 | Brutus Ultor |  |
Scene II.
—The Camp before Ardea.Enter Lucretius.
Lucretius.
A restlessness is on me! As the sun
Sinks down,—I know not why,—I hope my girl
Is happy; as the clouds rise, that she's safe;
These wenches! Ay, and mine is much alone
Of late, and needing cheerful company—
I'd like to chat with her. Now she is gone,
I've found my mateless days again, albeit
No youth to sweeten them. Well, well, I hope
To-night she's blithe, and busy at her wheel.
I'll set the watch.
[Enter Brutus.]
Brutus, your sons are grown.
I saw them in the market-place last week;
They bore their heads high.
Brutus.
As I came along
I thought of them.
Lucretius.
Your Titus has a gait
Too careless for his years; Tiberius
An insolent demeanour; 'mid the group
Of anxious faces these young citizens
Flaunted their new attire.
Brutus.
I fear they know
But little of the gravity that breathes
22
Through which life speaks to youth. A father's part
Is somewhat an interpreter's.
Lucretius.
My child
Was rather priestess to my daily life,
Than I her seer. Brutus, I thought of her
Soon as I saw 'twas sunset on the tents.
Brutus.
Your hand! My thoughts were also fatherly.
Lucretius.
Come, we must find a soldier, who can fill
Prince Sextus' place. He's ridden towards the north,
Starting some hours ago. Here come the workers,
Who dig the mines beneath the eastern wall.
Brutus.
Stupid they tramp on, like o'erdriven herds,
But worse tire on their faces. [Aside.]
And of these
The Dullard may be the Deliverer!
[Exeunt.
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