valerius.
All condemned
To death; even now perhaps they are no more.
brutus.
And has the senate left to my disposal
The life of Titus?
valerius.
They esteem this honor
Due to thy virtues.
brutus.
O my country!
valerius.
What
Must I return in answer to the senate?
brutus.
That Brutus knows the value of a favor
He sought not, but shall study to deserve.
But could my son without resistance yield?
Could he—forgive my doubts, but Titus ever
Was Rome’s best guard, and still I feel I love him.
valerius.
Tullia, my lord—
brutus.
Well, what of her?
valerius.
Confirmed
Our just suspicions.
brutus.
How!
valerius.
Soon as she saw,
In her return, the dreadful preparation
Of torture for the offenders, at our feet
She fell, and soon in agonies expired;
The last poor victim of the hated race
Of tyrants: doubtless ’twas for her, my lord,
Rome was betrayed: I feel a father’s grief,
And weep for Brutus; but in her last moments
This way she turned her eyes, and called on Titus.
brutus.
Just gods!
valerius.
Thou art his judge, perform thy office,
Or strike, or spare; acquit him, or condemn;
Rome will approve what Brutus shall determine.
brutus.
Lictors, bring Titus hither.
valerius.
I retire,
And trust thy virtue; my astonished soul
Admires and pities thee: I go to tell
The senate, naught can equal Brutus’ grief
But Brutus’ firmness.
SCENE VI.
brutus, proculus.
brutus.
No: the more I think,
The less can I believe my son could e’er
Conspire with traitors to betray his country:
No: he loved Rome too well; too well he loved
His father: sure we cannot thus forget
Our duty and ourselves in one short day:
I cannot think my son was guilty still.
proculus.
’Twas all conducted by Messala; he
Perhaps designed to shelter his own crimes
Beneath the name of Titus; his accusers
Envy his glory, and would fain obscure it.
brutus.
O! would to heaven it were so!
proculus.
He’s thy son,
Thy only hope; and innocent or guilty,
The senate has to thee resigned his fate:
His life is safe whilst in the hands of Brutus;
Thou wilt preserve a great man for his country;
Thou art a father.
brutus.
No: I am Rome’s consul.
SCENE VII.
brutus, proculus, titus.
At the farther end of the stage, guarded by Lictors.
proculus.
He comes.
titus.
[Advancing.
’Tis Brutus: O distressful sight!
Open, thou earth, beneath my trembling steps!
My lord, permit a son—
brutus.
Rash boy, forbear:
I was the father of two children once,
And loved them both; but one is lost: what sayest thou?
Speak, Titus, have I yet a son?
titus.
O no:
Thou hast not.
brutus.
Answer then thy judge, thou shame
To Brutus; say, didst thou betray thy country,
Give up thy father to a tyrant’s power,
And break thy solemn vows? Didst thou resolve
To do this, Titus?
titus.
I resolved on nothing.
Filled with a deadly poison that possessed
My frantic mind, I did not know myself,
Nor do I yet; and my distempered soul,
In its wild rage, was for a moment guilty;
That moment clothed me with eternal shame,
And made me false to what I loved, my country:
’Tis past; and anguish and remorse succeed
To avenge their wrongs, and scourge me for the crime.
Pronounce my sentence: Rome, that looks upon thee,
Wants an example, and demands my life:
By my deserved fate she may deter
Those of her sons, if any such there be,
Who might be tempted to a crime like mine.
In death at least thus shall I serve my country;
Thus shall my blood, which never till this hour
Was stained with guilt, still flow for liberty.
brutus.
Unnatural mixture! perfidy and courage;
Such horrid crimes with such exalted virtue!
With all thy dear-bought laurels on thy brow,
What power malignant could inspire thee thus
With vile inconstancy?
titus.
The