Opi. Why, Livius Drusus, is it you? I thought
You were not come abroad to-day. No wonder !
You're not the man, methinks, it suits to close
The train attends upon your colleague, there.
Ah! Drusus! if the Romans knew their friends,
They would not follow Gracchus thus, and leave
His betters at their heels!

Dru. I do not court

Their favour, good Opimius. It contents me
To know that I discharge, with honesty,
The duty of their Tribune.

Opi. Livius Drusus,

There's not a man in Rome, but, if he speaks
The truth, will say, you do. I'll swear it for one
At any time! "Were you not hurried now,

I'd tell you something, Drusus, that would show you
What men think of you; but, as 'tis, I'll keep it
Till you can hear it. Yet this, before I leave you➡
Drusus, I would I were a friend of your's,

To do you a friend's office!" Give me your hand!
I like you, Drusus !-You're an honest Tribune.
I say I like you: and did I not say it

Behind your back, I would not to your face.

66

Farewell!-Perhaps you're not so call'd for neither But you could spare a moment?

Dru. If it be

Your pleasure

Opi. Thank you, Drusus, thank you. This Is very kind of you."-You know Flaminius? Dru. I know his fair report.

Opi. You know him well, then;

But know him better. Take him by the hand.

[FLAMINIUS Crosses to DRUSUs, and takes his hand.

He wants to know you more than by report.

Dru. I would I knew how to deserve this honour.
Opi. I would you knew what honour you deserve.

[FLAMINIUS crosses behind to L. "There are men, Drusus, wear their worth so mo

destly,

They do not seem to know they have it. You,
I see, are one of these; and grieve to see it ;
For such the mass account as common men-
As gold which is not coin'd, the unskill'd eye
Will take for brass.-Drusus, it makes me mad
To see the sterling'st ore thrown by, and that
Is basest hoarded only for the stamp

Which the other only wants!—I wish I had
The coining of you, Drusus!

Dru. You would find

You overweigh'd me.

Opi. Not a grain, by Jupiter!

Or never weigh'd I yet an honest man.

And here's to try it? Would you, Drusus, dare
Achieve the thing you could and should?

Dru. I were not

A man else.

Opi. Every one that knows, you, Drusus, Knows that you are a man !-but are you such A man?

Dru. I think I am.

Opi. I think so too.

But, ever, what we most desire to be

We fear may not be, though we know not why
We do so."-Drusus, I'll deal frankly with you.
I will not hesitate, nor wind about,

66

Nor speak by halves, as if I feared to let
My thoughts go from me. Listen to me, then.
Rome is in danger-discord reigns in her :
Her orders are opposed among themselves."
The people hate the Senate-call us proud,
Cruel, luxurious, avaricious; masters,
Oppressors, tyrants-" men, alas! my Drusus,
That are not masters even of their own:"
The cause of this is Caius Gracchus. He,
For his own aims, lets no occasion pass
To inflame the commons; 66

wherefore, he revives

Old grievances, or fancies present, or

Predicts to come ;" and should this course go on
Without obstruction, Rome will grieve to see

The end.-The Senate, justly fearing this,

Have much debated on the remedy;

And all at length agree there is but one-
Namely, to find a man that's fit to mediate
Between them and the people.-Drusus-thou
Art he!

Dru. Alas! what weight have I, Opimius,
To bear against the weight of Caius Gracchus ?

Opi. What weight hast thou? Thou good and honest

man!

Now, by the gods, I love thee, Drusus, for

Thy true simplicity!-What weight hast thou!
Why, hast thou not the weight of Caius Gracchus ?

D

"You share one office-the same cares divide-
The same responsibilities-why not

The same respect? Oh, Livius Drusus! Caius
Were not content did Drusus lead the people,
And Gracchus humbly follow at their heels!
But let that pass. Deal frankly with a friend”-
What think you, Drusus ?-Do the Senate hate
The people?

Dru. Nay, I would believe they did not.

Opi. I know you would-" I think you do-but much I wonder that you do, because 'tis not

The fashion. Drusus, do you think

I'll shuffle with you? Do not answer me.

I am sure you do not!" Take my word then, Drusus, The Senate love the people. Ay, I know

66

"Tis easily said, but" I will prove it to you :-
Know, then, I have been deputed to solicit
Your friendship for the Senate-not to oppose-
As once Octavius did the former Gracchus-
But to outdo your colleague in his plans
In favour of the people, still proposing
Some law for their additional advantage;
And only stating-as in simple fairness
You should-that so the Senate had express'd
Their wishes-nothing farther. By this means,
The people will be served-the Senate placed
Again in confidence-your rival stripp'd
Of dangerous influence-yourself exalted
According to your worth-and, to sum up
The whole at once, your country saved from ruin.
Flam. You cannot hesitate in such a cause!
Dru. I undertake the trust with sacred zeal;
And if I can compose the present evils,
Shall deem myself most happy.

