University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

An Apartment in Cicero's Palace. Attendants. A Secretary at a Table. Cicero is walking in front, occasionally speaking to the Officers.
CICERO.
[The Officer goes.

HAMILCAR enters, chained.
HAMILCAR.
My lord Dictator,—I have to complain
Of insult from your officers. Why these chains?
Why am I dragg'd, at midnight, through the streets?
I claim to be Rome's hostage,—not her slave!

CICERO.
[To an Officer.

HAMILCAR.
Send for your lictors; bring the scourge and screw:
I laugh at torture!

CICERO
(sternly).
All your steps are known,—
You have been leagued with Catiline;—your share,
When this wild work was done, and Rome in flames,
Should be Numidia.

HAMILCAR
(haughtily).
Call the torturers in,—
Try if I writhe. I stir up war in Rome!
What am I here? An alien! captive! stript
Of wealth and dignity! My tribes Rome's slaves,—
My sceptre in her hands!—Conspirator!—
If I could war by piling up the waves,
Or make my soldiers of the shifting sands,
I might be worth your chains.

CICERO.
Look on this scroll!
[Showing him the list.
So! it has struck you! Do you know these names?
Glance at the bottom, Moor,—there's one name left,
That you might know. That traitor was, it seems,
To fire my palace.

HAMILCAR.
Some poor forgery,—
[Flinging it down.
A trick to frighten dastards!—Bring the scourge.

CICERO.
You shall have agonies! (Calls)
The torturer!

[Aspasia is brought forward.
HAMILCAR
(in astonishment).
Aspasia!

CICERO.
Greek, who gave you this?

HAMILCAR
(rushing forward).
'Twas I!
Where are your dungeons?

CICERO.
Traitor, before morn
Your head is on the scaffold.

ASPASIA
(kneeling to CICERO).
Mighty lord!
Spare him!—Is this your promise before Heaven?
Hamilcar, speak one word.

[Turning and kneeling to him.
CICERO.
He is undone!

ASPASIA.
One word will save us both. The hour you die,
I scorn to live.

HAMILCAR
(to ASPASIA).
Deceiver! let me die,
Rather than live dishonour'd.

CICERO.
Prince, the grief
Of noble hearts for crime is honour's self.—
We must delay no longer,—all is known,—
Your full confession were not worth the breath
That gave it utterance.

ASPASIA.
Die for Catiline?

CICERO.
Why not? The captive for his conqueror.
Twas he that dragg'd the African to Rome.

HAMILCAR
(agitated).
'Tis not forgot,—'tis writ upon my heart,
To wipe away that shame!—I had resolved
To wait till he was emperor here, and then
To stab him on his throne!

CICERO
(urgently).
Take vengeance now!
If you have nature's current in your veins,—
If you have honour for your ancestors,—
If there be aught of human or divine,
That can awake the soul to just revenge,
They all command you. You will be the praise
Of Rome; and when the warrior's memory
Lies in his grave,—yours shall be pedestal'd
In nations' hearts!

ASPASIA
(kneeling to him).
Hamilcar, look upon me. By the faith
That I have borne you in my loneliness,—
By woman's love, that masters death,—but speak!—
I have betray'd you; and your noble blood
Sits heavy on my soul. Speak, or I die.

CICERO.
Rise, woman; the barbarian's heartless,—bound
In treason, stronger than those iron links.

HAMILCAR
(indignantly).
Turn traitor to my friends?

CICERO.
The truest friend
To Catiline is he that lets the axe
Fall on his weary life!—The epicure,
Who sleeps in luxury's lap; who wears no robe,
But from the silk-worm's loom; suffers no air
To come beneath his nostrils, but the breath
Of incense, and the aromatic herbs
That Indian princes pillow on; even he
May love the subtle-frowning messenger,
That comes to close his pleasure-pamper'd life:
But here it comes, a palpable discharge
Of pain and emptiness,—remission quick
Of all the ills that break down bankrupt life,
Kindly exchange for shame, grief, flat despair!

HAMILCAR.
Slay me at once,—strike here!

[Baring his breast.
CICERO
(calls to the Secretary).
[Looks at the letter.

[Aspasia falls into Hamilcar's arms.
HAMILCAR
(grasping at the letter).
Villains!—Is 't true?

CICERO.
You see his seal.

HAMILCAR
(raging).
To Tartarus with my oath!
They all shall die! That spoil shall never be,—
They meet to-night!—The whole conspiracy!

CICERO
(startled).
Where? in the Palatine? at Læca's house?

HAMILCAR.
No!—In the Marian Vault—in arms!

CICERO.
In arms!—
Summon the magistrates;—send couriers out
[To the Secretary.
To Veii for the legion;—bid the knights
Keep all their chargers saddled.

HAMILCAR
(wildly).
Let me have
A cohort, and I'll take them—in the fact.—
Dividers of the spoil before 'tis won!—
They would have robb'd me,—trampled on my heart,—
Left me to wail, and howl, and gnash my teeth,
When I had done their drudgery! There's not one,
From first to last, but shall be in this hall,
Within an hour,—in chains!

