 | Junius Brutus |  |
SCENE I.
CÆLIUS, ALBINUS, MESSALA.Cælius,
with a Letter in his Hand.
For this Dispatch, Albinus, I'm your Debtor.
All answers to my Wish. Upon this Letter
Depends the Destiny of Rome and Tarquin.
Is the dread Hour agreed on in the Camp?
Has the Quirinal Gate been view'd with Care?
Say, will our Troops be ready for th'Assault,
If by our Friends we cannot gain Admittance?
Is Tarquin satisfy'd? Does he now think
Rome will be ours?
ALBINUS.
He glories in your Counsels,
To Him more prosperous than Porsenna's Arms.—
50
CÆLIUS.
Either the Gods, Foes to this hapless Prince,
Will blast Designs so great and well-concerted,
Or Rome to Morrow will be subject to him:
Perhaps with Slaughter drench'd, and laid in Ashes.—
No matter.—Better a King should, on his Throne,
In Peace profound govern the tame Remains,
Than with precarious Power assert his Right
Over a headstrong giddy Multitude,
Prone to revolt from too much Liberty.
[To Albinus.]
Leave me, Albinus, I expect the Princess.
[Exit Albinus.
[To Mesalla, who offers to follow Albinus.]
Messala, Stay.
| Junius Brutus | |