I own a moft tranfcendent obligation;
But ev'ry fum and foldier they have rais'd
In aid of liberty, affects me more.
I ever thought a Roman general
Above reward from an Athenian fenate.
What is a trifle then giv'n by grey-beards,
Mov'd by a little popularity?
But, to be mov'd by envy, fure, is worse.
CASSIUS.
I did not envy CAESAR, tho' I flew him.
BRUTUS.
An honest mind can envy no ufurper;
You faid you kill'd him for the publick good.
You know I kill'd him for the publick good:
Who doubts it, does me wrong.
BRUTUS.
Do none yourself.
What! fhall we two, the champions of freedom,
Like children, grudge at one another's play-things?
Come, we are friends. But think not I am fond
[Embraces him.
Of airy trifles, tho' I value fame.
Fame for good deeds is the reward of virtue.
Thirst after fame is giv'n us by the Gods,
Both to excite our minds to noble acts,
And give a proof of some immortal state,
Where we shall know, that fame we leave behind,
That highest bleffing which the Gods bestow.
But 'tis a greater not to need their blessings.
You Stoics hold a wife man is above them.
BRUTUS.
Yet not infenfible to reputation.
For that he flights all torments, ev'n difgrace;
Nay, what is harder yet, defpifes pleasure;
A ftrength of mind which only man poffeffes.
I fee no fuch diftinction, nor wherein
Man fo tranfcends, except in arrogance.
This great fuperiority of man
Often comes fhort ev'n of the meaneft creatures;
They in their ways more happily confin'd,
Seem not to fcorn, or bear down one another;
Never ungrateful, or the leaft deceiving,
But keep wife nature's laws with strict obedience,
Ob happy for the world, if in these times
Mankind in gen'ral were no worse than brutes!
BRUTUS.
Ill men, indeed, I must confefs, are worse.
And fure the worst of all, their country's enemies. These should be cenfur'd by our rev'rend priests, Who always raife our thoughts to things above, But yet connive at villainy below.
From hence the miferies of Rome proceed.
When fraud, oppreffion, foulest calumny,
Contempt of laws, and bold impieties,
Appear bare-fac'd; no auguries more fure
Foretel the ruin of a finking state.
No auguries! What do they e'er foretel,
But as the politician bribes the priest?
Mere combination against common sense.
BRUTUS.
You'll have your way. But do you not remember
That foothfayer who faid, the Ides of March
And that was all he knew:
Had he known more, why did he not inform?
The Gods decreed that Rome fhould be deliver'd.
That devout thought revives our finking hopes;
Heav'n will not fail a cause it once has bleft.
But trust not all to that; let us be careful,
When you shall march to-morrow after me,
Should we not leave fome forces here behind?
To keep these people firmly to us. They, who at Rome command an empire's wealth, Have dangerous temptations of feducing.
Oh never fear it. Shake Athenian faith?
'Tis stopping tides, or striving with the winds.
They are too learn'd, and prudent, not to know
That 'tis the greatest folly to be false;
Not worth a villainy to gain the world.
A low mean act fo rankles in the mind,
There is no joy, nor quiet afterwards;
Kind Heav'n has form'd us fo, that we might find
Content and honesty still join'd together.
CASSIUS.
But, then we are the more oblig'd to guard 'em
Against what they might fuffer for our fakes.
Kindly, and justly urg'd, I must confess.
But think you, that our enemies can fpare
The smallest legion from opposing us?
Detaching fome, may be their lofs of all.
Yet, for this place I am concern'd so much,
You shake my reafon when you urge their danger.
Let them propose what guards themselves defire.
CASSIUS.
Nay, there I differ; fince in war-affairs,
With all their wit, they cannot judge fo well:
Nor is it fit they judge in their own cause.
I'll ftrait affemble them, and then debate
With calm deliberation this affair ;
Which well deferves our speediest management,
Since we are forc'd to march away fo foon.
You'll come, I hope, and fix our refolution.
This man has fome uneasiness of temper,
But over-balanc'd by his publick spirit,
Which ever sways him to his country's good.
Whate'er our master ZENO may have taught us,
Nothing is wholly perfect here below:
We should applaud the merit, that we find,
And caft a friendly veil on good mens faults.
My fifter JUNIA loves him to excefs
(If there can be excefs in love, or friendship).
Go, and acquaint her gently with the journey
Which he must take this night towards Philippi,
There to decide the important fate of Rome.
I must prepare the forces under me,
To overtake him on his march to-morrow:
From thence we'll haste conjointly to the battle:
This fcanty road bears us not both together;
And we must once divide, to part no more.
[Exeunt BRUTUS, and VARIUS.
Of Athenian Philofophers.
Written at the command of his GRACE, by Mr. POPE.
E fhades where facred truth is fought,
Groves, where immortal fages taught,
Where heav'nly vifions PLATO fir'd,
And God-like ZENO lay infpir'd!
In vain your guiltlefs laurels ftood
Unfpotted long with human blood:
War, horrid war, your thoughtful walks invades,
And steel now glitters in the muses shades.
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