DRAMATIC SCENES. 2ll 



Can wrong me half as much as he who shuts 



The gates of honour on me, turning out 



The "Roman from his birthright ; and for what ? 



[Looking round him.'] 



To fling your offices to every slave : 



Vipers* that creep where man disdains to climb ; 

 And having wound their loathsome track to the top 

 Of this huge mouldering monument of Rome, 

 Hang hissing at the noble man below. 



Cic. This is his answer ! Must I bring more proofs ? 

 Fathers, you know there lives not one of us 

 But lives in peril of his midnight sword. 

 Lists of proscription have been handed round, 

 In which your general properties are made 

 Your murderer s hire. 



tBring in the prisoners. 

 [The Lictors return with Cethegus and others,] 



CAT. Cethegus !: (aside.) 



Cic. Fathers ! those stains to their high name and 



blood, 



Came to my house to murder me ; and came 

 Suborned by him. 



CAT. [Scornfully.'] Cethegus ! 

 Did you say this ? 



CETH. Not I. I went to kill 



A prating, proud plebeian, whom those fools 

 Palm'd on the consulship. 



Cic. And sent by whom ? 



CETH. By none. By nothing but my zeal to purge 

 The senate of yourself, most || learned Cicero ! 



[An officer enters with letters for CICERO; other 

 prisoners are also introduced chained. 



Cic. Fathers of Rome ! If man can be convinced 

 By proof as clear as daylight, there it stands ! 



[Pointing to the prisoners.] 

 Those men have been arrested at the gates, 

 Bearing despatches to raise war in Gaul. 



* Most emphatic and disdainful manner. 



h In a tone of command. J Alarmed. 



Careless and insolent tone and manner. 



be tone of irony must here be observed, with the greatest degree 

 of mock respect. 



