University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—A Street.
Enter Publius and Sextus.
Pub.

This way! We muster at the Flaminian gate.

Sext.

Shall we not wait for Decius?

Pub.

No; were he ten times Decius.—They'll have already
begun their march. Come on!

Enter Numitorius.
Num.

Do you belong to the fourth legion?

Pub.

We do.

Num.

They are upon their march, then?

Pub.

I told you so—Come on! come on!

[Soldiers go out.
Enter Lucius.
Luc.

Numitorius, what soldiers were those that just now
parted from you?

Num.

Soldiers hastening to overtake the army, that's now
upon its march.

Luc.

'Tis all confirmed, then; the Sabines are in force upon
our borders.

Num.

I pray you tell me something new! Know you not
that the senate has met, and that the decemvirs have come off
triumphant, in spite of all opposition?

Luc.

Should they have been opposed in such a strait as this?

Num.

Ay, should they! They dared not have armed a
single citizen without the order of the senate; which, had they
not obtained, the country would have been left naked to the
foe; and, then, they had been forced to make room for more
popular magistrates.

Luc.

Why were they not opposed, then?

Num.

Did not I tell you they were opposed? Caius Claudius,
Appius's own uncle, and Honorius, that noble senator, opposed
them; and it was like to go against them, but for the brawling
insolence of Spurius Oppius, and the effrontery of the head
decemvir, backed by the young patricians.

Luc.

So they are empowered to take up arms?

Num.

To be sure they are; and they have done so. One
body has already marched, and by this time, no doubt, has
come to blows with the enemy. The levy is still proceeding.
All the decemvirs, but Appius, take the field. He remains in
Rome to keep good order, that is the violator of all order.
Why, where have you been, Lucius, to have felt no movement
of so great and wide a stir? Your brother meets Virginius at
his house to-day. Come with me thither, for you I know are
bid. Lucius, there's no huzzaing for your decemvirs now.
Come on! 'Tis close upon the hour.

[They go out.