University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

—A Street in Rome.
Enter Flaminius and Opimius.
Opi.
Mark'd you, Flaminius, how they look'd at us?
That was defiance. I could read the name
Of Gracchus on those daring brows of theirs.
Behoves us now a meek look, where, before,
We gave a scowl. The people are our masters.
That Rome should ever see it!

Fla.
We must bear it.

Opi.
Ay, while our blood boils! We must smile, Flaminius,
And, at the same time, grind our teeth, if so
It pleases Gracchus. Gods! that a man I could take
By the throat and smite—yea, set my foot upon
For perfect loathing,—whom I should think it righteous
To slay in a temple—ay, by Hercules!
At the altar of a temple—that a man
Like that should order me, and do it too
By vilest instruments! It is a task
For patience!

Fla.
Never king was absolute
In Rome as he; his will is law. Popilius
Can witness that, self-banish'd to escape
A heavier doom. The senate has he lopp'd
Of half its power, with his three hundred knights
Whom he has named assistants to it, with
Equality of voices. Then, the state
Our modest tribune keeps! He never moves
But in a crowd of knights, ambassadors,
Soldiers, and magistrates, artificers,
And men of letters, that attend upon him.
There's not a man in Rome but Caius Gracchus.

Opi.
Nay, there's another, my Flaminius;
His colleague, Livius Drusus. Don't you know him?

Fla.
I do. A quiet, simple, honest man,
Who follows Gracchus with a modest zeal,
And rather seems, from an unaiming spirit,
To second his designs, than help them on
From principle.

Opi.
You have described him well,
As he appears; I know him as he is.
'Tis opportunity that proves a man;
And, trust me, Livius Drusus is not one,
That, having power, lacks will, to overtop
His fellow. I shall use this Livius Drusus,
To combat Gracchus, with the very means
That make him to be fear'd. Have patience, and
You'll see my policy. They're coming to
The Forum—Drusus last! This shows me my
Exordium.

Enter Caius Gracchus, preceded by a Lictor, Licinius, Pomponius, Flaccus, Fulvius, Titus, Marcus, twelve Citizens, and Drusus last.
Caius.
Health to Flaminius!

Fla.
Health to Gracchus!

Opi.
What business is to-day before the commons?

Caius.
Some colonies we think to send from Rome,
To the late conquer'd cities. Does Opimius
Approve the measure?

Opi.
Gracchus asks the question,
As though he thought Opimius did not love
The people's good. 'Twere happy for the people,
If those, who flatter them, loved it as well.

Caius.
Whom does Opimius call the people's flatterer?

Opi.
Him who would feed the people's vanity,
By making them aspire above themselves.

Caius.
Opimius, then, is not the people's flatterer.
How does he rate them? As we rate our herds.
How would he use them? As we use our herds.
Oh! may the people ever have such flatterers
As guard them from the kindness of such friends!

[Caius Gracchus and his party go out—Drusus is following him, when Opimius, with affected surprise, stops him.
Opi.
Why, Livius Drusus, is it you? I thought
You were not come abroad to-day. No wonder:
You're not the man, methinks, it suits to close
The train that waits upon your colleague there.
Ah, Drusus! if the Romans knew their friends,
They would not follow Gracchus thus, and leave
His betters at their heels!

Dru.
I do not court
Their favour, good Opimius. It contents me
To know that I discharge, with honesty,
The duty of their tribune.

Opi.
Livius Drusus,
There's not a man in Rome but, if he speaks
The truth, will say, you do. I say it for one.
So does Flaminius. Were you not hurried now,
There's something, Drusus, I would say to show you
What men think of you; but, as 'tis, I'll keep it
Till you have time. Yet this, before you go,
I would I were a bosom-friend of yours,
To do you a friend's office. Give me your hand!
I like you, Drusus, you're an honest tribune!
I say, I like you; and if I did not say it
Behind your back, I would not to your face.
Farewell! Perhaps you're not so call'd for, neither,
But you could spare a moment?

Dru.
If it be
Your pleasure—

Opi.
Thank you, Drusus, thank you! This
Is very kind of you. You know Flaminius?

Dru.
I know his fair report.

Opi.
You know himself, then;
But know him better. Take him by the hand.
[Flaminius crosses to Drusus, and takes his hand.
He wants to know you better than by report.

