University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

SCENE, A Hall in the Palace of the Consuls, with a Prospect of the Capitol. The Senate are assembled before the Altar of Mars. Brutus and Valerius preside as Consuls. The Senators are ranged in a Semi-circle; and the Lictors, with their proper Ensigns, stand behind.
BRUTUS.
Ye brave Assertors of our Country's Freedom;
The Tyrants Scourge; disdaining all Subjection
But to the Gods, and Numa's sacred Laws;
The great Porsenna, Tarquin's Tuscan Friend,
Who covers with his Host the Banks of Tyber,
And scornful threatned to chastise the Romans,
At length begins to treat us with Respect.
Dreading the Valour of a free-born People,
He sues to Rome. Cælius, whom he deputes,
Is just arriv'd, and asks immediate Audience.
He waits the Senate's Answer. Fathers, Say,
Shall we reject, or hear his Embassy?

VALERIUS.
However plausible the Terms he offers,
Return him to his Lord without an Audience:
This I declare my Sense. Henceforth let Rome
Disdain to treat but with her vanquish'd Foes.
Your Son, 'tis true, th'Avenger of his Country,
Has twice repuls'd Porsenna's fierce Attacks.
But this is not enough: Rome, still besieg'd,
Beholds the Tuscan Camp spread round her Walls.
Let banish'd Tarquin first retire; and then
We'll weigh the Purport of his Embassy.
Despairing to succeed by open Force,
He now attempts to conquer us by Art.
I view Ambassadors with jealous Eyes:
Cælius is only sent to spy our Weakness,
Or to seduce the Romans from their Duty.
Hear not his soothing Words and subtle Glosses;
Nor lose by Treaties, what you win by Arms!—
Unskill'd in Fraud, O Rome! 'tis thine to fight.—
To aid the just, and root out lawless Kings;
To spare submissive Foes, and quell the Proud;
Be these the Arts t'exalt thy rising Empire!

BRUTUS.
Rome knows, how dear I prize her Liberty;
But tho' my Heart is fill'd with equal Ardour,
In this Debate I differ from Valerius.
I view this Embassy address'd from Kings,
As the first Homage paid Rome's Citizens.
Let us awhile permit the Pride of Monarchs,
To treat with this Republick as their Equal;
Till, prosper'd by the Gods, ere long we teach 'em,
To own the Sovereign Pow'r of Rome as Vassals.
Cælius, 'tis said, is sent to spy our Weakness;
Why for that Reason let him be admitted;
Allow this supple Slave of lawless Power,
Here to converse for once at least with Men.
Let him survey the Towers of Rome at leisure;
In You he'll find our City's strongest Bulwark.

[The Senators arise, and move towards the Consuls, to give their Votes.
VALERIUS.
Your Sense, I see, prevails. Rome and her Brutus
Ordain his Audience: I yield, tho' with Regret.
Lictors, conduct him in; and may our Country
Have no Occasion to repent his Presence.
[To Brutus.]
On Thee alone the Eyes of all are fix'd;
You rouz'd us first to break our slavish Bonds;
Still vindicate the Cause of Liberty,
And spread around the generous Principles,
That warm and animate a Roman Breast!