PROLOGUE to the Alte ration of JULIUS CÆSAR

H

Ope to mend SHAKESPEAR! or to match his Srywe: 'Tis fuch a Feft, would make a Stoick fmile. Too fond of Fame, our Poet foars too high s Tet freely owns he wants the Wings to fly: So fenfible of his prefumptuous Thought, That he confeffes while he does the Fault: This to the Fair will no great wonder prove, Who oft in Blushes yield to what they love.

Of greatest Actions, and of nobleft Men, This Story moft deferves a Poet's Pen. For who can wish a Scene more justly fam'd, When Rome and mighty JULIUS are but nam'd? That State of Heroes, who the World had brav'd! That wondrous Man, who fuch a State inflav'd! Tet loth he was to take fo rough a way, And after govern'd with fo mild a Sway, At diftance now of feventeen hundred Years, Methinks a lovely Ravisher appears ; Whom, tho' forbid by Virtue to excufe,

A Nymph might pardon, and could scarce refuse.

This Play begins the Day before CÆSAR'S Death,

and ends within an Hour after it.

CAESAR

DICTATOR

ACT I. SCENE I

I.

Enter two Roman Senators at one Door, TREBONIUS and CASCA at another.

I SENATOR.

AIL, good TREBONIUS.

2 SENATOR.

Health to worthy CASCA.
Will you go with us to the

Sports to-day?

I SENATOR.

Before this CÆSAR'S Time, we had no Shews

Magnificent as these.

P 4

TREBO

TREBONIUS.

But we had Triumphs:

And tho' the Conqueror fate high exalted,
We all partook both of his Fame and Merit :
The gaz'd-on Warriour in the gilded Chariot
Enjoy'd his Fill of Fame, but, as Rome's Subject:
And, to his great Renown in glorious Arms,
A higher, much more valu'd Crown, was added;
Immortal Praise for ferving well his Country.

CASCA.

Oh how our Hearts were fir'd at POMPEY'S Triumphs!
The Blood more lively danc'd within our Veins :
The very Image of it ftrikes my Fancy!
Methinks I fee a thousand noble Captives
Drooping with Grief, which yet was lighter made
By his kind Usage. After came the Treasures;
Our Treasures! for it was not then as now,
When one Man's greedy Gripe ingrosses all,
We did not, as Law-Suiters for Contention,
Disburfe more Charges than the Prize was worth ;
Grow Beggars, only to make others rich,

TREBONIUS.

But then, at laft, behold ev'n Captive Kings
In golden Chains with penfive Thought look down,
Remembring they had us'd their Subjects worse.

3

CASCA.

CASCA.

Yet fhew'd a gloomy Comfort through their Sadnefs, For being vanquifh'd by fo brave a People.

TREBONIUS.

Which of us, then, oh which of us went home
From fuch a Spectacle unmov'd with Joy,
With virtuous Pride, to see our Blood well spent,
Our Treasures manag'd, and our Glory rais'd?

CASCA.

Yet ev❜n to POMPEY, Chief of all our State,
No Roman but difdain'd a mean Submiffion;
A Tribute only owing to the Gods.

TREBONIUS.

But now we crouch, and ftand in fervile awe;
Like Children, fear the Goblin we have made.
This CESAR, tho' Dictator, is our Creature,
And from Election all his Pride proceeds.

CASCA.

We meet these Murmurs now in ev'ry Mouth;
Ill-boding Sounds to late unfettled Power,
Like new-built Houses, eafily blown down.

TREBONIUS.

Yet CÆSAR, ftill intrepidly Sérene,

Goes proudly on, defpifing us, and Danger.

SCENE