Dru.
I would I knew how to deserve this honour.

Opi.
I would you knew what honour you deserve!
Drusus, it is their loss, and yet their grace,
That men of true worth seldom know themselves,—
Whence mere pretension gets the upper hand,—
And such the mass account as common men,
As the unskill'd will oft take unwrought gold
For brass. Drusus, it makes me mad
To see the sterling'st ore thrown by, and what
Is basest, hoarded only for the stamp
Which the other only wants! I wish I had
The coining of you, Drusus!

Dru.
You would find
You overweigh'd me.

Opi.
Not a grain, by Jupiter!
Or never weigh'd I yet an honest man.
And here's to try it. Would you, Drusus, dare
To achieve a thing you could and ought?

Dru.
I were not
A man else.

Opi.
Every one that knows you, Drusus,
Knows that you are a man, but are you such
A man?

Dru.
I think I am.

Opi.
I think so, too.
But, ever, what we most desire to be
We fear may not be, though we know not why
We fear it.—Drusus, I'll deal frankly with you;
I will not hesitate, nor wind about,
Nor speak by halves, as if I fear'd to let
My thoughts go from me. Listen to me, then.
Rome is in danger—discord reigns in her;
Her orders are opposed among themselves,
The people hate the senate, call us proud,
Cruel, luxurious, avaricious; masters,
Oppressors, tyrants—men, alas! my Drusus,
That are not masters even of their own!
The cause of this is Caius Gracchus. He,
For his own aims, lets no occasion pass
To inflame the commons; wherefore, he revives
Old grievances, or fancies present, or
Predicts to come; and should his course hold on
Without obstruction, Rome will rue the end!
The senate, Drusus, justly fearing this,
Have much debated on the remedy:
And all at length agree there is but one,
Namely, to find a man that's fit to mediate
Between them and the people. Drusus, thou
Art he!

Dru.
Alas! what weight have I, Opimius,
To bear against the weight of Caius Gracchus?

Opi.
What weight hast thou! Thou good and honest man!
Now, by the gods, I love thee, Drusus, for
Thy true simplicity! What weight hast thou!
Why, hast thou not the weight of Caius Gracchus?
You share one office—the same cares divide,
The same responsibilities; why not
The same respect? Oh, Livius Drusus! Caius
Were not content did Drusus lead the people,
And Gracchus humbly follow at their heels!
But let that pass. Deal frankly with a friend.
What think you, Drusus? Do the senate hate
The people?

Dru.
Nay, I would believe they did not.

Opi.
I know you would; I think you do; but much
I wonder that you do. 'Tis not the fashion
I love you, Drusus!—Drusus, do you think
I shuffle with you?—Do not answer me!
I am sure you do not. Take my word then, Drusus:
The senate love the people. Ay, I know
'Tis easily said, but I will prove it to you.
Know, then, I have been deputed to solicit
Your friendship for the senate—not to oppose,
As once Octavius did the former Gracchus,
But to outdo your colleague in his plans
In favour of the people, still proposing
Some law for their additional advantage;
And only stating—as in simple fairness
You should—that so the senate had express'd
Their wishes—nothing farther. By this means,
The people will be served; the senate placed
Again in confidence; your rival stripp'd
Of dangerous influence; yourself exalted,
According to your worth; and, to sum up
The whole at once, your country saved from ruin.

Fla.
You cannot hesitate in such a cause?

Dru.
I undertake the trust with sacred zeal;
And, if I can compose the present evils,
Shall deem myself most happy.

Opi.
I am sure of it,
And shall with joy report this to the senate.
Meanwhile, be often with us. Let us know
Your wishes for the people; we'll promote them.
What you say should be, shall be, on your saying,
Or break at once with us. The tribes shall know
What 'tis to have a tribune of repute,
Who does not use his office to promote
Cabal, and strife, and jealousy, and hate,
Like certain gentlemen.
To your work at once!
But, hark you, Livius Drusus; tell me truly,
Are you not over modest? Come! confess, now.
I know you are—I know, that, should the senate
Give you your choice of honours, you'd refuse
To challenge e'en the smallest! Well, no matter!
Such men live for their country. Heed not Gracchus,
If he upbraid you—If? Should the plebeians
Give but one shout for Drusus, he'll be sick
With all the gall of envy! Come to the senate
To-morrow. Be not strange with us, good Livius!
Mark him now! Heed him well, for he is wily,
And thou art simple in thine honesty.
You'll come to the senate, to-morrow? Eye him, Drusus;
He's a rank traitor! Mind to-morrow, now.
So, farewell, honest Drusus!

