BRUTUS;

OR,

THE FALL OF TARQUIN.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-A Street in Rome.

Enter VALERIUS and LUCRetius, r.

Val. Words are too feeble to express the horror With which my soul revolts against this Tarquin By poison he obtain'd his brother's wife, Then, by a baser murder, grasp'd the crown. These eyes beheld the aged monarch, thrown Down from the senate-house,-his feeble limbs Bruised by the pavement,-his time-honour'd locks, Which from the very robber would have gain'd Respect and veneration,-bathed in blood! With difficulty raised, and tottering homeward, The murderers follow'd-struck him-and he died! Luc. Inexpiable crime !

Val. High in her regał chariot Tullia cameThe corpse lay in the street, The charioteer Turn'd back the reins in horror. "On, slave, on! "Shall dead men stop my passage to a throne?" Exclaim'd the parricide. The gore was dash'd From the hot wheels up to her diadem!

Luc. And Heaven's avenging lightnings were with

held!

Here rules this Tullia, while the king, her husband,
Wastes our best blood in giddy, guilty war!
Spirit of Marcus Junius!-Would the gods
Deign to diffuse thy daring through the land

Rome from her trance with giant spirit would start,
Dash off her fetters, and amaze the world!

Val. Junius, didst say? Oh! tyranny long since
Had sunk-chain'd-buried in its native hell-
But Tarquin, trembling at his virtues, murder'd
Him and his elder son. The younger, Lucius,
Then on his travels, 'scaped the tyrant's sword,
But lost his reason at their fearful fall.

Luc. Ay, the same Lucius, who now dwells with
Tarquin.

The jest, the fool, the laughing-stock o' th' court,
Whom the young princes always carry with 'em
To be the butt of their unfeeling mirth.

Val. Hold! I hear steps. Great things may yet be done,

If we are men, and faithful to our country. [Exeunt, L.

SCENE II.-The Camp before Ardea.

Enter CLAUDIUS and ARUNS, laughing, L. S. E.

Aruns. There is no doctor for the spleen like Lucius. What precious scenes of folly did he act

When, lately, through the glorious scenes of Greece, He went with us to Delphi !-But, behold

Where, full of business, his wise worship comes.

Enter LUCIUS JUNIUS, R.

Claud. Whither so fast, good Junius, tell us whither? Luc. To Rome, to Rome-the queen demands my presence.

The state needs aid, and I am call'd to court. (Laugh.) Am I a fool? If so, you cannot say

I'm the first fool graced by monarch's favour.

Aruns. Why, Junius, travel has improved thy wit, Thou speakest shrewdly.

Luc. Do I so, my lord?

I'm always glad when you and I agree;

You have just such a wit as I should choose.

Would I could purchase such !-though it might split My head, as confined air does-water bubbles!

Claud. How say you? Purchase? Pr'ythee what would'st give?

Luc. What would I give ?-ten acres of my land!
Aruns. Thy land? Where lies it?

Luc. Ask the king, my cousin :

He knows full well. I thank him, he's my steward,
And takes the trouble off my hands.

Claud. Who told thee so?

Luc. The king himself. Now twenty years are past,

Or more, since he sent for me from my farm.

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Kinsman," said he, with a kind, gracious smile, "For the black crime of treason which was charged "Against thy father and thy elder brother,

"Their lives have paid: for thee, as I love mercy, “Live and be happy: simple is thy mind "

Aruns. True, kinsman, true-i'faith 'tis wondrous simple.

Luc. "And that simplicity will be a pledge "That thou wilt never plot against thy sovereign Claud. Indeed, for that, I'll be thy bondsman, Junius. Luc. "Live in my house, companion of my children. "As for thy land, to ease thee of all care,

"I'll take it for thy use; all that I ask "Of thee, is gratitude.'

Aruns. And art thou not

Grateful for goodness so unmerited?

Luc. Am I not? Never, by the holy gods,
Will I forget it! 'Tis my constant pray'r
To heaven, that I may one day have the pow'r
To pay the debt I owe him. But stay-stay-
I brought a message to you from the king.

Aruns. Thank the gods, then, for thy good memory, fool!

Luc. The king your father sends for you to council, Where he debates how best to conquer Ardea. Shall I before, and tell him ye are coming?

