 | Virginius |  |
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ACT V.
SCENE I.
—A Street.Enter Appius and Marcus.
App.
I do abjure all further league with them:
They have most basely yielded up their power,
And compromised their glory. Had they died
In their high seats, they had lived demi-gods;
But now they live to die like basest men!
Power gone, life follows! Well! 'tis well we know
The worst! The worst?—The worst is yet to come;
And, if I err not, hither speeds a messenger
Whose heel it treads upon! Well, Vibulanus?
Enter Vibulanus, hastily, and other Decemvirs, with Marcus.
Vibul.
Honorius and Valerius are elected
To the consulate.—Virginius is made tribune.
App.
No doubt they'd snatch their offices, when ours
Were laid so poorly down. You have acted wisely!
Vibul.
Who could resist Virginius, raving at
The head of the revolted troops, with all
The commons up in arms? Waste not dear time!
Look to your safety, Appius. 'Tis resolved
To cite you instantly before the consuls.
App.
Look to my safety, say you? You would bid
A man, that's tumbling from a precipice
A hundred fathoms high, and midway down,
Look to his safety! What has he to snatch at?
Air!—E'en so much have I.
Vibul.
Withdraw awhile
From Rome. We shall recall you with applause
And honours.
App.
Yes! You saw me on the brink—
Beheld it giving way beneath my feet—
And saw me tottering o'er the hideous leap,
Whose sight sent round the brain with madd'ning whirl,
With but a twig to stay me, which you cut,
Because it was your friend that hung by it—
Most kindly!
Vibul.
Nay, employ the present time
In looking to your safety—that secured,
Reproach us as you will.
App.
I am in your hands,
Lead me which way you please.
Icil.
[without].
Hold! Stand!
App.
Icilius!
Icilius enters, with Honorius and Valerius as Consuls, Numitorius and Lictors.
Icil.
Did I not tell you 'twas the tyrant? Look
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Ere mine eye told it me.—You are our prisoner!
App.
On what pretence, Icilius?
Icil.
Ask of poor
Virginius, tottering between despair
And madness, as he seeks the home, where once
He found a daughter!
App.
I demand due time
To make up my defence.
Icil.
Demand due time!
Appius!—Assign the cause, why you denied
A Roman maid, of free condition,
Her liberty provisionally, while
Her plea remain'd unjudged. No answer, Appius?
Lictors, lay hold upon him—to prison with him!
Look to him well. To prison with the tyrant!
[Appius and Lictors go out on one side; Icilius and Numitorius on the other.
Vibul.
Let all his friends, that their own safety prize,
Solicit straight for his enlargement; doff
Their marks of station, and to the vulgar eye
Disguise it with the garb of mourning; 'twill
Conciliate the crowd. We know them well:
But humour them, they are water soon as fire!
[They go out severally.
SCENE II.
—Virginius's House.Enter Lucius and Servia.
Luc.
Is he not yet come home?
Servia.
Not since her death.
I dread his coming home, good Lucius.
Luc.
A step! 'Tis Numitorius and Virginius.
Servia.
Gods! how he looks!—See, Lucius, how he looks!
Enter Virginius, attended by Numitorius and others.
Virginius.
'Tis ease! 'Tis ease! I am content! 'Tis peace,
'Tis anything that is most soft and quiet.
And after such a dream!—I want my daughter;
Send me my daughter!
Num.
Yes, his reason's gone.
Scarce had he come in sight of his once sweet
And happy home, ere with a cry he fell
As one struck dead.—When to himself he came,
We found him as you see. How is it, brother?
Virginius.
How should it be but well? Our cause is good.
Think you Rome will stand by, and see a man
Robb'd of his child? We are bad enough, but yet
They should not so mistake us. We are slaves,
But not yet monsters.—Call my daughter to me.
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The threshold yet, without her meeting me
With a kiss. She's very long a-coming. Call her!
Num.
Icilius comes! See, my Icilius, see!
Enter Icilius.
Virginius.
Come, come, make ready. Brother, you and he
Go on before: I'll bring her after you.
Icil.
Ha!
Num.
My Icilius, what a sight is there!
Virginius' reason is a wreck, so stripp'd
And broken up by wave and wind, you scarce
Would know it was the gallant bark you saw
Riding so late in safety!
Icil.
[taking Virginius's hand].
Father! Father!
That art no more a father!
Virginius.
Ha! what wet
Is this upon my hand? A tear, boy! Fie,
For shame! Is that the weapon you would guard
Your bride with? First essay what steel can do!
Num.
Not a tear has bless'd his eye since her death! No wonder.
The fever of his brain, that now burns out,
Has drunk the source of sorrow's torrents dry.
Icil.
You would not have it otherwise? 'Twas fit
The bolt, that struck the sole remaining branch,
And blasted it, should set the trunk on fire!
Num.
If we could make him weep—
Icil.
Her urn!
'Twas that which first drew tears from me. I'll fetch it.
Yet scarcely think it wise, to wake a man
Who's at the mercy of a tempest! Better
You suffer him to sleep it through.