[Drusus goes out.
Fla.
Nobly play'd!

Opi.
Beyond my hopes. Let us inform our friends;
And as the choice of tribunes is at hand,
Prevent his re-election. [Shouts.]
That's for Gracchus!
Ay, shout away! Unmoved, we'll hear you soon:
The trap is ready: Let the lion roar!

[They go out.

SCENE II.

—The Forum.
Caius Gracchus discovered in the Rostrum—Titus, Marcus, and Citizens—the people shout.
Caius.
No more, my friends! How often must I tell you,
You should not pay these honours to your tribune?

Tit.
Long may you live, Caius!

Mar.
Prosperously and long!
Hither comes honest Drusus. Shall we shout for him?

Tit.

Why should we? Think you, he is any great friend
to the people? Not he! Is he not a quiet, easy, contented
man, who lets things take their course? Can such a man be
a friend to the people? No, no; he is no friend to the people.
He is well enough in his place, because he keeps a rogue out
of it; and just says ay, and no, according to the will of Caius.

Mar.

You say right. For my part, I never liked your
peaceful, honest man. Give me a stirring fellow, that will
browbeat the nobles, and call the authorities to account.
That's your only tribune.

Enter Drusus.
Caius.

Drusus, I have waited for you! I am glad you have
come.

Mar.
[Apart to Titus.]

Observe, he hasn't hurried himself.
[To the Citizens.]
Make way for Drusus!— [Drusus ascends

the rostrum.]
Make way there—Let the good man pass! You
may know by his gait that he loves high feeding, and sleeps
one-half of the day, for having dozed away the other half.

Tit.
Silence! Caius is going to speak. Cheer him, masters!

All.
Huzza! Long live Caius!

Caius.
Here, Romans, are some drafts of new decrees
We mean to offer for your approbation.
I know not whether you will think them wise;
But this I know, the hand that drew them up,
Belongs to one, who would die to do you good.

Tit.
Worthy Caius!

All.
Long may you live, Caius!

Caius.
With grief we see you bare of many goods,
That make life sweet. Your wretchedness afflicts
The heart of Caius. Thousands of brave men,
Wandering about the streets of Rome, without
Means, or employment to procure them! Now,
We here direct two colonies to be sent
To the late conquer'd cities.

Tit.
Noble Caius!

Mar.
Worthy Caius!

All.
[Shouting.]
Caius for ever!

Dru.
My countrymen—

Mar.
Drusus is going to speak. Now for an oration!

Dru.
You need not learn I lack those noble parts,
Which make the orator you love to hear.
I have no merit but my honesty;
And 'tis my honesty that says to you,
I'd die with Caius for the good of Rome!

Tit.

Yes, yes; Drusus is an honest, quiet, good sort of
man. That everybody must say for him; but as for his
speech, I'd make as good a one myself. Cheer him, masters
—cheer him!

[The people cheer faintly.
Dru.
I do not ask you to applaud me, Romans;
I love your welfare better than your praise.

Mar.

Come, come, that's very well, now; cheer for that,
masters;—very well, indeed, for Drusus! Cheer! cheer!

[They cheer louder.
Dru.
I thank you, fellow-citizens. Don't mind me.

Mar.
Cheer him again, masters!

[A general cheer.
Dru.
Romans, I know my colleague's love for you;
And yet, methinks, he stints it in this measure.
Two colonies! What are two colonies?
Two handfuls! He should stretch this grant, and ease
The groaning and debilitated state!
Two handfuls of the people, to two cities!
Caius for once adopts half-measures. I
Propose, that to each city there be sent
Three thousand of the poorest citizens—
Three thousand to each city.

Mar.
Worthy Drusus! noble Drusus! Huzza!

All.
Huzza!

Dru.
Countrymen,
Pay me no thanks! Indeed you owe me none;
I only speak the wishes of the senate.

