Bru. [Almost overpowered.] That youth-my Titus-was my age's hope— I loved him more than language can express— I thought him born to dignify the world. Col. My heart bleeds for you.-He may yet be savedBru. [Firmly.] Consul,-for Rome I live-not for myself: I dare not trust my firmness in this crisis, Warring 'gainst everything my soul holds dear! Therefore return without me to the SenateHaply my presence might restrain their justice. Look that these traitors meet their trial straight,— And then despatch a messenger to tell me How the wise fathers have disposed of Go! [Exit COLLATINUS. Tit. A word, for pity's sake. Before thy feet, Humbled in soul, thy son and prisoner kneels- If these will not appease a parent's heart, [To Brutus. Strike through them all, and lodge thy vengeance here? Bru. Break off! I will not, cannot hear thee further! The affliction nature hath imposed on Brutus, Brutus will suffer as he may.-Enough That we enlarge Tarquinia. Go, be free! Lictors, secure your prisoner. Point your axes. To the Senate-On! [Exeunt TITUS and Guards, L. Bru. [Alone.] Like a lost, guilty wretch I look around And start at every footstep, lest it bring The fatal news of my poor son's conviction! Oh! Rome, thou little know'st-No more-It comes ! Enter VALERIUS, L. Val. My friend, the Senate have to thee transferred The right of judgment on thy son's offence. Bru. To me! Val. To thee alone. Bru. What of the rest? Val. Their sentence is already passed. E'en now, perhaps, the lictor's dreaded hand Cuts off their forfeit lives. Bru. Say'st thou, that the Senate have to me referred The fate of Titus? Val. Such is their sovereign will. They think you merit this distinguished honor. A father's grief deserves to be revered: Bru. And is his guilt established beyond doubt? Bru. [With a burst of tears.] Oh, ye gods! ye gods! [Collecting himself] Valerius! Val. What would'st thou, noble Roman? Bru. "Tis said thou hast pulled down thine house, Valerius, The stately pile that with such cost was reared. Val. I have; but what doth Brutus then infer? Bru. It was a goodly structure: I remember How fondly you surveyed its rising grandeur.— With what a-fatherly-delight you summoned Each grace and ornament, that might enrich The-child-of your creation,-till it swelled To an imperial size, and overpeered The petty citizens, that humbly dwelt Under its lofty walls, in huts and hovels, Like emmets at the foot of tow'ring Etna: Then, noble Roman, then with patriot zeal, Dear as it was, and valued, you condemned And levelled the proud pile; and, in return, Were by your grateful countrymen surnamed And shall to all posterity descend,Poplicola. Val. Yes, Brutus, I conceive The awful aim and drift of thy discourse- [Exeunt, R. SCENE II.--Exterior of the Temple of Mars.-Senators, Citizens, COLLATINUS and LUCRETIUS, discovered. At L. of Stage, a Tribunal, with a Consular Chair upon it. BRUTUS enters, R., followed by VALERIUS-he bows as he passes, and ascends the Tribunal. Bru. Romans, the blood which hath been shed this day Hath been shed wisely. Traitors, who conspire Against mature societies, may urge Their acts as bold and daring; and though villains, The cradled innocent, as these have done,- There is one criminal still left for judgment— [TITUS is brought in by the lictors, with their axes Pris-on-er. [The voice of Brutus falters, and is choked, and he exclaims, with violent emotion,] Romans, forgive this agony of grief— My heart is bursting!-nature must have way I will perform all that a Roman should ;— I cannot feel less than a father ought! [He becomes more calm, gives a signal to the lictors to Well, Titus, speak-how is it with thee now? Tit. Father, I call the powers of heaven to witness The gods will have it so ? Bru. They will, my Titus : Nor heaven, nor earth, can have it otherwise. It seems as if thy fate were pre-ordained To fix the reeling spirits of the people, And settle the loose liberties of Rome. 'Tis fixed;-oh, therefore, let not fancy cheat thee! So fixed thy death that 'tis not in the power Of mortal man to save thee from the axe. Tit. The axe!-O Heaven!-Then must I fall so basely? What, shall I perish like a common felon? Bru. How else do traitors suffer ?-Nay, Titus, more— I must myself ascend yon sad tribunal, And there behold thee meet this shame of death, [Turns, as if in agony. Tit. Die like a felon ?-Ha! a common felon !But I deserve it all:-yet here I fail :: This ignominy quite unmans me! Oh, Brutus, Brutus! Must I call you father, [Kneels. Yet have no token of your tenderness, [Rises. Bru. Think that I love thee by my present passion, A crime, thy father's bleeding heart forgives. Tit. Oh, Brutus! Oh, my father !— Bru. Forever! [Re-ascends the Tribunal. Lill the characters bend forward in great anxiety. Bru. To death!-[All start.] When you do reach the spot, My hand shall wave your signal for the act, Then let the trumpet's sound proclaim it done! [Titus is conducted out by the lictors, R.-A dead Poor youth, thy pilgrimage is at an end! And I am childless.--One effort, and 'tis past! [He rises, in agitation, and waves his hand, then drops into his seat, and shrouds his face with his toga. Three sounds of the trumpet are heard, all the charac ters assume attitudes of deep misery. Brutus starts up wildly, comes forward in extreme agitation, looks out for an instant on the side by which Titus departed, and then, with a hysterical burst, exclaims,] Justice is satisfied, and Rome is free! [Brutus falls. The characters group around him.] BEFORE AND AFTER THE BATTLE OF SHEEP'S RUN.* Characters:-MAJ.-GEN. FOGEY, COLONEL FEATHERS, CAPT. PUNKIN, LIEUT. WAIT, CORPORAL BLUNT, PRIVATE GORE. Col. F. Little did I think, when I accepted the office of Colonel in the militia, that I should ever be called into action. Who'd ever a thought that this ere confounded rebellion would 'a broke out, after all we've done in Puddletown towards compromisin' and soothin' our Southern brethren? And who'd a thought that the regiment in our county would 'a up and offered their service to the government, right away after my great speech on the Dangers of Abolishun and the Blessings of Peace? Well, I was obleeged to 'bout face, and go into it-and here I am camped out on the upper waters of the Squabosh, and expecting every day to be attacked by the Arkansas chivalry, who are the born lords of creation, and will whip us as a matter of course. I wish I was well out of this scrape, and safe at home among my cabbages. Fortunately my men haven't any suspicion yet of the state of my nerves. They think I'm as brave as Julius Cæsar. Let me see if I'm perfect in my speech to 'em; it 'll never do to break down on that! [Takes out a manuscript and recites from it.] "Fellow-sejers! descendants of the Revolution and the Mexikin war! The foot of the invaded is on our sile! Or our foot is on the invader's sile, which amounts to pretty much the same. Our glorious Kedentry has been split into *Founded on two dialogues in Mr. Epes Sargent's excellent volume “Original Dialogues." |