 | Caius Gracchus |  |
ACT IV.
SCENE I.
—A Street in Rome.Enter Vettius and Pomponius.
Pom.
It was a false return. He had their votes,
Though he has lost his office. Lo you, now,
What strides they take that used to walk before
So circumspectly! Scarcely is he brought
Into a private state again, than they
Proceed to abrogate his laws. This blow,
If there it light, where it is meant it should,
Will not fall short a hair's breadth of his life.
Vet.
You may be sure of it! To compass that
Opimius got the consulship.
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This morning,
Caius and he met near the Capitol;
Flaccus held Caius by the arm;—Opimius,
On seeing him, makes a dead stand, and then,
With eyes fix'd on him thus, and folded arms,
He follows him right round, and cries to him,
“What, hoa! you, Caius Gracchus, whither now?
What plot 's on foot?” Then falls on him with such
A torrent of vile terms, as it would sting
The tamest looker-on to hear.
Vet.
And how
Did Caius bear it?
Pom.
Why, as one that, seeing
A tiger ready couch'd to spring upon him,
In quick avoidance finds security.
He pass'd in silence on. Opimius had
His Candiot troops with him. But where is Flaccus?
Vet.
Gone to bring Caius to the Forum. How
Have you disposed our Latin friends?
Pom.
About
The rostrum.
Vet.
Fear not! If it comes to numbers,
Ours can tell theirs thrice over.
Enter Licinius.
Lic.
Friends, well met!
Something's on foot that bodes not good to Caius.
I pass'd just now a group of senators:
One of them named him, and had farther spoken,
But that another placed, on seeing me,
His finger on his lip. You may be sure
They only want occasion to despatch him.
Vet.
All Rome perceives it. Men inquire for him
As one whom mischief dogs: “Is Caius well?
When saw you him?—Does he go out to-day
To the Forum?”—half under breath, as fearing for
The answer. Others, as his friends pass by,
Lay heads together, and, with eyes glanced towards them,
Whisper with looks, portentous. Some do smile
That never smiled before on aught that loved him.
That's the worse sign! A smile from those that hate us,
Ensures some scowl of fate about to fall,
If not already lowering.
Pom.
What's to be done?
Lic.
Meet them with force.
Pom.
Agreed!
Vet.
Agreed!
Lic.
Away, then!
If you have any friend as yet unpledged,
Change oaths with him.
Vet.
When meet we in the Forum?
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At the third hour—It is the hour of his fate!
If they repeal his laws, farewell to Rome!
[They go out.
SCENE II.
—An Apartment in Caius Gracchus's House —two chairs.Enter Cornelia and Licinia.
Lici.
You'll speak to him?
Cor.
I will.
Lici.
You'll urge him not
To go? You would not throw your richest gem
Away, though you might give't to one who knew
Its value, and would wear it?
Cor.
I would not.
Lici.
He's coming. [Going.]
Mother!
Cor.
I have said, Licinia.
[Licinia goes out.
Yes; there's a point where virtue ought to stop—
Where she but loses labour. Ha! but is
Her labour ever lost? I can't debate
That question now; Nature won't let me. She's
Too strong, and I must play the humble part
She sets me. Had he not a wife and child—
He's here!
[Retires.
Enter Caius Gracchus, without seeing his Mother.
Caius.
I'll wrestle with him for, at least,
This throw! My laws! What! abrogate my laws!
Oh, insolence of tyranny! Well, well!
We are not so weak as let him. Were he twice
The consul, he shall not lay hands on them;
Yea, though our blood—
Cor.
Caius, a word with you.
There's Fulvius Flaccus waiting at the door
With a whole crowd of citizens. Is't you, my son,
They want?
Caius.
It is.
Cor.
I know it is! My son,
Deal frankly with your mother. What's on foot?
I do not like that Flaccus: he's a man
Hath more ambition than integrity,
And zeal than wisdom. Is he of your counsels?
Caius.
He is.
Cor.
The sooner then you break with him
The better. Send him word you cannot come.
Caius.
My word 's already pledged to go with him
To the Forum.
Cor.
On what errand, Caius Gracchus?
Is it about your laws, they would annul?
Mind, Caius, you're no longer tribune!
