Rienzi, Colonna, Ursini, Frangipani, Cafarello, Angelo, Savelli, the Nuncio, Ambassador, Nobles.

Rie. WHY, this

Is well, my lords, this full assemblage. Now
The chief of Rome stands fitly girt with names
Strong as their towers around him. Fall not off,
And we shall be impregnable. (Advancing up the room.)
Lord Nuncio,

I should have ask'd thy blessing. I have sent
Our missions to the pontiff. Count Savelli-
My lord ambassador-I crave your pardon.
What news from Venice, the sea-queen? Savelli
I have a little maiden who must know

Thy fairest daughter. Angelo, Colonna,
A double welcome!

Rome lack'd half her state

Wanting her princely columns.

Col. Sir, I come

A suitor to thee. Martin Ursini

Rie. When last his name was on thy lips

'Well, sir,

Thy suit, thy suit! If pardon, take at once
My answer- No.

Ang. Yet, mercy—

Rie. Angelo,

Waste not thy pleadings on a desperate cause

And a resolved spirit. She awaits thee.

Haste to that fairer court.

My lord Colonna,

This is a needful justice.

Col. Noble Tribune,

It is a crime which custom

Rie. Ay, the law

(Exit Angelo.)

Of the strong against the weak-your law, the law
Of the sword and spear. But, gentles, ye lie now

Under the good estate.

Sav. He is a noble.

Rie. Therefore,

A thousand times he dies.
And 'need a warning.

(Crossing to the centre.)

Ye are noble, sirs,

Col. Sick, almost to death.

Rie. Ye have less cause to grieve.
Frang. New wedded.

Rie. Ay,

Madonna Laura is a blooming dame,

And will become her weeds.

Caf. Remember, Tribune,

He hath two uncles, cardinals. Wouldst outrage
The sacred college?

Rie. The lord cardinals,

Meek, pious, lowly men, and loving virtue,
Will render thanks to him who wipes a blot
So flagrant from their name.

Col. An Ursini!

Head of the Ursini!

Urs. Mine only brother!

Rie. And darest talk thou to me of brothers? Thou, Whose groom-wouldst have me break my own just laws, To save thy brother? thine! Hast thou forgotten

When that most beautiful and blameless boy,
The prettiest piece of innocence that ever
Breathed in this sinful world, lay at thy feet,
Slain by thy pamper'd minion, and I knelt
Before thee for redress, whilst thou didst never
Hear talk of retribution! This is justice,
Pure justice, not revenge! Mark well, my lords-
Pure, equal justice. Martin Ursini

Had open trial, is guilty, is condemn'd—

And he shall die!

If

Col. Yet listen to us!

Rie. Lords,

before me all the peers,

ye could range
Prelates and potentates of Christendom-
The holy pontiff kneeling at my knee,
And emperors crouching at my feet, to sue
For this great robber, still I should be blind,
As justice. But this very day a wife,
One infant hanging at her breast, and two
Scarce bigger, first-born twins of misery,
Clinging to the poor rags that scarcely hid
Her squalid form, grasp'd at my bridle-rein,
To beg her husband's life; condemn'd to die

For some vile petty theft, some paltry scudi-
And, whilst the fiery war-horse chafed and rear'd,
Shaking his crest, and plunging to get free,

There, midst the dangerous coil unmoved, she stood,
Pleading in broken words and piercing shrieks,
And hoarse, low shivering sobs, the very cry
Of nature! And when I at last said no-
For I said no to her-she flung herself

And those poor innocent babes between the stones
And my hot Arab's hoofs. We saved them all-
Thank heaven, we saved them all! but I said no
To that sad woman, midst her shrieks. Ye dare not
Ask me for mercy now.

Sav. Yet he is noble !

Let him not die a felon's death.

Rie. Again,

Ye weary me.

No more of this.

Colonna,

Thy son loves my fair daughter. 'Tis a union,
However my young Claudia might have graced
A monarch's side, that augurs hopefully-
Bliss to the wedded pair, and peace to Rome,
And it shall be accomplish'd.

