Shrinks from his task. Nay more, upon thy name Fixes a blot, and sullies all thy glory!

Thy doom was just, 'tis Caius has pronounc'd it!

GRACCHUS.

Thou wrong'st me, Fulvius Flaccus.

FULVIUS.

Hear me, Caius.

When all the frantic senate stain'd their hands,

Here in the forum, in thy brother's blood,
A tribune then, a sacred magistrate,

All but the consul, Mutius Scævola:
Thou then wast absent, serving in the war
Against Numantia, under Publius Scipio.
I was a witness of that fatal time.

I saw Tiberius Gracchus struck to earth,
Beneath repeated blows saw him expire.
Their savage fury ended not with death.
His breathless body ignominiously

Was haled along, and thrown into the Tiber.

GRACCHUS.

Accursed was the deed

FULVIUS.

Awhile be patient.

Thus did he fall. But of his glorious acts

Not one has perish'd. That Agrarian law

Survives him a perpetual benefit

To those for whom he liv'd, the Roman people.

I too was present, but thou wast not, Caius,
When in th' assembly of the tribes, that law
Was pass'd. It was a memorable day.
The senate then, as upon this occasion,

Had with a tribune, of that sacred name
Unworthy, practis'd to betray the people
Forbidding to proceed. What then did Gracchus?
Never before the people's magistrate

By them created to protect their rights,

Had dar'd to violate his sacred trust,

- And madly lifted his rebellious voice
Against his masters. What did Gracchus then?

Did he with tame, and servile aequiescence
Submit in silence to the artful senate?

Or bravely taking counsel from the times;
The public good; the spirit of the laws;
Did his great soul suggest the glorious means
To blast the factious purpose of a traitor,

And vindicate the people's majesty?

The tribes were called to vote. Th' astonish'd senate

Beheld the degradation of their tool,

The vile Octavius. The Agrarian law

Was pass'd. The senate swore obedience to it.
But was the justice of this fair proceeding

Arraign'd? And when they had resolv'd his death,
Against Tiberius did th' incensed nobles

This, as a violation of the law,

Presume to urge, which might have veil'd their guilt,
And seem'd to sanction murder? No. They dar'd not,
Though th' abrogation of the hated law

Had follow'd thence. And thus has precedent
Determin'd in this point, the people's power
Over their officers; and thus would Caius,
With half the courage of his noble brother,
And half the zeal to do his country service,
Give to the wind his doubts.

GRACCHUS.

I dare affirm,

And so I think the tenor of my actions

Distinctly speaks, no mean, and coward motive
Will lead me to desert the public service.

And if nor urgent pray'rs, nor pleaded reason,
Can from his purpos'd crime divert Minutius,

The great example by my brother shewn
Is present still before me.
But the senate

Assembled now should be observ'd. 'Tis fit

That we be present at their consultations.

FULVIUS.

Thou hast reviv'd me, Caius. In thine eye
I read the genuine spirit of a Roman.
Methinks Tiberius stands again before me.
Lead on, I follow thee.

SCENE IV.

(As they are going out, Servilia and Sempronia, with their attendants, enter veil'd. Servilia

meeting her husband raises her veil.)

GRACCHUS.

My dear Servilia!

Sempronia too! What holy rite, my love,

Thus with the rosy morning's orient beam,
Demands your pious care?

SERVILIA.

Alas, my Caius,

Not with the morning's orient beam alone,
But when the sun's meridian glory shines,
And when the balmy evening's dews descend,
And when the cares of half the world repose,
We wake to grief, and weary heaven with prayer.

GRACCHUS.

Forgive me, Fulvius, these fair mourners claim me Some minutes space. I'll meet thee in the senate.

SCENE V.

GRACCHUS, SERVILIA, SEMPRONIA, ATTENDANTS.

GRACCHUS.

Oh thou, dear object of my fondest love,
Dismiss thy fears. Propitious omens lead
My steps, and all conspire to my success.
Let not thy streaming tears, my dear Servilia,
Repress my triumph, and obscure my hopes.'

SERVILIA,

Oh Caius, even thy success I fear :
Alas, Tiberius Gracchus was successful,
And when Cornelia press'd him to forbear,
Would tell her of his triumph o'er Octavius.
Oh, by our mutual love, if yet thou lov'st me;
Oh, by our children, who demand thy care;
Pursue no farther this design of danger.
The senate will prevail. The fickle people
Resign thee unprotected to their vengeance.

GRACCHUS.

Servilia, when the public service calls me,