Mar.
The senate! May we cheer for the senate?

Tit.
To be sure, if they do the people good!

Mar.
Huzza for the senate, masters! huzza!

All.
Huzza!

Caius.
Indeed! The senate! For the people's sake,
We, also, thank the senate. Worthy Romans,
Now our affairs put on a prosperous face,
The senate send you favours. We thank the senate!
But not this mighty kindness of the senate
Can set my cares at rest. I have made an estimate
Of certain waste uncultivated lands,
South of the Tiber. These—however, subject
To certain trifling services and rents—
We here allot to fifteen hundred families
From the plebeians of the lowest class.

Tit.
Noble Caius! worthy Caius! Cheer, masters!

Mar.

Stop! Drusus is going to speak. Hear what Drusus
says.

Dru.
Romans, my worthy colleague, whom I honour,
Seems not to love that you should owe the senate
Favour or justice.

Caius.
Drusus!

Mar.

Go on, Drusus! let him go on! Come, come, Drusus
must have fair play.

All.
Drusus! Drusus!

Dru.
If 'tis your pleasure, friends, to hear my colleague
Rather than me, you only have to say it.

All.
No! no! no! Go on! go on!

Dru.
I care not who befriends you, worthy citizens;
The senate or the tribunes. The more friends
You have, the less you will have need of me.

Mar.
Good, honest man, go on!

All.
Go on! go on!

Dru.
I say—and if I know the thing I say,
Am I not right in saying it?—I say,
The senate wish the people to be happy,
And do not want to tax them. Noble Caius
Might have gone farther in this act of his,
And not displeas'd the senate; therefore, I,
Without regard to his decree, enact,
That certain waste, uncultivated lands,
Lying north of Rome, be straight parcell'd out
To fifteen hundred of the poorest families,
Free of all rent and service.

Mar.

A noble decree, noble Drusus! The worthy senate!
Huzza for Drusus and the senate!

Dru.

My friends, think not of Drusus! Thank the senate.

Mar.

Good, honest man! He is too modest to take the
praise to himself; he gives it all to the senate. Observe Caius;
he changes colour; he envies Drusus; he doesn't like the applause
we give to Drusus. Applaud the good man again.
Long live Drusus! Drusus and the senate for ever! Huzza!

All.
Huzza!

Caius.
May I be heard, my friends?

Tit.
Speak, Gracchus, speak!

Mar.
Drusus for ever!

Caius.
Rome—Rome, my friends, for ever!
Whoe'er is good—whoe'er is just and great—
The honour be to Rome, our common mother!
I have warn'd you oft! Look to your liberties,—
Beware the senate's arts! beware her tools!

Dru.
How! Caius—

Caius.
Nay, good Livius Drusus!

Mar.
Not a word against Drusus!

All.
No! no! no!

Mar.
The senate has acted well in this.

All.
It has! it has!

Caius.
I am content—If you approve it, masters,
I am content. I cannot help my fears;
But let it pass. I'll say, I am content!
Masters, I never yet incurr'd your censure:
If I am over-watchful for your safety,
Guarding you 'gainst the chance of treachery,—
If I suspect—But, since it pleases you,
I'll not suspect this kindness of the senate!
And yet it may be ask'd—when you were weak,
And needed friends, where was the senate's kindness?
Then you might help yourselves; now you are strong,
It stretches forth its hands to give you aid!
I think, 'twas not the kindness of the senate
That gave me counsel, when my first decree
Declared the magistrate to be infamous,
Who was deposed by judgment of the people.
Or, when my next enacted, that the magistrate,
Who banish'd, without law, a citizen,
Should answer the assembly of the people.
Or, when, to give you plenitude of power,
I granted each inhabitant of Latium
The right of suffrage!

Tit.
Hear him! hear him!

Mar.
Silence! Drusus is going to speak.

Dru.
Romans, I'll not pretend to say how much
You owe the senate; be it much, or little,
Or nothing. Only, while they wish to serve you,
I'll not speak ill of them. They have desired me
To show you favour. Mark me—have desired me!
Should I be jealous of them? Words, my friends,
Are air; but actions are substantial things,
That warrant judgment. But we'll not debate
Their truth or falsehood. They appear to favour us,
And let us take advantage of their seeming!
My colleague, Caius, as he just now said,
Has given to the inhabitants of Latium
The right to vote—the right of citizens.
Has not this act, then, made them citizens?
And yet, my friends, the Latin soldier feels
The scourge—He feels the scourge!—an infamy,
That never should approach the freeman's back!
We now decree, that it shall be unlawful,
Henceforth for any captain of our legions
To beat with rods a soldier of that nation.

