needs know where he is, then I must needs tell you I don't know.

1 Sold. Let's to his house hard by, and ransack that. Sirrah, if we miss of him, you may repent this. [Exeunt Soldiers. 1 Herds. 'Tis all one to me, I must pay my rent to somebody.

2 Herds. Why, this 'tis now to be a great man. Heaven keep me a cow-keeper still--I say—

Enter MARIUS Senior and GRANIUS.

Mar. sen. Where are we? are we yet not near Salonium?

Lead me to yonder shady poplar, where
The poor old Marius a-while may sit,
And joy in rest. Oh my distemper'd head!
The sun has beat his beams so hard upon me,
That my brain's hot as molten gold.

My skull!
Oh my tormented skull! Oh Rome! Rome! Rome!
Ha! what are those?

Gran. They seem, sir, rural swains,

Who tend the herds that graze beneath these woods.

Mar. sen. Who are you? to what lord do ye belong? 2 Herds. We did belong to Caius Marius once: but they say he's gone a journey: and now we belong to one another.

Mur. sen. Have ye forgot me then, ungrateful slaves? Are you so willing to disown your master?

Who would have thought t'have found such baseness here,

Where innocence seems seated by the gods,

As in her virgin-nakedness untainted?

Confusion on ye, ye sordid earthlings. [Ex. all but one. 1 Herds. Oh fly, my lord, your foes are thick abroad. Just now a troop of murd'rers past this way,

And ask'd with horror for the traitor Marius.
By this time at Salonium, at your house,

They are in search of you. Fly, fly, my lord- [Exit.

Mar. sen. I shall be hounded up and down the world: Now ev'ry villain, that is wretch enough

To take the price of blood, dreams of my throat.
Help and support me till I reach the wood,
Then go and find thy wretched brother out.
Asunder we may dodge our fate, and lose her.
In some old hollow tree, or o'ergrown brake,
I'd rest my weary limbs till danger pass me.

[Goes into the Wood.

Enter Soldiers again.

1 Sol. A thousand crowns! 'tis a reward might buy As many lives, for they are cheap in Rome,

And 'tis too much for one.

2 Sol. Let's set this wood

A flaming, if you think he's here; and then

Quickly you'll see th'old drone crawl humming out.

1 Sol. Thou always lov'st to ride full speed to mischief. There's no consideration in thee. Look you, when I cut a throat, I love to do it with as much deliberation and decency as a barber cuts a beard. I hate a slovenly murder done hand-over-head; a man gets no credit by it.

3 Sol. The man that spoke last, spoke well. Therefore let us to yon adjacent village, and souse ourselves in good Falernium— [Ex. Soldiers.

Mar. sen. Oh villains! not a slave of those
But has serv'd under me, has ate my bread,
And felt my bounty-Drought! parching drought!
Was ever lion thus by dogs emboss'd?

Oh! I could swallow rivers. Earth, yield me water!
Or swallow Marius down where springs first flow.

Enter MARIUS Junior and GRANIUS.

Mar. jun. My father!

Mar. sen. Oh my sons!

Mar. jun. Why thus forlorn! stretch'd on the earth?

Mar sen. Oh! get me some refreshment, cooling herbs, And water to allay my rav'nous thirst.

I would not trouble you, if I had strength:

But I'm so faint, that all my limbs are useless.
Now have I not one drachma to buy food.

Must we then starve? No sure, the birds will feed us. Mar. jun. There stands a house on yonder side o'th' wood,

It seems the mansion of some man of note:

I'll go and turn a beggar for my father.

Mar. sen. O my soul's comfort! do. Indeed I want it. I, who had once the plenty of the earth, Now want a root and water. Go, my boy, And see who'll give a morsel to poor Marius. Nay, I'll not starve; no, I will plunge in riot, Wallow in plenty. Drink! I'll drink, I'll drink. Give me that goblet hither-Here's a health To all the knaves and senators in Rome.

Mar. jun. Repose yourself a-while, till we return. Mar. sen. I will; but pr'ythee let me rave a little. Go, pr'ythee go, and don't delay. I'll rest,

As thou shalt, Rome, if e'er my fortune raise me.— [Ex. Mar. Jun.

Enter LAVINIA.

Another murd'rer? this brings smiling fate:

A deadly snake cloth'd in a dainty skin.

Lav. I've wander'd up and down these woods and

meadows,

Till I have lost my way—

Against a tall, young, slender, well-grown oak

Leaning, I found Lavinia in the bark;

My Marius should not be far hence.

Mar. sen. What art thou,

That darʼst to name that wretched creature Marius?

Lav. Do not be angry, sir; whate'er thou art,

I am a poor unhappy woman, driv'n

By fortune to pursue my banish'd lord.

Mar. sen. By thy dissembling tone thou should'st be

woman,

And Roman too.

Lav. Indeed I am..

Mar. sen. A Roman?

If thou art so, begone, lest rage with strength
Assist my vengeance, and I rise and kill thee.
Lav. My father! is it you?

Mar. sen. Now thou art woman:

For lies are in thee. I am I thy father?
I ne'er was yet so curst: none of thy sex
E'er sprung from me. My off-spring all are males;
The nobler sort of beasts, entitled men.

Lav. I am your daughter, if your son's my lord.
Have you ne'er heard Lavinia's name in Rome,
That wedded with the son of Marius?

Mar. sen. Hah!

Art thou that fond, that kind and doating thing,
That left her father for a banish'd husband?
Come near-

And let me bless thee, tho' thy name's my foe.

Lav. Alas! my father, you seem much opprest: Your lips are parch'd, blood-shot your eyes and sunk, Will you partake such fruits as I have gather'd? Taste, sir, this peach, and this pomegranate; both are Ripe and refreshing.

Mar. sen. What! all this from thee,

Thou angel, whom the gods have sent to aid me?
I don't deserve thy bounty.

Lav. Here, sir, 's more.

1 found a crystal spring too in the wood,

And took some water: 'tis most soft and cool.

Mar. sen. An emp'ror's feast! but I shall rob thee.
Lav. No;

I've ate, and slak'd my thirst. But where's my lord,
My dearest Marius?

Mar: sen. To the neighb'ring village

He's gone, to beg his father's dinner, daughter.

Lav. Will you then call me daughter? will you own it?

I'm much o'er-paid for all the wrongs of fortune.
But surely Marius can't be brought to want:
I've gold and jewels too, and they'll buy food.

Enter MARIUS Junior.

Mar.sen. See here, my Marius, what the gods have

sent us.

See thy Lavinia.

Mar. jun. Hah!

[They run and embrace,

Mar. sen. What? dumb at meeting?

Mar. jun. Why weeps my love?

Lav. I cannot speak, tears so obstruct my words

And choke me with unutterable joy.

Mar. jun. Oh my heart's joy!

Lav. My soul!

Mar. jun. But hast thou left

Thy father's house, the pomp and state of Rome,
To follow desart-misery?

Lav. I come

To bear a part in ev'ry thing that's thine,
Be't happiness or sorrow. In these woods,
Whilst from pursuing enemies you're safe,
I'll range about, and find the fruits and springs,
Gather cool sedges, daffodils, and lilies,
And softest camomile to make us beds,
Whereon my love and I at night will sleep,
And dream of better fortune.

Enter GRANIUS and Servant, with Wine and Meat.

Mar. sen. Yet more plenty?

Sure Comus, the god of feasting, haunts these woods, And means to entertain us as his guests.

Serv. I am sent hither, Marius, from my lord,

Sextilius the prætor, to relieve thee,

And warn thee that thou straight depart this place; Else he the senate's edict must obey,

And treat thee as the foe of Rome.