University of Virginia Library

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
By Brutus, Publius, and other two
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.

Brutus.
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.

1st Citizen.
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
Of our new city's wealth. With younger Rome,
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
Plucked down death's seamless curtain for its pall.
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.