University of Virginia Library

Act V.

The Armie.
Petreivs.
It is my fortune, and my glorie, Souldiers,
This day, to lead you on; the worthy Consul
Kept from the honor of it, by disease:
And I am proud, to haue so braue a cause
To exercise your armes in. We not, now,
Fight for how long, how broad, how great, and large
Th'extent, and bounds o'th' people of Rome shall be;
But to retaine what our great ancestors,
With all their labours, counsells, arts, and actions,
For vs, were purchasing so many yeeres.
The quarrell is not, now, of fame, of tribute,
Or of wrongs, done vnto confederates,
For which, the armie of the people of Rome
Was wont to moue: but for your owne republique,
For the rais'd temples of th'immortall gods,
For all your fortunes, altars, and your fires,
For the deare soules of your lou'd wiues, and children,
Your parents tombes, your rites, lawes, libertie,
And, briefly, for the safety of the world:
Against such men, as onely by their crimes
Are knowne; thrust out by riot, want, or rashnesse.
One sort, Sylla's old troops, left here in Fesulæ,
Who sodainely made rich, in those dire times,
Are since, by their vn-bounded, vast expence,
Growne needy, and poore: and haue but left t'expect,
From Catiline, new bills, and new proscriptions.
These men (they say) are valiant; yet, I thinke 'hem
Not worth your pause: For either their old vertue
Is, in their sloth, and pleasures lost; or, if
It tarry with 'hem, so ill match to yours,
As they are short in number, or in cause.
The second sort are of those (city-beasts,
Rather then citizens) who whilst they reach
After our fortunes, haue let flie their owne;
These, whelm'd in wine, swell'd vp with meates, and weakned
With hourely whoredomes, neuer left the side
Of Catiline, in Rome; nor, here, are loos'd
From his embraces: such, as (trust me) neuer
In riding, or in vsing well their armes,
Watching, or other militarie labour,
Did exercise their youth; but learn'd to loue,
Drinke, dance, and sing, make feasts, and be fine gamsters:
And these will wish more hurt to you, then they bring you.
The rest are a mixt kind, all sorts of furies,
Adulterers, dicers, fencers, out-lawes, theeues,
The murderers of their parents, all the sinke,
And plague of Italie, met in one torrent,
To take, to day, from vs the punishment,
Due to their mischiefes, for so many yeeres.
And who, in such a cause, and 'gainst such fiends,
Would not now wish himselfe all arme, and weapon?
To cut such poysons from the earth, and let
Their bloud out, to be drawne away in cloudes,
And pour'd, on some inhabitable place,
Where the hot sunne, and slime breeds nought but monsters?
Chiefly, when this sure ioy shall crowne our side,
That the least man, that falls vpon our partie
This day (as some must giue their happy names
To fate, and that eternall memorie
Of the best death, writ with it, for their countrey)
Shall walke at pleasure, in the tents of rest;
And see farre off, beneath him, all their host
Tormented after life: and Catiline, there,
Walking a wretched, and lesse ghost, then he.
Ile vrge no more: Moue forward, with your eagles,
And trust the Senates, and Romes cause to heauen.

Arm.
To thee, great father Mars, and greater Iove.

Cæsar
, Crassvs.
I Euer look'd for this of Lentvlvs,
When Catiline was gone.

Cra.
I gaue 'hem lost,
Many dayes since.

Caes.
But, wherefore did you beare
Their letter to the Consul, that they sent you,
To warne you from the citie?

Cra.
Did I know
Whether he made it? It might come from him,
For ought I could assure me: if they meant,
I should be safe, among so many, they might
Haue come, as well as writ.

Caes.
There is no losse
In being secure. I haue, of late, too, ply'd him
Thicke, with intelligences, but they'haue beene
Of things he knew before.

Cra.
A little serues
To keepe a man vpright, on these state-bridges,
Although the passage were more dangerous.
Let vs now take the standing part.

Caes.
We must,
And be as zealous for't, as Cato. Yet
I would faine helpe these wretched men.

Cra.
You cannot.
Who would saue them, that haue betraid themselues?

Cicero
, Qvintvs, Cato.
I will not be wrought to it, brother Qvintvs.
There's no mans priuate enmitie shall make
Me violate the dignitie of another.
If there were proofe 'gainst Caesar, or who euer,
To speake him guiltie, I would so declare him.
But Qvintvs Catvlvs, and Piso both,
Shall know, the Consul will not, for their grudge,
Haue any man accus'd, or named falsly.