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Dungeon. Cethegus manacled. He rises from the Pavement.
CETHEGUS.

[He goes in.
[Catiline, Valerius, and others, enter hastily, with swords drawn, and torches.
CATILINE
(calls).
Hallo! Cethegus!

VALERIUS.
He has been slain. Here's blood!

[Looking at the ground.
CATILINE.
'T is old!
[A noise within.
Lift up your torch.

CETHEGUS
(rushing in with a sword).
Now, murderers! which of you will buy my life?

[They recognize him.
CATILINE.
Off with his chains,—we have no time to lose.

VALERIUS
(to CETHEGUS).
We've kill'd the guard.

CETHEGUS.
Good friends, and true!
[Taking a paper from the rock.
Take this,—
[To Catiline.
'T was thrust into my hand when I was brought
Before the Senate.

CATILINE.

(Reads)
“Be firm; we are your friends, and friends to Catiline.

(Signed)
“Crassus and Cæsar.”
[With frantic exultation.
Then Rome is ours! These names are victory!—
This dungeon's hot.—What time is't o'the night?—
The Senate's pillows shall be red by morn!
Away now with the scabbard! War's let loose!
My falchion shall give law;—I'll have all Rome
Kissing the dust before my horse's hoof.—
Revenge! swift, full, and bloody!— (To Valerius.)
Sir, your hand!

VALERIUS.
Your touch is fever.

CATILINE
(to the rest).
Hunt the city through:
Summon our friends!—Tell them the time is come,
That they have long'd for!—That I'm roused at last!
Break up their banquets,—shake them from their beds.—
Torches and swords!—We'll storm the Capitol!
[He looks at the list.
What characters are these, thus writ with flame?—
[He turns away, musing.
To smite the proud accuser in the teeth,—
Strip pale Hypocrisy, and show the world
The heart within its cloak,—teach Scorn to weep,—
Trample the trampler,—in the zealot's face
Fling his own brand,—root out the slanderer's tongue!—
Does not the chamber shake?—Look there—look there!

[Tottering, and pointing to the ground.
VALERIUS
(supporting him).
His trouble has exhausted him.

CETHEGUS
(assisting).
He faints.

CATILINE
(starting up, and still pointing to the ground.)
Do you see nothing?

CETHEGUS.
Take him into the air.

CATILINE.
No grave?—no giant form, laid at its length?
Look—look—it rises—Marius in his mail!—
[As to a vision.
Thou mightiest and most awful summoner!
Death's majesty,—life's terror,—that hast come,
Passing the gates that none can see and live!
Is not thy visitation gracious?—Hark!
He groans,—and, with a fearful heaviness,
His eye is cast upon the earth:—but speak!—
Great spectre, Demi-god!—I know thou'rt come,
To give our lingering swords the lightning's edge,
And put a soul in our too nerveless flesh,
Fit for Rome's final slaughter?—Answer me!—
He will not speak!—Then, Demon! by thy bed
In burning hell, what wrath of fate is theirs,
Who war against their country?—See! he frowns,—
His eye grows meteor-like,—he rends his mail,—
And, with his dagger, stabs his naked breast!

[He falls into their arms.
VALERIUS.
Bear him away,—in mercy!

CATILINE
(bursting from them, as following the vision).
He rises, darkening all the air!—He's gone!

[He falls—the Scene closes.

SCENE III.

The Sepulchre of the Marian Family. A large vaulted Hall. The chief Tomb in the distance. Tombs at the sides, with Arms piled on them. Roman Nobles in the military Dress; some sitting with Dice and Wine— some sleeping on the Ground, and the Tombs. The Silver Eagle in front, veiled. Lentulus, Cecina, and others, in front of all, conversing. Sounds of gaming and merriment in the distance.
CECINA.
Has the cock crow'd?

LENTULUS
(to CECINA).
Go, stop those clamorous fools!
We shall be heard: they've drank and gamed all night.
[Hamilcar enters.
What news brings my Numidian?

HAMILCAR.
Has Catiline come? I saw some sudden stir
In the Palatine.

CURIUS
(reeling forward from a drinking group).
A marriage or carouse?

HAMILCAR.
At first some torches wander'd on the roof
Of the state prison, but they soon went down,—
And, as I left the suburb, twice, or thrice,
I heard a trumpet sound.

LENTULUS
(in alarm).
'T was for the knights!

CURIUS.
Ho! Emperor Lentulus, do you shake already?
It was a jovial riot, I'll be sworn!

[A knocking without.
LENTULUS.
Look to the portal. All be on your guard.

[The Patricians come forward tumultuously, with their swords drawn.
HAMILCAR
(listening).
'T is Catiline's voice!

CECINA.
[Catiline, Valerius, Cethegus, and others, enter. The Patricians cry out,

CATILINE.
Good auspices, my lords!

LENTULUS.
Our midnight work
Is well begun. Your coming makes all sure.

[Catiline, Cethegus, and Lentulus, pass down the Vault, with Maps and Lists in their hands.
VALERIUS
(looking after Catiline).
His look is strange!

CECINA.
Like one that had seen ghosts!
How Lentulus sinks to nothing in his frown!

