DRAMATIC SCENES. 



Look on these letters ! Here's a deep laid plot 



To wreck the province : a solemn league, 



Made with all form and circumstance. *The time 



Is desperate, all the slaves are up; Rome shakes ! 



The heavens alone can tell how near our graves 

 We stand ev'n here ! The name of Catiline 

 Is foremost in the league. He was their KING. 

 Triedf and convicted traitor, go from Rome ! 



CAT. jCome, consecrated lictors ! from your thrones ; 



[To the Senate. ] 



Fling down your sceptres : take the rod and axe, 

 And make the murder as you make the law. 

 Cic. Give up the record of his banishment. 



[7'o an officer. .] 



[The officer gives it to the Consul j] 



CAT. Banish'd from Rome ! What's banish'd but set 

 From daily contact of the things I loathe ? [free 



' Tried and convicted traitor ! ' \\ Who says this ? 

 Who'll prove it at his peril, on my head ? 

 Banish'd ? ^[1 thank you for't. It breaks my chains ! 

 I held some slack allegiance till this hour 

 But now my sword's my own. Smile on, my lords ; 

 I scorn to count what feelings, withered hopes, 

 Strong provocations; bitter, burning wrongs, 

 I have within my **heart's hot cells shut up, 

 To leave you in your lazy dignities. 

 tfButhere I stand and scoff you : here I fling 

 Hatred and full defiance in your face. 

 J jYour Consul's merciful. For this all thanks. 

 He dares not touch a hair of Catiline. 



(The CONSUL reads.) " Lucius Sergius Catiline ; by 

 the decree of the Senate, you are declared an 

 enemy and an alien to the State, and banished 

 from the territory of the commonwealth." 



* Increased animation. 



f Authoritative command requiring a particularly stern air and force- 

 able utterance. 



J Catiline, having seated himself, here rises in the most haughty 

 manner. With the strongest indignation. 



|| Increased violence. H Sarcastic tone. 



** Suit the action to the word, 

 t The language will here fully direct the speaker. 

 Here is a transition to sarcasm. 



