And looks all pale, with lofs of guiltless Blood! Whose honeft Life the War has facrific'd Nay, are not you dead too? fince in his Power Was Master of the World, and fhar'd the Power; The Greatness, nay the Goodness of this CÆSAR, Is founded on our Baseness: For, alas! What must we be, to be forgiv'n by him? And do you think, because he gives you Pleasures, Treats with Shows, and popular Appearance, That all this seeming Softnefs is not Shadow? you A very Trick to lull your Thoughts asleep, And then fubject them? make them mild, and tame, Those lofty Thoughts, which like true mettled Hawks For $ Por: s diffe For fhame, repent of such a childish Folly ; And POMPEY too, methinks, fhould be remember'd, Who died for you fo lately; on whose Ruin This CÆSAR ftands, and scorns us all beneath him. TREBONIUS. See if they are not mov'd; the Roman Soul Kill him with staring. 1 CITIZEN. Farewel worthy Lords! You love your Country, and we love you for it. TREBONIUS. Shall we not be accus'd for this? CASCA. No matter; We break no Laws either of Gods or Men: So, if we fall, it is with Reputation; A Fate which Cowards fhun, and brave Men seek. If CESAR punish Men for fpeaking Truth, My My honest Tongue shall dare his utmost Doom. But here he comes, with all that Pomp and Pride In which young Power so childishly delights. SCENE III. Enter CESAR attended by ANTONY, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and many other Senators: Sits down in a magnificent Seat, to behold feveral Divertise ments after the Roman manner. When the Sports are ended, ANTONY prefents him a Crown. ANTONIUS. Hail, mighty Man! thou Godlike CÆSAR, hail! CESAR. I am not call'd your King, but your Dictator; [CASAR defcends from his Seat to the middle of the Stage. A Name, I hope, that bears as great a Sound; If not, 'tis no vain Titles that can help it: [He puts back the Crown with his Hand, at which the People shout for Joy. -Which can add nothing to my Power, or Rome's. I'm glad, my Friends, you are so easily pleas'd With my refufing what I think below me ; Were it above me, Ifhould quickly reach it. Your Kings, it seems, exerted Power so ill, That you expell'd the hated Name for ever. But 'tis the Tyranny, not Name, ye fear; And that my Soul abhors, as much as you. Witness, ye Gods, I have no other Aim Than to advance your Good, and my own Honour. ANTONIUS. Take then this Crown, which feems fo much for both; [Offering the Crown once more. For Pow'r well plac'd, can never be too great. CESAR. Again! this needs not; 'tis unfeemly Joy; [CÆSAR refufes it, and they shout It looks as if you doubted me before, ANTONIUS. 'Tis I, Sir, am furpriz'd; but 'tis with Grief, [He offers the Crown the third time. To see you fhun a Pow'r, you ought to seek ; At least, reject it not with fuch Irreverence; Crowns are the fairest Prefents of the Gods. Again! CESAR. [He refufes it again, and they fhout the third time. Peace, you unmannerly, unthinking Crowd! Are you fo pleas'd? and have I no way left But this, to be as popular as POMPEY? How have I us'd my Pow'r, that you should fear it? Let out that Blood, you think boils with Ambition, Nor wou'd accept of Pow'r, unless to please. I feel their Pulfes, and I find them beat [To ANTONY afide. Fev'rish, and high, unfit for my Designs: Strive for a fatal Freedom to be ruin'd. AN |