TREBONIUS.

What a Night is this!

There's two or three of us have seen ftrange Sights!

CASSIUS.

Well, let 'em fee them. Tell me, am I staid for? TREBONIUS.

You are.

O CASSIUS, if you could prevail with BRUTUS; He, as a Band, would tye our Party ftrong.

CASCA.

Why is not BRUTUS one? I thought him fure.

CASSIUS.

Be you content. TREBONIUS, take this Scrole,
And look you lay it in the ready way,

Where BRUTUS needs must find it; then, throw this
In at his Window; fet this up with Wax
Upon old BRUTUS' Statue: all this done,

Repair to POMPEY'S Porch, where you shall find us
IS DECIUS BRUTUS, and MARULLUS there?

TREBONIUS.

All, all are there, except METELLUS CIMBER;
And he is gone to seek you at your House.

CASSIUS.

CASSIUS.

Away then; lose no time: Come, my good CASCA,
We will go vifit BRUTUS yet e'er Day:

Three Parts of that good Man are ours already,
And, on the next Affault, he yields entire.

CASCA.

Oh, he fits high in all the People's Hearts.

CASSIUS.

So, that which would appear Offence in us,
His Countenance, like the great Art of Chymifts,
Will change to Virtue, and to noble Deeds.

CASCA.

Him and his Worth, and our great need of him, You have confider'd well. Come let's make haste.

CASSIUS.

The Sun that fees him next, shall find him ours.

[Exeunt.

Inftead

Inftead of the Mufick ufually play'd between the Acts, the following Verfes are, after this Act, to be fung by a Chorus reprefenting the Roman People.

W

Firft CHORUS.

1.

HITHER is Roman Honour gone?
Where is our antient Virtue now?

That Valour, which fo bright has fhone,
And with the Wings of Conqueft flown,

Muft to a haughty Master bow:

Who, with our Toil, our Blood, and all we have befide,

Gorges his ill-got Pow'r, his Humour, and his Pride,

II.

Fearless he will his Life expose;
So does a Lion, or a Bear;

His very Virtues threaten those,

Who more his bold Ambition fear.

How stupid Wretches we appear,

Who round the World for Wealth and Empire

roam;

Yet never, never think what Slaves we are at home!

III.

Did Men, for this, together join;

Quitting the free wild Life of Nature? What other Beaft did e'er defign

The setting up his Fellow-Creature?

And of two Mischiefs chufe the greater? Oh, rather than be Slaves to bold imperious Men, Give us our Wildness, and our Woods, our Hutts,

and Caves agen.

IV.

There fecure from lawless Sway,
Out of Pride or Envy's way;
Living up to Nature's Rules,

Not deprav'd by Knaves and Fools;

Happily we all fhould live, and harmless as our Sheep,

And at last as calmly die, as Infants fall asleep.

VOL. I.

R

ACT

H

BRUTUS alone in his Houfe undreft.

E would be King; nay will be, if he lives;
This most important Day difclos'd that Secret:

Ambition, like a mad tempeftuous Sea,

Swell'd him above the Bounds of wife diffembling,
And ended all our Hopes of future Freedom.
Juftice, and Liberty! Farewell for ever!
If BRUTUS is thus fenfible of Slav'ry,

I, who am CÆSAR'S Friend, and partial for him
What is it then to others? to thofe thousands,
Who must lie heap'd in Duft, to raise him higher?
But my own Words reproach me; can I call
My felf his Friend, and yet consent to kill him?
By Heav'n, no less than plain Ingratitude!
That heavy Load preffes my tender Mind;
I cannot bear it. Nay, this CÆSAR alfo
Is humbly brave, and gentle in his Greatnefs;
Apt for Converse, and cafy of Accefs;
Skill'd in all Arts, matchlefs in Eloquence;
In War and Bufinefs indefatigable.
Bounteous as Nature, merciful as Heav'n;
In all, fublime, high, and unparallel'd.

Yet