University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

—Caius Gracchus' House.
Cornelia, Licinia, and Licinius discovered—Licinia seated at a table.
Cor.
Are not you pleased at this, Licinia!

Lici.
No;
Nor pleased, yet nor displeased, Cornelia.
What care I that the world allows him good
And wise? Did I not know him so before?
Had I a doubt of it?—Whom did I ask
To give their oath of it?—I was content
With mine own knowledge. Why should I be glad
That all applaud him?—For his sake?—Alas!
For any cause but that! Whom all applaud,
Let the tide change, though never change the man,
All are as sure to blame! I did not wed
Thy son as one would choose an idle gem,
To sparkle, for the praise of others' eyes,
But that he blazed in mine.

Cor.
Go on, Licinius.

Lic.
His very fame more profit brings to Rome,
Than the exploits themselves of other men.
His fair renown has charmed Micipsa so,
That he has sent large store of corn to the army;
And his ambassadors have made it known
To the senate, in full assembly, that their master
Perform'd this from his mere respect for Caius.

Cor.
Oh, glorious boy! surpass thy mother's hopes!
What said the senate?—Were they not struck with this?
Did they not own the virtue of my son,
And praise the name of Gracchus?

Lic.
They!—Alas!
Their proud blood bows to aught but virtue. No;
The ambassadors were spurn'd,—driven out with shame,—
Sent back with scorn, as mere barbarians, who,
By showing their just preference of your son,
Slighted the senate of its due respect.

Lici.
Unhappy Caius! thy conspicuous virtue
But marks thee out the victim of the senate!

Cor.
It marks him out the favourite of the gods!
Think'st thou I rear'd my son to follow virtue
Only for men's acclaim? It ill had fitted
The child of Scipio, and had never made me
The mother of the Gracchi! [Aside to Licinius.]
Say, Licinius,
Knows Caius this?

Lic.
[Aside to Cornelia.]
He does, from many hands.
His friends are strong. The senate cannot hide
His worth from Rome. The people think of Caius
As their sole hope; and should he stand for tribune,
He must obtain the office.

Cor.
What! and will
He stand for tribune? Wherefore do I ask?
Do I not know he will?

[Shouts without.
Lici.
What means that shout?

Lic.
Forgive me, sister, that I have conceal'd
The measures of his friends, who have advised him
To show himself at once in Rome. No doubt
'Tis Caius, and the people welcome him.

Lici.
'Tis Caius!—Hear I right?—'Tis he—My Caius!

Enter Caius Gracchus and Pomponius.
Caius.
My soul, we meet again!—My honour'd mother!

Cor.
The mother is honour'd in her son, my Caius.

Caius.
Licinius—friend and brother! I received
Your letters, and I thank you for your care.
Licinia, thank the gods! we meet again.
How is our boy, love?—How art thou thyself?
Let me look at thee. Well, as my heart could wish!
Great Jove! to gaze on such a precious thing,
And know it mine! You may smile, Marcus, but
There's such a thing as loving one's wife. Licinia,
Am I not with thee again? Let him who thinks
The world is worth his home, exchange home for it:
A little time; he'll find he has lost a world,
Not found one!

Enter Lucius.
Luc.
Caius, a messenger
From the senate.

Caius.
Admit him.
[Lucius goes out.
Mother, you'll give me leave. Licinia,
I've many things to tell thee. Count these gems, love;
They were a gift to me for thee, from hands
That only know thee from thy husband's tongue,
Which ne'er could speak the moiety of thy worth!
Go with my mother, Sweet! I have neglected
Some matters of high duty, just to snatch
This look at thee; and those must now be done.

Lici.
You'll not be long; be with us soon!

Caius.
No, Sweet!

Lici.
Remember, now!

[Cornelia and Licinia go out.
Enter a Lictor.
Lictor.
The senate, Caius, cites you to appear
Before the censors.

Caius.
Well!—Acquaint the senate
I shall obey.

Lictor goes out.
Pom.
'Twas rumour'd, ere you came,
Opimius had return'd; on which account
The senate had been suddenly convoked.

Caius.
I look'd for this! Let me think—Let me think!—Why, yes.
Nothing done rashly, nor yet timidly,
The mean 's discretion, back'd by calm resolve.
I cannot do it!—My blood 's a point too warm!
To hear a man deal out morality,
Axiom upon axiom—for an hour dilate
Upon the value of an aphorism,—
Amplify to o'errunning in the cause,
And then, at every allegation,
Invoke no less a witness than high Jove;
And know him all the while to play the knave.
Great Hercules! it sets my veins a-boiling!

Lic.
Caius, you would need a rein
More firmly ruled than this.

Caius.
I know it—I know it,
As well as you. Hang them! I'll try and play
The cautious man for once. 'Tis time to choose
New tribunes, is it not?

Pom.
It is.

Caius.
You see
I'm not at home an hour, and they let loose
The dogs upon me! Come!—to the Campus Martius!
Now will you see them hold their hands to the gods!
That saw my brother's blood upon those hands!
They thought I had forgot that brother's death!
Why, where's the Tiber?—Is it not at Rome?
What!—Has it sunk!—run out!—Flows it not still,
Its yellow hue turn'd purple, ever since!
Its waters, blood; which all the floods of heaven
Can't change again to water!—Blood! that cries
For vengeance at a living brother's hand!

Lic.
How do you mean to act? Your plans, my Caius?

Caius.
My plans! Come with me to the Campus Martius!

[They go out.