University of Virginia Library

SCENE VI.

CLODIA, FRUGI.
CLODIA.
O Frugi, what a happy chance was this!
Andromeda ne'er blest wing'd Perseus more
Than I do thee.

FRUGI.
Blest rather be the cause,
And this auspicious hour that brought me here!
I pause for your commands.

CLODIA.
Ah! why so guarded?
You speak not before witnesses, but speak
To one alone, too much alas! your friend.
Say'st thou, commands?—O tell me first my power
E're I command. Wilt thou not understand?
Hast thou not, yes, I know thou hast, the art
To read a lady's wishes in her eyes?
If then thou hast the art, and had'st been kind,
Thou should'st have let thy wishes marshal mine,
Have importun'd me to my own desires,
And kneeling beg'd the joys yourself bestow'd.

FRUGI.
How wide you speak! Where's Cicero in this?

CLODIA.
Hah! Cicero?—my everlasting hatred
Pursue and overtake him! Nature feels not
Such horror at approaching dissolution,
As I to hear your lips pronounce his name.

FRUGI.
Farewell! I have my answer.

CLODIA.
Caius, stay.
You are his friend, and would do much to save him;
I yet will treat with you on terms of peace
And reconcilement; say, what would'st thou do?

FRUGI.
What would I do? As much as friend dare do;
And more than all your malice could invent,
Great as it is, to task me.

CLODIA.
O ingrateful!
My malice?—But I'll put you to the proof.
Now, Frugi, now you shall see Clodia's malice,
How very hard a task-mistress she is:
If you love Cicero, love him alone;
Renounce the daughter to preserve the father;
Abandon Tullia.

FRUGI.
Hah!

CLODIA.
Abandon Tullia;
And come, O come to these protecting arms:
With twice her ardor if they meet thee not,
With twice her fondness if they close not on thee,
Take her, my happy rival, take again,
And cast me off to wretchedness and shame.

FRUGI.
Can I do this and live?

CLODIA.
What! am I scorn'd?

FRUGI.
Your offers are, tho' bitterest death ensued
On the refusal.

CLODIA.
And what else will follow?
Your fates are in my keeping; Clodius' hand
Hangs o'er you, and but waits my nod to strike.

FRUGI.
I know with Clodius how great your power;
And know the damning price you bought it at:
But boast it not; blush, rather blush to death,
And deprecate the vengeance of the Gods.

CLODIA.
No, I'll not blush, nor ask the Gods forgiveness,
But glory rather that I've found the means
With these despised charms to blast thee yet,
And triumph o'er thy peace. Go to your Tullia:
The sun must soon go down upon your loves,
And night at last will bring on my revenge.
Then, when thou see'st the lofty palace flaming,
Thy mistress seiz'd by the dishevell'd locks,
Screaming and yelling in the spoiler's arms;
Thyself bound down, mad'ning with fruitless rage,
Then, then, remember me, then know 'tis I,
It is my Genius that directs thy fate,
And learn too late to reverence Clodia's charms.
(Exit Clodia.

FRUGI.