 | Brutus Ultor |  |
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ACT III.
Scene I.
—Lucretia's bed-chamber.Lucretia.
I think it is the light, and, if I watch,
My senses will return. I know the sun
Fell in a streak so on the little nook
Where I piled up my needlework: it's there—
I'm in a stupor; for I do not mind.
I used to be so joyous at the sight
Of the small fleecy wraps. It's gone from me;
Tarquin hath ravished all. Oh, I could sink
Inward to Lethe: but I must not sleep,
There must be no more negligence. Some words
I had to write. [Motions to summon Virgilia.]
I will not rouse the child,
She'd stare at me. I must bear well in mind
Where I belong. By chance I learnt the name,
Though I ne'er uttered it for modesty.
I am—
The thing, my body is a brothel-house.
[Taking tablets.]
Here are the ivory slips. What shall I write?
I cannot feel. I will put on my gown,
And try to rouse myself. [Turns from it shuddering.]
Lucretia's . . . I
Am Tarquin's . . . What the wife
Of Collatine hath worn is not for me.
Hang there. . . . I must be liveried
In death. [Puts on black raiment.]
Alack, how cold they lie on me,
These mourning clothes! [Writes silently.]
I can unfold it now.
[Summons, and despatches the messenger.
Six hours! He cannot come to me ere noon.
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This falchion I will lay beside its sheath,
[Hiding the knife in her bosom.
And on the slaughter of mine enemy
Bend my concentred will. The time will pass.
Scene II.
—High ground before Ardea; the besieging army in sight.Enter Sextus: he looks back toward Rome.
Sextus.
What holds me from the town? I'd business there,
And made straight for the gates; it was the hour
Of opening, and I stood and watched them swing,
Yet could not stir a foot. Doubtless success
Hath somewhat weakened me; the branching road
Hath borne me hither, and I do not doubt
War's noisy traffic will best block my ears
From certain sounds the wind bears after me
In harassing pursuit. Why must I pause
To watch the sun rise? On Collatia's roofs
He glistens; the young doves were cooing low,
In the first light, when I set out for Rome.
What purple clouds beset the Capitol!
The temple's dark; but on the lower ground,
The Regia flares: 'twill be a stormy day;
I'll back to drill and discipline; two hours
Of the accustomed will recover me.
[Enter Brutus.]
There's Brutus—well, that's better, in the sun,
Than to encounter Collatine. [Observing Brutus.]
He loves
To mutter to himself.
Brutus.
[Climbing the hill.]
There is a way
Of life, a good for men, a shapely world,
Though all is black confusion. [He gains the summit, and sees the city lying in sunlight.]
God of day,
Thou hold'st the city, all her seven hills
Crowd for thy golden kiss! Apollo, rule
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Of eloquence; I, in my blurting rage,
Should move men to derision. 'Tis my blood
Revolts; that palace flaunting to the sky—
About its base the city strews her dead,
It is unclean, it savours of offence.
Thou punishest, thine arrows speed to hell,—
Send forth thy darts; for now, if heaven fail,
By crime, contagious wrath, conspiracy,
Must come the retribution. [Observing Sextus.]
Back to camp!
Surveying Ardea from this vantage-ground,
You counsel an assault?
Sextus.
Assuredly.
The town will yield, our engines at her walls.
We have been slack, and compassed her without
The press of resolution. Let her feel
Our will is in her overthrow, she'll ope
Her gates, and tremble. Think you there is aught
I could attempt, and fail in?
Brutus.
I am dull.
At Gabii you found guile answer best,
Who now are all for force,—at Gabii.
I cannot give advice; my head's a field
On which contending armies intermix;
I cannot clear a space for policy.
Sextus.
'Tis well, my cousin, that you keep a fool.
To be a prince,
Warm, lustful, arrogant, without respect
Of prejudice or person, is to learn
There's no opposing virtue in the world.
One need not sweat at one's iniquity;
All's slab to one's desire.
