PS 
 2532 
 
 B7 
 1848
 
 MODERN STANDARD DRAMA. 
 
 No. LIX. 
 
 B_ R U T U S ; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE FALL OF TARQUTN. 
 
 IN FIVE ACTS. 
 
 BY JOHN HOWARD PAYNE. 
 
 WITH THE STAGE BUSINESS, CAST OF CHARACTERS 
 COSTUMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, ETC. 
 
 NEW-YORK: 
 WM. TAYLOR CO. 
 
 ( S . FRENCH. C! K X LC fl A L AGENT,) 
 
 151 NASSAU-STHKKT. cju\::ii of opuy?*;.
 
 6?
 
 EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION. 
 
 JOHN HOWARD PAYNE, the author of "Brutus," is an Ameri 
 can by birth. He was born in New York on the 9th June, 1794. 
 At the early age of fifteen years, he was induced by circumstan 
 ces to try his fortune on the stage, urged, doubtless, by the ex 
 traordinary success which had marked the career of the infant 
 Roscius, Master William Henry West Betty. Young Payne 
 made his first appearance at the Park theatre, in the character 
 of Young Norval, and at once assumed a position in public es 
 timation rarely achieved by actors who have spent years of toil 
 in acquiring a knowledge of the histrionic art. The fame of the 
 youthful debutant procured for him offers of engagements in 
 Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, and Boston, and during two 
 or three subsequent years Mr. Payne travelled round the then 
 usual circle of theatrical engagements, as a " star" of the first 
 magnitude, as " the young American Roscius." The critical 
 writers of the day awarded to him merit very little inferior to 
 that possessed by his English contemporary, Master Betty. Mr. 
 Payne was at length induced to visit London, where he appear 
 ed with tolerable success. He subsequently visited the pro 
 vinces, with equal approbation. But the novelty of the infant 
 school of prodigies had departed, and Mr. Payne, like his pre 
 decessor, did not appear to mature in talent, as he advanced in 
 age. His theatrical experience, however, was turned to ac 
 count : Mr. Payne devoted himself to literary pursuits, and 
 commenced dramatic author. The following list of his produc 
 tions, attest the fertility of his genius : Oswali of Athens ; 
 Richelieu, or a Broken Heart; Charles the Second; Procrasti 
 nation ; Married ard Single ; Plots at Home ; Woman s Re 
 venge ; All for the Best ; Brutus, or, the Fall of Tarquin ; Vir 
 ginia, or Patrician Perfidy. DRAMAS : Spanish Husband ; 
 Therese, or the Orphan of Geneva ; Norah, the Girl of Erin ;
 
 IV EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Adeline, or Seduction ; The Two Galley Slaves ; The Rival 
 Monarchs ; Paoli ; Solitary of Mount Savage ; Ali Pacha ; 
 The Inseparables ; The Guilty Mother ; Man of the Black 
 Forest ; Madame de Berri ; The Festival of St. Mark s ; The 
 Bridge of Kehl ; the Judge and the Attorney ; The Mill of the 
 Lake ; Mazeppa ; Rovido, the Neapolitan : The Italian Bride. 
 OPERAS : Clari, the Maid of Milan ; The White Maid ; The 
 Tyrolese Veasan ; Visilendenes ; England s Old Days. 
 FARCES: Tricondeau ; The Post Chaise; Twas 1; Mrs. 
 Smith; Love in Humble Life; The Lancers; Grand Papa; 
 Peter Smirk ; Not Invited ; Romulus, a tragedy. Many of 
 these dramas retain permanent possession of the stage. They 
 are all cha-^acterized by the admirable knowledge of dramatic 
 effect, acquired by the author during his professional life. Such 
 knowledge appears to be imperative to the dramatist, mechani 
 cal as it may seem to some. It is the setting of the jewel, with 
 out which the brightest gems of dramatic poetry are but dim 
 and ineffective. 
 
 In the preface to this play, Mr. Payne remarks : 
 
 "Seven plays upon the subject of Brutus are before the public. 
 Only two have been thought capable of representation, and those two 
 did not long retain possession of the stage. In the present play I 
 have had no hesitation in adopting the conception and language of my 
 predecessors, wherever they seemed likely to strengthen the plan 
 which I had prescribed. This has been so done as to allow of no 
 injury to personal feelings or private properly. Such oblig-itions, to 
 be culpable, must be secret ; but it may be observed, that no assist 
 ance of other writers can be available without an effort almost, if not 
 altogether, as laborious as original composition." 
 
 That Mr. Payne has skilfully adapted the materials thus 
 furnished him by the authors, to whom he acknowledges his in 
 debtedness, will not be denied. He has constructed from these 
 sources a tragedy, that, from its dramatic situations, interesting 
 incidents, and striking scenic effects, promises to keep its place 
 among the most popular stock pieces of the modern drama. 
 
 The main defect in this tragedy is, that the whole interest ia 
 concentrated in one character. Brutus is made to so completely 
 absorb the attention, as to exclude any participation of the in 
 terest of the spectator in any of the subordinate characters. 
 But this defect is not chargeable upon the author. The play
 
 EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION. V 
 
 was written for the elder Kean, when it was for the interest of 
 the theatre that the great tragedian should be the cynosure of 
 attraction in every new piece, in which his extraordinary ta 
 lents were to be called into requisition. Indeed, Kean himself 
 had established this rule of exclusive appropriation. To an au 
 thor, this writing up to the peculiar talents and sole glorification 
 of a particular actor, is a severe task. 
 
 Few dramatic writers have succeeded in producing a stand 
 ard play, that has survived the theatrical lives of their repre 
 sentatives. Mr. Payne has been more fortunate than many of 
 his predecessors and contemporaries ; for Brutus is still a favour 
 ite performance, in the hands of an adequate personator. 
 
 The inimitable acting of Kean in this Tragedy, will not readi 
 ly be forgotten by those who witnessed his performance, on its 
 first production at Drury Lane. The great actor was then in 
 the very zenith of his fame. The part had been carefully fitted 
 to his varied and peculiar powers, and he appeared to have 
 thrown the whole force of his genius both into the conception 
 and embodiment of the character ; and his success in the deline- 
 ational most surpassed any of his previous efforts, great as they 
 were. The delivery of the famous curse, in the third act, was 
 one of those electric and brilliant specimens of his transcendant 
 genius, which have never been surpassed by any of his con 
 temporaries or successors. Nor was he less triumphant in the 
 closing scene, where he condemns his son. It was another tri 
 umph of art, that was above criticism, and defied competition. 
 
 Brutus has found able representatives in this country, in the 
 persons of Booth and Forrest, and is still occasionally played by 
 these great actors, to the satisfaction of admiring audiences. 
 
 We subjoin to our remarks the original truly classical prologue, 
 written for *his play by the Rev. George Croly. H.
 
 PROLOGUE , 
 Written by a FRIEND, Spoken by MR. H. KEMBLE. 
 
 TIME rushes o er us ; thick as evening clouds, 
 Ages roll back : what calls them from their shrouds T 
 What in full vision brings their good and great, 
 The men whose virtues make the nation s fate, 
 The far, forgotten stars of humankind ? 
 The STAGE the mighty telescope of mind . 
 If later, luckless arts that stage profane, 
 The actor pleads not guilty of the stain : 
 He, but the shadow flung on fashion s tide 
 Yours, the high will that all its waves must guide : 
 Your voice alone, the great reform secures, 
 His, but the passing hour the age is yours. 
 
 Our pledge is kept. Here yet, no chargers wheel, 
 No foreign slaves on ropes or scaffolds reel, 
 No gallick amnzons, half naked, climb 
 From pit to gallery the low sublime ! 
 In Shakspeare s halls, shall dogs and bears engage 7 
 Where brutes are actors, be a booth the stage ! 
 And we shall triumph yet. The cloud has hung 
 Darkly above but day shall spring has sprung 
 The tempest has but swept, not shook the shrine ; 
 No lamp that genius lit has ceased to shine 1 
 Still lives its sanctity. Around the spot 
 Hover high spirits shapes of burning thought 
 Viewless but call them, on the dazzled eye 
 Descends their pomp of immortality : 
 Here, at your voice, Rowe, Otway, Southern, come. 
 Flashing like meteors through the age s gloom. 
 Perpetual fare king of th immortal band, 
 Sits SHAKSPEARK crowned. He lifts the golden wand, 
 And all obey ; the visions of the past 
 Rise as they lived soft, splendid, regal, vast. 
 Then Ariel harps along the enchanted wave, 
 Then the Weird sisters thunder i:i their cave 
 The spell is wound. Then shows his mightier art 
 The Moor s lost soul ; the hell of Richard s heart ; 
 And stamps, in fiery warning to all time, 
 The deep damnation of a tyrant s crime. 
 
 To-night we take our lesson from the tomb : 
 Tia thy snd cenotaph, colossal Rome !
 
 How is thy helmet cleft, thy banner low, 
 Ashes and dust are all thy glory now ! 
 While o er thy wreck, a host of monks and slaves, 
 Totter to " seek dishonourable graves." 
 The stoiy is of Brutus, in that name 
 Towered to the sun her eagle s wing of flame ! 
 When sank her liberty, that name of power 
 Poured hallowed splendours round its dying hour. 
 The lesson lived for man that heavenward blaze 
 Fixed on the pile the world s eternal gaze. 
 
 Unrivalled England ! to such memories thou, 
 This hour dost owe the laurel on thy brow ; 
 Those fixed, when earth was like a grave, thy tread, 
 Prophet and warrior ! twixt the quick and dead 
 Those bade the war for man those won the name 
 That crowns thee famed above all Roman fame. 
 
 Now, to our scene we feel no idle fear, 
 Sure of the hearts, the British justice here ; 
 If we deserve it, sure of your applause 
 Then, hear for Rome, for England, for " our cause !"
 
 CAST OF CHARACTERS. 
 
 Drury Lane, 1818. Arch St., Phil, 1847. 
 
 Brutut Mr. Keao. Mr. C. Pitt. 
 
 Titus " 1). Fisher. " Marsh. 
 
 Seztus Tarquia " H. Kemble. " Gulla-jher. 
 
 Aruns " J enley. " T. Joim>tone. 
 
 Claudius " Coveney. " J. Dunn. 
 
 Collatinui " Bengough. Henkins. 
 
 Valerius " Holland. " Ellsler. 
 
 Lucretius " Powell. " Mears. 
 
 Horatius " Yarnold. " Worrell. 
 
 Celius " Carr. " Henry. 
 
 Flavins Corunna " Phillips. " Bradford. 
 
 Centurion " Ley. " Thompson. 
 
 First Plebeian " Marshall. " W. Wood. 
 
 Second Plebeian " Ebsworth. " H.Davis. 
 
 Third Plebeian " Smith. " Colladine. 
 
 Fourth Plebeian " Buxton. " Antony. 
 
 Fifth Plebeian " Clark. 
 
 Tullia Mrs. Glover. Miss Wood. 
 
 Tarquinia " W. West. Mrs. Russell. 
 
 Lucrctia " Robinson. Miss J. Hill. 
 
 Lavinia Miss Ivers. " Morgan. 
 
 Pricstest. ... .. Mrs. Brereton. " Davis. 
 
 COSTUMES. 
 
 LUCIUS JUNTOS. Moreen-coloured shirt, black velvet belt, flesh dress complete, 
 and black sandals. Second drett : Crimson shirt, Homan cuirass, and lambara- 
 kins of silver leather, helmet, and red sandals. Third dress : Cream-coloured 
 toga, white shirt, and black sandals. 
 
 TITUS. White shirt, scarlet mantle trimmed with black velvet, flesh dress com 
 plete, black sandals, and white ribbon for the head. 
 
 SEXTUS TARQUIN. Roman cuirass and lambarakins of gold, helmet, white 
 shirt, red sandals, flesh dress complete, and scarlet mantle. 
 
 ARUNS. Buff and silver Roman cuirass, white shirt, red sandals, scarlet mantle, 
 and flesh dress complete. 
 
 CLAUDIUS. Blue and silver Roman cuirass, white shirt, flesh dress complete, red 
 sandals, and scarlet mantle. 
 
 COLLATINUS. Roman scarlet and buff cuirass and lambarakins, red sandals, 
 crimson mantle, and flesh dress complete. Seconddress: toga, crenm-coloured. 
 
 VALERIUS. White shirt, cream-coloured toga, russet sandals, and flesh dress 
 complete. 
 
 LUCRETIUS. Ibid. 
 
 HORATIUS. White shirt, crimson mantle, russet sandals, and flesh dress com 
 plete. 
 
 CELIUS. Brown shirt, sandals, and fle.sh dress complete. 
 
 FLAVIUS CORUNNA. Green shirt, Roman cuirass, sandals, and flesh dress 
 complete. 
 
 CENTURION. Blue and scarlet cuirass and lambarakins, one scarlet shoulder- 
 piece, russet sandals, and flesh dress complete. 
 
