JUNIA in tears! fo fhines an April fun;
And fo the precious dew that drops on flowers,
Steals down unheeded by the vulgar eye:
But I admire this master-piece of nature.
JUNIA.
Alas! my lord, CASSIUS is gone to Sardis.
VARIUS.
Is't poffible? So I was told before,
Yet never could believe it till this moment.
Why, was it not determin'd fo in council?
I must confefs it was debated there,
And wifh'd by fome, that all our force at Sardis Had fome great chief, for keeping martial sway: But who could hope that CASSIUS would be willing To part from you, one day, without occafion?
Is it so strange that CASSIUS fhould be forward
In all the proofs of courage, or of conduct?
VARIUS.
His fame forbids I fhould have fuch a thought.
But what? I cannot guess your meaning.
VARIUS.
Not all the noble difcipline of war,
Strict rules of conduct, heat of martial prowess,
The faith of friendship, or the oaths of leagues,
Not fame itself, no nor the publick good,
Deserve to be preferr'd to JUNIA's love,
And well it would be loft,
For staying here one night within those arms.
VARIUS, fo high a compliment as this
Shews you have study'd long at courtly Athens; Where you have learn'd to know all things, but me; Who, tho' I value CAIUS CASSIUS,
As flaves do liberty, or fick men health,
Nay more than most of my own fex love
Yet (what I think the very worst of fates)
I would lofe fight of that dear man for ever,
Rather than fee him fail our country's caufe.
VARIUS.
Oh ample recompence for all his troubles,
To be fo lov'd by you! but is he grateful,
Who can so easily endure your absence?
I mourn for his, and judge his grief by mine.
Retirement fuits a folitary wife,
And melancholy loves to be alone.
But should not be indulg'd against your health.
[Stops her, Rather shine forth, and chear your brother's foul,
Which daily finks beneath a thousand cares.
His foul's too great to need fuch feeble help.
Befides, tho' priz'd he be above expression,
Yet ev❜n his friendship must not vye with love:
One thought of CASSIUS Out-weighs all things elfe;
CASSIUS, whofe noble foul would ne'er fubmit
To him who domineer'd o'er all befides:
CASSIUS, contriver of the tyrant's fall;
And (what is more, far more than all the rest)
That hardy man who mov'd it first to BRUTUS:
This man, my husband, or my hero rather,
Shall with his prefence ever chear my eyes,
Or in his abfence take up all my thoughts.
My fifter weeping! Tho' her reafon governs,
I judge her grief for CASSIUS, by my own;
For POR TIA's abfence fits upon my heart:
Nor need I blush to bear the tender burthen,
So much she merits, and fo well fhe loves.
But publick cares muft filence private grief;
Since ev'ry hour fome fresh expreffes tell
New fatal turns in Rome, portending ill:
The wav'ring LEPIDUS, (perceiving CAESAR
Had cunningly agreed with ANTONY)
Tho' with a greater army, yields to them."
What says the noble BRUTUS?JUNIA gone!
Is VARIUS deaf to dangers of his country?
Forbid it, Jove! But JUNIA's melancholy,
So very moving, took up all my thoughts.
Had you perceiv'd the charms of weeping beauty,
That gorgeous dress which sorrow had put on,
(Out-fhining all the gaiety of youth,
The pleafing fmiles of mirtli, and airs of joy)
Your gentle nature would be mov'd like mine.
BRUTUS.
Why you have drawn a picture, my young VARIUS,
Like any poet, nay, like any lover.
What, does that word draw forth a guilty blush?
Be not alarm'd, no more than I am, VARIUS;
JUNIA's ftrict virtue, and known love to CASSIUS,
Fully prevent my fears, unless for you;
Whofe father's wond'rous merit, and your own,
Give me a foft concern, as for a son.
She is above your very vainest hopes:
Not the most tempting charms of wit, or worth,
Moft graceful forms, or dazling fhew of greatness,
Can make impreffion on a mind like her's;
Who, tho' my fifter, forces praises from me.
VARIUS.
Too much, alas! I join in JUNIA's praise:
My eager thoughts ftill fly before your words,
And find them fhort, far fhort of JUNIA's due.
BRUTUS.
Then whence can rife felf-flatt'ring expectation?
Can VARIUS reason thus against himself,
And act quite contrary to what he thinks?
Oh what is man, when blinded with his passion!
Why just that creature Heav'n thought fit to make him.
You are, indeed, exempt from all our follies,
And rest ferene within : yet pity others!
Behold, I own my undifguis'd offence,
And freely open all my thoughts to you;
To you, who are a very God to VARIUS,
Who can at once forgive, and cure my weakness.
BRUTUS.
But only by defpair: without that help,
There is no God himself can give you
A sharp, I must confefs, but certain cure.
Our Stoical philofophy inftructs us,
A wife man is above the reach of Jove,
Yet hardly 'fcapes the worst of demons, love.
But fince good JUNIA's foul is firm as fate,
Be yours fo too. What helps it to be learn'd!
Or to be wife in bus'ness of the world?
Nay, where would be the good to rule that world,
Without an inward pow'r to govern paffion?
The man disturb'd within, is but a player;
May act abroad, perhaps, fome hero's part,
But finks at home, a low, uneafy flave.
VARIUS.
To teach, is eafy; but to learn, is hard.
|