[Collatinus approaches.
Brutus.
There's Collatine!
Sextus.
Your nearest friend. [Aside, as he retires.]
Fools love such intercourse;
They trust each other. [Glancing at Collatinus.]
Now, for one quick breath,
I triumph; you at least are dispossessed,
And I am quit of envy. Everything
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Where shall I go? 'Twas folly to survive!
[Exit Sextus.
Brutus.
Welcome, my Collatine! How went the wage?
[Aside.]
Yet am I scarcely curious.
Collatinus.
She won!
Proud Sextus fastened on her his great eyes,
In a very stare of wonder. The young prince
Hath seldom looked upon true modesty.
Brutus.
And must not; 'tis a sight too reverend
For one so impious.
Collatinus.
Brutus, there you err;
Our cousin Tarquin hath an open soul,
Boyish, and quickly moved. Soon as he saw
Lucrece, he quite forgot his angry fit,
And prayed to visit us. Methinks, e'en now
He lodges at Collatia.
Brutus.
Then he left
At very early dawn; for on the hill
We talked together, as you climbed to us;
And in the ruddy sunlight he grew pale,
As you approached.
Collatinus.
A shyness, it is true,
I've noted in him.
Brutus.
It were natural
He should have brought you tidings of your home.
I would not have you trust its sacred walls
To foreign soldiership. Take holiday;
And give Lucretia the most blest surprise,
And comfort of your presence. Go alone.
The dew of your first bridal privacy
Enter, and balm your soul! Our dusty camp
Hath something harmed you.
[A messenger enters, with letter.
Collatinus.
Here's a messenger!
Brutus, you come fresh from the oracle.
Interpret this.
Brutus.
[Reading.]
Rome harbours traitors;—it hath reached my ears;
Great glory shall you have delivering her,
Through my betrayal, from her enemies.
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Brutus is worthy of thy faith.
Collatinus.
You've caught
The stare of the fixed priestess.
Brutus.
She's betrayed.
Collatinus.
Nay, Dullard, she betrays Rome's enemies.
Brutus.
We will avenge her.
Collatinus.
She shall have great fame.
Rome harbours traitors; she discovers this;
And saves her city: come!
Brutus.
Go, seek her father. Yonder is his tent.
[Exit Collatinus.
How it breaks on me! I can bear it all.
Ye gods, re-mark the city's boundaries;
Fling in my nature's ditch the holy fruits
Of man's religion, furrow deep in me
The piercing share that shall define the wall
Exiling tyranny.
[Re-enter Collatinus, with Lucretius.]
To-day are laid,
Lucrece, the deep foundations of thy Rome.
Thou'lt give thy blood? Her father,—Collatine,—
(Aloud.)
Friends, are you ready? Do not start in haste.
[Exeunt.
Scene III.
—A room in Collatinus' house.Enter Lucretia, flowers in her hand.
Lucretia.
I've roamed the garden; all the house is still—
I sent the girls to wash beside the stream;
We'll have all clean ere eventide. I plucked
A branch of myrtle; it is all for him
I suffered it. I could not lie stone dead,
And leave false Sextus to pollute his ear.
Besides, I had not looked on him my last:
Oh, how I love him! I have said farewell
To all our tender moments in the past;
And kissed his wedding-gifts, and laid them by.
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Of the great honour I shall bring to him.
Had I died stainless, he had crept about
Disgraced and fearful; now Lucretia's spouse
Shall have a reverend name, and Roman wives
Rate by my deed the measure of my love.
It must be soon. [She looks out.]
They're coming up the hill.
He lags behind. I'll run and comfort him;
For never, never was I more his wife.
I cannot die. Gods, he is looking up,
And I back in my guilt . . . Fair human law
Awards the sentence: in his righteous sight
The body, yielded to base Tarquin's lust,
Be scourged by blushing record of its crime
To faintness, and then smitten by the knife.
Can I not now be executioner?
