 | Brutus |  |
SCENE VI.
BRUTUS, ARUNS, TITUS, TULLIA, MESSALA, ALBINUS, PROCULUS, LICTORS.BRUTUS.
[To Tullia.
Princess! The time is come, and we must part.
When first the public tempest wildly raved
And shook the state, Rome, to thy household gods,
Could not restore thee; in that hour of tumult
On other cares intent, and every thought
Employ'd on our destruction; Tarquin's self
Mid war and vengeance, found within his breast
No place for love of offspring, and forgot,
Plunged in confusion, to demand his daughter.
That I recall these images of woe
Misconstrue not. Divided from thy father
By me, thou hast a claim to my protection,
My guardian friendship was, and still is thine.
Go, Tullia, and may justice ever stand
Near thy heaven-destin'd throne, and ceaseless watch
With steady unaverted eye! That meek
And willing homage may attend thee, yield
A prompt obedience to the laws. Contemplate
With sacred dread the task of royalty,
Its numerous toils, and complicated duties.
And if the flatterer's base pernicious art
Should warp thy native equity of mind,
When ready to abuse the sovereign power,
And lift th'oppressive sceptre, e'er it fall,
That instant, think on Rome, Remember Tarquin!
Oh! May his fate a striking lessen prove;
(And so I trust it shall) to future kings!
A source of general blessing to the world!
When first the public tempest wildly raved
And shook the state, Rome, to thy household gods,
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On other cares intent, and every thought
Employ'd on our destruction; Tarquin's self
Mid war and vengeance, found within his breast
No place for love of offspring, and forgot,
Plunged in confusion, to demand his daughter.
That I recall these images of woe
Misconstrue not. Divided from thy father
By me, thou hast a claim to my protection,
My guardian friendship was, and still is thine.
Go, Tullia, and may justice ever stand
Near thy heaven-destin'd throne, and ceaseless watch
With steady unaverted eye! That meek
And willing homage may attend thee, yield
A prompt obedience to the laws. Contemplate
With sacred dread the task of royalty,
Its numerous toils, and complicated duties.
And if the flatterer's base pernicious art
Should warp thy native equity of mind,
When ready to abuse the sovereign power,
And lift th'oppressive sceptre, e'er it fall,
That instant, think on Rome, Remember Tarquin!
Oh! May his fate a striking lessen prove;
(And so I trust it shall) to future kings!
A source of general blessing to the world!
Aruns, to thee the senate hath resign'd
Its trust; from thee a father and a husband
With joy expect her.—Proculus awaits.
He will conduct you to the sacred gate.
Its trust; from thee a father and a husband
With joy expect her.—Proculus awaits.
He will conduct you to the sacred gate.
TITUS.
[Aside.
O agonizing love? O brain! the seat
Of madness and despair!—
[Advancing to Aruns.
And shall I thus
Permit?—I will not—let me tell thee, Aruns—
[Exeunt Brutus and Tullia with their Attendants.
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Gods! Can I live thus tortur'd with the pangs
Of shame and grief?
[To Aruns.
Hear me! a moment hear me!
ARUNS.
The time forbids; my presence is required
By Brutus and the princess; her departure
I can retard for one short hour alone.
Fear, to delay; fear, lest thou should'st resolve
To speak too late. We may converse together
In her apartment, fix her future fate,
Perchance determine thine.
| Brutus | |