So dear, stands forth the fiercest of her FOES;
At your command, flies swift on wings of fire,
The native thunder of a father's arm,

Antigonus. There spoke at once, the Hero, and the Son.
Demetrius. To close-To thee*, I grant some thanks are due,
Not for thy kindness, but malignity;

Thy character's my friend, tho' Thou my foe;
For, say, whose temper promises most guilt?
Perseus, importunate, demands my death.
I do not ask for His. Ah! no; I feel
Too powerful nature pleading for him HERE.
But, were there no fraternal tie to bind me,
A son of Philip must be dear to me.

If you, my FATHER, had been angry with me,
An ELDER brother, a less AWFUL parent,
HE should assuage you, HE should intercede,
Soften my failings, and indulge my youth;
But my asylum drops its character;

I find not there my rescue, but my ruin.

Perseus.

King.

His bold assurance.

Do not interrupt him;

But let thy brother finish his defence.

(sneeringly)

[affected.

(much

Demetrius. O Perseus! how I tremble as I speak!
Where is a brother's voice, a brother's eye?
Where is the melting of a brother's HEART?
Where is our awful father's dread command?
Where a dear, dying mother's last request?
Forgot, scorned, hated, trodden under foot!
Thy heart, how dead to every call of nature!
Unson'd! unbrother'd! nay, unhumaniz'd!
Far from affection, as thou'rt near in blood!
Oh! Perseus! Perseus!-but my heart's too full.
Support him,
(caught by Antigonus)

King.

Perseus.

King.

Vengeance overtakes his crimes. (malicious tone)
No more!

Antigonus. See, from his* hoary brow he wipes the dew,
Which agony wrings from him.

King.

Oh! my friend,

(to Dymas)

These boys at strife, like Etna's struggling flames,
Convulsions cause, and make a mountain shake;
Shake Philip's firmness, and convulse his heart,
And, with a fiery flood of civil war,

Threaten to deluge my divided land.

I've heard them both; by neither am convinced;

And yet Demetrius' words went through my heart.—
A double crime Demetrius, is your charge:
Fondness for Rome, and hatred to your brother.
If you can prove your innocence in one,

'Twill give us cause to think you wrong'd in both.

Demetrius. How shall I prove it, Sir?

(most anxiously.

Detests the Romans. If you wed his daughter, Rome's foe becomes the guardian of your faith. Demetrius. I told you, Sire, when I returned from RomeHow!-Dost thou want an absolute command? Your Brother, Father, Country, all exact it. [to Demetrius. Antigonus. See yonder guards at hand if you refuse; (aside Nay, more, a father, so distressed demands

King.

A son's compassion, to becalm his heart.
Oh! Sir, comply.

Demetrius. There! then! indeed you touch me;
Besides, I'm confined and Perseus FREE,

Dymas.

King.

I never, never, shall behold her more,-
Pardon, ye gods! an artifice forced on me.
Dread Sire, your Son complies.

Astonishment!

[Antigonus.

(aside to

(To the King.

Strike off his chains. Nay, Perseus, too, is free;

They wear no bonds but those of duty, now.

Dymas, go, thank the prince: he weds your daughter,
And highest honours pay your high desert.

THE BANISHMENT OF CATILINE.

"Catiline, a man of noble family, who had been Prætor of Africa, canvassed for the Consulship. His claim was set aside, on the ground that some charges relative to his late employment had not been cleared up. This he asserted to be a pretext, and occupied himself in forming a party. It was rumoured that his cabal entertained designs against the state. The pride of the Senate gave way to their fears, and at the next election Cicero was chosen Consul. Catiline canvassed a third time, and was again defeated, directly in consequence of Cicero's coming to the election in armour, and declaring that he wore it through fear of assassination. Hopeless of legitimate success, he now plunged into revolt, answered the menaces of the senate by open defiance, and set the republic on the chance of a single battle."

The Senate are assembled. A Consul in the Chair. Cicero on the floor concluding his speech. The time supposed to be night.

Cicero. Our long debate must close. Take one proof more Of this rebellion.-Lucius Cataline

Has been commanded to attend the Senate.

He dares not come.

I now demand your votes,

Is he condemn'd to exile?

[Catiline enters hastily, and takes a seat.

[Catiline.

Here I repeat the charge, to gods and men, (turns toward
Of treasons manifold: that but this day
He has received dispatches from the rebels-
That he has leagued with deputies from Gaul
To seize the province; nay, has levied troops,
And raised his rebel standard; that but now
A meeting of conspirators was held

Under his roof, with mystic rites and oaths,
Pledged round the body of a murdered slave.
To these he has no answer.

