Part 1 — SCENE V.—A Public Place in Rome.

Enter Brutus, Horatius, Valerius, Collatine, and Lucretius, marching.

Brutus.

By thee we are consul, and still govern Rome,

Which but for thee had been despoiled and ta’en,

Made a confusèd heap of men and stones,

Swimming in blood and slaughter; dear Horatius,

Thy noble picture shall be carved in brass,

And fixed for thy perpetual memory

In our high Capitol.

Horatius.

Great consul, thanks!

But, leaving this, let’s march out of the city,

And once more bid them battle on the plains.

Valerius.

This day my soul divines we shall live free

From all the furious Tarquins. But where’s Scevola?

We see not him to-day.

Enter Scevola.

Scevola.

Here, lords, behold me handless as you see.

The cause—I missed Porsenna in his tent,

And in his stead killed but his secretary.

The ’mazèd king, when he beheld me punish

My rash mistake with loss of my right hand,

Unbegged, and almost scorned, he gave me life,

Which I had then refused, but in desire

To ’venge fair Lucrece’ rape.

[Soft alarum.

Horatius.

Dear Scevola,

Thou hast exceeded us in our resolve:

But will the Tarquins give us present battle?

Scevola.

That may ye hear; the skirmish is begun

Already ’twixt the horse.

Lucretius.

Then, noble consul,

Brutus.

O Jove, this day

Balance our cause, and let the innocent blood

Of rape-stained Lucrece crown with death and horror

The heads of all the Tarquins! See, this day

In her cause do we consecrate our lives,

And in defence of justice now march on.

I hear their martial music: be our shock

As terrible as are the meeting clouds

That break in thunder! yet our hopes are fair,

And this rough charge shall all our loss repair.

[Exeunt. Alarum, battle within.