of Sorrow Who dares to claim an equal share with me Brut. That Sir dare I and every Roman here What now at your laments your puling Sighs And Womans drops Shall these quit scores for blood For Chastity for Rome and violated Honor Now by the Gods my Soul disdains your tears There 's not a common Harlot in the Shambles But for a Drachma shall out-weep you all Advance the Body nearer See my Lords Behold you dazled Romans from the wound Of this dead Beauty thus I draw the Dagger All stain'd and reeking with her Sacred blood Thus to my lips I put the Hallow'd blade To yours Lucretius Collatinus yours To yours Herminius Mutius and Horatius And yours Valerius Kiss the Ponnyard round Now joyn your hands with mine and swear swear all By this chast Blood chast ere the Royal Villain Mixt his foul Spirits with the Spotless Mass Swear and let all the Gods be witnesses That you with me will drive proud Tarquin out His Wife th' Imperial Fury and her Sons With all the Race drive 'em with Sword and Fire To the World's limits Profligate accurst Swear from this time never to suffer them Nor any other King to Reign in Rome All. We Swear Brut. Well have you sworn and Oh methinks I see The hovering Spirit of the Ravish'd Matron Look down She bows her Airy head to bless you And Crown th' auspicious Sacrament with smiles Thus with her Body high expos'd to view March to the Forum with this Pomp of Death Oh Lucrece Oh! When to the Clouds thy Pile of Fame is rais'd While Rome is Free thy Memory shall be prais'd Senate and People Wives and Virgins all Shall once a year before thy Statue fall Cursing the Tarquins they thy Fate shall mourn But when the thoughts of Liberty return Shall bless the happy hour when thou wert born Exeunt ACT II. SCE. I. The Forum Tiberius Fabritius Lartius flaminius Tib. FAbritius Lartius and Flaminius As you are Romans and oblig'd by Tarquin I dare confide in you I say again Tho I could not refuse the Oath he gave us I disapprove my Father's undertaking I 'm Loyal to the last and so will stand I am in haste and must to Tullia Fab. Leave me my Lord to deal with the Multitude Tib. Remember this in short A King is one To whom you may complain when you are wrong'd The Throne lies open in your way for Justice You may be angry and may be forgiven There 's room for favor and for benefit Where Friends and Enemies may come together Have present hearing present composition Without recourse to the Litigious Laws Laws that are cruel deaf inexorable That cast the Vile and Noble altogether Where if you should exceed the bounds of Order There is no pardon O 't is dangerous To have all Actions judg'd by rigorous Law What to depend on Innocence alone Among so many Accidents and Errors That wait on human life Consider it Stand fast be Loyal I must to the Queen Exit Fab. A pretty Speech by Mercury Look you Lartius when the words lye like a low Wrestler round close and short squat pat and pithy Lar. But what should we do here Fabritius the Multitude will tear us in pieces Fab. 'T is true Lartius the Multitude is a mad thing a strange blunder-headed Monster and very unruly But eloquence is such a thing a fine moving florid pathetical Speech But see the Hydra comes let me alone fear not I say fear not Enter Vinditius with Plebeians Vin. Come Neighbours rank your selves plant your selves set your selves in Order the Gods are very angry I 'll say that for 'em pough pough I begin to sweat already and they 'l find us work enough to day I 'll tell you that And to say truth I never lik'd Tarquin before I saw the Mark in his forehead for look you Sirs I am a true Commonwealths-men and do not naturally love Kings tho they be good for why should any one man have more power than the People Is he bigger or wiser than the People Has he more Guts or more Brains than the People What can he do for the People that the People can't do for them selves Can he make Corn grow in a Famine can he give us Rain in Drought or make our Pots boil tho the Devil piss in the Fire 1. Cit. For my part I hate all Courtiers and I think I have reason for 't Vin. Thou reason Well Taylor and what 's thy reason 1. Cit. Why Sir there was a Crew of 'em t'other Night got drunk broke my windows and handled my wife Vin. How Neighbours Nay now the Fellow has reason look you his wife handled why this is a matter of moment 1. Cit. Nay I know there were some of the Princes for I heard Sextus his name Vin. I I the King's Sons my life for 't some of the King's Sons Well these roaring Lords never do any good among us Citizens they are ever breaking the Peace running in our Debts and swindging our wives Fab. How long at length thou many-headed Monster You Bulls and Bears you roaring Beasts and Bandogs Porters and Coblers Tinkers Taylors all You Rascally Sons of VVhores in a Civil Government How long I say dare you abuse our patience Does not the thought of Rods and Axes fright you Does not our presence ha these eyes these faces Strike you with trembling Ha! Vin. VVhy what have we here a very Spit-fire the Crack-fart of the Court Hold let me see him nearer yes Neighbours this is one of 'em one of your roaring Squires that poke us in the night beat the VVatch and deflowr our VVives I know him Neighbours for all his bouncing and his swearing this is a Court-Pimp a Baud one of Tarquin's Bauds Fab. Peace thou obstreperous Rascal I am a man of Honor. One of the Equestrian Order my name Fabritius Vin. Fabritius your Servant Fabritius Down with him Neighbours an upstart Rogue this is he that was the Queen's Coachman and drove the Chariot over her Father's Body down with him down with 'em all Bauds Pimps Pandars Fab. O mercy mercy mercy Vin. Hold Neighbours hold as we are great let us be just You Sirrah you of the Equestrian Order Knight now by Iove he has the look of a Pimp I find we can't save him Rise Sir Knight and tell me before the Majesty of the People what have you to say that you should not have your neck broke down the Tarpeian Rock your Body burnt and your Ashes thrown in the Tiber Fab. Oh! oh oh Vin. A Courtier a Sheep biter Leave off your blubbering and confess Fab. Oh! I will confess I will confess Vin. Answer me then Was not you once the Queen's Coachman Fab. I was I was Vin. Did you not drive her Chariot over the Body of her Father the dead King Tullus Fab. I did I did tho it went against my Conscience Vin. So much the worse Have you not since abused the good People by seducing