Catiline. (rising calmly) Conscript Fathers!

I do not rise to waste the night in words;
Let that plebeian talk, 'tis not my trade; (disdainfully.
But here I stand for RIGHT. Let him show proofs,-
For Roman right; though none it seems dare stand
To take their share with me. Ay, cluster there,
Cling to your master; judges, Romans, SLAVES! (scornfully
His charge is false; I dare him to his proofs.
You have my answer now! I must be gone.

[to Catiline.

Cic. Bring back the helmet of this Gaulish King. (referring

[Enter Lictors, with a helmet and an axe.

These, as I told you, were this evening seized

Within his house. You know them, Catiline? (significantly Cat. The axe and helmet of the Allobroges! (aside with alarm Know them! What crimination's there? what tongue

[with self-possession.

+ These kingly emblems he had received from the Allobroges in token of their submission to him.

Lives in that helm to charge me with, Cicero ?
Go, search my house, you may find twenty such,
All fairly struck from brows of barbarous kings,
When you and yours were plotting here in Rome.
I say, Go search my house. And is this all?
I scorn to tell you by what chance they came.
Where have I levied troops-tampered with slaves—
Bribed fool or villain, to embark his neck

In this rebellion? Let my actions speak.

Cic. Deeds shall convince you! Has the traitor done?
(with a look of severity.

Cat. But this I will avow, that I have scorned
And still do scorn to hide my sense of wrong:
Who brands me on the forehead, breaks my sword,
Or lays the bloody scourge upon my back,
Can wrong me half as much as he who shuts
The gates of honor on me,-turning out
The Roman from his birthright; and for what?

(looking round him.

To fling your offices to every slave :—
Vipers that creep where man disdains to climb,
And having wound their loathsome track unto the top
Of this huge mouldering monument of Rome,
Hang hissing on the noble man below.

Cic. This is his answer! must I bring more proofs?
Fathers, you know there lives not one of us
But lives in peril of his midnight sword.
Lists of proscription have been handed round,
In which your general properties are made
Your murderer's hire.

(In a commanding tone.) Bring in the prisoners.

Cat. Cethegus!

[The Lictors return with Cethegus and others. (aside, with some alarm)

Cic. Fathers! those stains to their high name and blood, Came to my house to murder me; and came

Suborned by him.

Cat. (scornfully) Cethegus!

Did you say this?

Ceth. (carelessly & insolently) Not I. I went to kill
A prating, proud plebeian, whom these fools

Palm'd on the Consulship.

Cic. And sent by whom?

Ceth. By none. By nothing but my zeal to purge
The Senate of yourself, most learned Cicero !*

This ironic reply is delivered with mock respect.

Cic.

[An Officer enters with letters for Cicero; other
prisoners are also introduced, chained.

Fathers of Rome! If man can be convinced
By proof as clear as daylight, there it stands.

(pointing to the prisoners.

Those men have been arrested at the gates,
Bearing dispatches to raise a war in Gaul.
Look on these letters! Here's a deep laid plot,
To wreck the provinces; a solemn league,
Made with all form and circumstance. The time
Is desperate,*-all the slaves are up; Rome shakes!
The heavens alone can tell how near our graves
We stand e'en here! The name of Cataline
Is foremost in the league. He was their King.
Triedt and convicted traitor-go from Rome!

Cat. Come, consecrated Lictors! from your thrones,

[Catiline, having seated himself, here rises in the most
haughty manner, and addresses the Senate.

Fling down your sceptres; take the rod and axe,
And make the murder as you make the law.

Cic. Give up the record of his banishment. (to an officer. [The officer gives it to the Consul.

Cat. Banished from Rome! (with great indignation)

What's banished? but set free

From daily contact of the thing I loathe ?
Tried and convicted traitor! Who says this?
Who'll prove it at his peril on my head?
Banished? I thank you for't.

(sarcastically.

It breaks my chains!

I held some slack allegiance till this hour-
But now my sword's my own.

Smile on, my lords;

I scorn to count what feelings, withered hopes,
Strong provocations; bitter, burning wrongs,
I have within my heart's hot cells shut up,

To leave you in your lazy dignities.

But here I stand and scoff you; here I fling

Hatred and full defiance in your face.

Your Consul's merciful (sarcastically). For this all thanks.
He dares not touch a hair of Catiline.

The Consul reads, "Lucius Sergius Catiline, by the decree of the Senate, you are declared an enemy and an alien to the State, and banished from the territory of the Commonwealth."

Consul. Lictors, drive the traitor from the temple !

* Animated.

† Authoritative, stern, and forcible.