Mar.

A noble decree!—Worthy Drusus!—A noble decree!
Huzza!

Dru.
My friends, I now depart; but, ere I leave you,
Let me declare, that whatsoe'er I have done,
I have done with the approval of the senate.

[Descends from the rostrum.
Mar.

We'll follow you home, Drusus! [Gracchus hurries

down the steps.]
We'll follow you home! We'll cheer the
senators as we pass them; we'll follow you home!

Dru.
Nay, my good friends!

Mar.
Come, come; let us follow him to his house.

Dru.
Well; since you will not be denied—

[Going.
Caius.
Stay, Livius Drusus! Let me speak with you.

Dru.
Your pleasure, Caius?

Caius.
Pleasure! Livius Drusus,
Look not so sweet upon me. I am no child
Not to know bitter, for that it is smear'd
With honey! Let me rather see thee scowl
A little. When thou speak'st, remind me rather
Of the rough trumpet, more than the dulcet lute.
By Jove! I can applaud the honest caitiff
That shows his craft.

Dru.
The caitiff!

Caius.
Ah!—Ho!—Now
You are Livius Drusus—that was just before
The man we took you for—the easy man,
That, so the world went right, cared not who got
The praise; but rather from preferment shrunk,
Than courted it. Who ever thought, in such
A plain and homely piece of stuff, to see
The crafty senate's tool?

Dru.
The senate's tool!

Caius.
Now, what a deal of pains for little profit!
If you could play the juggler with me, Livius—
To such perfection practise seeming as
To pass it on me for reality—
Make my own senses witness 'gainst myself,
That things I know impossible to be,
I see as palpable as if they were:
'Twere worth the acting; but, when I am master
Of all your mystery, and know, as well
As you do, that the prodigy's a lie,
What wanton waste of labour! Livius Drusus,
I know you are a tool!

Dru.
Well, let me be so.
I will not quarrel with you, worthy Caius;
Call me whate'er you please.

Caius.
What barefaced shifting!
What real fierceness could grow tame so soon!
You turn upon me like a tiger, and
When open-mouth'd I brave you, straight you play
The crouching spaniel! You'll not quarrel with me!
I want you not to quarrel, Livius Drusus,
But only to be honest to the people.

Dru.
Honest!

Caius.
Ay, honest! Why do you repeat
My words, as if you fear'd to trust your own?
Do I play echo? Question me, and see
If I so fear to be myself, to act
The wall, which speaks not but with others' tongues!
I say you are not honest to the people!—
I say you are the senate's tool—their bait—
Their juggler—their trick-merchant! If I wrong you,
Burst out at once, and, free, retort upon me;
Tell me I lie, and smite me to the earth!
I'll rise and, then, embrace you.

Dru.
My good Caius,
Restrain your ardent temper! It betrays you
Into madness.

Caius.
Give me but an answer, and
I'll be content. Are you not leagued with the senate?

Dru.
Your wit forsakes you, Caius!

Caius.
Will you answer me?

Dru.
Throw off this humour!

Caius.
Give me an answer, Drusus.

Dru.
Madman!

Caius.
Are you the creature of the senate?

Dru.
Good Caius!

Caius.
Do you juggle with the people?
Let me but know you, man, from your own lips;—
There wants but that, you know, to prove the traitor.

Dru.
The traitor!

Caius.
Ay!

Dru.
To whom?

Caius.
To the poor people,—
The houseless citizens, that sleep at nights
Beneath the portals, and that starve by day
Under the noses of the senators!
Thou art their magistrate, their friend, their father:
Dost thou betray them? Hast thou sold them? Wilt thou
Juggle them out of the few friends they have left?

Dru.
If 'twill content you, Caius, I am one
Who loves alike the senate and the people,—
I am the friend of both.

