University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

TITUS, TULLIA.
TITUS.
Am I deceived? Or wilt thou deign once more
To cast thy eyes on this detested Roman,
Whose presence shocks thy heart? So justly hated?
So criminal t'ward thee? The bitterest foe
Of Tarquin's race?

TULLIA.
Each envious star declines,
And all is changed. Yes, fate will now permit—
Oh, Titus!—Speak! Assure me, that I hold
A true undoubted empire o'er thy soul.

TITUS.
Ah! Canst thou question whether that exists,
Which long hath made me wretched? Bear I not
In character most legible, the marks
Of fervent love, of guilt, and of despair?
Too surely have I proved thy absolute
And fatal empire; my subjected heart
To thy disposal willingly resigns
A life not worth the name.—Command! Exhaust
Thy justly-hoarded vengeance. In thy hands
Is placed my destiny.

TULLIA.
Mine springs from thee.

TITUS.
From Titus! Hah! Still trembling with its fears
This bosom can with difficulty trust
Even the voice of Tullia. Shall I then
No more be hated by thee? Oh! proceed!
Unfold the mystery!—What enchanting hopes,
Thus in a moment, rap me on their wings,
To the sublimest pitch of human bliss!

TULLIA.
[Giving him the Letter.
Read; and let happiness be thine. Confirm it
To me, and to my father.
[While he is reading.
Thus shall all
My tender wishes.—Hah! That angry frown!
And now a cloud of sorrow dims his visage!
Now consternation reigns! Immortal powers!

TITUS.
Surely I stand alone, the most accurst
Of human beings. Treacherously kind,
Intent t'o'erwhelm me with her blackest horrors,
Fate gave a sight of happiness and snatch'd
At once the transient vision. That my heart
Might groan beneath the burthen of affliction
Fully accumulated; she inspired
The conscious thought that Tullia might be mine;
Doom'd me to love, and see her ravish'd from me,

TULLIA.
Doom'd thee! Can Titus?—

TITUS.
I perceive my life
From this sad moment is condemn'd to bear,
The direst pangs of torture, or the load
Of basest ignominy; to betray
Thee, or my country; I can tread henceforth
No path of safety; no alternative
Remains, but that of misery, or of guilt.

TULLIA.
Hah! Could such words escape the lips of Titus!
When from this hand I offer thee a crown!
When I myself with-hold not! When thy eyes
Have read the soft emotions of my heart,
Open and undisguised! A father's power
Giving a sanction to each tender thought,
Converting love to duty!—I believed
This day would shine pre-eminently graced,
The brightest of my life. Alas, vain hope!
For the first moment, when my soul o'erjoy'd,
Might all its hidden sentiments disclose
Without a blush, that moment is become,
By thy ingratitude, the lasting source
Of deep repentance.—Darest thou hint at misery?
Thou talk of guilt? To serve a rebel crew
Against their lawful king, plunge me in woe,
Profess to love, hate and abjure my kindness,
These are my miseries, and these form thy guilt.
Oh! Titus, with enlighten'd sight behold
What lies before thee, in impartial balance:
There the refusal of the injurious senate
Here, plenitude of power. Now make thy choice.
Stoop to tyrannic laws, or be thyself
The law-giver; ascend the regal throne,
Or herd with the base multitude; determine
To fix on Rome, or me.—Inspire him, gods!
With your own breath! And teach him how to act!

TITUS.
My choice is made.

[Giving her back the Letter.
TULLIA.
And wilt thou not reveal it?
Doth fear, doth shame restrain thee? Speak! Deserve
Thy pardon, or my anger. Say, at once,
Thy purpose.

TITUS.
That my actions shall evince me
Worthy of thee; still equal to myself;
And still unshaken in my zeal for Rome.
To love with ardour, to resist with firmness;
Adore thy virtues at an aweful distance,
Yet strive to imitate them; lose thee, Tullia,
Yet feel a conscious pride that I deserve thee.

TULLIA.
Thus then forever—

TITUS.
Oh! Forgive me, Tullia!
Heed not the rash offences of my tongue;
Scorn not my weakness; view with generous pity
A heart its own worst foe, a thousand times
More miserable now, than when condemn'd
To thy severest hate. Oh! Frown not thus!
Can I those charms resign! Impossible;
Nor dare I forward look, and cherish hope.
My life cannot be thine, without thee, death
Must be my portion; yet would I confront it
In its most ghastly shape e'er see thy faith
Given to another.

TULLIA.
Oh! This heart, my Titus,
Most frankly pardons all; its faith is thine,
Still sacred and entire.

TITUS.
Transporting sounds!
Rewarded thus! Thus blest with thy affection!
Love me then, Tullia, with a Roman soul!
Love the republic! Nobly soar beyond
A queen's mean sphere! In lieu of regal state,
The gawdy gems, and tinsel of a crown,
Bring for thy nuptial gift, a breast which glows
With patriot love! Thy country's laws revere!
Be Rome henceforth thy mother! In thy chaste
Encircling arms embrace the man, who fights
Her battles, and supports her glorious cause!
Let Brutus be thy father! And the sons
Of Rome, by thy superior excellence,
Thy generosity of mind o'ercome,
Confess the daughter of a king hath laid
Th'eternal base of freedom!

TULLIA.
Shall I then
Betray;—

TITUS.
No; never. By despair impell'd,
Where wander'd my vague thoughts? In every form
Treason is base and horrible. I know
The duty which a father claims; his rights
Are absolute.—I know—thy image fills
My breast—to each idea lost beside,
Lost to myself.

TULLIA.
Let Tullia then direct thee!
Attend! Nor let her father speak in vain!

TITUS.
And have not I a father to obey?
Shall I not hear, his, and my country's voice!

TULLIA.
Thy country! Barbarous Titus! Canst thou call
By that dear name, the soil whence I am banish'd!

TITUS.
Alas! We must henceforth be enemies.
Nature to thee, to me the laws command it?
A savage duty to which both must yield.

TULLIA.
Henceforth be enemies! How could thy tongue
Pronounce those dreadful words!

TITUS.
Oh! Witness heaven!
My soul, and all its feelings give the lie
To what I utter'd.

TULLIA.
Let those feelings prompt
Thy future actions! Nobly in my cause
Dare shew thy zeal! and whom thou lovest, avenge!