 | Brutus |  |
SCENE I.
BRUTUS, THE SENATE.Scene, a Part of the House appropriated to the Consuls on the Tarpeian Mount. At a Distance, the Temple of the Capitol. The Senators are assembled between the Temple and the House, before the Altar of Mars. The Consuls, Brutus and Valerius Publicola, preside. The Senators are ranged in a Semi-circle. The Lictors with their Fasces stand behind them.
BRUTUS.
Avengers of tyrannic power, who own
No kings except the righteous Gods of Numa,
Your virtue, and the laws; at length our foe
Begins to know us. This imperious Tuscan,
Whose voice was that of absolute command,
Whose arm supports a tyrant like himself,
Porsenna, Tarquin's dread ally, whose hosts
O'erspread the banks of Tiber, on the Senate
Reflects with awe, and fears the sons of freedom.
This day before your eyes the crest of pride
Lowly he stoops, and begs that he may treat
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Deputed, is arrived, and now requests
An audience from the senators of Rome.
He waits in yonder temple, you will judge
Whether it more becomes you to refuse,
Or order his admission.
VALERIUS PUBLICOLA.
Let him bring
Whatever terms he may, and for our ears
However meet, unheard we ought to send him
Back to his lord. Ye have what I advise.
No more to Rome of treaty with her foes
Till they are vanquish'd. Twice indeed thy son
Raising the scourge of vengeance, hath repulsed
The tyrant of Hetruria; I confess
The debt which his illustrious valour claims;
And own he stands, by thy example taught,
The saviour of his country. But not e'en
These deeds suffice. Rome still begirt with arms,
Views near her walls the race which she abhors.
Let Tarquin yield to our decrees; the law
Doom'd him to exile; let him quit the state,
And purge our borders of imperial crimes,
Then may we listen to his prayers. But much
This title of ambassador it seems
Works on your minds. Unable to subdue,
The tyrant now is anxious to deceive us.
Caution alarm'd beholds with jealous eye
These regal messengers, insidious foes
Deck'd with the badge of honour, who advance
Replete with haughtinesse, or all the wiles
Of dextrous craft, and with impunity
Insult us, or betray. Listen not, Rome,
To their seducing words; disdaining art,
Thine is war's generous task; confound the foes
Who sicken at thy glory; fall thyself,
Or punish guilty kings; be these thy treaties.
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Rome knows I prize her liberty beyond
All that is dear. Yet tho' my bosom glows
With the same ardour; my opinion differs.
I cannot but behold this embassy
As the first homage paid by sovereign power
To Rome's free sons; we should accustom thus
The towering and despotic pride of kings
To treat on even terms with our republic;
Till heaven accomplishing its just decrees,
The time shall come to treat with them as subjects.
Aruns is here no doubt, intent to mark
Our yet unsettled state, what hidden springs
Nourish its rising grandeur, to explore
Its genius, and observe its strength. All this
Proves it a duty, fathers, to admit him
Into our presence, let the senate's foe
Know who, and what we are; a monarch's slave
At length prepare himself to look on men.
Let him at leisure cast his eye o'er Rome,
Here will he view her, and in you survey
Her guardian bulwarks. Let him on this spot
Revere the God whose altar stands before us;
Let him approach the senate, hear, and tremble.
[The Senators rise and come forward to give their votes.
VALERIUS PUBLICOLA.
Thine is the general suffrage; Rome and thou
Must be obey'd; I with reluctance yield.
Go, lictors, introduce him to our presence,
And may the Roman dignity from thence
Remain uninjured!
[To Brutus.
All our eyes are turned
On thee alone; thy hand first brake our chains.
This high debate of liberty to thee
Glad we intrust; thou art her father, Brutus,
And who more fit to plead her sacred cause?
| Brutus | |