 MESSENGER. Ibid. 
 
 FIRST ROMAN. Brown shirt and cap, sandals, and flesh dress complete. 
 
 SECOND ROMAN. Ibid. 
 
 THIRD ROMAN. Ibid. 
 
 TULLIA White train dress, scarlet toga, gold tiarii, tied with long white ribbon. 
 
 TARQUINIA. White train dress, puce-coloured toga, and gold tiara, tied with long 
 white ribbon. 
 
 LUCRET1A. White train dress, white toga, and white satin tiara, tied with long 
 white ribbon. 
 
 PRIESTESS. All white. 
 
 VESTAL. White train dress, with chemesette boddice, and white ribbon through 
 the hair. 
 
 LAVINMA. White train dress trimmed with blue, blue toga, and white ribbon 
 through the hair.
 
 BRUTUS. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 SCENE I. A Street in Rome. 
 Enter VALERIUS and LUCRETIUS, R. 
 
 Val. Words are too feeble to express the horror 
 With -which my soul revolts against this Tarquin. 
 By poison he obtained his brother s wife, 
 Then, by a baser murder, grasped the crown ! 
 These eyes beheld that aged monarch, thrown 
 Down from the senate-house his feeble limbs 
 Bruised by the pavement his time-honoured locks, 
 Which from the very robber would have gained 
 Respect and veneration bathed in blood ! 
 AVith difficulty raised, and tottering homeward, 
 The murderers followed struck him and he died ! 
 
 Luc. Inexpiable crime ! 
 
 Val. High in her regal chariot, Tullia came 
 The corpse lay in the street. The charioteer 
 Turned back the reins in horror. On, slave, on ! 
 Shall dead men stop my passage to a throne ? 
 Exclaimed the parricide. The gore was dashed 
 From the hot wheels up to her diadem ! 
 
 Luc. And Hea.ven s avenging lightnings were withheld 
 Here rules this Tullia, while the king, her husband, 
 Wastes our best blood in giddy, guilty war ! 
 Spirit of Marcus Junius ! Would the gods 
 Deign to diffuse thy daring through the land, 
 Rome from her trance with giant spirit would start, 
 Dash off her fetters, and amaze the world ! 
 
 Val. Junius, didst say 1 Oh ! tyranny long since 
 Had sunk chained buried in its native hell 
 But Tarquin, trembling at his virtues, murdered 
 Him and his elder son. The younger, Lucius,
 
 10 BRUTUS. [AcT I 
 
 Then on his travels, scaped the tyrant s sword, 
 But lost his reason at their fearful fall. 
 
 Luc. Ay, the same Lucius, who now dwells with Tar- 
 
 quin, 
 
 The jest, the fool, the langhing-stock o th court, 
 Whom the young princes always carry with em 
 To be the butt of their unfeeling mirth. 
 
 Vol. Hold ! I hear steps. Great things may yet be 
 
 done, 
 tf we are men, and faithful to our country. [Exeunt, L. 
 
 SCENE II. The Camp before Ardea. 
 Enter CLAUDIUS and ARUNS, laughing, L. s. E. 
 
 Aruns. There is no doctor for the spleen like Lucius. 
 What precious scenes of folly did he act 
 When, lately, through the glorious scenes of Greece, 
 He went with us to Delphi ! But, behold, 
 Where, full of business, his wise worship comes. 
 
 Enter Lucius JUNIUS, L. 
 
 Claud. Whither so fast, good Junius, tell us whither ? 
 
 Luc. To Rome, to Rome the queen demands my pre 
 sence. 
 
 The state needs aid, and I am called to court. [ They laugh. 
 Am I a fool ? If so, you cannot say 
 I m the first fool graced by a monarch s favour. 
 
 Aruns. Why, Junius, travel has improved thy wit : 
 Thou speakest shrewdly. 
 
 Luc. Do I so, my lord 1 
 I m always glad when you and I agree ; 
 You have just such a wit as I should choose. 
 Would I could purchase such ! though it might split 
 My head, as confined air does water bubbles ! 
 
 Claud. How say you ? Purchase 1 Prithee, what 
 would st give 1 
 
 Luc. What would I give ? ten acres of my land. 
 
 Aruns. Thy land ! Where lies it ? 
 
 Luc. Ask the king, my cousin : 
 He knows full well. I thank him, he s my steward, 
 And takes the trouble off my hands. 
 
 Claud. Who told thee so 1 
 
 Luc. The king himself. Now twenty years are past,
 
 SfcF.M-: H.) BRUTUS. H 
 
 Or more, since he sent for me from my farm. 
 Kinsman, said he, with a kind, gracious smile, 
 For the black crime of treason which was charged 
 Against thy father and thy elder brother, 
 Their lives have paid : for thee, as I love mercy, 
 Live and be happy : simple is thy mind 
 
 Arum. True, kinsman, true i faith, tis wondrous sim 
 ple. 
 
 Luc. And that simplicity will be a pledge 
 That thou wilt never plot against thy sovereign. 
 
 Claud. Indeed, for that I ll be your bondsman, Junius. 
 
 Luc. Live in my house, companion of my children. 
 As for thy land, to ease thee of all care, 
 I ll take it for thy use ; all that I ask 
 Of thee, is gratitude. 
 
 Aruns. And art thou not 
 Grateful for goodness so unmerited? 
 
 Luc. Am 1 not ? Never, by the holy gods, 
 Will I forget it ! Tis my constant pray r 
 To Heaven, that I may one day have the pow r 
 To pay the debt 1 owe him. But stay stay 
 1 brought a message to you from the king. 
 
 Aruns. Thank the gods, then, for thy good memory, 
 fool! 
 
 Luc. The King, your father, sends for you to council, 
 Where he debates how best to conquer Ardea. 
 Shall I before, and tell him ye are coming ? 
 
 Claud. Ay, or behind, or with us, or stay here 
 As thy wits prompt as suits thy lofty pleasure. 
 
 [Exeunt Aruns and Claudius, laughing, R. 
 
 Luc. [Alone.\ Yet, tis not that which ruffles me tha 
 
 gibes 
 
 And scornful mockeries of ill-governed youth 
 Or flouts of dastard sycophants and jesters 
 Reptiles, who lay their bellies on the dust 
 Before the frown of majesty ! All this 
 I but expect, nor grudge to bear; the face 
 I carry, courts it ! Son of Marcus Junius ! 
 When will the tedious gods permit thy soul 
 To walk abroad in her own majesty, 
 And throw this vizor of thy madness from thee, 
 To avenge my father s and my brother s murder?
 
 12 BRUTUS. [ACT i. 
 
 (And sweet, I must confess, would be the draught !) 
 
 Had this been all, a thousand opportunities 
 
 I ve had to strike the blow and my own life 
 
 I had not valued as a rush. But still 
 
 There s something nobler to be done ! My soul, 
 
 Enjoy the strong conception ! Oh ! tis glorious 
 
 To free a gi oariing country 
 
 To see Revenge 
 
 Spring like a lion from the den, and tear 
 
 These hunters of mankind ! Grant but the time, 
 
 Grant but the moment, gods ! If I am wanting, 
 
 May I drag out this idiot-feigned life 
 
 To late old age, and may posterity 
 
 Ne er hear of Junius but as Tarquin s fool ! [Exit, L. 
 
 SCENE III. Rome. A State Apartment in the Palace 
 
 of Tullia. 
 
 Enter TULLIA, preceded by GUARDS, BANNER BEARERS, 
 LADIES, and followed by VALERIUS. She appears per 
 turbed, and speaks apart. 
 
 Tul. [Apart.] Why should the steady mind to shadows 
 
 yield 1 
 
 And yet this vision shakes my frame with horror ! 
 I thought his spirit thundered in my ear, 
 Remember when, with wild ambition s frenzy, 
 And all Rome s empire in your view, you drove 
 Your chariot-wheels o er your dead father s body, 
 Up to the shouting Forum! Why, my soul, 
 Dost thou not shun the remembrance of that hour ? 
 Twas but the cause the cause For this base clay ; 
 How differs it from the dull earth we tread on, 
 When the life s gone ? But, next, the Sibyl came, 
 Whose mystic book at such a price we bought, 
 And cried, The race of Tarquin shall be kings 
 Till a fool drive them hence, and set Rome free ! 
 Strange prophecy ! What fool ] It cannot be 
 That poor dolt, the companion of my sons ! 
 Hark thee, Valerius Know st thou that same tool 
 Now in the camp ] 
 
 Vol. I know him well. A man 
 Who, when he had a name, was Lucius Junius :
 
 SCENE III.] BRUTUS. 13 
 
 A braver citizen Rome never boasted, 
 
 And wise and learned withal ; now changed, alas ! 
 
 A spectacle which humbles me to look on ! 
 
 Tul. But is he harmless in his moody humours ? 
 
 Val. Tame as my horse, which, though devoid of rea 
 son, 
 
 Shall turn, shall stop, and, at my angry bidding, 
 Shall kneel till I am throned on his back ! 
 And this shall Junius : the like instinct stirs 
 Junius and him, no more. 
 
 Tul. [Apart.] Hence, idle fears ! 
 Yet, when he went to Delphi, tis given out 
 The oracle addressed him with strange portents, 
 And each night since, my dreams have been disturbed 
 By a wild form, too much resembling his, 
 Leading our soldiers forth with sword and flame, 
 Revolters from the camp, to storm the palace. 
 But he is sent from thence, and shall be watched. 
 
 Enter HORATIUS, L. 
 
 Hor. Your orders are obeyed : Lucius awaits. 
 
 Tul. Set him before us. [Exit Horatiua 
 
 [ To Valerius.] Tell me, will he answer 
 If we do question him 1 
 
 Val. I think he will : 
 
 Yet sometimes, when the moody fit doth take him, 
 He will not speak for days; yea, rather starve 
 Than utter nature s cravings ; then, anon 
 He ll prattle shrewdly, with such witty folly 
 As almost betters reason. 
 
 HORATIUS returns with Lucius JUNIUS. 
 
 Tul. Hark thee, fellow, 
 How art thou called ? 
 
 Luc. A fool. 
 
 Tul. Fool, for thy nature : 
 Thou answei-est well, but I demand thy name. 
 
 Luc. Nothing but fool. 
 
 Tul. His faculties are brutish : 
 BRUTUS shall be thy name. 
 
 Pru. Thanks to your grace ! 
 
 Hor. Dost like thy new name, gentle bi ute ?
 
 14 BRUTUS. [ACT I 
 
 Bru. So well, 
 
 Who will may take the fool. I care not who 
 Your highness, an it like you. 
 
 Hor. I the fool ! 
 Sirrah, good words, or I will have thee beaten. 
 
 Bru. A fool thou wilt not heat a brute thou dar st not, 
 For the dull ass will kick against his striker, 
 If struck too harshly. 
 
 Tul. Let me hear no more ; 
 There s mischief in his folly. Send him hence. 
 
 [Brutus going, K. 
 
 But stay I ll search him farther. Hark thee, Brutus: 
 Thou wast at Delphi, with our sons the princes 
 Tell me what questions put they to Apollo ? 
 
 Bru. Your sons did ask who should be chief in Rome. 
 
 Tul. Ha ! What replied the oracle to that 1 
 
 Bru. With pains and stragglings, the prophetic dame 
 This destiny reported from her god 
 4 Great and most glorious shall that Roman be, 
 Who first shall greet his mother with a kiss. 
 
 Tul. That is fulfilled by Sextus. 
 
 Hor. Ay, he straight 
 Hastened from thence, and kissed the queen his mother. 
 
 Bru. Woe for me, I have no mother ! 
 And yet I kissed her first. 
 
 Tul. Thou kissed her ? Thou ? 
 
 Bru. Yea, madam; for just then my foot did slip 
 In the fresh blood of a new-slaughtei ed victim, 
 And, falling, I did kiss my mother earth. 
 
 Tul. Oh, that the earth had swallowed thee outright, 
 Till thou hadst kissed the centre ! I perceive, 
 The gods are leagued with folly to destroy us. 
 My very blood chills at my heart. Away ! 
 
 \Exit TuHia, Guards and Ladies, rapidly, n. and L. 
 
 Hor. Hark thee, thou Brutus : I in part suspect 
 Thou ap st this folly ; if I find thee trifling 
 Or juggling with the Pythia for predictions, 
 By all the gods, I ll have thee flayed, thy skin 
 Striped into thongs, to strangle thee withal. 
 Dissembling varlet ! 
 
 [Crosses, L., and strikes Brutus, who seizes him 
 
 Vol. Shame, my lord ! forbear ! 
 Threat ning a fool, you do but wrong yourself.
 
 SCENE III.] BRUTUS. 15 
 
 Hor. But that the pi inces love his son, brave Titus, 
 My dagger should have pierced his throat ere now, 
 And sent him to his mother earth forever ! 
 He shall be watched. Come, come with me, Valerius. 
 