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Fear not;
I shall be prudent.
[Going.
Cor.
[Holding him.]
Stop, Caius! [Taking his hand.]
I can almost think you still
The boy that conn'd his lessons at my knee,
And I could rule in all his little moods
With but a look.—Ay, Caius; but a look
Of your mother's made you calm as sunshine, in
Your biggest storm! I would not lose you, Caius!
Caius, I would not lose you! Go not to
The Forum!
Caius.
Mother—is it you!
Cor.
Ay, son;
It is your mother,—that is all the mother
Whate'er she seems. I would be still a mother!
I would be left a son, my Caius!—Go not
To the Forum!
Caius.
Wherefore, mother? What should I fear
From going to the Forum?
Cor.
The Forum saw them shed your brother's blood!
Do I not know you, Caius? Can I not read you,
Without your tongue to help me? Does not his blood
Cry for revenge; and is your ear unapt
To hear it? Caius, that dear brother's death
Gives life to all thy acts! 'Twas that which pleaded
For Vettius—ask'd the tribuneship—revived
Tiberius's laws—defied the senate—made thee
Like a god to Rome, dealing out fate—and, now
Thou art no longer arm'd with thy great office,
Would lead thee forth to sacrifice! My son,
Go not to the Forum! 'Tis a worthless cause!
Why should you go, my Caius? To defend
Your laws from abrogation? Think of them
For whom you made those laws—the fickle people,
That lent a hand to pull you from your seat,
And raise up them, they shake at! Thou art single,—
Thou hast no seconds. 'Tis a hopeless struggle!
So sunk are all, the heart of public virtue
Has not the blood to make it beat again.
Caius.
And should I therefore sink with the base times?
What, mother, what? Are the gods also base?
Is virtue base? Is honour sunk? Is manhood
A thing contemptible, not fit to be
Maintain'd? Remember you Messina, mother?
Once from its promontory we beheld
A galley in a storm; and, as the bark
Approach'd the fatal shore, could well discern
The features of the crew with horror all
Aghast, save one. Alone he strove to guide
The prow, erect amidst the horrid war
Of winds and waters raging. With one hand
He ruled the hopeless helm; the other strain'd
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The while bent proudly on the scowling surge,
At which he scowl'd again. The vessel struck!
One man alone bestrode the wave, and rode
The foaming courser safe.—'Twas he, the same!
You clasp'd your Caius in your arms, and cried,
“Look, look, my son! the brave man ne'er despairs,
And lives where cowards die!” I would but make
Due profit of your lesson.
Cor.
Caius—Caius!
Caius.
Mother—I—
Cor.
What, my son?
Caius.
[Sitting down.]
I'll please you, mother;
I'll not go to the Forum.—I'll be ruled by you
If you will. Let men say what they list of me.
I care not if they whisper as I pass,
And point, and smile, and say to one another,
“Lo, the bold tribune, Gracchus! Lo, the man
That lorded it o'er the senate!” What is't to me?
I know I am your son, and would approve it
If I might; but, since you will not have it so,
I'll stay from the Forum, mother; I'll not go
To the Forum.
Cor.
Know the people you did promise
To go?
Caius.
Are they not here, with Fulvius Flaccus
Expecting me? But let them go with him;
He'll speak for them; he'll be their friend; he'll dare
Oppose the senate; he'll preserve my laws,
If he can. If there's no other man to speak
For liberty, he'll do it! Pray you, mother,
Send Lucius to them; tell them I'll not go
Abroad to-day.
Cor.
You must go to the Forum!
Caius.
Not if you will it not.
Cor.
I neither will it,
Nor will it not.
Caius.
Unless you bid me go,
They go without me.
Cor.
Why, I think, as it is,
You cannot help but go. I know not what's
The matter. 'Tis, perhaps, the fears of thy wife,
Infect me; but I've dark forebodings, Caius.
What will be left me, should I lose thee, son?
Caius.
My monument!
Cor.
Go to the Forum—go!
You are Cornelia's son!
Caius.
My only use
Of life 's to prove it!
Cor.
Go—go—go! my Caius!
[Going, but turns and embraces her son.—They go out severally.
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SCENE III.
