Am I thought worthy of thy choice? 'Tis done:
Thou shalt not wait for aid that I can bring thee.
Some body knocks at th' Gate, Sir, fhall I open?
See who 'tis firft; go Boy, and bring me word. [Exit LUCIUS.
Would it were over once; I cannot reft:
In fuch a Plot there is no Peace of Mind:
The harshness of this Deed would fink my Spirits, Did not affifting Juftice hold me up.
Enter LUCIUS with a Taper.
No, but I could not well perceive the rest,
Their Faces are fo muffled in their Robes.
- Let them come in. They are the Faction!
Enter CASSIUS and the rest of the Confpirator muffled in their Robes.
You know them, and their Hearts,
Which are all fet upon the Noble BRUTUS.
This is TREBONIUS; this DECIUS BRUTUS,
This CINNA, CASCA, and METELLUS CIMBER ;
Your Friends, and Followers all.
Our Fabrick's firm, and nothing then can fhake it:
He is the Cement that must hold us faft.
Well, noble Lords, I am at last refolv'd;
Ev'n against Friendship, Justice has prevail'd.
Give me your refolute Hands.
CASSIUS.
And let us fwear.
No Oath the Caufe already is fo facred,
There is no need of Oaths to make it more:
If Senfe of Slavery, and noble Shame,
If Thirst of honeft Fame in After-Ages,
If glorious Juftice cannot move our Souls,
They are too weak for such a Deed as this;
Break off betimes, and every Roman here
Retire with Blushes to his idle Bed;
And then let Tyranny for ever range,
Till each Man falls unpity'd: but if these,
(As who dares make a doubt) àre noble Romans;
What needs a Tye among us but our Words?
Plain Honefty to Honefty engag'd,
That CESAR fhall not live to laugh at Cowards.
Let Priefts, and Women fwear, and feeble Minds,
Which, wav'ring ftill, need fuch a Childish Check :
We
e are above fuch helps, and fteady bear
Our even Souls, without one doubtful start.
What Roman dares be base in such a business?
Reckon his Guilt, and Shame, he ventures more
Than if he did attempt ten Thousand Tyrants.
CASSIUS.
But what of CICERO? Shall we found him?
His Gravity will countenance our Heat.
No need of that, now BRUTUS is engag'd.
I know him well, believe him just and wife ;
Yet Vanity a little clouds his Virtue:
Nor is he bold enough for such a Business.
The Horse that starts, however good befides,
In War is troublesome, nay dangerous.
DECIUS BRUTUS.
But ANTONY, fo well belov'd by Cæsar,
That Inftrument of all his Tyranny,
If he furvive, will be another CÆSAR,
DECIUS, well urg'd; ANTONIUS must die.
O, by no means, our course will seem too bloody,
To cut the Head off, and then hack the Limbs :
Twill look like Anger, nay like Envy too;
For, ANTONY is great by CÆSAR's Favour;
Let us be Sacrificers, but not Butchers.
We only draw our Swords against Ambition;
Not against CÆSAR's Person, but his Power:
Oh that we, then, could come at CÆSAR's Spirit,
Abate his Pride, and yet not spill his Blood! [Sighs.
It cannot be; CASAR alas must bleed.
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Let's ferve him up, a Dish fit for the Gods;
Not mangled, as a Feaft to Beafts of Prey.
Our Hearts fhould melt, like thofe of tender Parents,
Who oft in fharp, but neceffary Rage,
Correct offending Children with Remorse,
Feeling more pain than what they make them fuffer.
This Mercy too looks better to the World,
Which fhall not call us Murderers, but Heroes.
As for ANTONIUS therefore, think not of him;
For he can do no more, than CÆSAR's Arm,
When CASAR's Head is off.
TREBONIUS.
But yet I fear him:
For he loves CÆSAR, and is most audacious,
I hope that loving CÆSAR is no Fault ;
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