 | Junius Brutus |  |
SCENE VIII.
As Lucia, &c. are going off the Stage, they meet Titus led in by the Lictors.Titus, Lucia, &c.
TITUS,
starting
Ha! Lucia here?
89
O my much-injur'd Titus!
In vain I have essay'd, with Pray'rs and Tears,
To gain thy Pardon from relentless Brutus.
His Heart is steel'd to ev'ry tender Passion.
Hence he retir'd, to shun my hated Presence—
Behold, just Heav'n!—This Father of his Country,
So watchful to preserve the Roman Laws,
Himself now violating those of Nature,
With his Son's Blood pollutes his Savage Hands!
TITUS.
Blame not my Father. All the Guilt is mine!
Those Sacred Laws I wildly have transgress'd,
Extort the Sentence I so justly merit.
I hasten to the Land of dark Oblivion,
Where racking Thought shall torture me no more!
LUCIA.
Have I betray'd the best and bravest Roman,
The Man for whom I wou'd have gladly dy'd?
Unutterable Anguish overwhelms me!—
TITUS.
Forbear to pierce my Heart with thy Complainings!—
My Soul was busied with the Thoughts of Death;
Tempt me no more to wish for Life again!
Nature's too weak to bear this dreadful Conflict!
[Leaning upon her.
[Recovering, after a Pause.
May no Misfortunes grieve thy joyous Days;
Yet deign sometimes to think on wretched Titus!
90
O! let me still indulge the pleasing Hope,
That thou shalt live, live happy many Years,
And Heav'n will crown thee with its choicest Gifts!
Then shall I meet my Fate without Reluctance,
Nor once repine against the Gods, or Brutus!—
Thou fairest Pattern of transcendent Goodness,
Farewell! Farewell!—for ever!
[Embracing her.
LUCIA.
O! Farewell!
Thou matchless Heroe! and too-generous Lover!
If I cou'd cherish now One Thought of Life,
I shou'd detest the Baseness of my Heart!
Thy glorious Shade I'll meet in Realms below,
Where thy fierce Father's Anger cannot reach us!—
Nor Pain, nor Grief, our virtuous Souls shall know,
But with Love's purest Flames for ever glow.
Thy Fate, dear lovely Youth, with Joy I'll share,
And thus escape from ev'ry racking Care!
[Stabbing herself.
TITUS,
upon seeing Lucia kill herself, at first starts; and then stands awhile silent, as stupify'd with Grief. At last he breaks forth into this Exclamation.
Break, stubborn Heart, and end my Miseries!—
'Tis done. The Pangs of Death, at length, are past!
Heroic Maid!—thy great Example shows,
With how much Ease a Mind resolv'd may die!—
| Junius Brutus | |