Qvi.
Not falsly: but if any circumstance,
By the Allobroges, or from Voltvrtivs,
Would carry it.

Cic.
That shall not be sought by me.
If it reueale it selfe, I would not spare
You, brother, if it pointed at you, trust me.

Cato.
Good Marcvs Tvllivs (which is more, then great)
Thou had'st thy education, with the gods.

Cic.
Send Lentvlvs forth, and bring away the rest.
This office, I am sorry, sir, to doe you.

The Senate.
Prae.
They are without.

Cic.
Be readie, with Voltvrtivs,
To bring him, when the Senate calls; and see
None of the rest, conferre together. Fathers,
What doe you reade? Is it yet worth your care,
If not your feare, what you find practis'd there?

Caes.
It hath face of horror!

Cra.
I'am amaz'd!

Cato.
Looke there.

Syl.
Gods! Can such men draw cōmon aire?

Cic.
Although the greatnesse of the mischiefe, Fathers,
Hath often made my faith small, in this Senate,
Yet, since my casting Catiline out (for now
I doe not feare the enuy of the word,
Vnlesse the deed be rather to be fear'd,
That he went hence aliue; when those I meant
Should follow him, did not) I haue spent both dayes,
And nights, in watching, what their fury' and rage
Was bent on, that so staid, against my thought:
And that I might but take 'hem in that light,
Where, when you met their treason, with your eyes,
Your minds, at length, would thinke for your owne safetie.
And, now, 'tis done. There are their hands, and seales.
Their persons, too, are safe, thankes to the gods.
Bring in Voltvrtivs, and the Allobroges.
These be the men, were trusted with their letters.

Vol.
Fathers, beleeue me, I knew nothing: I
Was trauailing for Gallia, and am sorry—

Cic.
Quake not, Voltvrtivs, speake the truth, and hope
Well of this Senate, on the Consuls word.

Vol.
Then, I knew all. But truely I was drawne in
But t'other day.

Caes.
Say, what thou know'st, and feare not.
Thou hast the Senate, faith, and Consuls word,
To fortifie thee.

Vol.
I was sent with letters—
He answeres with feare and interruptions.
And had a message too—from Lentvlvs—
To Catiline—that he should vse all aides—
Seruants, or others—and come with his armie,
Assoone, vnto the cities as he could—
For they were readie, and but staid for him—
To intercept those, that should flee the fire—
These men (the Allobroges) did heare it too.

All.
Yes, Fathers, and they tooke an oath, to vs.
Besides their letters, that we should be free;
And vrg'd vs, for some present aide of horse.

Cic.
Nay, here be other testimonies, Fathers,
The weapons and armes are brought forth.
Cethegvs armourie.

Cra.
What, not all these?

Cic.
Here's not the hundred part. Call in the Fencer,
That we may know the armes to all these weapons.
Come, my braue sword-player, to what actiue vse,
Was all this steele proiuded?

Cet.
Had you ask'd
In Sylla's dayes, it had beene to cut throats;
But, now, it was to looke on, only: I lou'd
To see good blades, and feele their edge, and points.
To put a helme vpon a blocke, and cleaue it,
And, now and then, to stab an armour through.

Cic.
Know you that paper? That will stab you through.
Is it your hand? Hold, saue the pieces. Traytor,
Hath thy guilt wak'd thy furie?

Cet.
I did write,
I know not what; nor care not: That foole Lentvlvs
Did dictate, and I t'other foole, did signe it.

Cic.
Bring in Statilivs: Do's he know his hand too?
And Lentvlvs. Reach him that letter.

Sta.
I
Confesse it all.

Cic.
Know you that seale yet, Pvblivs?

Len.
Yes, it is mine.

Cic.
Whose image is that, on it?

Len.
My grand-fathers.

Cic.
What, that renown'd good man,
That did so only' embrace his countrey', and lou'd
His fellow citizens! Was not his picture,
Though mute, of power to call thee from a fact,
So foule—

Len.
As what, impetuous Cicero?

Cic.
As thou art, for I doe not know what's fouler.
Looke vpon these. Doe not these faces argue
Thy guilt, and impudence?

