BRUTUS.

Tes, of you, CASSIUS; if you can believe would receive a Favour from a Foc.

s this a time to be oblig'd by CÆSAR?
Good Gods! had I not doubts enough before?
Did I not ftruggle hard enough for Virtue?
That this laft Tenderness of his is added
To shake my very Soul? The ftrong impreffion
May break my Heart, but fhall not bend my Mind.
CASSIUS in this is honour'd more than BRUTUS;
For, when our Country is fo much debas'd,
Repulfe is glorious; and Advancement Shame:
I'll not be rais'd by him who ruins her.
It was no private Injury provok'd me;

Frowns had not frighten'd me, nor fhall his Favours
With all their Syren Voice entice me to him.
I must go on through Virtue's plaincst course;
In that smooth Path there is no fear of falling.

SCENE IV.

Enter the Confpirators, and other Senators.

CASSIUS.

See if our Friends are not already come.

Tis later than we thought. You are well met.

CINNA.

Is CESAR ftirring yet?

CASSIUS.

Juft now gone in ;

And will, when dreft, immediately come forth.

Fear nothing, all's fecure.

SCENE V.

Enter CESAR again, drefs'd.

CESAR.

Welcome, my Friends,

DECIMUS BRUTUS.

The Senate does attend great CESAR'S Prefence; And we are come to wait upon you thither.

CESAR.

Let 'em attend a while, 'tis early yet.

SCENE VI.

Enter ANTONY.

What, ANTONY, who revels all the Night,
Is he up too? Nay, then 'tis time to go.

AN

ANTONY.

Rather to stay I came not here in Courtship.
But 'tis the facred College of the Pricfts

Which brought me hither; and they wait without.
Hear 'em, Great CÆSAR; it concerns you nearly,
And what does fo, is for the Good of Rome.

CESAR.

The Senate ftays, another time will ferve. [As he is going out, enter the Priests, who stop him.

PRIEST.

Great CESAR, hail! forgive our zealous hafte,
Urg'd by Divine Portent which sent us here,
To warn the mighty Ruler of the World.

CESAR.

Speak: I attend the Meffage of the Gods.

PRIEST.

As on Mount Aventine I lately fate,

Attir'd with facred Robes, and Southward turn'd ;
The Heav'ns all clear, and free from black Prefage:
With my bent Wand I the due Rites perform'd,
And parted all the Regions of the Air.
When lo, ill-boding Birds appcar'd from far,
Bearing Misfortunes on their ominous Wings:
I gaz'd upon them with Prophetick Skill,
Till a fierce flash of Lightning check'd my Sight.

Then

Then, in one inftant, all the Heav'ns were chang'd; Clouds, fwell'd with Thunder, rowl'd themfelva along,

With noise too horrible for humane Ear.

CESAR.

It thunder'd, and it lighten'd: well, go on.

SECOND PRIEST.

Omens of ill in feveral kinds agree:
Having new chofe for folemn Sacrifice

A large-grown Bull, the goodlicft of the Herd;
With an unwonted Rage he breaks his Chains,
Making fierce way through all the frighten'd Croud,
Which gaz'd, and trembled; fo divided stood
Betwixt their Curiofity and Fear:

At last, he at the Altar laid him down,
And feem'd to beg the Blow, which none durft give;
Then on a fudden fhook the Air like Thunder;
And with unheard-of Bellowing breath'd his laft.
When open'd, we beheld with Eyes amaz'd
This boift'rous Beaft that rag'd with so much clamour,
Yet had no Heart..

CESAR.

And I fhould feem like him,

Did I give way to every idle Fear.

PRIEST.

I

PRIEST.

it an idle thing to fear the Gods?

hou'rt in their Power, as the World in thine; nd each may own a Fear without a Blush.

ANTONY.

Good CASAR be advis'd: in this one thing
'ield to your Friends, and fend the Senate word
You are not well.

CÆSAR.

What, fend 'em an Excufe?
Have I in Conqueft ftretch'd my Arm fo far,
And fear at laft to tell Grey-beards the Truth?
No, ANTONY, Truth will bear out it felf.
I would do much to give my Friends Content;
So, let them know I fhall not come to-day;
-Cannot, is false; and, that I dare not, falfer.
I will not come: Go tell it to the Senate.

[TO DECIUS BRUTUS.

DECIUS BRUTUS.

But fhall not I pretend fome Caufe for this?

CESAR.

The Caufe is in my Will. I will not go.
That is enough to fatisfy the Senate.

DECIUS BRUTUS.

Sir, I obey; but pardon my Affection,