All toward one—that one, Sicinius. The Ten hath hated and hath feared this man! No more. Construe the meaning as ye list;[36] I must away.

But hearken, citizens!

[36]

[Exit runner. The four citizens, Horatius, Galba, Marius, and Hortensius, approach the prone form of Cornelia.

Hor. A lady of patrician birth! Good slaves, Can we assist thy mistress, who appears In such a piteous and hapless plight? Slave (sobbing). Alas! Alas! I know not what to do, Or what hath come upon her suddenly. Ah! see, she stirs! Lady, awake! awake! Cor. (opening her eyes, but making no attempt to raise herself). Those words he used when last he came to me. Oh! bitter, bitter fate! Say not awake, But sleep eternally! Sicinius! Galba. It doth appear affection did exist Betwixt Rome's great plebeian and this lady. Tib. Ay, sir, she loved him e'en as he loved her; But naught was said because they feared the Ten. Nay, I was wrong! Sicinius and fear Are alien the one unto the other! But rather did he bide his time until These men should be o'erthrown and Rome be freed From their most hateful laws and government. One of the multitude. Hark to the boy! He is a demagogue. Another. Nay, he is innocent, and therefore bold. Parroting sentiments that are not his own. A third. And yet he speaks the truth, the naked truth. See how this woman hath been sadly wronged, And how her life is marred by these Decemvirs; For surely they gave orders for the death[37] Of him who was a leader and a man! Have they not feared him for these many months, Because his tongue is sharper than a sword? And these two, a patrician and a pleb, Each representing classes now united By common misery, are foully hurt, And scarred by fierce injustice from the Ten. Vengeance! The time is ripe for vengeance. Rome Can bear no more. Sicinius is dead!

[37]

[Murmurs of "Sicinius is dead!"

Cor. (moaning as in pain). Sicinius is dead! Sicinius!

[Enter Virginia, followed by Camilla. She espies Cornelia and at once approaches.

Virg. Kind citizens, let me to her, I pray.

[She kneels beside the fainting girl.

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