Len.
What are these to me?
I know 'hem not.

All.
No Pvblivs? we were with you,
At Brvtvs house.

Vol.
Last night.

Len.
What did you there?
Who sent for you?

All.
Your self did. We had letters
From you, Cethegvs, this Statilivs here,
Gabinivs Cimber, all, but from Longinvs,
Who would not write, because he was to come
Shortly, in person, after vs (he said)
To take the charge o' the horse, which we should leuy.

Cic.
And he is fled, to Catiline, I heare.

Len.
Spies? spies?

All.
You told vs too, o' the Sibylls bookes,
And how you were to be a king, this yeere,
The twentieth, from the burning of the Capitoll.
That three Cornelii were to raigne, in Rome,
Of which you were the last: and prais'd Cethegvs,
And the great spirits, were with you, in the action.

Cet.
These are your honorable Ambassadors,
My soueraigne lord.

Cat.
Peace, that too bold Cethegvs.

All.
Besides Gabinivs, your agent, nam'd
Avtronivs, Servivs Svlla, Vargvnteivs,
And diuers others.

Vol.
I had letters from you,
To Catiline, and a message, which I'haue told
Vnto the Senate, truely, word for word:
For which, I hope, they will be gracious to me.
I was drawne in, by that same wicked Cimber,
And thought no hurt at all.

Cic.
Voltvrtivs, peace.
Where is thy visor, or thy voyce, now, Lentvlvs?
Art thou confounded? Wherefore speak'st thou not?
Is all so cleere, so plaine, so manifest,
That both thy eloquence, and impudence,
And thy ill nature, too, haue left thee, at once?
Take him aside. There's yet one more, Gabinivs,
The enginer of all. Shew him that paper,
If he doe know it?

Gab.
I know nothing.

Cic.
No?

Gab.
No. Neyther will I know.

Cat.
Impudent head!
Sticke it into his throate; were I the Consul,
Il'd make thee eate the mischiefe, thou hast vented.

Gab.
Is there a law for't, Cato?

Cat.
Do'st thou aske
After a law, that would'st haue broke all lawes,
Of nature, manhood, conscience, and religion?

Gab.
Yes, I may aske for't.

Cat.
No, pernicious Cimber.
Th'inquiring after good, do's not belong
Vnto a wicked person.

Gab.
I but Cato
Do's nothing, but by law.

Cra.
Take him aside.
There's proofe enough, though he confesse not.

Gab.
Stay,
I will confesse. All's true, your spies haue told you.
Make much of'hem.

Cet.
Yes, and reward 'hem well,
For feare you get no more such. See, they doe not
Die in a ditch, and stinke, now you ha'done with 'hem;
Or beg, o' the bridges, here in Rome, whose arches
Their actiue industrie hath sau'd.

Cic.
See, Fathers,
What mindes, and spirits these are, that, being conuicted
Of such a treason, and by such a cloud
Of witnesses, dare yet retayne their boldnesse?
What would their rage haue done, if they had conquer'd?
I thought, when I had thrust out Catiline,
Neither the state, nor I, should need t'haue fear'd
Lentvlvs sleepe here, or Longinvs fat,
Or this Cethegvs rashnesse; it was he,
I onely watch'd, while he was in our walls,
As one, that had the braine, the hand, the heart.
But now, we find the contrary! Where was there
A people grieu'd, or a state discontent,
Able to make, or helpe a warre 'gainst Rome,
But these, th'Allobroges, and those they found?
Whom had not the iust gods beene pleas'd to make
More friends vnto our safety, then their owne,
As it then seem'd, neglecting these mens offers,
Where had we beene? or where the common-wealth?
When their great Chiefe had beene call'd home? this man,
Their absolute king (whose noble grand-father,
Arm'd in pursuit of the seditious Gracchvs,
Tooke a braue wound, for deare defence of that,
Which he would spoile) had gather'd all his aides
Of ruffians, slaues, and other slaughter-men?
Giuen vs vp for murder, to Cethegvs?
The' other ranke of citizens, to Gabinivs?
The citie, to be fir'd by Cassivs?
And Italie, nay the world, to be laid wast
By cursed Catiline, and his complices?
Lay but the thought of it, before you, Fathers,
Thinke but with me you saw this glorious citie,
The light of all the earth, tower of all nations,
Sodainely falling in one flame. Imagine,
You view'd your countrey buried with the heapes
Of slaughter'd citizens, that had no graue;
This Lentvlvs here, raigning, (as he dreamp't)
And those his purple Senate; Catiline come
With his fierce armie; and the cryes of matrons,
The flight of children, and the rape of virgins,
Shriekes of the liuing, with the dying grones
On euery side t'inuade your sense; vntill
The bloud of Rome, were mixed with her ashes!
This was the spectacle these fiends intended
To please their malice.

