My brave old comrade, honest Siccius!

Siccius Dentatus, that true son of Rome,

On whose white locks the mother looked more proudly
Than on the raven ones of her youngest and
Most hopeful sons, is nothing but this,

The sign and token of himself! Look, comrades,
Here are the foes have slain him-not a trace
Of any other-not a body stripp'd—

Our father has been murdered. We'll revenge him
Like sons! Take up the body!

Bear it to

The camp; and as you move your solemn march,
Be dumb-or if you speak, be it but a word;
And be that word-Revenge!

Luc. Virginius!

Vir. I did not mind thee, Lucius !

Uncommon things make common things forgot.
Hast thou a message for me, Lucius?

Well!

I'll stay and hear it, but be brief; my hearts
Follows poor Dentatus.

Luc. You are wanted

In Rome.

Vir. On what account?

Luc. On your arrival You'll learn.

Vir. How is it something can't be told

At once? Speak out, boy! Ha! your looks are loaded
With matter-Is't so heavy that your tongue
Cannot unburden them? Your brother left
The camp on duty yesterday-hath aught
Happened to him? Did he arrive in safety?
Is he safe? Is he well?

Luc. He is both safe and well.

Vir. What then? What then? Tell me the matter, Lucius.

Luc. I have said

It shall be told you.

Vir. Shall! I stay not for

That shall, unless it be so close at hand
It stop me not a moment.
"Tis too long

A coming. Fare you well, my Lucius.

Luc. Stay,

Virginius. Hear me then with patience.

Vir. Well,

I am patient.

Luc. Your Virginia

Vir. Stop, my Lucius!

I am cold in every member of my frame!
If 'tis prophetic, Lucius, of thy news,

[going.]

[Returns.]

Give me such token as her tomb would, Lucius,
I'll bear it better. Silence.

Luc. You are still

Vir. I thank thee, Jupiter! I am still a father!

Luc. You are, Virginius, yet,

Vir. What, is she sick?

Luc. No.

Vir. Neither dead nor sick! All well! No harm! Nothing amiss! Each guarded quarter safe, That fear may lay him down and sleep, and yet This sounding the alarm! I swear thou tell'st A story strangely.-Out with't! I have patience For any thing, since my Virginia lives, And lives in health!

Luc. You are requir'd in Rome, To answer a most novel suit.

That pander! Ha! Virginia! you appear
To couple them. What makes my fair Virginia
In company with Claudius? Innocence

Beside lasciviousness! His suit! What suit ?
Answer me quick!y! Quickly! lest suspense,
Beyond what patience can endure, coercing
Drive reason from his seat !

Luc. He says she is the child

Of a slave of his, who sold her to thy wife.

The school, and dragged her to the Forum, where Appius was giving judgment.

Vir. Dragg'd her to

The Forum! Well? I told you, Lucius,

I would be patient.

Luc.

Vir.

Numitorious there confronted him!

Did he not strike him dead?

True, true, I know it was in the presence of
The Decemvir-O! had I confronted him!

Well! well! the issue-Well! o'erleap all else,

And light upon the issue!

Where is she?

Luc. I was despatched to fetch thee, ere I could learn.

Vir. The claim of Claudius-Appius' client-Ha! I see the master-cloud-this ragged one,

That lowers before, moves only in subservience

To the ascendant of the other-Jove,

With its own mischief break it and disperse it,
And that be all the ruin! Patience! Prudence!
Nay, prudence, but no patience. Come! a slave
Dragged through the streets in open day! my child !
My daughter! my fair daughter, in the eyes

Of Rome ! O! I'll be patient. Come! the essence
Of my best blood in the free common ear,
Condemned as vile! O I'll be patient.
O they shall wonder. I will be so patient.

Come !

The "Tragedy of Virginius," from which this dialogue is taken, and of which James Sheridan Knowles is the author, is founded on historical facts. We learn from "Ferguson's Rome," that "Appius Claudius, one of the ursurpers, being captivated with the beauty of Virginia, the child of an honorable family, and already betrothed to a person of her own condition, endeavored to make himself master of her person, by depriving her at once of her parentage and of her liberty. For this purpose, under pretence that she had been born in servitude, and that she had been stolen away in her infancy, he subporned a person to claim her as his slave. The Decemvir himself being judge in this iniquitous suit, gave judgment against the helpless party, and ordered her to be removed to the house of the person by whom she was claimed. In this affecting scene, the father, under pretence of bidding a last farewell to his child, came forward to embrace her; and, in the presence of the multitude, having then no other means to preserve her honor, he availed himself of the prerogative of a Roman father, and stabbed her to the heart with a knife. The indignation which arose from this piteous sight, re-established a patrician administration."

The above dialogue furnishes an excellent exercise in elocution,

SCENE FROM PIZARRO.

PIZARRO AND GOMEZ.

Pizarro. How now, Gomez, what bringest thou? Gomez. On yonder hill, among the palm trees, we have surprised an old Peruvian. Escape by flight, he could not, and we seized him unresisting.

Piz. Drag him before us.
What art thou, stranger?

[Gomez leads in Orozembo. ]

Orozembo. First tell me who is the captain of this band of robbers.

Piz. Audacious ! This insolenee has sealed thy doom, Die thou shalt, grey-headed ruffian. But first confess what thou knowest.

Oro. I know that of which thou hast just assured me, that I shall die.

Piz. Less audacity might have saved thy life. Oro. My life is as a withered tree, not worth preserving. Piz. Hear me, old man. Even now we march against We know there is a secret path that leads to your strong hold among the rocks. Guide us to that, and name thy reward. If wealth be thy wish

the Peruvian army.

Oro. Ha, ha, ha!

Piz. Dost thou despise my offer?
Oro. Yes; thee and thy offer!

Wealth! I have the

wealth of two gallant sons, I have stored in heaven, the riches which repay good actions here! and still my chiefest treasure do I wear about me.

Piz. What is that?

Inform me.

Oro. I will; for thou canst never tear it from me. An unsullied conscience.

Piz. I believe there is no other Peruvian who dares speak as thou dost.

Oro. Would I could believe there is no other Spaniard who dares act as thou dost.

Gom. Obdurate pagan! how numerous is your army? Oro. Count the leaves of the forest.

Gom.

Which is the weakest part of your camp? Oro. It is fortified on all sides by justice.