[Enter Collatinus, Brutus, Lucretius, and Publius; they all remain speechless.]
My father, thou hast never had a son
To bear thine honour to the battle-field;
To me, thy trembling daughter, thou didst tell
Stories of heroes, and my woman's heart
Hath caught the martial touch. I call to arms;
Those swords must all be bloody ere we part.
Give me your blessing; let me feel your hand.
[She stretches her hands to her father.
Lucretius.
My child, speak to us. I command you, speak!
Publius.
It is some private wrong; she cannot force
Her craven words to her will's summoning.
Brutus.
She's deadly hurt; speak to her, Collatine,
Before it is too late.
Collatinus.
What ails thee? Dear,
If thou name not the traitor, Rome is wronged,
And I robbed of my fame.
Lucretia.
[Wildly.]
Tarquinius . . .
Oh, I mistake . . . My husband, hadst thou heard,
By strongest proof, had one brought word to thee,
That he had found me lying with a slave
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And lived dishonoured of thy countrymen,
Loathing thyself,—believed this?
Collatinus.
Of my wife?
As I should credit Roman infamy
From a bribed slave. [Lucretia swoons: they gather round her.]
Let's scrutinize her brow.
She's guilty. [To Lucretius.]
. . . There, look to't, she is your child.
[He thrusts Lucretia from him; her body falls at her father's feet.
Brutus.
Peace! patience!
She will revive; see, her scathed father stands
Mustering an army of his ancient loves
To gather round him, and to strike for her.
[To Lucretius.]
Spurius Lucretius, blush not at your name;
This lady does it honour. Oh believe,
And give her comfort, that her modesty
Yield not its life in travail of the words
That are its lawful issue. [Lucretia revives.]
We attend.
Lucretius.
Lucretia, we are armed. Where is't to strike?
Lucretia.
Father! [She kisses him and stands erect.]
Where is he? [Seeing Collatine.]
Thou, O my wrecked love,
Take heart; believe, I did but swoon for joy
That thou wouldst ever hold Lucretia chaste;
And for remorse that I, mistrusting thee,
Have borne the manners of unholy lust
In this my body—thy dear temple, spoilt
For any sacred use. I will be brief—
. . . In the night's inmost close
A creeping creature came to me, and swore
To make my lord an obloquy to Rome. . . .
He waited answer at my beating heart
With his compressing sword. . . . Alack! I live.
Collatinus.
[Unsheathing his sword.]
He lives—the name?
[They all unsheath.
Lucretia.
Swear to me, every one,
You will avenge me.
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We all take the oath.
Lucretia.
On Sextus; you are solemnly enrolled.
[They turn to the door.
A moment:—tell me, for my mind misgives,
What is the quality of my offence?
Can I be ever cleared, though you return
With reeking blades?
Lucretius.
My child, we will revenge.
You're safe.
Brutus.
We honour you.
Publius.
Lady, your woes
You've writ on Roman hearts, they there are graved
Eternally.
Lucretia.
My husband, you are dumb.
[Aside.]
A widowed face, but I, like Hercules,
Will fetch his bride back to him from the dead.
[Aloud.]
I'm glad you cannot so forget Lucrece.
One word more: I have told you all my crime;
There is no lurking witness in my heart
Not heaved up to my tongue, save this resolve—
[She feels for the knife.
Which, when 'tis done, I will bequeath to you,
The one thing worthy of you from your wife.
[Turns to the others.]
Now, Romans, to your work; my sword be first
To drink the expiation of my guilt.
[She stabs herself, and falls dead at Collatine's feet.
Lucretius.
Why, here's a Roman death! And the young lass
I scarce would give a blessing to; the nurse
Swore she would breed strong boys—a healthy babe.
Lucretia—but I reared her tenderly,
Had well-nigh made her vestal, for she seemed
Too heavenly
To learn her mortal use. . . . Thou liest there
Full of the secrets of a prince's lust,
The knowledge of a harlot 'neath the clasps
Of that pale parchment, and thou art not marred:
I kiss thee, I . . .
