ACT IV.

SCENE I.-A Street in Rome.

Enter VETTIUS and POMPONIUS.

Pom. It was a false return: he had their votes,
Though he has lost his office. Lo you now,
What strides they take that used to walk before
So circumspectly! Scarcely is he brought
Into a private state again, than they
Proceed to abrogate his laws. This blow,
If there it light, where it is meant it should,
Will not fall short a hair's breadth of his life.
Vet. You may be sure of it: for that it was
Opimius got the consulship.

Pom. This morning,

Caius and he met near the capitol;

Flaccus had Caius by the arm ;-Opimius,
On seeing him, makes a dead stand, and then,
With his eyes fix'd on him thus, and folded arms,
He follows him right round, and cries to him,
What, hoa! you, Caius Gracchus, whither now?
What plot's on foot?' Then falls on him with such
A torrent of vile terms, as it would sting

The tamest looker-on to hear.

Vet. And how

Did Caius bear it?

Pom. Why, as one that, seeing

A tiger ready couch'd to spring upon him,
In quick avoidance finds security,

He pass'd in silence on. Opimius had

His Candiot troops with him. But where is Flaccus ?

Vet. Gone to bring Caius to the forum.

Have you disposed our Latin friends?

Pom. About

The rostrum.

Vet. Fear not! If it comes to numbers, Ours can tell theirs thrice over.

How

Enter LICINIUS.

Lic. Friends, well met!

Something's on foot that bodes not good to Caius.
I pass'd just now a group of senators :

One of them named him, and had farther spoken,
But that another placed, on seeing me,

His finger on his lip. You may be sure
They only want occasion to despatch him.

Vet. All Rome perceives it. Men inquire for him
As one whom mischief dogs: Is Caius well?
When saw you him?-does he go out to-day
To the forum?'-half under breath, as fearing for
The answer. Others, as his friends pass by,

Lay heads together, and, with eyes glanced towards them,

Whisper with looks portentous. Some do smile
That never smiled before on aught that loved him.
That's the worse sign! A smile from those that hate us,
Looks as some scowl of fate about to fall,

If not already lowering.

Pom. What's to be done?

Lic. Meet them with force

Pom. Agreed!

Vet. Agreed!

Lic. Away, then!

If you have any friend as yet unpledged,

Change oaths with him.

Vet. When meet we in the forum?

Lic. At the third hour-it is the hour of fate.

If they repeal his laws, farewell to Rome! [They go out.

SCENE II.-An Apartment in Caius Gracchus' House

Enter CORNELIA and LICINIA.

Lici. You'll speak to him?
Cor. I will.

Lici. You'll urge him not
To go? You would not throw

your richest gem

Away, though you might give't to one did know

Its value, and did covet it?
Cor. I would not.

Lici. He's coming. [Going.]

Mother!

Cor. I have said, Licinia.

[LICINIA goes out.

Yes there's a point where virtue stops; 'tis there
Where she but loses labour. Ha! but is
Her labour ever lost? I can't debate

That question now; Nature won't let me she's
Too strong, and I must play the humble part
Had he not a wife and child-

She sets me.

He's here!

[Retires.

Enter CAIUS GRACCHUS, without seeing his Mother.

Caius. I'll wrestle with him for at least

This throw! My laws!

What! abrogate my laws!

Oh, insolence of tyranny!

Well, well!

We are not so weak as let him. Were he twice

The consul, he shall not lay hands on them;
Yea, though our blood-

Cor. Caius, a word with you.

There's Fulvius Flaccus waiting at the door
With a whole crowd of citizens. Is't you
They want?

Caius. It is.

Cor. 'Tis best, son, to deal frankly

With your mother. What's on foot? No matter!

Hear me.

I do not like that Flaccus: he's a man

Hath more ambition than integrity,

And zeal than wisdom. Is he of your party?
Caius. He is.

Cor. The sooner then you break with him
The better. Send him word you cannot come.
Caius. My word's already pledged to go with him,
To the forum.

Cor. On what errand, Caius Gracchus ?

Is it about your laws they would annul?
Mind, Caius, you're no longer tribune!
Caius. Fear not;
I shall be prudent.

[Going.

Cor. [Holding him.] Stop, Caius. [Taking his hand.]
I can almost think you still

The boy did con his lessons at my knee,

And I could rule in all his little moods

With but a look. Ay, Caius; but a look

Of your mother's made you calm as sunshine, in
Your biggest storm! I would not lose you, Caius !
Caius, I would not lose you! Go not to

The forum!

Caius. Mother-is it you 1?

Cor. Ay, son;

It is your mother, feels that she is all

The mother, whatsoe'er she seems.

Be left a son, my Caius. Go not to
The forum!

Intention?

I would

Caius. Wherefore, mother? What is there That I should fear?

Cor. Your brother's blood, my son!

Do I not know you, Caius? Can I not read you,
Without your tongue to help me?

Does not his blood

Cry for revenge? and is your ear unapt
To hear it? Caius, that dear brother's death's
The life of all thy acts! 'Twas that did plead
For Vettius-ask'd the tribuneship-revived
Tiberius's laws-defied the senate-made thee
Like a god to Rome, dealing out fate—and, now
Thou art no longer arm'd with thy great office,
Would lead thee forth to sacrifice! My son,
Go not to the forum! 'Tis a worthless cause!
Why should you go, my Caius? To defend
Your laws from abrogation? Think of them
For whom you made those laws: the fickle people
Did lend a hand to pull you from your seat,

And raise up them they shake at! Thou art single,—
Thou hast no seconds. 'Tis a hopeless struggle !

So sunk are all, the heart of public virtue

Has not the blood to make it beat again.

Caius. And should I therefore sink with the base

times?

What, mother, what? Are the gods also base?
Is virtue base? Is honour sunk? Is manhood

A thing contemptible, and not to be
Maintain'd? Remember you Messina, mother?
Once from its promontory we beheld
A galley in a storm; and, as the bark
Approach'd the fatal shore, could well discern
The features of the crew with horror all

Aghast, save one. Alone he strove to guide
The prow, erect amidst the horrid war
Of winds and waters raging. With one hand
He ruled the hopeless helm; the other strain'd
The fragment of a shiver'd sail; his brow
The while bent proudly on the scowling surge,
At which he scowl'd again. The vessel struck :
One man alone bestrode the wave, and rode
The foaming courser safe. 'Twas he, the same!
You clasp'd your Caius in your arms, and cried,
'Look, look, my sou! the brave man ne'er despairs,
And lives where cowards die!' I would but make
Due profit of your lesson.

Cor. Caius-Caius !-
Caius. Mother-I-

Cor. My son!

Caius. Well, I'll not go. [Sitting down.] I will be
ruled by you,

If you please; let men say what they list of me.
I care not if they whisper as I pass,

And point, and smile, and say to one another,
'Lo, the bold tribune, Gracchus! Lo, the man
Did lord it o'er the senate!' What is't to me?
I know I am your son, and would approve it
If I might; but, since you will not have it so,
I'll stay from the forum, mother; I'll not go
To the forum.

Cor. Know the people you did promise
To go?

Caius. Are they not here, with Fulvius Flaccus,
Expecting me? But let them go with him;

He'll speak for them; he'll be their friend; he'll dare
Oppose the senate; he'll preserve my laws,
If he can. If there's no other man to speak
For liberty, he'll do it! Pray you, mother,