hear the Multitude and must among them Away my Son Tit. Bound and obedient ever Exit Enter Vinditius with Plebeians 1. Cit. Iupiter defend us I think the Firmament is all on a light fire Now Neighbour as you were saying as to the Cause of Lightning and Thunder and for the Nature of Prodigies Vin. What! a Taylor and talk of Lightning and Thunder why thou walking Shred thou moving Bottom thou upright Needle thou shaving edging Skirt thou Flip-flap of a Man thou vaulting Flea thou Nit thou Nothing dost thou talk of Prodigies when I am by O tempora O mores But Neighbours as I was saying what think you of Valerius All. Valerius Valerius Vin. I know you are piping hot for Sedition you all gape for Rebellion but what 's the near For look you Sirs we the People in the Body Politic are but the Guts of Government therefore we may rumble and grumble and Croke our hearts out if we have never a Head why how shall we be nourish'd therefore I say let us get us a Head a Head my Masters Brut. Protect me Iove and guard me from the Fantom Can this so horrid Apparition be Or is it but the making of my Fancy Vin. Ha Brutus what where is this Apparition 1. Cit. This is the Tribune of the Celeres A notable Head-piece and the King's Jester Brut. By Iove a Prodigy Vin. Nay like enough the Gods are very angry I know they are they told me so themselves For look you Neighbours I for my own part Have seen to day fourscore and nineteen Prodigies and a half Brut. But this is a whole one O most horrible Look Vinditius yonder o're that part O' the Capitol just just there man yonder look Vin. Ha my Lord Brut. I always took thee for a quick-sighted Fellow What art thou blind why yonder all o'fire It vomits Lightning 't is a monstrous Dragon Vin. O I see it O Iupiter and Iuno By the Gods I see it O Neighbours look look look on his filthy Nostrils 'T has eyes like flaming Saucers and a Belly Like a burning Caldron with such a swinging Tail And O a thing a thing that 's all o fire Brut. Ha! now it fronts us with a Head that 's mark'd With Tarquin's name and see 't is Thunder-strook Look yonder how it whizzes through the Air The Gods have strook it down 't is gone 't is vanish'd O Neighbours what what should this Potent mean Vin. Mean why it 's plain did we not see the Mark. Upon the Best Tarquin's the Dragon Neighbours Tarquin's the Dragon and the Gods shall swinge him All. A Dragon a Tarquin 1. Cit. For my part I saw nothing Vin. How Rogue why this is Prodigy on Prodigy Down with him knock him down what not see the Dragon 1. Cit. Mercy I did I did a huge monstrous Dragon Brut. So not a word of this my Masters not for your lives Meet me anon at the Forum but not a word Vinditius tell 'em the Tribune of the Celeres Intends this night to give them an Oration Exit Vendit and Rabble Enter Lucrece Valerius Lucretius Mutius Herminius Horatius Titus Tiberius Collatinus Brut. Ha! in the open Air so near you Gods So ripe your Judgments nay then let 'em break And burst the hearts of those that have deserv'd them Lucrece O Collatine art thou come Alas my Husband O my Love my Lord Coll. O Lucrece see I have obey'd thy Summons I have thee in my Arms but speak my Fair Say is all well Lucrece Away and do not touch me Stand near but touch me not My Father too Lucretius art thou here Luc. Thou seest I am Haste and relate thy lamentable Story Lucrece If there be Gods O will they not revenge me Draw near my Lord for sure you have a share In these strange woes Ah Sir what have you done Why did you bring that Monster of Manking The other Night to curse Collatia's walls Why did you blast me with that horrid Visage And blot my Honor with the Blood of Tarquin Coll. O all the Gods Lucrece Alas they are far off Or sure they would have help'd the wretched Lucrece Hear then and tell it to the wondring World Last night the Lustful bloody Sextus came Late and benighted to Collatia Intending as he said for Rome next morning But in the dead of Night just when soft sleep Had seal'd my eyes and quite becalm'd my Soul Methought a horrid voice thus thunder'd in my ear Lucrece thou' rt mine arise and meet my Arms When strait I wak'd and found young Tarquin by me His Robe unbutton'd red and sparkling eyes The flushing blood that mounted in his face The trembling eagerness that quite devour'd him With only one grim Slave that held a Taper At that dead stilness of the murd'ring Night Sufficiently declar'd his horrid purpose Coll. O Lucrece O! Lucrece How is it possible to speak the Passion The fright the throes and labour of my Soul Ah Collatine half dead I turn'd away To hide my shame my anger and my blushes While he at first with a dissembled mildness Attempted on my Honor But hastily repuls'd and with disdain He drew his Sword and locking his left hand Fast in my hair he held it to my breast Protesting by the Gods the Fiends and Furies If I refus'd him he would give me death And swear he found me with that swatthy Slave Whom he would leave there murder'd by my side Brut Villain Damn'd Villain Lucrece Ah Collatine Oh Father Iunius Brutus All that are kin to this dishonor'd blood How will you view me now Ah how forgive me Yet think not Collatine with my last tears With these last sighs these dying groans I beg you I do Conjure my Love my Lord my Husband Oh think me not consenting once in thought Tho he in act possess'd his furious pleasure For oh the name the name of an Adultress But here I faint Oh help me Imagine me my Lord but what I was And what I shortly shall be cold and dead Coll. Oh you avenging God! Lucrece my Love I swear I do not think thy Soul consenting And therefore I forgive thee Lucrece Ah my Lord Were I to live how should I answer this All that I ask you now is to Revenge me Revenge me Father Husband Oh revenge me Revenge me Brutus you his Sons revenge me Herminius Mutius thou Horatius too And thou Valerius all revenge me all Revenge the Honor of the Ravish'd Lucrece All. We will Revenge thee Lucrece I thank you all I thank you noble Romans And that my life tho well I know you wish it May not hereafter ever give example To any that like me shall be dishonor'd To live beneath so loath'd an Infamy Thus I for ever lose it thus set free My Soul my Life and Honour all together Revenge me Oh Revenge Revenge Revenge Dyes Luc. Strook to the heart already motionless Coll. O give me way t'lmbalm her with my tears For who has that propriety
And find Valerius out away Horatius Exeunt severally Fabr. Pr'ythee let 's talk no more on 't Look here 's Lord Brutus Come come we 'll divert ourselves For 't is but just that we who sit at the Helm should now and then unruffle our State affairs with the impertinence of a Fool. Pr'y thee Brutus what 's a Clock Brut. Clotho Lachesis Atropos the Fates are three let them but strike and I 'll lead you a Dance my Masters Fab. But hark you Brutus dost thou hear the news of Lucrece Brut. Yes yes and I heard of the wager that was lay'd among you among you whoring Lords at the Siege of Ardea Ha Boy about your handsome Wives Fab. Well and how and how Brut. How you bounc'd from the Board took Horse and rode like madmen to find the gentle Lucrece at Collatia but how found her why working with her Maids at midnight Was not this monstrous and quite out of the fashion Fine stuff indeed for a Lady of Honor when her Husband was out of the way to sit weaving and pinking and pricking of Arras Now by this light my Lord your Wife made better use of her Pin-cushion Fab. My Wife my Lord by Mars My Wife Brut. Why should she not when all the Royal Nurses do the same What what my Lord did you not find 'em at it when you came from Collatia to Rome Lartius your Wife and yours Flaminius with Tullia's Boys turning the Cristals up dashing the Windows and the Fates defying Now by the Gods I think 't was Civil in you discreetly done Sirs not to interrupt ' em But for your Wife Fabritius I 'll be sworn for her she would not keep 'em company Fab. No marry would she not she hates