Livia was right; he'll surely stand for Tribune.
Let's seek him in the Forum.

Cor. Are you mad?

Go to the Forum after him!

All Rome

Would talk of it!-When did you know a wife
Follow her husband to the Forum? Why,
"Twould set all fingers pointing; and they'd say,
Caius did well to take a wife to school him.
"I'd rather lose a husband, than have people
So talk of mine!"

Licinia. You wish him to be Tribune.

Cor. Licinia, no. I wish him not, my daughter;
But I do know that if he will be Tribune,

He will; and knowing that, the unwelcome thought
Must be my guest,
I'd entertain with grace

For mine own dignity, and his contentment,

Which should not profitless be marr'd." [Shouts R. U. E.] My child,

Why do you grasp me by the arm and tremble?

The people shout for joy!

Licinia. It is a kind

Of joy that's fearful to my mind.-A breeze

So airy, give it but a little more

Of breath, becomes a storm, and makes a wreck
Of the poor laughing vessel.

O! my Marcus,

Enter LICINIUS, R.

Know you where Caius is?-Think you he means
To stand for Tribune ?-Have you come from him?
Or go you to him? Tell me "" every thing;

And ask me what you may, you will not set me

A task so hard I will not do it, Marcus."

[CORNELIA signs to LICINIUS.

Licin. (R.) Sister, his own house is the likeliest place

To find him in.-I parted with him at

The Campus Martius.-He may be at home.

Go seek him there, and if he be not come,

Wait for him.-I, meanwhile, will look for him,

To bring him to you.

Licinia. Will you now, my Marcus ?

Then we'll go home, Cornelia. Mind your promise. Search for him in the Forum. If you meet

With any friend of his, inquire of him—

And if you find him, say I sent you for him-
"And, brother, do not quit him till he comes."

Say, I have something to impart to him;
Matter of moment-cannot be put off-

That he expected not-that's just fallen out-
Go! and be sure you bring him to me, Marcus!
Cor. Haste you before, child. I've a word to say
To Marcus.

Licinia. [Crosses to L.] Well, if you deceive me

now.

I'll trust you.

Cor. In a word, what has he done?

[Exit LICINIA, L.

Licin. Defeated the Patricians, and propos'd Himself for Tribune.

Cor. It would come to this!

I knew that it would come to this, Licinius!
And I could tell what further it will come to,
If I would! No matter! Two such sons as mine
Were never made for mothers that have eyes
Which are afraid of tears-that come to me
As old acquaintance. I did rear my boys
Companions for the gods!-Why wonder I
If they will go to them ere other men!
Many a time, when they have stood before me,
Such things as mothers seldom look upon,

And I have seem'd to feed on them with mine eyes,

My thoughts have ponder'd o'er their bier, where they Lay stiff and cold !-I would not see them so

If I could help it-but I would not help it

To see them otherwise, and other men.—

My Caius must be Tribune!

["Shouts several times, approaching nearer." Licin. And he is so !

"Those shouts proclaim it.". See, Cornelia,

He comes! Behold!-Look how they hem him round! Why do you turn away?

Cor. I turn away

To see that flush of triumph on his cheek—
Which lights it up as he did feel a god-
And think how I may after see that cheek,
And think upon that flush. Licinia's well

Away;-it had o'ercome her quite.-Come, Marcus.

[CORNELIA and LICINIUS retire a little, L. U. E. Enter CAIUS GRACCHUS, DRUSUS, POMPONIUS, TITUS, MARCUS, and Citizens shouting, R.

C. Grac. No more, my friends !-No more of this, I pray you!

Disperse to your several homes. Why do you give
These honours to your servant?

Tit. Suffer us

To see you to your house.

Marc. Yes, Caius, yes.

We'll hail your honour'd mother and your wife.
Pom. Indulge the people, Gracchus !

C. Grac. Well, my friends,

If you will go with me! [Sees CORNELIA.] My honour'd mother!

Cor. May the great gods, who crown'd thee with this triumph,

Instruct thee so to use it, as to bless

Thy country!-With a firm and mighty hand
Mayest thou uphold the laws, and keep them ever
Above the proud man's violence, and within

The poor man's reach-so shall thy mother-Rome !-
Acknowledge thee her son, and teach thy name
To the applauding tongues of after ages!-
Who is your brother Tribune?