And now

A fair good-morrow.

(Exit all but Savelli, Colonna, and Ursini.)

Sav. Hath stern destiny

Clothed him in this man's shape, that in a breath
He deals out death and marriage? Ursini!
Colonna be ye stunn'd?

Col. I'll follow him!

Tyrant! usurper! base-born churl! to deem

That son of mine

Urs. Submit, as I have done,

For vengeance.

From our grief and shame shall spring

A second retribution.

The fatal moment

Of our disgrace is nigh. Ere evening close,
I'll seek thee at thy palace. Seem to yield,
And victory is sure.

Col. I'll take thy counsel.

MITFORD

189.-SCENE FROM CATILINE.

Catiline and Aurelius.

Aur. WHAT answer's for this pile of bills, my lord? Cat. Who can have sent them here?

Aur. Your creditors!

As if some demon woke them all at once,

These having been crowding on me since the morn.
Here, Caiu Curtius claims the prompt discharge
Of his half million sesterces; besides

The interest on your bond, ten thousand more.
Six thousand for your Tyrian canopy;

Here, for your Persian horses-your trireme :
Here, debt on debt. Will you discharge them now?
Cat. I'll think of it.

Aur. It must be now; this day!

Or, by to-morrow, we shall have no home.
Cat. 'Twill soon be all the same.

Aur. We are undone !

Cat. Aurelius !

All will be well; but hear me-stay-a little :
I had intended to consult with you-

On our departure-from-the city.

Aur. (Indignantly and surprised.) Rome!

Cat. Even so, Aurelius! even so; we must leave Rome.
Aur. Let me look on you; are you Catiline?

Cat. I know not what I am,-we must be gone!
Aur. Madness! let them take all?

Cat. The gods will have it so!

Aur. Seize on your house?

Cat. Seize my last sesterce! Let them have their will.

We must endure. Ay, ransack-ruin all;

Tear up my father's grave, tear out my heart.

The world is wide-Can we not dig or beg?

Can we not find on earth a den and tomb!

Aur. Before I stir, they shall hew off my hands.
Cat. What's to be done!

Aur. Now hear me, Catiline :

This day 'tis three years since there was not in Rome,

An eye, however haughty, but would sink

When I turn'd on it: when I pass'd the streets

My chariot-wheel was hung on by a host
Of your chief senators; as if their gaze
Beheld an emperor on its golden round;
An earthly providence !

Cat. 'Twas so! 'twas so !

But it is vanish'd-gone.

Aur. That day shall come again; or, in its place, One that shall be an era to the world'

Cat. What's in your thoughts!

Aur. Our high and hurried life

Has left us strangers to each other's souls:

But now we think alike. You have a sword!

Have had a famous name in the legions!

Cat. Hush!

Aur. Have the walls ears? alas! I wish they had; And tongues too, to bear witness to my oath,

And tell it to all Rome.

Cat. Would you destroy?
Aur. Were I a thunderbolt!-

Rome's ship is rotten:

Has she not cast you out; and would you sink
With her, when she can give you no gain else
Of her fierce fellowship? Who'd seek the chain,
That link'd him to his mortal enemy?

Who'd face the pestilence in his foe's house?
Who, when the prisoner drinks by chance the cup,
That was to be his death, would squeeze the dregs,
To find a drop to bear him company?

Cat. It will not come to this.

Aur. (Haughtily.) I'll not be dragg'd, A show to all the city rabble ;-robb'd,

Down to the very mantle on our backs,

A pair of branded beggars! Doubtless Cicero

Cat. Cursed be the ground he treads! name him no

more.

Aur. Doubtless, he'll see us to the city gates;

"Twill be the least respect that he can pay
To his fall'n rival. With all his lictors shouting,
"Room for the noble vagrants; all caps off

For Catiline for him that would be consul."

Cat. (Turning away.) Thus to be, like the scorpion ring'd with fire,