Cet.
I, and it would
Haue beene a braue one, Consul. But your part
Had not then beene so long, as now it is:
I should haue quite defeated your oration;
And slit that fine rhetoricall pipe of yours,
I'the first Scene.

Cat.
Insolent monster!

Cic.
Fathers,
Is it your pleasures, they shall be committed
Vnto some safe, but a free custodie,
Vntill the Senate can determine farder?

Sen.
It pleaseth well.

Cic.
Then, Marcvs Crassvs,
Take you charge of Gabinivs: send him home
Vnto your house. You Caesar, of Statilivs.
Cethegvs shall be sent to Cornificivs;
And Lentvlvs, to Pvblivs Lentvlvs Spinther,
Who now is Ædile.

Cat.
It were best, the Prætors
Carryed 'hem to their houses, and deliuered 'hem.

Cic.
Let it be so. Take 'hem from hence.

Caes.
But, first,
Let Lentvlvs put off his Prætor-ship.

Len.
I doe resigne it here vnto the Senate.

Caes.
So, now, there's no offence done to religion.

Cat.
Caesar, 'twas piously, and timely vrg'd.

Cic.
What doe you decree to th'Allobroges?
That were the lights to this discouery?

Cra.
A free grant, from the state, of all their suites.

Caes.
And a reward, out of the publike treasure.

Cat.
I, and the title of honest men, to crowne 'hem.

Cic.
What to Voltvrtivs?

Caes.
Life, and fauour's well.

Vol.
I aske no more.

Cat.
Yes, yes, some money, thou need'st it.
'Twill keepe thee honest: want made thee a knaue.

Syl.
Let Flaccvs, and Pomtinivs, the Prætors,
Haue publike thankes, and Qvintvs Fabivs Sanga,
For their good seruice.

Cra.
They deserue it all.

Cat.
But what doe we decree vnto the Consul,
Whose vertue, counsell, watchfulnesse, and wisedome,
Hath free'd the common-wealth, and without tumult,
Slaughter, or bloud, or scarce raysing a force,
Rescu'd vs all out of the iawes of fate?

Cra.
We owe our liues vnto him, and our fortunes.

Caes.
Our wiues, our children, parents, and our gods.

Syl.
We all are saued, by his fortitude.

Cato.
The common-wealth owes him a ciuicke gyrland.
He is the onely father of his countrey.

Caes.
Let there be publike prayer, to all the gods,
Made in that name, for him.

Cra.
And in these words.
For that he hath, by his vigilance, preseru'd
Rome from the flame, the Senate from the sword,
And all her citizens from massacre.

Cic.
How are my labours more then paid, graue Fathers,
In these great titles, and decreed honors!
Such, as to me, first, of the ciuill robe,
Of any man, since Rome was Rome, haue hap'ned;
And from this frequent Senate: which more glads me,
That I now see, yo'haue sense of your owne safety.
If those good dayes come no lesse gratefull to vs,
Wherein we are preseru'd from some great danger,
Then those, wherein w'are borne, and brought, to light,
Because the gladnesse of our safetie is certaine,
But the condition of our birth not so;
And that we are sau'd with pleasure, but are borne
Without the sense of ioy: why should not, then,
This day, to vs, and all posteritie
Of ours, be had in equall fame, and honor,
With that, when Romvlvs first rear'd these walls,
When so much more is saued, then he built?

Caes.
It ought.

Cra.
Let it be added to our Fasti.

Cic.
What tumult's that?

Fla.
Here's one Tarqvinivs taken,
Going to Catiline; and sayes he was sent
By Marcvs Crassvs: whom he names, to be
Guiltie of the conspiracy.

Cic.
Some lying varlet.
Take him away, to prison.

Cra.
Bring him in,
And let me see him.