Debauches How have I heard her rail at Terentia and tell her next her heart upon the qualms that drinking Wine so late and tipling Spirits would be the death of her Brut. Hark you Gentlemen if you would but be secret now I could unfold such a business my life on 't a very Plot upon the Court Fab. Out with it we swear secrefie Brut. Why thus then To morrow Tullia goes to the Camp and I being Master of the Houshold have command to sweep the Court of all its Furniture and send it packing to the Wars Pandars Sycophants upstart Rogues fine Knaves and surly Rascals Flatterers easie supple cringing passing smiling Villains all all to the Wars Fab. By Mars I do not like this Plot. Brut. Why is it not a Plot a Plot upon your Selves your Persons Families and your Relations even to your Wives Mothers Sisters all your Kindred For Whores too are included Setters too and Whore-procurers Bag and Baggage all all to the Wars All hence all Rubbish Lumber out and not a Baud be left behind to put you in hope of hatching Whores hereafter Fab. Hark Lartius he 'll run from fooling to direct madness and beat our Brains out The Devil take the hindmost your Servant sweet Brutus noble honorable Brutus Exeunt Enter Titus Tit. 'T is done 't is done auspicious Heav'n had joyn'd us And I this night shall hold her in my arms Oh Sir Brut. Oh Sir that exclamation was too high Such Raptures ill become the troubled times No more of ' em And by the way my Titus Renounce your Teraminta Tit. Ha my Lord Brut. How now my Boy Tit. Your counsel comes too late Sir Brut. Your reply Sir Comes too ill-manner'd pert and saucy Sir Tit. Sir I am marry'd Brut. What without my knowledge Tit. My Lord I ask your pardon but that Hymen Brut. Thou ly'st that honorable God would scorn it Some baudy Flamen shuffled you together Priapus lock'd you while the Bachanals Sung your detested Epithalamium Which of thy blood were the curs'd Witnesses Who would be there at such polluted Rites But Goats Baboons some chattring old Silenus Or Satyrs grinning at your slimy joys Tit. Oh all the Gods my Lord your Son is marry'd To Tarquin's Brut. Bastard Tit. No his Daughter Brut. No matter To any of his Blood if it be his There is such natural Contagion in it Such a Congenial Devil in his Spirit Name Liniage Stock that but to own a part Of his Relation is to profess thy self Sworn Slave of Hell and Bondman to the Furies Thou art not Marry'd Tit. O is this possible This change that I behold no part of him The same nor Eyes nor Meen nor Voice nor Gesture Brut. Oh that the Gods would give my Arm the vigor To shake this soft effeminate lazy Soul Forth from thy bosom No degenerate Boy Brutus is not the same the Gods have wak'd him From dead Stupidity to be a Scourge A living Torment to thy disobedience Look on my face view my eyes flame and tell me If ought thou seest but Glory and Revenge A blood-shot Anger and a burst of Fury When I but think of Tarquin Damn the Monster Fetch him you Judges of th' eternal Deep Arraign him Chain him plunge him in double fires If after this thou seest a tenderness A Woman's tear come o're my resolution Think Titus think my Son 't is Nature's fault Not Roman Brutus but a Father now Tit. Oh let me fall low as the Earth permist me And thank the Gods for this most happy change That you are now altho to my confusion That aw-ful God-like and Commanding Brutus Which I so oft have wish'd you which sometimes I thought imperfectly you were or might be When I have taken unawares your Soul At a broad glance and fore'd her to retire Ah my dear Lord you need not add new threats New marks of Anger to compleat my Ruin Your Titus has enough to break his heart When he remembers that you durst not trust him Yes yes my Lord I have a thousand frailties The mould you cast me in the breath the blood And Spirit which you gave me are unlike The God-like Author yet you gave 'em Sir And sure if your had pleas'd to honor me T'immortalize my Name to after Ages By ' imparting your high cards I should have found At least so much Hereditary Virtue As not to have divulg'd them Brut. Rise my Son Be satisfy'd thou art the first that know'st me A thousand Accidents and Fated Causes Rush against every Bulwark I can raise And half unhinge my Soul For now 's the time To shake the Building of the Tyrant down As from Night's Womb the glorious Day breaks forth And seems to kindle from the setting Stars So from the blackness of young Tarquin's Crime And Fornace of his Lust the virtuous Soul Of Iunius Brutus catches bright occasion I see the Pillars of his Kingdom totter The Rape of Lucrece is the midnight Lantorn That lights my Genius down to the Foundation Leave me to work my Titus O my Son For from this Spark a Lightning shall arise That must e're Night purge all the Roman Air And then the Thunder of his ruin follows No more but haste thee to Lucretius I
Lucrece Tho on they Bridal night thou wilt not touch her Tit. I swear ev'n by the Soul of her you nam'd The Ravish'd Lucrece Oh th' Immortal Gods I will not touch her Brut. So I trust thy Virtue And by the Gods I thank thee for the Conquest Once more with all the blessings I can give thee I take thee to my arms thus on my brest The hard and rugged Pillow of thy Honor I wean thee from thy Love Farewel be fast To what thou 'st sworn and I am thine for ever Exit Tit. solus To what thou 'st sworn Oh Heaven and Earth What 's that What have I sworn to part with Teraminta To part with something dearer to my heart Than my Life's drops What! not this night enjoy her Renounce my Vows the Rights the Dues of Marriage Which now I gave her and the Priest was witness Bless'd with a floud that stream'd from both our eyes And seal'd with sighs and smiles and deathless kisses Yet after this to swear thou wilt not touch her Oh all the Gods I did forswear my self In swearing that and will forswear again Not touch her O thou perjur'd Braggard where Where are thy Vaunts thy Protestations now Enter Teraminta She comes to strike thy staggering Duty down 'T is fall'n 't is gone Oh Teraminta come Come to my arms thou only joy of Titus Hush to my cares thou mass of hoarded sweets Selected hour of all Life 's happy moments What shall I say to thee Ter. Say any thing For while you speak methinks a sudden calm In spight of all the horror that surrounds me Falls upon every frighted faculty And puts my Soul in Tune O Titus Oh! Methinks my Spirit shivers in her house Shrugging as if the long'd to be at rest With this foresight to dye thus in your arms Were to prevent a world of following ills Ter. What ills my Love what power has Fortune now But we can brave 'T is true my Teraminta The Body of the World is out of frame The vast distorted limbs are on the Rack And all the Cable Sinews stretch'd to bursting The Blood ferments and the Majestick Spirit Like Hercules in the invenom'd Shirt Lies in a Fever on the horrid Pile My Father like an Aesculapius Sent by the Gods comes boldly to the Cure But how my Love by violent Remedies And saies that Rome ere yet she can be well Must purge and cast purge all th' infected humors Through the whole mass and vastly vastly bleed Ter. Ah Titus I my self but now beheld Th'expulsion of the Queen