For giving fhelter to that worthy Roman ;
What means this Contradiction?

LUCILIUS.

I'll inform you.

Our Empire groan'd beneath the Pow'r of CÆSAR ;
A Man fo fam'd for Clemency and Courage,
(Qualities charming ev'n in Enemies)

That none, tho' virtuous, could refolve to act
A bold and noble Deed, which all Men wish'd.

VARIUS.

You mean the Death of CESAR. Pray go on.

LUCILIUS.

At length, a Man of all the World inclin'd
The leaft to Violence, or any Paffion;
A Man fublimely wife, exactly juft-

VARIUS.

After this Character, you need not name him.

LUCILIUS,

BRUTUS, the Head of all thofe noble Spirits
Who fhine at Rome, and rule the under World,
Selects the very choiceft of them all,

And fells the Tyrant in the very Senate,

VARIUS.

This Deed of BRUTUS feems the Will of Heav'n.

Lu

LUCILIU S.

And fo accounted for his wondrous Virtue.
The Soldiers, Senators, and common People,
(If among Romans they can be fo call'd)

Ev'n the best Friends of CÆSAR follow'd BRUTUS,
As the avow'd Deliv'rer of his Country:

Till his foft Nature, and his gen'rous Spirit,
Refign'd the Corps to be interr'd with Honour.

VARIUS.

That made this fatal Change, as we are told.

LUCILIUS.

Moft true, in thofe that heard the fam'd Oration.
What is it Eloquence cannot perfuade?

Reafon itself comes over to its fide.

Thus ANTONY, foon as his Speech was ended,
Rais'd in that Heat fo great a Rage against us,
As forc'd cv'n Friends to act the part of Foes:
Yet now the wife repent, and rev'rence Athens
For thus fupporting the most worthy BRUTUS.

VARIUS.,

The Roads from Rome are fill'd by valiant Crowds, Who fly from Safety, to partake our Danger.

LUCILIUS.

No wonder: fince Virtue has ever fix'd

Kind Correfpondence between Rome and Athens.

The Youth of Rome, and all whom Rome has con

quer'd,

Hither repair to learn Philofophy.

Chief among thefe, you (Son of famous TULLY)
Advis'd no doubt by your illuftrious Father,
Invited BRUTUS and his Brother CASSIUS
To make great Athens Center of the War.
VARIUS.

'And she has own'd your Cause in ample manner,
Armies are levy'd, and vaft Sums are rais'd,
In the defence of Roman Liberty,

LUCILIU S.

Oh Noble Efforts of Republick Spirit!
Why this is being Friends to Humane Kind ;
Which, next to Heav'n, is most oblig'd to those
Who refcue Liberty from vile Oppression.

VARIUS.

Our ancient Heroes thus grew Gods themselves:
Befides, 'tis in a manner Self-defence

To help in neighb'ring Dangers; for it hinders
Future Incroachments on our felves at home,

LUCILIUS.

Of that, Athenians are almost too jealous :
Ev'n with Ingratitude they crush Ambition,
And banith Merit, when the leaft afpiring.

VA

VARIUS.

Most wifely do they act, nay justly too :
For, we reward a Leader's Service best,
In barring him the means of doing Mischief.
Happier, much happier had it been for CESAR,
Had he been banifh'd, while yet innocent,
Than e'er return'd triumphant o'er his Country.

SCENE II.

Enter DOLABELLA pulling off his Difguife.

LUCILIUS.

What! DOLABELLA here?

DOLABELLA.

A Friend to VARIUS,

Sent by ANTONIUS in moft fecret manner,
To ask an Interview of noble BRUTUS,

Before the Soldier joins in bloody Battle.

Who knows but each great Chief may grow more

kind,

In fight of wondring Armies may embrace,

And Rame shall smile at their returning Friends?

VARIUS.

[Exit LUCILIUS.

And can you think that BRUTUS flew great JULIUS,

To

"

To fuffer Tyranny in other Hands?

DOLABELLA.

Alas, that Tyranny is but a Word,

Us'd only by us when we hate our Ruler.

Have we not found (you'll pardon me, good VARIUS)
That ev'n this Change you call Deliverance
Has but remov'd one Hardship for a greater,
A fingle Grievance for a Civil War.

VARIUS.

What do I hear! Is any Grievance equal
To that most abject State of being Subjects
To Will, to Paflion, or to lawless Humour ?

DOLABELLA.

Yet thefe Expreffions fhew 'tis not mere ruling,
But ruling ill, you fear. When Prudence fways,
'Tis Happiness, not Slav'ry, to be govern❜d.

To blefs our Times with Plenty, and with Pleasures,
Prevent Disorders, and promote Diverfions,
Hinder us all from hurting one another,

Take all the Cares, and leave us all the Joys,
Can only be accomplish'd by great Power,
When plac'd in fuch a Man as God-like BRUTUS.

VARIUS.

Where is Content or Pleafure under Force?

The Freedom of Man's Will not Heav'n constrains :

Who