And regal fortune-one that ask'd not what His pleasures cost-no further made disclosure. App. (c.) And did it nothing move her, Claudius? The more my agent urg'd, the more the shrunk And scorn, in imprecations and invectives That would pollute her child, compell'd my advocate App. Now Had I a friend indeed Claud. Has Appius need To search for such a friend, and Claudius by him? Till Appius thought upon a test of friendship, Claud. Then Appius has A truer friend than Appius is to Appius. [Meet at c. and join hands. App. What! you'd remove her father And that Icilius whom you told me of? Claud. Count it as done. App. My Claudius, is it true? Can I believe it? art thou such a friend, That, when I look'd for thee to stop and leave me, And even in thy loving eagerness Outstriding me? I do not want thee, Claudius, To soil thy hand with their Plebeian blood. App. Amongst the various property Claud. Well? App. It were easy for thee, (were it not?) Claud. I conceive you. App. To induce The woman to confirm your tale, would ask Claud. This hour. I know the school, my Appius, where Virginia Do thou Repair to thy tribunal, whither, should Her friends molest me in the attempt, I'll bring her, App. (L.) Claudius! Claudius! How shall I pay thee? O, thou noble friend! [Exeunt Appius, L., Claudius, R SCENE II.-A Street in Rome. Enter LUCIUS, L. meeting TITUS, SERVIUS, and CNEIUS. Luc. Well, Masters, any news of Siccius Dentatus from the camp? How was he received by the Decemvirs? Tit. He was received well by the Decemvirs. Cne. It wasn't then for the love they bear him. Tit. But they expect he'll help them to return the cuffs they have gotten from the enemy. Servius. Do you wish for a victory? Luc. Yes, if Dentatus wins it. "Tis to our credit, Masters-He's one of us. Ser. And is not Spurius Oppius one of us? Luc. He is; but he is in league with the patricians — "that is, the patrician Decemvirs." He is but half a plebeian, and that is the worse half.-"The better half he threw away when he became half a patrician.' I never liked your half-and-half gentry; they generally combine the bad of both kinds, without the good of either. Ser. Well, we shall have news presently. Your brother, Icilius, has just arrived with despatches from the D camp. I met him passing through the Forum, and asked him what news he brought? He answered, none; but added, we might look for news of another kind than what we had been lately accustomed to hear. [A shriek without, L. Cne. What's that? Tit. Look yonder, Masters! See! Ser. 'Tis Appius's client dragging a young woman along with him. Tit. Let us stand by each other, Masters, and prevent him. Enter CLAUDIUS, L. dragging along VIRGINIA, followed by SERVIA, and others. Servia. (L. c.) Help! help! help! Luc. (c.) Let go your hold! Claud. (c.) Stand by! She is my slave! Servia. His slave? Help! help! His slave? He looks more like a slave than she! Protect the daughter of Virginius. Luc. Release the maid. Tit. Forbear this violence. Good Masters! Claud. I call for the assistance of the laws; She is my slave. Servia. She is my daughter, Masters, My foster-daughter; and her mother was A citizen, a Roman-good Virginius, As I said before-Virginius, the Centurion, Whom all of you must know.-Help! help! I say, You see she cannot speak to help herself; Speak for her, Masters-help her, if you're men! Claud. Obstruct me, at your peril. Claud. Let me pass. Ser. Let go your hold, once more. Hear me, I say-She is my slave-I wish not Repair with me to the Decemvir.—Come, Tit. Come on then! To the Decemvir! Servia. Run, run for Numitorius !-Alarm our neighbours! Call out Icilius's friends!-I shall go mad! Help! help! help! SCENE III.-The Forum. Enter APPIUS, R. U. E. preceded by Lictors. App. (c.) Will he succeed?-Will he attempt it?— Will he Go through with it?-[Looking out, L.]-No sign-I almost wish He had not undertaken it; yet wish, More than I wish for life, he may accomplish What he has undertaken. O! the pause That precedes action! It is vacancy That o'erweighs action's substance. What I fear Is, that his courage can't withstand her tears That will be sure to try and succour her; Pointing, as 'twere, to every charm, and pleading Of distant feet-He comes! I must prepare For his reception. [APPIUS ascends the Tribunal. CLAUDIUS enters still holding VIRGINIA, followed by SERVIA; l'omen and Citizens, crying "shame!" Claud. Do not press upon me; Here's the Decemvir-he will satisfy you, Whether a master has a right or not To seize his slave when he finds her. Servia. She is no slave Of thine! She never was a slave! Thou slave! Or never was a free-born maid in Rome! App. Peace! What quarrel's this? Speak, those who are aggriev'd Enter NUMITORius, L. Num. (L.) Where is Virginia? Wherefore do you hold That maiden's hand? Claud. Who asks the question? Claud. Numitorius, you think yourself her uncle Numitorius, No blood of yours flows in her veins, to give you You do, attend not to the clamour of This man, who calls himself this damsel's uncle. Revolv'd her barrenness. My slave I have found Mine own I shall retain-yet giving them They please, for re-producing her. Would be but reasonable. Num. Reasonable! Claudius!-[With much vehemence - recollects himself.] He's but a mask upon the face Of some more powerful contriver.—[Aside.]—Appius ! My niece's father is from Rome, thou know'st, Serving his country. Is it not unjust, In the absence of a citizen, to suffer That he himself may answer this most foul The house of Claudius. "Tis the law of Rome In his possession is not to sustain Disturbance from the plaintiff. Tit. A just law. Ser. And a most reasonable demand. All the Cits. (L.) Ay! Ay! Ay! App. Silence, you citizens; will you restrain |