Classic Poem

SCENE II

The City. — Combats between the Besiegers and Besieged in the streets. Inhabitants flying in confusion . Enter C ÆSAR .

Caes. I cannot find my hero; he is mix'd
With the heroic crowd that now pursue
The fugitives, or battle with the desperate.
What have we here? A cardinal or two
That do not seem in love with martyrdom.
How the old red-shanks scamper! Could they doff
Their hose as they have doff'd their hats, 't would be
A blessing, as a mark the less for plunder.
But let them fly; the crimson kennels now
Will not much stain their stockings, since the mire
Is of the self-same purple hue.

Enter a party fighting — A RNOLD at the head of the Besiegers .
He comes,
Hand in hand with the mild twins — Gore and Glory.
Holla! hold, count!
Arn. Away! they must not rally
Caes. I tell thee, be not rash; a golden bridge
Is for a flying enemy. I gave thee
A form of beauty, and an
Exemption from some maladies of body,
But not of mind, which is not mine to give
But though I gave the form of Thetis' son,
I dipt thee not in Styx; and 'gainst a foe
I would not warrant thy chivalric heart
More than Pelides' heel; why then, be cautious,
And know thyself a mortal still.
Arn. And who
With aught of soul would combat if he were
Invulnerable? That were pretty sport.
Think'st thou I beat for hares when lions roar?

[A RNOLD rushes into the combat .
Caes. A precious sample of humanity!
Well, his blood's up; and if a little's shed,
'T will serve to curb his fever.

[A RNOLD engages with a Roman, who retires towards a portico .

Arn. Yield thee, slave!
I promise quarter.
Rom. That's soon said.
Arn. And done —
My word is known.
Rom. So shall by my deeds.

[ They re-engage . C ÆSAR comes forward .
Caes. Why, Arnold! hold thine own: thou hast in hand
A famous artisan, a cunning sculptor;
Also a dealer in the sword and dagger.
Not so, my musqueteer; 't was he who slew
The Bourbon from the wall.
Arn. Ay, did he so?
Then he hath carved his monument.
Rom. I yet
May live to carve your betters'.
Caes. Well said, my man of marble! Benvenuto,
Thou hast some practice in both ways; and he
Who slays Cellini will have work'd as hard
As e'er thou didst upon Carrara's blocks.

[A RNOLD disarms and wounds C ELLINI , but slightly: the latter draws a pistol, and fires; then retires, and disappears through the portico .

Caes. How farest thou? Thou hast a taste, methinks,
Of red Bellona's banquet.
Arn. ( staggers ). 'T is a scratch.
Lend me thy scarf. He shall not 'scape me thus.
Caes. Where is it?
Arn. In the shoulder, not the sword arm —
And that's enough. I am thirsty: would I had
A helm of water!
Caes. That's a liquid now
In requisition, but by no means easiest
To come at.
Arn. And my thirst increases — but
I'll find a way to quench it.
Caes. Or be quench'd
Thyself?
Arn. The chance is even; we will throw
The dice thereon. But I lose time in prating;
Prithee be quick.

[C ÆSAR binds on the scarf .
And what dost thou so idly?
Why dost not strike?
Caes. Your old philosophers
Beheld mankind, as mere spectators of
The Olympie games. When I behold a prize
Worth wrestling for, I may be found a Milo.
Arn. Ay, 'gainst an oak.
Caes. A forest, when it suits me;
I combat with a mass, or not at all.
Meantime, pursue thy sport as I do mine;
Which is just now to gaze, since all these labourers
Will reap my harvest gratis.
Arn. Thou art still
A fiend!
Caes. And thou — a man.
Arn. Why, such I fain would show me.
Caes. True — as men are.
Arn. And what is that?
Caes. Thou feelest and thou seest.

[ Exit A RNOLD , joining in the combat which still continues between detached parties. The scene closes .