 | Caius Gracchus |  |
SCENE II.
—An Apartment in Caius Gracchus's House —two chairs.Enter Cornelia and Licinia.
Lici.
You'll speak to him?
Cor.
I will.
Lici.
You'll urge him not
To go? You would not throw your richest gem
Away, though you might give't to one who knew
Its value, and would wear it?
Cor.
I would not.
Lici.
He's coming. [Going.]
Mother!
Cor.
I have said, Licinia.
[Licinia goes out.
Yes; there's a point where virtue ought to stop—
Where she but loses labour. Ha! but is
Her labour ever lost? I can't debate
That question now; Nature won't let me. She's
Too strong, and I must play the humble part
She sets me. Had he not a wife and child—
He's here!
[Retires.
Enter Caius Gracchus, without seeing his Mother.
Caius.
I'll wrestle with him for, at least,
This throw! My laws! What! abrogate my laws!
Oh, 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.
Caius, a word with you.
There's Fulvius Flaccus waiting at the door
With a whole crowd of citizens. Is't you, my son,
They want?
Caius.
It is.
Cor.
I know it is! My son,
Deal frankly with your mother. What's on foot?
I do not like that Flaccus: he's a man
Hath more ambition than integrity,
And zeal than wisdom. Is he of your counsels?
Caius.
He is.
Cor.
The sooner then you break with him
The better. Send him word you cannot come.
Caius.
My word 's already pledged 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!
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Fear not;
I shall be prudent.
[Going.
Cor.
[Holding him.]
Stop, Caius! [Taking his hand.]
I can almost think you still
The boy that conn'd 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!
Caius.
Mother—is it you!
Cor.
Ay, son;
It is your mother,—that is all the mother
Whate'er she seems. I would be still a mother!
I would be left a son, my Caius!—Go not
To the Forum!
Caius.
Wherefore, mother? What should I fear
From going to the Forum?
Cor.
The Forum saw them shed your brother's blood!
Do I not know you, Caius? Can I not read you,
Without your tongue to help me? Does not his blood
Cry for revenge; and is your ear unapt
To hear it? Caius, that dear brother's death
Gives life to all thy acts! 'Twas that which pleaded
For Vettius—ask'd the tribuneship—revived
Tiberius's laws—defied the senate—made thee
Like a god to Rome, dealing out fate—and, now
Thou art no longer arm'd with thy great office,
Would lead thee forth to sacrifice! My son,
Go not to the Forum! 'Tis a worthless cause!
Why should you go, my Caius? To defend
Your laws from abrogation? Think of them
For whom you made those laws—the fickle people,
That lent a hand to pull you from your seat,
And raise up them, they shake at! Thou art single,—
Thou hast no seconds. 'Tis a hopeless struggle!
So sunk are all, the heart of public virtue
Has not the blood to make it beat again.
Caius.
And should I therefore sink with the base times?
What, mother, what? Are the gods also base?
Is virtue base? Is honour sunk? Is manhood
A thing contemptible, not fit to be
Maintain'd? Remember you Messina, mother?
Once from its promontory we beheld
A galley in a storm; and, as the bark
Approach'd the fatal shore, could well discern
The features of the crew with horror all
Aghast, save one. Alone he strove to guide
The prow, erect amidst the horrid war
Of winds and waters raging. With one hand
He ruled the hopeless helm; the other strain'd
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The while bent proudly on the scowling surge,
At which he scowl'd again. The vessel struck!
One man alone bestrode the wave, and rode
The foaming courser safe.—'Twas he, the same!
You clasp'd your Caius in your arms, and cried,
“Look, look, my son! the brave man ne'er despairs,
And lives where cowards die!” I would but make
Due profit of your lesson.
Cor.
Caius—Caius!
Caius.
Mother—I—
Cor.
What, my son?
Caius.
[Sitting down.]
I'll please you, mother;
I'll not go to the Forum.—I'll be ruled by you
If you will. Let men say what they list of me.
I care not if they whisper as I pass,
And point, and smile, and say to one another,
“Lo, the bold tribune, Gracchus! Lo, the man
That lorded it o'er the senate!” What is't to me?
I know I am your son, and would approve it
If I might; but, since you will not have it so,
I'll stay from the Forum, mother; I'll not go
To the Forum.
Cor.
Know the people you did promise
To go?
Caius.
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
Oppose the senate; he'll preserve my laws,
If he can. If there's no other man to speak
For liberty, he'll do it! Pray you, mother,
Send Lucius to them; tell them I'll not go
Abroad to-day.
Cor.
You must go to the Forum!
Caius.
Not if you will it not.
Cor.
I neither will it,
Nor will it not.
Caius.
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
The matter. 'Tis, perhaps, the fears of thy wife,
Infect me; but I've dark forebodings, Caius.
What will be left me, should I lose thee, son?
Caius.
My monument!
Cor.
Go to the Forum—go!
You are Cornelia's son!
Caius.
My only use
Of life 's to prove it!
Cor.
Go—go—go! my Caius!
[Going, but turns and embraces her son.—They go out severally.
| Caius Gracchus | |