Vet. Agreed! Licin. Away, then! If you have any friend as yet unpledg'd, Vet. When meet we in the Forum ? Licin. At the third hour.-It is the hour of fate. If they repeal his laws-farewell to Rome! [Exeunt severally.-VET. and Рoм. R.-LIC. L. SCENE II.-CAIUS GRACCHUS's House.-Two Chairs on as before. Enter CORNELIA and LICINIA, L. Licin. You'll speak to him? Cor. I will. Licin. You'll urge him not To go? You would not throw your richest gem Cor. I would not. Licin. He's coming.-[Going.]-Mother!- : [Exit LICINIA, L. Yes there's a point where virtue stops. 'Tis there Her labour ever lost?—I can't debate That question now.-Nature wont let me.--She's [Retires. Enter CAIUS GRACCHUS, R. without perceiving his Mother. C. Grac. I'll wrestle with him for at least This throw!-My laws! What! abrogate my laws! O insolence of tyranny! Well, well! We are not so weak as let him.-Were he twice The Consul, he shall not lay hands on them. Yea, though our blood Cor. [Advancing calmly, L.] Caius, a word with you. There's Fulvius Flaccus waiting at the door They want? C. Grac. It is. Cor. 'Tis best, son, to deal frankly With your mother. What's on foot?-No matter! Hear me. I do not like that Flaccus. He's a man Hath more ambition than integrity, And zeal than wisdom. Is he of your party? Cor. The sooner then you break with him The better. Send him word you cannot come. C. Grac. My word's already pledg'd to go with him To the Forum. Cor. On what errand, Caius Gracchus ? Is it about your laws they would annul? Mind, Caius, you're no longer Tribune! C. Grac. Fear not! I shall be prudent. [Going. Cor. [Stopping him.] Stop, Caius. [Takes his hand.] I can almost think you still The boy did con his lessons at my knee, And I could rule in all his little moods With but a look.-Ay, Caius-but a look Of your mother's, made you calm as sunshine, in Your biggest storm! I would not lose you, Caius ! "Caius, I would not lose you!-Go not to The Forum!" C. Grac. Mother-is it you? It is your mother, feels that she is all "I would C. Grac. Wherefore, mother? What is there That I should fear? Cor. Your brother's blood, my son! Do I not know you, Caius? "Can I not read you, To hear it?-Caius, that dear brother's death's For whom you made those laws-the fickle people And raise up them they shake at!" Thou art single! Has not the blood to make it beat again! C. Grac. And should I therefore sink with the base times? What, mother, what!-Are the gods also base? Due profit of your lesson. Cor. Caius !-Caius ! C. Grac. Mother-I- C. Grac. Well, I'll not go. [Sits down.] I will be rul'd by you, If you please; let men say what they list of me. And point, and smile, and say to one another, Cor. Know the people you did promise To go? C. Grac. Are they not here with Fulvius Flaccus, Expecting me? But let them go with him; He'll speak for them.-He'll be their friend.-He'll dare Cor. You must "go to the Forum!"-You must. "C. Grac. Not if you will it not. Cor. I neither will it, Nor will it not." C. Grac. Unless you bid me go, They go without me! Cor. Why, I think as it is, You cannot help but go. I know not what's Cor. Go to the Forum. Go! C. Grac. My only use Of life's to prove it! Cor. Go! Go! Go! my Caius. [Crosses to R. turns and embraces.-Exeunt, COR. R. C. GRAC. L. SCENE III.-A Square.-The Statue of Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus. Enter C. GRACCHUS, TITUS, MARCUS, and Citizens, R. U. E. C. Grac. What son of Rome may not his country call To do her service? Romans, you desire I should defend your laws from abrogation, And I obey you. Tit. Worthy Caius ! C. Grac. Some coldness there has been between us; but We know the cause, and so are friends again. Enter FLACCUs, R. Flac. Caius! the Consul is about to pass, Proceeding to the sacrifice which he Has order'd, to give impious sanctity To his designs against you. C. Grac. Pray you now, My friends, observe good order. Let them pass. [All the Citizens yet to L. corner. Music.-A Procession of Priests, &c. cross the Stage, followed by OPIMIUS, as Consul, attended by DRUSUS and Senators. Seeing GRACCHUS, OPIMIUS stops. Opi. What! do you wait to interrupt us here, You, Caius Gracchus, Fulvius, and the rest, With your lewd rabble! C. Grac. You may see, Opimius, The way is clear for you. Opi. O! is it so ? 'Tis well, indeed, you give us leave to pass C. Grac. True, Opimius, True! It is Caius Gracchus. Opi. How! So humble? "What! this the gentleman that rail'd at us What knave may not grow honest! Speak your soul, man ! Tell us you hate us. Spurn us, mock us, and The double villain. We are not the Consul ! C. Grac. I will not stay [Crosses to R. To give you plea of quarrel. Know, Opimius, The shadow of her greatness. [Exit, R. The man that loves his country, may respect Opi. Ha!-Take heed. Look to your safety.-On to the sacrifice. [Music.-Exeunt OPIMIUS and his party, L. U. E. |