 [Exit, L. U. E 
 
 Vol. The gods restore thee to thyself, 
 And us to thee ! [Exit, L. u. E 
 
 Bru. [Alone.] A little longer, 
 A little longer yet support me, patience ! 
 The day draws on : it presses to the birth 
 I see it in the forming womb of time 
 The embryo liberty. Ha ! tis my son 
 Down, rebel nature, down ! 
 
 Enter TTTTJS, K. 
 
 Tit. Welcome to Rome ! 
 Would I might welcome thee to reason, too ! 
 
 Bru. Give me thy hand nay, give it me 
 
 Tit. What would st thou ? 
 Speak to thy son. 
 
 Bru. I had a thing to say, 
 But I have lost it. Let it pass no mattei*. 
 
 Tit. Look not upon me with those eyes, but speak ; 
 What is it that annoys thee ] tell thy friend 
 How can I serve thee ? What dost lack ? 
 
 Bru. Preferment. 
 Thou canst do much at court. 
 
 Tit. Ah, this is nothing ! 
 
 Bru. So much the fitter for a fool s petition, 
 And a court promise. 
 
 Tit-. Oh, this trifling racks me. 
 
 Bru. Lend me thine ear : I ll tell a secret to thee 
 Worth a whole city s ransom. This it is : 
 Nay, ponder it, and lock it in thy heart 
 There are more fools, my son, in this wise world, 
 Than the gods ever made. 
 I Tit. Say st thou, my father? 
 Expound this riddle. If thy mind doth harbour 
 Aught that imports a son like me to know, 
 Or, knowing, to achieve, declare it. 
 
 Bru. Now, my son, 
 Should the great gods, who made me what thou see st,
 
 16 BRUTUS. [Acx I. 
 
 Repent, and in their vengeance cast upon me 
 The burden of my senses back again 
 What wouldst them say 1 
 
 Tit. Oh, my lamented father, 
 Would the kind gods restore thee to thy reason 
 
 Bru. Then, Titus, then I should be mad with reason. 
 Had I the sense to know myself a Roman, 
 This hand should tear this heart from out my ribs, 
 Ere it should own allegiance to a tyrant. 
 If, therefore, thou dost love me, pray the gods 
 To keep me what I am. Where all are slaves, 
 None but the fool is happy, 
 
 Tit. We are Romans 
 Not slaves 
 
 Bru. Not slaves 1 Why, what art thou ? 
 
 Tit. Thy son. 
 Dost thou not know me 1 
 
 Bru. You abuse my folly. 
 
 I know thee not. W T ert thou my son, ye gods, 
 Thou wouldst tear off this sycophantic robe, 
 Tuck up thy tunic, trim these curled locks 
 To the short warrior-cut, vault on thy steed ; 
 Then, scouring through the city, call to arms, 
 And shout for liberty ! 
 
 Tit. [Starts.] Defend me, gods ! 
 
 Bru. Ha ! does it stagger thee 1 
 
 Tit. For liberty? 
 Saidst thou for liberty ? It cannot be. 
 
 Bru. Indeed ! tis well no more. 
 
 Tit. What would my father ? 
 
 Bru. Begone ! you trouble me. [Crosses, n. 
 
 Tit. Nay, do not scorn me. 
 
 Bru. Said I for liberty ] I said it not : 
 The awful word, breathed in a coward s ear, 
 Were sacrilege to utter. Hence, begone ! 
 Said I, you were my son ? Tis false : I m foolish ; 
 My brain is weak, and wanders ; you abuse it. 
 
 Tit. Ah, do not leave me ; not in anger leave me. 
 
 Bru. Anger? What s that] I am content with folly: 
 Anger is madness, and above my aim ! [Music heard. 
 Hark! here is music for thee, food for love, 
 And beauty to serve in the rich repast.
 
 SCENE III.] BRUTUS. 17 
 
 Tarquinia comes. Go, worship the bright sun, 
 
 And let poor Brutus wither in the shade. [Exit, R. 
 
 Tit. Oh, truly said ! bright as the golden sun 
 Tarquinia s beauty beams, and I adore ! [Soft music. 
 
 TARQUINIA enters, R. u. E., preceded by Damsels bearing 
 a Crown of Gold, some with Censors, Sfc., proper for 
 the ceremonials of a dedication to Fortune. 
 
 What dedication, or what holy service, 
 Doth the fair client of the gods provide 1 
 In the celestial synod is there one 
 Who will not listen to Tarquinia s prayer? 
 
 Tar. I go to Fortune s temple, to suspend 
 Upon the votive shrine this golden crown. 
 While incense fills the fane, and holy hymns 
 Are chaunted for my brother s safe return, 
 What shall I ask for Titus ? 
 
 Tit. Though the goddess, 
 
 In her blind bounty, should unthrone the world, 
 To build me one vast empire, my ambition, 
 If by thy love unblest, would slight the gift : 
 Therefore of Fortune I have naught to ask : 
 She hath no interest in Tarquinia s heart 
 Nature, not FoT turie, must befriend me thei e. 
 
 Tar. Thy gentle manners, Titus, have endeared thee, 
 Although a subject Roman, to Tarquinia. 
 My brother Sextus wears thee next his heart; 
 The queen h erself, of all our courtly youth, 
 First in her favour holds the noble Titus ; 
 And though my royal father well may keep 
 A jealous eye upon thy Junian race, 
 A race unfriendly to the name of king, 
 Yet thee he cherishes ; with generous joy 
 The monarch sees thy early virtue shoot, 
 And with a parent s fondness rears its growth. 
 
 Tit. Oh ! neither name, nor nature, nor the voice 
 Of my lost father, could he wake to reason, 
 Not all the wrongs that tyranny could pile 
 On my afflicted head, not all the praise 
 That patriot gratitude could shower upon me, 
 Can shake the faithful purpose of my soul, 
 To sever it from love arid my Tarquinia.
 
 18 BRUTUS. (Act II. 
 
 Tar. Approve that firmness in the shock of trial, 
 And if my love can recompense thy virtue, 
 Nor tortures, nor temptations, nor the wreck 
 Of Rome and empire, shall divide me from thee. 
 To this I pledge my hand. Now to the temple ! 
 
 [Exeunt omnes. 
 
 END OF ACT I. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 SCENE I. The Tent of Sextus in the Camp before Ardea. 
 A magnificent Banquet. 
 
 SEXTUS, R., COLLATINUS, R. c., CLAUDIUS, L. c., andAp.vxa, 
 L., discovered, drinking. 
 
 Sex. Come, then, here s to the fairest nymph in Italy, 
 And she s in Rome. 
 
 Aruns. Here s to the fairest nymph in Italy ; 
 And she is not in Rome. 
 
 Sex. Where is she, then 1 
 
 Aruns. Ask Collatine ; he ll swear she s at Collatia. 
 
 Sex. His wife! 
 
 Aruns. Even so. [ TJiey rise and come forward 
 
 Claud. Is it so, Collatine ? 
 Well, tis praiseworthy, in this vicious age, 
 To see a young man true to his own spousef 
 Oh, tis a vicious age ! When I behold 
 One who is bold enough to steer against 
 The wind of tide and custom, I behold him 
 With veneration ; tis a vicious age ! 
 
 Col. Laugh on, though I m the subject! If to love 
 My wife s ridiculous, I ll join the laugh ; 
 Though I ll not say if I laugh at or with you ! 
 
 Aruns. [Ironically.] The conscious wood was witness 
 
 to his sighs, 
 
 The conscious Dryads wiped their watery eyes, 
 For they beheld the wight forlorn, to-day, 
 And so did I ; but I shall not betray. 
 Here now he is, however, thanks to me 
 That is, his semblance, for his soul dwells hence.
 
 SCENE I.] BRUTUS. 19 
 
 How was it when you parted 1 [Mimicking.] She my 
 
 love, 
 
 Fear not, good sooth, I ll very constant prove. 
 He : And so will I, for whereso er I steer, 
 Tis but my mortal clay ; my soul is here. [All laugh. 
 
 Sex. And pr ythee, Collatine, in what array 
 Did the god Hymen come to thee ? How dressed, 
 And how equipped ? I fear me much, he left 
 His torch behind, so that thou couldst not see 
 A fault in thy beloved ; or was the blaze 
 So burning bright, that thy bedazzled eyes 
 Have since refused their office ? 
 
 CoL And doth Sextus 
 
 Judge by his own experience, then, of others 1 
 To him, I make no doubt, hath Hymen s torch 
 Discovered faults enough ! what pity twas 
 He had not likewise brought i th other hand, 
 A mirror, where the prince might read himself. 
 
 Sex. I like thee now : thou rt gay, and I ll be grave. 
 As to those dear, delicious creatures, women, 
 Hear what my own experience has taught me : 
 I ve ever found em fickle, artful, amorous, 
 Fruitful in schemes to please their changeful fancies, 
 And fruitful in resources when discovered. 
 They love unceasingly they never change 
 Oh, never ! no ! excepting in the object ! 
 Love of new faces is their first great passion ; 
 Then love of riches, grandeur, and attention ! 
 Knowing all this, I seek not constancy, 
 But, to anticipate their wishes, rove, 
 Humour their darling passion, and am blessed ! 
 
 CoL This is the common cant the stale, gross, idle, 
 Unmeaning jargon, of all those, who, conscious 
 Of their own littleness of soul, avoid 
 With timid eye the face of modest virtue ; 
 Who, mingling only with the base, and flushed 
 With triumphs over those they dare attack, 
 The weak, the forward, or depraved, declare 
 (And fain would make their shallow notions current,) 
 That womankind are all alike, and hoot 
 At virtue, whereso er she passes by them. 
 I have seen sparks like these and I have seen
 
 20 BRUTUS. [Acx II 
 
 A little worthless village cur, all night 
 Bay with incessant noise the silver moon, 
 While she, serene, throned in her pearled car, 
 
 Sailed in full state along But Sextus judgment 
 
 Owns not his words, and the resemblance glances 
 On others, not on him. 
 
 Sex. Let it glance where and upon whom it will, 
 Sextus is mighty careless of the matter. 
 Now hear what T have seen. I ve seen young men, 
 Who, having fancied they have found perfection 
 
 Col. Sextus, no more lest I forget myself, 
 And thee. I tell thee, prince 
 
 Aruns. Nay, hold ! 
 Sextus, you go too far. 
 
 Sex. Why, pray, good sir, may I not praise the wife 
 Of this same testy, froward husband here, 
 But on his cheek offence must quivering sit ? 
 And dreamed of insult ! the abortive child 
 Of misconstruction, whose near-sighted eye 
 Discerns not jest for real. 
 
 Col. 1 heed you not jest on ; I ll aid your humour : 
 Let Aruns use me for his princely laughter, 
 Let Claudius deck me with ironic praise ; 
 But when you touch a nearer, dearer subject, 
 Perish the man, nay, may he doubly perish, 
 Who can sit still, and hear, with skulking coolness, 
 The least abuse, or shadow of a slight, 
 Cast on the woman whom he loves ! though here 
 Your praise or blame are pointless equally, 
 Nor really add the least, nor take away 
 From her true value, more than they could add 
 To th holy gods. 
 
 Aruns. If that a man might dare to ope his lips 
 When Collatinus frowns, I would presume 
 To say one word in praise of my own wife ; 
 And I will say, could our eyes stretch to Rome, 
 In spite of the perfections of Lucretia, 
 My wife, who loves her fire-side, and hates gadding, 
 Would prove far otherwise employed and better, 
 Ay, better, as a woman, than the deity 
 Residing at Collatia. 
 
 Sex [Aside.] Well timed ; I ll seize th occasion :
 
 SCENE II.] BRUTUS. 2* 
 
 View this Lucretia ere I sleep, and satisfy 
 
 My senses whether fame has told the truth. 
 
 [Aloud.] I ll stake my life on t Let us mount our horses, 
 
 And post away this instant towards Rome. 
 
 That we shall find thy wife, and his, and his, 
 
 Making the most of this, their liberty. 
 
 Why, tis the sex : enjoying to the full 
 
 The swing of licence which their husbands absence 
 
 Affords. I ll stake my life that this is true : 
 
 And that my own, (ill as I may deserve it) 
 
 Knows her state best, keeps best within the bounds 
 
 Her matron duties claim ; that she s at home, 
 
 While yours are feasting at their neigbours houses. 
 
 What say st thou, Collatine, 
 
 On noting at home 1 
 
 Col. Had I two lives, I d stake them on the trial, 
 Nor fear to live both out. 
 
 Sex. Let us away, then. 
 
 Come, come, my Collatinus, droop not thus 
 Be gay. 
 
 Col. I am not sad 
 
 Sex. But fearful for th event. 
 
 Col. Not in the least. 
 
 Sex. A little. 
 
 Cof. Not a whit : 
 You do not know Luci etia. 
 
 Sex. But we shall. 
 Let s lose no time. Come, brothers ! Let s away. 
 
