University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Vivius seated. Citizens in waiting.
VIVIUS.
The next?

THIRD CITIZEN.
The turn is mine.

SECOND CITIZEN.
I say, 'tis mine.

VIVIUS.
You come to settle quarrels, not to breed them.
Speak you, the elder—you have fewer days.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Our quarrel's made; his telling first his story
Will give it him his way.

VIVIUS.
I bade you speak.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Please you, I have an orchard stands hard by
His dwelling; 'twixt us stood a swerving wall
That left three goodly trees upon my lot,
Three of the goodliest there. 'Tis said the wind
(A keen one) shook the wall about the curve;
And straight this man builds up again in line,
And takes these trees, my right, away from me.

VIVIUS.
How answer you?

SECOND CITIZEN.
That I'm a mason, sir;
My character's concern'd. Would you employ
A mason who did build a crooked wall?
And where's his conscience? Let him pay my wall
Before I pay his trees. Sure, if their fruit
Have caught it of his face, they're no great bargain.

VIVIUS.
A goodly fruit, 'tis like a goodly deed,
That hath so sound a germ, repute of ill
Cannot corrupt it;—deeds, they are the fruits—

Enter Statius.
STATIUS.
There's news!

VIVIUS.
And stirring too; your eyes the vouchers.

STATIUS.
From Rome.

VIVIUS.
A moment!

[Rises and comes forward.
STATIUS.
Plautianus killed!

VIVIUS.
Jove!—is there tumult?

STATIUS.
Nay, it was the knife,
And not the sword, that slew him.

VIVIUS.
At whose instance?

STATIUS.
Scarce known,—or Bassianus, or Severus;
Certain the emperor takes his death in peace.

VIVIUS.
Ha! carrion-bird, would'st tamper with the eagle?

STATIUS.
They say the messenger hath brought advices
Touching the Christians.

VIVIUS.
So—so is it? You see
My warning was not lost. Let me despatch;
There have been “silver crowns” entwin'd with wreaths!

[Returns to his place.
STATIUS
(aside).
What are the chances? If Hilarianus—

VIVIUS.
Well, of these goodly trees?—this worthy wall?
'Tis pity two brave neighbour-citizens
Should have an ill division standing 'twixt them.
Time wears,—my steward must, with weightier help,
Make light your difference—for your loss find gain;
For you,—you are content with character?

SECOND CITIZEN.
(Aside)
And with the trees!—A trifle for my labour.

VIVIUS.
Well, he shall fit it with you; so depart,
And see that amity remain with you:
Discord is no safe hand to trust with apples.—
The next? Why, what a ruddy face is here!
As honest, I'll be sworn; and goodly limbs
To match brave service with as brave a deed.
Enter a Slave (in haste).
What is thy tale?—out with it! Art thou dumb?

SLAVE.
I saw—

VIVIUS.
Go on! Is't fire?—is't death? What is it?

SLAVE.
The Lady Vivia—

VIVIUS.
Ha! what of her? Speak!

SLAVE.
But now the præfect's guards have borne her off.

VIVIUS.
The præfect's guards!

SLAVE.
They say she is a Christian.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Vivius!—The gods have struck him!

STATIUS.
So—that Jew—

VIVIUS.
The Jew—I see it all!—plain as a scroll;
He and the præfect! Outrage upon her!
O vengeance! this shall fill full to its scope
Thy widest grasp,—gods! Where have they taken her?

SLAVE.
To prison.

VIVIUS.
That's relief; any where rather
Than to his stew. And yet, 'mong felon slaves,—
The loathsome scum of the city,—cag'd in darkness,—
Citizens! have you blood within your hearts?
Wives, daughters, in your homes? Rouse all! and know
A governor doth rule within your city
Can drag them forth, and hale them through your streets
All draperied in lies, black as the lust
He seeks to appease.

STATIUS.
Hold! hold! you go too far:
It may be lust for gold; or say revenge.

VIVIUS.
Or say revenge? Revenge that I have ta'en
The parts of those—your parts, whom he hath left
Neglected, scorn'd, to lead his shameless life
In most unmeasur'd riot, reckless waste—

CITIZENS.
Shame, shame!—so he has. Shame!

STATIUS.
(Aside)
Go on; that works.

VIVIUS.
What works? My outrag'd blood is up in arms,
And drums within mine ears; I scarce can hear.

STATIUS.
(Aside)
Tell them he wants the gold that should be theirs.

VIVIUS.
And for I have some wealth that he doth covet,
He seeks to threat it from me by—(the thought—
The very thought doth choke me, ere the word)—
Branding the daughter of my house as—Christian!
Seizing her at the altar of her home,
Impiously braving all those deities
Who guard its sacred precincts—

STATIUS.
(Aside)
To the gold!—
Say, 'tis the people's gold that he would have.

VIVIUS.
Think—'tis the people's gold that he would clutch;
Then answer, who shall have it, he or you?

Enter Camus and Barac.
CAMUS.
Nor he nor you; 'tis for the gods to claim—
[The citizens fall back. Exit Statius.
The gods she hath defied! They bow in mercy,
Beyond her vain deservings, to accept
The ransom thou canst give for her offence.

VIVIUS.
Oh, plot most vile! And these are thy accusers,—
A ravening priest, a misbegotten Jew,
Back'd by a base-born minion of—of who?
Of what?—a corpse! His power—where is it now?
I do defy him. You! Deal out your wrath—
Your wrath—not Jove's! On his Olympian throne,
With brow begirt in majesty of ire,
He's frowning now upon thee, while he grasps
Tight for the hurl th' avenging thunderbolt,
Destin'd for thee, thou desecrating priest!
Away, and with my scorn! Friends, follow me,—
Ye who have wives and daughters, for their sake;
And all for Jove's!

CAMUS.
They fear the power of him,
Whom now, in me, thy impious tongue blasphemes.

VIVIUS.
Nay, let them fear while breath of thine infects
The city, lest it reach our mighty Dead,
To fan their ashes to a shame so hot,
Shall crack their urns asunder; bid them rush
Up to the heav'ns, in fiery appeal,
For leave to purify their place of rest;
And, earning confirmation of the gods,
Dash down in show'rs of vengeance on us all!
'Tis him that ye should fear! Lo! while I speak,
Look at him, withering beneath the curse:
Shrunken his form, as yon hot bolt of Jove
Were on the way to smite him into dust.
Beware the doom'd! lest that his doom be yours.
Citizens! follow me; the gods are with us.

[The crowd draw off with Vivius.
BARAC.
What will he do?

CAMUS.
I know he can do nothing.

BARAC.
And my reward?

CAMUS.
Like his,—will come with time.
Now, should the daughter make her recantation,
The father's trapp'd. This stirring of the mob
Hath made him mine. He thinks he knows me!—No,
Not yet to the full. You seek his gold to hoard,
I take his heart to torture.

BARAC.
Share alike.

CAMUS.
Away!

[Exeunt.