 | Caius Gracchus |  |
SCENE IV.
—A Street—a Gate of the City.Enter Titus and Marcus, with Citizens.
Tit.
The work goes nobly on! Caius is sure to be tribune.
This is a happy day for Rome!
Mar.
Ay, the people will have their rights. We shall know
ourselves now, masters. See, hither comes a crowd of voters;
let us speak to them.
Health to you, masters! Are you going to vote?
First Voter.
Yes; if we can find an honest candidate.
Mar.
Here's one ready to your hands, masters; Caius
Gracchus. Choose him, and you'll do good service to your
country. He'll see that you shall have your rights, nor will
the patricians dare to curl their noses when they pass us,
as if we were so much carrion. Look you, masters, Caius
is a friend of the plebeians; he respects our order, and so he
ought; and, therefore, let every good citizen support him.
Away, my friends! Vote, and cry, Caius!
Voters.
Caius Gracchus! Huzza!
[They go out.
Mar.
He's sure of the election. The patricians will eat
poor suppers to-night.
Save you, masters; are you going to vote for the right candidate?
First Voter.
Do you think we'd vote for the wrong one?
Tit.
Then you'll vote for Caius Gracchus?
First Voter.
No; I don't like him. They say he'll bring
the state into danger. We are men that love peace and
concord.
Tit.
Ay, and good feeding. Hark you, master; take these
cattle to the stalls of the patricians. The patricians make
profitable masters. They give stripes only now and then;
but that's nothing, you know, to a kindly beast. Away, I
say!—to the stalls with them!
[They go out severally.
Enter Licinia and Cornelia.
Cor.
Caius, you see, is nowhere to be found.
Let us go home again.
Lici.
Not till I see him.
Livia was right; he'll surely stand for tribune.
Let's seek him in the Forum.
Cor.
Are you mad?
Go to the Forum after him! All Rome
Would talk of it. When did you know a wife
Follow her husband to the Forum? Why,
'Twould set all fingers pointing! Men would say,
“Caius did well to take a wife to school him;”
And every woman would cry “shame” upon him.
I'd rather lose a husband, than have people
So talk of mine.
Lici.
You wish him to be tribune?
Cor.
Licinia, no; I wish it not, my daughter;
But still I know, that if he will be tribune,
He will; and, knowing that, the unwelcome thought
That needs must be my guest I treat with grace,
For mine own dignity, and his contentment,
Which should not, profitless, be marr'd.
[Shouts without.
My child,
Why do you grasp me by the arm, and tremble?
The people shout for joy.
Lici.
It is a kind
Of joy that's fearful to my mind. The breeze
That kindly bears the gladsome bark along,
Has oft been known to grow the hurricane
That sends her to the bottom!
Cor.
Take her, Livia.
Go, both of you, look down the other street,
While I watch here. 'Chance you may light on Caius.
[Licinia and Livia go out.
'Tis Marcus, and with news! She's best away!
Mar.
[Entering.]
Cornelia!—
Cor.
Quick!—Your news! What has he done?
Mar.
Proposed himself for tribune!
Full well I knew that it would come to this!
And I could tell what further it will come to,
If I would. No matter. Two such sons as mine
Were never made for mothers that have eyes
Afraid of tears. Why did I rear my boys
Companions for the gods, if not for this?
Many a time, when they stood before me,
Such things as mothers seldom look upon,
And I have seem'd to feed on them with mine eyes;
My thoughts have ponder'd o'er the bier, where they
Lay stiff and cold! I would not see them so
If I could help it; but I would not help it
To see them otherwise, and other men.
My Caius must be tribune!
[Shouts several times, approaching nearer.
Lic.
[Entering.]
Caius is tribune!
Those shouts proclaim it. [Looking off.]
See, Cornelia,
He comes! Behold!—Look how they hem him round!
Why do you turn away?
Cor.
I turn away
To see that flush of triumph on his cheek
Which lights it as he felt himself a god;
And think how I may, after, see that cheek,
And think upon that flush! Licinia 's well
Away; it had o'ercome her quite. Come, Licinius.
[Cornelia and Licinius retire.
Enter Caius Gracchus, Drusus, Pomponius, Titus, Marcus, and Citizens, shouting.
Caius.
No more, my friends!—no more of this, I pray you!
Disperse to your several homes. Why do you give
These honours to your servant?
Tit.
Suffer us
To see you to your house.
Mar.
Yes, Caius, yes,
We'll hail your honour'd mother and your wife.
Pom.
Indulge the people, Gracchus.
Caius.
Well, my friends,
If you will go with me— [Seeing Cornelia.]
My honour'd mother!
Cor.
May the great gods, who crown'd thee with this triumph,
Instruct thee so to use it as to bless
Thy country! With a firm and mighty hand,
Mayst thou uphold the laws, and keep them ever
Above the proud man's violence, and within
The poor man's reach; so shall thy mother—Rome—
Acknowledge thee her son, and teach thy name
To the applauding tongues of after-ages!
Who is your brother tribune?
Caius.
Worthy Drusus.
[To Drusus.]
My son is happy in his colleague, sir,
And let me trust, will not dishonour him.
Dru.
My honour is to second him, Cornelia.
Caius.
Come, mother.
[Going.
Re-enter Licinia and Livia, meeting them.
Lic.
Ha! Licinia!
Cor.
[Going up to her.]
My Licinia!
For Caius' honour act like Caius' wife:
He's tribune.
Lici.
Tribune!
Cor.
Think what eyes are on you!
You are the mother of a Roman, too!
Summon your spirits! That's my daughter! Come
Up to him now at once, and wish him joy,—
'Tis but an effort, and the words are out!
Lici.
[Crossing to Caius.]
Caius,—
Caius.
Licinia!
Lici.
Caius! I do give you joy!
[She faints on his arm, and the curtain drops.
| Caius Gracchus | |