210 DRAMATIC SCENES. 



A meeting of conspirators was held 

 Under his roof, with mystic rites and oaths, 

 Pledged round the body of a murder'd slave. 

 To these he has no answer. 



CAT. [Rising calmly.] Conscript Fathers ! 



I do not rise to waste the night in words : 

 Let* that plebeian talk, 'tis not my trade ; 

 But here T stand for RIGHT. Let him show proofs ; 

 For ROMAN right though none it seems dare stand 

 To take their share with me. Ay, cluster, there, 

 Cling to your master ; judges-]- Romans SLAVES ! 

 His charge is false ; I dare him to his proofs ; 

 You have my answer now ! I must be gone. 



Cic. Bring back the helmet of this Gaulish king ; 



[Enter Lictors with a helmet and axe.~\ 

 These, as I told you, were this evening seized 

 Within his house. You know them, Catiline ? 



CAT. The 1 1 axe and helmet of the Allobroges ! (aside) 

 Know^f them ! What crimination's there ? what tongue 

 Lives in that helm to charge me 1 Cicero 

 Go search my house, you may find twenty such, 

 All fairly struck from brows of barbarous kings, 

 When you and yours were plotting here in ROME. 

 I say, go search my house. And is this all ? 

 I scorn to tell you by what chance they came. 

 Where have / levied troops tamper'd with slaves 

 Bribed fool or villain, to embark his neck 

 In this rebellion ? Let my actions speak. 



Cic. Deeds shall convince you! Has** the traitor done? 



CAT. But this I will avow, that I have scorn'd, 

 And still do scorn, to hide my sense of wrong : 

 Who brands me on the forehead, breaks my sword, 

 Or lays the bloody scourge upon my back, 



* Most haughty and disdainful manner. 



f This requires a protracted utterance, with the strongest expres- 

 sion of scorn. 



J This refers to Catiline ; the helmet and axe -were the kingly 

 emblems he had received from the Allobroges in token of their sub- 

 mission to him. 



With a significant tone and manner. || With apparent alarm. 



^f Resumes his self-possession. 



** Most dignified manner, with a severe tone and look. 



