Claud. That's bad enough; yet

App. Ha! what's worse?

Claud. "Tis best

At once to speak what you must learn at last
Yet last of all would learn.

App. Virginius!

Claud. Yes!

He has arriv'd in Rome.

Marc. They are coming, Appius.

Claud. Fly Marcus, hurry down the forces! [Exit Marcus.] Appius,

Be not o'erwhelm'd!

App. There's something awes me at
The thought of looking on her father!
Claud. Look

Upon her, my Appius! Fix your gaze upon
The treasures of her beauty, nor avert it

Till they are thine. Haste! Your tribunal! Haste! APPIUS ascends the tribunal.-Enter L. NUMITORIUS, ICILIUS, LUCIUS, CITIZENS, VIRGINIUS leading his daughter, SERVIA, and CITIZENS.-A dead silence prevails.-VIRGINIUS and Daughter stand L.

Vir. Does no one speak? I am defendant here.
Is silence my opponent? Fit opponent

To plead a cause too foul for speech! What brow
Shameless gives front to this most valiant cause,
That tries its prowess 'gainst the honour of

A girl, yet lacks the wit to know, that they
Who cast off shame should likewise cast off fear-
"And on the verge o' the combat wants the nerve
To stammer forth the signal ?"

App. You had better,

Virginius, wear another kind of carriage :

This is not the fashiou that will serve you.

ir. (c.) [Having left Virginia L. with Icilius.] The fashion, Appius! Appius Claudius, tell me

The fashion it becomes a man to speak in,

Whose property in his own child-the offspring
Of his own body, near to him as is

His hand, his arm-yea, nearer-closer far,
Knit to his heart-I say, who has his property
In such a thing, the very self of himself,
Disputed and I'll speak so, Appius Claudius.;
I'll speak so-Pray you tutor me!

App. Stand forth,

Claudius! If you lay claim to any interest
In the question now before us, speak; if not,
Bring on some other cause.

Claud. (R. C.) Most noble Appius

Vir. And are you the man

That claims my daughter for his slave?-Look at me,
And I will give her to thee.

Claud. She is mine, then :

Do I not look at you?

Vir. Your eye does, truly,

But not your soul. I see it through your eye
Shifting and shrinking-turning every way
To shun me. "You surprise me, that your eye,
So long the bully of its master, knows not
To put a proper face upon a lie,

But gives the port of impudence to falsehood,
When it would pass it off for truth.". Your soul
Dares as soon show its face to me.-Go on,
I had forgot; the fashion of my speech
May not please Appius Claudius.

Claud. I demand

Protection of the Decemvir!

App. You shall have it.

Vir. Doubtless!

App. Keep back the people, Lictors! What's Your plea? You say the girl's your slave-Produce Your proofs.

Claud. My proof is here, which, if they can,

Let them confront. The mother of the girl

[Virginius, about to speak, is withheld by Numitorius. Num. (R. C.) Hold, brother! Hear them out, or suffer

me

To speak.

Vir. (L. c.) Man, I must speak, or go mad! And if I do go mad, what then will hold me

66

From speaking? 'Were't not better, brother, think you,
To speak and not go mad, than to go mad.

And then to speak?" She was thy sister, too!
Well, well, speak thou. I'll try, and if I can

Be silent.

Num. Will she swear she is her child?

[Retires.

Vir. [Starting forward.] To be sure she will-a most

wise question that!

Is she not his slave? Will his tongue lie for him

Or his hand steal-or the finger of his hand
Beckon, or point, or shut, or open for him?
To ask him if she'll swear!-Will she walk or run,
Sing, dance, or wag her head; do any thing
That is most easy done? She'll as soon swear!
What mockery it is to have one's life

In jeopardy by such a bare-fac'd trick!
Is it to be endur'd? I do protest
Against her oath!

App. No law in Rome, Virginius,

Seconds you. If she swear the girl's her child.
The evidence is good, unless confronted
By better evidence. Look you to that,
Virginius. I shall take the woman's oath
Virginia. Icilius !

Icil. Fear not, love; a thousand oaths
Will answer her.

App. [To the Slave, L. You swear the girl's your child And that you sold her to Virginius' wife,

Who pass'd her for her own. Is that your oath?

Slave. [Coming round to the front of the Tribunal. It is my oath.

App. Your answer now, Virginius ?

Vir. Here it is!