driv'n from her Palace By the inrag'd and madding Multitude And hardly scap'd my self to find you here Tit. Why yet my Teraminta we may smile Come then to bed ere yet the night descends With her black wings to brood o're all the World Why what care we let us enjoy those pleasures The Gods have giv'n lock'd in each others arms We 'll lye for ever thus and laugh at Fate Ter. No no my Lord there 's more than you have nam'd There 's something at your heart that I must find I claim it with the priviledge of a Wife Keep close your joys but for your griefs my Titus I must not will not lose my share in them Ah the good Gods what is it stirs you thus Speak speak my Lord or Teraminta dies Oh Heav'ns he weeps nay then upon my knees I thus conjure you speak or give me death Tit. Rise Teraminta Oh if I should speak What I have rashly sworn against my Love I fear that I should give thee death indeed Ter. Against your Love No that 's impossible I know your God-like truth nay should you swear Swear to me now that you forswore your Love I would not credit it No no my Lord I see I know I read it in your eyes You love the wretched Teraminta still The very manner of your hiding it The tears you shed your backwardness to speak What you affirm you swore against your Love Tell me my Lord you love me more than ever Tit. By all the Gods I do Oh Teraminta My heart's discerner whether wilt thou drive me I 'll tell thee then My Father wrought me up I know not how to swear I know not what That I would send thee hence with Tullia Swear not to touch thee though my Wife yet Oh Had'st thou been by thy self and but beheld him Thou would'st have thought such was his Majesty That the Gods Lightned from his awful eyes And Thunder'd from his tongue Ter. No more my Lord I do conjure you by all those Powers Which we invok'd together at the Altar And beg you by the love I know you bear me To let this passion trouble you no farther No my dear Lord my honor'd God-like Husband I am your Wife and one that seeks your Honor By Heaven I would have sworn you thus my self What on the shock of Empire on the turn Of State and universal change of things To lye at home and languish for a Woman No Titus he that makes himself thus vile Let him not dare pretend to ought that 's Princely But be as all the Warlike World shall judge him The Droll of th' People and the scorn of Kings Enter Horatius Hor. My Lord your Father gives you thus in Charge Remember what you swore the Guard is ready And I am ordered to conduct your Bride While you attend your Father Tit. Oh Teraminta Then we must part Ter. We must we must my Lord Therefore be swift and snatch your self away Or I shall dye with lingring Tit. Oh a kiss Balmy as Cordials that recover Souls Chast as Maids sighs and keen as longing Mothers Preserve thy self look well to that my Love Think on our Covenant when either dyes The other is no more Ter. I do remember But have no language left Tit. Yet we shall meet In spight of sighs we shall at least in Heaven Oh Teraminta once more to my heart Once to my lips and ever to my Soul Thus the soft Mother tho her Babe is dead Will have the Darling on her bosom lay'd Will talk and rave and with the Nurses strive And fond it still as if it were alive Knows it must go yet struggles with the Croud And shrieks to see 'em wrap it in the Shroud ACT III. SCE. I. Collatinus Tiberius Vitellius Aquitius Col. TH' expulsion of the Tarquin now must stand Their Camp to be surpris'd while Tarquins here Was scolded from our Walls I blush to think That such a Master in the art of War Should so forget himself Vit. Triumphant Brutus Like Iove when follow'd by a Train of Gods To mingle with the Fates and Doom the World Ascends the Brasen steps o' th Capitol With all the humming Senate at his heels Ev'n in that Capitol which the King built With the expence of all the Royal Treasure Ingrateful Brutus there in pomp appears And sits the Purple Judge of Tarquin's downfal Aquil. But why my Lord why are not you
there too Were you not chosen Consul by whole Rome Why are you not Saluted too like him Where are your Lictors where your Rods and Axes Or are you but the Ape the Mimic God Of this new Thunderer who appropriates Those Bolts of Power which ought to be divided Tib. Now by the Gods I hath his upstart pride His Rebel thoughts of the Imperial Race His abject Shou that stoops to Court the Vulgar His scorn of Princes and his lust to th' People O Collatine have you not eyes to find him Why are you rais'd but to set off'his honors A Taper by the Sun whose sickly Beams Are swallow'd in the blaze of his full Glory He like a Meteor wades th' Abyss of light While your faint luster adds but to the beard That aws the World When late through Rome he pass'd Fixt on his Courser mark'd you how he bow'd On this on that side to the gazing heads That pav'd the Streets and all imboss'd the Windows That gap'd with eagerness to speak but could not So fast their Spirits flow'd to admiration And that to joy which thus at last broke forth Brutus God Brutus Father of thy Country Hail Genius hail Deliverer of lost Rome Shield of the Common wealth and Sword of Justice Hail scourge of Tyrants lash for Lawless Kings All hail they cry'd while the long Peal of Praises Tormented with a thousand Ecchoing cryes Ran like the Volly of the Gods along Col. No more on 't I grow sick with the remembrance Tib. But when you follow'd how did their bellying Bodies That ventur'd from the Casements more than half To look at Brutus nay that stuck like Snails Upon the Walls and from the Houses tops Hung down like clustring Beds upon each other How did they all draw back at sight of you To laze and loll and yawn and rest from rapture Are you a man have you the blood of Kings And suffer this Col. Ha! is he not his Father Tib. I grant he is Consider this and rouz your selfe at home Commend my fire and rail at your own slackness Yet more remember but your last disgrace When you propos'd with reverence to the Gods A King of Sacrifices should be chosen And from the Consuls did he not oppose you Fearing as well he might your sure election Saying It smelt too much of Royalty And that it might rub up the memory Of those that lov'd the Tyrant Nay yet more That if the people chose yor for the Place The name of King would light upon a Tarquin Of one that 's doubly Royal being descended From two great Princes that were Kings of Rome Col. But after all this whether would'st thou drive Tib. I would to Justice for the Restauration Of our most Lawful Prince Yes Collatine I look upon my Father as a Traytor I find that neither you nor brave Aquilius Nor young Vitellius dare confide in me But that you may and firmly to the hazard Of all the World holds precious once again I say I look on Brutus as a Traytor No more my Father by th' immortal Gods And to redeem the time or fix the King On his Imperial Throne some means propos'd That savor of a govern'd Policy Where there is strength and life to hope a Fortune Not to throw all upon one desperate chance I 'll on as far as he that laughs at dying Col. Come to my armes O thou so truly brave Thou may'st redeem the errors of thy race Aquilius and Vitellius O embrace him And ask his