Might have abash'd the boldest libertine, Forgot its crutch, labour its task,-all ran, "There, there's Lucretia!". Now, look ye, where she lies! That beauteous flower, that innocent sweet rose, Br. But then the king-his father 1st. Rom. What shall be done with him? 2nd. Rom. Speak, Brutus ! 3rd. Rom. Tell us! Tell us! [Shout Br. Say, would you seek instruction? would ye ask What ye should do? Ask ye yon conscious walls, Which saw his poison'd 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 murder'd 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! Br. 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. 1st. Rom. Live, Brutus ! 2nd. Rom. Valiant Brutus ! 3rd. Rom. Down with Tarquin! 2nd. Rom. We'll have no Tarquins! 1st. Rom. We will have a Brutus ! [Shout. 3rd. Rom. Let's to the Capitol, and shout for Brutus Br. I, your king! Brutus your king!-No, fellow-citizens ! If mad ambition in this guilty frame Had strung one kingly fibre,-yea, but one- Should rip it out, though it entwined my heart. A pile for these chaste relics, that shall send END OF THE THIRD ACT. ACT IV. SCENE I.-A court belonging to TARQUIN's palace. In the front a grand entrance, with folding gates closed. Enter TULLIA, R. Tul. [Alone.] Gods! whither shall a frantic mother fly? Accursed siege of Ardea! Tarquin, Tarquin, Where art thou? Save thy wife, thy son, thy city Enter TITUS, R. Ti. Where is the prince? where's Sextus? His madness hath undone us! Where is Sextus? Along the rebel streets his mangled trunk- [Going, HORATIUS meets and stops him. Hor. Turn, noble Roman, turn; Set not your life upon a desperate stake! Tul. Does my son live! [Shout. [Shout, Hor. Furious he sprang upon the rabble throng, Hor. Your new-named fool, your Brutus. Tul. Brutus in arms! Oh, Sibyl! Oh, my fate! farewell to greatness ! I've heard my doom. Ti. Earth, earth, enclose me! [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 HOR. Tul. Fly! save my child-save my-save your Tarquinia ! Ti. Or die defending. [Exit TITUS. [The shouts and tumult become very violent, and the battering at the gate and wall com mences. 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 dogsBaited to death by brawling, base mechanicsShame insupportable! [Shouts heard-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. Br. Seize the parricide! [They advance and surround her. Tul. Avaunt! I am your queen. Br. Tarquins! we cast you from us. Tul. Give me a sword, and let me fall like Tullia. Precipitate me quick into those flames, Br. Take her to Rhea's temple; take her hence, D Tul. Ye gods! My father's sepulchre !-I'll not approach it! Br. "Twill furnish wholesome recollection. Hence ! Tul. Not to that fatal place! Send me not thither! Br. "Tis fix'd. Tul. Choose the most loathsome dungeon - there confine me, Or give me death instead. My heart recoils Br. There, and only there, By your dead father's tomb, you must abide Tul. Then, by the gods Whom, for the last time, I invoke,— Of ready death present themselves, No particle of food shall pass these lips, [Exit TULLIA, guarded, R Enter TITUS, L., who meets BRUTUS as he is going off, R. Ti. Turn, oh my father, And look upon thy son. Br. What would'st thou? speak! Ti. If thou hast reason, oh, have mercy also! But if in madness thou hast done this deed Br. I am not mad, but as the lion is, When he breaks down the toils that tyrant craft Shall Titus, then, oppose our great design? Banish this folly !-Have a care-I know thee Which leaves but half a soul for Rome and 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. Br. Go on; confess thy weakness, and dismiss it. When Tarquin's freed-man in a saucy mood Br. Why, twas well done. The knave was saucy, and you slew him.-On! She with the tongue of interceding pity, Enter TARQUINIA, L. Tar. Save, save me, Titus! oh, amid the crash Whom this dire night hath murder'd! Ti. Who are murder'd? Whom hath the sword of Brutus slain? Not one Tar. Say'st thou? Lives my mother? Ti. 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 |