in confusion. A flash of lightning breaks the heavy gloom, followed by a muttering of thunder. A few large raindrops fall. The sibyl enters through the multitude, a weird, mad form, with tossing hair and wild, disheveled garments. Sibyl. Wail, walls of Rome, and weep, ye tender vales Of sweet Italia! [A murmur and a swaying. Voices contend for silence. Oh! day of dole! Oh, day of perfect woe! Oh, Furies' day Of fever and of tears! Oh, black despair! The night of tyranny hath settled o'er Our city, roof-like shuts her from the air Of Heaven! And the hollow, brazen dome Of despotism closes o'er our heads; Black tyranny and red-hot despotism! Had I hands long enough and nails as sharp As Hate, I'd tear in shreds the infernal web! Oh! day of dole! [Another peal of thunder resounds. She points toward the heavy clouds. My tongue is laden with the vast commands[35] Of Jove, to-day. But Rome is deaf and mad. The gods cry out upon this tyranny, The heavens in thunder clap their wrathful hands! Yet Rome, the Rome of Romulus, the Rome Of Numa and the martial kings of old, Is deaf—is deaf and mad! Oh! woe, woe, woe! [35] [With a prolonged, shrill wail of despair she vanishes amid the crowd. Great agitation now displayed by the majority of citizens. Enter a runner. Run. Ye men of Rome, I bear ill news with me! The Cit. What is't? Out with it! Dally not at all! Run. Sicinius, our leader, he is dead! [A murmur of horror. Cor. (starting wildly forward). Sicinius? Sicinius, the pleb? Oh! gods of Heaven! Ye have struck me hard! [She sinks insensible upon the ground. Her slaves bend over her. Tiberius kneels beside her, sobbing bitterly. The Cit. How died he? Run. It is said by some that he, Being sent by the Decemvirs to select A spot most suitable whereon to camp, Fell into ambuscade and died along With several comrades. The Cit. Slaughtered by the foe? Run. So it hath been reported by the few That did escape. [He pauses, then proceeds. But hearken, citizens! The bodies lay unspoil'd, with faces turned
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