Affur'd me that their greatest Satisfaction

Was, that they fent me to this famous Place,
Where Wisdom, and where Virtue beft 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 fuperiour:
Yet he, of all our famous Wits of Rome,
Shines much the brightest.

VARIUS.

Such Applaufe from BRUTUS,

Is a Reward equal to all his Merit.

TITINIUS.

To be esteem'd by you, the greatest Kings

Here send their Legions, and have lent their Treasure.

BRUTUS.

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 ftriving to setup himself.

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.

TITINIUS.

Alas, what reasoning can there be in Fools,
Who, bred in Faction, blindly join with Knaves?

LUCILIUS.

They are for Licence, not for Liberty;

And love those Generals beft, who lead to Mischief.

BRUTUS.

You have defcrib'd a State juft ripe for Ruin.

CASSIUS.

Small Marches need they make, to meet a Foc
So eager as we are, to free our Country.

Oh the delay is tiresome!

BRUTUS.

Yet have Patience.

With Vigour act, but think of all with Caution.

CASSIUS.

Our Rendezvous is fettled at Philippi.

BRUTUS.

Thither you march to-night, and I to-morrow.

But JUNIA comes, I fear, to mourn your Absence.

[Exeunt, Manet CASSIUS.

SCENE III.

Enter JUNIA.

JUNIA.

Now, all the Gods that guard the Innocent,
Protect my CASSIUS! they are marching hither:
Ruin is rolling on us from afar.

CASSIUS.

Not hither, JUNIA; we shall spare their Pains
Our Forces intercept their bold Presumption,
And I just now am making haste to meet them.'

JUNIA.

Come then, away; with you all Pains are easy ¿
I am this moment ready for the Journey.

CASSIUS.

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 easy ;
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 Shipwreck,
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 Sighs would blow away my best Resolves,
Soften my Soul, and flacken all its Strength,
When all's at ftake, I eagerly may fix
My Mind on you, and never think beyond.

JUNIA.

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 bleft Pair, who live embracing thus?

CAS

CASSIUS.

What fays 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 these I kill'd the greatest Man on Earth,
Engag'd the best and nobleft 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 it felf can be no dearer to me,
Than friendly Athens for protecting you.

JUNIA.

Jewels we prize we seldom leave behind :
Oh take me with you! my officious Love
Perhaps may shield you from some sudden Danger,
Soften your angry and uneafy Hours,

And make Adverfity it felf feem pleasing.

My Love could do all this, if yours were equal.