CCAESATE DICTATOR ACT I. SCENE I Enter two Roman Senators at one Door, TREBONIUS and CASCA at another. I SENATOR. AIL, good TREBONIUS. 2 SENATOR. Health to worthy CASCA. Sports to-day? I SENATOR. Before this Cæsar's Time, we had no Shews Magnificent as these. P 4 TREBOZ TREBONIUS. But we had Triumphs: And tho' the Conqueror fate high exalted, CASCA. Oh how our Hearts were fir'd at POMPEY'S Triumphs! TREBONIUS. But then, at last, behold ev'n Captive Kings CASCA. CASCA. Yet fhew'd a gloomy Comfort through their Sadness, For being vanquifh'd by fo brave a People. TREBONIUS. Which of us, then, oh which of us went home CASCA. Yet ev❜n to POMPEY, Chief of all our State, TREBONIUS. But now we crouch, and ftand in fervile awe; CASCA. We meet these Murmurs now in ev'ry Mouth; TREBONIUS. Yet CESAR, ftill intrepidly Serene, Goes proudly on, despising us, and Danger. SCENE SCENE II. Enter a Crowd of common Tradesmen. CASCA. What's all this Croud, and whither are ye going, On your own Shame, and ftare upon your Bondage? I TRADESMAN. I know not what you mean by Shame and Bondage: We go to fee great CÆSAR, and the Sports. CASCA. And much good do you, Friend; You little think, The Man you fo admire would be your Mafter. TRADESMAN. My Mafter! He would fcorn fo mean a Servant. I hope you will not jest at mighty CÆSAR? CASCA. [CASCA laughs. I only laugh at you for loving CÆSAR. TRADESMAN. Oh, is that all? Well Sir, make bold with me ; 'But have a care of meddling with your Betters. CASCA. Betters! Thou fawcy Citizen, be filent. TRADES TRADESMAN. Then I am hufh'd. Speak you, Sir. CASCA. What, to Fools! To Men, whofe Minds are funk in low Submiffion? Born free, and yet contented to be Slaves? Form'd like the dull ftrong Horse, to bear a Rider? Well, we may with, and vent our Rage in Curses: May CÆSAR TRADESMAN. Hold; and hear if he speaks Treason. CASCA. May CÆSAR live, as long as good Men wish him! TRADESMAN. Why, what does this Man mean? he prays forCÆSAR. Long may he live Rome's great, and wife Dictator! TREBONIUS. Oh, my good Friends, how blind are thofe Defires! Did you but know how much you curfe your felves, No People, fure, would be fuch Self-destroyers, Tho' but in Wish. Did ever Men before Pray for continuance of a Tyrant Ague That shakes their very Souls? See, how Rome trem bles, And |