 [Exeunt omnes, R. 
 
 SCENE II. Rome. An Apartment in tlie Palace. 
 Enter BRUTUS, L. 
 
 Bru. [Alone.] Oh, that some light would beam from 
 
 heav n to teach me 
 
 When to burst forth, and how to gain my purpose ! 
 For Rome 1 would resign all other bonds, 
 And tear eacli private tie from my fixed heart. 
 . Ha ! .Some one comes ! It is my son ! He seems 
 Wrapt in Elysium, arid elate with joy ! [Retires. 
 
 Enter TITUS, L. 
 Tit. Tis done ! tis done ! auspicious are the fates
 
 22 BRUTUS. [A.cx R 
 
 Tarquinia s word is pledged, and all is brightness ! 
 
 Bru. [Coming down.] That exclamation was too lofty, 
 
 boy: 
 
 Such raptures ill become the troubled times 
 Of such, no more. 
 
 Tit. Oh ! at an hour like this, 
 Who could repress the thrill of grateful joy ! 
 
 Bru. [Eagerly.] What dost thou mean ? 
 
 Tit. Tarquinia. 
 
 Bru What of her ? 
 
 Tit. Her vows are pledged, 
 And Heaven s propitious smile will make her mine. 
 
 Bru. Thine ? What ! Thine 1 Heaven make Tar- 
 
 quinia thine 1 
 Away ! away ! Heav n spurns the race she springs from ! 
 
 Tit. How ! Father, wert thou to thyself restored, 
 Thou would st exult to see thy son thus blest. 
 Our vows are past. They cannot be recalled. 
 And soon the nuptial altar will behold her 
 My own forever. 
 
 Bru. No, Titus, not forever ! 
 If thou art mine, thou canst not be Tarquinia s. 
 Renounce thy father or renounce thy love. 
 
 Tit. Nay, loose me, father this is frenzy all. 
 E en hadst thou spoken the dictates of thy soul, 
 (For sure thou canst not know what thou requir st,) 
 I must not, would not, could not, yield Tarquinia. 
 Nay let me go or my racked heart will break. 
 
 Bru. Leave me. Retire. Thine is no Roman heait. 
 Ere long the moon will change the moon my god 
 dess 
 And then thou may st behold a change in Brutus. 
 
 Tit. Tis as I thought ; Folly resumes its reign. 
 Look on him, oh, ye gods ! 
 
 Grant him once more the treasure now withheld, 
 And to his son restoi e a long lost father ! [Exit, R. 
 
 Bru. [Alone.] I was too sudden. I should have delayed, 
 And watched a surer moment for my purpose. 
 He must be frighted from this dream of love. 
 What, shall the son of Junius wed a Tarquin ! 
 As yet I ve been no father to my son 
 I could be none : but, through the cloud that wraps me
 
 SCEHE III.] . BRUTUS. 23 
 
 I ve watched his mind with all a parent s fondness, 
 And hailed, with joy, the Junian glory there. 
 Could I once burst the chains which now enthral him. 
 My son would prove the pillar of his country 
 Dear to her freedom as he is to me. 
 
 The time may come when heaven will heal our wrongs 
 To your hands, mighty powers, I yield myself 
 I will not doubt heaven s goodness or Rome s virtue 
 Then, hence despair! Still thou and I are twain ! 
 
 [Exit, L. 
 
 SCENE III. The House of Collatinus, at Collatia. An 
 Apartment lighted up. 
 
 LUCRETIA discovered, surrounded by her Maids, all em 
 ployed in embroidery, and other female occupations. 
 LAVINIA is on the n. of Lucretia. 
 
 Luc. How long is it, Lavinia, since my lord 
 Hath changed his peaceful mansion for the camp 
 And restless scenes of war? 
 
 Lav. Why, in my simple estimation, madam, 
 Tis some ten days, or thereabout, for time 
 Runs as it should with me in yours, it may be 
 Perhaps ten years. 
 
 Luc. I do not understand thee. 
 Say st thou, with me time runs not as it should ? 
 Explain thy meaning. What should make thee think so ? 
 
 Lav. All that I mean is, that if I were married, 
 And that my husband were called forth to th wars, 
 [ should not stra.y through the grove next my house, 
 Invoke the pensive solitude, and woo 
 The dull and silent melancholy brood 
 O er my own thoughts alone, or keep myself 
 Within my house mewed up, a prisoner. 
 Tis for philosophers 
 
 To love retirement ; women were not made 
 To stand cooped up like statues in a niche, 
 Or feed on their own secret contemplations. 
 
 Luc. Go to ; thou know st not what thou say st, Lavi 
 nia. 
 
 I thank the gods, who taught me that the mind, 
 Possessed of conscious virtue, is mare rich
 
 24 BRUTUS. t [ACT II 
 
 Than all the sumless hoards which Plutus boasts; 
 
 And that, the chiefest glory of a woman 
 
 Is in retirement that her highest comfort 
 
 Results from home-born and domestic joys, 
 
 Her noblest, treasure, a deserving husband ! 
 
 Who, not a prisoner to the eye alone, 
 
 A fair complexion or melodious voice, 
 
 Shall read her deeper nor shall time, which palls 
 
 The rage of passion, shake his ardent love, 
 
 Inci easing by possession. This, (again I thank 
 
 The gracious gods) this husband, too, is mine ! 
 
 [Crosses, n. 
 
 Soft I hear footsteps ! Hour of rapture ! Look ! 
 My life, my love, my Collatinus comes ! 
 
 Enter COLLATINUS, CLAUDIUS, ARUNS, and SEXTUS L ; 
 Lucretia rushes into the arms of Collatinus 
 
 My lord, most welcome ! 
 
 Col. Welcome these, my friends, 
 Lucretia ! our right royal master s sons ; 
 Passing this way, I have prevailed with them 
 To grace our humble mansion. 
 
 Luc. Welcome yourself! 
 
 And doubly welcome, that you bring such friends. 
 Haste, maidens, haste make ready for our guests ! 
 
 [Exeunt Attendants t a. 
 My heart is full of joy ! 
 
 Aruns. Rather, fair lady, 
 Y"ou should be angry, that unseasonably, 
 And with abi-upt intrusion, we ve thus broke 
 Upon your privacy. 
 
 Luc. No, my good lord ; 
 
 Those to whom love and my respect are due, 
 Can ne er intrude upon me ; had I known 
 This visit, you, perhaps, might have been treated 
 With better cheer not a more kind reception. 
 This evening, little did I think my house 
 Would have possessed such lodgers. 
 
 Claud. Rather, lady, 
 Such birds of passage we must hence to-night. 
 
 Luc. To-night 1 Doth not my lord say no to that ? 
 
 Col. I would, Lucretia : but it cannot be.
 
 SCENE III.j BRUTUS. 25 
 
 If aught the house affords, my dearest love, 
 To set before your guests, I pray prepare it: 
 We must be at the camp ere morning dawn. 
 An hour or two will be the utmost limit 
 Allowed us here. 
 
 Luc. With all the speed I can, [Crosses, R. 
 
 I ll play the caterer ; though I am tempted, 
 Would that delay your journey, to be tardy, 
 And prove a sluggish housewife. [Exit. 
 
 Sex. This is indeed a wife ! Here the dispute 
 Must end ; 
 And, Collatinus, we must yield to thee ! 
 
 Aruns. I will not envy thee, but tis a wife 
 Of wives a precious diamond, picked 
 From out the common pebbles. To have found her 
 At work among her maids at this late hour, 
 And not displeased at our rude interruption 
 Not to squeeze out a quaint apology, 
 As, I am quite ashamed ; so unprepared ! 
 Who could have thought ! Would I had known of : t ! 
 And such like tacit hints, to tell her guests 
 She wishes them away thou rt happy, Collatine. 
 
 Col. Enough, enough ! 
 
 The gods forbid I should affect indifference, 
 And say you flatter me. I am most happy. 
 But Sextus heeds us not. He seems quite lost. 
 
 Sex. Pray, pardon me : 
 
 My mind was in the camp. How wine could heat us 
 To such a mad exploit, at such a time, 
 Is shameful to reflect on : let us mount 
 This instant, and return. 
 
 Col. Now we are here, 
 We shall encroach but little on our time 
 If we partake the slender fare together 
 Which will, by this, await us. Pray, my lords, 
 This way. [Exit. 
 
 Sex. Along I ll follow straight. 
 
 [Exeunt Aruns and Claudius. 
 
 [Apart.] Had she staid here till now, I should have done 
 Nothing but gaze. Nymphs, goddesses 
 Are fables; nothing can, in heaven or earth, 
 Be half so fair ! But there s no hope ! Her face,
 
 26 BRUTUS. [ACT 111 
 
 Her look, her eye, her manners, speak a heart 
 Unknowing of deceit ; a soul of honour, 
 Where frozen chastity has fixed her throne, 
 And unpolluted nuptial sanctity. 
 
 Peace, undigested thoughts ! Down down ! till, ri 
 pened 
 By further time, ye bloom ! [Exit, R. 
 
 END OF ACT II. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 SCENE I. Rome. The Capitol, Equestrian Statue of 
 Tarquinius Supcrbus. NigJU. Thunder and Light 
 ning. 
 
 Enter BRUTUS, L. u. E. 
 
 Bru. \Alonc.\ Slumber forsakes me, and I court the 
 
 horrors 
 
 Which night and tempest swell on every side. 
 Launch forth thy thunders, Capitolian Jove ! 
 Put fire into the languid souls of men ; 
 Let loose thy ministers of wrath amongst them, 
 And crush the vile oppressor ! Strike him down, 
 Ye lightnings ! Lay his trophies in the dust ! 
 
 [Storm increases 
 
 Ha ! this is well ! flash, ye blue-forked fires ! 
 Loud-bursting thunders, roar! and tremble, earth! 
 
 \A violent crash of thunder, and the Statue, of Tar 
 
 quin, struck by a Jlas/t, is shattered to pieces. 
 What! fallen at last, proud idol ! struck to earth ! 
 I thank you, gods ! I thank you ! When you point 
 Your shafts at human pride, it is not chance, 
 "Tis wisdom levels the commissioned blow. 
 But I a thing of no account a slave 
 I to your forked lightnings bare my bosom 
 In vain for what s a slave a dastard slave 1 
 A fool, a Brutus 1 [Storm increases.^ Hark ! the storm 
 
 rides on ! 
 
 The scolding winds drive through the clattering rain, 
 And loudly scieams the haggard witch of night.
 
 SCENE I.] BRUTUS. 27 
 
 Strange hopes possess my soul. My thoughts grow wild, 
 
 Engender with the scene, and pant for action. 
 
 With your leave, majesty, I ll sit beside you, 
 
 And ruminate awhile. [Sits on a fragment of the Statue. 
 
 On, for a cause ! A cause, ye mighty gods ! 
 
 Soft, what stir is this 1 
 
 Enter VALERIUS, followed by a MESSENGER, L. 
 
 Vol. What ! Collatinus sent for, didst thou say ] 
 
 Mes. Ay, Collatinus, thou, and all her kinsmen ! 
 To come upon the instant to Collatia; 
 She will take no denial. Time is precious, 
 And I must hasten forth to bring her husband. 
 
 [Crosses behind, and exit,R. 
 
 Bru. [Apart.] Ha ! Collatinus and Lucretia s kinsmen ! 
 There s something sure in this Valerius, too- 
 Well met Now will I put him to the test 
 Valerius Hoa ! 
 
 Val. Who calls me ? 
 
 Bru. Brutus. 
 
 Val. Go, 
 Get thee to bed ! [ Valerius is departing. 
 
 Bru. Valerius ! 
 
 Val. Peace, 
 Thou foolish thing ! Why dost thou call so loud ? 
 
 Bru. Because I will be heard ! The time may come 
 When thou may st want a fool. 
 
 Val. Pr ythee, begone ! 
 I have no time to hear thy prattle now. 
 
 Bru. By Hercules, but you must hear. 
 
 [Seizing his arm. 
 
 Val. You ll anger me. 
 
 Bru. Waste not your noble anger on a fool 
 Twere a brave passion in a better cause. 
 
 Val. Thy folly s cause enough. 
 
 Bru. Rail not at folly 
 There s but one wise, 
 And him the gods have killed. 
 1 Val. Killed ? Whom ? 
 
 Bru. Behold! 
 
 Oh, sight of pity ! Majesty in ruins ! 
 ;Down on your knees down to your kingly idol!
 
 28 BRUTUS. I Ac* II,. 
 
 Vol. Let slaves and sycophants do that : not I. 
 
 Bru. Wilt thou not kneel ? 
 
 Vol. Begone ; 
 Valerius kneels not to the living Tarquin. 
 
 Bru. Indeed ! Belike you wish him laid as low ? 
 
 VaL What if I do ? 
 
 Bru. Jove tells thee what to do 
 Strike ! Oh ! the difference twixt Jove s wrath and 
 
 thine ! 
 
