CATILINA.
Det har I. – Dog – se, nu er timen kommen
da I kan slette skændsels-mærket ud.
Alt, hvad der ligger bag os, vil vi glemme; –
en ny tilværelse os vinker nær.
(med bitterhed.)
Jeg dåre! Håbe, – tro på sejr ved eder!
Er sejrens ånd i denne sunkne skare?
(henreven.)
Skønt har jeg engang drømt, og store syner
foer gennem mig og drog mit blik forbi.
Jeg drømte at, som Ikarus, jeg højt
opunder himlens hvælv bevinget fløj;
jeg drømte, guderne min hånd forlened
med kæmpekraft og bød mig lynets stråle.
Og denne hånd greb lynet i dets flugt
og slynged det mod staden dybt dernede.
Og da de røde flammer steg og slikked,
og Roma sank i brune resters støv, –
da råbte jeg med høj og vældig røst,
og maned Catos frænder op af graven;
og tusend ånder kom og fulgte kaldet, –
tog liv – og rejste Roma af sin aske.
(afbrydende.)
Det var kun drømme. Ingen guder maner
forgangenheden op i dagens lys, –
og fortids ånder stiger ej af graven.
(vildt.)
Nu vel; kan ej det gamle Roma rejses
ved denne hånd, – vort Roma skal forgå!
Snart skal, hvor marmorsøjler står i rader,
røgsøjler hvirvle mellem luers brag;
palatser, templer styrte skal i grus,
og Kapitol skal vejres fra sin højde!
Sværg, venner, at I vier eder ind
til denne dåd! Jeg stiller mig i spidsen.
Sig, – vil I følge mig?
CATILINE.
You have, indeed.--Yet, see,--the hour is come
When you can wash away the blot of shame.
All that is of the past we will forget;--
A new existence is in store for us.
CATILINE.
[With bitterness.]
Fool that I am! To stake success on you!
Burns any zeal within this craven mob?
CATILINE.
[Carried away.]
Time was my dreams were glorious; great visions
Rushed through my mind or swept before my gaze.
I dreamed that, winged like Icarus of old,
I flew aloft beneath the vault of heaven;
I dreamed the gods endued my hands with strength
Of giants, offered me the lightning flash.
And this hand seized the lightning in its flight
And hurled it at the city far beneath.
And when the crimson flames lapped all, and rose
As Rome fell crumbling in a heap of ruins,--
Then called I with a loud and mighty voice,
And conjured Cato’s comrades from the grave;
Thousands of spirits heard my call and came,--
Took life again--raised Rome from out her ashes.
[He breaks off.]
CATILINE.
These were but dreams! Gods do not conjure up
The by-gone past into the light of day,--
And parted spirits never leave the grave.
CATILINE.
[Wildly.]
Is now this hand unable to restore
The ancient Rome, our Rome it shall destroy.
Where marble colonnades now towering stand,
Pillars of smoke through crackling flames shall whirl;
Then shall the Capitol crumble from its heights,
And palaces and temples sink to ruin!
CATILINE.
Swear, comrades, that you dedicate your lives
To this great purpose! I shall take the lead.
Say,--will you follow me?