—A Square, with the Statue of Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus.Enter Caius Gracchus, Titus, Marcus, and Citizens.
Caius.
What son of Rome may not his country call
To do her service? Romans, you desire
I should defend your laws from abrogation,
And I obey you.
Tit.
Caius! worthy Caius!
Caius.
Some coldness there has been between us; but
We know the cause, and so are friends again.
Our enemies may once prevail by craft,
But not a second time. Now show yourselves
The men you should be. If your liberties
And rights are dear to you, be faithful to them.
Fear not the senate; call upon the tribes;
Be freemen—none will dare to make you slaves!
Enter Flaccus.
Fla.
Caius, the consul is about to pass,
Proceeding to the sacrifice, which he
Has order'd, to give impious sanctity
To his designs against you.
Caius.
Pray you, now,
My friends, observe good order. Let them pass.
[The Citizens retire.
Music.—A Procession of Priests, &c., followed by Opimius as Consul, attended by Drusus and Senators.
Opi.
[Seeing Gracchus.]
What! Do you wait to interrupt us here,—
You, Caius Gracchus, Fulvius, and the rest,
With your lewd rabble?
Caius.
You may see, Opimius,
The way is clear for you.
Opi.
Oh! is it so?
'Tis well, indeed, you give us leave to pass!
You're very humble now, good Caius Gracchus!
Drusus, is this the man that thought to ride
The necks of the senators? This the lawgiver,
That parcell'd out the lands of the patricians?
Why, yes! 'Tis Caius Gracchus!
Caius.
True, Opimius;
'Tis even Caius Gracchus.
Opi.
How! so humble?
What! This the gentleman that rail'd at us
The other day with such a fearless tongue?
Call'd us luxurious, proud—oppressors—tyrants,—
The common robbers of the state? This he?
What knave may not grow honest! Speak your soul, man!
Tell us you hate us,—spurn us, mock us, and
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The double villain. We are not the consul!
These are not lictors! Gracchus does not fear
To let us know his thoughts.
Caius.
I will not stay
To give you plea of quarrel. Know, Opimius,
The man that loves his country may respect
The shadow of her greatness.
[Goes out.
Opi.
Ha!—Take heed!
Look to your safety! On to the sacrifice.
[Music.—Opimius and his party go out.
Fla.
Is this to be endured? Could Caius brook it?
I have no blood of his within my veins,
And yet they boil!
Mar.
Had he but spoke the word,
He should have been avenged. He rail'd at us,—
Let's follow him!
Tit.
Hold, for the common cause!
Mar.
The common cause were served by any hurt
That we could do Opimius. He's a tyrant!
Fla.
The worst of tyrants!
Mar.
Come, let's follow him, and rid our country of a tyrant!
Tit.
Stay! How are we prepared for such a thing?
Remember, too, it is the time of sacrifice.
Fla.
Caius was tame to bear it. See! he returns,
And chafing like a flood from its embankment
New burst!
Re-enter Caius Gracchus.
Caius.
Endure a life on sufferance
Like this! Why, you must think me water, friends,
Or something farther still removed from blood—
If there's such poverty in nature—that
I seem to have no proper heat in me,
To keep cool veins under the force of that
Whose only sight, I see, sets yours a-boiling.
Tit.
Here comes his lictor with the entrails.
Enter a Lictor, with the entrails.
Lictor.
Way, there, evil citizens!
[Goes out.
Tit.
Down with him! 'Tis an evil word for him.
Citizens.
Down with him!
[Titus and Citizens rush out.
Caius.
Hold! hold! Come back, my friends—my countrymen!
You know not—
[A loud groan without.
Re-enter Titus, with a bloody dagger.
Tit.
You are revenged! He's dead!
Caius.
Blood shed! Blood is not wash'd away except
With blood!
[The Citizens return slowly and sullenly.
Why do you this? Why do you ever that
You should not do? Who bade you take my quarrel
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For help or counsel. Gods! if I resolve
To stake my life, may I not fix the game
I throw't away on? Had I not here the tyrant
Himself, within arm's reach,—that but a stride
Like this, had made my weapon and his heart
Acquainted? Had I not? If I did think
A gust of spleen, a fit of temper, a
Sour stomach, was a thing to pitch against
The cause,—had I not man enough in me,
Though thrice the number of his satellites
Environ'd him, to smite him to my foot?
