 | Caius Gracchus |  |
SCENE I.
—A Street in Rome.Enter Fannius.
Fan.
The gods provide for him! Fame talks of him,
As of a theme she could emblazon the more
The more she should dilate on't. Enemies
Contend with friends which shall outdo the other
In vaunting of him. Yea, the hands that hate him
Supply him but with richest kindnesses;
The bane, they'd work him, turning into good.
This questorship, for his undoing meant,
Has built him up a thousand times the man
He was before; that scarce a day can pass,
But something 's added, to swell up the amount
Of his o'erflowing fortunes.
Enter Flaminius.
Fla.
Health to Fannius!
Opimius is arrived.
Fan.
I am glad of it.
Fla.
Something to temper joy,—would you believe it?
Gracchus is now in Rome, or soon to be.
What think you?
Fan.
That, if he returns to Rome,
Rome's at his feet.
Fla.
Come to the senate. Something
Must be resolved upon to hurt his credit,
And slake the people's joy at seeing him.
Fan.
Effect but that, thou art a god to Rome!
[They go out.
| Caius Gracchus | |