VALERIUS.
He's desperately changed. More than I thought
Misfortune could have done in twice the time.

CATILINE
(returning).
The night's far gone.

LENTULUS.
Must the blow fall to-night?

CATILINE.
Heavy and home, my lords! All's ready here?

[A general cry of “All!”
CATILINE.
A legion lies at Veii;—we must strike
Before it comes. Give me the plan of the city.
[The Patricians stand round him.
Annius, your spearmen, with the cavalry,
Will halt in column by the Milvian Bridge.
Fulvius Nobilior, you will flank the gates
Leading to Veii. Lucius Scævola,
Your place is with the veterans, by the road
Below the Esquiline. Six cohorts, then,
Are left to seize the Forum. None must stir
Till you see blazes from the Consul's roof;
Where I, with Lentulus, and the Marian troops,
Begin the business.

CURIUS.
'T is a tough night's work!
What pay's to glue my sword-hilt to my hand?

CATILINE.
Glue it with blood.

SECOND PATRICIAN.
A proper question, too.
Aye;—what's our hire for knocking out our brains?

CATILINE
(turning on them fiercely).
Just what they're worth, fool! Now, by the infernal gods,
Ye are enough to madden me! What pay?—
Are ye not beggars, outcasts, rebels, slaves;
Crush'd to the earth with debt, neck-deep in ruin;
Lean spendthrifts, shatter'd gamblers, mortgagers,
Down to the very sandals on your feet?
Are ye not this to-night? and, by to-morrow,
May ye not be—

LENTULUS
(interrupting him).
I must be king of Rome!

CATILINE
(contemptuously).
You shall be—ten times king, or what you will.
Give me the map. (He takes it.)
Here lies the whole wide earth:
And in this narrow vault I see earth's lords;
The kings of all its kingdoms. We stand here,
Thus buried—thus in midnight,—more sublime—
A mightier proof and triumph of man's mind,
Than if we dozed away our lives on gold.—
All power is in our hands:—the earthquake's here,
That, bursting, shall shake Rome;—the thunder's here,
That, from its darkness, shall set Earth on fire.—
Here stand we, like the majesty of Jove,
Awake, while the world sleeps, preparing wrath,—
Unheard, unseen, unknown, invincible!

LENTULUS.
What's for yourself?

CATILINE
(furiously).
Revenge!—on all in Rome.
They've made me desperate;—let them watch to-night;—
By Pluto, what they've made me, they shall find me.
Let them expel me now.—Blood and revenge!

[A noise is heard without.
CECINA
(to HAMILCAR).
Did you hear that? It seem'd a clash of arms.

HAMILCAR
(contemptuously).
'T was nothing!

CECINA.
'T was beside us!—There—again!—

HAMILCAR.
'T was but the creaking of the portal gates,
As the wind freshens towards the morn.

[Catiline advances to the Eagle; the Patricians surround it.
CATILINE.
Here, my lords of Rome!
Do homage.—On this javelin's summit dwells
The heart of Rome's first warrior.—Marius' heart:—
The hour that sees it at our army's head,
Sees triumph.

SECOND PATRICIAN
(riotously).
Marius for our omen! No—
He fined me in the senate. Who's for Sylla?

CETHEGUS
(springing forwards with his sword drawn).
Who's for that hoary hypocrite? Come on!

[A tumult.
CATILINE
(striking down their swords).
Cethegus! at your brawls again?—Swords, too!
Back, Curius! He that but frowns first shall die.
[Turning away indignantly.
This is the curse of all conspiracy,
To mingle with the refuse of our kind,—
To be the tool of tools, the slave of slaves,—
To patch up ruffian quarrel:—from his cups
To drag the dozing drunkard;—tear the knife
From the assassin's hand;—stir up the base
To manly thoughts; degrade the swelling heart
To necessary villains, that the eye
Had loathed in day-light. Oh, Conspiracy!
To this disgrace thou'st damn'd me;—ay, and all
That ever sank to thee!—Go to your homes;
Go, and be strangled! Traitors!—I'll die here.

HAMILCAR
(suddenly grasping the Eagle).
Who dares to linger? Here towers victory;
Spirit of him, whose heart sits on this spear,
In life and death our leader in the field;
Hear, from the golden throne where Hebe gives
The nectar to thy lip among the stars!—
By all the immortal urns of light above;
By all the altars of the kneeling earth;
By all the rulers of the central fire;
Standard and shrine, I swear to follow thee!
Through sunshine and through storm; through height and depth;
Through the red desert; through the raging sea;
Through frost and fire; through steel and talisman!—

CETHEGUS
(taking the standard).
Through hunger, thirst, wounds, sorrow, scorn, and shame!

CATILINE
(taking the standard; a noise is heard without).
What tumult's there? Look to the gate, Hamilcar.
[He goes.
Through conflagration—Roman massacre!

[Solemnly.
[A Shout; the Gates are burst open by Soldiery; the Conspirators fight, and are repulsed. Catiline and Cethegus fight their way to the Portal. Cethegus forces him out, as he struggles to return.
CETHEGUS.
Away, away! To Manlius! To the camp!

[The scene closes.