They fight, Oppreffion to increase ;
We, for our Liberties and Laws:
It were a Sin to doubt Success,

When Freedom is the noble Cause.

And, for Reward, of the juft Gods we claim
A Life with Freedom, or a Death with Fame,

ACT

ACT V. SCENE I.

The Field of Philippi.

BRUTUS, CASSIUS, LUCILIUS and TITINIUS, with other Officers, at the Head of their Army. Enter VARIUS haftily.

VARIUS.

Propitious Stars favour our Caufe already.

Behold! a heedlefs Party of OCTAVIUS

Haft'ning too fast, is fall'n within our Ambush
And we may cut them off without Defence.

CASSIUS.

Fall on 'em instantly.

BRUTUS.

Hold, CASSIUS, hold,

And spare your Fellow-Citizens at mercy.

CASSIUS.

The Death of these will make the Day our own.

BRUTUS.

"Twill rather make the rest more desperate. Confider, CASSIUS, they are Romans all.

CAS

CASSIUS.

So much the worse, fighting against their Country,

BRUTUS.

Alas, they do but follow wicked Leaders,
And are our Countrymen with all their Faults;
Kindred, nay Friends, perhaps to thee, or me.

CASSIUS.

Thy tender Nature will undo us all.

BRUTUS.

Good CASSIUS, let me over-rule in this,
And you in all things elfe fhall govern me.
Order our Soldiers not to kill a Man,

[TO LUCILIUS.
But feize them gently, as your future Friends.
Oh, CASSIUS, what a Pleasure 'tis to fave
Romans from falling in a shameful Cause.

CASSIUS.

I can no longer contradict my BRUTUS,
Your Mercy is so moving; yet I own
This Battle never was approv'd by me:
For I would ne'er have ventur'd at one Blow
So great a Stake as all our Liberties;
But rather have prolong'd th' important War.
I use to flight Prefages; but of late,
My Mind, I know not how, foreboding Ill,
Spite of my Reason, feels a drooping Sadness,

And

And by its gloomy Light forefees Misfortune.

BRUTUS.

In fuch a Cause it were a Fault to fear;
Elfe, CASSIUS, I might have fome Fancies too.
For CÆSAR'S Ghoft appear'd to me laft Night,
At all his gaping Wounds breathing Revenge;
And when I would have reason'd with it, vanish'd.'
CASSIUS.

Alas, good BRUTUS, what can be in that,
But an effect of melancholy Fumes?

A dark and dismal Picture lively drawn
By dreaming Fancy, tho' we think we wake?
Our Sect believes no Spirits; if there be,
At least, if they are fuch as PLATO fancies,
Those purer Beings who behold our Cause,
Those Demi-gods will fure encourage Virtue,
And give their Fellow-Creatures just Assistance.
Thus in the midst of Slaughter we shall find
Ten thousand airy Legions on our Side,
Sent to our Aid, as Heav'n's Auxiliaries.

Enter LUCILIUS, with an Officer of the other Army.

LUCILIUS.

My Lord, your gen'rous Orders were obey'd,
And fee the juft Succefs! this worthy Tribune,
Won by your Mercy to those other Soldiers,

Is come to join us with a valiant Band,

Vowing they never will be Foes to BRUTUS:
OFFICER.

Such Virtue needs no Army to support it ;
It vanquishes beyond the reach of Force,
And makes our very Minds yield due Submiffion.
BRUTUS.

Submiffion only fhould be paid to Heav'n,
And I must blush to hear it from a Roman.
We scarce have in this little Span of Life
Sufficient time for exercife of Virtue ;

We should do ill to lose the least Occafion.
Let all his Cohort charge with our chief Legion,
Such a Desertion is a timely Service.

OFFICER.

Your Approbation is our highest Aim:
And this day we'll deferve it.

BRUTUS.

'Tis not doubted :

Your Country's Freedom will excite your Valour. Let him have Rank among our chief Commanders. [Exit Officer with VARIUS and TITINIUS.