Priest. Sextus, I will. Yet, sacred Phœbus, we entreat, Which of these three shall be great With largest power and state replete, By the Heaven’s doom?[5.23] Phœbus, thy thoughts no longer smother. Oracle. He that first shall kiss his mother Shall be powerful, and no other Of you three in Rome. Sextus. Shall kiss his mother! [Brutus _falls_. Brutus. Mother Earth, to thee An humble kiss I tender. Aruns. What means Brutus? Brutus. The blood of the slaughtered sacrifice made this floor as slippery as the place where Tarquin treads; ’tis glassy and as smooth as ice: I was proud to hear the oracle so gracious to the blood of the Tarquins, and so I fell. Sextus. Nothing but so? then to the oracle. I charge thee, Aruns,--Junius Brutus, thee,-- To keep the sacred doom of the oracle From all our train, lest when the younger lad Our brother, now at home, sits dandled Upon fair Tullia’s lap, this understanding, May kiss our beauteous mother, and succeed. Brutus. Let the charge go round. It shall go hard but I’ll prevent[5.24] you, Sextus. Sextus. I fear not the madman Brutus; and for Aruns, let me alone to buckle[5.25] with him: I’ll be the first at my mother’s lips for a kingdom. Brutus. If the madman have not been before you, Sextus. If oracles be oracles, their phrases are mystical; they speak still in clouds. Had he meant a natural mother he would not ha’ spoke it by circumstance. Sextus. Tullia, if ever thy lips were pleasing to me, let it be at my return from the oracle. Aruns. If a kiss will make me a king, Tullia, I will spring to thee, though through the blood of Sextus. Brutus. Earth, I acknowledge no mother but thee; accept me as thy son, and I shall shine as bright in Rome as Apollo himself in his temple at Delphos. Sextus. Our superstitions ended, sacred priest, Since we have had free answer from the gods, To whose fair altars we have done due right, And hallowed them with presents acceptable, Let’s now return, treading these holy measures With which we entered great Apollo’s temple. Now, Phœbus, let thy sweet-tuned organs sound, Whose sphere-like music must direct our feet Upon the marble pavement. After this We’ll gain a kingdom by a mother’s kiss. [_Exeunt_. SCENE III.--_The Senate-house_. _Enter_ Tarquin, Tullia, _and_ Collatine, Scevola, Horatius, Lucretius, Valerius, Nobles. Tarquin. Attend us with your persons, but your ears Be deaf unto our counsels. [_The_ Lords _fall off on either side and attend_. Tullia. Farther yet. Tarquin. Now, Tullia, what must be concluded next? Tullia. The kingdom you have got by policy You must maintain by pride. Tarquin. Good. Tullia. Those that were late of the king’s faction Cut off, for fear they prove rebellious. Tarquin. Better.