Already is the ague creeping o'er

Thy flesh, at longer trial of the test

Would shake the weapon from thy hand, tho' clench'd With thousand oaths!That I should see her thus !

I must not look on her again-nor speak to her—

I'll call her maid to watch by her, and then

I will to bed and sleep-or feign to sleep!
Licinia. [In her sleep.]

Let him not go forth!

They'll kill my Caius !

[Going.

Keep him in, mother!

C. Grac. [Returning.] She is dreaming of me. Some horrible conceit her fancy frames

To cheat her with.-Had I not better wake her?

For what?-To do in earnest, what I would not
Her fancy did, would do it but in jest.-

O proper kindness!- -Whatsoe'er it was,

"Tis gone!-How calm!-He ne'er hath look'd on sleep,

That hath not caught it lighted on the lids
Of virtue! I must gaze on her no longer!

[Going.

Licinia. [At first in her sleep, then awaking and rushing forward.] O spare him!

him to his wife!

Strike here! Strike here!

Save him! Give

[CAIUS catches her in his arms.]

My Caius !-'Twas a dream!

But press me to thy heart.-Speak to me, Caius !

1 know 'tis you-but press me-speak to me !

It was a horrid dream!

C. Grac. Ne'er mind it,
Licinia. No more I do.

'Tis you!

love!

Dreams are but dreams.

This is our house-and 'tis our sitting room

We are talking in; and it is night-still night-
That never walk'd her silent round, methinks,
With softer step. List, love!-when we are still,
Nought's stirring.-Why, how pale you look, my Caius !
C. Grac. Do I?

Licinia. Indeed you do-and when you smile,
Methinks you do grow paler.-Don't smile, Caius.
Your smile fits not what it doth cover, and

Is meant to hide, not show.-Gods! husband, what's The matter?

7

C. Grac. Sweet, you frighten'd me just now.
Licinia. Frighten'd you.-

F

C. Grac. Ay! A woman's shriek starts terrors,
Where trumpets might redouble their alarms,
And not one fear awake!

Licinia. And did I shriek?

I knew not what I did.-"Twas such a dream!
I'll tell it you, love.→

C. Grac. No, never mind, Licinia.
Licinia. Not tell it you!

Are you afraid to hear it? C. Grac. Afraid of a shadow! No, Licinia. "Twould pain you to go over it.

Licinia. Not it!

Pain me? Is not your arm around me, Caius?
Do I not hear you talking to me?-See you ?-
Feel you?-Not want a proof that you are safe
And well?-I dream'd that you lay bleeding, love,
At the Consul's feet, stood over you and smil'd,
And struck! and struck!-Why, what's the matter,
Caius,

That you hold your hand to your forehead?
C. Grac. Fool that I was

To walk bareheaded yesternight in the garden,
That shooting pain's the profit on't.-Go on!
Go on, Licinia.-Did the Consul use

His weapon like a soldier?

Licinia. Like a demon!

C. Grac. No doubt!-no doubt!
Licinia. What, Caius?

C. Grac. It would be

An idle dream had not the thrift to turn

A man into a demon!

Pr'ythee, love,

What figure took he next?

Licinia. You make a jest

Of me. I'll tell no more of it. I'm glad

You are so merry.

C. Grac. Merry!

Licinia. Are you not?

C. Grac. Not if it does not please you,
Licinia. Indeed

love.

But it does!-Be ever merry !-You'll be merry
To-morrow, I will answer for❜t; and so

Will I, and so will all the house.-Now why,
Tell me, should we be merry, love, to-morrow,
Of all the days in the year?

C. Grac. Indeed, Licinia,

I cannot tell.

Licinia. You cannot tell !-You, Caius!
Now tell not that to any one. It is

The birth-day of our boy! There was a time
I fear'd you would not live to see it.-But
That time is past. Thank Jupiter for what
He sends to-morrow! What are you thinking of?
C. Grac. Our boy.

Licinia. Is that the way to think of our boy?
Think of him with a smile. He is a boy

To make a father proud, although it is

His mother says it.

