That my foiled tongue refuses it a name.
There is one criminal still left for udgment-

Let him approach.

LA pause.

Tirus is brought in by the LICTORS, R., with their axes turned edgeways towards him.

Pris-on-er-[The voice of Brutus falters, and is chok ed, and he exclaims, with violent emotion.

Romans, forgive this agony of grief

My heart is bursting-Nature must have way-
I will perform all that a Roman should—

I cannot feel less than a father ought!

[He becomes more calm. Gives a signal to the Lictors to fall back, and advances from the Judgment-Seat to the front of the Stage, on a line with his son. Well, Titus, speak-how is it with thee now? Tell me, my son, art thou prepared to die?

Tit. Father, I call the powers of heaven to witness Titus dares die, if so you have decreed.

The gods will have it so?

Bru. They will, my Titus:

Nor heav'n, nor earth, can have it otherwise.
It seems as if thy fate were pre-ordained
To fix the reeling spirits of the people,

And settle the loose liberty of Rome.

'Tis fixed;-oh, therefore, let not fancy cheat thee: So fixed thy death, that 'tis not in the power

Of mortal man to save thee from the axe.

Tit. The axe !-Oh, heaven!-Then must I fall so basely?

What, shall I perish like a common felon?

Bru. How else do traitors suffer?-Nay, Titus, moreI must myself ascend yon sad tribunal—

And there behold thee meet this shame of death,
With all thy hopes, and all thy youth upon thee.—
See thy head taken by the common axe,——
All,-if the gods can hold me to my purpose,-
Without one groan, without one pitying tear.

[Turns up, as if in agony.
Tit. Die like a felon ?-Ha! a common felon !-
But I deserve it all:-yet here I fail :-
This ignominy quite unmans me!

:

, Brutus, Brutus ! et have no token of

Must I call you father,
your tenderness,

[Kneels.

O sign of mercy? Not even leave to fall s noble Romans fall, by my own sword? ather, why should you make my heart suspect hat all your late compassion was dissembled? ow can I think that you did ever love me? Bru. Think that I love thee by my present passion, By these unmanly tears, these earthquakes here, These sighs that strain the very strings of life,— et these convince you that no other cause Could force a father thus to wrong his nature. Tit. Oh, hold, thou violated majesty:

[Rises.

I now submit with calmness to my fate.
Come forth, ye executioners of justice-
Come, take my life,-and give it to my country!
Bru. Embrace thy wretched father. May the gods
Arm thee with patience in this awful hour.
The sovereign magistrate of injured Rome
Condemns

A crime, thy father's bleeding heart forgives.
Go-meet thy death with a more manly courage
Than grief now suffers me to show in parting;
And, while she punishes, let Rome admire thee!
Farewell! Eternally farewell!—

Tit. Oh, Brutus! Oh, my father !—

Bru. What would'st thou say, my son?
Tit. Wilt thou forgive me?

When I shall be no more, forget not my Tarquinia.
Bru. Leave her to my care.

Tit. Farewell, forever!

Bru. Forever!

[Re-ascends the Tribunas

Lictors, attend!-conduct your pris'ner forth!

Val. [Rapidly and anxiously.] Whither?

All the characters bend forward in great anxiety. Bru. To death!-[All start.] When you do reach the spot,

My hand shall wave your signal for the act,

Then let the trumpet's sound proclaim it done!

[Titus is conducted out by the Lictors, R—A dead march,-which gradually dies away as it becomes more distant. Brutus remains seated in a melancholy posture on the Tribunal.

Por youth! Thy pilgrimage is at an end!
A few sad steps have brought thee to the brink
Of that tremendous precipice, whose depth
No thought of man cau fathom. Justice now
Demands her victim! A little moment,

And I am childless.-One effort, and 'tis past !— [He rises and waves his hand, convulsed with agitation, then drops in his seat, and shrouds his face with his toga. Three sounds of the trumpet are heard instantly. All the characters assume attitudes of deep misery. Brutus starts up wildly, descends to the front in extreme agitation, looks out on the side by which Titus departed, for an instant, then, with an hysterical burst, exclaims,

Justice is satisfied, and Rome is free!

[Brutus falls.-The characters group around him.

THE END.

NOTE.

The following Scene in the Third Act was omitted after the first representation, in compliance with the wishes of many who thought it injurious to the general effect of the Play. As, however, there was some difference of opinion upon this point, the Scene is here inserted as it originally stood. LUCRETIA is supposed to be surrounded by her relations,-COLLATINUS and LUCRETIUS by her side, her hair dishevelled, wild in her attire, and all the other characters in attitudes of deep grief.

Luc. Bear witness, then, Lucretia's mind is guiltlessYet never can Lucretia smile again!

Lost to herself, her husband, and her child,
Lost to the world, her country, and her friends,
The arms of love can pillow her no more,
And the sweet smile of her dear innocent babe
Would but awaken her to deeper anguish !
And shall she live, bereft of all life's treasures,
The spectre of the past forever rising

fright her into madness? Think not, countrymen, dignant virtue can survive pollution! y her own hand a Roman wife can fall.

[Stabs herself.

is to the heart! Tarquin, the blow was thine! [Falls. Col. Beloved, unhappy wife! What hast thou done? Luc. A deed of glory. Now, my husband, nowWith transport can I press thee to my bosom. Father and kinsmen, ye can own me now! My pure soul springs from its detested prison ! Virtue exults! The gods applaud my daring! And to our dear, loved babe, 1 can bequeath A mother's noblest gift-a spotless name!

[Dies.

Luc. Staff of my age! Gone, gone, forever gone!

A wretched father's last and only joy!

Come, death, strike here! Your shaft were welcome now!

Snatch me from earth to my poor, lost, loved child!

Col. My wife! my wife! Dear, dear, wronged, mur. dered wife!

Let me be rooted here in endless sorrow

Who, who shall dare to mourn her loss like me?

Enter BRUTUS, L.

Bru. I dare, and so dare every honest Roman.

The Scene then proceeds as printed in the preceding pages.