Cic.
He is not worth it, Crassvs.
Keepe him vp close, and hungrie, till he tell,
By whose pernicious counsell, he durst slander
So great, and good a citizen.

Cra.
(By yours
I feare, 'twill proue.)

Syl.
Some o'the traytors, sure,
To giue their action the more credit, bid him
Name you, or any man.

Cic.
I know my selfe,
By all the tracts, and courses of this businesse,
Crassvs is noble, iust, and loues his countrey.

Fla.
Here is a libell too, accusing Caesar,
From Lvcivs Vectivs, and confirm'd by Cvrivs.

Cic.
Away with all, throw it out o' the court.

Caes.
A tricke on me, too?

Cic.
It is some mens malice.
I said to Cvrivs, I did not beleeue him.

Caes.
Was not that Cvrivs your spie, that had
Reward decreed vnto him, the last Senate,
With Fvlvia, vpon your priuate motion?

Cic.
Yes.

Caes.
But, he has not that reward, yet?

Cic.
No.
Let not this trouble you, Caesar, none beleeues it.

Caes.
It shall not, if that he haue no reward.
But if he haue, sure I shall thinke my selfe
Very vntimely, and vnsafely honest,
Where such, as he is, may haue pay t'accuse me.

Cic.
You shall haue no wrong done you, noble Caesar,
But all contentment.

Caes.
Consul, I am silent.

The Armie.
Catiline.
I neuer yet knew, Souldiers, that, in fight,
Words added vertue vnto valiant men;
Or, that a generalls oration made
An armie fall, or stand: but how much prowesse
Habituall, or naturall each mans brest
Was owner of, so much in act it shew'd.
Whom neither glory' or danger can excite,
'Tis vaine t'attempt with speech: for the minds feare
Keepes all braue sounds from entring at that eare.
I, yet, would warne you some few things, my friends,
And giue you reason of my present counsailes.
You know, no lesse then I, what state, what point
Our affaires stand in; and you all haue heard,
What a calamitous misery the sloth,
And sleepinesse of Lentvlvs, hath pluck'd
Both on himselfe, and vs: how, whilst our aides
There, in the citie-look'd for, are defeated,
Our entrance into Gallia, too, is stopt.
Two armies wait vs: one from Rome, the other
From the Gaule-Prouinces. And, where we are,
(Although I most desire it) the great want
Of corne, and victuall, forbids longer stay.
So that, of need, we must remoue, but whither
The sword must both direct, and cut the passage.
I onely, therefore, wish you, when you strike,
To haue your valours, and your soules, about you;
And thinke, you carrie in your labouring hands
The things you seeke, glorie, and libertie,
Your countrie, which you want now, with the Fates,
That are to be instructed, by our swords.
If we can giue the blow, all will be safe to vs.
We shall not want prouision, nor supplies.
The colonies, and free townes will lye open.
Where, if we yeeld to feare, expect no place,
Nor friend, to shelter those, whom their owne fortune,
And ill vs'd armes haue left without protection.
You might haue liu'd in seruitude, or exile,
Or safe at Rome, depending on the great ones;
But that you thought those things vnfit for men.
And, in that thought, you then were valiant.
For no man euer yet chang'd peace for warre,
But he, that meant to conquer. Hold that purpose.
There's more necessitie, you should be such,
In fighting for your selues, then they for others.
Hee's base, that trusts his feet, whose hands are arm'd.
Me thinkes, I see Death, and the Furies, waiting
What we will doe; and all the heauen' at leisure
For the great spectacle. Draw, then, your swords:
And, if our destinie enuie our vertue
The honor of the day, yet let vs care
To sell our selues, at such a price, as may
Vn-doe the world, to buy vs; and make Fate,
While shee tempts ours, feare her owne estate.

The Senate.
Sen.
What meanes this hastie calling of the Senate?

Sen.
We shall know straight. Wait, till the Consul speakes.

Pom.
Fathers Conscript, bethinke you of your safeties,
And what to doe, with these conspirators;
Some of their clients, their free'd men, and slaues
'Ginne to make head: there is one of Lentvlvs bawds
Runnes vp and downe the shops, through euery street,
With money to corrupt, the poore artificers,
And needie tradesmen, to their aide. Cethegvs
Hath sent, too, to his seruants; who are many,
Chosen, and exercis'd in bold attemptings,
That forth-with they should arme themselues, and proue
His rescue: All will be in instant vproare,
If you preuent it not, with present counsailes.
We haue done what we can, to meet the furie,
And will doe more. Be you good to your selues.