[Brings Virginia forward to c. Is this the daughter of a slave? I know

"Tis not with men, às shrubs and trees, that by
The shoot you know the rank and order of

The stem.
Yet who from such a stem would look
For such a shoot? My witnesses are these―
The relatives and friends of Numitoria,
Who saw her, ere Virginia's birth, sustain
The burden which a mother bears, nor feels
The weight, with longing for the sight of it.
Here are the ears that listened to her sighs
In nature's hour of labour, which subsides
In the embrace of joy-the hands, that when
The day first look'd upon the infant's face,
And never look'd so pleas'd, help'd them up to it.
And bless'd her for a blessing Here, the eyes
That saw her lying at the generous

And sympathetic fount, that at her cry
Sent forth a stream of liquid living pearl
To cherish her enamell'd veins. The lie
Is most unfruitful then, that takes the flower-
The very flower our bed connubial grew-

To prove its barrenness! Speak for me, friends •
Have I not spoke the truth?

Women and Citizens. You have, Virginius.

App. Silence, keep silence there. No more of that! You're very ready for a tumult, citizens.

[Troops appear behind.

Lictors, make way to let these troops advance!

We have had a taste of your forbearance masters,

And wish not for another.

Vir. Troops in the Forum!

App. Virginius, have you spoken ?

Vir. If you have heard me,

I have; if not, I'll speak again.

App. You need not,

Virginius; I have evidence to give,

Which, should you speak a hundred times again,
Would make your pleading vain.

Vir. Your hand, Virginia!

Stand close to me.

App. My conscience will not let me
Be silent. "Tis notorious to you all,

'That Claudius' father, at his death, declar'd me
The guardian of his son-This cheat has long
Been known to me. I know the girl is not
Virginius' daughter.

Vir. Join your friends, Icilius,
And leave Virginia to my care.
App. "The justice

I should have done my client, unrequir'd,
Now cited by him, how shall I refuse?”
Vir. Don't tremble, girl! don't tremble.
App. Virginius,

[Aside.

[Aside, L. C.

¡Aside.

I feel for you; but, though you were my father
The majesty of justice should be sacred-

Claudius must take Virginia home with him'

Vir. And if he must, I should advise him, Appi is To take her home in time, before his guardian

Complete the violation, which his eyes

Already have begun. [Turning to the Citizens.] Friends fellow-citizens !

Look not on Claudius-Look on your Decemvir!

He is the master claims Virginia!

The tongueshat told him she was not my child
Are these the costly charms he cannot purchase,
Except by making her the slave of Claudius,

His client, his purveyor, that caters for

His pleasures—markets for him-picks, and scents,
And tastes, that he may banquet-serves him up
His sensual feast, and is not now asham'd,

In the open, common street, before your eyes-
Frightening your daughters and your matrons' cheeks
With blushes they ne'er thought to meet-to help him
To the honour of a Roman maid! my child!
Who now clings to me, as you see, as if

This second Tarquin had already coil'd

His arms around her. Look upon her, Romans!
Befriend her! succour her! see her not polluted
Before her father's eyes !-He is but one.

Tear her from Appius and his Lictors, while

She is unstain'd-Your hands! your hands! your hands! Citizens. They are yours, Virginius.

App. Keep the people back

Support my Lictors, soldiers!

And drive the people back.

Seize the girl,

Icil. (L.) Down with the slaves !

[The people make a show of resistance, but, upon the advancing of the Soldiers, retreat, and leave Icilius, Virginius, and his Daughter, &c. in the hands of Appius and his party.

Deserted!-Cowards!

Traitors! "Let me free

But for a moment! I relied on you;

Had I relied upon myself alone

I had kept them still at bay! I kneel to you-
Let me but loose a moment, if 'tis only

To rush upon your swords!"

Vir. Icilius, peace!

You see how 'tis, we are deserted, left

Alone by our friends, surrounded by our enemies,

Nerveless and helpless

App. Away with him!

Icil. Virginia! Tyrant! My Virginia!

App. Away with him!

Separate them, Lictors!

[Icilius is taken aside.

Vir. Let them forbear awhile, I pray you, Appius :

It is not very easy. Though her arms

Are tender, yet the hold is strong, by which

She grasps me, Appius-Forcing them will hurt them
They'll soon unclasp themselves. Wait but a little—
You know you 're sure of her!

App. I have not time