A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vii Part 20

LEPIDUS. Ay, even in death most courage doth appear.

OCTAVIUS. Then, waiting death, I mean to seat me here; Hoping that consuls' name and fear of laws Shall justify my conscience and my cause.

_Enter a_ MESSENGER.

Now, sirrah, what confused looks are these?

What tidings bringest thou of dreariment?[133]

MESSENGER. My lords, the Consul Cinna, with his friends, Have let in Marius by _Via Appia_, Whose soldiers waste and murder all they meet; Who, with the consul and his other friends, With expedition hasteth to this place.

ANTHONY. Then to the downfal of my happiness, Then to the ruin of this city Rome.

But if mine inward ruth were laid in sight, My streams of tears should drown my foes' despite.

OCTAVIUS. Courage, Lord Anthony: if fortune please, She will and can these troubles soon appease; But if her backward frowns approach us nigh, Resolve with us with honour for to die.

LEPIDUS. No storm of fate shall bring my sorrows down; But if that fortune list, why, let her frown.

ANTHONY. Where states oppress'd by cruel tyrants be, Old Anthony, there is no place for thee.

[_Drum strikes within_.

Hark, by this thundering noise of threatening drums, Marius with all his faction hither comes.

OCTAVIUS. Then like a traitor he shall know, ere long, In levying arms he doth his country wrong.

_Enter_ MARIUS, _his Son_, CINNA, CETHEGUS, LECTORIUS, _with Soldiers: upon sight of whom_ MARK ANTHONY _presently flies_.

MARIUS. And have we got the goal of honour now, And in despite of consuls enter'd Rome?

Then rouse thee, Marius. leave thy ruthful thoughts; And for thy many cares and toils sustain'd, Afflict thy foes with quite as many pains.

Go, soldiers, seek out Bebius and his friends, Attilius, Munitorius, with the rest; Cut off their heads, for they did cross me once; And if your care can compa.s.s my decree, Remember that same fugitive Mark Anthony, Whose fatal end shall be my fruitful peace.

I tell thee, Cinna, nature armeth beasts With just revenge, and lendeth in their kinds Sufficient warlike weapons of defence; If then by nature beasts revenge their wrong, Both heavens and nature grant me vengeance now.

Yet whilst I live and suck this subtle air, That lendeth breathing coolness to my lights, The register of all thy righteous acts, Thy pains, thy toils, thy travails for my sake, Shall dwell by kind impressions in my heart, And I with links of true, unfeigned love Will lock these Roman favourites in my breast, And live to hazard life for their relief.

CINNA. My lord, your safe and swift return to Rome Makes Cinna fortunate and well a-paid; Who, through the false suggestions of my foes, Was made a cypher[134] of a consul here: Lo, where he sits commanding in his throne, That wronged Marius, me, and all these lords.

YOUNG MARIUS. To 'quite his love, Cinna, let me alone.

How fare these lords that, lumping, pouting, proud, Imagine now to quell me with their looks?

Now welcome, sirs, is Marius thought so base?

Why stand you looking babies in my face?

Who welcomes me, him Marius makes his friend; Who lowers on me, him Marius means to end.

FLACCUS. Happy and fortunate thy return to Rome.

LEPIDUS. And long live Marius[135] with fame in Rome.

MARIUS. I thank you, courteous lords, that are so kind.

YOUNG MARIUS. But why endures your grace that braving mate, To sit and face us in his robes of state?

MARIUS. My son, he is a consul at the least, And gravity becomes Octavius best, But, Cinna, would in yonder empty seat You would for Marius' freedom once entreat.

_CINNA presseth up, and OCTAVIUS stayeth him_.

OCTAVIUS. Avaunt, thou traitor, proud and insolent!

How dar'st thou press near civil government.

MARIUS. Why, Master Consul, are you grown so hot?

I'll have a present cooling card for you.

Be therefore well advis'd, and move me not: For though by you I was exil'd from Rome, And in the desert from a prince's seat Left to bewail ingrat.i.tudes of Rome; Though I have known your thirsty throats have long'd To bathe themselves in my distilling blood, Yet Marius, sirs, hath pity join'd with power.

Lo, here the imperial ensign which I wield, That waveth mercy to my wishers-well: And more: see here the dangerous trote of war, That at the point is steel'd with ghastly death.

OCTAVIUS. Thou exile, threaten'st thou a consul then?

Lictors, go draw him hence! such braving mates Are not to boast their arms in quiet states.

MARIUS. Go draw me hence! What! no relent, Octavius?

YOUNG MARIUS. My lord, what heart indurate with revenge Could leave this lozel[136], threat'ning murder thus?

Vouchsafe me leave to taint that traitor seat With flowing streams of his contagious blood.

OCTAVIUS. The father's son, I know him by his talk, That scolds in words, when fingers cannot walk.

But Jove, I hope, will one day send to Rome The blessed patron of this monarchy, Who will revenge injustice by his sword.

CINNA. Such braving hopes, such cursed arguments: So strict command, such arrogant controls!

Suffer me, Marius, that am consul now, To do thee justice, and confound the wretch.

MARIUS. Cinna, you know I am a private man, That still submit my censures to your will.

CINNA. Then, soldiers, draw this traitor from the throne, And let him die, for Cinna wills it so.

YOUNG MARIUS. Ay, now, my Cinna, n.o.ble consul, speaks.

Octavius, your checks shall cost you dear.

OCTAVIUS. And let me die, for Cinna wills it so!

Is then the reverence of this robe contemn'd?

Are these a.s.sociates of so small regard?

Why then, Octavius willingly consents To entertain the sentence of his death.

But let the proudest traitor work his will; I fear no strokes, but here will sit me still.

Since justice sleeps, since tyrants reign in Rome, Octavius longs for death to die in Rome.

CINNA. Then strike him where he sits; then hale him hence.

OCTAVIUS. Heavens punish Cinna's pride and thy offence.

[_A Soldier stabs him; he is carried away_.

CINNA. Now is he fallen that threaten'd Marius; Now will I sit and plead for Marius.

MARIUS. Thou dost me justice, Cinna, for you see These peers of Rome of[137] late exiled me.

LEPIDUS. Your lordship doth injustice to accuse Those, who in your behalf did not offend.