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PERKINS LIBRARY 
 
 Duke University 
 
 I^re Books 
 
A' 
 
I 
 
 %o 
 
 IbU 
 
POEMS 
 
 O N 
 
 SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 
 
 To which are added, 
 THE 
 
 TRAGEDIES 
 
 O F 
 
 JULIUS CAESAR, and MARCUS BRUTUS. 
 V B Y 
 
 JOHN SHEFFIELD, 
 DUKE of BUCKINGHAM. 
 
 " — Nec Phoebo cratior ulla est 
 
 QUAM SIBI QUAE VaRI rRAESCRIPSIT PAGINA NOMEK. 
 
 VIRG, 
 
 GLASGOW, 
 
 Printed by Robert and Andrew Foulis 
 
 M DCC LII. 
 
TESTIMONIES 
 
 O F 
 
 AUTHORS, 
 
 Concerning his GRACE, and his Writings. 
 
 H 
 
 Earl of Roscommon, Efay on Tranjlated Verfe. 
 APP Y that Author! whofc correa * Efay 
 Repairs fo well our old Horatian way. 
 
 Dryden, Abfalom and Achitophel. 
 Sharp-judging Adriel, the mufes friend, 
 
 Himfelf a mufe In Sanhedrim's debate, 
 
 True to his prince, but not a Have of ftate. 
 
 Dryden-, Verfes to Lord Roscommon. 
 How will fwcet Ovid's ghoft be pleas'd to hear 
 His fame augmented by an Englilli peer ? 
 Now he embellifhes his Helen's loves. 
 Outdoes his foftnefs, and his fcnfe improves? 
 
 Dryden, Preface to Virgil's Aeneis. 
 
 " Your Eflay on Poetry, which was publiflicd without z 
 *' name, and of which I was not honour'd with the confi- 
 *' dence, I read over and over, with much delight, and as 
 *' much inftruftion; and, without flattering you, or making 
 ** myfelf more moral than I am, not without fome envy. I 
 " was loth to be informed how an Epic Poem fliould be writ- 
 ** ten, or how a Tragedy fhould be contrived and managed, 
 " in better verfe, and with more judgment, than I could teach 
 " others. 
 
 " I gave the unknown Author his due commendation, I 
 " muft confefs : but who can anfwer for me, and for the reft 
 " of the Poets who heard me read the Poem, whether wc 
 *' fliould not have been better pleafed, to have fcen our own 
 *' names at the bottom of the Title-page? Perhaps we com- 
 * EJfay on Poetry, 
 
C iv ] 
 
 *' mended it the more, that we might fcem to be above the 
 " ceniure, &c." 
 
 Dryden, Ibid. 
 " This is but doing jullice to my country; part of which 
 *' honour will rcficft on your Lordihip ; whofe thoughts arc 
 *< always jufl, your numbers harmonious, your words cho- 
 *' fen, your expreillons ftrong and manly, your verfe flow- 
 " ing, and your turns as happy as they are eafy. If you 
 *' would fet us more copies, your example would make all 
 " precepts needlefs. In the mean time, that little you have 
 " writ is owned, and that particularly by the poets (who arc 
 " a nation not over-lavilli of praifc to their contemporaries) 
 *' as a particular ornament to our language : but the fwect- 
 *' eft eiicnces are always confined in the fmalleft glafles." 
 
 Dryden, Dedication to Aurengezeb. 
 How great and manly in your Lordfhip, is your contempt 
 of popular applaufe ; and your retired virtue, which fliines 
 only to a few; with whom you live fo eafily and freely, that 
 you make it evident, you have a foul which is capable of all 
 the tendernefs of friend ihip, and that you only retire your- 
 felf from thofe, who are not capable of returning it! Your 
 kindnefs, where you have once plac'd it, is inviolable: and 
 'tis to that only I attribute my happinefs in your love. This 
 makes me more eafily forfake an argument, on which I could 
 otherwife delight to dwell: I mean your judgment in your 
 choice of friends ; becaufe I have the honour to be one. Af- 
 ter which, I am fure you will more eafily permit me to be fi- 
 ient, in the care you have taken of my fortune; which you 
 have refcu'd, not only from the power of othas, but from my 
 ■wor{tofenemies,my own modefty and lazinefs. Which favour, 
 had it been cmploy'd on a more deferving fubjeft, had been 
 an effeft of jultice in your nature; but as placed on mc, is 
 only charity. Yet withal, 'tis conferred on fuch a man, as 
 prefers your kindnefs itfclf, before any of its confequcnces; 
 and who values, as the greateft of your favours, thofe of your 
 love, and of your converfation. From this conftancy to your 
 friends, I might reafonably afTume, that your refentments 
 would be as Itrong and lafting, if they were not refirained 
 by a nobler principle of good-nature and gcncrofity. For cer- 
 tainly, 'tis the fame couipohiion of niind, the (amc refolution 
 Biid courage, whifh makes the greateft iriendfbips, and tli<5 
 
