Instead of the Mufick usually play'd between the
Acts, the following Verses are, after this Alt;
to be fung by a Chorus representing the Roman
People.

W

First CHORUS.

I.

HITHER is Roman Honour gone?
Where is our antient Virtue now?

That Valour, which fo bright has fhone,
And with the Wings of Conqueft flown,

Must to a haughty Master bow:

Who, with our Toil, our Blood, and all we have befide,

Gorges his ill-got Pow'r, his Humour, and his Pride.

II.

Fearless he will his Life expose ;
So does a Lion, or a Bear ;

His very Virtues threaten those,
Who more his bold Ambition fear.

How stupid Wretches we appear,

Who round the World for Wealth and Empire

roam;

Yet never, never think what Slaves we are at home!

III.

Did Men, for this, together join;

Quitting the free wild Life of Nature? What other Beast did e'er defign

The setting up his Fellow-Creature?

And of two Mischiefs chufe the greater? Oh, rather than be Slaves to bold imperious Men, Give us our Wildness, and our Woods, our Hutts,

and Caves agen.

IV.

There fecure from lawless Sway,
Out of Pride or Envy's way;
Living up to Nature's Rules,

Not deprav'd by Knaves and Fools;

Happily we all fhould live, and harmless as our Sheep,

And at last as calmly die, as Infants fall asleep.

VOL. I.

R

ACT

T

H

ACT II. SCENE I.

BRUTUS alone in his Houfe undreft.

E would be King; nay will be, if he lives;
This most important Day disclos'd that Secret:

Ambition, like a mad tempeftuous Sea,

Swell'd him above the Bounds of wife diffembling,
And ended all our Hopes of future Freedom.
Juftice, and Liberty! Farewell for ever!
If BRUTUS is thus fenfible of Slav'ry,

I, who am CÆSAR'S Friend, and partial for him ;
What is it then to others? to those thousands,
Who must lie heap'd in Duft, to raise him higher ?
But my own Words reproach me; can I call
My felf his Friend, and yet consent to kill him?
By Heav'n, no lefs than plain Ingratitude!
That heavy Load presses my tender Mind;
I cannot bear it. Nay, this CÆSAR alfo
Is humbly brave, and gentle in his Greatness;
Apt for Converfe, and easy of Access;
Skill'd in all Arts, matchlefs in Eloquence;
In War and Bufinefs indefatigable.
Bounteous as Nature, merciful as Heav'n;
In all, fublime, high, and unparallel'd.

Yet

Yet oft Humility is but the Ladder,
By which th' ambitious Climber gets fo high;
But, when he once attains the upmost Round,
Then straight he throws the useless Engine down,
Looks in the Clouds, and fcorns the low degrees
By which he did afcend. Then Rome is loft!
But is there no way left us, but his Death?
What, kill the beft, and braveft of Mankind,
Only for Jealoufy? Of being Slaves.

Oh difmal Sound! Who can dread that too much?

The fear of Slavery is Fortitude.

And, to advise him? No, 'tis easier

To kill a Tyrant amidst all his Guards,

Than give him Counsel for his Country's Good.
This CÆSAR'S Prudence may a while refrain him ;
But if Ambition once tranfports his Mind,
Down fink at once all Thoughts of Right, or Reason.
Goodness of Nature makes fome ftruggle in him ;
But even that Goodness will incline to think,
Rome fhall be happier, when himself is higher.
LUCIUS awake; what hoa! why Lucius!
I would it were my fault to fleep fo foundly.
LUCIUS, awake, awake!

<

BRUTUS.

Get me a Taper in my Study, Boy;

Then, come and call me ftrait.

[Exit LUCIUS; Re-enters immediately.

LUCIUS.

Here is a Scroll

Newly thrown in at Window faft feal'd up.

BRUTUS.

Give it me, Boy, and hafte to light the Taper.

[Exit LUCIUS. 'Tis not yet Day, but fuch a fiery Night, That I may make a fhift to read this Parchment. "BRUTUS, awake; for Rome has loft her Rest,

[Reads.

"And takes it ill that thou fhouldft fleep fo foundly: "Awake, and ftrike!-There was a BRUTUs once"And TARQUIN-Ha, thus I muft piece it out; There was a BRUTUS who redeem'd his Country, And did what now we all expect from thee. "Shall Rome-'Tis dark, but fure it must be thus. [Reads.

"Shall Rome, the Miftrefs of the proftrate World, "Be ravifh'd by a Tyrant? BRUTUS, ftrike. O Rome! and doft thou call upon thy BRUTUS?

Am