Collatinus.
Leave me—O gods!—my wife.
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You spurned her; she is Tarquin's sated lust
To you; I have begotten her,—her soul
Shines crystalline in its virginity.
[Turning to Brutus and Publius.]
Mine honourable friends,
I charge you, join me to avenge my child,
If you do hold her flawless; let no hand
Be raised for her that doth esteem her vile;
She's of my blood; I will not suffer it.
Brutus.
I draw the sword. [Taking the weapon from Lucretia's breast.]
Let's swear a bloody oath
That none hereafter shall be king in Rome.
Give me your blades.
[They dip them in Lucretia's blood.
We all will lift her up.
Cover her, Collatine; her funeral
We'll talk of in the forum. You are dumb;
For me, I can speak plain. O Publius,
Speech hath a holy use. Ye all shall hear
My praises of my kinswoman; attend.
[Exeunt, bearing Lucretia's body.
Scene IV.
—Rome. The Forum.Enter Brutus, Lucretius, Publius, and Collatinus, carrying Lucretia's body: Citizens.
1st Citizen.
Up, up! there is a march, and many folk
Are pouring in.
2nd Citizen.
It matters not to me.
They bring no food, they will not ease our toil,
And pay us for our labour. There's no hope
That any feet can bear.
1st Citizen.
From every house
The neighbours join the crowd.
2nd Citizen.
It is the king.
Ardea is ta'en: they shout.
1st Citizen.
Nay; see what comes!
Who is this lady with the golden brows?
Her blood upon her breast, in sable dress,
A corpse and yet a mourner? She is borne
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Whose names I know not.
3rd Citizen.
From Collatia
They carried her this morning, and they shout,
No kings, no Tarquins.
1st Citizen.
Flavius, no kings!
You heard it? Let us out and listen. There!
Citizens of Collatia.
No kings, no Tarquins!
1st Citizen.
Heigh! the Dullard's face
Glows like new-minted coin.
2nd Citizen.
They put her down.
1st Citizen.
[Pointing to Brutus.]
He grasps a knife, as Roman Jupiter
The lightning of his rule.
2nd Citizen.
He speaks, he speaks!
The dumb becomes an orator.
Brutus.
You all
Know me a man of silence: it is well
Only a tongue unused to state discourse,
Whose speech is as a virgin to affairs
Of common interchange and festal cheer,
Could speak of that which I am bold to say.
My mute division from the public voice
Hath been the preparation for this hour.
Romans, hard by is Vesta's honoured shrine;
If man dared mould the goddess of the hearth,
Here is her statue [uncovering Lucretia]
, fearful, intimate,
Provoking holy thoughts. I cannot leave
This spotless witness to proclaim the truth;
Her spirit spreads lustration o'er the sin
That hath polluted her: she is defiled.
3rd Citizen.
A monstrous, vile assault!
1st Citizen.
Who did the deed?
Brutus.
A prince—a ruler, one
Who, lawless in his blood, would bind the state
To the mere statutes of his tyrant will.
Lucretius.
Stay!—let me give her name.
All.
Old man, declare!
Lucretius.
I'm Spurius Lucretius, and her name Lucretia.
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His—Sextus Tarquinius.
Collatinus.
He lives.
All.
He dies.
[Tumult among the citizens.
Brutus.
Pause, Romans; think not to avenge this wrong
With ignorant impetuosity;
They spread the targe of purpose o'er their wrath
Who take the field for retribution. Think!
Death's syllables fall slow. Ye must attend
Lucretia's pleasure. Tarquin swore to spread
Report that he had found her with a slave,
And slain her: this to Collatine, her spouse,
To Spurius Lucretius, her great sire,
To Rome, her countrymen: the girlish wife,
In pity of our manhood's tarnished brows,
Bore for an hour the harlot's burning name
Then poured her blood upon it, that henceforth
Death and dishonour be one word in Rome.
