Caius Gracchus (tragedy Louisy St. Cheves McCord)

Pierre-Nicolas Brisset, Caïus Gracchus

Caius Gracchus: A Tragedy in Five Acts - a song by American poet and playwright Louisa S. Cheves McCord, published in 1851. The action of the drama is set in ancient Rome. The protagonist is politician Gaius Grakchus, younger brother of Tiberius Grakchus. The work, as indicated in the subtitle, is divided into five acts. It was written - according to the tradition of the English scene - with a white poem, i.e. an unspeaked, iambic pentameter, i.e. a syllaonic ten-syllable, in which the accents fall on the even syllables of the verse. Choosing, on the subject of her work, internal struggles in Rome in the second century BC, the author referred to the revolutionary movements in Europe in 1848-1849, known as the Spring of Nations.

Ay, and the ambassadors, with loud insult thrust Forth from the Senate-house, were bid begone, To tell Micipia that his proffered aid Rome needed not; that we were rich in corn; That Caius Gracchus had no other end, Only his name to wind to Rome, by sending These hired flatterers of his proud ambition. Such words, and other oft, as rough repeated, They were bid take with them, and pushed away From our proud Senate-halls. And now our troops May starve, forsooth, or steal, or eat their bucklers;

The drama about Gaius Grakchus was also written by the Irish poet James Sheridan Knowles. Bibliography

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