ur'd me that their greatest Satisfaction

as, that they sent me to this famous Place,

here Wisdom, and where Virtue best are taught ; down'd, when Romans write the most politely, eir highest Praise is to have copy'd well.

BRUTUS.

LLY himself confeffes Greece fuperiour: he, of all our famous Wits of Rome, nes much the brightest.

VARIUS.

Such Applaufe from BRUTUS,

Reward equal to all his Merit.

TITINIU S.

be esteem'd by you, the greatest Kings re fend their Legions, and have lent their Treasure.

BRUTUS.

id timely comes this Aid: Advice from Rome fures us, all their Force is on the march.

VARIUS.

hought Diffenfion was among their Chiefs, ach of them ftriving to setup himself.

Enter CASSIUS.

CASSIUS.

ft now is come most unexpected News ;

Our Foes have forc'd their Gen'rals to be Friends, And call'd it Civil War to fight in Quarrels Between OCTAVIUS and ANTONY;

Yet think their War is lawful against us.

TITINIUS.

Alas, what reasoning can there be in Fools, Who, bred in Faction, blindly join with Knaves?

LUCILIU S.

They are for Licence, not for Liberty;
And love thofe Generals beft, who lead to Mifchiet

BRUTUS.

You have defcrib'd a State juft ripe for Ruin.

CASSIUS.

Small Marches need they make, to meet a Foe

So

eager as we are, to free our Country. Oh the delay is tiresome!

BRUTUS.

Yet have Patience.

With Vigour act, but think of all with Caution

CASSIUS.

Our Rendezvous is settled at Philippi.

BRUTUS.

Thither you march to-night, and I to-morrow.

But JUNIA comes, I fear, to mourn your Absence.

[Exeunt, Manet CASSIUS.

SCENE III.

Enter JUNIA.

JUNIA.

Now, all the Gods that guard the Innocent, Protect my CASSIUS! they are marching hither: Ruin is rolling on us from afar.

CASSIUS.

Not hither, JUNIA; we fhall fpare their Pains ;
Our Forces intercept their bold Presumption,
And I just now am making haste to meet them.

JUNIA.

Come then, away; with you all Pains are easy;
I am this moment ready for the Journey.

CASSIUS.

Ready, alas! you must not for this world'
Share in the Shifts and Hazards I muft run;
Virtue, like yours, here none will dare to harm ;
And while you stay in Athens, I am easy;
My dear, and better half, is out of danger.

JUNIA.

And am I yet more wretched than I thought?

I had no Comfort left for your Misfortunes,
But that I was to share them ev'ry where :
And will you take that from me? O'tis hard!
You would not, if you saw my fighing Heart.

CASSIUS.

And you fhould go, did I not doubt my own: But 'tis fo tender always towards you,

It shakes, alas, my firmeft Refolutions.

I, like fome skilful Swimmer in a Shipwreck,
Grafping his only Treasure in his Arms,

May, for thy fake, make too much hafte to fhore,
Leaving the Bark with all my Friends behind.
Your Sighs would blow away my best Resolves,
Soften my Soul, and flacken all its Strength,
When all's at ftake, I eagerly may fix
My Mind on you, and never think beyond.

JUNIA.

Beyond? Why, is there any thing beyond
The dear, 'the charming Object of our Love?
Mere Thought of that is height of Happiness.
What Image have we of Elysian Bowers,
But fuch a gentle, calm, contented State?
What has this trifle of a World to do
With a bleft Pair, who live embracing thus ?

CAS

CASSIUS.

What fays my Charmer? can I leave this Woman?
I could look thus, and languifh here for ever.

Yet there's one Tyc, more dear than Life, or Love; 'Tis Honour, and the sacred Good of Rome.

For these I kill'd the greatest Man on Earth,
Engag'd the beft and nobleft of Mankind

(And saying that, I need not name your Brother)
To ftab his Friend, and his own Heart at once.
Since I have done all this, I must do more;
Leave JUNIA here, and all my Joys behind.

JUNIA.

Did I e'er think that CASSIUS would forfake me?

CASSIUS.

Forfake? I leave you as the richest Pledge
Which can be giv'n to this illuftrious City,
That Rome it felf can be no dearer to me,
Than friendly Athens for protecting you.

JUNIA.

Jewels we prize we feldom leave behind:
Oh take me with you! my officious Love
Perhaps may fhield from fome fudden Danger,
you
Soften your angry and uneafy Hours,

And make Adverfity it felf feem pleafing.

My Love could do all this, if yours were equal.

Z 2

[Weeps.

CAS