If we difcern but the leaft glimm'ring ray W On the Deity. Retched mankind! void both offtrength & skill In merit humble, in pretenfion high; Among them none, alas, more weak than I; And none more blind: tho' ftill I worthless thought The beft I ever fpoke, or ever wrote. But zealous heat exalts the humbleft mind; Within my foul such strong impulse I find The heav'nly tribute of due praife to pay: Perhaps 'tis facred, and I muft obey. Yet fuch the fubjects, various, and fo high! Stupendous wonders of the Deity! Miraculous effects of boundless pow'r! And that as boundless goodness shining more! 6 ΙΟ All thefe, fo numberless, my thoughts attend, 15 Oh where fhall I begin, or ever end? But on that theme which ev'n the wife abufe, So facred, fo fublime, and fo abftrufe, Abruptly to break off, wants no excufe. While others vainly strive to know thee more, 20 Let me in filent reverence adore; Wishing that human pow'r were higher rais'd, FINI S. TRAGEDY O F JULIUS CESAR, ALTERED: With a Prologue & Chorus, JOHN DUKE of BUCKINGHAM. LONDON, Printed for the Company. PROLOGUE To the Alteration of JULIUS CAESAR. Ope to mend Shakespear! or to match his flyle! Of greatest actions, and of noblef men, And after govern'd with so mild a fway, Whom, tho' forbid by virtue to excufe, A Nymph might pardon, and could scarce refuse. DRAMATIS PERSONE. JULIUS CÆSAR, Dictator. BRUTUS CASSIUS DEC. BRUTUS Confpirators, TREBONIUS CASCA M. ANTONIUS, A friend of Cafar. JUNIUS, one of Cafar's freed men. PORTIA, Wife of Brutus. LUCIUS, one of his Servants. SPURINNA, a Soothfayer. Senators, Priefts, Tradefmen & Citizens. This Phy begins the day before Cafar's death, and ends within an hour after it. |