C. Grac. Worthy Drusus!

Cor. My son is happy in his colleague, sir;
And let me trust will not dishonour him.
Dru. My honour is to second him, Cornelia.
C. Grac. Come, mother.

[Talks to DRUSUS.

Enter LICINIA, L.

Licin. Ha, Licinia!

Cor. My Licinia,

[Going up to her.

For Caius' honour, act like Caius' wife

He's Tribune.

Licinia. Tribune!

Cor. Think what eyes are on you!

You are the mother of a Roman too!

Summon your spirits !-That's my daughter-Come

Up to him now at once, and wish him joy!

Licinia. Caius, I give you~~~

C. Grac. My Licinia?

Licinia. I give you

[Crosses to CAIUS.

C. Grac. Come! Her heart doth overtask

Her tongue!

Licinia. Joy, Caius !-I do give you joy! [Faints on his arm. The Curtain drops.

END OF ACT II.

ACT III.

SCENE I.-The Street.

Enter FLAMINIUS and OPIMIUS, R.

Opi. Saw you, Flaminius, how they look'd at us? That was defiance. I could read the name Of Gracchus on those daring brows of theirs. Behoves us now a meek look, where, before, We'd give a scowl: the people are our masters. That Rome should ever see it!

Flam. We must bear it.

Opi. Ay, while our blood boils!-We must smile, Flaminius,

And at the same time grind our teeth, if so

It pleaseth Gracchus !-Gods, that a man I could take
By the throat and smite!-yea, set my foot upon
For perfect loathing!-whom I should think it righteous
To slay in a temple-ay, by Hercules,

At the altar of a temple ;-that a man
Like that should order me, and do it too
By vilest instruments.-It is a task

For patience!

Flam. Never king was absolute

[Crosses to L.

In Rome as he. His will is law. Popilius

Can witness that,

A heavier doom.

self-banish'd to escape

The Senate hath he lopp'd

Of half its power, "with his three hundred knights

Whom he has nam'd assistants to it, with

Equality of voices." Not a day

Passes, but some new edict weakens those

That should be strong, and makes them strong 'twere

best

Were weak. And then his state !-He never moves
But in a crowd of knights, ambassadors;
"Soldiers, and magistrates; artificers,'

And men of letters, that attend on him.

There's not a man in Rome but Caius Gracchus !

Opi. What would you say of him would rid Rome of him?

Flam. I'd say he was a worthy son of Rome.

Opi. Flaminius-I'll effect it?

Flam. By what means?

Opi. Have you e'er noted Drusus much?
Flam. His colleague?

Opi. The same.

Flam. A quiet, simple, honest man,
Who follows Gracchus with a modest zeal,
And rather seems, from an unaiming spirit,
To second his designs, than help them on
Through principle.

Opi. You have describ'd him well,
As he appears; I know him as he is.
"Tis opportunity that proves a man ;
And trust me, Livius Drusus is not one,
That, having power, lacks will to overtop
His fellow. I will use this Livius Drusus,
To combat Gracchus, with the very means
That make him to be fear'd. Have patience, and
You'll see my policy.-They're coming to

The Forum.-Drusus last.-This shows me my
Exordium.

Enter (L.) C. GRACCHUS, preceded by a Lictor, Li-
CINIUS, POMPONIUS, FLACCUS, FULVIUS, TITUS,
MARCUS, and twelve Citizens, DRUSUS last.

C. Grac. Health to Flaminius!

Flam. Health to Caius !

Opi. What business is to-day before the commons? C. Grac. Some colonies we think to send from Rome, To the late conquer'd cities. Does Opimius

Approve the measure?

Õpi. Gracchus asks the question,

As though he thought Opimius did not love

The people's good. "Twere happy for the people,
If they, who flatter them, lov'd it as well.

C. Grac. Whom does Opimius call the people's flatterer?

Opi. The man, would feed the people's vanity, By making them aspire above themselves.

C. Grac. Opimius, then, is not their flatterer; He'd make the people look below themselves. How would he rate them?-As we rate our herds. How would he use them?-As we use our herds. O may the people ever have such flatterers

As guard them from the kindness of such friends! [Exeunt C. GRAC. and his party, R.; DRUSUS is following him, when OPIMIUS, with affected surprise, stops him.