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THE

TRAGEDY

O F

MARCUS BRUTUS:

With the PROLOGUE and the two laft CHORUS's.

Written by His GRACE

JOHN Duke of BUCKINGHAM.

PROLOGUE by the AUTHOR.

UR Scene is Athens. And Great Athens

nam'd,

What Soul fo dull as not to be enflam'd?
Methinks, at mentioning that facred place,
A reverend Awe appears in ev'ry Face,
For Men fo fam'd, of fuch prodigious Parts,
As taught the World all Sciences and Arts.

Amidst all thefe, ye shall behold a Man
The most applauded fince Mankind began ;
Out-fbining ev'n thofe Greeks who most excel;
Whofe Life was one fix'd Courfe of doing well.
Oh who can therefore without Tears attend
On fuch a Life, and fuch a fatal End?

But here our Author, befides other Faults Ofill Expreffons, and of vulgar Thoughts, VOL. I.

X

Com

Commits one Crime that needs an Act of Grace,
And breaks the Law of Unity of Place:
Tet, to fuch noble Patriots, overcome
By factious Violence, and banish'd Rome,
Athens alone a fit Retreat could yield:

And where can BRUTUS fall, but in Philippi Field?

Some Criticks judge, ev'n Love itself too mean A Care to mix in fuch a lofty Scene,

And with thofe antient Bards of Greece believe
Friendship has stronger Charms to please or grieve:
But our more am'rous Poet, finding Love
Amidst all other Cares ftill fhines above;
Lets not the best of Romans end their Lives
Without just foftness for the kindest Wives.
Tet, if ye think his gentle Nature fuch,

As to have foften'd this great Tale too much,
Soon will your Eyes grow dry, and Passion fall s
When ye reflect'tis all but Conjugal.

This to the few and knowing was addreft; And now 'tis fit I should falute the rest.

Moft reverend, dull Judges of the Pit,
By Nature curs'd with the wrong fide of Wit!

You

You need not care what-e'er you fee to-night,
How ill fome Players act, or Poets write;
Should our Miftakes be never fo notorious,
You'll have the Joy of being more cenforious:
Shew your Small Talent then, let that fuffice ye,
But grow not vain upon it, I advise ye;
Each petty Critic can Objections raife,
The greatest Skill is knowing when to praise.

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