Scene I.

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An Apartment inCLAUDIUS'S, House, in Rome.

CLAUDIUS, RUFUS.

CLAUDIUS

RUFUS, didst mark VIRGINIUS? — With what scorn
He ey'd us, as we past his gates but now?

RUFUS

Old age, and frantic dreams of Rome, and glory,
Have turn'd his visionary brain.

CLAUDIUS

Saw'st thou
With what impetuous haste, and eager looks,
He issued forth?

RUFUS

What is the cause?

CLAUDIUS

A summons
Is just arriv'd, that calls him to the camp;
A battle is expected ev'ry hour.
'Tis lucky, and will favor the design
Of our Decemvir on his beauteous daughter.

RUFUS

This rash pursuit of a contracted Maid,
I fear, will have some fatal end. — Should APPIUS
Employ his pow'r! — I tremble at the thought!
VIRGINIUS is ador'd throughout the tribes;
His silver hairs, his honor, his rough eloquence,
Would fire all Rome! — We must find out some way
To turn him from so desperate a course.

CLAUDIUS

Impossible and vain! — His headlong passions
Mock all controul. — Of that no more. — I tell thee,
No choice is left but to contrive the means
To sooth her to his arms.

RUFUS

To sooth her, CLAUDIUS?
Thou know'st she is contracted; nay, with fondness
She loves the people's darling, young ICILIUS;
He who so bravely serv'd them as their Tribune.
Will she be won by arts of soft persuasion
To quit his graceful form, his youth and ardor,
For the stern aspect, and declining years
Of APPIUS?

CLAUDIUS

Hard it seems; yet not impossible:
I hav't in charge to make th'attempt at least
Without delay.

RUFUS

What? — While the hot Centurion
Remains in Rome?

CLAUDIUS

He is set forth already
From his own gates; and now, within few minutes,
Will turn his back on Rome; his pride and honor
Will spur him to the camp with fiery speed;
There's danger there, and glory to be won!
Th'attempt is safe; nor must we lose a moment:
When once the battle's o'er, he will return,
Perhaps with conquest flush'd, and doubly arm'd
With pow'r t' oppose us.

RUFUS

It can ne'er succeed.

CLAUDIUS

Could we prevail but on my sister MARCIA? —
She is VIRGINIA'S trusted friend — She might
Work glorious mischief!

RUFUS

MARCIA? — Gen'rous MARCIA? —
Will she combine in such dark practices? —
The jarring elements as soon would mix
Their contraries!

CLAUDIUS

What if herself she lov'd
ICILIUS?

RUFUS

Heavens!

CLAUDIUS

If both my eyes, and ears,
Deceive me not, she's deeply wounded, RUFUS.

RUFUS

I'm all amaz'd — if this be so —

CLAUDIUS

Ay, RUFUS —
If this be so, then where are truth and honor?
Let trusty nature, and warm passion work
In woman's breast — I ask no more — 'tis true,
It sounds well, this long list of titled virtues;
But it weighs little.

RUFUS

Have you try'd her yet? —
It promises —

CLAUDIUS

Some distant hints I've dropp'd;
I've talk'd of APPIUS' marriage with VIRGINIA,
And blam'd the rigid edict that forbids
Patrician and Plebeian blood to mix:
My purpose was to found her; for thou know'st
Her birth is of the noblest; but ICILIUS
Is of Plebeian race.

RUFUS

How heard she this?

CLAUDIUS

With silent, deep attention: but her eyes,
And her emotion, told me all within —
Methinks I hear her voice — go RUFUS — haste
To APPIUS — tell him, that I go to pay
Obedience to his will; and in the Forum
Will let him know th'event, and wait his pleasure.

[ExitRUFUS.

EnterMARCIA.

MARCIA

I came not on design to interrupt
Your earnest conference —

CLAUDIUS

MARCIA, to thee
My soul knows no reserve; but longs to share
Her troubles, hopes, and fears; each rising thought,
Each weakness, and each want, with faithful MARCIA!

MARCIA

Thou seem'st — disturb'd — that brow with care o'erclouded
Denotes a storm within.

CLAUDIUS

Too truly guess'd!
Thy aid I want, thy counsel — let me tell thee
The weight that my soul labours with!

MARCIA

My brother,
Thy griefs are all my own; and if the world
Contain a remedy, to purchase it,
I'll give my means, my life, my all, as freely,
As I give forth this air I draw!

CLAUDIUS

Oh MARCIA! —
VIRGINIA — she, she is the cause —

MARCIA

VIRGINIA?
My dear and generous friend? — What means my brother?
This instant I expect her —

CLAUDIUS

[interrupting her]

— What VIRGINIA?—
Expect her here? — Oh say! —

MARCIA

Shall I conceal
From CLAUDIUS aught? It were to wrong his love? —
Know then, this day ICILIUS secretly
Intends to enter Rome —

CLAUDIUS

Heaven's! — on what cause? —
Ha! — sure he has not heard — it cannot be —

[aside]

MARCIA

Th'impatience of a lover — thro' my means
He begs to meet the object of his wishes;
To steal a look! to breathe a sigh! — no more —

Claudius

But knows VIRGINIA his intent?

MARCIA

She does not;
I only sent t'intreat her to pass hither.