Cic.
What is your pleasure, Fathers, shall be done?
Syllanvs, you are Consul next design'd.
Your sentence, of these men.

Syl.
'Tis short, and this.
Since they haue sought to blot the name of Rome,
Out of the world; and raze this glorious empire
With her owne hands, and armes, turn'd on her selfe:
I thinke it fit they die. And, could my breath
Now, execute 'hem, they should not enioy
An article of time, or eye of light,
Longer, to poyson this our common ayre.

Sen.
I thinke so too.

Sen.
And I.

Sen.
And I.

Sen.
And I.

Cic.
Your sentence, Caivs Caesar.

Caes.
Conscript Fathers,
In great affaires, and doubtfull, it behooues
Men, that are ask'd their sentence, to be free
From either hate, or loue, anger, or pittie:
For, where the least of these doehinder, there
The mind not easily discernes the truth.
I speake this to you, in the name of Rome,
For whom you stand; and to the present cause:
That this foule fact of Lentvlvs, and the rest,
Weigh not more with you, then your dignitie;
And you be more indulgent to your passion,
Then to your honor. If there could be found
A paine, or punishment, equall to their crimes,
I would deuise, and helpe: but, if the greatnesse
Of what they ha' done, exceed all mans inuention,
I thinke it fit, to stay, where our lawes doe.
Poore pettie states may alter, vpon humour,
Where, if they' offend with anger, few doe know it,
Because they are obscure; their fame, and fortune
Is equall, and the same. But they, that are
Head of the world, and liue in that seene height,
All mankind knowes their actions. So wee see,
The greater fortune hath the lesser licence.
They must nor fauour, hate, and least be angrie:
For what with others is call'd anger, there,
Is crueltie, and pride. I know Syllanvs,
Who spoke before me, a iust, valiant man,
A louer of the state, and one that would not,
In such a businesse, vse or grace, or hatred;
I know, too, well, his manners, and modestie:
Nor doe I thinke his sentence cruell (for
'Gainst such delinquents, what can be too bloudie?)
But that it is abhorring from our state;
Since to a citizen of Rome, offending,
Our lawes giue exile, and not death. Why then
Decrees he that? 'Twere vaine to thinke, for feare;
When, by the diligence of so worthy a Consul,
All is made safe, and certaine. Is't for punishment?
Why, death's the end of euills, and a rest,
Rather then torment: It dissolues all griefes.
And beyond that, is neither care, nor ioy.
You heare, my sentence would not haue 'hem die.
How then? set free, and increase Catilines armie?
So will they, being but banish'd. No, graue Fathers,
I iudge 'hem, first, to haue their states confiscate,
Then, that their persons remaine prisoners
I' the free townes, farre off from Rome, and seuer'd:
Where they might neither haue relation,
Hereafter, to the Senate, or the people.
Or, if they had, those townes, then to be mulcted,
As enemies to the state, that had their guard.

Sen.
'Tis good, and honorable, Caesar, hath vtterd.

Cic.
Fathers, I see your faces, and your eyes
All bent on me, to note of these two censures,
Which I incline to. Either of them are graue,
And answering the dignitie of the speakers,
The greatnesse of th'affaire, and both seuere.
One vrgeth death: and he may well remember.
This state hath punish'd wicked citizens so.
The other bonds: and those perpetuall, which
He thinkes found out for the more singular plague.
Decree, which you shall please. You haue a Consul,
Not readier to obey, then to defend,
What euer you shall act, for the republique;
And meet with willing shoulders any burden,
Or any fortune, with an euen face,
Though it were death: which to a valiant man
Can neuer happen foule, nor to a Consul
Be immature, or to a wise man wretched.

Syl.
Fathers, I spake, but as I thought: the needes
O'th'common-wealth requir'd.

Cat.
Excuse it not.

Cic.
Cato, speake you your sentence.