pardon that so long we fear'd To trust so rich a Virtue But behold Enter Brutus and Valerius Brutus appears Youngman be satisfy'd I sound thy Politic Father to the bottom Plotting the assumption of Valerius He means to cast me from the Consulship But now I heard how he Cajol'd the People With his known industry and my remissness That still in all our Votes Proscriptions Edicts Against the King he found I acted faintly Still closing every Sentence He 's a Tarquin Bru. No my Valerius till thou art my mate Joynt master in this great Authority However calm the face of things appear Rome is not safe by the Majestie Gods I swear while Collatine sits at the helm A Universal wrack is to be fear'd I have intelligence of his Transactions He mingles with the young hot blood of Rome Gnaws himself inward grudges my applause Promotes Cabals with highest Quality Such headlong youth as spurning Laws and manners Shar'd in the late Debaucheries of Sextus And therefore wish the Tyrant here again As the inverted Seasons shock wise men And the most fixt Philosophy must start At sultry Winters and at frosty Summers So at this most unnatural stilness here This more than midnight silence through all Rome This deadness of discourse and dreadful Calm Upon so great a change I more admire Than if a hundred Politic heads were met And nodded Mutiny to one another More fear than if a thousand lying Libels Were spread abroad nay dropt among the Senate Val. I have my self employ'd a busy Slave His name Vinditiuss given him Wealth and Freedom To watch the Motions of Vitellius And those of the Aquilian Family Vitellius has already entertain'd him And something thence important may be gather'd For these of all the youth of Quality Are most inclin'd to Tarquin and his Race By Blood and Humor Brut. O Valerius That Boy observ'st thou O I fear My Friend He is a Weed but rooted in my heart And grafted to my Stock if he prove rank By Mars no more but thus away with him I 'll tear him from me though the blood should follow Tiberius Tib. My Lord Brut. Sirrah no more of that Vitellius I warn'd you too of young Aquilius Are my words wind that thus you let 'em pass Hast thou forgot thy Father Tib. No my Lord. Brut. Thou ly'st But tho thou scape a Father Rod The Consul's Ax may reach thee think on that I know thy Vanity and blind Ambition Thou dost associate with my Enemies When I refus'd the Consul Collatine To be the King of Sacrifices strait As if thou had'st been sworn his bosom Fool He nam'd thee for the Office And since that Since I refus'd thy madness that preferment Because I would have none of Brutus Blood Pretend to be a King thou hang'st thy head Contriv'st to give thy Father new displeasure As if Imperial Toyl were not enough To break my heart without thy disobedience But by the Majesty of Rome I swear If after double warning thou despise me By all the Gods I 'll cast thee from my blood Doom thee to Forks and Whips as a Barbarian And leave thee to the lashes of the Lictor Tarquinius Collatinus you are summon'd To meet the Senate on the instant time Ex. Brut. Val. Coll. Lead on my duty is to follow Brutus Tib. Now by those Gods with which he meanc'd me I Here put off all nature since he turns me Thus desperate to the World I do renounce him And
Farewel and take this with thee For thy sake I will not Fight against the King nor for him I 'll fly my Father Brother Friends for ever Forsake the haunts of Men converse no more With ought that 's Human dwell with endless darkness For Since the sight of thee is now unwelcome What has the World besides that I can bear Ter. Come back my Lord. By those immortal Pow'rs You now invok'd I 'll fix you in this virtue Your Teraminta did but try how strong Your Honour stood and now she finds it lasting Will dye to root you in this solid Glory Yes Titus tho the Queen has Sworn to end me Tho both the Fecialians have Commission To stab me in your presence if not wrought To serve the King yet by the Gods I charge you Keep to the point your constancy has gain'd Tarquin altho my Father is a Tyrant A bloody black Usurper so I beg you Ev'n in my death to view him Tit. Oh you Gods Ter. Yet guilty as he is if you behold him Hereafter with his Wounds upon the Earth Titus for my sake for poor Teraminta Who rather dy'd than you should lose your Honor Do not you strike him do not dip your Sword In Tarquin's blood because he was my Father Tit. No Teraminta no by all the Gods I will defend him ev'n against my Father See see my Love behold the Flight I take What all the Charms of thy expected bed Could not once move my Soul to think of Acting Thy tears and menac'd death by which thou striv'st To fix me to the Principles of Glory Have wrought me off Yes yes you cruel Gods Let the eternal Bolts that bind this Frame Start from their Order since you push me thus Ev'n to the Margin of this wide despair Behold I plungeat once in this dishonor Where there is neither Shore nor hope of Haven No Floating mark through all the dismal Vast 'T is Rockless too no Cliff to clamber up To gaze about and pause upon the ruin Ter. Is then your purpos'd Honor come to this What now my Lord Tit Thy death thy death my Love I 'll think on that and laugh at all the Gods Glory Blood Nature tyes of Reverence The dues of Birth respect of Parents all All are as this the Air I drive before me What ho Vitellius and Aquilius come And you the Fecialian Heralds hast I 'm ready for the leap I 'll take it with you Tho deep as to the Fiends Ter. Thus hear me Titus Tit. Off from my knees away What on this Theam thy death nay stab'd before me Enter Priests with Tiberius Aquilius Vitellius Speak not I will not know thee on this Subject But push thee from my heart with all persuasions That now are lost upon me O Tiberius Aquilius and Vitellius welcome welcome I 'll joyn you in the Conjuration come I am as free as he that dares be formost Ter. My Lord my Husband Tit. Take this woman from me Nay look you Sirs I am not yet so gon So headlong neither in this damn'd Design To quench this Horrid thirst with Brutus blood No by th' eternal Gods I bar you that My Father shall not bleed Tib. You could not think Your Brother sure so Monstrous in his kind As not to make our Father's life his care Tit. Thus then my Lords I List my self among you And with my Style in short Subscribe my self The Servant to the King my words are these Titus to the King Sir you need only know my Brother's mind To judge of me who am resolv'd to serve you 1 Pri. 