[Enter Sicinius and porter. (Aside.) Dear Heaven! My Love! (Aloud.) Thou Gaius, to thy post Begone! And Julia, do thou too withdraw. [Exeunt the two. A silence falls. Cornelia remains seated, a still form, most beautiful, endeavoring to calm her loving passion, one hand upon her bosom and her eyes fixed on the face of Sicinius, who stands motionless with admiration. Sicinius! Sic. What can I say, oh, God! Thou art too fair, thou art too wondrous fair For me to break the spell. Awake! Awake! Dreamer I am not wont to be, save when[31] Thy beauty casts a web of visions o'er me. Cor. My beauty paleth in the greater light, O my Sicinius, of thy manhood's worth. Awake, indeed, and greet me. I can face Thy gaze no longer; art thou turned to stone? Sic. (advancing, with his arm outstretched in a sudden warmth of passion). I turn to stone only upon the day When I can neither claim nor clasp my love. Till then mine arms continue flesh and blood, My lips as warm as thine; thou radiant Soul! (Embracing her.) Cor. Oh! stay a space! Is every curtain drawn? Sic. I do not know, for thou hast dazzled quite My goodly eyesight, and I only see Cornelia here and there and everywhere. Cor. Alas! I fear so greatly for our love; Pray Heaven thou lose me not entirely! Sic. Nay, rest thee, rest thee, tremble not, beloved. The life of Appius will soon be spanned, And a great wave of revolution shake Rome's center; soon I drop a mighty pebble On her dark surface, and the rings therefrom Into a rush of water thence shall widen. Cor. (partly rising from her chair, her eyes alight). The Fates be thanked that now the foul stagnation Of Rome, enslaved, is stirring into life; And thine the hand! Thou'rt worthy of the cause, Thou patriot and model of a man! Sic. Oh! but I love my city and my race! Thank God that my stern duty lieth on The selfsame path as love for thee, my sweet. My conscience and my happiness alike Demand that I should aim to liberate[32] Rome and the Romans from the yoke of men Who are defiling and defiled—the Ten! [Starts suddenly. I came, that I might steal one glimpse of thee. The sun is high—I may not tarry more. Cor. So soon departing? Whither wouldst thou go? Sic. Straight to the Forum—then unto the camp. The movements of our foemen, the Sabines, Are grave. Methinks I'll soon be called upon To enter into active services. Farewell, Cornelia! kiss me once again! Sweet mistress, noble lady! fare thee well! [Exit swiftly. Cor. Gone! Gone! So swiftly, like an eager shaft From Roman bow. Vanished, my gallant love! Where shall I see him when he doth return To me? May Mars attend and favor him, And
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