Cat.
This it is.
You here dispute, on kinds of punishment,
And stand consulting, what you should decree
'Gainst those, of whom, you rather should beware,
This mischiefe is not like those common facts,
Which, when they are done, the lawes may prosequute.
But this, if you prouide not, ere it happen,
When it is happen'd, will not wait your iudgement.
Good Caivs Caesar, here, hath very well,
And subtilly discours'd of life, and death,
As if he thought those things, a prettie fable,
That are deliuer'd vs of hell, and furies,
Or of the diuers way, that ill men goe
From good, to filthy, darke, and vgly places.
And therefore, he would haue these liue; and long too;
But farre from Rome, and in the small free townes,
Lest, here, they might haue rescue: As if men,
Fit for such acts, were only in the citie,
And not throughout all Italie? or, that boldnesse
Could not doe more, where it found least resistance?
'Tis a vaine counsaile, if he thinke them dangerous.
Which, if he doe not, but that he alone,
In so great feare of all men, stand vn-frighted,
He giues me cause, and you, more to feare him.
I am plaine, Fathers. Here you looke about,
One at another, doubting what to doe;
With faces, as you trusted to the gods,
That still haue sau'd you; and they can do't: But,
They are not wishings, or base womanish prayers,
Can draw their aides; but vigilance, counsell, action:
Which they will be ashamed to forsake.
'Tis sloth they hate, and cowardise. Here, you haue
The traytors in your houses, yet, you stand,
Fearing what to doe with 'hem; Let 'hem loose,
And send 'hem hence with armes, too; that your mercie
May turne your miserie, as soone as't can.
O, but they, are great men, and haue offended,
But, through ambition. We would spare their honor:
I, if themselues had spar'd it, or their fame,
Or modestie, or either god, or man:
Then I would spare 'hem. But, as things now stand,
Fathers, to spare these men, were to commit
A greater wickednesse, then you would reuenge.
If there had beene but time, and place, for you,
To haue repair'd this fault, you should haue made it;
It should haue beene your punishment, to 'haue felt
Your tardie error: but necessitie,
Now, bids me say, let 'hem not liue an houre,
If you meane Rome should liue a day. I haue done.

Sen.
Cato hath spoken like an oracle.

Cra.
Let it be so decreed.

Sen.
We are all fearefull.

Syl.
And had beene base, had not his vertue rais'd vs.

Sen.
Goe forth, most worthy Consul, wee'll assist you.

Caes.
I'am not yet chang'd in my sentence, Fathers.

Cat.
No matter. What be those?

Syl.
Letters, for Caesar.

Cat.
From whom? let 'hem be read; in open Senate;
Fathers, they come from the conspirators.
I craue to haue 'hem read, for the republique

Caes.
Cato, reade you it. 'Tis a loue-letter,
From your deare sister, to me: though you hate me.
Doe not discouer it.

Cat.
Hold thee, drunkard. Consul.
Goe forth, and confidently.

Caes.
You'll repent
This rashnesse, Cicero.

Prae.
Caesar shall repent it.

Cic.
Hold friends.

Prae.
Hee's scarce a friend vnto the publike.

Cic.
No violence. Caesar, be safe: Leade on:
Where are the publike executioners?
Bid 'hem wait on vs. On, to Spinthers house.
Bring Lentvlvs forth. Here, you, the sad reuengers
Of capitall crimes, against the publike, take
This man vnto your iustice: strangle him.

Len.
Thou do'st well, Consul. 'Twas a cast at dice,
In Fortvnes hand, not long since, that thy selfe
Should'st haue heard these, or other words as fatall.

Cic.
Leade on, to Qvintvs Cornificivs house.
Bring forth Cethegvs. Take him to the due
Death, that he hath deseru'd: and let it be
Said, He was once.

Cet.
A beast, or, what is worse,
A slaue, Cethegvs. Let that be the name
For all that's base, hereafter: That would let
This worme pronounce on him; and not haue trampled
His body into—Ha! Art thou not mou'd?

Cic.
Iustice is neuer angrie: Take him hence.

Cet.
O, the whore Fortvne! and her bawds the Fates!
That put these tricks on men, which knew the way
To death by a sword. Strangle me, I may sleepe:
I shall grow angrie with the gods, else.

Cic.
Leade
To Caivs Caesar, for Statilivs.
Bring him, and rude Gabinivs, out. Here, take 'hem
To your cold hands, and let 'hem feele death from you.

Gab.
I thanke you, you doe me a pleasure.

Sta.
And me too.

