CASSIUS.

All this? nay more, what cannot JUNIA do?
Then, fince I dare not hazard you in Armies,
I will ftay here, and die within your Arms.

JUNIA.

You die? Oh Heav'n! the very Sound of that Checks my Defigns, and chills all my Defires.

CASSIUS.

Haft thou not heard how hard ungrateful Rome
Pursues the Men who once deliver'd her,
And riots in the Blood of her Redeemers?
Two of our Band they have deftroy'd already,
And vow to spare no Murderer of Cæsar;
That is to fay, no Man that lov'd his Country,
Ruin'd himself, only to refcue her.

JUNIA.

Oh I have talk'd too long: go on, make haste;
I am not wont, alas, to use this Language,
But now I can fay nothing else: Away,
No matter what becomes of me, away.

CASSIUS.

Your spotless Fame must always be your Guard,
Rudeness it felf will reverence fuch Virtue.
I must immediately hafte to our Friends,
Who all affembled in the Fields of Sardis,

Wait there for me and BRUTUS. He, to-morrow,
Shall follow, at the head of mighty Numbers,
Rais'd only by the Credit of our Cause;

A Caufe, well worthy of the World to fuccour!
Oh, while Ilanguifh out this long, long Abfence,
Take care of all my Treasure, thy dear self.

JUNIA.

Farewel! thou trueft, kindest, best of Men!

JUNIA in Tears! fo fhines an April Sun;
And fo the precious Dew that drops on Flowers,
Steals down unheeded by the vulgar Eye:
But I admire this Mafter-piece of Nature.

JUNIA.

Alas, my Lord, CASSIUS is gone to Sardis.

VARIUS.

Is't poffible? So I was told before,

Yet never could believe it till this moment.

f

JUNIA.

Why, was it not determin'd fo in Council?

VARIUS.

I must confefs it was debated there,

And wifh'd by fome, that all our Force at Sardis Had fome great Chief, for keeping martial Sway : But who could hope that CASSIUS would be willing To part from you, one Day, without Occafion?

JUNIA.

Is it fo ftrange that CASSIUS fhould be forward
In all the Proofs of Courage, or of Conduct?

VARIUS.

His Fame forbids I fhould have fuch a Thought,

But yet

JUNIA.

But what? I cannot guess your Meaning,

VARIUS.

Not all the noble Difcipline of War,

Strict Rules of Conduct, Heat of martial Prowefs, The Faith of Friendship, or the Oaths of Leagues, Not Fame it felf, no nor the Publick Good,

Deferve to be preferr'd to JUNIA's Love.

But Rome's at stake.

JUNIA.

VA

VARIUS.

And well it would be loft,

For staying here one Night within those Arms.

JUNIA.

VARIUS, fo high a Complement as this

Shews you have study'd long at courtly Athens;
Where you have learn'd to know all things, but me:
Who, tho' I value CAIUS CASSIUS,

As Slaves do Liberty, or fick Men Health,
Nay more than most of my own Sex love Power;
Yet (what I think the very worst of Fates)

I would lofe fight of that dear Man for ever,
Rather than see him fail our Country's Cause.

VARIUS,

Oh ample Recompence for all his Troubles,
To be fo lov'd by you! But is he grateful,
Who can fo cafily endure your Absence?

JUNIA.

I mourn for his, and judge his Grief by mine.
Retirement suits a folitary Wife,

And Melancholy loves to be alone.

Rather fhine forth, and chear your Brother's Soul; Which daily finks beneath a thousand Cares.

JUNIA.

His Soul's too great to need such feeble Help.
Besides, tho' priz'd he be above Expression,
Yet ev❜n his Friendship must not vye with Love:
One Thought of CASSIUS out-weighs all things else.
CASSIUS, whofe noble Soul would ne'er submit
To him who domineer'd o'er all befides:
CASSIUS, Contriver of the Tyrant's Fall;
And, (what is more, far more than all the reft)
That hardy Man who mov'd it first to BRUTUS:
This Man, my Husband, or my Hero rather,
Shall with his Prefence ever chear my Eyes,
Or in his Abfence take up all my Thoughts.
[Exit JUNIA

SCENE V.

Enter BRUT U S.

BRUTUS.

My Sifter weeping! Tho' her Reason governs,
I judge her Grief for CASSIUS, by my own,
For PORTIA'S Abfence fits upon my Heart:
Nor need I blush to bear the tender Burthen,
So much the merits, and fo well the loves.

But