 | Brutus Ultor |  |
Scene III.
—The house of Collatinus. Sextus sitting alone. After an interval, Lucretia enters, with tablets in her hand.Sextus.
Lucretia, I must very early rise
To-morrow for the camp, ere any stir.
Most cruelly you've left me to myself
Since supper-time. Remember, I am come
To learn the secret of your happiness.
Lucretia.
Have you no friends, my prince, among your thoughts,
That thus you languish? What! no counsellors,
No grave instructors of a charmed discourse,
Whom you can summon to your solitude?
I, in my quiet hours, have learned to cull
My meditations from a motley rout
Of cravings, importunities, and fears;
And the few bosom-thoughts I entertain,
O'er-grateful for my hospitality,
Come to my side, unsought, when I am sick,
Sullen, or dull, and nurse me to content.
Sextus.
What thoughts, Lucretia?
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Oh, of simple things.
How we can bless each other, what deep hopes
The gods build in our people. I can see
The temple rising on the Capitol,
By the Sabines' holy places. On the throne
Sacred to youth Rome was forbid to build;
Her deity
May not be overborne; high Jupiter
Respects her altars. It is wonderful
To think Juventas should remain eterne
In majesty, and, by her votaries,
Stablish the city, and o'ercome the world.
Doth it not thrill your heart, Tarquinius?
Sextus.
Youth is a power,—ah! Lucrece, you divine,—
A tyranny hoar Jupiter reveres,
Nor in her precincts dares define the site
Of his triumphant rule. Youth shall prevail,
When pontifex and silent vestal cease
Their journey up the steep.
Lucretia.
I rather hold
It means religion would not violate
Nature's fair bounds, but rear her holy walls
Beside them neighbourly, nor aught transgress,
Save by intrusion of her solemn shade.
But, sooth, my cousin, I do owe excuse
For my withdrawal. The whole afternoon
You kept me a spelled listener on your lips,
And, for requital, won no counter tales
Of emulous enchantment; for my heart
Was gag upon my tongue. Some broken words
I have set down in secret to my lord,
And now may best commend your eloquence
By making you the convoy of my love.
[Presenting the tablets.
Bear these to Collatine. This genial hour,
Tell your dear camp-mate, hath revived my soul.
Thanks for your courteous journey, and farewell.
Sextus.
Good-night, fair cousin. In my bosom these.
[Taking the tablets.
There rest the ivory scriptures; but, your hand,—
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To-night of Sextus, and his colloquy?
Lucretia.
In simple frankness, no; my constant dream
Is of the camp.
I have a faithful fancy, and can trust
The flock of my unguarded thoughts to feed
Secure, as they were folded by the tent
Of Collatinus. Fare you well, my lord.
[Exit.
Sextus.
Farewell, farewell; from my dear worship's gaze
She's ravished;—I shall look on her no more,
No more revere her, feel her happy voice
Sway my insurgent thoughts no more. [Pressing the tablets.]
How cold
Her words! Oh, she is warm, enchanting, fond,
And soon to be enjoyed. She shall repay
Each pang she cost me, in my wanton hour,
Or death will ravage me. It is the end,
The purpose of these women; to deny
Is for the plighted vestal with her dread
Of the sealed chamber, and the waning lamp
In the entrails of the Capitol. I'll tear
[Taking out the tablets]
Now from her breast its secrets. Let us see
How fared she ere she came 'neath Sextus' rule.
[Reads.]
One golden hour with Tarquin have I sped:
Ay, and another shall be thine. Lucrece,
If I may be thy lover, we'll not speak,
Strive, nor reproach, but, with enwinding arms,
Mingle our silent passions in an act.
Let me read further. O my love, come quick,
For I grow faint to hear my soldier's praise,
And give him no reward. It is enough.
I will enact her Collatine, and reap
The pleasure he commands. The house grows dead.
I'll to my chamber. [Stumbling.]
She has left her lute;
I've crushed it, but no matter. She'll not need
To sing again. She'll weep and hold her peace.
[Exit.
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