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_Cam._ Thy lictor shall not lay his hands upon me!
My place is here. My voice shall speak for her, Nor fear thee, king of tyrants and despoilers!
Long have I inwardly foreseen this day, And prayed the G.o.ds to change the hand of Fate.
It seems my prayers are valueless. But still, Still there does yet remain to me--my _curse_!
And all shall feel its potency who dare To lay a finger on Virginia.
[_She faces Marcus Claudius with her arm extended and her manner menacing._
Thou, fool of fools, who ventured to pollute The purest virgin breathing in this land, Because thou placed thy hand upon her flesh, Which is as perfect as her perfect soul, I curse thee--ay, and with a heavy curse, For that which thou hast done! Thy misery Shall soon exceed even thy trespa.s.ses, Which in themselves are countless as the stars.
Be cursed, and live accursed and die accursed!
And be my witnesses, O, all ye G.o.ds!
[_She turns toward Appius--her att.i.tude becomes calm, and majestic._
And as for thee--I fear thee not. My curse Shall rest on thee according to thine actions.
This much I have to say--thy tyranny And rule of blood is waning to its close.
Beware, nor haste thy doom before its time.
_Marc._ (_trembling_). Seize on her, some of you, for she is mad.
_One of the mult.i.tude._ Nay, she is gifted with strange prophecy.
She voices Jove.
[_A tumult now arises in the background. Icilius springs forward with a cry._
_Icilius._ Virginia! Turn to me!
[_He faces Marcus Claudius, and with one blow strikes him down, then clasps Virginia in his arms._
_Virginia_ (_sobbing wildly_). And hast thou come at last?
_Icilius_ (_tenderly to her_). Courage, dear heart!
[_To Appius._
Now, as a free-born Roman, I demand An explanation and a satisfaction!
[_To Marcus, who essays to speak._
Silence, thou hound, ere I forget myself And murder thee! Thine answer, Appius?
_Appius._ Lictor, part thou the twain.
_Icilius._ Thou canst not, lictor!
In common manhood and as her betrothed, Thus do I hold to her against the world.
_Appius._ Then, lictor, strike!
_Virginia._ Now, intervene, ye G.o.ds!
Icilius, my love! Oh! men of Rome, Have ye indeed forgot Lucretia?
[_Swaying of the mult.i.tude. Appius Claudius rises in his car._
_Appius._ Be prudent, ye who do desire to see Full justice. We must hark to every plea, And will to-morrow judge the case. Till then, Thou, Marcus, guard the maiden, since the man Virginius is absent from the town.
[_A hissing protest from the mult.i.tude and a cry from Virginia follows this announcement. Icilius faces the Chief Decemvir with blazing eyes, and draws Virginia closer._
_Icilius._ Over my body only shall yon hound Of h.e.l.l seize on her. I am yet a man With strength to s.h.i.+eld or life to sacrifice For that which is mine own. Sleep 'neath his roof?
I'd sooner see her cold upon her bier, Or bound upon the wheel of Ixion, Enduring tortures of the d.a.m.ned themselves!
With him? I'd rather cast her to a wolf, Who, merciful, would tear her into shreds And leave her pure, or o'er Tarpeia's Rock, And with mine eyes behold her perfect form Shattered upon the kindly stones below, Ere Marcus Claudius lay hands on her.
_Marius._ Ay, he is right; the maiden yet is free.
The charge hath not been proven, Appius!
_Appius._ So be it. We will acquiesce thus far, But lictors must be stationed as a guard About the house wherein she spends the night, Lest she escape and law be unfulfilled.
_Cor._ (_coming forward_). I will go thither and attend this night Upon her. Thou, Tiberius, return Home with the slaves. To-morrow meet me here.
_Slave._ Lady, thy lips are white and thou art ill.
See, thou dost tremble.
_Cor._ Woman, what of that?
How canst thou weigh my pallor with her pain-- The anguish in her eyes? What though I shake As with an ague? She herself is turned To stone with horror deeper than mine own.
A living sorrow doth exceed a dead; Death to dishonor seemeth merciful.
_Her_ blow is heavy with the weight of dread, _Mine_ light with hope. Did she not succor me?
How can I fail her in her time of need?
_Appius._ Lictors, take into custody yon man.
Lest he do mischief.
_Icilius._ By the almighty G.o.ds!
Unhand me! I will kill thee, as a man Would kill a beast. Ah! foulest trick to seize Upon me from the rear. Oh, G.o.d! Oh, G.o.d!
[_He sinks helpless upon the stones at Virginia's feet, two lictors binding him firmly with cords. The storm now breaks, shrieking in maddest fury, the lightning playing over the hills of Rome._
SCENE II--A CHAMBER IN THE HOME OF VIRGINIUS.
_Midnight and darkness, save where the moonlight s.h.i.+mmers through the columns on the left. Virginia is discovered kneeling in the sea of radiance as though in prayer. A silence follows the rise of the curtain; then, low at first, but louder, clearer, gradually increasing in volume, a hymn breaks from her lips, she kneeling still._
HYMN TO DIANA.
O, thou virgin-G.o.ddess fair, Look upon me in my sorrow; Hear, oh, hear mine earnest prayer!
Guard me from the fatal morrow!
Purity is in thy breast With thy silver moonbeams drest.
Still my cheek is hot with shame, And my heart in anguish crying; Let me keep my spotless name, Waking, sleeping, living, dying!
Chaste Dian, thy stainless glory Still resounds in song and story.
Mount thy ear within the blue, Waft a whisper to me only!
