University of Virginia Library

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.