University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—One of the Gates of Rome.
(Flourish of trumpets.)
Enter Marius, Valerius, Young Marius, Sulpicius, Officers, and others.
MARIUS.
They are repuls'd then?

YOUNG MARIUS.
Scatter'd, like the leaves
By a November whirlwind.

MARIUS.
It is well.
Let them flee back to Sylla; and to him
Tell their mishap! What news of him?

YOUNG MARIUS.
He is
Within ten leagues of Rome, 'tis said—

VALERIUS
(aside).
But ten!
Then, Flavia, thou art safe. At least my hope
Cannot but think so—

YOUNG MARIUS.
They report, he left
Prænestè garrison'd—and I fear his strength
Sanction'd as much—too well. What are his plans,
Perchance we 've brought you one can better say.

MARIUS.
Whom?

YOUNG MARIUS.
Tubero—the senator—his friend!
Him we have ta'en—hard on his road to Sylla;
And in disguise! I fear me as a missive
From traitors, here, in Rome.

MARIUS.
What! i' th' Senate?
Ah! Aristocracy—sleek homicide—
As hollow as the hemlock, and more deadly;
Furr'd like the ermine—talon'd like the pard—
With heart of venom, and with breath of balm;
Still wilt thou tear the hand that pats thee? Race,
Born to lap blood; let blood then be your doom!
Bring in the traitor.
(Tubero is brought in.)
Welcome! sir! Thou com'st
Well tim'd! We want thy information. Aye!
And as our need is, so must be our means.
Tell what thou know'st. 'Tis well! Refuse. The rack
Shall wring it from thee. Now thou know'st our mind.

TUBERO.
I knew 't before! Think'st thou the Marian kind
Can be mistaken? Or that any man
Ere coupled mercy with the sound of Marius?
I see my fate; and am prepared to meet it.
Enough. Know then, my errand was to Sylla!
To hasten his approach; and well assure,
No man in Rome, unless for fear or gold,
Will strike a blow for Marius!

MARIUS.
Say'st thou so?
Insolent slave! But he shall soon try that.
Where is he? Speak.

TUBERO.
He is within ten leagues
I know of Rome; and with a pow'r that thou
And thy stall-fed plebeians shall wax pale at.
Farewell. I speak no more.

MARIUS.
Thou hast said enough!
Your best intelligence is ever brief.
Thou shalt have speedy largess for thy news.
Take him away! and let the axe forestall
His place in Sylla's triumph!
(Tubero is taken out.)
Gentlemen,
Time presses. We must act. Son, go, take order
Within the Capitol. And thou, Valerius,
See that the walls are triply mann'd. Dispose
Strong out-posts, east, from the Flaminian gate,
And change them every hour. By such relief
Treachery may best be baffled. To thy zeal
I trust this service. See to 't well. Take heed
Such charge be not misused—and let no cause
Tempt thee to quit thy post, ev'n for an hour.
Farewell!
[Exit Valerius.
Come son!
[Exit Marius.

YOUNG MARIUS.
I follow,—sir,—in a breath!
[He walks about disturbed.
'Tis said—those in the crisis of their fate
Are buoyant oft of spirit, and mount high,
Or ere they sink—as if the soul elate—
Rose on the waves of fortune.
Shipwreck'd wretches,—
Men shut in plague-struck cities,—will, they say,
Make revelry, and play strange freaks o' th' brain
Amid fate's very billows. Even thus,
Methinks, it is with me. If in this conflict
I perish, I will sneak not to my urn
Like a gull'd priest of Cybele! but die
Satiate (if that may be) with fierce delight;
The greatest—if the last—that fate can give me;
And sweeter, because hard to be obtain'd,
And dash'd with perturbation. I am tost
Upon a sea of passion: but my course
There are two burning stars to guide. The one
Oh! Love is thine,—the other is—Revenge!
Enter Ctesiphon.
Ha! art thou there?

CTESIPHON.
I am, my lord.

YOUNG MARIUS.
Speak quickly;
For I am rack'd—am mad with this suspense!
Hast trac'd out her concealment?

CTESIPHON.
Sir, I have.

YOUNG MARIUS.
Art sure on't—or art sure that, if thou hast,
Thy foot-prints are unseen;—and thou, who track'st,
May'st not be track'd?

CTESIPHON.
Sir, all is safe—all sure!
And as an earnest of this certainty,
I give you here my hand, and promise you
They 're in your power this night—this very night!
And here 's the earnest.

YOUNG MARIUS.
Rapture! ecstacy!—
Methought he chang'd, when he receiv'd his charge.—
Hand did'st thou say? Aye, give it me! Nor shall it
For this—perhaps, last service—part from me
Unguerdon'd. Take this gold. Until to night
I part not from thee. Then; when we have sped
As thou assurest me,—I'll give thee means
To quit this scene of blood and violence—
Whate'er becomes of Marius. Come with me;
And let us make success a thing of fate.—
If I must perish now, let Marius die
Triumphant to the last. Favour'd of love,
And in such sort as man was never yet!
Or, if not that, victorious in revenge.—
Come, counsellor.

[Exeunt.