C. Grac. Hold, good Opimius! do yet collect The votes. Titus und Citizens. No! No!-No votes ! Marc. Speak, Caius Gracchus, speak. C. Grac. I come to plead for Vettius. Tit. Go on! Go on! C. Grac. The brother of Tiberius, for the friend! Marc. Noble Caius, go on! C. Grac. I pray you, gentle friends, if I should make you A poor, confus'd, disjointed, graceless speech, Let it not hurt the man for whom I plead. Marc. Tiberius lives again! Tiberius speaks. Cry for him to its waters! they do know Tit. Noble Tiberius! Marc. Noble Caius ! See how he weeps for his brother. Opi. Their hearts are his already. Our labour's lost. C. Grac. What is't you do? Is it to banishment Or death, you are about to doom that man? Know you no heavier punishment for those That love you? Rather let them live, to hear You groan beneath the burdens of the great, And bear it!-to behold you vilely spurn'd By clients, bondsmen, hirelings, and bear it! To see you grip'd by heartless usury! To hear your children cry to you for food! Without a shelter for your wretched heads; Or land enough to serve you for a grave, And bear it! To a Roman, such as Vettius, What banishment, what death, were suffering Equal to life like this! Tit. Most true! Most true! Marc. Vettius is a friend to the people, and there fore he is accused! 1st Citizen. " Ay, that's his crime." 2d Citizen. "He's innocent." Tit. and Marc. Vettius is innocent! Opi. Have you done, Caius ? For, by your leave, I will produce my witnesses. Thy cruelty: Opi. Hoa there! My witnesses! Marc. No witnesses! No witnesses! Tit. Speak, Gracchus, speak. We'll hear you, Gracchus, before a thousand witnesses. Go on! Citizens. Go on! Go on! C. Grac. Romans! I hold a copy of the chargeAnd depositions of the witnesses. Upon three several grounds he is arraing'd. How stand we now? Which weighs the heavier? Tit. For your sake, Caius, we acquit him. "Citizens. Ay! Ay! Ay!" Marc. The tribes acquit Vettius by acclamation. Opi. Hear me, I say; Citizens. No! No! No! C. Grac. Their voices are against you, Opimius ! [Descends, Flam. To please the people, we withdraw our charge. Citizens. Huzza! Huzza! [Rises. C. Grac. Come, Vettius, come! my brother's friend is free! Citizens. Huzza! Huzza! [Exeunt CAIUS, VETTIUS, and Citizens, R. Flam. (c.) [They come forward.] This was their policy! What's to be done? Opi. (L.) Remove him from the city, and you nip Flam. Your counsel pleases me. Here's the commission I design'd for Carbo, Flam. He shall have orders Most positive, to bear you company. Opi. Of your decision you shall reap the fruits, Or, when you name your friends, leave out Opimius! [Exeunt OPI, and TUD. R. the rest are shut in, SCENE III.-Caius Gracchus's House-Room with an opening in centre-Table, two Chairs, and Tambour Work, brought on and placed near R. Enter LIVIA and LICINIA, L. Licinia. (R.) I am the happiest wife in Rome, my Livia! The happiest wife in Rome! Livia. (L.C.) I doubt it not; But there's Flaminius' wife, the other day, Scarce from the Forum to her house could pass For salutations, that her husband won The Consulate. B Licinia. That day, my Caius sat At home with me, and read to me, my Livia. Little car'd I who won the Consulate ! Livia. (c.) And there's Lectorius has obtain❜d a government; His wife will be a queen! Licinia. Well, let her be so ! My queendom is, to be a simple wife. This is my government, my husband's house, His knee, than seated in the Consul's chair, With all the senate round him. A [During this speech she pulls forward the Table, &c. and places her embroidery. Livia. Yet his greatness Must needs be thine! Licinia. I do not care for greatness. It is a thing lives too much out of doors; I never think of any world without ! Livia. Well, then, you are the happiest wife in Rome. Licinia. Tell me, and did Flaminius' wife weep, Livia, That day that Rome did salutation unto her? Do you see?" I cannot talk of Caius, but Enter CORNELIA, L. Cor. (L. c.) Good day, my Livia. Now would I lose my head, could I not tell For once hath the hundredth chance turu'd up, with all Licinia. Well, a wife May talk of her husband! Cor. Did I not tell you so? Well, well! -I've just now come from thy young Caius- Of a man-will not be kept on humble terms Licinia. It must content me, His father is not such one! Cor. (c.) May be ! Licinia. Ay, but I'm sure of it! [Sits down to her embroidery. [Crosses to L. Livia. Good day, Licinia. Cornelia, health be with you. Licinia. Must you go? You have not told me yet the morning's news! Livia. Indeed I've heard none; save that Vettius, They say, is to be banish'd, which no doubt You know already. Licinia. Not a word of it! What is the time of day? Livia. "Tis the third hour, And past. Good day again. Cor. Good day, my Livia. [Exit LIVIA, L. Why, my Licinia, what's the matter with you? Saying good-bye to her. Licinia. 'Tis past the time Caius should have been back, almost an hour. Cor. Well, what and if it is?-Go on with your work, And wile the time away; the sooner he'll Be with you. [Goes to her and looks over her shoulder.] Why, you've done that rose to the life! A musk rose, is it not? "Tis every thing I can perceive with looking on't! Indeed |