'T is full enough Tit. Then leave me to the hire Exeunt Tib. Aquil. Vitell. and Priests Of this hard labor to the dear bought prize Whose life I purchas'd with my loss of Honor Come to my brests thou Tempest-beaten Flower Brim-full of Rain and stick upon my heart O short liv'd Rose yet I some hours will wear thee Yes by the Gods I 'll smell thee till I languish Rifle thy sweets and run the o're and o're Fall like the Night upon thy folding beauties And clasp thee dead Then like the Morning Sun With a new heat kiss thee to life again And make the pleasure equal to the pain ACT. IV. SCE. I. Tiberius Vitellius Tib HArk are we not pursu'd Vit No 't is the tread Of our own Friends that follow in the dark Tib. What 's now the time Vit. Just dead of night And 't is the blackest that e're mask'd a Murder Tib. It likes me better for I love the Scoul The grimmest lowre of Fate on such a deed I would have all the Charnel Houses yawn The dusty Urns and Monumental Bones Remov'd to make our Massacre a Tomb. Hark! who was that that holloa'd fire Vit. A Slave That snores i' th' Hall he bellows in his Sleep And cries The Capitol's o' fire Tib. I would it were And Tarquin at the Gates 't would be a blaze A Beacon fit to light a King of Blood That vows at once the Slaughter of the World Down with their Temples set 'em on a Flame What should they do with Houses for the Gods Fat Fools the lazy Magistrates of Rome Wise Citizens the Politick heads o' th' People That Preach Rebellion to the Multitude Why let 'em off and rowl into their Graves I long to beat work See good Aquilius Trebonius too Servilius and Minutius Pomponius hail nay now you may unmask Brow-beat the Fates and say they are your Slaves Aqu. What are those Bodyes for Tib. A Sacrifice These were two very busie Commonwealth's-men That ere the King was banish'd by the Senate First set the Plot on foot in publick Meetings That would be holding forth 'T was possible That Kings themselves might err and were but men The People were not Beasts for Sacrifice Then jogg'd his Brother this cram'd Statesman here The bolder Rogue whom ev'n with open mouth I heard once bealch Sedition from a Stall Go bear him to the Priests he is a Victim That comes as wish'd for them the Cooks of Heav'n And they will Carve this Brawn of fat Rebellion As if he were a Dish the Gods might feed on Vin. From a Window Oh the Gods Oh the Gods what will they do with him O these Priests Rogues Cutthroats A dish for the Gods but the Devil's Cooks to dress him Tib. Thus then The Fecialians have set down A platform copy'd from the King's design The Pandane or the Romulide the Roman Carmental and Janiculan Ports of Rome The Circ the Capital and Sublician Bridge Must all be seiz'd by us that are within 'T will not be hard in the Surprise of night By us the Consuls Children and their Nephews To kill the drowsie Guards and keep the Holds At least so long till Tarquin force his entrance With all the Royalists that come to joyn us Therefore to make his broader Squadrons way Tarquinian is design'd to be the Entry Of his most pompous and Resolv'd Revenge Aqu. The first
me a year within some horrid Dungeon So deep so near the Hells that I must suffer That I may groan my Torments to the Damn'd I do submit this Traitor this curs'd Villain To all the Stings of most ingenious horror So thou dispatch me ere my Father comes But hark I hear the tread of Fatel Brutus By all the Gods and by the lowest Furies I cannot bear his face away with me Or like a Whirlwind I will tear my way I care not whither Exit with Tiberius Val. Take 'em hence together Enter Vinditius with the Priests Vin. Here here my Lord I have unkennel'd two Those there are Rascals made of Flesh and blood Those are but men but these are the Gods Rogues Val. Go good Vinditius hast and stop the People Get 'em together to the Capitol Where all the Senate with the Consuls early Will see strict Justice done upon the Traytors For thee the Senate shall decree rewards Great as thy Service Vind. I humbly thank your Lordship Why what they 'l make me a Senator at least And then a Consul O th' Immortal Gods My Lord I go To have the Rods and Axes carry'd before me and a long purple Gown trailing behind my honorable heels Well I am made for ever Exit Enter Brutus attended Bru. O my Valerius are these horrors true Hast thou O Gods this night embowel'd me Ransack'd thy Brutus Veins thy Fellow Consul And found two Villains lurking in my blood Val. The blackest Treason that e're darkness brooded And who to hatch these horrors for the World Who to seduce the Noble Youth of Rome To draw 'em to so damn'd a Conjuration To bind 'em too by new invented Oaths Religious Forms and Devilish Sacrifices A Sacrament of blood for which Rome suffer'd In two the worthiest of her Martyr'd Sons Who to do this but Messengers from Heav'n These Holy men that Swore so solemnly Before the Senate call'd the Gods to curse 'em If they intended ought against the State Or harbor'd Treason more than what they utter'd Bru. Now all the Fiends and Furies thank 'em for it You Sons of Murder that get drunk with blood Then Stab at Princes poyson Commonwealths Destroy whole Hecatombs of Innocent Souls Pile 'em like Bulls and Sheep upon your Altars As you would smoke the Gods from out their Dwelling You shame of Earth and Scandal of the Heav'ns You deeper Fiends than any of the Furies That scorn to whisper Envy Hate Sedition But with a blast of Priviledge Proclaim it Priests that are Instruments design'd to Damnus Fit speaking Trumpets for the mouth of Hell Hence with 'em Guards secure 'em in the Prison Of Ancus Martius Read the Packets o're I 'll bear it as I 'm able read 'em out Val. The sum of the Conspiracy to the King It shall begin with both the Consuls deaths And then the Senate every man must bleed But those that have ingaged to serve the King Be ready therefore Sir to send your Troops By twelve to morrow night and come your self In person if you 'll reascend the Throne All that have sworn to serve your Majesty Subscribe themselves by name your faithful Subjects Tiberius Aquiltus Vitellius Trebonius Servilius Minutius Pomponius and your Fecialian Priests Bru. Ha! my Valerius is not Titus there Val. He 's here my Lord a paper by it self Titus to the King Sir you need only know my Brother's mind To judge of me who am resolv'd to serve you What do you think my Lord Bru. Think my Valerius By my heart I know not I 'm at a loss of thought and must acknowledge The Councils of the Gods are fathomless Nay 't is the hardest task perhaps of life To be assur'd of what is Vice or Virtue Whether when we raise up Temples to the Gods We do not then Blaspheme 'em O behold me Behold the Game that laughing Fortune playes Fate or the will of Heav'n call 't what you please That marrs the best designs that Prudence layes That brings events about perhaps to mock At human reach and sport with expectation Consider this and wonder not at Brutus If his Philosophy seems at a stand If thou behold'st him shed unmanly Tears To see his Blood his Children his own Bowels Conspire the death of him that gave 'em being Val. What heart but yours could bear it without breaking Bru. No my Valerius I were a beast indeed Not to be mov'd with such Prodigious suffering Yet after all I justifie the Gods And will conclude Ther 's Reason supernatural That guides us through the World with vast discretion Altho we have not Souls to comprehend it Which makes by wondrous methods the same Causes Produce effects tho of a different nature Since then for Man's Instruction and the Glory Of the Immortal Gods it is Decreed There must be patterns drawn of fiercest Virtue Brutus submits to the eternal Doom Val. May I believe there can be such perfection Such a Resolve in Man Bru. First as I am their Father I pardon both of 'em this black Design But as I am Rome's Consul I abhor 'em And cast 'em from my Soul with detestation