Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow ACT IV. - The Works of Voltaire, Vol. IX The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Alzire, Orestes, Sémiramis, Catiline, Pandora) and Part II (The Scotch Woman, Nanine, The Prude, The Tatler).

Return to Title Page for The Works of Voltaire, Vol. IX The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Alzire, Orestes, Sémiramis, Catiline, Pandora) and Part II (The Scotch Woman, Nanine, The Prude, The Tatler).

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

Subject Area: Literature

ACT IV. - Voltaire, The Works of Voltaire, Vol. IX The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Alzire, Orestes, Sémiramis, Catiline, Pandora) and Part II (The Scotch Woman, Nanine, The Prude, The Tatler). [1901]

Edition used:

From The Works of Voltaire, A Contemporary Version, (New York: E.R. DuMont, 1901), A Critique and Biography by John Morley, notes by Tobias Smollett, trans. William F. Fleming. Vol. IX The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Alzire, Orestes, Sémiramis, Catiline, Pandora) and Part II (The Scotch Woman, Nanine, The Prude, The Tatler).

Part of: The Works of Voltaire. A Contemporary Version, in 21 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


ACT IV.

SCENE I.

The Scene represents the place prepared for the reception of the Senate, with part of the gallery leading from Aurelia’s palace to the temple of Tellus; a double row of benches in a circular form, with a raised seat for Cicero in the middle of it.

cethegus, lentulus-sura.

lentulus-sura.

  • These reverend fathers are exceeding slow,
  • I thought ere this they would have met; perhaps
  • Uncertain yet, and trembling for their fate,
  • They know not how to act.

cethegus.

  • The oracle
  • Of Rome, (for so he deems himself,) engaged
  • In a continued round of toil, is busied
  • In questioning his prisoner Septimus,
  • Who will perplex him more; ’tis that retards
  • Their meeting.

lentulus-sura.

  • Would to heaven that we already
  • Had taken up arms! I own I dread the senate.
  • That reverence and attachment to the state,
  • That sacred name of country, which awakes
  • The sense of honor in each patriot breast;
  • I like it not.

cethegus.

  • ’Tis nothing but a name,
  • A word without a meaning; in the days
  • Of our forefathers men respected it.
  • Save a few stubborn stoics, none retain
  • The memory of it; Cicero has raised
  • Suspicions only; Cato’s credit’s lost;
  • Cæsar is for us, what have we to fear?
  • Defend yourselves, and Rome will be your own.

lentulus-sura.

  • But what if Catiline, by an artful wife
  • Seduced, at last should leave us; we have all
  • Our weaknesses, and well thou knowest Aurelia
  • Can lead him as she lists; he loves, esteems,
  • And may be ruled by her.

cethegus.

  • His love will yield
  • To his ambition.

lentulus-sura.

  • Thou beheldest him tremble.
  • In short, my friend, when tender ties like these—

cethegus.

  • [Taking him aside.
  • Cato approaches, let us listen to him.
  • [Lentulus-Sura and Cethegus sit down at one corner of the Senate-house.

SCENE II.

catoenters the Senate withlucullus, crassus, favonius, clodius, murena, cæsar, catullus, marcellus, etc.

cato.

  • [Observing the two conspirators.
  • Lucullus, mark those dangerous men; behold them
  • In secret conference; see, the blush of guilt
  • Glows on their cheeks at sight of me; already
  • Treason with bold and shameless front stalks forth
  • Amongst us, and the senate still dissemble
  • Their knowledge of it; Sulla’s demon sure
  • Hath breathed its baneful influence o’er the souls
  • Of our blind rulers.

cethegus.

  • Cato, thy rash censure
  • May cost thee dear.

cato.

  • [Sits down, the other senators take their places.
  • The gods of Rome sometimes
  • Permit a traitor’s crimes to pass unpunished;
  • They crushed our ancestors beneath the yoke
  • Of cruel tyrants; shall imperial Rome,
  • The mistress of the world, again submit
  • To slavery? no: the guilt she spared in Sulla,
  • In Catiline and Cethegus she may punish.

cæsar.

  • Cato, what meanest thou? thy outrageous virtue
  • Can serve no purpose but to make thee foes.

cato.

  • [To Cæsar.
  • Cæsar is still the factious leader’s friend,
  • The patron of corruption, and preserves
  • A soul unmoved whate’er his country suffers.

cæsar.

  • When danger calls, my country will not say
  • I am too calm, therefore complain not, Cato.

cato.

  • I must complain, must weep the fate of Rome,
  • Deserted and betrayed: now where is Pompey?
  • Would he were here to save us!

cæsar.

  • Why not call
  • On Cæsar?

cato.