[Icilius goes out.
Virginius.
Gather your friends together!—Tell them of
Dentatus' murder!—Screw the chord of rage
To the topmost pitch!—Mine own is not mine own!
[Laughs.
That's strange enough. Why does he not dispute
My right to my own flesh, and tell my heart
Its blood is not its own? He might as well!
But I want my child!
Enter Lucius.
Luc.
Justice will be defeated.
Virginius.
Who says that?
He lies in the face of the gods! She is immutable,
Immaculate, and immortal!—and though all
The guilty globe should blaze, she will spring up
Through the fire, and soar above the crackling pile,
With not a downy feather ruffled by
Its fierceness!
Num.
He is not himself! What new
Oppression comes to tell us to our teeth.
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Of thraldom past?
Luc.
The friends of Appius
Beset the people with solicitations.
The fickle crowd, that change with every change,
Begin to doubt and soften. Every moment
That's lost, a friend is lost. Appear among
Your friends, or lose them!
Num.
Lucius, you
Remain, and watch Virginius.
[Goes out, followed by all but Lucius and Servia.
Virginius.
You remember,
Don't you, nurse?
Ser.
What, Virginius?
Virginius.
That she nursed
The child herself! Inquire among your gossips,
Which of them saw it; and, with such of them
As can avouch the fact, without delay
Repair to the Forum! Will she come or not?
I'll call myself!—She will not dare!—O when
Did my Virginia dare—Virginia!
Is it a voice, or nothing answers me?
I hear a sound so fine—there's nothing lives
'Twixt it and silence!
[Goes out, and almost immediately returns.
Aha! She is not here!
They told me she was here—they have deceived me;
And Appius was not made to give her up,
But keeps her, and effects his wicked purpose,
While I stand talking here, and ask you if
My daughter is my daughter! Though a legion
Sentried that brothel, which he calls his palace,
I'd tear her from him!
Luc.
Hold, Virginius! Stay!
Appius is now in prison.
Virginius.
With my daughter!
He has secured her there! Ha! has he so?
Gay office for a dungeon! Hold me not,
Or I will dash you down, and spoil you for
My keeper. My Virginia, struggle with him!
Appal him with thy shrieks; ne'er faint, ne'er faint!
I am coming to thee! I am coming to thee!
[Virginius rushes out, followed by Lucius, Servia, and others.
SCENE III.
—A Dungeon.Appius discovered.
App.
From the palace to the dungeon is a road
Trod oft—not oft retrod. What hope have I
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I am as one that's dead! The dungeon, that
Encloses fallen greatness, may as well
Be call'd its tomb. I am as much the carcass
Of myself, as if the string were taken from
My neck. Their hands long for the office! Oh,
'Tis worth the half of a plebeian's life
To get his greasy fingers on the throat
Of a patrician! But I'll balk them. Come!
Appius shall have an executioner
No less illustrious than himself.
[He is on the point of swallowing poison, when Vibulanus enters.
Who's there?
Vibul.
Your friend!
App.
My Vibulanus!
Vibul.
Appius, what
Was that, you hid in such confusion, as
I enter'd?
App.
'Tis a draught for life, which swallow'd,
She relishes so richly, that she cares not
If she ne'er drink again! Here's health to you!
Vibul.
Not out of such a cup as that, my Appius.
Despair, that bids you drink it, as the cure
Of canker'd life, but lies to you, and turns
Your eyes from hope, that even now stands ready
With outstretch'd arms to rush to your embrace.
Your friends are busy for you with your foes!
Your foes become your friends! Where'er a frown
Appears against you, nothing's spared to make
The wearer doff it, and put up a smile
In its stead. Your colleague Oppius is in prison.
Your client too. Their harm's your safety: it
Distracts the appetite o' the dogs. They drop
The morsel they took up before, as soon
As a new one's thrown to them.
App.
Thou givest me life
Indeed!
Vibul.
That I may give thee life indeed,
I'll waste no longer time with thee; for that
Already taken to assure thee of
Thy fast-reviving fortunes, cheats them of
The aid should help to re-establish them.
Farewell, my Appius! If my absence takes
A friend from thee, it leaves one with thee—Hope!
[Goes out.
App.
And I will clasp it to me! Never friend
Made sweeter promises! But snatch me from
Beneath the feet of the vile herd, that's now
Broke loose and roams at large; I'll show them who
They'd trample on. Hope! Hope! They say of thee,
Thou art a friend that promises, but cares not
To keep his word. This once keep thine with Appius,
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Thy word is bond enough!—At liberty.
Again at liberty! O give me power
As well, for every minute of my thraldom
I'll pick a victim from the common herd
Shall groan his life in bondage. Liberty!
'Tis triumph, power, dominion, everything!
Are ye not open yet, ye servile gates?
Let fall your chains, and push your bolts aside!
It is your past and future lord commands you!
Virginius
[rushing in].
Give me my daughter!
App.
Ha!
Virginius.
My child! my daughter!
My daughter! my Virginia! Give her me!
App.
Thy daughter!
