A meffage from ANTONIUS claims a hearing,
Whom, tho' my enemy, I still efteem.
His boldest wishes aim at nothing higher;
And therefore thus affures moft noble BRUTUS,
That what he has done was by nature forc'd,
From his fresh sorrow for his flaughter'd friend;
But now his bleeding country moves him more,
And his foul shakes at fight of civil war.
Secure him but by taking fov'reign pow'r,
To you alone he joins with all his force.
And I abandon CASSIUS, and my friends!
Far be it from me to propose fuch baseness.
May they, and we, be happy under you,
And the whole world once govern'd by the virtuous.
BRUTUS.
Ah! DOLABELLA, little do you know
The mind of BRUTUS. When I flew your CAESAR,
Think you it was ambition? JOVE is witness,
I would have crown'd him rather than myself.
But Rome claim'd freedom, tho' by CAESAR's death;
Tho' by destruction of my dearest friend:
And free she shall be still, if I prevail.
ANTONIUS joining in that glorious work,
May claim whate'er a commonwealth can give:
Nay, I will be his foldier in her service.
Then, neither he nor we fhall longer strive,
But only who shall ferve his country best.
DOLABELLA.
Will you then rather see the world in arms,
Than govern it yourself to make it happy?
BRUTUS.
May the great Gods destroy that world and me,
If e'er I fuffer Rome to be enflav'd!
Rome, that has toil'd for fame fo many ages,
By valour, and by virtue tam'd mankind,
Soften'd rude minds, and in the wildest soils
Establish'd manners and humanity;
And, cultivating youth with strictest care,
First taught urbanity, that useful art
Of being most politely fociable;
(A virtue fcarce known in the world befide,
And chiefly owing to our liberty)
Gods! fhall all this fink into mean fubmiffion?
Which in a moment would debase our fouls,
Like thofe in wretched governments around us.
DOLABELLA.
But yet fubmiffion feems defign'd by nature:
Why, elfe, has she bestow'd fuch diff'rent talents?
Some, like your own, with worth, and skill to govern;
And thousands only fitted to obey.
As well you might imagine harmless sheep
Only created for the rav'nous wolf.
But is man blameable for mast'ring both?
No; for those beasts are of inferior rank:
But where does nature, or the will of Heav'n,
Subject a creature to one like itself?
Man is the only brute enflaves his kind.
'Tis not the shape, but foul, that shews the likeness: Is a mere changeling like a man of prudence? BRUTUS.
A man of prudence never will at once
Make both himself and all the world unhappy.
Think you that 'tis for envy kings are hated?
Pity would rather plead in their defence,
Did we not more compassionate their subjects,
Alas! they scarce have one contented hour;
Few to confide in, and whole crowds to fear;
Afham'd to rule fo many wifer fubjects,
Yet often fway'd by weaker than themselves.
DOLABELLA.
All this were reconcil'd, if BRUTUS govern'd;
Freedom and empire might confift together:
Yourself would be the only man uneasy;
Which, for the sake of all, you will not grudge.
If there were colour for fo vile a change,
Or the leaft pleasure in the greatest power;
Yet I abhor what I disdain to hear.
Return in safety back, but tell ANTONIUS,
My highest wish is to fix Rome in freedom;
My next, to die before she is enslav’d.
[Exit DOLABELLA; manet BRutus.
The Areopagite council long have sat,
To do great BRUTUS fome unwonted honour.
Some voted to renew th' Olympick games,
Others with plays would crowd the theatres;
But these were held diverfions too divine,
And only confecrated to the Gods.
At laft, the wifeft and most famous fenate,
In love to you, in fervice to the publick,
In veneration for fuperior virtue,
Refolves to rear your statue carv'd by SAMIUS,
That greatest artist, for the best of men ;
And place it in the facred temple, next
HARMONIUS and ARISTOGITON,
Those worthy patriots of learned Athens.
LUCILIUS.
How many ages hence shall wealth of princes
Vie for thefe dear remains, fo doubly famous,
Both for the work, and him it represents!
Was ever honour from fo wife a people
Design'd fo kindly, yet bestow'd fo ill?
I am not only destitute of merit,
But of ambition, more than to do good.
Fame's only due for deeds beyond our duty;
Who can do those in service of his country?
The Romans, and ev'n CASSIUS, may repine
At fuch a partial proof of their affection.
Advise me how to fhun it with refpect.
You should not, cannot now, without affront.
No mean affembly this, fuch as proceeds
In fhew for publick good, with private aim;
Sluggish to meet, yet hafty to refolve.
Thefe, in safe methods, and with prudent steps,
Encourage virtue, and uphold their country.
I greet my friend on this new compliment;
Which, in your name, fhews a respect to all.
The death of CAESAR is a common cause,
Which commonwealths in prudence must approve.
BRUTUS.
True, noble CASSIUS; and I never would
Accept an honour fep'rate from my friends.
BRUTUS has nothing in his life or humour
Suited to this unprecedented honour.
Methinks you now efteem yourself too little,
Only to prize this compliment too much.
A statue rear'd to me, and rear'd by Athens,
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