And you must smite his slave! Now, look you, for
That slave, the stones we tread on shall weep blood,
And our veins lend the tears!
Fla.
Remember, 'twas
For you they did it.
Caius.
Me? Oh! I retain
The memory of all they have done for me!
Fla.
Observe their looks: they are depress'd and spiritless
From your rebuke. It is not well to bring
Their zeal to such an ebb.
Caius.
It is, indeed,
The tide for ebbing. [Thunder.]
Listen! Do you hear?
Tit.
The heavens lower—
Caius.
On us! There is something awful in their speech,
More than the sound. [Thunder again.]
That's anger!
Enter Vettius, hastily.
Vet.
Disperse! disperse! The consul heavily
Has ta'en his lictor's death. The senate is
Convoked.
[Louder thunder, the Citizens withdraw slowly.
Caius.
Now it speaks out. 'Tis not for naught
They keep that stirring in the heavens. Some foot,
On haste with wrath, hath from Jove's presence now
Gone forth, the bearer of an errand, whose
Dread import hath set all Olympus shaking!
Fla.
You are infusing fear into the crowd:
This is no way to remedy the evil.
Think what can best be done.
Caius.
Nothing is best,
Where nothing can be done.
Fla.
Here comes your brother.
Enter Licinius, hastily.
Lic.
A decree has pass'd the senate, that the consul
Look to the public safety. Caius, you,
And Fulvius Flaccus, are the men they aim at;
You must protect yourselves!
[Thunders still louder.
Fla.
Observe, the citizens fall off from us.
Caius.
Why, let them go! As long as our veins are full,
Why should theirs flow? Let them fall off to one—
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And breed a mortal, general pestilence!
Let them, I say! It shall be writ in blood,
The man who labours for the people's good,
The people shall give up to sacrifice!
So shall their groans unpitied rend their breasts,—
Unheeded, save of them whose ears confess
No sweeter music! Here, even at the foot
Of my great father's statue, I will brave
The tyrant's wrath alone!
[Kneels at his father's statue, hiding his face with his hands.
Fla.
What! hold your neck
To the axe?
Enter Pomponius, hastily.
Pom.
Caius, the consul's lictors, I'm advised,
Are on the watch for you.
Fla.
Meet force with force!
[The Citizens return in larger numbers.
The people throng to you again. 'Twas but
The storm dispersed them. Not for yourself, alone,
Consent to draw the sword, but for your friends,
As well, proscribed along with you; nor, yet,
For them, but for your country, on whose neck
The tyrant plants his foot! Art thou the man
To let her lie there, when no arm but thine
Can lift her thence? Look on the people!—See!
They stretch their hands to thee! A word, each hand
Will grasp a weapon!
The People.
Caius!
Caius.
You prevail!
Against myself, I pledge myself. O Rome!
The sons do love thee most, must help thy foes
To shed thy blood! To-morrow, friends! to-morrow!
[They go out.
SCENE IV.
—An Apartment in the House of Caius Gracchus—a couch.Enter Cornelia and Licinia, with a scroll, followed by Lucius, carrying lights.
Cor.
Will not you go to bed?
Lici.
Not till he comes.
Cor.
He must sup out.
Lici.
Well, I'll sit up for him.
Cor.
What, with those eyes, that look so ill prepared
To play the watcher?
Lici.
I will read, Cornelia,
And keep myself awake. I can't lie down;
Go you to bed, my mother.
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I'll not give you
Excuse for so uncall'd-for labour, by
Partaking it. Good night!
Lici.
Good night!
[Cornelia goes out, followed by Lucius.
I wish
He would come home! Why should he sup abroad
To-night? Most like, it is my brother's fault:
He never lets him rest with taking him
To Carbo's house—or Flaccus'—or some friends.
I would Licinius had a wife himself,
To keep him more at home. Cornelia 's right;
I'm half-asleep already. A heavy lid
Is strange companion to an anxious heart!
Come, thou, that canst discourse without a tongue,—
Cunning beguiler of the lonely! talk to me,
And, for my dear lord, help me to keep watch!