Claud. Ay, or behind, or with us, or stay hereAs thy wit prompts,-as suits thy lofty pleasure.

[Exeunt ARUNS and CLAUDIUS laughing. Luc. [Alone.] Yet, 'tis not that which ruffles methe gibes

And scornful mockeries of ill-govern'd youth-
Or flouts of dastard sycophants and jesters,-
Reptiles, who lay their bellies on the dust
Before the frown of majesty !—All this

I but expect, nor grudge to bear; -the face
I carry, courts it!-Son of Marcus, Junius!
When will the tedious gods permit thy soul
To walk abroad in her own majesty

And throw this vizor of thy madness from thee?

B

To avenge my father's and my brother's murder !
(And sweet I must confess would be the draught!)
Had this been all-a thousand opportunities
I've had to strike the blow-and my own life
I had not valued as a rush-But still-

There's something nobler to be done-my soul !
Enjoy the strong conception. Oh! 'tis glorious
To free a groaning country—

To see Revenge

Spring like a lion from the den, and tear

These hunters of mankind! Grant but the time,
Grant but the moment, gods! If I am wanting,
May I drag out this idiot-feigned life

To late old age, and may posterity

Ne'er hear of Junius but as Tarquin's fool!

[Exit LUCIUS JUNIUS.

SCENE III.-Rome-A State Apartment in the Palace. of TULLIA.

She appears

Enter TULLIA, preceded by GUARDS, BANNER BEARERS, LADIES; and followed by VALERIUS. perturbed, and speaks apart.

Tul. [Apart.] Why should the steady mind to shadows yield?

And yet this vision shakes my frame with horror.
I thought his spirit thunder'd in my ear,

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Remember, when, with wild ambition's frenzy "And all Rome's empire in your view, you drove

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Your chariot-wheels o'er your dead father's body,
Up to the shouting Forum!" Why, my soul,
Dost thou not shun the remembrance of that hour?
'Twas but the cause-the cause-For this base clay
How differs it from the dull earth we tread on,
When the life's gone?-But, next, the Sibyl came.
Whose mystic book at such a price we bought,
And cried, "The race of Tarquin shall be kings
"Till a fool drive them hence, and set Rome free!
Strange prophecy !-What fool?-It cannot be
That poor dolt, the companion of my sons-
-Hark thee, Valerius-Know'st thou that same fool
Now in the camp.

Val. I know him well.-A man

Who, when he had a name, was Lucius Junius:-
A braver citizen Rome never boasted,

And wise and learn'd withal; now changed, alas!
A spectacle which humbles me to look on!

Tul. But is he harmless in his moody humours?

Val. Tame as my horse, which though devoid of

reason

Shall turn, shall stop, and at my angry bidding
Shall kneel, till I am throned on his back!
And this shall Junius; the like instinct stirs
Junius and him,-no more.

Tul. [Apart.] Hence, idle fears!

-Yet, when he went to Delphi, 'tis given out
The oracle address'd him with strange portents,
And each night since, my dreams have been disturb'd
By a wild form, too much resembling his,

Leading our soldiers forth with sword and flame,
Revolters from the camp, to storm the palace.
But he is sent from thence, and shall be watch'd.
Enter HORATIUS, L.

Hor. Your orders are obey'd. Lucius awaits.
Tul. Set him before us.

[Exit HORArius.

[To VALERIUS.] Tell me, will he answer

If we do question him?

Val. I think he will:

Yet sometimes, when the moody fit doth take him,
He will not speak for days; yea, rather starve
Than utter nature's cravings; then anon,

He'll prattle shrewdly, with such witty folly
As almost betters reason.

HORATIUS returns with LUCIUS JUNIUS.

Tul. Hark thee, fellow,

How art thou call'd?

Luc. A fool.

Tul. Fool for thy nature:

Thou answer'st well,-but I demand thy name.

Luc. Nothing but fool.

Tul. His faculties are brutish ;

BRUTUS shall be thy name.

Br. Thanks to your grace!

Hor. Dost like thy new name, gentle brute?

Br. So well,

Who will may take the fool. I care not who-
Your highness, an it like you.

Hor. I the fool!

Sirrah, good words, or I will have thee beaten.

Br. A fool thou wilt not beat-a brute thou dar'st not,