1st Citizen.
O noble lady, you have made your land
A glory to the peoples!
Brutus.
While it bows
To Tarquin's race, and yields its sacred soil
To impress of his lustful tyranny?
All.
We will destroy the brood.
3rd Citizen.
His cursèd feet
Shall never cross the borders of the state.
All.
Never! On him, his father, and his race,
We will pronounce perpetual banishment.
Brutus.
We will. Who rule in wickedness and force
Are anarchy's own offspring in disguise
Of sacred government. The son of Mars
Who drew these walls, Quirinus, in his rule,
Wielded the dual might of law and arms.
Dark with the wrath of heaven were the years
Of Tullus, disobedient to the rites
And ceremonial by Numa learnt
From heavenly Egeria. The code
Of Servius in murder was annulled
By the proud father of this ravisher.
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We will avenge.
Brutus.
We will enforce the doom
Of princes who are malefactors. Speak
Calmly, Quirites, the just punishment.
All.
Exile for ever.
Brutus.
Let the gates be closed.
Spurius Lucretius, to your charge I leave
Our people's city.
All.
You shall govern us;
Brutus is Lord of Rome!
Brutus.
Accursèd speech.
There shall be no more tyrants: we will seek
The camp; the king already speeds to Rome;
I will avoid him on the route: meanwhile
Defy him from the city's fast-barred gates.
With Ardea's soldiers I will straight return,
And, pressing on his rear, force him to flee
Or perish. Then, we on the Field of Mars,
Will gather: ye shall choose your magistrates,
Men who as brothers shall protect the state,
Give you their blood on battle-field, in peace
Their serviceable wisdom.
Publius.
We will choose
Great Brutus for our leader; he himself
Shall find a mate.
Brutus.
Then I choose Collatine
With me to bear imperial command,
Till Tarquin be expelled.
1st Citizen.
Ye both shall rule.
2nd Citizen.
I like not Collatinus;—he is mum
And cold. But Brutus—
1st Citizen.
You could lay the crown
On his wide brow,—he'd never notice it.
We must not show reluctance at his choice.
Hail, Lucius Brutus, noble Collatine,
Our Rome's deliverers.
[A shout.
Collatinus.
I would bespeak
Some post of danger.
Brutus.
From Lucretia's side
You stir not: you are lawful treasurer
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I'll march to Ardea.
Publius.
We will follow him.
Collatinus.
Ye who are husbands and are fathers stay
For the defence.
Elder Citizens.
We'll gird the Capitol,
And force them from the walls.
Brutus.
Each to his rule.
[To the young men.]
You must not look again upon that face
[pointing to Lucretia]
Till you are freemen.
[Exit, with band of young Romans.
2nd Citizen.
I am faint, my heart
Swells,—take me to my hovel, to my wife;
Send out the children, let them hear the word,
Freemen,—O joy! I'm dying.
[He falls.
Elder Citizens.
Lady, hail!
Lucretius.
[To Collatinus.]
You hear the shout; you shudder; here in sight
Of these most reverend elders, you shall clear
My child of blame, or shall declare her guilt.
Plain words: no reservation.
Collatinus.
She is clean
Now she is dead: I spurned her to your face
Before the expiation.
Lucretius.
Son, to you
I leave the corpse: to you, fair citizens,
My daughter's memory. You've reared no maid
Is like to prove her equal. These the breasts
To suckle freedom!
Elders.
We will honour her
For ever, and elect her noble spouse
Our city's youngest ruler.
Lucretius.
Man the gates.
[Collatinus silently salutes the elders: exeunt, Lucretius leading them.]
Collatinus.
My wife: now I can cover thee; thou'st served
The vulgar purpose. I have seen thee borne
A trophy to the people. It was dark,
The hour of thy dishonour, and thy hand
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Here, in the forum, in the glaring crowd,
I've borne the profanation of our love.
