University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

—A Street in Rome.
Enter Valerius and Lucretius.
Val.
Words are too feeble to express the horror
With which my soul revolts against this Tarquin.
By poison he obtain'd his brother's wife,
Then, by a baser murder, grasp'd the crown.
These eyes beheld the aged monarch, thrown
Down from the senate house,—his feeble limbs
Bruis'd by the pavement,—his time-honour'd locks
Which, from the very robber would have gain'd
Respect and veneration,—bath'd in blood!
With difficulty rais'd, and tottering homeward,
The murderers follow'd—struck him—and he died!

Luc.
Inexpiable crime!

Val.
High in her regal chariot Tullia came—
The corpse lay in the street. The charioteer
Turn'd back the reins in horror. “On slave, on!
“Shall dead men stop my passage to a throne?”
Exclaim'd the parricide. The gore was dash'd
From the hot wheels up to her diadem!

Luc.
And Heaven's avenging lightnings were withheld!
Here rules this Tullia, while the king, her husband
Wastes our best blood in giddy, guilty war!
Spirit of Marcus Junius!—Would the gods
Deign to diffuse thy daring through the land
Rome from her trance with giant spirit would start,
Dash off her fetters and amaze the world!

Val.
Junius didst say? Oh! tyranny long since
Had sunk—chain'd—buried in its native hell—
But Tarquin, trembling at his virtues, murder'd
Him and his elder son. The younger, Lucius
Then on his travels, 'scap'd the tyrant's sword
But lost his reason at their fearful fall.

Luc.
Aye, the same Lucius who now dwells with Tarquin;—
The just, the fool, the laughing stock o'th' court
Whom the young princes always carry with 'em
To be the butt of their unfeeling mirth.

Val.
Hold. I hear steps. Great things may yet be done
If we are men and faithful to our country

[Exeunt.