University of Virginia Library

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.