CINNA

Cynna affirms the Senates Censure joust, And says let Marius lead the Legions forth. Why Anthony, seal up those sugared lips, For I will bring my purpose to effect. I Cynna sir, will interrupt you now, I tell thee Mark, old Marius is at hand, The very patron of this happy law, Who will revenge thy cunning eloquence. O brave Octavius you will beard me then, The elder Consul and old Marius friend, And these Italian freemen must be wronged. First shall the fruit of all thine honours fail, And this my poigniard shall dispatch thy life. High Jove himself hath done too much for thee, Else should this blade abate thy royalty. Well young Italian Citizens take heart, He is at hand that will maintain your right: That entering in these fatal gates of Room, Shall make them tremble that disturb you now. You of Preneste and of Formiae, With other neighbouring Cities in Campania, Prepare to entertain and succour Marius. Such braving Hope's, such cursed arguments, So strict command, such arrogant controls. Suffer me Marius, that am Consul now, To do thee justice, and confound the wretch Then soldiers draw this traitor from the throne, And let him die, for Cynna wills it so. Now is he fallen that threatened Marius, Now will I fit and plead for Marius. Upbraiding Senators bewitched with wit, That term true justice innovation: You ministers of Scillas mad conceits, Will Consuls think you stoop to your controls? These younger Citizens, my fellow Lords, Bound to maintain both Marius and his son. Crave but their endue, and will be held as good For privilege, as those of elder age: For they are men conformd to feats of arms, That have both wit and courage to command. These favorites of Octavius, what with age And palsies shake their javelins in their hands, Like heartless men attainted all with fea e: And should they then overtop the youth. No, nor this Consul, nor Mark And honey, Shall make my followers faint, or lose their right, But I will have them equal with the best. My Lord, your safe and swift return to Room, Makes Cynna fortunate and well apaid, Who through the false suggestions of my foes, Was made a coffer of a Consul here: Lo where he sits commanding in his throve, That wronged Marius, me, and all these Lords. Then strike him where he sits, then hale him hence. Then bid him fit, and lo and empty place, Revoke his exile, firm his government, And so prevent your farther detriment, Then both confirmed by state and full consent, The rods and axe to Marius I present, And here invest thee with the Consuls pall. In equity it needs must be my friends, That one be guilty of our common harms: And since that Marius is accounted free, Scylla with all his friends must traitors be. Then Romans, in the name of all this state, I here proclaim and publish this decree: That Scylla with his friends, allies and all Are banished exiles, traitors unto Room. And to extinguish both his name and state, We will his house be razed to the ground, His goods confiscate: this our censures is. Lictors proclaim this in the market place, And see it executed out of hand. Exit Lictor.