  • Pompey loves his country.

cæsar.

  • That
  • Would I dispute with him.

SCENE III.

cicero.

  • [Entering with precipitation, the senators rise.
  • Why waste ye thus in idle altercation,
  • The precious time when Rome is on the brink
  • Of ruin, whilst on you she calls for succor,
  • When the dread signal is already given?
  • Already is this land of freedom stained
  • With senatorial blood.

lucullus.

  • O heavens!

cato.

  • What sayest thou?

cicero.

  • The equestrian cohort, formed by my command,
  • Were posted where they best might quell the foe;
  • Nonnius, my friend, that generous old man,
  • Who, amidst the crimes of this degenerate age,
  • Still uncorrupted, from Præneste came,
  • To guide us through this labyrinth of treason,
  • And lead our wandering steps to peace and safety,
  • When lo! two bloody ruffians rushed upon him,
  • And plunged their daggers in his faithful heart:
  • He fell: confusion followed, and wild uproar
  • Amongst the people: we pursued the traitors,
  • Spite of the multitude that thronged around them,
  • And night’s dark shade to favor their escape:
  • One I have seized, and bound in chains; already
  • He has confessed that Catiline set him on.

SCENE IV.

catiline.

  • [Standing up between Cato and Cæsar, Cethegus next to Cæsar, the Senate seated.
  • Yes, reverend fathers, know, the deed was mine;
  • I slew your foes; ’twas Catiline who revenged
  • His injured country, and destroyed a traitor.

cicero.

  • Barbarian, thou?

cato.

  • And darest thou boast of it?

cæsar.

  • Remember, fathers, we’ve no right to punish
  • Before we hear him.

cethegus.

  • Speak, defend thyself,
  • And triumph o’er the malice of thy foes.

cicero.

  • Romans, where are we?

catiline.

  • Amidst evil days
  • And evil men, the horrors of foul discord
  • And civil war; amidst determined foes,
  • Whom I alone must conquer; Sulla’s spirit
  • Inspires once more the haughty sons of Rome:
  • With grief I see expiring liberty,
  • With grief behold this reverend senate torn
  • By discord, horrors spread on every side,
  • And Cicero pouring in the senate’s ear
  • Unjust suspicions: Cicero talks for Rome,
  • But I avenge her: I have shown her cause
  • Is dearer far to me than e’er it was
  • To your proud consul. Nonnius was the soul,
  • The leader of this foul conspiracy:
  • It was a dangerous crisis; I stepped forth
  • And saved you all: thus by a soldier fell
  • The daring Spurius; thus was Gracchus slain
  • By the brave Scipio: who shall punish me
  • For acting like a Roman? which of you
  • Will dare accuse me?

cicero.

  • I, who know thy crime;
  • I, who can prove it—bring those freedmen here,
  • Let them be heard. Fathers, behold the man
  • Who has destroyed a senator of Rome:
  • Will ye permit him thus to speak, to boast
  • Of his foul deed, and call his crime a virtue?

catiline.

  • And will ye, Romans, let this vile accuser
  • Thus persecute your fellow-citizens,
  • Your best, your noblest friends? but know from me
  • What Cicero could not tell you, and improve
  • The important secret to your best advantage:
  • In his own palace, know, this impious man,
  • This vile betrayer, Nonnius, had concealed
  • Arms, torches, all the instruments of death
  • Designed for our destruction: if Rome lives,
  • She lives by me, and to this arm you owe
  • Your safety: send and seize them, and then say
  • What’s due to Catiline from his thankless country.

cicero.

  • [To the lictors.
  • Go you to the palace, bring with you the daughter
  • Of Nonnius—ha! thou tremblest.

catiline.

  • I? ’tis false:
  • Know, I despise this mean, this last resource
  • Of disappointed malice—fathers, say,
  • Have I not cleared myself? are you convinced!

cicero.

  • I am, that thou art guilty: can ye think
  • That good old man was ever capable
  • Of such detested fraud? it was thy art,
  • Thy cunning, miscreant, to conceal from me
  • Thy treachery; therefore didst thou choose the palace
  • Of Nonnius to secrete thy instruments
  • Of vengeance; there thou wouldst have hid thy guilt:
  • Perhaps thou hast seduced his wretched daughter:
  • Alas! his family is not the first
  • Where thou hast carried sorrows, crimes, and death;
  • And now thou wouldst destroy thy country too;
  • Yet boldly darest, instead of punishment,
  • To call for approbation and reward.
  • O thou abandoned traitor, murderer,
  • Reviler, hypocrite; such titles suit
  • Thy boasted services. O you, who once
  • Stood forth the happy patrons of mankind,
  • The sovereign judges of the world, at length
  • Will you submit, to let a tyrant hold
  • Dominion o’er you, will you shut your eyes
  • And rush into the precipice? awake,
  • Revenge yourselves, or you partake his guilt:
  • This day or Rome or Catiline must perish:
  • Lose not a moment therefore, but determine:

cæsar.

