Vir. (starting forward.) To be sure she will -- a most wise ques

tion that!

Is she not his slave? Will his tongue lie for him

Or his hand steal

or the finger of his hand

Beckon, or point, or shut, or open for him?

To ask him if she'll swear! Will she walk or run,
Sing, dance, or wag her head; do anything
That is most easy done? She'll as soon swear!
What mockery it is to have one's life

In jeopardy by such a barefaced trick!
Is it to be endured? I do protest
Against her oath!

App. No law in Rome, Virginius,

Seconds you. If she swear the girl's her child,
The evidence is good, unless confronted
By better evidence. Look you to that,
Virginius. I shall take the woman's oath.
Virginia. Icilius!

Icilius. Fear not, love; a thousand oaths
Will answer her.

App. You swear the girl's your child,

And that you sold her to Virginius' wife,

Who passed her for her own. Is that your oath?

Slave. It is my oath.

App. Your answer now, Virginius,

Vir. Here it is!

[Brings VIRGINIA forward.

Is this the daughter of a slave? I know

'Tis not with men as shrubs and trees, that by

The shoot you know the rank and order of

The stem. Yet who from such a stem would look

For such a shoot. My witnesses are these

The relatives and friends of Numitoria!

Speak for me, my friends;

Have I not spoke the truth?

Women and Citizens. You have, Virginius.

App. Silence! Keep silence there! No more of that!

You're very ready for a tumult, citizens.

[Troops appear behind.

Lictors, make way to let these troops advance!

We have had a taste of your forbearance, masters,
And wish not for another.

Vir. Troops in the Forum?

App. Virginius have you spoken?

Vir. If you have heard me,

I have; If not, I'll speak again.

App. You need not,

Virginius; I had evidence to give,

Which, should you speak a hundred times again,

Would make your pleading vain.

Vir. Your hand, Virginia!

Stand close to me.

App. My conscience will not let me

Be silent. 'Tis notorious to you all,

That Claudius' father at his death, declared me

The guardian of his son. This cheat has long

Been known to me. I know the girl is not
Virginius' daughter.

Vir. Join your friends, Icilius,

[Aside.

I feel for you; but though you were my father,

The majesty of justice should be sacred

Claudius must take Virginia home with him.

Vir. And if he must, I should advise him, Appius,
To take her home in time, before his guardian

Complete the violation which his eyes
Already have begun, - friends! fellow-citizens!
Look not on Claudius — look on your Decemvir!
He is the master claims Virginia!

The tongues that told him she was not my child

Are these the costly charms he cannot purchase
Except by making her the slave of Claudius,

His client, his purveyor, that caters for

His pleasure markets for him- picks, and scents,

And tastes, that he may banquet · serves him up
His sensual feast, and is not now ashamed,

-

to help him

In the open common street before your eyes -
Frighting your daughters' and your matrons' cheeks
With blushes they ne 'er thought to meet
To the honor of a Roman maid! my child!
Who now clings to me, as you see, as if
This second Tarquin had already coiled
His arms around her. Look upon her Romans!
Befriend her! succor her!

Before her father's eyes!

see her not polluted

He is but one.

Tear her from Appius and his Lictors while

She is unstained. -Your hands! your hands! your hands!

Citizens. They are yours, Virginius.

App. Keep the people back

Support my Lictors soldiers! Seize the girl,

And drive the people back.

Icilius. Down with the slaves!

The people make a show of resistance; but upon the advance of the soldiers, retreat, and leave ICILIUS, VIRGINIUS and his daughter, etc., in the hands of APPIUS and his party.

Deserted! Cowards! traitors!

Let me free

But for a moment! I relied on you;

Had I relied upou myself alone,

I had kept them still at bay! I kneel to you
Let me but loose a moment, if 'tis only

To rush upon your swords.

Vir. Icilius, peace!

You see how 'tis, we are deserted, left

Alone by our friends, surrounded by our enemies,
Nerveless and helpless.

App. Separate them, Lictors!

Vir. Let them forbear awhile, I pray you, Appius :

It is not very easy. Though her arms

Are tender, yet the hold is strong by which

She grasps me, Appius- forcing them will hurt them;

They'll soon unclasp themselves. Wait but a little-
You know you 're sure of her!

App. I have not time

To idle with thee; give her to my Lictors.

Vir. Appius, I pray you wait! If she is not
My child, she hath been like a child to me
For fifteen years. If I am not her father,
I have been like a father to her, Appius,
For even such a time. They that have lived
So long a time together, in so near
And dear society, may be allowed
A little time for parting. Let me take
The maid aside, I pray you, and confer

A moment with her nurse; perhaps she 'll give me
Some token will unloose a tie so twined

And knotted round my heart, that, if you break it,
My heart breaks with it.

App. Have your wish. Be brief!

Lictors, look to them.

Virginia. Do you go from me?

Do you leave? Father

Father!

Vir. No, my child—

No, my Virginia — come along with me.

Virginia. Will you not leave me? Will you take me with you? Will you take me home again? O, bless you? bless you! My father! my dear father! Art thou not

My father?

[VIRGINIUS, perfectly at a loss what to do, looks anxiously round the Forum; at length his eye falls on a butcher's stall, with a knife upon it.

Vir. This way, my child—No, no; I am not going
To leave thee, my Virginia! I'll not leave thee.
App. Keep back the people, soldiers! Let them not
Approach Virginius! Keep the people back.

Well, have you done?

[Virginius secures the knife.

Vir. Short time for converse, Appius, But I have.

[VIRGINIA shrieks, and falls half-dead upon her father's shoulder.]

Vir. Another moment, pray you. Bear with me

A little 'Tis my last embrace. 'Twon't try

Your patience beyond bearing, if you 're a man!
Lengthen it as I may, I cannot make it

Long. My dear child! My dear Virginia!
There is only one way to save thine honor!
'Tis this.

[Kissing her

[Stubs her, and draws out the knife. ICILIUS breaks from the soldiers that held him, and catches her.j

Lo, Appius, with this innocent blood

I do devote thee to the infernal gods!
Make way there!

App. Stop him! Seize him!

Vir. If they dare

To tempt the desperate weapon that is maddened
With drinking my daughter's blood, why, let them:
It rushes in amongst them. Way there! Way!

[Exit through the soldiers.

James Sheridan Knowles

From the Dodge Club: or, Italy in MDCCCLIX.

She

La Cica did not speak the best English in the world; yet that could not account for all the singular remarks which she made. Still less could it account for the tender interest of her manner. had remarkably bright eyes. Why wandered those eyes so often to his, and why did they beam with such devotion-beaming for moment only to fall in sweet innocent confusion? La Cica had the most fascinating manners, yet they were often perplexing to the Senator's soul.

"The Countess," he thought, " is a most remarkable fine woman; but she does use her eyes uncommon, and I do wish she wouldn't be quite so demonstrative."