BRUTUS.

Sure CASSIUS little knows the force of Friendships Writing fo freely, fhew'd my Truft and Kindness. He that defires a Favour from a Friend,

Does him the greatest in defiring it.

CASSIUS.

Come, I must tell you, over-great Applause
Lifts you too high. Should I,who kill'd ev'n CESAR,
Only for his exceflive Power and Pride,
Should I at laft fubmit thus to another?
From a Superiour my Stars defend me!

BRUTUS.

From a Superiour? you little know me:
I fcarce would be Superiour to my Slaves,
Except in Virtue; that is worthy Pride.

CASSIUS.

Then think not, Sir, of being above me.

BRUTUS.

I wish I were not, by these weak Sufpicions.
What, jealous of a Friend? it moves my Pity.

CASSIUS.

Pity? I fcorn it.

BRUTUS.

Scorn your Rage that moves it.

My

My Pity is not, ought not, to be flighted :
'Tis like the kind Compaffion of a Parent,
Full of Concern, and free from all Contempt,
Rather deferves your Thanks than your Reproach.
CASSIUS.

My Thanks for what? for domineering o'er me?

BRUTUS.

Yet Reafon has fome right to govern Passion.

CASSIUS.

BRUTUS, you have an over-ruling way,
Which, under colour of a patient Calmness,
Expects Compliance with your gentle Temper.
But I fee through it.

BRUTUS.

See? your Passion blinds you:

CASSIUS.

You have no Paffion, yet provoke another's.

BRUTUS.

Is it provoking to inform a Brother

Of Faults no other dares prefume to tell him; most neceffary he should know?

And yet

Your Troops have done most dismal Outrages; Forc'd harmless Wretches from their native Homes, Slighted the Widows and the Orphans Tears,

Gather'd their last Remains with greedy Gripe;
That which poor Swains had labour'd for whole
Years,

Is in one Moment plunder'd by your Soldiers.
This finks our Cause, which rose at first so glorious.
Shall we, who foar'd so high in Reputation,
And open'd ev'ry Mouth in our just Praises,
Now on a fudden fall to dire Oppreffion?
Shall we at laft pull down with our own Hands
That lofty Fabrick of well-founded Honour.

CASSIUS.

Am I to answer for it?

BRUTUS.

With your Fame ;

That stands expos'd to every juft Man's Cenfure.

CASSIUS.

Go on no more, I will no longer bear it.

BRUTUS.

By Heav'n you fhall hear all; then do your worst. Dare I not say whatever you dare act?

Am I not equally concern'd with you

In this great War for Freedom of our Country?
Yet must not tell whatever hurts our Cause?

CAS

CASSIUS.

Tempt me no farther, Sir, you may repent

BRUTUS.

it.

Tempt not you me with all your furious Looks:
I am above your Threats, and can look down
Both on your felf and them.

CASSIUS.

Were it not for the Cause we have in hand,
I would not bear this heap of Injuries.

BRUTUS.

I injure? where is that unlucky Man
Who can with reafon make Complaint of me?
If any, I'll acknowledge it with Shame.
The Man who wrongs his meanest Adversary,
Exalts his Enemy above himself.

And can you think that I could injure CASSIUS,
My Brother, and my Friend?

CASSIUS,

If hearing Lyes

With greedy Ears, and foon believing them ;
If misinterpreting whate'er I do,

And reprefenting things in fouleft Colours,

Can be call'd wronging, who was e'er fo wrong'd?

BRUTUS.

If I have faid one Word that founds unkindly,
My Tongue has flipp'd, and quite deceiv'd my Heart,
That melts like Wax before your hottest Anger.
Behold my Tears for having fo much vex'd you.
CASSIUS.

What fays my BRUTUS? fpeak that Word again,
Am I not then fo full, fo full of Faults?

BRUTUS.

It was my Frailty to prefume fo much.

CASSIUS.

And mine to be fufpicious of my BRUTUS.

All shall be mended.

BRUTUS.

But can you forgive

Too fharp Expreffions, tho' with kind intent?

CASSIUS.

So kind intent, I own the Obligation.

No Man but BRUTUS durft have spoke so boldly; No Man but BRUTUS would have spoke so kindly.

BRUTUS.

Oh CASSIUS, nothing but the tend'reft Friendship, And when I thought it for the Publick Good, Could have embolden'd me to cenfure you.

CAS