I know not how to tell thee who I am.

My name, dear creature, 's hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee.

Lav. Marius? how cam'st thou hither? tell; and why?

The orchard-walls are high, and hard to climb,
And the place death, consid'ring who thou art,
If any of our family here find thee.

By whose directions didst thou find this place?

Mar. jun. By love, that first did prompt me to enquire,

He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.

I am no pilot; yet wert thou as far

As the vast shore wash'd by the farther sea,

I'd hazard ruin for a prize so dear

Lav. Oh Marius! vain are all such hopes and wishes,
The hand of heav'n has thrown a bar between us;
Our houses' hatred, and the fate of Rome,
Where none but Sylla must be happy now.
All bring him sacrifices of some sort,
And I must be a victim to his bed.

To-night my father broke the dreadful news;
And when I urg'd him for the right of love,
He threaten'd me to banish me his house,

Naked and shiftless to the world. Would'st thou,
Marius, receive a beggar to thy bosom ?

Mar. jun. Oh! were my joys but fixt upon that point,

I'd then shake hands with fortune, and be friends;
Thus grasp my happiness, embrace it thus,
And bless th'ill turn that gave thee to my arms.

Lav. Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face,
Else should I blush for what thou'st heard me speak.
Fain would I dwell on form; fain, fain deny
The things I've said: but farewell all such follies!
Dost thou then love? I know thou'lt say thou dost!
And I must take thy word, tho' thou prove false.
Mar. jun. By yon bright Cynthia's beams that shine
above!

Lav. Oh! swear not by the moon, th'inconstant moon, That changes monthly, and shines but by seasons, Lest that thy love prove variable too.

Mar. jun. What shall I swear by?

Lav. Do not swear at all.

Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
Who art the god of my idolatry,

And I'll believe thee.

Mar. jun. Witness, all ye pow'rs!

Lav. Nay, do not swear: altho' my joy be great,
I'm hardly satisfied with this night's contract:
It seems too rash, too unadvis'd and sudden;
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say it is. Therefore this time
Good-night, my Marius. May a happier hour
Bring us to crown our wishes.

Mar. jun. Why, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
Lav. What would'st thou have?

Mar. jun. Th' exchange of love for mine.

Lav. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it ; And yet I wish I could retrieve it back.

Mar. jun. Why?

Lav. But to be frank, and give it thee again;

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,

My love as deep: the more I give to thee,

The more I have; for both are infinite.

I hear a noise within. Farewell, my Marius;

Or stay a little, and I'll come again *.

Mar. jun. Stay! sure for ever.

Lav. Three words, and, Marius, then good-night in

deed.

If that thy love be honourably meant,

Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,

And all my fortunes at thy feet I'll lay.

Nurse. (within) Madam!

Lav. I come anon. But if thou mean'st not well,

I do beseech thee

* Here Juliet exit, and returns.

Nurse. (within) Madam! Madam!

Lav.-By-and-by, I come,

To cease thy suit, and leave me to my griefs.

To-morrow I will send

[Exit.

Mar. jun. So thrive my soul. Is not all this a dream, Too lovely, sweet, and flatt'ring to be true?

Re-enter LAVINIA.

Lav. Hist, Marius, hist. Oh for a falc'ner's voice, To lure this tassel-gentle back again *.

Restraint has fears, and may not speak aloud:
Else would I tear the cave where echo lies,
With repetition of my Marius-

Mar. jun. It is my love that calls me back again.
How sweetly lovers' voices sound by night!

Like softest music to attending ears.

Lav. Marius!

Mar. My dear!

Lav. At what o'clock to-morrow

Shall I send to thee?

Mar. jun. At the hour of nine.

Lav. I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then. I have forgot why I did call thee back.

Mar. jun. Let me here stay till thou remember'st why. Lav. The morning's breaking; I would have thee gone;

And yet no farther than a wanton's bird,

That lets it hop a little from her hand,
To pull it by it's fetters back again.
Mar. jun. Would I were thine !

Lav. Indeed and so would I :

Yet I should kill thee sure with too much cherishing. No more-good-night.

Mar. jun. There's such sweet pain in parting, That I could hang for ever on thy arms,

And look away my life into thy eyes.

Lav. To-morrow will come.

* See the notes on this passage in Reed's Shakespeare.

Mar. jun. So it will. Good-night.

Heav'n be thy guard, and all it's blessings wait thee [Exit Lavinia.

To-morrow! 'tis no longer: but desires

Are swift, and longing love would lavish time.
To-morrow! oh to-morrow! till that come,
The tedious hours move heavily away,
And each long minute seems a lazy day.
Already light is mounted in the air,
Striking itself thro' ev'ry element.
Our party will by this time be abroad,

To try the fate of Marius and Rome.

Love and renown sure court me thus together;

Smile, smile, ye gods, and give success to both, [Exit.

3 Cit. Well,

must we do?

SCENE III.-The Forum.

Enter Four Citizens.

neighbours, now we are here, what

1 Cit. Why, you must give your vote for Caius Marius to be consul: and if any body speaks against you, knock 'em down.

2 Cit. The truth on't is, there's nothing like a civil government, where good subjects may have leave to knock brains out to maintain privileges.

3 Cit. Look you-but what's this Sylla? this Sylla? I've heard great talk of him-he's a damnable fighting fellow, they say; but hang him--he's a lord.

1 Cit. Ay, so he is, neighbours: and I know not why any one should be a lord more than another. I care not for a lord: what good do they do? nothing but run in our debts, and lie with our wives

4 Cit. Why, there's a grievance now. I have three boys at home, no more mine than Rome's mine: they are all fair curled-hair cupids; and I'm an honest, black, tawny, kettle-faced fellow.-I'll ha' no lords.

[Drums and trumpets.

UNI

OF

OF CAIUS

MIA

143

1 Cit. Hark! hark! drums and trumpets! drums and trumpets! they are coming. Be you sure you roar out for a Marius; and do as much mischief as you can.

Enter MARIUS Senior and his Sons; MARIUS borne
upon the shoulders of two Roman Slaves; SULPITIUS
at the head of the Guards.
[Trumpets.

Sulp. Hearken, ye men of Rome; I, I Sulpitius,
Your tribune, and protector of your freedom,
By virtue of that office, here have call'd you
To choose a consul. Mithridates, king
Of Pontus, has begun a war upon us,
Invaded our allies, our edicts violated,

And threatens Rome itself. Whom will you choose
To lead you forth in this most glorious war?

Marius or Sylla?

All Cit. A Marius! a Marius! a Marius !
Mar. sen. Countrymen,

And fellow-citizens, my brethren all,
Or, if it may be thought a dearer name,
My sons, my children, glory of my age;
I come not hither arm'd, to force
your suffrage,
As Sylla does to enter Rome with pow'r,
As if he meant a triumph o'er his country;
I have not made a party in the senate,
To bring you into slavery, or load

Your necks with the hard yoke of lordly pow'r.
I am no noble, but a free-born man,

A citizen of Rome, as all you are,

A lover of your liberties and laws,

Your rights and privileges. Witness here

These wounds, which in your service I have got,

And best plead for me

All Cit. Marius! Marius! Marius! no Sylla! no

Sylla! no Sylla!

Sulp. No more remains

Most noble consul, but that straight you mount

The seat tribunal-lictors, bring your rods,