Vengeance is Thine

excert from Word to the Wise

act iii; scene v; unpublished (C) 

editing and adding

Word to the Wise

                                                                               By William Shakespeare

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DRAMATIS PERSONAE

     PUBLIUS, Vergilius Maro, Virgil                                                                                    MARK ANTONY, Roman general                                            

     OCTAVIAN, Emperor Augustus, in love with Livia                                                       CLEOPATRA VII,  queen                                                         

     MAECENAS, Patron to the Arts                                                                                         SPIRIT of ANCHISES, father's spirit

     CLAUDIA, wife of Octavian                                                                                                 PUBLIUS CLODIUS, Roman politician

     LUCRETIUS, Poet and Philosopher                                                                                   SCRIBONIA, a consort to Octavian

     HORACE, poet                                                                                                                       LIVIA, princess regent

     MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO, orator  & lawyer                                                            TITYRUS,      ] Ghost writers

     TITUS MILO, Roman politician                                                                                         MELIBOEUS,  ]  for VirgiL

     LIVIA, advisor to Octavian                                                                                                  VARIUS RUFUS, Executer

     SIRON, philosopher                                                                                                             MARCUS, friend of Octavian

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act iii; scene v;

At an establishment in Bologna - 43BC

LIVIA:

If faith were such, then sleep I will until,
Deservedly, where sleepless nights are not
He doesn’t turn towards me unto thee,
And speaking many things, if not one way,
Appraisal from which, my man shall return.

The ridicule of rape, which seen forgiven,
Are sinful, the desires of torching threw  
Abuse and the abode from which we’re driven
Lives along the life-line we pursue
And leads to pastures new, away from death!
As perseverance looking on will do.

OCTAVIAN:

How far apart we are, his eyes on yours,
Outweigh the odds for favours' I detest
And while the rape prolongs I will invest
Vengeance from the deeds whom 'he', abhors.

I arrive with all intent on coming back
To whom the weary first, shall second glance
Be winning when the odds are stacked against
The foe whose death is done other than mine

Hope is clear as day you do not doubt
For clearly it redeems as nearly sight
Man with modest talent will not fight
Until his eyes on his shall leave without.

Who feels he should be credited a win,
For I can not envisage such a plan,
Not, that I should try as might as been,
Defeat is still accomplished to that man.

If blood were spilled of mine, then more of him
Shall wash the total sin of wiping sword,
Against the living tissue, severed limb
An open wound of mine, for his last word

Honour shall be ridden strong on wealth,
An attitude containing clench of fist
Authentic in a way, maintaining health
I'll action them so he may not resist.