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 Ghost appear'd to me last Night,
At all his gaping Wounds breathing Revenge;
And when I would have reafon'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 juft Affiftance.
Thus in the midft 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.
My Lord, your gen'rous Orders were obey'd,
And fee the juft Succefs! this worthy Tribune,
Won by your Mercy to thofe 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 fupport it;
It vanquishes beyond the reach of Force,
And makes our very Minds yield due Submission.
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 fhould do ill to lose the leaft Occafion.
Let all his Cohort charge with our chief Legion.
Such a Desertion is a timely Service.
Your Approbation is our highest Aim :
And this day we'll deferve it.
Your Country's Freedom will excite your Valour. Let him have Rank among our chief Commanders. [Exit Officer with VARIUS and TITINIUS,
SCENE II.
Manent CASSIUS and BRUTUS.
The Fight is well begun, most noble BRUTUS.
And may the rest be still so favourable,
That we may lengthen out our Lives to Age,
In all the peaceful Joys of Love and Friendship.
But, fince the Chance of War is most uncertain,
'Tis Wisdom to provide against the worst :
Which is, our Parting, if we lose the Battel,
Never to meet again: In such a Case
What is my dearest Friend refolv'd to do?
I am, alas, fo weary of a World,
All full of Faults and Follies, I would leave it :
But that to me it seems a Want of Spirit
To fhrink from Life for fear of future Ill.
'Tis to distrust the Justice of the Gods,
Or else their Pow'r; and is in my opinion,
Not Courage, but a bold Disguise for Fear.
With Patience arm'd, I'll bear the Blows of Fortune.
Then, dearest BRUTUS, you can be content
To wear a Chain; nay, what is yet much worse,
To fee great Rome as much a Slave as you?
O never, never come that fatal Day!
The very Sound offends. Oh you have nam'd
The only thing, ye Gods, I cannot bear.
Whene'er ye fend that Summons, 'tis my last.
And therefore, left we ne'er fhould meet again,
Here let us take our everlasting Leave.
For ever, and for ever, farewel BRUTUS!
After this famous Day we shall be Victors,
Or elfe, beyond the fenfe of being vanquish'd.
BRUTUS.
For ever, and for ever, farewel CASSIUS!
"Twill be with Pleasure if we meet hereafter;
If not, this Parting is our greatest Pain.
Just as CASSIUS is going off, enter TITINIUS haftily, and stops him.
The Army of MARC ANTONY appears,
Fearless, and forward to attempt your Camp.
Sure 'tis impoffible: Tho' brave to Rashness,
He is a Soldier of too great Experience;
I cannot hope for such a Fault in him.
'Tis fafer to beftride the angry Ocean,
Than offer to affault a Roman Camp.
We'll foon correct this infolent ANTONIUS,
And crush the bold Attempt.
A Charge is founded.
Re-enter CASSIUS, with TITINIUS, PINDARUS, and other Officers.
Their profp'rous Rashness terrifies our Men,
Who never fear'd before: I doubt all's loft;
The Liberty of Rome is gone for ever.
I'll perish with it, or redeem the Day.
TITINIUS, oh make hafte, fly tow'rd thofe Troops; Discover quickly if they are our Friends.
Go, PINDARUS, get on the rifing Ground,
(My Sight thou know'ft is short) and take a view Quite round the Field.
PINDARUS goes up the Hill, then calls to CASSIUS.
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