Virginius.
Ay! Deny that she is mine,
And I will strangle thee, unless the lie
Should choke thee first.
App.
Thy daughter!
Virginius.
Play not with me!
Provoke me not! Equivocate, and lo!
Thou sport'st with fire. I am wild!—distracted!—mad!—
I am all a flame—a flame! I tell thee once
For all, I want my child, and I will have her;
So give her to me.
App.
Caged with a madman! Hoa!
Without there!
Virginius.
Not a step thou stirr'st from hence,
Till I have found my child. Attempt that noise
Again, and I will stop the vent, that not
A squeak shall pass it. There are plugs for you
Will keep it air-tight [showing his fingers].
Please you, give me back
My daughter.
App.
In truth, she is not here, Virginius;
Or I would give her to thee.
Virginius.
Would! Ay, should!
Though would were would not. Do you say, indeed,
She is not here? You nothing know of her?
App.
Nothing, Virginius! good Virginius, nothing.
Virginius.
How if I thrust my hand into your breast,
And tore your heart out, and confronted it
With your tongue? I'd like it!—Shall we try it? Fool!
Are not the ruffians leagued? The one would swear
To the tale o' the other.
App.
By the gods, Virginius,
Your daughter is not in my keeping.
Virginius.
Well,
Then I must seek her elsewhere. I did dream
That I had murder'd her—'Tis false! 'twas but
A dream.—She isn't here, you say—Well! well!
Then I must go and seek her elsewhere—Yet
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But there or here? Here! here! here! Yes, I say,
But there or here—I tell you I must find her—
She must be here, or what do you here? What,
But such a wonder of rich beauty could
Deck out a dungeon so, as to despoil
A palace of its tenant? Art thou not
The tyrant Appius?—Didst thou not decree
My daughter to be Claudius' slave, who gave her
To his master? Have you not secured her here
To compass her dishonour, ere her father
Arrives to claim her?
App.
No!
Virginius.
Do you tell me so?
Vile tyrant! Think you, shall I not believe
My own eyes before your tongue? Why, there she is!
There, at your back—her looks dishevell'd and
Her vestment torn! Her cheeks all faded with
Her pouring tears, as flowers with too much rain!
Her form no longer kept and treasured up
By her maiden pride, like a rich casket, cast
Aside, neglected and forgot, because
The richer gem was shrined in it is lost!
Villain! is this a sight to show a father?
And have I not a weapon to requite thee?
[Searches about his clothes.
Ha! here are ten!
App.
Keep down your hands! Help! help!
Virginius.
No other look but that! Look on! look on!
It turns my very flesh to steel—Brave girl!
Keep thine eye fix'd—let it not wink—look on!
[They go out, struggling.
Enter Numitorius, Icilius, Lucius, Guard, and Soldier, bearing Virginia's urn.
Num.
Not here!
Luc.
Is this the dungeon?—Appius is not here,
Nor yet Virginius. You have sure mistaken.
Guard.
This is the dungeon—Here Virginius enter'd.
Num.
Yet is not here!—Hush! The abode of death
Is just as silent. Gods! should the tyrant take
The father's life, in satisfaction for
The deed that robb'd him of the daughter's charms—
Hush! hark! A groan! There's something stirs!
Luc.
'Tis this way!
Num.
Come on! Protect him, gods, or pardon me
If with my own hand I revenge his death.
[They go out.
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SCENE IV.
—Another Dungeon.Virginius discovered on one knee, with Appius lying dead before him. Enter Numitorius, Icilius, Lucius, Citizens, and others.
Num.
What's here? Virginius! with the tyrant prostrate
and dead!
Luc.
His senses are benumb'd! There is no adit to his
mind, by which our words can reach it. Help to raise him.
The motion may recall perception.
Num.
His eye is not so deathlike fixed; it moves a little.
Luc.
Speak to him, Numitorius; he knows your voice the
best.
Num.
Virginius!
Luc.
I think he heeds you; speak again.
Num.
Virginius!
Virginius.
Ah!
Luc.
That sigh has burst the spell which held him.
Num.
Virginius! my dear brother!
Virginius.
Lighter! lighter! My heart is ten times lighter!
What a load it has heaved off! Where is he? I thought I
had done it.
Num.
Virginius!
Virginius.
Well, who are you? What do you want? I'll
answer what I've done!
Num.
Do you not know me, brother? Speak, Icilius, try
if he knows you.
Icil.
Virginius!
Num.
Try again.
Icil.
Virginius!
Virginius.
That voice—that voice—I know that voice!
It minds me of a voice was coupled with it,
And made such music, once to hear it was
Enough to make it ever after be
Remember'd!
[Icilius places the urn in his hand.
Ha! What's this?
Icil.
Virginia!
[Virginius looks alternately at Icilius and the urn —looks at Numitorius and Lucius—seems struck by his mourning—looks at the urn again—bursts into a passion of tears, and exclaims, “Virginia!” —Falls on Icilius's neck. Curtain drops.
END OF VIRGINIUS.
| Virginius | |