There's something sure in this-Valerius, too Well met-Now will I put him to the test Valerius-Hoa! Val. Who calls me ? Bru. Brutus. Val. Go, Get thee to bed! Bru. Valerius! Val. Peace, [Valerius is departing. Thou foolish thing! Why dost thou cali so loud? Val. Pr'ythee, begone! I have no time to hear thy prattle now. Bru. By Hercules, but you must hear. Val. You'll anger me. [Seizing his arm. Bru. Waste not your noble anger on a fool Twere a brave passion in a better cause. Val. Thy folly's cause enough. Bru. Rail not at folly There's but one wise, And him the gods have killed. Val. Killed? Bru. Behold! Whom? Oh, sight of pity!-Majesty in ruins! Down on your knees-down to your kingly idol! Val. Let slaves and sycophants do that: not I. Bru. Wilt thou not kneel? Val. Begone; Valerius kneels not to the living Tarquin. Bru. Indeed!-Belike you wish him laid as low? Bru. Jove tells thee what to do Strike !-Oh! the difference 'twixt Jove's wrath and thine! He, at the crownéd tyrant aims his shaft: Thou, mighty man, would'st frown a fool to silence, Val. What is this? Let me look nearer at thee. Is thy mind, That long-lost jewel, found?-and Lucius Junius, Bru. I am Brutus ! Folly, be thou my goddess! I am Brutus, Why dost thou pause? Look on me! I have limbs, Could Lucius Junius do? What more than Brutus Asks both the strength of Brutus, and the wisdom Of Lucius Junius. Bru. No more-we're interrupted. Val. Farewell. Hereafter we'll discourse. And may the gods confirm the hope you've raised! [Exit, R. Bru. [Alone.] My soul expands! my spirit swells with. in me, As if the glorious moment were at hand! Sure this is Sextus-why has he left the camp? Enter SEXTUS, wrapped in a mantle, R. U. E., and crosses, L. Sex. Ha! Brutus here!-Unhoused amid the storm? Bru. Whence com'st thou, prince? from battle? from the camp! Sex. Not from the camp, good Brutus-from Collatiae camp of Venus,-not of Mars, good Brutus. Bru. Ha! Sex. Why dost thou start?-thy kinswoman, Lucretia d I'll speak that shall fill thee with more wonder, Bru. Nay, prince, not so; you cannot do a deed o make me wonder. Sex. Indeed! Dost think it? hen let me tell thee, Brutus,—wild with passion She was alone. I said affairs of consequence Bru. [Apart.] Patience, oh, heart!-a moment longer, patience! Sex. When midnight came, I crept into her chamber Bru. [Apart.] Inhuman monster! Sex. Alarmed and frantic, She shrieked out, Collatinus! Husband! Help!' And drove my dagger through his clamorous throat; With terror, swore, by all the gods, at once, Sex. Was mine! Bru. [With a burst of frenzy.] The furies curse you, then! Lash you with snakes! When forth you walk, may the red flaming sun Strike you with livid plagues! Vipers, that die not slowly, gnaw your heart! May earth be to you but one wilderness! May you hate yourself— For death pray hourly, yet be in tortures Millions of years expiring! |