[She sits on the couch, and reads—grows gradually drowsier—the scroll falls from her hand, and she sleeps
Enter Caius Gracchus, without seeing her.
Caius.
What meant the boy by starting when he let
Me in? What's in my face to make him hold
His breath, and change his colour at? I thought
At first the house was not my own; never, yet,
Felt it so like my own! A hundred objects,
Day after day I've pass'd, with just as much
Of consciousness as they had not been here,
I now distinguish with a feeling of
Such recognition, as invest them with
The worth of things most precious.—What! Licinia!
Asleep, too! She is sitting up for me!
Come, now, Conspiracy, thou bold redresser
Of grievances, doubly stak'st thy life!
Thou wilt achieve beneath the peaceful brows
Of household eaves, that never thought to see it,
What were done better in the ruthless eyes
Of frowning battlements—and lead along
The streets, where children, wives, and matrons tread,
Mars' revels, fitter to be acted on
Some far-removed, unfrequented waste,—
Come, now! and, while the silken bands of sleep
Hold thy unconscious, unoffending victim,
Look on, and scan thy plea of conjuration,
And see if it be proof! Thou canst not do it!
Already is the ague creeping o'er
Thy flesh, at longer trial of the test
Would shake the weapon from thy hand, though clench'd
With thousand oaths! That I should see her thus!
Lici.
[In her sleep.]
Keep him in, mother! Let him not go forth!
They'll kill my Caius!
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She is dreaming of me.
Lici.
[At first in her sleep, then awaking and rushing forward.]
Oh, spare him! save him! give him to his wife!
Strike here—strike here!
[Caius catches her in his arms.
My Caius!—'Twas a dream!
But press me to thy heart; speak to me, Caius!
I know 'tis you; but press me—speak to me!
Oh! 'twas a fearful dream!
Cornelia.
[Entering.]
Who talks of dreams
At such an hour of night? Go, sleep and dream!
Lici.
O, mother! such a dream!—And dreams are omens!
Cor.
Omens, or not; dreams have precursors, well
As sequences! Your scaréd thoughts to-day
Were likely to give birth to pleasant dreams!
I marvel that you had one! One may dream,
Without the aid of sleep. You have been dreaming
E'er since you rose this morning; and the spectre
You saw with sealéd lids, just now, be sure
With open ones you started for yourself,—
And more than once before! Caius was out
All day—besieged with business that allow'd
No breathing-time. Look at him!—He's fatigued—
Worn out—wants rest! A seasonable time
To hold him, prating to him of a dream!
To bed, my son; for you must rise, I know,
Betimes. Licinia, if you love his health,
Don't waste the hour that's due to needful sleep,
And scant enough!—Away! Good night, Licinia!
Caius, to bed at once.—My son, good night!
[Licinia and Caius go out.
Good night, indeed! And is't my son whom, thus,
I bid good night, without a hope to see
The morning of his living face again?
He's pledged!—He has conspired! I took my measures
To gather note of all. No other course
Was left him. I'm content! Better my son
Die in confronting, than in bowing to,
The tyrant! But the chances?—There's no chance!
They'll fail him, as they fail'd Tiberius!
Though vain the struggle, yet 'tis fit 'twere made,
When bold injustice scoffs at laws, and 'gins
To ride it, rough-shod, o'er them! What's my son?
His noble name! that, scatheless, who shall dare
To call me motherless? A mother once,
Arming her son against his country's foes,
Gave him his shield, with charge to bring it back,
Or come back borne upon it. In my heart,
I feel two mothers, struggling! Was it thus
With her?—And, if it was, the nobler conquer'd;
And shall the weaker rule in Scipio's daughter?
My father answers, “No!”—Rome answers, “No!”
Cornelia, “No!” Caius is dead, [Caius enters.]
but not
49
But not a thousand blows could leave a scar!
He sided with the weak and wrong'd,—resisted
The wrongful and the strong,—in vain!—but, when
His country fell, he fell along with her!
Caius.
[Kneeling and catching Cornelia's hand.]
My mother!
Cor.
[Bursting into a passion of tears.]
Caius!—Oh! my son! my son!
[Curtain falls.
END OF ACT IV.
| Caius Gracchus | |