The nearer to my blood the deeper grain'd The colour of their fault and they shall bleed Yes my Valerius both my Sons shall dye Enter Teraminta Nay I will stand unbowel'd by the Altar See something dearer to me than my entrails Display'd before the Gods and Roman People The Sacrifice of Justice and Revenge Ter. What Sacrifice what Victim Sir are these Which you intend O you eternal Powers How shall I vent my Sorrows Oh my Lord Yer ere you Seal the death you have design'd The death of all that 's lovely in the World Hear what the witness of his Soul can say The only Evidence that can or dare Appear for your unhappy guiltless Son The Gods command you Virtue Truth and Justice Which you with so much rigor have Ador'd Beg you would hear the wretched Teraminta Bru. Cease thy laments tho of the blood of Tarquin Yet more the Wife of my forgotten Son Thou shalt be heard Ter. Have you forgot him then Have you forgot your self the Image of you The very Picture of your excellence The Portraiture of all your manly Virtues Your visage stampt upon him just those eyes The moving Greatness of 'em all the mercy The shedding goodness not so quite severe Yet still most like and can you then forget him Bru. Will you proceed Ter. My Lord I will know then After your Son your Son that loves you more Than I love him after our common Titus The wealth o' th' World unless you rob 'em of it Had long endur'd th' Assaults of the Rebellious And still kept fix'd to what you had enjoyn'd him I as Fate order'd it was sent from Tullia With my death menac'd ev'n before his eyes Doom'd to be stab'd before him by the Priests Unless he yielded not t' oppose the King Consider Sir Oh make it your own Case Just Wedded just on
the expected joys Warm for my bed and rushing to my arms So loving too alas as we did love Granted in hast in heat in flame of passion He knew not what himself and so Subscrib'd But now Sir now my Lord behold a wonder Behold a Miracle to move your Soul Tho in my arms just in the grasps of pleasure His noble heart strook with the thoughts of Brutus Of what he promis'd you till then forgot Leapt in his brest and dash'd him from enjoyment He shriek'd y' immortal Gods what have I done No Teraminta let us rather perish Divide for ever with whole Seas betwixt us Rather than Sin against so good a Father Tho he before had barr'd your life and Fortune Yet would not trust the Traytors with the safety Of him he call'd tho Image of the Gods Val. O Saint-like Virtue of a Roman Wife O Eloquence Divine now all the arts Of Womens tongues the Rhetoric of the Gods Inspire thy soft and tender Soul to move him Ter. On this he rouz'd Swore by the Powers Divine He would fetch back the Paper that he gave Or leave his life amongst 'em kept his word And came to challenge it but oh too late For in the mid'st of all his Piety His strong perswasions to swift repentance His vows to lay their horrid Treasons open His execration of the barbarous Priests How he abhor'd that bloody Sacrament As much as you and curs'd the conjuration Vinditius came that had before alarm'd The wise Valerius who with all the Guards Found Titus here believ'd him like the rest And seiz'd him too as guilty of the Treason Val. But by the Gods my Soul does now acquit him Blest be thy tongue blest the auspicious Gods That sent thee O true pattern of perfection To plead his bleeding Cause There needs no more I see his Father 's mov'd Behold a joy A watry comfort rising in his eyes That sayes 'T is more than half a Heav'n to hear thee Bru. Hast O Valerius hast and send for Titus Ter. For Titus Oh that is a word too distant Say for your Son for your beloved Son The Darling of the World the joy of Heav'n The hope of Earth your eyes not dearer to you Your Soul's best wish and comfort of your age Enter Titus with Valerius Tit. Ah Sir Oh whither shall I run to hide me Where shall I lower fall how shall I lye More groveling in your View and howl for mercy Yet 't is some comfort to my wild despair Some joy in death that I may kiss your feet And swear upon 'em by these streaming tears Black as I am with all my guilt upon me I never harbor'd ought against your person Ev'n in the height of my full fraught distraction Your life my Lord was Sacred ever dear And ever pretious to unhappy Titus Bru. Rise Titus rise my Son Tit. Alas I dare not I have not strength to see the Majesty Which I have brav'd if thus far I aspire If on your knees I hang and vent my groans It is too much too much for thousand lives Bru. I pity thee my Son and I forgive thee And that thou may'st believe my mercy true I take thee in my arms Tit. O all the Gods Bru. Now rise I charge thee on my blessing rise Ter. Ah! See Sir see against his will behold He does obey tho he would choose to kneel An Age before you see how he stands and trembles Now by my hopes of mercy he 's so lost His heart 's so full brimful of tenderness The Sence of what you 've done has strook him Speechless Nor can be thank you now but with his tears Bru. My dear Valerius let me now intreat thee Withdraw a while with gentle Teraminta And leave us to our our selves Ter. Ah Sir I fear you now Nor can I leave you with the humble Titus Unless you promise me you will not chide Nor fall again to anger Do not Sir Do not upbraid his soft and melting temper With what is past Behold he sighs again Now by the Gods that hitherto have blest us My heart forebodes a storm I know not why But say my Lord give me your God-like word You 'l not be cruel and I 'll not trust my heart How e're it leaps and fills me with new horror Bru I promise thee Ter. Why then I thank you Sir Ev'n from my Soul I thank you for this goodness The great good gracious Gods reward and bless you Ah Titus ah my Soul 's eternal treasure I fear I leave thee with a hard Usurer But I perforce must trust thee Oh Farewell Exit with Val. Bru. Well Titus speak how is it with thee now I would attend awhile this mighty motion Wait till the Tempest were quite o'verblown That I might take thee in the Calm of Nature With all thy gentler Virtues brooding on thee So hush'd a stilness as if all the Gods Look'd down and listn'd to what we were saying Speak then and tell me O my best belov'd My Son my Titus is all well again Tit. So well that saying how must make it nothing So well that I could wish to dye this moment For so my heart with pow'erful throbs perswades me That were indeed to make you reparation That were my Lord to thank you home to dye And that for Titus too would be most happy Bru. How 's that my Son would death for thee be happy Tit. Most certain Sir for in my Grave I scape All those affronts which I in life must look for All those reproaches which the eyes and fingers And tongues of Rome will daily cast upon me From whom to a Soul so sensible as mine Each single Scorn would be far worse than dying Besides I scape the stings of my own Conscience Which will for ever Rack me with remembrance Haunt me by day and torture me by night Casting my blotted honor in the way Where e're my melancholy thoughts shall guide me Bru. But is not death a very dreadful thing Tit. Not to a mind resolv'd No Sir to me It seems as natural as to be born Groans and Convulsions and discolour'd faces Friends weeping round us blacks and obsequies Make it a dreadful thing the Pomp of death Is far more terrible than Death it self Yes Sir I call the Powers of Heav'n to witness Titus dares dye if so you have Decreed Nay he shall dye with joy to honor Brutus To make your Justice famous through the World And six the Liberty of Rome for ever Not but I must confess my weakness too Yet it is great thus to resolve against it To have the frailty of a mortal man But the Security of th' immortal Gods Bru. O Titus Oh thou absolute young man Thou flatt'ring Mirror of thy Father's Image Where I behold my self at such advantage Thou perfect Glory of the Iunian Race Let me indear thee once more to my bosom Groan an eternal Farewel to thy Soul Instead of tears weep blood if possible Blood
