Treats you with shows, and popular appearance,
That all this feeming foftnefs is not shadow?
A very trick to lull your thoughts afleep,

And then fubject them? make them mild, and tame,
Fit for the fervile use of being fubjects?

Those lofty thoughts, which, like true mettled hawks,
Were us'd to fly fo ftrong, and foar fo high,
Which nature has defign'd to prey on tyrants,
And not to ferve them; now are whistled off
With ev'ry pageant pomp, and gawdy show.
For fhame! repent of such a childish folly;
And rather tear, like CATO, your own bowels,
Than live to fee your country torn by tyrants.

CASCA.

And POMPEY too, methinks, fhould be remember'd,
Who died for you fo lately; on whose ruin
This CAESAR ftands, and fcorns us all beneath him.
TREBONIUS.

See if they are not mov'd; the Roman foul

Now fwells within them. Go, my worthy friends;
And, if you needs will see your tyrant's triumph,
Gaze on him then with angry envious eyes:
Be ev'ry one a Bafilisk to him;

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.
If CAESAR punish men for fpeaking truth,
My honest tongue fhall dare his utmost doom.
But here he comes, with all that pomp and pride
In which young pow'r fo childishly delights.

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!
Stoop to our wishes, and vouchsafe to wear
This crown, presented thee by all mankind :
Shine on us, like the fun, in your full lustre;
While Rome reviv'd lies basking in your beams,
And flourishes beneath that kindly heat.
Adorn us with your pow'r, and make us proud
Of being fubjects to fo great a king.

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.
I'm glad, my friends, you are fo easily pleas'd
With my refusing what I think below me;
Were it above me, I should quickly reach it.
Your kings, it seems, exerted pow'r so ill,
That you expell'd the hated name for ever.
But 'tis the tyranny, not name, ye fear ;
And that my foul abhors, as much as you.
Witness, ye Gods, I have no other aim

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
a fecond time.

It looks as if you doubted me before,
And are furpriz'd to find my moderation,

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?
Then, to be more fecure, here take my life;
I freely offer it to ev'ry Roman:

Let out that blood, you think boils with ambition;
I'd rather lose it, than out-live my fame;

Nor wou'd accept of pow'r, unless to please.
I feel their pulfes, and I find them beat

[To ANTONY afide.

Fev'rish, and high, unfit for my designs:
Their reafon loft, they rave for liberty,
Like lunaticks, confin'd for their own good,
Strive for a fatal freedom to be ruin'd.

ANTONIUS.

Therefore in pity, Sir, restrain them more.

CAESAR.

I'll guard them from themselves, their own worst foes;
And will have pow'r to do whate'er I please;
Yet bear my thunder in a gentle hand.
Like Jove, I'll fit above; but 'tis to show
My love and care of all the world below.
Enter a Meffenger.

MESSENGER.

Some other sports are in the field of MARS,
And only wait your presence.

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.
Let me not hinder, CASSIUS, your defires.
CASSIUS.

BRUTUS, I have observ'd you much of late;
I have not from your eyes that gentleness,
And show of love, which I was us'd to find:
Pardon my cares, that only come from kindness;
Your carriage is a little too referv'd,

And strange, to friends who would be more familiar.
BRUTUS.

CASSIUS, mistake me not: if I have veil'd
My look, I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myfelf: I am of late

Troubled with paffions of a diff'rent nature,
Conceptions only proper to myself,

Which give perhaps fome foil to my behaviour.
But let not therefore my good friends complain,
(Amongst which number CASSIUS is the chief)
Nor mifinterpret farther my neglect;

But think poor BRUTUS, with himself at war,
Forgets the fhows of love to other men.