 He, at the crowned tyrant aims his shaft : 
 Thou, mighty man, would st frown a fool to silence. 
 And spurn poor Brutus from thee. 
 
 VaL What is this ? 
 
 Let me look nearer at thee. Is thy mind, 
 That long-lost jewel, fouTid 1 and Lucius Junius, 
 Dear to my heart, restored 1 Or art thou Brutus, 
 The scoff and jest of Rome, and this a fit 
 Of intermittent reason ? 
 
 Bru. I am Brutus ! 
 
 Folly, be thou my goddess ! I am Brutus, 
 If thou wilt use me so ! If not, farewell. 
 Why dost thou pause ? Look on me ! I have limbs, 
 Parts and proportions, shoulders strong to bear, 
 And hands not slow to strike ! What more than Brutus 
 Could Lucius Junius do 1 
 
 Vol. A cause like ours 
 
 Asks both the strength of Brutus, and the wisdom 
 Of Lucius Junius. 
 
 Bru. No more we re interrupted. 
 
 Vol. Farewell. Hereafter we ll discourse. 
 And may the gods confirm the hope you ve raised ! 
 
 [Exit, R. 
 
 Bru. [Alone.] My soul expands ! my spirit swells with 
 in me, 
 
 As if the glorious moment were at hand ! 
 Sure this is Sextus why has he left the camp ] 
 Alone and muffled ! 
 
 Enter SEXTUS, wrapped, in a mantle, R. u. E., and crosses, L. 
 
 Welcome, gentle prince ! 
 
 Sex. Ha ! Brutus here ! Unhoused amid the storm ? 
 Bru. Whence com st thou, prince 1 from battle ? from 
 the camp!
 
 SCENE I.] BRUTUS. 29 
 
 Sex. Not from the camp, good Brutus fiom Collatia 
 The camp of Venus, not of Mars, good Brutus. 
 
 Bru. Ha! 
 
 Sex. Why dost thou start ? thy kinswoman, Lucretia 
 
 Bru. [Eagerly.] Well what of her? speak! 
 
 Sex. Ay, I will speak, 
 
 And I ll speak that shall fill thee with more wonder, 
 Than all the lying oracle declared. 
 
 Bru. Nay, prince, not so ; you cannot do a deed 
 To make me wondei\ 
 
 Sex. Indeed ! Dost think it ? 
 Then let me tell thee, Brutus, wild with passion 
 For this famed matron, though we met but once, 
 Last night I stole in secret from the camp, 
 Where, in security, I left her husband. 
 She was alone. I said affairs of consequence 
 Had brought me to Collatia. She received me 
 As the king s son, and as her husband s friend 
 
 Bru. [Apart.] Patience, oh, heart ! a moment longer, 
 patience ! 
 
 Sex. When midnight came, I crept into her chamber 
 
 Bru. [Apart.] Inhuman monster ! 
 
 Sex. Alarmed and frantic, 
 
 She shrieked out, Collatinus ! Husband ! Help ! 
 A slave rushed in I sprung upon the caitiff, 
 And drove my dagger through his clamorous throat; 
 Then, turning to Luci etia, now half dead 
 With terror, swore, by all the gods, at once, 
 If she resisted, to the heart I d stab her; 
 Yoke her fair body to the dying slave, 
 And fix pollution to her name forever ! 
 
 Bru. And and the matron? 
 
 Sex. Was mine ! 
 
 Bru. [ With a burst of frenzy .] The furies curse you, 
 
 then ! Lash you with snakes ! 
 When forth you walk, may the red flaming sun 
 Strike you with livid plagues ! 
 Vipers, that die not slowly, gnaw your heart! 
 May earth be to you but one wilderness ! 
 May you hate yourself 
 For death pray hourly, yet be in tortures 
 Millions of years expiring !
 
 30 BRUTUS. [AcT III, 
 
 Sex. Amazement ! What can mean this sudden frenzy? 
 
 Bru. What? Violation! Do we dwell in dens, 
 In caverned rocks, or amongst men in Rome ? 
 
 [Thunder and lightning become very violent. 
 Hear the loud curse of Heaven ! Tis not for nothing 
 The thunderer keeps this coil above your head ! 
 
 [Points to the fragments of the statue. 
 Look on that ruin ! See your father s statue 
 Unhorsed and headless ! Tremble at the omen ! 
 
 Sex. This is not madness. Ha! my dagger lost ! 
 Wretch ! thou shalt not escape me. Ho ! a guard ! 
 The rack shall punish thee 1 A guard, I say ! [Exit. 
 
 Bru. [Alone.[ The blow is struck! the anxious mes 
 sages 
 
 To Colbmnus and his friends, explained : 
 And now, Rome s liberty or loss is certain ! 
 I ll hasten to Collatia join my kinsmen 
 To the moon, folly ! Vengeance, I embrace thee ! [Exit. 
 
 SCENE II. An Apartment in the House of Collatinus. 
 
 COLLATJNUS enters wildly, a bloody dagger in his hand, 
 followed by VALERIUS and LUCRETIUS, R. 
 
 Col. *She s dead ! Lucretia s dead ! I plucked this 
 
 a .eel 
 
 From my Lucretia s heart ! This is her blood ! 
 Howl, howl, ye men of Rome Look ! there she lies, 
 That was your wonder ! 
 
 Ye mighty gods, where are your thunders now? 
 V ? men and warriors, have you human hearts ? 
 F ?t who shall dare to mourn her loss like me 1 
 
 Enter BRUTUS, L. 
 
 "Bra,. I dare, and so dare every honest Roman. 
 Luc. Whence comes this mad intrusion ? Hence, be 
 
 gone 
 
 Bru. The noble spirit fled ! How died Lucretia? 
 Vol. By her own hand she died ! 
 Jiru. Heroic matron ! 
 . Tow, now the hour is come ! By this one blow 
 
 * The scene which was omitted after the first representation, and for which thii 
 rotroduotory speech of Collatiuus is substituted, will be found in a note at the eud 
 of the play.
 
 SCENE II.] BRUTUS. 31 
 
 Her name s immortal, and her country saved! [Crosses, c. 
 Hail! dawn of glory ! [Snatching the dagger] Hail, thou 
 
 sacred weapon ! 
 Virtue s deliverer, hail ! 
 
 Hear, Romans, hear ! did not the Sibyl tell you, 
 A fool should set Rome free 1 I am that fool : 
 Brutus bids Rome be free ! [Crosses, L. 
 
 Val. What can this mean ? 
 
 Bru. It means that Lucius Junius has thrown off 
 The mask of madness, and his soul rides forth 
 On the destroying whirlwind, to avenge 
 The wrongs of that bright excellence and Rome ! 
 Luc. Can this be Lucius Junius ? 
 Val. Ha ! The voice 
 Of inspiration speaks! 
 
 Col. Oh, glorious Brutus, 
 Let me in tears adore the bounteous gods 
 Who have restored thee to redress my woes; 
 And, in my woes, my country ! 
 
 Bru. No more of this. 
 Stand not in wonder. Every instant now 
 Is precious to your cause. Rise ! Snatch your arms ! 
 
 [Kneels. 
 
 Hear me, great Jove ! and thou, paternal Mars, 
 And spotless Vesta ! To the death, I swear 
 My burning vengeance shall pursue these Tarquins ! 
 Ne er shall my limbs know rest till they are swept 
 From off the earth, which groans beneath their infamy ! 
 This, from the bottom of my soul, I swear ! [Rises. 
 
 Valerius, Collatine, Lucretius, all 
 Here, I adjure ye by this fatal dagger, 
 All stained and reeking with her sacred blood, 
 Be partners in my oath revenge her fall ! 
 All. We swear ! 
 
 Bru. Well have ye said : and, oh, methinks I see 
 The hovering spirit of the murdered matron 
 Look down and bow her aiiy head to bless you ! 
 Summon your slaves, and bear the body hence 
 High in the view, through all the streets of Rome, 
 Up to the Forum ! On ! The least delay 
 May draw down ruin, and defeat our glory. 
 On, Romans, on ! The fool shall set you free ! 
 
 [Exeunt omnet.
 
 32 BRUTUS. [ACT III. 
 
 SCENE III. The Palace of Tullia. 
 
 Enter FLAVIUS CORUNNA, L., in haste, meeting HORA- 
 TIUS, R. 
 
 Cor. My lord, my lord ! Quick, tell me, where is Tul 
 lia 1 
 
 Hor. Whence this alarm ? what would st thou 1 
 Cor. Rebellion rages 
 Hor. Rebellion? 
 Cor. Lucretia, 
 
 The wife of Collatinus, is no more. 
 The furious multitude have borne her body 
 With shouts of vengeance through the streets of Rome, 
 And Sextus Tarquin, is the general cry. 
 
 Hor. Where are thy troops 1 why dost thou dally here, 
 When thou should st pay their insolence with death ? 
 
 Cor. The soldiers join the throng the gates are closed, 
 And the mad crowd exclaim, We banish Tarquin. 
 Brutus is at their head, and leads them on. 
 
 Hor. What miracle is this ? How say st thou, Brutus ? 
 Cor. Ay, the fool Brutus. Now before the rostrum 
 The body of Lucretia is exposed, 
 And Brutus there harangues assembled Rome. 
 He waves aloft 
 
 The bloody dagger ; all the people hear him 
 With wildest admiration and applause ; 
 He speaks as if he held the souls of men 
 In his own hand, and moulded them at pleasui e. 
 They look on him as they would view a god, 
 Who, from a darkness which invested him, 
 Springs forth, and, knitting his stern brow in frowns, 
 Proclaims the vengeful will of angry Jove. 
 
 Hor. Fly through the city ; gather all the force 
 You can assemble, and straight hasten hither. 
 I ll to the queen Lose not a moment. Hence ! 
 I tremble for Rome s safety ! haste ! begone ! 
 
 [Exeunt, Horatius, R., Corunna, "L, 
 
 SCENE IV. The Forum. 
 
 The. Populace Jill the Stage. BRUTUS is discovered upon 
 the Forum. The dead body of LUCRETIA is on a bier
 
 SCENB IV.J BRUTUS. 33 
 
 beneath. COLLATINUS, LUCRETIUS, and, the, Female At 
 tendants of Lucretia stand around her Corpse. VALE 
 RIUS and others are seen. 
 
 Bru. Thus, thus, my friends, fast as our breaking hearts 
 Permitted utterance, we have told our story ; 
 And now, to say one word of the imposture 
 The mask necessity has made me wear. 
 When the ferocious malice of your king, 
 King do I call him ? When the monster, Tarquin, 
 Slew, as you most of you may well remember, 
 My father Marcus and my elder brother, 
 Envying at once their virtues and their wealth, 
 How could I hope a shelter from his power, 
 But in the false face I have worn so long ? 
 
 1st Rom. Most wonderful ! 
 
 2d Horn. Silence ! he speaks again. 
 
 Bru. Would you know why I summoned you together? 
 Ask ye what brings me here 1 Behold this dagger. 
 Clotted with gore ! Behold that frozen corse ! 
 See where the lost Lucretia sleeps in death ! 
 She was the mark and model of the time, 
 The mould in which each female face was formed 
 The very shrine and sacristy of virtue ! 
 Fairer than ever was a form created 
 By youthful fancy when the blood strays wild, 
 And never-resting thought is all on fire ! 
 The worthiest of the worthy ! Not the nymph 
 Who met old Numa in his hallowed walks, 
 And whispered in his ear her strains divine, 
 Can I conceive beyond her ; the young choir 
 Of vestal virgins bent to her. Tis wonderful, 
 Amid the darnel, hemlock, and base weeds 
 Which now spring rife from the luxurious compos*. 
 Spread o er the realm, how this sweet lily rose, 
 How from the shade of those ill neighbouring plant* 
 Her father sheltered her, that not a leaf 
 Was blighted, but, arrayed in purest grace, 
 She bloomed unsullied beauty. Such perfections 
 Might have called back the torpid breast of age 
 To long-forgotten rapture ; such a, mind 
 Might have abashed the boldest libertine, 
 And turned desire to reverential love
 
 34 BRTJTUS. [ACT III 
 
 And holiest affection ! Oh, my countrymen ! 
 
 You all can witness when that she went forth : 
 
 It was a holiday in Rome ; old age 
 
 Forgot its crutch, labour its task, all ran ; 
 
 And mothers, turning to their daughters, cried, 
 
 There, there s Lucretia ! Now, look ye, where she lies ! 
 
 That beauteous flower, that innocent sweet rose, 
 
 Torn up by ruthless violence gone ! gone ! gone ! 
 
 All. Sextus shall die ! [Shout. 
 
 Bru. But then the king his father 
 
 1st Rom. What shall be done with him ? 
 
 2d Rom. Speak, Brutus ! 
 
 3d Rom. Tell us ! Tell us ! 
 
