 | Brutus |  |
SCENE II.
BRUTUS, SENATORS, ARUNS, LICTORS.ARUNS.
How long
Will you with sacrilege, injurious Romans,
Man's general rights invade? The people viewing
All objects in rebellion's treacherous mirrour,
Is it your purpose in their ministers,
To shew your scorn of kings? Back to these walls
Your Lictors with ill-manner'd violence
Have forced me to return; my royal master
Would you insult? Or is it a disgrace
Levell'd at me! The rank which I sustain,
Among all nations sacred—
BRUTUS.
Be it so,
That argument condemns thee; for the more
Thy station is revered, in stronger light
Shines forth thy guilt. An empty name alone,
And its superfluous honour, boast not here.
ARUNS.
Sent from a king, shall an ambassador—
BRUTUS.
Thou an ambassador! No; with deceit
And treachery mark'd, we see before us stand
A base conspirator. Adorn'd indeed
With an illustrious title; underneath
Its sanction perpetrating direst crimes;
Bold in nefarious deeds, because he thinks
He may offend unpunish'd. How unlike
The genuine character of that high office
Thou but assumest! The true ambassadors
Are they who to the spirit of the laws
Firmly adhere; who know to serve their prince,
Not fix the stain of infamy upon him.
With cautious wisdom locking in their breasts
Th'intrusted faith of treaties; nought but peace
Springs from their interposing ministry,
Fruit of their hallow'd toil. With bands most pure
They knit in just and strict accord together
The sovereigns of the earth. Where'er they move
Diffusing blessings, and where'er they move
Survey'd with veneration. In this portrait
Find, if thou canst, a stroke resembling thee.
And treachery mark'd, we see before us stand
A base conspirator. Adorn'd indeed
With an illustrious title; underneath
Its sanction perpetrating direst crimes;
Bold in nefarious deeds, because he thinks
He may offend unpunish'd. How unlike
The genuine character of that high office
301
Are they who to the spirit of the laws
Firmly adhere; who know to serve their prince,
Not fix the stain of infamy upon him.
With cautious wisdom locking in their breasts
Th'intrusted faith of treaties; nought but peace
Springs from their interposing ministry,
Fruit of their hallow'd toil. With bands most pure
They knit in just and strict accord together
The sovereigns of the earth. Where'er they move
Diffusing blessings, and where'er they move
Survey'd with veneration. In this portrait
Find, if thou canst, a stroke resembling thee.
But thou at least hast proved a faithful spy,
And to thy master art prepared t'unfold
Our actuating principles, the virtues,
The constitution of our state; now learn
Rome's proper temper; mark what sentiments
Inspire her senate; this exalted race
With holiest awe reveres the right of nations,
Which thou hast dared to violate. The more
By thee unheeded, with superior care
Shall they protect them. Know then, we award
No other punishment, but to behold
The death of those perfidious citizens
Who leagued in horrid plot with thee, had seal'd
Our general massacre. Stain'd with their blood,
Before thee spilt, go and inform thy master
Of the successless crime. A living witness
To all Italia, of the Roman manners,
What honour and what sanctity is theirs,
What baseness and what ignominy thine.
Hence!—Lictors, do your office!
And to thy master art prepared t'unfold
Our actuating principles, the virtues,
The constitution of our state; now learn
Rome's proper temper; mark what sentiments
Inspire her senate; this exalted race
With holiest awe reveres the right of nations,
Which thou hast dared to violate. The more
By thee unheeded, with superior care
Shall they protect them. Know then, we award
No other punishment, but to behold
The death of those perfidious citizens
Who leagued in horrid plot with thee, had seal'd
Our general massacre. Stain'd with their blood,
Before thee spilt, go and inform thy master
Of the successless crime. A living witness
To all Italia, of the Roman manners,
What honour and what sanctity is theirs,
What baseness and what ignominy thine.
Hence!—Lictors, do your office!
| Brutus | |