Cat.
So, Marcvs Tvllivs, thou maist now stand vp,
And call it happy Rome, thou being Consul.
Great parent of thy countrie, goe and let
The old men of the citie, ere they die,
Kisse thee; the matrons dwell about thy necke;
The youths, and maides, lay vp, 'gainst they are old,
What kind of man thou wert, to tell their nephewes,
When, such a yeere, they reade, within our Fasti,
Thy Consul-ship. Who's this? Petreivs?

Cic.
Welcome,
Welcome, renowned souldier. What's the newes?
This face can bring no ill with't, vnto Rome.
How do's the worthy Consul, my colleague?

Pet.
As well as victorie can make him, sir.
He greets the Fathers, and to me hath trusted
The sad relation of the ciuill strife;
For, in such warre, the conquest still is black.

Cic.
Shall we with-draw into the house of Concord?

Cat.
No, happy Consul, here; let all eares take
The benefit of this tale. If he had voyce,
To spread vnto the poles, and strike it through
The center, to the Antipodes; It would aske it.

Pet.
The streights, and needs of Catiline being such,
As he must fight with one of the two armies,
That then had neere enclos'd him; It pleas'd Fate,
To make vs th'obiect of his desperate choise,
Wherein the danger almost paiz'd the honor:
And as he riss', the day grew black with him;
And Fate descended neerer to the earth,
As if shee meant, to hide the name of things,
Vnder her wings, and make the world her quarrie.
At this we rous'd, lest one small minutes stay
Had left it to be enquir'd, what Rome was.
And (as we ought) arm'd in the confidence
Of our great cause, in forme of battaile, stood.
Whilst Catiline came on, not with the face
Of any man, but of a publique ruine:
His count'nance was a ciuill warre it selfe.
And all his host had standing in their lookes,
The palenesse of the death, that was to come.
Yet cryed they out like vultures, and vrg'd on,
As if they would precipitate our fates.
Nor staid we longer for 'hem; But himselfe
Strooke the first stroke: And, with it, fled a life.
Which cut, it seem'd, a narrow necke of land,
Had broke betweene two mightie seas; and either
Flow'd into other; for so did the slaughter:
And whirl'd about, as when two violent tides
Meet, and not yeeld. The Furies stood, on hills,
Circling the place, and trembled to see men
Doe more, then they: whilst pietie left the field,
Grieu'd for that side, that, in so bad a cause,
They knew not, what a crime their valour was.
The sunne stood still, and was, behind the cloud
The battaile made, seene sweating, to driue vp
His frighted horse, whom still the noyse droue backward.
And now had fierce Enyo, like a flame,
Consum'd all it could reach, and then it selfe;
Had not the fortune of the common-wealth
Come Pallas-like, to euery Roman thought.
Which Catiline seeing, and that now his troops
Couer'd that earth, they'had fought on, with their trunkes,
Ambitious of great fame, to crowne his ill,
Collected all his furie, and ran in
(Arm'd with a glorie, high as his despaire)
Into our battaile, like a Lybian lyon,
Vpon his hunters, scornefull of our weapons,
Carelesse of wounds, plucking downe liues about him,
Till he had circled in himselfe with death:
Then fell he too, t'embrace it where it lay.
And as, in that rebellion 'gainst the gods,
Minerva holding forth Medvsa's head,
One of the gyant brethren felt himselfe
Grow marble at the killing sight, and now,
Almost made stone, began t'inquire, what flint,
What rocke it was, that crept through all his limmes,
And, ere he could thinke more, was that he fear'd;
So Catiline, at the sight of Rome in vs,
Became his tombe: yet did his looke retayne
Some of his fiercenesse, and his hands still mou'd,
As if he labour'd, yet, to graspe the state,
With those rebellious parts.

Cat.
A braue bad death.
Had this beene honest now, and for his countrey,
As 'twas against it, who had ere fallen greater?

Cic.
Honor'd Petreivs, Rome, not I, must thanke you.
How modestly has he spoken of himselfe!

Cat.
He did the more.

Cic.
Thanks to the immortall gods,
Romans, I now am paid for all my labours,
My watchings, and my dangers. Here conclude
Your praises, triumphs, honors, and rewards,
Decreed to me: only the memorie
Of this glad day, if I may know it liue
Within your thoughts, shall much affect my conscience,
Which I must alwayes studie before fame.
Though both be good, the latter yet is worst,
And euer is ill got, without the first.