5

Fit to receive Impreffion from our Words.

And when Crowds liften once, there is no Fear,
They have the People's Hearts, who have their Ear.

[Exeunt with the Body of CÆSAR.

To be fung after the Fourth Act.

HOW

Fourth CHORUS.

OW great a Curfe has Providence
Thought fit to caft on Human Kind!

Learning, Courage, Eloquence,

The gentleft Nature, noblest Mind,
Were intermix'd in one alone
Yet in one Moment overthrown!

Could Chance, or fenfeless Atoms join
To form a Soul so great as his?

Or would those Pow'rs we hold Divine,

Destroy their own chief Master-piece?

Where so much Difficulty lies,

The doubtful are the only wife.

די

And, what must more perplex our Thoughts
Great Jove the best of Romans sends,
To do the very worst of Faults,

And kill the kindeft of his Friends.
All this is far above our reach,
Whatever Pricfts prefume to preach.

АСТ

1

ACT V.
ACT V. SCENE I L

SCENE the Forum.

Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, followed by Crowds

of Citizens.

FIRST CITIZEN.

EHOLD the Men who have deliver'd Rome!

BE

in SECOND CITIZEN.

BRUTUS has freed us all, and he fhall rule us.

THIRD CITIZEN.

We will be free, and ferve the Noble BRUTUS

BRUTUS.

Why Friends, ye fpeak Impoffibilities;

Would ye be free, yet ferve? how odd that sounds!
I grieve to fee you bear your Change no better.

But give me leave to fatisfy you all,

Why we have done this Deed, and for whofe fakes.
I'll go up here; they who will hear me, ftay;
The reft may follow CASSIUS, and hear him.

FIRST CITIZEN.

I would hear BRUTUS speak.

SECOND CITIZEN.

I'll follow CASSIUS.

And we'll compare together what they say.
THIRD CITIZEN.

The noble BRUTUS is afcended: Silence!

BRUTUS.

Friends, dearest Countrymen, and worthy Romans;
You Lovers of your Laws and Liberties;
Hear me throughout with Patience, not with Paffion:
For, tho' your kindness is my chief Contentment,
I would not owe your judgment of this Deed
To any thing but Reafon well inform'd.
Who is it here thinks CÆSAR innocent?

I was his Friend, and yet I thought him guilty;
And Faults are great, which Friends cannot forgive.
Why fhould I kill him then but for your fakes?
A Wretch who yields a Limb to be cut off,
Does only that to fave a Life that's dearer:
And when a grieving Parent whips his Child,
Call it Correction, but not Cruelty.

If then the very beft of CESAR's Friends
Shou'd ask me why I kill'd him? Thus I answer:
It was not that I lov'd him less than he,

But

But 'twas because I lov'd my Country more.
Wou'd you have CÆSAR live, and die all Slaves ;
Rather than have him dead, to live all Freemen ?
As CÆSAR lov'd me, oh I weep for him;
As he was fortunate, I can rejoice;

As he was valiant, I honour him;

But, as he was Ambitious, I flew him.

Who's here fo bafe, as would become a Bondman?
If any, fpeak; for him I have offended.
Who's here fo rude, that would not be a Roman?
If any, fpeak; for him I have offended.
Who's here fo vile, to value any thing,

Ev'n his best Friend, before the Publick Good?
I own, nay boaft, I have offended him.
What fay you, Countrymen?

CITIZEN.

None, BRUTUS, none;

BRUTUS.

Then none have I offended by his Death.
The Reason for it fhall be fair enroll'd;
His Glory not diminish'd in the least.

Here comes his Body, mourn'd by good ANTONIUS.
Enter ANTONY with the Body of CÆSAR.
Who, tho' a Friend of CÆSAR, is ours too;
And fo has leave to bury him with Honour.

VOL. I.

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