 Bru. Say, would you seek instruction ? would ye ask 
 What ye should do ] Ask ye yori conscious walls, 
 Which saw his poisoned brother, saw the incest 
 Committed there, and they will cry, Revenge ! 
 Ask yon deserted street, where Tullia drove 
 O er her dead father s corse, twill cry, Revenge ! 
 Ask yonder senate-house, whose stones are purple 
 With human blood, and it will cry, Revenge ! 
 Go to the tomb where lies his murdered wife, 
 And the poor queen, who loved him as her son, 
 Their unappeased ghosts will shriek, Revenge ! 
 The temples of the gods, the all-viewing heavens, 
 The gods themselves, shall justify the cry, 
 And swell the general sound, Revenge ! Revenge ! 
 
 All. Revenge ! Revenge ! 
 
 Bru. And we will be revenged, my countrymen ! 
 Brutus shall lead you on ; Brutus, a name 
 Which will, when you re revenged, be dearer to him 
 Than all the noblest titles earth can boast. [Shout. 
 
 1st Rom. Live, Brutus ! 
 
 2d Rom. Valiant Brutus ! 
 
 3d Rom. Down with Tarquin ! 
 
 2d Rom. We ll have no Tarquins ! 
 
 1st Rom. We will have a Brutus ! 
 
 3d Rom. Let s to the Capitol, and shout for Brutus ! 
 
 Bru. I your king 1 ? 
 
 Brutus your king? No, fellow-citizens! 
 If mad ambition in this guilty frame 
 Had strung one kingly fibre, yea, but one
 
 SCENE I.] BRUTUS. 31 
 
 By all the gods, this dagger which I hold 
 Should rip it out, though it entwined my heart. 
 
 Vol. Then 1 am with thee, noble, noble Brutus ! 
 Brutus, the new restored ! Brutus, by Sibyl, 
 By Pythian prophetess foretold, shall lead us ! 
 
 Bru. Now take the body up. Bear it before ua 
 To Tarqum s palace ; there we ll light our torches, 
 And, in the blazing conflagration, rear 
 A pile for these chaste relics, that shall send 
 Her soul amongst the stars. On ! Brutus leads you ! 
 
 [Exeunt, the Mob shouting, R. 
 
 END OF ACT III. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 SCENE I. A Court belonging to Tarquin s Palace. In the 
 front, a Grand Entrance, with Folding Gates closed. 
 
 Enter TULLIA, R. 
 
 Till. [Alone.] Gods ! whither shall a frantic mother fly 1 
 Accursed seige of Ardea ! Tarquin, Tarquin, 
 Where art thou 1 Save thy wife, thy son, thy city ! 
 
 Enter TITUS, R. 
 
 Tit. Where is the prince ? where s Sextus ? 
 
 Tul. Where ? Oh, heavens ! 
 
 His madness hath undone us ! Where is Sextus? 
 Perhaps ev n now the barbarous ruffians hurl him 
 Alive into the flames, or, piece-meal, drag 
 Along the rebel streets his mangled trunk 
 
 Tit. No more ! I ll save him, or avenge 
 
 [Going, Horatius meets and stops him. 
 
 Hor. Turn, noble Roman, turn ; 
 
 Set not your life upon a desperate stake! [Shout. 
 
 Hark ! they are at thy gates ! [Shout. 
 
 Tul. Does my son live ! 
 
 Hor. Furious he sprang upon the rebel throng, 
 And hewed his desperate passage : but the time 
 Admits no further question Save yourself! 
 
 Tul. Who leads them on ?
 
 36 BRUTUS. [Ad IV 
 
 Hor. Your new-named fool, your Brutus. 
 
 Tit. Death ! my father? 
 
 Tul. Brutus in arms ! 
 
 Oh, Sibyl! Oh, my fate ! farewell to greatness! 
 I ve heard my doom. 
 
 Tit. Earth, earth, enclose me ! 
 
 Tul. Hark ! it bursts upon us ! [Shouts are heard. 
 
 Hor. Ha! nearer yet ! Now be propitious, Mars ! 
 Now nerve my arm with more than mortal fury, 
 Till the dissembler sink beneath its vengeance. [Exit. 
 
 Tul. Fly ! save my child save my save your Tarqui- 
 nia ! 
 
 Tit. Or die defending. [Exit. 
 
 [ The shouts and tumult become, very violent, and the 
 battering at the gate and wall commences. 
 
 Tul. Ah ! if amidst my legions I might fall, 
 Death were not then inglorious ; but to perish 
 By the vile scum of Rome hunted by dogs 
 Baited to death by brawling, base mechanics 
 Shame insupportable ! 
 
 f Shouts hear d the Gate and Wall are shattered down, 
 the Palaces behind are in flames the Soldiers and 
 Populace rush over the Ruins Brutus appears in 
 the midst of them, and advances to the front. 
 
 Bru. Seize the parricide ! 
 
 [ They advance and surround her. 
 
 Tul. Avaunt ! I am your queen. 
 
 Bru. Tarquins ! we cast you from us. 
 
 Tul. Give me a sword, and let me fall like Tullia. 
 
 Bru. No, we reserve our swords for nobler uses 
 Than to make war with women : to the Tarquins, 
 To your adulterous son, we leave that shame. 
 
 Tul. If then twill better sate thy cruelty, 
 Precipitate me quick into those flames, 
 And with the wreck of empire mix my ashes. 
 
 Bru. Take her to Rhea s temple ; take her hence, 
 And lodge her with her ancestors ! 
 
 Tul. Ye gods ! 
 My father s sepulchre ! I ll not approach it ! 
 
 Bru. Twill furnish wholesome recollection. Hence I 
 
 Tul. Not to that fatal place ! Send me not thither ! 
 
 Bru. Tis fixed.
 
 SCENE I.] 
 
 BRUTUS. 37 
 
 Tul. Choose the most loathsome dungeon there con 
 fine me, 
 
 Or give me death instead. My heart recoils 
 Against that temple. 
 
 Bru. There, and only there, 
 By your dead father s tomb, you must abide 
 The judgment of the state. 
 
 Tul. Then, by the gods, 
 Whom, for the last time, 1 invoke, 
 If no means else 
 
 Of ready death present themselves, 
 No particle of food shall pass these lips, 
 Till, in the void of nature, hungry madness, 
 With blank oblivion entering, shall confound 
 And cancel all perception. [Exit Tullia guarded, R. 
 
 Enter TITUS, L., who meets Brutus as he is going off, R. 
 
 Tit. Turn, oh, my father, 
 And look upon thy son ! 
 
 Bru. What would st thou 1 speak 
 
 Tit. If thou hast reason, oh, have mercy also ! 
 But if in madness thou hast done this deed 
 
 Bru. I am not mad, but as the lion is, 
 When he breaks down the toils that tyrant craft 
 Hath spread to catch him. Think not we will suffer 
 These monsters to profane the air of Heaven. 
 Shall Titus, then, oppose our great design 1 
 Shall Brutus meet a recreant in his son ? 
 Banish this folly ! Have a care ! I know thee 
 There is a lurking passion at thy heart, 
 Which leaves but half a soul for Rome and me ! 
 
 Tit. You wrong me. Like a Roman I exult 
 To see Lucretia s murder thus avenged 
 And like a son glory in such a father ! 
 Yet hear me through. Nay, do not frown, but hear me. 
 
 Bru. Go on ; confess thy weakness, and dismiss it. 
 
 Tit. Twas in the sleep of my dear father s reason, 
 When Tarquin s freed-man, in a saucy mood, 
 Vented vile jests at thy unhappy weakness ; 
 Stung to the quick, I snatched a weapon up, 
 A.nd felled him to my foot. 
 
 Bru. Why, twas well done.
 
 SS ^HVTI-:--. [Act IV 
 
 The knave was saucy, and you slew liim On ! 
 
 Tit. Twas on this very spot Tarquinia stood, 
 And when the wrathful father had denounced 
 Immediate death on this my filial act, 
 She with the tongue of interceding pity, 
 And tears that streamed in concert with her suit, 
 Implored, prevailed, and gave me life and love. 
 
 Bru. Tis well. Behold, I give her life for life : 
 Rome may be free, although Tarquinia lives. 
 This I concede ; but more if thou attemptest, 
 By all the gods ! Nay, if thou dost not take 
 Her image, though with smiling Cupids decked, 
 And pluck it from thy heart, there to receive 
 Home and her glories in without a rival, 
 Thou art no son of mine, thou art no Roman ! [Exit, R, 
 
 Enter TARQUINIA, L. 
 
 Tar. Save, save me, Titus ! oh, amid the crash 
 Of falling palaces, presei-ve Tarquinia ! 
 Or, do I meet in thee a double rebel, 
 Traitor alike to me and to your king? 
 Speak, I conjure thee ! Will the son of Brutus 
 Now take me to his pity and protection, 
 Or stab with perfidy the heart that loves him ! 
 
 Tit. Cruel suspicion ! Oh, adored Tarquinia, 
 I live but to preserve you ! You are free : 
 I have my father s sanction for your safety ! 
 
 Tar. I scorn a life that is preserved by Brutus ! 
 I scorn to outlive parents, brothers, friends ! 
 I ll die with those 
 Whom this dire night hath murdered ! 
 
 Tit. Who are murdered ? 
 
 Whom hath the sword of Brutus slain ? Not one 
 Of all thy kindred 
 
 Tar. Say st thou 1 Lives my mother ? 
 
 Tit. She lives and Sextus, even he escapes 
 The storm which he has raised, and flies to Ardea. 
 
 Tar. Speed him, ye gods, with eagle swiftness thither ! 
 And may those thunders which now shake the walls 
 Of tottering Ardea, like a whirlwind burst 
 On this devoted city, whelm its towers, 
 And crush ihe traitorous hive beneath their niins. 
 
 [Crosses, K.
 
 SCENE I.] BRUTUS- 39 
 
 Now, Titus, where is now thy promised faith 1 
 Didst thou not swear no dangers should divide us ? 
 
 Tit. I did ; and, constant to my oath, behold me 
 Thy faithful guardian in this night of terrors. 
 
 Tar. Be still my guardian ; snatch me from these ter 
 rors, 
 
 Bear me to Ardea, be the friend of nature, 
 And give the rescued daughter to the arms 
 Of her protecting parent ; thus you gain 
 The praise of men, the blessings of the gods, 
 And all that honoui , all that love can grant. 
 
 Tit. Despair ! Distraction ! Whither shall I turn me I 
 
 Tar. Why do you waver? Cast away this weakness ; 
 Be glorious in your cruelty, and leave me. 
 By all the demons who prepare the heart 
 To rush upon the self-destroying steel, 
 The same dire moment which gives thee to Brutus, 
 Gives me to death ! 
 
 Tit. Horror ! Tarquinia, hold ! 
 
 Tar. Lo ! I am armed. Farewell! [Crosses, L.] How 
 
 I have loved you, 
 
 My death shall witness how you have deceived me, 
 Let your own conscience tell. Now to your father ! 
 Now go, and mingle with the murderers; 
 Go, teach those fiends what perjury can do, 
 And show your hands bathed in Tarquinia s blood 
 The filial deed shall welcome you to Brutus, 
 And fill his gloomy soul with savage joy. 
 
 Tit. Take, take me hence forever ! Let me lose, 
 In these dear arms, the very name of son, 
 All claims of nature, every sense but love ! 
 
 Tar. The gods that guard the majesty of Rome, 
 And that sweet power, whose influence turns thy heart 
 To pity and compliance, shall reward 
 And bless thee for the deed ! 
 
 Tit. Can he be blest, 
 On whom a father s direful curse shall fall? 
 
 Tar. A madman s imprecation is no curse. 
 Be a man. 
 
 Tit. Oh, while thy love upholds me, I can stand 
 Against the world s contempt; remember, only, 
 For whose dear sake I am undone ; remember,
 
 40 BRUTUS. TAcT IV. 
 
 My heart was honour s once - 
 
 Tar. And shall be ever ! 
 
 Come, I will show thee where bright honour grows, 
 Where thou shall pluck it from the topmost branch, 
 And wear it in its freshest, fairest bloom. [Exeunt, L. 
 
 SCENE IT. A Street in Rome. 
 Enter HORATIUS and CELIUS, L. 
 
 Hor. Brutus and Collatinus are appointed 
 To sovereign sway, as consuls for the year. 
 Their self-elected senate meets to-morrow, 
 Though some remain, too honest for their views. 
 These for security exact conditions 
 They ask a chief, whose well-established fame 
 May win the hearts of this inconstant people ; 
 A chief so brave, that, should we prove victorious, 
 He may compel the king to keep his faith ; 
 Or, if we fall, boldly revenge our deaths 
 And such a chief I ve found. 
 
 Cel. Indeed ! In whom ? 
 
 Hor. The consul s son his much-loved son young 
 Titus. 
 
 Cel. What! to rebel against his father s power? 
 
