Was, that they sent me to this famous place,
Where wisdom, and where virtue best are taught;
And own'd, when Romans write the most politely,
Their highest praise is to have copy'd well.
BRUTUS.
TULLY himself confeffes Greece fuperior:
Yet he, of all our famous wits of Rome,
Shines much the brighteft.:
Such applaufe from BRUTUS,
Is a reward equal to all his merit.
To be esteem'd by you, the greatest kings
Here fend their legions, and have lent their treasure.
And timely comes this aid. Advice from Rome
Affures us, all their force is on the march.
VARIUS.
I thought diffenfion was among their chiefs,
Each of them striving to fet up himfelf.
Just now is come most unexpected news;
Our foes have forc'd their gen'rals to be friends,
And call'd it civil war to fight in quarrels
Between OCTAVIUS and ANTONY;
Yet think their war is lawful against us.
Alas! what reas'ning can there be in fools,
Who, bred in faction, blindly join with knaves?
They are for licence, not for liberty;
And love those gen'rals beft, who lead to mischief.
BRUTUS.
You have defcrib'd a state just ripe for ruin.
CASSIUS.
Small marches need they make, to meet a foe
So eager as we are, to free our country.
Oh the delay is tiresome!
With vigour act, but think of all with caution.
CASSIUS.
Our rendezvous is fettled at Philippi.
Thither you march to-night, and I to-morrow. But JUNIA comes, I fear, to mourn your absence. [Exeunt. Manet CASSIUS.
Now, all the Gods that guard the innocent,
Protect my CASSIUS! they are marching hither:
Ruin is rolling on us from afar.
Not hither, JUNIA; we shall spare their pains;
Our forces intercept their bold prefumption,
And I just now am making haste to meet them.
Come then, away; with you all pains are easy; I am this moment ready for the journey.
Ready, alas! you must not for this world
Share in the shifts and hazards I must run;
Virtue, like yours, here none will dare to harm;
And while you stay in Athens, I am eafy;
My dear, and better half, is out of danger.
JUNIA.
And am I yet more wretched than I thought?
I had no comfort left for your misfortunes,
But that I was to share them ev'ry where:
And will you take that from me? O 'tis hard!
You would not, if you faw my fighing heart.
CASSIUS.
And you fhould go, did I not doubt my own:
But 'tis fo tender always towards you,
It shakes, alas! my firmest resolutions.
I, like fome skilful swimmer in a fhipwreck,
Grafping his only treasure in his arms,
May, for thy fake, make too much hafte to fhore,
Leaving the bark with all my friends behind.
Your fighs would blow away my best resolves,
Soften my foul, and flacken all its strength.
When all's at stake, I eagerly may fix
My mind on you, and never think beyond.
Beyond! Why, is there any thing beyond
The dear, the charming object of our love?
Mere thought of that is height of happiness.
What image have we of Elyfian bowers,
But fuch a gentle, calm, contented state?
What has this trifle of a world to do
With a blest pair, who live embracing thus?
CASSIUS.
What says my charmer? can I leave this woman?
I could look thus, and languish here for ever.
Yet there's one tye, more dear than life, or love;
'Tis honour, and the facred good of Rome.
For thefe I kill'd the greatest man on earth,
Engag'd the best and noblest of mankind
(And faying that, I need not name your brother)
To ftab his friend, and his own heart at once.
Since I have done all this, I must do more;
Leave JUNIA here, and all my joys behind.
JUNIA.
Did I e'er think that CASSIUS would forfake me?
CASSIUS.
Forfake! I leave you as the richest pledge
Which can be giv'n to this illuftrious city.
That Rome itself can be no dearer to me,
Than friendly Athens for protecting you.
JUNIA.
Jewels we prize we feldom leave behind:
Oh take me with you! my officious love
Perhaps may fhield you from fome fudden danger,
Soften your angry and uneasy hours,
And make adverfity itfelf feem pleasing.
My love could do all this, if yours were equal. [Weeps.
All this! nay more; what cannot JUNIA do?
Then, fince I dare not hazard you in armies,
I will stay here, and die within your arms.
You die! oh Heav'n! the very found of that
Checks my defigns, and chills all my defires.
CASSIUS.
Haft thou not heard, how hard ungrateful Rome
Pursues the men who once deliver'd her,
And riots in the blood of her redeemers?
Two of our band they have deftroy'd already,
And vow to spare no murderer of CAESAR;
That is to fay, no man that lov'd his country,
Ruin'd himself, only to refcue her.
Oh! I have talk'd too long: go on, make haste;
I am not wont, alas! to use this language,
But now I can fay nothing else: away;
No matter what becomes of me; away.
CASSIUS.
Your spotless fame muft always be your guard,
Rudeness itself will reverence fuch virtue.
I must immediately hafte to our friends,
Who all affembled in the fields of Sardis,
Wait there for me and BRUTUs. He, to-morrow,
Shall follow, at the head of mighty numbers,
Rais'd only by the credit of our caufe;
A caufe, well worthy of the world to fuccour !
Oh! while I languish out this long, long abfence,
Take care of all my treasure, thy dear felf.
Farewel! thou trueft, kindeft, best of men!
and then a long farewel
-all, till we meet again.
[Exit CASSIUS. Manet JUNIA.
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