BRUTUS.

Oh, read it, read it.

VARIUS.

"VARIUS, I muft unwillingly inform you,

[Reading,

"That PORTIA, grieving for her Husband's Abfence, "Had mourn'd her felf into a raging Fever; "In which, because she fancy'd he was dead,

"She (none fufpecting) fwallow'd burning Coals, "So dy'd with mournful Clamours for her BRUTUS,

BRUTUS,

Enough, enough. O ye immortal Gods!
I'll not complain of you, but of my self;
For, fure I am the very worst of Men,

Since you think fit to make me the most wretched,
How all my Tears are on a fudden stopt!

Something I feel within that weighs me down;
And I muft fink.

VARIUS,

Good Sir, be comforted,

Oh never, never.

BRUTUS.

Had'ft thou beheld her with my weeping Eyes,
When tenderly we took our lateft leave ;

How her Love pleaded, and her Beauty mov'd;

When,

When, all diffolv'd in Grief, her mournful Looks
She fix'd on mine! Oh, never talk of Comfort.
Comfort! dear PORTIA, if I ever feek it,
May then-alas! I cannot curse my self,
Heav'n knows, I am already fo unhappy.

Enter LUCILIUS haftily.

LUCILIUS.

The Enemy once more is coming on,
ANTONY leads them out of CASSIUS' Camp,
And gathers, as he goes, the large Remains
Of the new routed Army of OCTAVIUS.
I'll do my best to stop them in their March.
BRUTUS.

ANTONIUS, and his Army? Alas VARIUS;
What's that, or Victory itself to me?

VARIUS.

But yet our Country should not be forgotten.

BRUTUS.

Oh, no: I'll bear about this heavy Heart :
Yet, when I ftruggle moft, it weighs me down.

VARIUS.

But where is, Sir, your wonted Resolution?

BRUTUS.

Gone, VARIUS, gone for ever, with my PORTIA.

VARIUS,

VARIUS.

Then, farewel all the Liberty of Rome!

BRUTUS.

The Liberty of Rome? The thought of that
Has rous'd me up---Yet one Sigh more for PORTIA---
Rome yet shall have my Cares: But oh, my Friend,
May this be the last Battle among Romans!

It grieves my Soul to fee this Civil Slaughter.
Fain I would live to leave my Country free,
And with my dying Eyes behold her profper.
Elfe I have done too much; and CÆSAR's Death,
Too fharp a Med'cine, if it does not cure.
'Twas cutting off a Limb ev'n from myself,
And, oh, I now begin to feel the Maim.

But 'tis too late, and we must now look forwards----
Command our Men to spread on both the Wings,
Left they encompass us with greater Numbers:
The Troops we routed of OCTAVIUS

Will hardly have the Heart to rally more. [Exeunt. . After they have founded a Battel for fome time, enter LUCILIUS and another Officer.

LUCILIUS.

All's loft! Ambition triumphs over Virtue.

OFFICER.

'Tis not our Fault, but Fate's: Did we not charge With Fierceness fit to fight for all the World?

Firft, all our Darts we flung away defpis'd,
Uncertain Weapons of remoter War,
And rufh'd on nearer with the furer Sword;
As if each common Soldier were a BRUTUS,
Rome at their Hearts, and Glory in their Minds.
LUCILIUS.

But what is Valour, when fo overmatch'd,
By elder Troops, and much fuperiour Numbers?
Yet no one yielded, while ten thousand dy'd ;
Each call'd for Death as fast as c'er he fell,
And ftill by ill-tim'd Pity was refused.
We only fought to die, and they to fave us :
Which BRUTUS then perceiving, left the Field,
And fled not from their Fury, but their Mercy.
Enter VENTIDIUS with a Company of Soldiers.
VENTIDIUS.

Pursue them close, and on your Lives spare BRUTUS,

LUCILIUS.

Stop then your Chace, and lead me to ANTONIUS. I might have 'fcap'd, but BRUTUS fcorns to fly.

SOLDIER.

He is taken, he's taken.

[They give a great Shout, and carry out LUCILIUS, whom they fuppofe to be BRUTUS.

[Exeunt Omnes.

SCENE

SCENE VI.

Enter BRUTUS, and TITINIUS, with fome Officers.

BRUTUS.

Ye worthy few, who with unusual Faith
Quit not a Friend whom Fortune has forfaken;
Reft your tir'd Bodies on this Bank a while:
Where like a fhipwreck'd Merchant I appear,
Gath'ring the dear Remains of my loft Fortunes.

OFFICER.

Oh, who can judge the Councils of the Gods? [They all fit down. Behold the best of Men is made a Prey

To boundless Wildness, and unjust Ambition.

BRUTUS.

That wild Ambition but too often profpers:
Yet fure the Gods know better far then we,
How to dispose the ruling of Mankind.

If they will have (which yet seems wondrous ftrange)
Injustice to fucceed, and Virtue fuffer;

Our Part is only to fubmit with Reverence.

'Tis time, 'tis time that Rome fhould be at rest.

FIRST OFFICER.

[He whispers each of them.

Not for the World.

S E