Caius.
The friend of neither!
The senate's tool!—a traitor to the people!
A man that seems to side with neither party;
Will now bend this way, and then make it up,
By leaning a little to the other side:—
With one eye, glance his pity on the crowd,
And with the other, crouch to the nobility!
Such men are the best instruments of tyranny!
The simple slave is easily discern'd
By his external badge: your order wears
The infamy within!

Dru.
I'll leave you, Caius,
And hope your breast will harbour better counsels.
Grudge you the senate's kindness to the people?
'Tis well! Whoe'er serves them, shows love to me.

[Goes out, followed by the people, shouting.
Caius.
Go! I have till'd a waste, and, with my sweat,
Brought hope of fruitage forth. The superficial
And heartless soil cannot sustain the shoot:
The first harsh wind that sweeps it, leaves it bare!
Fool that I was to till it! Let them go!
I loved them and I served them!—Let them go!

Enter Vettius.
Vet.
Why, Caius, what's the matter, that the people
Crowd after Drusus?

Caius.
Matter! Know you why
The wind was all the morning in the south,
Sits now at north—Canst show the cause of that?
When thou canst tell why turns the fitful wind,
I'll tell thee why the people follow Drusus!

Vet.
More wonder yet! There stood a group of senators
Under a portico, and, as they pass'd,
They cheer'd them—cheer'd the senators! I thought
They must be mad.

Caius.
No, no! they are not mad.
There's not a day in the month, or year, they are
Of sounder mind. They know as well to-day,
As they did yesterday, what things they look at—
That Rome is Rome; that I am Caius; he
They follow, Drusus; and the senators,
They cheer, the senators! They are not mad;
But thou art mad to think them so, because
They act the deeds of madmen!

Enter Licinius.
Lic.
Caius!—Ha!
Well met. Bad news!

Caius.
Bad news, and well met, say you?
Why, so it is: for, were you Pluto's herald,
You could not pluck a smile from Caius' cheek,
Would pay the labour of destroying. Come,
Your news!

Lic.
Opimius will be consul.

Caius.
Well;
I'm tribune.

Lic.
Pray you, show yourself among
The people, else their hearts are lost.
Your enemies have won them, half, already!
Orders shake hands!—Patrician and plebeian,
That walk'd, before, so wide asunder, now
Go arm in arm!—Quinctius is mate for Curtius,
That kisses shoulders with him!—Livius, for Servius
That plucks great Livius by the cloak; and, then,
Knits fingers with him, while he whispers in
His ear, and calls him his “good Livius;” who
Leans cheek to him, and smiles, though, all the while
He cares as much for Servius, as he does
For Servius' shoe! Let them not, Caius, have
The game to themselves! Dispute it with them! Come
Among the people!

Caius.
Never did I play
The beggar yet, nor will I now! 'Tis not
My craft, nor will I learn it, Marcus; no,
Not e'en to win the people!

Enter Pomponius.
Pom.
Where is Caius?

Caius.
Here! here! What makes the man in such request
That's out of favour with the people?

Pom.
Look
To your office! Half the votes are promised 'gainst
The next Comitia. Spare no pains to win
The people's favour back again; or, mind!
You are no longer tribune.

Lic.
Persuade him not; you will but lose your labour.
Let us go to the people, and convince them,
'Tis for their safety, they retain their tribune.

[Goes out.
Pom.
Follow him, Caius! Seek the people!

Caius.
Not a foot
I'll stir to win them. Though the price of their love
Were but the breath that ask'd for't, it should go
Unbought for me! What! would they take our tigers,
They've seen a hundred times tear limb from limb
The malefactor—would they take them, think you,
For dogs, suppose they fawn'd on them? No wonder
And if they should! I will not go among them,
To pay court to them for their own sakes; cry,
“Be served, I pray you, masters! pray you, be served!
Consent that I supply you food; provide you
Clothing and lodging; find you lands to till!”—
While, all the time, they lean the ear to Drusus,
And I must pull them by the cloak to win
Attention! No! No honest man could do it!
I will not go among them! If they are told
That poison 's poison, yet will swallow it
For food, in Jove's name, let them! Nothing but
The proving on't will satisfy them. Vettius,
Keep silence! No man further urge me!
I should not—cannot—will not court the people!

[Goes out, followed by Vettius and Pomponius.