I'd just like to take a moment...

[montagnarde1793]

...To note the awesomeness of this. For those of you who can't read French, they're installing a monumental bronze copy of David d'Angers's bust of Saint-Just at the Hôtel de Ville of Blérancourt. :D

Because this post is so short, I'm afraid I'm going to have to inflict another scene from "Brutus et Cassius" on you. >.>

 

ACT II.

 

 

SCENE ONE.

 

BRUTUS, PORCIA, FULVIA.

 

BRUTUS.

These cries that all the camp sends to heaven,

And our astonishment, and our transports of joy,

After so much sorrow, will not surprise you:

The rumor had been spread that you were dead.

Wife of Brutus, companion of my life,

I see you again! You have not been taken from me;

Decimus announced to me that you were no longer living.

 

PORCIA.

Indiscreet tales have fooled Decimus.

It was said that the tyrants’ jealous cruelty

Persecuted Brutus even in his wife.

It was believed that, borrowing the help

Of a mercenary hand, their rage had cut short my days.

Wanting to hide my plans, my absence, from everyone,

I did not suppress these rumors at their birth.

A freed man, loyal to our great interests,

Brought me to this place by secret paths;

And everywhere his zeal, everywhere our silence

Deceived the tyrants’ somber vigilance.

I am here, I enjoy your embraces,

And I must forget in so sweet a moment

All the cruel sorrows that have troubled the fortunes

Of Brutus’s friends for five years.

Will Rome’s avengers try fate?

 

BRUTUS.

Yes, this day is marked for such a noble effort!

 

PORCIA.

This very day!

 

BRUTUS.

This day, and the Roman will, perhaps,

Yet revive and have no more masters.

 

PORCIA.

That’s making much haste. You could have at least

Dealt carefully with the prudence and cares of the Senate.

 

BRUTUS.

Us!

 

PORCIA.

Conquered this time, nothing can defend you.

 

BRUTUS.

Rome is sold to the yoke; what can I expect from her?

Plebeians, senators, everything is frozen.

 

PORCIA.

No, no;

Virtue is dear to them.

 

BRUTUS.

They love the word.

You see however that they suffer slavery,

And you know that there is no virtue without courage.

 

PORCIA.

Believe me, so many crimes, so many generous men proscribed

Can break our tyrants’ dreadful yoke.

What was the people and the senate’s horror,

When the fuming tribune of respected blood

Offered the torn remains of Cicero!

It seemed, o Brutus! That those sacred remains,

Those hands who accused the impudence of the perverse,

That mouth, those features fired by eloquence,

Suddenly coming to life, regained a voice,

And yet made the laws thunder against Antony.

The fertile seeds of virtuous wrath

Have cast deep roots in hearts.

Plancus, whom all of Rome calls to the consulate,

Galba, Servilius, half of the senate

Opposes an intrepid courage to the triumvirs;

And, if for a few moments they’ve seduced Lepidus,

We may try…

 

BRUTUS.

Lepidus has broken all the ties

That my sister’s marriage had formed between us.

Spare me his name; that debonair monster

Ceased to be my brother when he became triumvir.

The cruel man surpassed their inhuman exploits,

While those brigands, the shame of the Romans,

Drunk on carnage, and avid for it,

Signed as parricides on tables of blood.

Would he yet dare to love liberty,

To follow her standard, he who deserted her?

No; but if the great Gods’ strict justice

Orders that liberty perish forever,

It is in vain that he aspires to the throne;

And his two companions will dominate without him.

The world will fall obedient to them;

They hold in their hands the sword and power;

Lepidus has no army; and that odious couple

Would well like to abandon him to the cult of our Gods,

And see the useless honors of the censor shine

In his feeble hands without taking alarm.

But let us leave these perverse men; and may Rome and liberty,

On this great day, triumph for good!

One thing alarms me, one alone, I tell you:

Your arrival here consoles me and afflicts me.

Yes, I tremble for you: if Brutus is defeated,

You would not know to doubt it, Brutus will have lived out his life;

But my defeat delivers you into brigands’ hands.

 

PORCIA.

What do you fear, if I can avenge or follow you?

I know all the dangers I must share,

And I do not pale at their aspect.

Liberty is dear to me, o Brutus, and I love you!

Go, pursue your fortunes.