Treats you with shows, and popular appearance, And then fubject them? make them mild, and tame, Those lofty thoughts, which, like true mettled hawks, CASCA. And POMPEY too, methinks, fhould be remember'd, See if they are not mov'd; the Roman foul Now fwells within them. Go, my worthy friends; Kill him with staring. I CITIZEN. Farewel, worthy lords! You love your country, and we love TREBONIUS. Shall we not be accus'd for this? CASCA. No matter; We break no laws either of Gods or men: CA B OD So, if we fall, it is with reputation; A fate which cowards fhun, and brave men seek. Enter CAESAR attended by ANTONY, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and many other Senators: fits down in a magnificent feat, to behold feveral divertisements after the Roman manner. When the sports are ended,AN• TONY prefents him a crown. ANTONIUS. Hail, mighty man! thou Godlike CAESAR, hail! CAESAR. I am not call'd your king, but your dictator; [CAESAR defcends from his feat to the middle of the stage. A name, I hope, that bears as great a found; 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 fhout for joy. Which can add nothing to my power, or Rome's. Than to advance your good, and my own honour, ANTONIUS. Take then this crown, which seems so much for both; [Offering the crown once more. For pow'r well plac'd, can never be too great. CAESAR. Again! this needs not; 'tis unfeemly joy; [CAESAR refufes it, and they fhout It looks as if you doubted me before, ANTONIUS. 'Tis I, Sir, am furpriz'd; but 'tis with grief, [He offers the crown the third time. To fee you fhun a pow'r, you ought to seek; At least, reject it not with fuch irrev'rence; Crowns are the fairest presents of the Gods. CAESAR. Again! [He refufes it again, and they fhout the third time. Peace, you unmannerly, unthinking croud! 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? Let out that blood, you think boils with ambition; Nor wou'd accept of pow'r, unless to please. [To ANTONY afide. Fev'rish, and high, unfit for my designs: ANTONIUS. Therefore in pity, Sir, restrain them more. CAESAR. I'll guard them from themselves, their own worst foes; MESSENGER. Some other sports are in the field of MARS, CAESAR. Let us go. The ev'ning is far fpent, it will be dark; And I, thou know'ft, have not been well to-day. [To BRUTUS. Exeunt CAESAR, and ANTONY. SCENE IV. CASSIUS. Will you not wait on CAESAR to the courfe? BRUTUS. Not I. CASSIUS. How fol BRUTUS. I am not fit for fports; I want the airy humour of MARC ANTONY. BRUTUS, I have observ'd you much of late; And strange, to friends who would be more familiar. CASSIUS, mistake me not: if I have veil'd Troubled with paffions of a diff'rent nature, Which give perhaps fome foil to my behaviour. But think poor BRUTUS, with himself at war, |