And wise and learn'd withal; now changed, alas! Tul. But is he harmless in his moody humours? Val. Tame as my horse, which though devoid of reason Shall turn, shall stop, and at my angry bidding Tul. [Apart.] Hence, idle fears! -Yet, when he went to Delphi, 'tis given out Leading our soldiers. forth with sword and flame, Hor. Your orders are obey'd. Lucius awaits. [Exit HORATIUS. [To VALERIUS.] Tell me, will he answer If we do question him? Fal. I think he will: Yet sometimes, when the moody fit doth take him, He'll prattle shrewdly, with such witty folly HORATIUS returns with LucIUS JUNIUS. Tul. Hark thee, fellow, How art thou call'd? Luc. A fool. Tul. Fool for thy nature: Thou answer'st well,-but I demand thy name. Luc. Nothing but fool. Tul. His faculties are brutish ; BRUTUS shall be thy name. Br. Thanks to your grace! Hor. Dost like thy new name, gentle brute? Br. So well, Who will may take the fool. I care not who- Hor. I the fool! Sirrah, good words, or I will have thee beaten. Br. A fool thou wilt not beat-a brute thou dar'st not, For the dull ass will kick against his striker, Tul. Let me hear no more; There's mischief in his folly. Send him hence. [BRUTUS going L. But stay-I'll search him farther.-Hark thee, Brutus, Br. Your sons did ask who should be chief in Rome. Br. With pains and strugglings the prophetic dame This destiny reported from her god- "Great and most glorious shall that Roman be, "Who first shall greet his mother with a kiss." Tul. That is fulfill'd by Sextus. Hor. Ay, he straight Hasten'd from thence and kissed the queen his mother. Br. Woe for me, I have no mother! Br. Yea, madam; for just then my foot did slip In the fresh blood of a new-slaughter'd victim, And, falling, I did kiss my mother-earth. Tul. Oh, that the earth had swallow'd thee outright Till thou hadst kiss'd the centre! I perceive, The gods are leagued with folly to destroy us. My very blood chills at my heart.-Away. [Exit TULLIA, with GUARDS and LADIES, rapidly, Hor. Hark thee, thou Brutus; I in part suspect [Crosses to R. and strikes BRUTUS, nho seizes him. Val. Shame, my lord! forbear! Threat'ning a fool, you do but wrong yourself. Hor. But that the princes love his son, brave Titus, My dagger should have pierced his throat ere now And sent him to his mother earth for ever! He shall be watch'd.-Come, come with me, Valerius.' [Exit HORATIUS. L. U. E. [Exit VALERIUS, L. U. E. Val. The gods restore thee, Brutus, to thyself, And us to thee! Br. (alone) A little longer, 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. Br. 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? Br. Preferment. Thou canst do much at court. Tit. Ah, this is nothing! Br. So much the fitter for a fool's petition, And a court promise. Tit. Oh, this trifling racks me, Br. Lend me thine year: 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 Or, knowing, to achieve, declare it. Br. Now, my son, Should the great gods, who made me what thou see'st, Repent, and in their vengeance cast upon me The burden of my senses back again What wouldst thou say? Ti. Oh, my lamented father, Would the kind gods restore thee to thy reason Br. Then, Titus, then I should be mad with reason. Had I the sense to know myself a Roman, 1 This hand should tear this heart from out my ribs, Ti. We are Romans Not slaves Br. Not slaves? Why, what art thou? Dost thou not know me? Br. You abuse my folly. I know thee not.-Wert thou my son, ye gods Ti. [Starts.] Defend me, gods! Br. Hah! does it stagger thee? Saidst thou for liberty ?-It cannot be. Br. Indeed!-'tis well-no more. Ti. What would my father? Br. Begone! you trouble me. Br. Said I for liberty? I said it not: [Crosses to R. The awful word breathed in a coward's ear, Said I, you were my son ?-'Tis false: I'm foolish; Ti. Ah, do not leave me ; not in anger leave me. Anger is madness, and above my aim! [Music heard Hark! here is music for thee,-food for love, Tarquinia comes. Go, worship the bright sun, And let poor Brutus wither in the shade. [Exit BRUTUS.R. Ti. Oh, truly said! bright as the golden sun Tarquinia's beauty beams, and I adore! [Soft music. TARQUINIA enters, R. V. E. preceded What dedication, or what holy service Tar. I go to Fortune's temple, to suspend Ti. Though the goddess, In her blind bounty should unthrone the world, Tar. Thy gentle manners, Titus, have endear'd thee, Ti. Oh! neither name, nor nature, nor the voice Tar. Approve that firmness in the shock of trials, 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. |