 Hor. Ay, he is ours. This very night, Tarquinia 
 Will lead him forth to the Quirinal gate, 
 Whence they straight hasten to the camp at Ardea. 
 Impetuous youth is wrought upon with ease. 
 Though tis his father s frown upon his love, 
 And early vows pledged to the fair Tarquinia, 
 Alone which prompt him thus to lead our band : 
 Once in our power, we ll mould him to our ends : 
 His very name will prove a tower of strength, 
 And Rome, once more, shall be restored to Tarquin. 
 
 Cel. Bravely resolved ! But tell me where is Tullia f 
 
 Hor. A captive, and confined in Rhea s temple ; 
 Watched by the vestals, who there guard the flame 
 Upon the tomb where lies her murdered father. 
 Unhappy Tullia ! our swords shall soon release thee. 
 Come ! Hence at once ! The hour draws near away ! 
 Ere two days pass these reptiles shall be crushed, 
 And humbled Rome sue for its monarch s pardon. 
 
 [Exeunt Horatius and Celius, R,
 
 SCEKK III.] BRUTUS. 41 
 
 Enter LUCRETIUS and VALERIUS, L. 
 
 Vol. That was Horatius parted, was it not ? 
 
 Luc. The same. 
 
 Val. Am I deceived ? Methiriks I heard 
 Something like discontent and treason muttered. 
 
 Luc. I fear all is not safe. Assembled groups 
 Of Tarquin s friends have been seen close in conference,. 
 Muttering his name aloud. Ay, and some base, 
 Degenerate Romans, called for a surrender. 
 
 Val. Horatius arts may justly wake suspicion : 
 And Rome, we know, is still disgraced by many 
 Too base, too sordid, to be bravely free. 
 Let us go forth and double all the guards, 
 See their steps watched, and intercept their malice. 
 
 Luc. Nay, there s a safer course than that ; arrest 
 them ! 
 
 Val. The laws and rights we ve sworn to guard, for 
 bid it ! 
 
 Let them be watched. We must not venture farther. 
 To arrest a Roman upon bare surmise, 
 Would be at once to imitate the tyrant 
 Whom we renounce, and from his throne have driven ! 
 
 [Exeunt, R. 
 
 SCENE III. Rome. A little dark. The Temple of Rhea, 
 with a large Central Door leading to the Tomb of Ser- 
 vius Tullius, late King of Rome. On one side of the 
 Stage, a Statue of Rhea, and on the other, a Statue of 
 Vesta, with altars, and incense burning before each. 
 
 PRIESTESS of Rhea. VIRGINS of the Temple. 
 
 Pr. Daughters of Rhea, since the lords of Rome 
 Have to your holy hands consigned the charge 
 Of their now captive Queen, inform the Priestess 
 How your sad prisoner abides her durance. 
 Is her proud soul yet humbled, or, indignant, 
 Doth it still breathe defiance and contempt ? 
 
 Vir. Sullen and silent, she resolves on death : 
 She will not taste of nourishment. She comes. 
 
 Enter TULLIA, L. 
 Pr. I pray you, royal lady, be entreated
 
 d2 BRUTUS. 
 
 [ACT IV. 
 
 Tul. I tell you, no ! 
 
 Pr. Think what a train of weary hours have passed 
 Since you had taste of food. 
 
 Tul. Tis well ! 
 The fewer are to come. 
 
 Pr. How can you live to meet your royal husband, 
 To fold your children in your arms again, 
 If you resist support ? 
 
 Tul. Ha ! well remembered ! 
 
 What news from Ardea ? Will he march for Rome ] 
 Hark ! Do you hear his trumpet 1 Is he coming ? 
 Ay, this is hope, and worth the feeding. 
 Tis well tis well ! 
 But, tell me doth the king know of this kindness? 
 
 Pr. What king? 
 
 Tul. What king? 
 Brutus, the king of Rome, knows he of this ? 
 
 Pr. He does. 
 
 Tul. And would he I should live ? 
 
 Pr. He would. 
 
 Tul. Merciful villain ! 
 
 Yes, he would have me live to page his triumphs : 
 I know the utmost of his mercy 
 Subtle traitor ! 
 
 I ll not taste food, though immortality 
 Were grafted to each atom Hark ! What s that ? 
 Heard you that groan ? 
 
 Pr. It is your fancy s coinage. 
 
 Tul. Again ! Tis dee-p and hollow : 
 It issues from the vault Set the door open ! 
 Open, I say. 
 
 Pr. It is your father s sepulchre ! 
 
 Tul. My father! righteous gods ! I killed my father! 
 Horrible retribution ! 
 
 Pr. Wretched daughter, 
 
 If thou hast done this deed, prepare thy spirit, 
 By wholesome meditation, for atonemen 
 And let no passion interrupt the task 
 Of penitence and prayer. 
 
 Tul. I ll pray no more. 
 
 There is no mercy in the skies for murder, 
 Therefore no praying, none.
 
 SCENE I.J BRUTUS. 
 
 43 
 
 I have a plea for my impenitence 
 
 Madness ! 
 
 These groans have made me mad ; all the night through 
 
 They howled distraction to my sleepless brain ! 
 
 You ve shut me up with furies to torment me, 
 
 And starved me into madness. Hark ! again ! 
 
 Unbar the door ! Unbar it ! By the gods, 
 
 The voice is more than human, which I hear! 
 
 I ll enter there I will be satisfied, 
 
 Although the confirmation should present 
 
 His awful form 
 
 [She rushes forward. The Priestess and Vestals, in 
 confusion and alarm, spring to the bar, which, fal 
 ling with a crash, the door flies open, and discovers 
 a Monumental, Figure of Servius TuHius, with 
 lamps burning on each side of it. Tullia recoils, 
 sJtrieks, falls, and expires. The others -group around, 
 her, and the Curtain falls to soft music. 
 
 END OF ACT IV. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 SCENE I. A Street in Rome, with the Temple of Mars 
 in view. 
 
 Enter BRUTUS and COI.LATINUS, as Consuls, with LICTORS, 
 VALERIUS, LUCRETIUS, and numerous followers, L. 
 
 Bru. You judge me rightly, friends. The purpled 
 
 robe, 
 
 The curule chair, the lictors keen-edged axe, 
 Rejoice not Brutus ; tis his country s freedom ! 
 When once that freedom shall be firmly rooted, 
 Then, with redoubled pleasure, will your consul 
 Exchange the splendid miseries of power, 
 For the calm comforts of a happy home. 
 
 Enter a MESSENGER, L. 
 
 J\Ies. All health to Rome, her Senate, and her consuls. 
 Bru. Speak on What message hast thou to impart?
 
 44 BRUTUS. [Acr V 
 
 Mes. I bring intelligence of Sextus Tarquin, 
 Who, on arriving at a neighbouring village, 
 Was known, and by the people stoned to death. [Exit, L 
 
 Bru. Now, Lucretia, 
 
 Thy ghost may cease to wander o er the earth, 
 And rest in peace ! 
 
 Luc. Heaven s ways are just ! 
 
 Col. Yet I regret the villain should be slain 
 By any hand but mine ! 
 
 Enter a CENTURION, R. 
 
 Cent. Health to Brutus ! 
 Shame and confusion to the foes of Rome ! 
 
 Bru. Now, without preface, to your business. 
 
 Cent. As I kept watch at the Quirinal gate, 
 Ere break of day, an armed company 
 Burst on the sudden through the barrier guard, 
 Pushing their course for Ardea. Straight alarmed, 
 I wheeled my cohort round, and charged em home : 
 Sharp was the conflict for a while, and doubtful, 
 Till, on the seizure of Tarquinia s person, 
 A young Patrician 
 
 Bru. Ha ! Patrician ? 
 
 Cent. Such 
 His dress bespoke him, though to me unknown. 
 
 Bru. Proceed ! What more ? 
 
 Cent. The lady being taken, 
 This youth, the life and leader of the band, 
 His sword high waving in the act to strike, 
 Dropped his uplifted weapon, and at once 
 Yielded himself my prisoner. Oh, Valerius, 
 What have I said, that thus the consul changes? 
 
 Bru. Why do you pause 1 Go on. 
 
 Cent. Their leader seized, 
 The rest surrendered. Him, a settled gloom 
 Possesses wholly, nor, as I believe, 
 Hath a word passed his lips, to all my questions 
 Still obstinately shut. 
 
 Bru. Bring him before us. [Exit Centurion, R. 
 
 Vol. Oh, my brave friend, horror invades my heart. 
 
 Bru. Silence be calm. 
 
 Vol. I know thy soul
 
 SCENE I.] BRUTUS. 45 
 
 A compound of all excellence, and pray 
 The mighty gods to put thee to no trial 
 Beyond a mortal bearing. 
 
 Bru. No, they will not 
 
 Nay, be secure, they cannot. Pr ythee, friend, 
 Look out, and if the worst that can befall me 
 Be verified, turn back, and give some sign 
 What thou hast seen Thou can st excuse this weakness, 
 Being thyself a father. [ Valerius gives the sign. 
 
 Ha ! enough : 
 
 I understand thee : Since it must be so, 
 Do your great pleasure, gods ! Now, now it comes ! 
 
 TITUS and TARQUINIA are brought in, R., guarded. Titus 
 advances, Tarquinia remains in the back-ground. 
 
 Tit. My father ! Give me present death, ye powers ! 
 Cent. What have 1 done ! Art thou the son of Brutus ? 
 Tit. No, Brutus scorns to father such a son ! 
 Oh, venerable judge, wilt thou not speak ? 
 Turn not away ; hither direct thine eyes, 
 And look upon this sorrow-stricken form, 
 Then to thine own great heart remit my plea, 
 And doom as nature dictates. 
 
 Vol. Peace, you ll anger him 
 Be silent, and await ! Oh, suffering mercy, 
 Plead in a father s heart, and speak for nature ! 
 
 [Brutus turns away from his son, waves Jiis hand to 
 the Centurion to remove him to a farther distance, 
 and then walks forward and calls Collatinus down 
 to him, L. 
 
 Bru. Come hither, Collatinus. The deep wound 
 You suffered in the loss of your Lucretia, 
 Demanded more than fortitude to bear; 
 I saw your agony I felt your woe 
 
 Col. You more than felt it you revenged it, too. 
 Bru. But, ah ! my brother consul, your Lucretia 
 Fell nobly, as a Roman spirit should 
 She fell, a model of transcendent virtue. 
 
 Col. My mind misgives. What dost thou aim at, Bru 
 tus ? 
 
 Bru. [Almost overpowered. J That youth my Titus 
 was my age s hope
 
 46 BRUTUS. f ACT V 
 
 I loved him more than language can express 
 I thought him born to dignify the world. 
 
 Col. My heart bleeds for you He may yet be saved 
 
 Bru. [Firmly.] Consul, for Rome I live not for my 
 self: 
 
 I dare not trust my firmness in this crisis, 
 Warring gainst everything my soul holds dear ! 
 Therefore return without me to the Senate 
 Haply my presence might restrain their justice. 
 Look that these traitors meet their trial straight, 
 And then despatch a messenger to tell me 
 How the wise fathers have disposed of Go ! 
 
 [Collatinus goes out, R., attended, and as Brutus is de- 
 parting, L., Tarquinia rushes forward, R. 
 
 Tar. Stop, turn and hear the daughter of your king 
 I speak for justice mercy, thou hast none, 
 For him, your son : 
 By gratitude and love I drew him off 
 I preserved his life ! 
 Who shall condemn him for protecting mine ? 
 
 Bru. We try the crime ; the motive, Heaven will judge, 
 My honour he hath stabbed I pardon that. 
 He hath done more he hath betrayed his country. 
 That is a crime which every honest heart 
 That beats for freedom, every Roman feels, 
 And the full stream of justice must have way. 
 
 Tar. Because thy soul was never swayed by love, 
 Canst thou not credit what his bosom felt 1 
 
 Bru. I can believe that beauty such as thine 
 May urge a thousand fascinating snares 
 To lure the wavering and confound the weak; 
 But what is honoui-, which a sigh can shake ? 
 What is his viitue, whom a tear can melt 1 
 Truth valour justice constancy of soul 
 These are the attributes of manly natures : 
 Be women e er so beauteous, man was made 
 For nobler uses than to be her slave. 
 
 Tar. Hard, unrelenting man ! Are these the fruits 
 Of filial piety, and hath thy son 
 Wearied the gods with pray rs, till they restored 
 A mind, and gave thee reason 1 Would to Heaven 
 They d given thee mercy, too ! twould more become thee
 
 SCEME I.] BRUTUS. 47 
 
 Than these new ensigns, Brutus ; more than all 
 Thy lictors, haughty consul, or thy robes 
 Dipped in the blood, oh, horror ! of a son ! 
 
 Bru. No more By all the gods, I ll hear no more ! 
 
 Tit. A word, for pity s sake. Before thy feet, 
 
 [ To Brutus. 
 