inhuman barbarous bloody Father O bear me to him Tit. Ha! my Teraminta Is 't possible the very top of Beauty This perfect face drawn by the Gods at Council Which they were long a making as they had reason For they shall never hit the like again Defil'd and mangled thus What barbarous wretch Has thus blasphem'd this bright Original Ter. For me it matters not nor my abuses But Oh for thee why have they us'd thee thus Whipt Titus whipt and could the Gods look on The glory of the World thus basely us'd Lash'd whipt and beaten by these upright Dogs Whose Souls with all the Virtue of the Senate Will be but Foyls to any fault of thine Who hast a beauty ev'n in thy offending And did thy Father Doom thee thus Oh Titus Forgive thy dying part if she believes A wretch so barbarous never could produce thee Some God some God my Titus watch'd his absence Slipt to thy mothers bed and gave thee to the World Tit. O this last wound this stab to all my courage Had'st thou been well I could have born more lashes And is it thus my Father does protect thee Ter. Ah Titus what thy murd'rer my Protector No let me fall again among the People Let me be whooted like a common strumpet Toss'd as I was and drag'd about the streets The Bastard of a Tarquin foil'd in Dirt The cry of all those Bloodhounds that did hunt me Thus to the Goal of death this happy end Of all my miseries here to pant my last To wash thy gashes with my Farewel tears To murmur sob and lean my aking head Upon thy breast thus like a Cradle Babe To suck thy wounds and bubble out my Soul Enter Sempronia Aquilia Vitellia Mourners c. Semp. Come Ladies hast and let us to the Senate If the Gods give us leave we 'll be to day Part of the Council Oh my Son my Titus See here the bloody Justice of a Father See how the Vengeance rains from his own bowels Is he not mad If he refuse to hear us We 'll bind his hands as one bereft of reason Hast then Oh Titus I would stay to moan thee But that I fear his orders are gon out For something worse for death to take the heads Of all the Kindred of these wretched Women Ter. Come then I think I have some Spirits left To joyn thee o most pious best of Mothers To melt this Rocky heart give me your hand Thus let us march before this wretched Host And offer to that God of blood our vows If there be ought that 's human left about him Perhaps my wounds and horrible abuses Helpt with the tears and groans of this sad Troop May batter down the best of his resolves Tit. Hark Teraminta Ter No my Lord away Exeunt Tit. Oh my Valerius was there ever day Through all the Legends of recorded time So sad as this But see my Father comes Enter Brutus Tiberius Lictors Tiberius too has undergone the Lash Give him the patience Gods of Martyr'd Titus And he will bless those hands that have chastis'd him Tib. Enjoy the bloody Conquest of thy Pride Thou more Tyrannical than any Tarquin Thou fiercer Sire of these unhappy Sons Than impious Saturn or the gorg'd Thiestes This Cormorant sees and owns us for his Children Yet preyes upon his entrails tears his bowels With thirst of blood and hungar fetch'd from Hell Which Famish'd Tantalus would start to think on But end Barbarian end the horrid vengeance Which thou so impiously hast begun Perfect thy Justice as thou Tyrant call'st it Sit like a Fury on thy black Tribunal Grasp with thy monstrous hands these gory heads And let thy Flatt'ring Orators adore thee For Triumphs which shall make the smile at horror Bru. Lead to the Senate Tib. Go then to the Senate There make thy boast how thou hast doom'd thy Children To Forks and Whips for which the Gods reward thee Away my Spirit scorns more conference with thee The Ax will be as laughter but the whips That drew these stains for this I beg the Gods With my last breath for every drop that falls From these vile wounds to Thunder curses on thee Exit Bru. Valerius hast the Senate does attend us Exit Tit. Valerius ere you go let me conjure thee By all the Earth holds great or honorable As thou art truly Roman stampt a man Grant to thy dying Titus one request Val. I 'll grant thee any thing but do not talk Of dying yet for much I dare confide In that sad company that 's gone before I know they 'l move him to preserve his Titus For tho you mark'd him not as hence he parted I could perceive with joy a silent shower Run down his silver beard therefore have hope Tit. Hope say'st thou O the Gods what hope of life To live to live and after this dishonor No my Valerius do not make me rave But if thou hast a Soul that 's sensible Let me conjure thee when we reach the Senate To thrust me through the heart Val. Not for the World Tit. Do 't or I swear thou hast no Friendship for me First thou wilt save me from the hated Ax The Hangman's hand for by the Gods I tell thee Thou may'st as well stop the eternal Sun And drive him back as turn my Father's purpose Next and what most my Soul intreats thee for I shall perhaps in death procure his pity For to dye thus beneath his killing frown Is damning me before my execution Valer. 'T is granted by the Gods I swear to end thee For when I weigh with my more serious thought Thy Father's conduct in this dreadful Justice I find it is impossible to save thee Come then I 'll lead thee O thou glorious Victim Thus to the Altar of untimely death Thus in thy trim with all thy bloom of youth This Virtues on thee whose eternal Spring Shall blossom on thy Monumental Marble With never fading glory Tit. Let me clasp thee Boyl out my thanks thus with my Farewel Spirits And now away the Taper's almost out Never Valerius to be kindled moreâ— Or if it be my friend it shall continue Burn through all winds against the pusf of Fortune To dazle still and Shine like the fix'd Stars With beams of glory that shall last for ever Exeunt Scena ultima Senate Bru. Health to the Senate To the Fathers hail Iupiter Horscius and Diespiter Hospital and Feretrian Iove the Stayer With all the hundred Gods and Goddesses Guard and defend the Liberty of Rome It has been found a famous truth in Story Left by the ancient Sages to their Sons That on the change of Empires or of Kingdoms Some sudden Execution fierce and great Such as may draw the World to admiration Is necessary to be put in Act Against the Enemies to the present State Had Hector when the Greeks and Trojans met Upon the Truce and mingled with each other Brought to the Banquet of those Demy-Gods The Fatal