II.

With fair Pretence of Foreign Force,
By which Rome must her self enthrall ;
Thefe, without Blushes or Remorse,
Profcribe the best, impov'rifh all.

The Gauls themselves, our greatest Foes,
Could act no Mischiefs worse than those.

III.

That JULIUS, with ambitious Thoughts,
Had Virtues too, his Foes could find 3
These equal him in all his Faults,

But never in his noble Mind.
That Free-born Spirits fhou'd obey
Wretches, who know not how to sway!

IV.

Late we repent our hafty Choice,

In vain bemoan so quick a Turn.

Heark all to Rome's united Voice!

Better that we a while had born

Ev'n all those Ills which most displease,

Than fought a Cure far worse than the Disease.

ACT

ACT IV. SCENE I.

A Field near Philippi, where CASSIUS and BRUTUS made the Rendezvous of their Armies.

'T

Enter BRUTUS and Officers.

BRUTUS.

IS here that I and CASSIUS were to join:
What fay our Scouts! Is any Army near?
OFFICER.

The rifing Duft discovers their Approach;
And some, impatient of so slow a March,
Are just arriv'd before to meet their Friends.

Enter LUCILIUS.

BRUTUS.

O, here's LUCILIUS, whom I fent to CASSIUS.

LUCILIUS.

CASSIUS, my Lord, falutes the noble BRUTUS,

And haftens to embrace him.

BRU

BRUTUS.

O LUCILIUS!

CASSIUS is alter'd much, or ill advis'd;
Has, I am loth to say it, done fome things
Which do not well become fo great a Man.
But, fince he is so near, I'll ftay my Cenfure,
And wish to find my Jealousy mistaken.
But, good LUCILIUS, how did he receive you,
When you brought friendly Notice I was near?
LUCILIUS.

With Forms, and Complements, and great Respect, Out-doing Enemies in Ceremony;

But no Familiarity betwixt us;

None of that free and friendly Conference

Which we have us'd of old : and when he nam'd you, 'Twas always with such set, affected Praise,

As if the Commendation had no meaning,

But to be told again.

BRUTUS.

I am afraid

Thou judgeft but too right: Nothing is nobler
Than Friendship, till it once begins to fail ;
But then asham'd, and conscious of Defect,
It hides itself in Complement and Care:
At the first shock, off falls the frail Difguife;
Falfhood is foolish, and betrays itself.

There

There is no Art in plain and friendly Truth,
Which like the Sun fhincs forth by its own Light.
Violent Minds fometimes make glorious fhew,
Like Gilding shine, equal to real Gold,

But in the usage, how much difference!
Hark! he's arriv'd; march gently on to meet him.

SCENE II.

Enter CASSIUS, &c.

CASSIUS.

Embracing thus is but a thing of Form;

For 'tis not fit that both our Armies here
Should once fufpect the least Dispute between us.

BRUTUS.

The common Cause indeed requires our Care;
And all our Discontents fhould yield to that.

CASSIUS.

BRUTUS let us retire into my Tent,

Left here by chance some unbecoming Word
Break out too loud.

BRUTUS.

Are we fo little Mafters of ourselves?

How can we then be fit to govern Armies?

CAS

CASSIUS.

You think yourself above those common Frailties:

BRUTUS.

The Stoics are above unruly Paffion.
But, fince you would retire, I am content
My Soldiers may remove beyond those Fields.
LUCILIUS, march a little off this Ground:
Let your Men do the like, under pretence
Of our conferring about great Affairs ;
Indeed our greàteft; for a Home-difpute.
Is of more confequence than foreign Dangers.
CASSIUS.

TITINIUS, let my Forces move away
To yonder Plain, and leave us all alone,
'Tis neceffary we should be in private.

[Exeunt all, except BRUTUS and CASSIUS.

SCENE III.

CASSIUS.

You ask'd me fifty Talents for your Legions,

And in a Style as to your Treasurer,
As if I fhould prefer yours to my own;
Am I to be impos'd on thus by you ?

VOL. I.

B b

BRU