 Humbled in soul, thy son and prisoner kneels 
 Love is my plea : a father is my judge ; 
 Nature my advocate ! I can no more : 
 If these will not appease a parent s heart, 
 Strike through them all, and lodge thy vengeance here ! 
 
 Bru. Break off! I will not, cannot hear thee further! 
 The affliction nature hath imposed on Brutus, 
 Brutus will suffer as he may. Enough 
 That we enlarge Tarquinia. Go, be free ! 
 Centurion, give her conduct out of Rome ! 
 Lictors, secure your prisoner. Point your axes. 
 To the Senate On ! [Exeunt Brutus and Guards, L. 
 
 Cent. Come, lady, you must part. 
 
 Tar. Part ! Must we part ? 
 You must not tear him from me ; I will die 
 Embracing the sad ruin I have made. 
 
 Cent. You ve heard the consul. 
 
 Tar. Thou hast heard the king, 
 Fought for him while he led you on to conquest. 
 Thou art a soldier, and should st spurn an office 
 Which malefactors, though condemned for murder, 
 Would rather die by torture than perform. 
 
 Tit. If thou dost wish 
 That I should scape the peril of my fate, 
 I conjure thee to accord 
 
 To Brutus, and accept his promised safeguard. 
 Your words, your looks, your beauty, feed his wrath; 
 In that fair face he reads my guilty love, 
 And pity flies his heart. Let passion pause ; 
 Leave me to solitude, to silence leave me ; 
 Then nature s gentlest whispers may be heard. 
 
 Tar. Say st thou ? Conduct me to the dreariest waste 
 That ever melancholy madness trod, 
 And let my swelling heart in silence burst ; 
 Plunge me in dai kness, shroud this fatal form 
 In everlasting night, I am content !
 
 48 BRUTUS. 
 
 [ACT V. 
 
 Lo ! I obey ! This is the test of love : 
 .This is the sacrifice : I part to save thee ! 
 
 [Officers advance. 
 
 Tit. See, 1 am warned. Farewell, my life s last joy! 
 When my eyes lose thy image, they may look 
 On death without dismay. To those blessed powers 
 Who gave thee every virtue, every grace 
 That can ensure perfection, I commit thee. 
 
 [ They embrace, and are torn asunder. Titus is car 
 ried off by the Lictors, L., and Tarquinia faints 
 and is borne off by the Centurion and Guards, R. 
 
 SCENE II. Rome. An Apartment in the House of Brutus 
 Enter BRUTUS, R. 
 
 Bru. [Alone.] Like a lost, guilty wretch, I look around 
 And start at every footstep, lest it bring 
 The fatal news of my poor son s conviction ! 
 Oh, Rome, thou little know st No more It comes. 
 
 Enter VALERIUS, L. 
 
 Vol. My friend, the Senate have to thee transferred 
 The right of judgment on thy son s offence. 
 
 Bru. To me ! 
 
 Vol. To thee alone. 
 
 Bru. What of the rest ? 
 
 Val. Their sentence is already passed. 
 E en now, perhaps, the lictor s dreaded hand 
 Cuts off their forfeit lives. 
 
 Bru. Say st thou, that the Senate have to me referred 
 The fate of Titus 1 
 
 Val. Such is their sovereign will. 
 They think you merit this distinguished honour. 
 A father s grief deserves to be revered : 
 Rome will approve whatever you decree. 
 
 Bru. And is his guilt established beyond doubt ? 
 
 Val. Too clearly. 
 
 Bru. [ With a burst of tears.] Oh, ye gods ! ye gods J 
 [ Collecting himself.] Valerius ! 
 
 Val. What would st thou, noble Roman ? 
 
 Bru. Tis said thou hast pulled down thine house, Va 
 
 lerius, 
 The stately pile that with such cost was reared.
 
 BRUTUS. 49 
 
 Val. I have ; but what doth Brutus then infer ? 
 
 Bru. It was a goodly structure : I remember 
 How fondly you surveyed its rising grandeur. 
 With what a fatherly delight you summoned 
 Each grace and ornament, that might enrich 
 The child of your creation, till it swelled 
 To an imperial size, and overpeered 
 The petty citizens, that humbly dwelt 
 [Tnder its lofty walls, in huts and hovels, 
 Like emmets at the foot of tow ring jEtna: 
 Then, noble Roman, then with patriot zeal, 
 Dear as it was, and valued, you condemned 
 A.nd levelled the proud pile ; and, in return, 
 Were by your grateful countrymen sirnamed, 
 A.nd shall to all posterity descend, 
 Poplicola. 
 
 Val. Yes, Brutus, I conceive 
 The awful aim and drift of thy discourse 
 But 1 conjure thee, pause ! Thou art a father. 
 
 Bru. I am a Roman consul ! What, my friend, 
 Shall no one but Valerius love his country 
 Dearer than house, or property, or children ? 
 Now, follow me ; and, in the face of Heaven, 
 [ 11 mount the judgment-seat : there, see if Brutus 
 Feel not for Rome as warmly as Poplicola. [Exeunt, B 
 
 SCENE III. Exterior of the Temple of Mars. Senators, 
 Citizens, COLLATINUS, and LUCRETIUS, discovered. At 
 L. of Stage, a Tribunal, with a Consular Chair vpon 
 
 it. 
 
 BRUTUS enters, R., followed by VALERIUS he. bows as he 
 passes, and ascends the Tribunal. 
 
 Bru. Romans, the blood which hath been shed this day 
 Hath been shed wisely. Traitors, who conspire 
 , Vgainst mature societies, may urge 
 Their acts as bold and daring ; and though villains, 
 Yet they are manly villains But to stab 
 The cradled innocent, as these have done, 
 To strike their country in the mother-pangs 
 Of struggling child-birth, and direct the dagget 
 To freedom s infant throat, is a deed so black,
 
 50 KRt/rus. 
 
 [ACT v 
 
 That my foiled tongue refuses it a name. [.4 pause. 
 
 There is one criminal still left for judgment 
 Let him approach. 
 
 TITUS is brought in l>y the LICTORS, R., with their axes 
 turned edgeways towards him. 
 
 Pris on er [ The voice of Brutus falters, and is chok 
 
 ed, and he exclaims, with violent emotion. 
 Romans, forgive this agony of grief 
 My heart is bursting Nature must have way 
 I will perform all that a Roman should 
 I cannot feel less than a father ought ! 
 
 [lie becomes more calm. Gives a signal to the lActors 
 to fall back, and advances from the Judgment-Scat 
 to the front of the Stage, on a line with his son. 
 Well, Titus, speak how is it with thee now 1 
 Tell me, my son, art thou prepared to die 1 
 
 Tit. Father, I call the powers of heaven to witness 
 Titus dares die, if so you have decreed. 
 The gods will have it so 1 
 
 Bru. They will, my Titus : 
 Nor heav n, nor earth, can have it otherwise. 
 It seems as if thy fate were pre-ordained 
 To fix the reeling spirits of the people, 
 And settle the loose liberty of Rome. 
 Tis fixed; oh, therefore, let not fancy cheat thee: 
 So fixed thy death, that tis not in the power 
 Of mortal man to save thee from the axe. 
 
 Tit. The axe ! Oh, heaven ! Then must I fall so 
 
 basely ? 
 What, shall I peiish like a common felon? 
 
 Bru. How else do traitors suffer? Nay, Titus, more 
 I must myself ascend yon sad tribunal 
 And there behold thee meet this shame of death, 
 With all thy hopes, and all thy youth upon thee. 
 See thy head taken by the common axe, 
 All, if the gods can hold me to my purpose, 
 Without one groan, without one pitying tear. 
 
 [ Turns up, as if in agony, 
 
 Tit. Die like a felon ? Ha ! a common felon ! 
 But 1 deserve it all : yet here I fail : 
 Thib ignominy quite unmans me !
 
 SCENE 1.] BRUTUS. 5j 
 
 Oh, Brutus, Brutus ! Must I call you fatliei, [Kneels. 
 
 Yet have no token of your tenderness, 
 
 No sign of mercy? Not even leave to fall 
 
 As noble Romans fall, by my own sword ? 
 
 Father, why should you make my heart suspect 
 
 That all your late compassion was dissembled? 
 
 How can I think that you did ever love me ? 
 
 Bru. Think that I love thee by my present passion, 
 By these unmanly tears, these earthquakes here, 
 These sighs that strain the very strings of life, 
 Let these convince you that no other cause 
 Could force a father thus to wrong his nature. 
 
 Tit. Oh, hold, them violated majesty : [Rises. 
 
 I now submit with calmness to my fate. 
 Come forth, ye executioners of justice 
 Come, take my life, and give it to my countiy 5 
 
 Bru. Embrace thy wretched father. May the gotfs 
 Arm thee with patience in this awful hour. 
 The sovereign magistrate of injured Rome 
 Condemns 
 
 A crime, thy father s bleeding heart forgives. 
 Go meet thy death with a more manly courage 
 Than grief now suffers me to show in parting ; 
 And, while she punishes, let Rome admire thee. i 
 Farewell ! Eternally farewell ! 
 Tit. Oh, Brutus ! Oh, my father ! 
 Bru. What would st thou say, my son? 
 Tit. Wilt thou forgive me ? 
 
 When I shall be no more, forget not my Tarqtiinia. 
 Bru. Leave her to my care. 
 Tit. Farewell, forever ! 
 
 Bru. Forever ! [Re-ascends the Pribumu 
 
 Lictors, attend ! conduct your pris ner forth ! 
 Val. \ Rapidly and anxiously.} Whither? 
 
 [All the characters bend forward in great anxiety. 
 Bru. To death ! [All start.] When you do reach the 
 
 spot, 
 
 My hand shall wave your signal for the act, 
 Then let the trumpet s sound proclaim it done ! 
 
 [ Titus is conducted out by the Lictors, R. A dead 
 march, which gradually dies away as it becomes 
 more distant. Brutus remains seated in a melan 
 choly posture on the Tribunal.
 
 52 BKUTUS. [Ac-T V 
 
 Pon- youth ! Thy pilgrimage is at an end ! 
 A IV w sad steps have brought thec to the brink 
 Of that tremendous precipice, whose depth 
 No thought of man can fathom. Justice now 
 Demands her victim ! A little moment, 
 And I am childless. One effort, and tis past ! 
 
 [He rises and waves his hand, convulsed with agitation, 
 then drops in his seat, and shrouds his face with his 
 toga. Three sounds of the trumpet are heard in 
 stantly. All the characters assume attitudes of deep 
 misery. Brutus starts up wildly, descends to the 
 front in extreme agitation, looks out on the side by 
 which Titus departed, for an instant, then, with an 
 hysterical burst, exclaims, 
 Justice is satisfied, and Rome is free ! 
 
 [Brutus falls. The characters group around, him. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 NOTE . 
 
 The following Scene in the Third Act was omitted after 
 the jirst representation, in compliance with the, wishes 
 of many who thought it injurious to the general effect, 
 of the Play. As, however, there was some difference of 
 opinion upon this point, the Scene is here inserted as it 
 originally stood. LUCRETIA is supposed to be surround 
 ed by her relations, COLLATINUS and, LUCRETIUS by 
 her side, her hair dishevelled, wild in her attire, and 
 all the other characters in attitudes of deep grief. 
 
 Luc. Bear witness, then, Lucretia s mind is guiltless 
 Yet never can Lucretia srnile again ! 
 Lost to herself, her husband, and her child, 
 Lost to the world, her country, and her friends, 
 The arms of love can pillow her no more, 
 And the sweet smile of her dear innocent babe 
 Would but awaken her to deeper anguish ! 
 And shall she live, bereft of all life s treasures, 
 Th e spectre of the past forever rising
 
 SCEN-E I.] BRUTUS. 53 
 
 To fright her into madness ? Think not, countrymen, 
 Indignant virtue can survive pollution ! 
 By her own hand a Roman wife can fall. [Stabs herself. 
 Tis to the heart ! Tarquin, the blow was thine ! [Falls. 
 
 Col. Beloved, unhappy wife ! What hast thou done? 
 
 Luc. A deed of glory. Now, my husband, now 
 With transport can I press thee to my bosom. 
 Father and kinsmen, ye can own me now ! 
 My pure soul springs from its detested prison ! 
 Virtue exults ! The gods applaud my daring ! 
 And to our dear, loved babe, 1 can bequeath 
 A mothei- s noblest gift a spotless name ! [Dies. 
 
 Luc. Staff of my age ! Gone, gone, foi ever gone ! 
 A wretched father s last and only joy ! 
 Come, death, strike here ! Your shaft were welcome 
 
 now ! 
 Snatch me from earth to my poor, lost, loved child ! 
 
 Col. My wife ! my wife ! Dear, dear, wronged, mur 
 dered wife ! 
 
 Let me be rooted here in endless sorrow 
 Who, who shall dare to mourn her loss like me ? 
 
 Enter BRUTUS, L. 
 Bru. I dare, and so dare every honest Roman. 
 
 The Scene then proceeds as printed in the preceding pages.
 
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