C. Grac. So he is-We'll go

To rest, love.

Licinia. Nay, I am not weary, Caius ;Sit up a while and talk.

C. Grac. I would not talk

To-night.

Licinia. No more would I.-We'll go to rest.

[Takes the lights.

Come, Caius. Now, I have not told you half

The reason we shall be so happy, love,

To-morrow.-Can't you guess?

C. Grac. What is't, Licinia?
Licinia. Was it not our wedding-day?
C. Grac. It was! It was!-

Licinia. Have we not reason to be happy? I have! Have not you? Sha'n't we be happy? Say we shall ! C. Grac. We shall! To be sure

Licinia. Say it out!

C. Grac. To be sure we shall !

Why should we not? Why should we-Come to

rest

Come to rest.-It grows to torture!

Licinia. What, my Caius?

C. Grac. The pain I told you of.
Licinia. You are not well!

You do not look as you were well-nor speak. —

All's wrong if you're not well.

C. Grac. A little sleep

Will set all right.

Licinia. It will! It will!

C. Grac. Come, love!

Licinia. I would not for the world you should be ill To-morrow-or any day-but most of all

'To-morrow.

C. Grac. Come to rest, love!

Licinia. Are you sure

"Tis nothing needs be fear'd?
C. Grac. Don't question me!
The slightest noise distracts me!
Licinia. Does it, Caius?

You're ill indeed, then! you are very ill!
What shall be done for you?

C. Grac. You drive me mad!

Don't mind me, love !-Don't mind me!-Come to rest."

END OF ACT IV.

[Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-The Street before Caius's House.-Lamps a little off-Citizens asleep in various postures, armed-some watching.

Enter TITUS, L.

Tit. Almost the morning dawns. What! rouse ye, friends!

Up, drowsy comrades, up! 'Tis time, 'tis time!

[They rise.

Enter C. GRACCHUS from the house, R.

C. Gruc. Ha! Is it time, my friends?
Tit. It is, good Caius !

C. Grac. What noise of steps is that?
Tit. A band of citizens

Crossing the end of the street.

C. Gruc. Go on before, my friends. I'll follow you!

[Exeunt TITUs and Citizens, L. I will but take a last look of the house. To think of what I leave within that house!I left her sleeping. Gods! upon the brink Of what a precipice!-and she must down!—

I cannot save her. My last kiss, when I

Did print upon her cheek, she breath'd my name,
And, all unconscious as she was, with such
A plaintive cadence-" even pity's self,
Compos'd of tears and murmurs as she is,
In her most melting mood, did never frame
More tender. But that I did tear myself
At once away-for all that manhood, back'd
By honour, that did never yet relent,

Had urg'd upon me-I must have forgone
My purpose." Thought must look another way !
Tiberius-I am coming! Art thou here,
My brother, waiting for me?—Yes!-I feel
Thou art !-I am ready!-Mighty shade, lead on!
LICINIA rushes out, R. as he is going off, L.
Licinia. Caius! O! Have I found you?

C. Grac. My Licinia,

Why do you quit your bed?

Licinia. To seek you, Caius !

"To bring you back with me! Come into the house!" C. Grac. What fear you, love?

Licinia. I know not what I fear;

But well I know that I have cause to fear!
Your putting off your journey yesterday—
Your going to the Forum, as you did-
Your making it so late ere you came back-

Your looks and answers when you did come back-
Your rising now, at this unwonted hour-

A thousand thousand things that I could name,
Had I the time to think of them, forewarn me
You go not forth for good!

C. Grac. Licinia!-Wife!

Collect yourself, and listen to me, now.

I must go forth, and may not be prevented-
Why, what's the matter with you? Can't a man
Get up a little hour or two before

His wonted time and take a walk, but he
Must run into a lion's mouth? For shame!
If this were told of Caius's wife! Go in.
"Get thee to bed again; and take this kiss.
Along with thee."

Licinia. I cannot quit you, Caius!

I cannot let you go! Spite of myself,

I cling to you, as though my arms were bound
About you by a spell!-Do you know I'm ill?