CLAUDIUS

MARCIA, I do conjure thee by the gods,
By all thou holdst most dear, attend and hear me!
Prevent their meeting, break this fatal match,
Or APPIUS stung to frenzy, will commit
Some act of desperation! — Oh 'twill save
Thy friends, thy brother, APPIUS, nay VIRGINIA,
And Rome itself perhaps from instant ruin!

MARCIA

Ah CLAUDIUS! whither wouldst thou lead me? — think
Think, what I owe to friendship and to honor!

CLAUDIUS

Honor commands all private ties should yield
To public good; would'st thou behold our streets
Strow'n with the carcasses of slaughter'd citizens?
And Tyber's wave run purple with their blood?
Ha, civil discord, MARCIA!

MARCIA

Gods, cut short
My thread of life, ere that dread hour arrives!

CLAUDIUS

'Tis ey'n at hand, and like a horrid comet,
Hangs o'er our fated heads, portending plagues
And gen'ral desolation to mankind!

MARCIA

Why dost thou tempt me with these shapes of terror
To my perdition? — I dare be unhappy,
Unhappy but not base! — Oh my VIRGINIA!
Companion of my youth! — the tender band
Of amity, that link'd our infancy,
Grew with our growth, and ripen'd with our years,
Shall I now break the sacred knot with treason? —
ICILIUS too — a friend — What have I said? —
A friend! — Ah MARCIA, would he were no more!
— But hush my sighs! —

[aside]

how shall I look on him,
When he shall know, that MARCIA was the serpent,
That stung his heart?

CLAUDIUS

ICILIUS? — hear me MARCIA —
If thou would'st save ICILIUS from destruction,
Burst all the ties that bind him to VIRGINIA;
By heav'ns, his very life, his being, all,
Depend on thy compliance.

MARCIA

Ha! — his life! —
Said'st thou his life! — be still my trembling heart

[aside

CLAUDIUS

Disorder'd

[aside]

MARCIA

Must ICILIUS' life then pay
The purchase of his love?

CLAUDIUS

'Tis as I wish'd —

[aside

.
Can MARCIA ask? — APPIUS' hopes be blasted
Think'st thou he'd e'er endure a hated rival
Should live to triumph o'er him, and possess
The prize he lost? — To pierce ICILIUS heart,
And glut his fierce revenge, APPIUS would wade
Thro' seas of blood!

MARCIA

Look down ye pitying gods,
Or I am lost!

[aside]

CLAUDIUS

Dislodge this fatal image,
That fills VIRGINIA's breast; make room for APPIUS;
Trust me the time will come, when ev'n ICILIUS
Shall thank thy care, and bless the hand that sav'd him.
A more auspicious love shall crown his wishes,
A kinder stars shall reign!

MARCIA

I dare not, cannot —

CLAUDIUS

Enough — thou hast decreed ICILIUS' fall,
And all must go to wreck.

[going]

MARCIA

Distract me not! —
Oh stay! — tho' I should try to plead for APPIUS,
What could I hope? — Repulse, reproach, and shame
At once would dash th' attempt —

CLAUDIUS

To plead for Appius? —
Feeble and vain! — Thou must sow discord, MARCIA,
Between the lovers; APPIUS then may prosper.

MARCIA

Most foul, and horrid!

CLAUDIUS

'Tis a righteous fraud
To cheat'em into safety — but no more —
Heav'n points the only way to peace, and bliss;
If thou wilt not pursue it, take th'event.

MARCIA

Oh love! oh virtue! how ye tear this heart!

[aside]

Means APPIUS nobly? Does he purpose marriage,
And holy rites?

CLAUDIUS

'Tis his soul's utmost wish
To call VIRGINIA his, and by a claim,
The proudest blood of Rome might glory in.

Enter aSLAVE.

SLAVE

The daughter of VIRGINIUS is arriv'd,
And entring now the gates.

[ExitSLAVE]

CLAUDIUS

Now MARCIA hear me.
Let me go forth to meet her, let me seize
The blest occasion, and in softest terms
Sooth her young bosom with th'illustrious conquest
Her charms have made — I'll tell her thou art absent —
Soon to return — She must not see ICILIUS —
Beware of that — leave me plead for APPIUS —
I'll blazon out the purity, and ardor
Of his bright flame, his dignity, and merit;
I'll warm with love, or dazzle with ambition,
Her heart, if it be cast in woman's mould:
MARCIA farewell! Be constant, and remember,
Thy friends, thy country, all, demand this service!

[ExitCLAUDIUS.

MARCIA

Thy country, and thy friends, demand this service—
Ah me! he little thinks what passes here!

[Striking her breast.

What conflicts! — what despair! — he little knows
The busy, secret, spring, that heaven unseen
Within this beating breast, and drives me on
To do a deed! — relentless, cruel love!
What ravage hast thou made within this bosom!
Which nature fashion'd in her softest mould,
And fitted it for truth and gentle pity! —
But thou has ruin'd all! — Thou hast let in
The furies, and their horrid train upon me!
Thou hast undone poor MARCIA! — Oh ICILIUS!
Why did I ever see thy fatal form!
Why did'st thou chuse me out to be thy friend,
And tell to me the story of thy love,
Warm from the heart! — the flame infected me! —
And can I see thee bleed? — Oh love and fortune,
Guard the dear youth! — Reserve your sharpest bolts
For me! — Witness ye gods, I am content
To be a wretch — But bless, oh bless ICILIUS!

[ExitMAR.MARCIA