c V : 
 
 gccatcft enmities. To this firmnefs in all your aSions (tho' 
 you are wanting in no other ornaments of mind and body, 
 yet to this) I principally afcribe the intereft your merits have 
 acquir'd you in the Royal Family. A prince, who is con- 
 ftant to himfelf, and fleady in all his undertakings; one with 
 whom the charaftcr of Horace will agree, 
 
 " Si fraftus illabatur orbis, 
 *• Impavidum fcrient ruinae," 
 
 Such a one cannot but place an cflecm, and repofc a confi- 
 dence on him, whom no adverfity, no change of courts, no 
 bribery of intereft, or cabal of factions, or advantages of for- 
 tune, can remove from the folid foundations of honour and 
 fidelity. 
 
 " Ille meos, primus qui me fibi junxit, amores 
 " Abftulit, ille habcat fecum, fervetque fepulcro." 
 
 How well your Lord/hip will deferve that pralfe, I need no 
 infpiration to forctel. You have already left no room for pro- 
 phecy: Your early undertakings have been fuch, in the fer- 
 vice of your king and country, when you olTer'd yourfelf to 
 the moft dangerous employment, that of the fea: when you 
 chofe to abandon thofe delights, to which your youth and 
 fortune did invite you, to undergo the hazards, and, which 
 was worfc, the company of common feamen; that you have 
 made it evident, you will refufc no opportunity of rendring 
 yourfelf ufeful to the nation, when either your courage or 
 conduft fliall be required. 
 
 BlChop BuRKET, Preface to Sir T. More's Utopia. 
 Our language is now certainly properer and more natural 
 than it wa.s formerly, chiefly fince the corre£^ion that was gi- 
 ven by the Rehearfal: and it is to be hoped that the Eflay 
 on Poetry, which may be well match'd with the beft pieces 
 of its kind that even Augustus's age produced, will have a 
 more powerful operation; if clear fenfe, joined with home, 
 but gentle reproofs, can work more on our writers, than that 
 unmerciful expofing of 'em has done. 
 
 Addisok, Spe&atcr, N ° 2^^. 
 "We have three Poems in our tongue, which are of the fame 
 nature, and each of them a maller-picce in its kind : the Li- 
 
[ vi ] 
 fay on Tranflated Vcrfe, the Eflay on Poetry, and the Eflay 
 on Criticifm. 
 
 Lord Lansdoww, Effay on Unnatural Flights, &C. 
 Roscommon firft, then Mulgrave rofe, like light. 
 To clear our darknefs, and to guide our flight: 
 With fteady judgment, and in lofty founds, 
 They gave us patterns, and they fet us bounds. 
 The Stagy RITE and Horace laid afide, 
 Inform'd by them we need no foreign guide : 
 Who feck from Poetry a lafting name, 
 May from their lefTons learn the road to fame. 
 
 Prior, Alma, Cant. 2. 
 Happy the poet ! bleft the lays ! 
 Which Buckingham has deign'd to praife. 
 
 Garth, Difpenfary. 
 Now Tyber's ftreams no courtly Gallus fee, 
 But fmiling Thames enjoys his Normanby. 
 
 Pope, EJJay on Criticifm. 
 Yet fome there were among the founder few, 
 Of thofe who lefs prefum'd, and better knew, 
 Who durft adcrt the juftcr ancient caufe, 
 And here reftor'd Wit's fundamental laws. 
 Such was the mufe, whofe rules and prafticc tell, 
 ** Nature's chief Mafter-picce is writing well." 
 
 Pope, Mifcellanies. 
 Mufe, 'tis enough, at length thy labour ends : 
 And thou (halt live; for Buckingham commends. 
 Let crowds of criticks now my verfe aflail, 
 
 Let D s write, and namelefs numbers rail. 
 