  • Judgments too quickly made are oft unjust:
  • This is the cause of Rome, and therefore merits
  • Our strict attention: when our equals lag
  • Beneath the stroke of censure, we should act
  • With caution, and in them respect ourselves:
  • Too much severity suits none but tyrants.

cato.

  • Too much indulgence here suits none but traitors.
  • What! balance ’twixt a murderer and Rome!
  • Is it not Cicero speaks, and shall we doubt?

cæsar.

  • These are suspicions only; give us proof:
  • The arms once found, and Nonnius’ guilt confirmed,
  • Catiline deserves our praise.
  • [Turning to Catiline.
  • Thou knowest I’ll keep
  • My word with thee in all things.

cicero.

  • O my country!
  • O Rome! O gods! thus shall a hero plead
  • A traitor’s cause; art thou the senate’s friend,
  • And canst be Catiline’s? henceforth Rome has naught
  • To fear but from her own ungrateful sons.

clodius.

  • Rome is in safety; Cæsar loves his country,
  • And we should think with him.

cicero.

  • It well becomes
  • A man like Clodius to unite with those
  • Who plan destruction, and delight in ruin:
  • But whereso’er I turn my eyes, they meet
  • With bold conspirators, or citizens
  • Cold and inactive in the cause of Rome:
  • Catiline, without or fear or danger, drives
  • The storm upon us; he proscribes the senate;
  • Already reaps in thought the bloody harvest;
  • Marks out his victims, threatens, and commands;
  • And when I point out the dread consequence,
  • Then Cæsar talks of senatorial rights,
  • And Clodius joins him: Cicero must be dumb:
  • Catiline has murdered Nonnius; he who takes
  • Another’s life should lose his own; no rights,
  • No laws should plead for him: the first great care
  • Is to defend our country; but, alas!
  • That country is no more.

SCENE V.

the senate, aurelia.

aurelia.

  • Ye great avengers
  • Of innocence oppressed, my only hope,
  • And thou, O consul, virtue’s kind protector,
  • To thee my murdered father calls for vengeance:
  • O let me wash thy feet with tears—assist,
  • [She falls at Cicero’s feet; he raises her up.
  • Avenge me: tell me, if thou canst, who slew
  • My father.

cicero.

  • There he stands.
  • [Pointing to Catiline.

aurelia.

  • O gods!

cicero.

  • ’Twas he
  • Who did the deed, and boasts of it.

aurelia.

  • Good heaven!
  • Can it be Catiline? did I hear aright?
  • O bloody monster, didst thou murder him?
  • [The Lictors support her.

catiline.

  • [Turning to Cethegus, and fainting in his arms.
  • This is a dreadful sight—support me—this
  • Is punishment enough.

cethegus.

  • Why droops my friend?
  • Aurelia calls for vengeance: but if Catiline
  • Has served his country, what has he to fear?

catiline.

  • [Turning to Aurelia.
  • Aurelia, ’tis too true—my cruel duty—
  • My country—think me not so base; Aurelia
  • Thou knowest my love, my tenderness—but ties
  • Of a more sacred nature, ties—

SCENE VI.

the senate, aurelia, chief of the lictors.

chief of the lictors.

  • My lord,
  • We’ve seized these arms.

cicero.

  • At Nonnius’s?

chief lictor.

  • His house
  • Was the receptacle of all: our prisoners
  • Accuse him as the chief conspirator.

aurelia.

  • Malice and calumny! the lying slaves
  • First take his life, and then destroy his fame:
  • The wretch whose murderous hand—

cicero.

  • Go on—

aurelia.

  • Just gods.
  • For what have ye reserved me?

cicero.

  • Speak: let truth
  • In open day appear: but at the sight
  • Of him you tremble; your dejected eyes,
  • And sudden silence, show how much you dread
  • The tyrant.

aurelia.

  • I have been to blame; Aurelia
  • Alone is guilty.

catiline.

  • No; thou art not.

aurelia.

