The Roman Traitor (Vol. 1 of 2) - The UK Mirror Service

THE MEASURES 23
desires, that would have made the blood stop and turn stagnant
at the heart of any one, not utterly polluted and devoid of every
humane feeling.
This little knot seemed fierce for action, fiery and panting
with that wolfish thirst, to quench which blood must flow. But
all the rest seemed dumb, and tongue-tied, and crest-fallen. The
sullenness of fear brooded on every other face. The torpor of [29]
despairing crime, already in its own fancy baffled and detected,
had fallen on every other heart. For, at the farther end of the
room, whispering to his trembling hearers dubious and dark suspicions,
with terror on his tongue, stood Cassius, exaggerating
the adventures of the night.
Such was the scene, when Cataline stalked into that bad conclave.
The fires of hell itself could send forth no more blasting
glare, than shot from his dark eyes, as he beheld, and read at half
a glance their consternation. Bitter and blighting was the sneer
upon his lip, as he stood motionless, gazing upon them for a little
space. Then flinging his arm on high and striding to the table he
dashed his hand upon it, that it rang and quivered to the blow.
"What are ye?" he said slowly, in tones that thrilled to every
heart, so piercing was their emphasis. "Men?—No, by the Gods!
men rush on death for glory!—Women? They risk it, for their
own, their children's, or their lover's safety!—Slaves?—Nay!
even these things welcome it for freedom, or meet it with revenge!
Less then, than men! than women, slaves, or beasts!—Perish
like cattle, if ye will, unbound but unresisting, all armed but
unavenged!—And ye—great Gods! I laugh to see your terrorblanched,
blank visages. I laugh, but loathe in laughing! The
destined dauntless sacrificers, who would imbue your knives in
senatorial, consular gore! kindle your altars on the downfallen
Capitol! and build your temples on the wreck of Empire! Ha!
do you start? and does some touch of shame redden the sallow
cheeks that courage had left bloodless? and do ye grasp your
daggers, and rear your drooping heads? are ye men, once again?