University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

SYLLA, CLAUDIUS, FAUSTUS.
Sylla makes a signal to Faustus to withdraw, who, with much inquietude, retires to a distance, after having embraced his friend.
FAUSTUS,
(to CLAUDIUS.)
It is in you that I confide.

CLAUDIUS.
You know me....

SYLLA.
Approach;—admitted to my presence, vainly
Thou seek'st to hide the trouble of thy soul.

CLAUDIUS.
Sylla, thou dost mistake me: my sole trouble
Arises but from horror.

SYLLA.
What can cause it,
Unless that infamous hope which a false virtue
Engenders in thy mind. Am I not Sylla?
And art thou not still Claudius, grandson of
That same Sulpicius, coward tribune, who,
The leader of a frantic populace,
Stained the Republic with so many crimes?...
And yet you live. Whether in pride, or pity
T'wards you, I threw aside my just resentment,
And with due reverence to the ties of youth,
Allowed my son to shield from me thy folly;
And lastly, when I heard that my base foes
Had found, in Claudius found, a willing 'complice,
And ought to have repented my excess
Of mercy, I restrained my vengeance
And only sought thy banishment—I offer'd
Protection to thy flight, and e'en the law,
Deaf to all else, was soften'd down for thee.—
But Claudius' soul, methinks, disdains a favour
That binds him to the donor—yes, a heart
Like thine obeys no lord but its own hatred.
False to a friendship which unites its lot
With thine, thou dost conspire to take the life—
Of whom?—of him the father of thy friend.
Had thy presuming boldness dared, indeed,
In open day, amid th'assembled crowd
To have fulfilled thy threat, it had methinks
Smacked somewhat of the hero—but to stain,
And with my blood, the roof that gave thee shelter,
To which, with culpable imprudence, Friendship
Had led thee—to associate my son
In thy dark scheme of parricide; and, that
The blow might be more sure as more unmanly,
Glide like a vile assassin through my palace!
Thy crime's all worthy of thy hateful race.
Well, why delay'st thou? the time serves thy purpose—
Strike, I'm alone; fulfil thee thy design—
But may be Faustus has disarmed thy hand:
Here, take this dagger.

[Offering one.
CLAUDIUS.
I admire thy courage:
But, Sylla, if I do not wish to take
Advantage of the moment—if I grant
A sad delay to what I wish—'tis not,
'Tis not, you see, because a weapon's wanting.
[Shewing a dagger under his robe.
Thy son, who knows me well, here by my side
All tranquil, was himself the very cause
Thy death was thus deferr'd, by offering me
This place as an asylum.

SYLLA.
So then, Claudius,
Thou dost not deign to offer a defence
Touching this foolish plot....

CLAUDIUS.
I've wished thy death;
Ay, and I wish it yet.

SYLLA.
'Tis well: but if
My clemency should lean to less severe
And more indulgent counsel, and should spare
Thy life!...

CLAUDIUS.
Thou wouldst but render me an ingrate.
I should remain still faithful to my hatred,
Still faithful to the state. How will it aid thee
This tardy kindness? twice five hundred arms
Are raised to strike thy heart—and Rome, though captive,
Will let thee live no longer free and fearless;
No—not while life beats in another's pulse
And bids thine likewise throb.—Bethink thee of
Præneste: how, too, at thy dread command
A nation fell, e'en as it were one mortal!
Thy horrible proscriptions, writ in blood,
Have stampt thy name to immortality.
Obey thy summons—murderer of my country!
Nor by preserving me betray thy glory!

SYLLA.
Thou bidd'st me be again myself, again
Indulge my fury; fear me, coward Romans,
Fear if I live, and tremble if I die!
And hero, thou who burn'st with insolence
To meet thy fit reward, thou shalt indeed
Be satisfied.

CLAUDIUS.
Thou hast fulfill'd my wishes;
Thy death or mine is all that I would ask.

[Sylla calls out—the Lictors enter.
SYLLA.
Lictors! watch well each point, keep fast the gates,
And let the cohorts of my guard be doubled.
Let none to-night depart from forth the palace—
Not Faustus 'self, unless 'tis by my order,
And follow close upon the heels of Claudius.
[To Claudius.
Go, tell th'accomplice in thy guilt, thyself
Hast pointed out thine hour of punishment.

Claudius,
(returning into the interior of the Palace.)
Sylla, adieu! I go...look well around thee!
E'en though I march to death, I leave thee far
Th'unhappier of the two.