Caius Marius monologue (Act 1) — Numantia

If thou hast marked, and with attentive eye, Illustrious Commander of this force, The upturned faces of the standers-by, While listening to thy brief and grave discourse, From some must thou have seen the colour fly, In others deepen, stung with quick remorse; Plain proof that fear and shame have both combined To trouble and perplex each soldier's mind. Shame--to behold the abject, low estate On which with self-abasement they must look, Without one plea defensive to abate The wholesome rigour of thy stern rebuke; Fear--at the dire results of crimes so great; And that vile sloth, whose sight they cannot brook, Affects them so, that they would rather die Than wallow longer in its misery. But place and time remaineth to them still To make some slight atonement for this wrong; And this is reason why such flagrant ill Doth twine around them with a bond less strong. So from to-day, with prompt and ready will, The very meanest of our warlike throng Will place without reserve, as is most meet, Their goods and life and honour at thy feet. Receive with right good-will, O master mine, This fitting gift their better minds supply, And think them Romans of the ancient line, In whom the manly spirit cannot die. My comrades, raise your right hands as a sign That ye approve this pledge as well as I.