Opi. I am sure of it,

And shall with joy report this to the Senate.
Meanwhile, be often with us. "Let us know
Your wishes for the people; we'll promote them.
What you say, should be, shall be, on your saying,
Or break at once with us. The tribes shall know

What 'tis to have a Tribune of repute,

Who does not use his office to promote

Cabal, and strife, and jealousy, and hate,

Like certain gentlemen.'

To your work at once!

[Putting him across to R.

But,hark you, Livius Drusus; tell me truly," .

Are you over modest? "Come! Confess now.
I know you are-I know, that," should the Senate
Give you your choice of honours, you'd refuse
To challenge e'en the smallest. Well! No matter!
Such men live for their country. Heed not Gracchus,
If he upbraid you-if !-" Should the Plebeians
Give but one shout for Drusus, he'll be sick
With all the gall of envy !"-Come to the Senate,
To-morrow. Be not strange with us, good Livius !
"Mark him now!-Heed him well, for he is wily,
And thou art simple in thine honesty."

You'll come to the Senate to-morrow? Eye him, Drusus,

He's a rank traitor! Mind, to-morrow, now

So, farewell, honest Drusus !

Flam. Nobly play'd!

[Exit DRUSUS, r.

Opi. Beyond my hopes. Let us inform our friends. And, as the choice of Tribunes is at hand, Prevent his re-election. Come! Despatch! Flaminius, wait at once upon the Senate.

[Exit FLAMINIUS, L.

I have felt thee, Caius! The nobility
Of thy commanding nature, has oppos'd
And triumph'd o'er me.. Thou shalt feel me, now!
Yet through another. Rest, until I gain

The Consulship, and thou no more art Tribune.
The weight of vengeance lies in the arm that sends it.
[Shouts behind the Flats in c.
Ay, shout away! unmov'd, I hear you now.
The snare is spread, and let the lion roar !

[Exit, R.

SCENE II.-The Forum.-C. GRACCHUS discovered in the Rostrum.-TITUS, MARCUS, and Citizens.The people shout.

C. Grac. No more, my friends! How often must I

tell you,

You should not pay these honours to your Tribune?
Tit. Long may you live, Caius !

Marc. Prosperously and long!

Hither comes honest Drusus. Shall we shout for him?

Tit. Why should we? Think you, he is any great friend to the people? Not he! Is he not a quiet, easy, contented man, who lets things take their course? "Can such a man be a friend to the people. No, no; he is no friend to the people. He is well enough in his

place, because he keeps a rogue out of it; and" just says ay, and no, according to the will of Caius.

Marc. You say right. For my part, I never liked your peaceable, honest man. Give me a stirring fellow, that will brow-beat the nobles, and call the authorities to account. That's your only Tribune."

Enter DRUSUS, R.

C. Grac. Drusus, I have waited for you, and I am glad you have come.

Marc. Observe, he hasn't hurried himself. Make way for Drusus!-[DRUSUS appears at the R. The Citizens open and make way for him, as MARCUS tells them-he ascends the R. steps of Rostrum.]-make way there-let the good man pass! You may know by his gait, that he loves high feeding, and sleeps one-half of the day, for having dozed away the other half. Tit. Silence! Caius is going to speak. "Cheer him, masters.

"All. Huzza! Long live Caius !"

C. Grac. Romans, here are some plans of new de

crees,

We mean to offer for your approbation.

"I know not whether you will think them wise; But this I know, the hand that drew them up,

Belongs to one would die to do you good.

Tit. Worthy Caius !

"All. Long may you live, Caius !

"C. Grac. With grief we see you bare of many goods,

That make life sweet." Your wretchedness afflicts
The heart of Caius. Thousands of brave men,
Wandering about the streets of Rome, without
Means, or employment to procure them! Now,
We here direct two colonies to be sent

To the late conquer'd cities.

Tit. Noble Caius !

Marc. Worthy Caius !

All. Caius for ever!

Dru. My countrymen !

[Shouts.

Marc. Drusus is going to speak. Now for an ora

tion.

Dru. You need not learn I lack those noble
Which make the orator you love to hear;
I have no merit, but my honesty ;

parts,