If not, 'tis no vain Titles that can help it:
Therefore I both refufe, and flight a Crown,

[He puts back the Crown with his Hand,
at which the People shout for Joy.

Which can add nothing to my Power, or Rome's.
I'm glad, my Friends, you are so easily pleas'd
With my refufing what I think below me ;
Were it above me, Ifhould quickly reach it.
Your Kings, it seems, exerted Power fo ill,
That you expell'd the hated Name for ever.
But 'tis the Tyranny, not Name, ye fear;
And that my Soul abhors, as much as you.
Witness, ye Gods, I have no other Aim

Than to advance your Good, and my own Honour.

ANTONIUS.

Take then this Crown, which feems fo much for

both;

[Offering the Crown once more.

For Pow'r well plac'd, can never be too great.

CESAR.

Again! this needs not; 'tis unfeemly Joy;

[CÆSAR refuses it, and they fhout
a fecond time.

It looks as if you doubted me before,
And are furpriz'd to find my Moderation.

ANTONIUS.

Tis I, Sir, am furpriz'd; but 'tis with Grief,

[He offers the Crown the third time.

To see you fhun a Pow'r, you ought to seek;
At least, reject it not with fuch Irreverence;
Crowns are the fairest Presents of the Gods.

Again!

CESAR.

[He refuses it again, and they
fbout the third time.

Peace, you unmannerly, unthinking Crowd!
Are you fo pleas'd? and have I no way left

But this, to be as popular as POMPEY?

How have I us'd my Pow'r, that you should fear it? Then, to be more fecure, here take my Life;

Let out that Blood, you think boils with Ambition, I'd rather lofe it, than out-live my Fame;

Nor wou'd accept of Pow'r, unless to please.

I feel their Pulfes, and I find them beat

[To ANTONY afide.

Fev'rish, and high, unfit for my Designs:
Their Reason loft, they rave for Liberty,
Like Lunaticks, confin'd for their own good,
Strive for a fatal Freedom to be ruin'd.

ANTONIUS.

Therefore in pity, Sir, reftrain them more.

CÆSAR,

I'll guard them from themselves, their own worft
Foes;

And will have Pow'r to do whate'er I please ;
Yet bear my Thunder in a gentle Hand.

Like Jove, I'll fit above; but 'tis to show
My Love and Care of all the World below.

Enter a Messenger.

MESSENGER.

Some other Sports are in the Field of MARS,
And only wait your Prefence.

CÆSAR.

Let us go.

The Ev'ning is far spent, it will be dark ;

And I, thou know'ft, have not been well to-day.

[TO BRUTUS.

Exeunt CESAR, and ANTONY.

SCENE IV.

CASSIUS.

Will you not wait on CÆSAR to the Course ?

VOL. I.

BRU

BRUTUS.

Not I.

CASSIUS.

How fo?

BRUTUS.

I am not fit for Sports;

want the airy Humour of MARC ANTONY. Let me not hinder, CASSIUS, your Defires.

CASSIUS.

BRUTUS, I have obferv'd you much of late;
I have not from your Eyes that Gentleness
And Show of Love, which I was us'd to find:
Pardon my Cares, that only come from Kindness;
Your Carriage is a little too referv'd,

And strange, to Friends who would be more familiar,
BRUTUS.

CASSIUS, miftake me not, if I have veil'd
My Look, I turn the trouble of my Countenance
Meerly upon my self: I am of late

Troubled with Paffions of a diff'rent nature,
Conceptions only proper to my self,

Which gives perhaps fome Soil to my Behaviour.
But let not therefore my good Friends complain,
(Amongst which number CASSIUS is the chief)
Nor misinterpret farther my Neglect ;

But

But think poor BRUTUS, with himself at war,
Forgets the Shows of Love to other Men.

CASSIUS.

I am moft glad to find I was mistaken.
That Error made this Breast of mine conceal
Thoughts of great Value, worthy of your Ear:
Tell me, good BRUTUS, can you fee your Face?
BRUTUS.

No, CASSIUS; for, the Eye fees not it self,
But by Reflexion from fome other thing.

CASSIUS.

'Tis juft: Then know, 'tis much lamented, BRUTUS, That you have no fuch Mirror as might show (Spite of your Modesty your own hid Worth;) That you for once might fee the noble Shadow. I have heard fome, of the best Rank in Rome (Except immortal CÆSAR) talk of BRUTUS; And groaning underneath this Age's Yoke, Have wish'd, that noble BRUTUS had his Eyes.

BRUTUS.

Into what Dangers wou'd you lead me, CASSIUS,
That you would have me look into my self
For that which is not in me?