  • Hence,
  • Detested monster, I abhor thy pity,
  • Disclaim all converse, all relation with thee:
  • Alas! too late, I see my guilt; too late
  • Confess my crimes; yes, reverend fathers; yes,
  • Aurelia knew the traitor, and concealed him:
  • I asked for aid, but merit punishment;
  • My weakness may be fatal; Rome’s in danger;
  • The world this day may be subverted: thou,
  • Thou traitor, ledst me to the dark abyss
  • Of infamy; thou madest my tenderness
  • Subservient to thy wicked purposes;
  • Curse on the guilty hour that gave my heart
  • To Catiline; to thee I have been faithful,
  • But false to heaven, and to my country; false
  • To my unhappy father: I betrayed,
  • And I destroyed him.
  • [Whilst Aurelia is speaking, Cicero seems deeply affected.
  • Ye avenging gods,
  • Ye sacred walls, and thou much injured spirit
  • Of my dear father, Romans, senators,
  • Behold my husband, your inveterate foe.
  • [Turning to Catiline.
  • Now, miscreant, mark, and imitate Aurelia.
  • [Stabs herself.

catiline.

  • O wretched Catiline!

cato.

  • O dreadful day!

cicero.

  • [Rising.
  • ’Tis worthy of this guilty age.

aurelia.

  • O consul!
  • There was a letter sent you—murder threatens
  • On every side—take heed—alas!—I die.
  • [Aurelia is carried off.

cicero.

  • Let her have needful succor: Aufidus,
  • Search for that paper—still are ye in doubt;
  • Still will ye suffer this vile murderer
  • To lord it o’er the senate, shall the deaths
  • Of Nonnius and Aurelia pass unpunished?

catiline.

  • The guilt was thine: thy rancor and fell hatred
  • Of Catiline urged him to the deed; ambition
  • Inspired us both; thy happier fortune soared
  • Above me, thou hast been the cause of all:
  • I hate thee, Cicero, hate Rome itself
  • For loving thee: long have I sought thy ruin,
  • And I will seek it still: the wrongs I suffer
  • Shall be revenged on thee; thy blood shall pay
  • For mine; inconstant Rome, that now adores thee,
  • Shall one day see with joy the mangled limbs
  • Of her proud consul scattered o’er the senate:
  • Remember Catiline has foretold thy fate;
  • I hasten to accomplish it: farewell.

cicero.

  • Guards, seize the traitor.

cethegus.

  • Let them if they dare.

lentulus-sura.

  • The senate is divided: we defy thee.

catiline.

  • The war then is declared: friends, follow me,
  • We must to battle: the uncertain senate
  • Will think on’t, and determine at their leisure.
  • [He goes out with some senators of his party.

cicero.

  • Now, ye illustrious conquerors of the world,
  • Which will ye choose, or slavery or empire:
  • Where is the freedom, where the majesty
  • Of ancient Rome? where is her lustre now?
  • ’Tis faded all: awake, my slumbering country;
  • Lucullus, Cæsar, and Murena, listen;
  • O listen to the voice of Rome; she calls
  • Aloud for help, demands some gallant leader
  • To fight for her; equality of rank
  • Must be reserved for happier times, the Gauls
  • Are here, Camillus must be found, we want
  • A chief, a warrior, a dictator; now
  • Name the most worthy, and I’ll follow him.

SCENE VII.

the senate, chief lictor.

chief lictor.

  • My lord, I found this letter to Aurelia
  • From Nonnius: all our cares for her were vain.

cicero.

  • [Reading the letter.
  • More dangers threatening! “Cæsar, who betrays us,
  • Would seize Præneste,” ha!
  • [Turning to Cæsar.
  • Art thou too, Cæsar,
  • A vile accomplice? this completes our woes;
  • And wilt thou bend beneath a tyrant?—read it.

cæsar.

  • I have: I am a Roman, ruin comes
  • Upon us, danger is on every side;
  • ’Tis well: I must be gone: you have my answer.

cato.

  • It was a doubtful one: most certainly
  • He is their friend.

cicero.

  • Away: let us defend
  • The state against them all: O Senators!
  • If Nonnius’ death, if poor Aurelia’s pangs,
  • If bleeding Rome, if a subverted world
  • Have power to stir up your resentment, rise,
  • Fly to the capitol, defend your gods,
  • Defend your country, punish Catiline.
  • I’ll not reproach you; though ’twas most unkind,
  • To spurn at Cicero, and embrace a villain.
  • But to avoid a tyrant, name your chief:
  • You, who are friends to virtue, separate
  • From traitors.
  • [The Senators separate themselves from Cethegus and Lentulus-Sura.
  • Now let us unite, my friends,
  • Never let quarrels, jealousies, and strife,
  • Divide us; ’twas by them that Sulla triumphed.
  • For me, wherever danger calls, I go
  • Intrepid and inflexible: O gods!
  • Strengthen this arm, and animate this voice:
  • O grant me still to save ungrateful Rome!

End of the Fourth Act.