Cry out aloud, Freedom and Liberty!

BRUTUS.

The Deed is done, what need we triumph in it?

SCENE IV.

Enter a SENATOR.

Well now, what News?

SENATOR.

The People are amaz'd,

Cry out, and ftare, and run about the Streets,
As in an Earthquake.

[They all floop down to CAESAR's Body, except

BRUTUS.

CASCA.

How many Ages hence

Shall this our lofty Scene be acted o'er,

In States unborn, and Accents yet unknown?

TREBONIUS,

How many times fhall CESAR bleed in Sport,
While the attentive Throng fhall melt in Tears,
To fee his Fall!

BRUTUS.

1

As oft as that fhall be,

So

So often fhall this Knot of us be call'd

The Men who gave their Country Liberty.

Let's venture forth.

CASSIUS.

Come on then, let's away.

BRUTUS fhall lead, and we will grace his Steps

With all the best and boldeft Sons of Rome.

BRUTUS.

What, ANTONY return'd, and without Arms!

SCENE V.

Enter ANTONY, and taking no Notice of them, falls on his Knees to CESAR'S Body.

ANTONY.

I was unable to defend thy Life,

And therefore now can scarce endure my own,
Thou great good Man! Is all thy Race of Glory
Brought to this wretched End? Didft thou fcorn
Death

In all those bloody Fields to find it here?

Oh, 'tis I feel it; thou art paft the Pain ;
But in my Heart 'tis acted o'er and o'er.
For every Thought of thee, and of thy Love,

Gives me fresh Sorrow: take my Tribute here
Of Sighs and Tears that always fhall attend thee,

I ask your pardon, Noble Lords; my Thoughts Were too much there, to look on aught befides. Yet think not I repent of what I faid;

For I will speak the Praises of my Friend,
Nor fear ev'n Heav'n, fhould it reply in Thunder.
He was my Friend, and I will still be his,
Tho' the Gods rage, and Mankind meanly joins ;
Who fhew regard to Heav'n in nothing else
But flighting Merit, when the Gods forfake it.
Yet I, of all fufpected, and alone,

Will boldly thus embrace this precious Body.
Nay, gaze not on me with fuch threatning Looks;
Think not, that if I valu'd now my Life,

I am fo foolish to expofe it thus.

What Hour fo fit for me, what Death so glorious,
As here to fall with C.ESAR, and by you,

The Mafter Spirits, fure, of all the World;
Kill me then quickly; kill me with thofe Daggers
That reek in Blood of him I lov'd fo well:
For, could I languifh out a thousand Years,
I ne'er should find my self fo fit to die :
'Tis now a Pleafure, what may be a Pain.

BRUTUS.

Oh, ANTONY, be; not your Death of us.

You

You little think, when you commended CÆSAR, How much my foften'd Heart approv'd your Praise. Rough tho' we feem, and tho' our Hands are bloody,

Yet, ANTONY, you only fee our Hands,

Which, free as those of Justice from all Rage,
Have done a Deed, spite of our softer Souls,
Your Friendship to dead CÆSAR we esteem,
And value yours the more: then join with us
To fettle Rome firm in its ancient Freedom;
And we will join with you to make you great;
As great as can confift with Liberty.

CASSIUS.

Your Voice fhall found as high as any Man's
In the Election of new Magiftrates.

BRUTUS.

Only be patient till you hear the Caufe
Of all this seeming Cruelty. You know
CÆSAR us'd me as kindly as your felf.
Were I ambitious, or fought private Ends,
This, fure, was not the way.
None e'er who kill'd himself,
Better than I lov'd CÆSAR!

Witness, you Gods! lov'd him he flew

ANTONY.

Oh my Heart!

Hold

Hold up a while, and help me to diffemble! [Afide.
Give me your hands, I must accept your Love,
Moft Noble BRUTUS; and yours, CAIUS CASSIUS.
Alas, my Credit stands on flipp'ry ground;
And there's a Precipice on either fide.

To answer this your Gentleness with Rage,
(When you thus fpare me ev'n against my will)
That would appear but a too rough return:
Yet may not this too look like Fear, or Flatt'ry?
That I lov'd CÆSAR, I must ever own;
That he lov'd me, his Favours fhew'd too well:
How fhall I do my part to him, and you?
Unless you will vouchsafe to give me Reasons
Why CESAR died; and let me bury him,
(As it becomes his Friend) with decent Honour :
Then I'll but steep his Ashes in my Tears,
And in his cold Urn fmother all my Sorrow.

BRUTUS.

'Tis juft, we grant it; take his Body hence; And I will join my felf to do him honour.

CASSIUS.

Hold, BRUTUS firft confider well of that:

The cafy Rabble may be mov'd against us.

Who knows how Rhet'ric may prevail on Fools?

BRUTUS.

We need not, CASSIUS, be fo much concern'd;

Now