And that was all he knew:
Had he known more, why did he not inform?
The Gods decreed that Rome should be deliver'd.
That devout Thought revives our finking Hopes;
Heav'n will not fail a Cause it once has bleft.
But truft not all to that, let us be careful.
When you fhall march to-morrow after me,
Should we not leave fome Forces here behind?
To keep these People firmly to us. They, who at Rome command an Empire's wealth, Have dangerous Temptations of seducing.
Oh never fear it. Shake Athenian Faith?
or ftriving with the Winds.
They are too learn'd, and prudent, not to know
That 'tis the greatest Folly to be false;
Not worth a Villany to gain the World.
A low mean Act fo rancles in the Mind,
There is no Joy, nor Quiet afterwards;
Kind Heav'n has form'd us fo, that we might find
Content and Honefty ftill join'd together.
But, then we are the more oblig'd to guard 'em
Against what they might fuffer for our fakes.
BRUTUS.
Kindly, and juftly urg'd, I must confefs.
But think you, that our Enemies can fpare
The smallest Legion from oppofing us?
Detaching fome, may be their loss of all.
Yet, for this Place I am concern'd fo much,
You shake my Reason when you urge their Danger.
Let them propofe what Guards themselves defire.
CASSIUS.
Nay, there I differ; fince in War-affairs,
With all their Wit, they cannot judge fo well:
Nor is it fit they judge in their own Cause.
I'll ftrait affemble them, and then debate
With calm deliberation this Affair;
Which well deferves our speedieft Management,
Since we are forc'd to march away fo foon.
You'll come, I hope, and fix our Refolution.
This Man has fome uneafinefs of Temper,
But over-balanc'd by his publick Spirit,
Which ever sways him to his Country's Good.
Whate'er our Master ZENO may have taught us,
Nothing is wholly perfect here below:
We should applaud the Merit that we find,
And caft a friendly Veil on good Men's Faults.
My Sifter JUNIA loves him to excess;
(If there can be Excefs in Love, or Friendship.)
Go, and acquaint her gently with the Journey
Which he must take this night towards Philippi,
There to decide th' important Fate of Rome.
I must prepare the Forces under me,
To overtake him on his March to-morrow:
From thence we'll hafte conjointly to the Battle:
This scanty Road bears us not both together;
And we must once divide, to part no more.
[Exeunt BRUTUS and YARIUS.
Of Athenian Philofophers.
Written at the Command of his Grace, by Mr. POPE.
E Shades where facred Truth is fought,
Groves, where immortal Sages taught,
Where heav'nly Visions PLATO fir'd,
And Godlike ZENO lay infpir'd!
In vain your guiltlefs Laurels ftood
Unfpotted long with humane Blood:
War, horrid War, your thoughtful Walks invades,
And Steel now glitters in the Mufes Shades.
Oh Heav'n-born Sifters! Source of Art!
Who charm the Senfe, or mend the Heart;
Who lead fair Virtue's Train along,
Moral Truth, and mystick Song!
To what new Clime, what distant Sky,
Forfaken, friendlefs, fhall ye fly?
Say, will ye bless the bleak Atlantic Shore,
Or bid the furious Gaul be rude no more?
When Athens finks by Fates unjuft;
When wild Barbarians fpurn her Duft;
Perhaps ev❜n Britain's utmost Shore
Shall cease to blufh with Stranger's Gore;
See Arts her favage Sons controul,
An Athens rifing near the Pole;
Till fome new Tyrant lifts his purple Hand,
And civil Madness tears them from the Land.
Ye Gods! what Juftice rules the Ball?
Freedom and Arts together fall;
Fools grant whate'er Ambition craves,
And Men, once ignorant, are Slaves.
Oh curs'd Effects of civil Hate;
In ev'ry Age, in ev'ry State!
Still when the Luft of Tyrant Pow'r fucceeds.
Some Athens perifhes, fome TULLY bleeds,
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