 This more than pays whole years of thanklefs pain, 
 Time, health, and fortune, are not loft in vain: 
 Sheffield approves; confenting Phoebus bends; 
 And I and malice from this hour are friends. 
 
[ vii 3 
 
 THE 
 
 TAB L 
 
 TH E Temple of Death. Page i 
 
 Ode on Love. 12 
 
 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 Elegy to the Duchefs of R . 16 
 
 A Letter from Sea. 18 
 
 Love's Slavery. ip 
 
 The Dream. 20 
 To one who accufed him of being too fcnfualin his Love. 22 
 
 The Warning* 23 
 
 To Amoretta. 24 
 
 The Venture. 25- 
 
 Inconftancy Excufed. Song. 2^ 
 
 Song. 27 
 
 Defpair. 23 
 
 On Apprchcnfion of lofing what he had newly gain'd. In 
 
 Imitation of Ovid. 30 
 
 The Reconcilement. Song, 32 
 
 Song. 33 
 
 To a Coquet Beauty. 34 
 
 The Relapfc. 3J 
 
 The Recovery, 35 
 
 The Convert. 37 
 
C vlii ] 
 
 The Pifture. In Imitation of Anacreon. Page 38 
 
 On Don Alonzo's being killed in Portugal, upon account 
 
 of the Infanta, in the Year 1683. 40 
 The Surprize. 41 
 A Dialogue fung on the Stage between an elderly Shep- 
 herd, and a very young Nymph. 43 
 On one who died difcovering her Kindoefs. 45- 
 On Lucinda's Death. 46 
 To a Lady retiring into a Monaflery. 47 
 The Vifion. Written during a Sea Voyage, when fent 
 
 to command the Forces for the Relief of Tangier. 49 
 
 Kelen to Paris, from Ovid. jy 
 Part of the Story of Orpheus. Being a Tranflation out 
 
 of the Fourth Book of Virgil's Georgic. 64 
 
 An Eflay on Satire. 67 
 
 An Eflay on Poetry. y6 
 
 Ode on Brutus. S9 
 
 The Rapture. 104 
 
 On Mr. HoBBs, and his Writings. 110 
 
 Written over a Gate. 1 12 
 
 The Miracle, 1707. 113 
 
 Ode on the Death of Henry Purcell. Set to Mufick. 1 14 
 On the Lofs of an only Son, Robert Marquis of 
 
 NORMANBY. II 5 
 
 On Mr. Pope, and his Poems. 118 
 
 Stanzas. 119 
 
 The Eleflion of a Poet Laurcat in 17 19. 121 
 
 On the Times. 125- 
 
 On the Duke of York, baniflied to Bruflcls. 127 
 
 On the Deity. 129 
 
 The Tragedy of JULIUS CAESAR, altered. i Ji 
 
 The Death of MARCUS BRUTUS. 203 
 
THE 
 
 TEMPLE 
 
 O F 
 
 DEATH. 
 
 In Imitation of the French. 
 
THE 
 
 TEMPLE of DEATH. 
 
 IN thofe cold climates, where the Sun appears 
 Unwillingly, and hides his face in tears; 
 A difmal vale lies in adefart ifle, 
 On which indulgent Heav'n did never fmile. 
 There a thick grove of aged Cyprefs trees. 
 Which none without an awful horror fees. 
 Into its wither 'd arms, depriv'd of leaves. 
 Whole flocks of ill-prefaging birds receives. 
 Poifons are all the plants that foil will bear, 
 And Winter is the only feafon there. 
 Millions of graves o'erfpread thefpacious field. 
 And fprings of blood a thoufand rivers yield; 
 Whofe(treams,opprefs'd with carcalfes andbones^ 
 Inftead of gentle murmurs, pour forth groans. 
 