There is no privacy
Longer between us. Lucrece, no man's lust
Could put thee to the poise of agony
I've suffered tongueless from the mouths of men.
Thou canst be cleansed;—death hath a bleaching ground
For crimes o' the dye that stain thee. I am vile
Past remedy. [Rising.]
That in her very heart
She thought I could have doubted her! 'Twas rash
To praise her so,—she lived for good report;
[Enter a train of matrons.]
Doubtless she will have fame. A noble train
Of matrons comes to wash and garland her.
I cannot meet them.
[Retires. The matrons gather round Lucretia: a young Roman wife unveils her.
Young Roman Wife.
Claudia, she is young!
Claudia.
She should have been a mother.
Elder Matron.
She's a wife.
I have borne many sons, and testify
No stirring of my first-born in the womb,
No joy in the man-child who proves his blood,
Can bear comparison with nuptial bliss.
Cleave to your spouses, ye young, wedded girls;
Grow wise to be their counsellors; fulfil
Still higher office 'neath their sovereignty
As years increase; then, if their rule is mocked,
Perish proclaiming it.
This sacred bride,
Our Juno's youngest nursling, shall be decked
As fair as for her spousals: and for aye
Rome's sweetest-natured women bear her name.
Touch her devoutly.
Claudia.
It is wonderful
How she could kill herself.
Young Roman Wife.
Nay, Claudia,
I think I could.
Claudia.
Now you have seen her face.
[Exeunt the matrons, bearing the body of Lucretia.
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Scene V.
—A desolate part of the Campagna.Enter Sextus and Nobles.
Sextus.
I scarcely hear your voices in the blast;
Nearer, good friends, or I must fulminate
To this unpeopled plain my deep design.
My father is undone; as outcasts, we
Endure the weather, and the infamy
Of vanquished arms. Attend me!—go to Rome,
And with slack knee and pliant countenance,
Entreat permission to remove the goods
And treasure of the king. There'll be delay:
Use it to rouse the loyal; steal within
The homes where licence flaunted 'neath our rule;
Then Rome is ours. Oh, vengeance! Swift, to horse!
Nobles.
'Twere well we built a fire and dried our robes,
Ere hurling to the city.
Sextus.
Ride to-night,
Ride fresh in your discomfiture; recall
How for my ends I went to Gabii,
The traitor city, with blood-dripping back,
And glory so impaired; my enemies,
Indignant at my father's cruelty,
Which thus, I swore, deformed me, took me in
As guest, then leader: easy as the lash
Of a light wand that, lifted carelessly,
Sunders the spurting poppy-heads, I clove
Their nobles' skulls.
Nobles.
No more: we're on our way,
And shall prepare your entry.
[Exeunt, riding swiftly.
Sextus.
Foul disgrace!
She whom I forced hath done it; I'm o'erthrown
By her who lay subjected to my will;
I'm ravished of my honour and my kingdom,
Defamed in Roman annals for all time.
She even rules my vision, for at night
She sits beside my bed, and guides a wheel—
Methinks it is my destiny she spins
Before my giddy eyes—and as she works
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In a dark valley. When the dawn awakes,
Pale, weak, and shuddering as if by night
Insulted, then she gives one fearful cry,
And, pointing to the red scar on her breast,
Leaves me more abject, weary, desperate,
Than she herself, when I stole out from her
That hour. I thought my knife so moved her fear
She'd never tamper with a biting blade.
But I will lay her spectre by the press
Of action; rouse the neighbouring tribes to pour
Converging, irrepressible, on Rome.
Will the wrecked creature haunt me when I house
Once more upon the Capitol, above
The palpitating city? All my sports
Shall be blood-dashed; these crowned republicans
Shall draw my chariot, and be as slaves
Imbruted for my pleasure. In the art
Of degradation I will plant my fame,
Till the pale spirit quivering retire,
And I sleep dreamless, or revolve new schemes
Of rapine, unfatigued. Discrowning night
Of lustful triumph, how I curse thy shade!
[Exit.
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