 Within this vale a famous temple (lands. 
 Old as the world itfelf, which it commands; 
 Round is its figure ; and four iron gates 
 Divide Mankind, by order of the Fates. 
 Thither, in crouds, come lo one common grave 
 The young, the old, the Monarch, and the flavc. 
 Old age and pains, thofe evils man deplores. 
 Are rigid keepers of th' eternal doors ; 
 All clad in mournful blacks, which fadly load 
 The facred walls of this obfcure abode ; 
 And tapers, of a pitchy fubftance made, 
 With clouds of fmoke increafe the difmal (hade, ■ 
 A 
 
4 T M E T E M P L 
 
 A monfter void of reafon and of fight, 
 The Goddcfs is, whofways this realm of night : 
 Her pow'r extends o'er all things that have breath, 
 A cruel tyrant, and hernameis Death. 
 The faireft objecft of our wond'ring eyes 
 "Was newly offer 'd up her facrilice; 
 Th' adjoining places where the altar flood. 
 Yet blufhing with the fair Almeria's blood. 
 Whengriev'd Orontes, whofe unhappy flame 
 Is known to all whoe'er converfe with fame, 
 His mind poflefs'd by fury and defpair, 
 Within the facrcd temple made this prayer: 
 Great Deity ! who in thy hands do'ft bear 
 That iron fceptre which poor mortals fear; 
 Who, wanting eyes thyfelf, refpedleft none, 
 And neither fpar'ft the laurel, nor the crown ! 
 Othou, whom all mankind in vain withftand, 
 Each of whofe blood mull one day (lain thy hand ! 
 O thou, who ev'ry eye that fees the light, 
 Clofefl forever in the (hades of night ! 
 Goddefs, attend, and hearken to my grief. 
 To which thy pow'r alone can give relief. 
 Alas 1 I ask not to defer my fate, 
 But wifh my haplefs life a (horter date; 
 And that the earth would in its bowels hide 
 A wretch, whom Heav'n invades on ev'ry fide: 
 That from the fight of day I could remove. 
 And might have nothing left me but my love. 
 
 Thou only comforter of minds opprefs'd ; 
 The port where weary'd fpirits are at reft^ 
 CondudortoElyfium, take my life; 
 M y breaft I offer to thy facred knife i 
 
OF DEATH. 
 So juft a grace refufenot, nor defpife 
 A willing, tho' a worthlefs facrifice. 
 Others (tlieir frail and mortal ftate forgot) 
 Before thy altars are not to be brought 
 Without conftraint ; the noife of dying rage. 
 Heaps of the llain of ev'ry fexand age, 
 The blade all reeking in the gore it fhed. 
 With fever'd heads and arms confus'dly fpread ; 
 The rapid flames of a perpetual fire. 
 The groans of wretches ready to expire : 
 This tragick fcenein terror makes them live, 
 Till that is fore 'd, which they fhould freely givej 
 Yielding unwillingly what Heav'n will have. 
 Their fears eclipfethe glory of their grave: 
 Before thy face they make indecent moan, 
 And feel a hundred deaths in fearing one: 
 Thy flame becomes unhallow'd in their bread. 
 And he a murderer, who was a Prieft. 
 But againfl: me thy ftrongeft forces call, 
 And on my head let all the tempefl fall; 
 Mo mean retreat fliall any weaknefs fliow. 
 But calmly I'll expedl the fatal blow ; 
 My limbs not trembling, in my mind no fear 
 Plaints in my mouth, nor in my eyes a tear. 
 Think not that time, our wonted fure relief, 
 That univerfal cure for ev'ry grief, 
 Whofe aid fo many lovers oft have found, 
 With like fucccfs can ever heal my wound : 
 Too weak the pow'r of nature, or of art, 
 Nothing but death can eafe a broken heart. 
 And that thou may*ft behold my heiplefs (late. 
 Learn theextreameft rigour of my fate. 
 
^ THE TEMPLE 
 
 Amidfl: th* innumerable beauteous train, 
 Paris, the queen of cities, does contain, 
 (The faireft town, thelargeft, and thebeft) 
 The fair Almeria ftiin'd above the rell. 
 From her bright eyes to feel a hopelefs fiame, 
 Was of our youth the moft ambitious aim; 
 Her chains were marks of honour to the brave, 
 She made a prince whene'er (he made aflave. 
 Love, under whofe tyrannick pow'r I groan, 
 Shew'd me this beauty e*er 'twas fully blown ; 
 Her tim'rous charms, and her unpra<3:is'd look, 
 Their firftalTurance from my conqueft took; 
 By wounding me fhe learn 'd the fatal art, 
 And the firft figh (he had was from my heart : 
 My eyes with tears moiftning her fnowy arms, 
 Rendered the tribute owing to her charms. 
 But, as 1 foonefl of all mortals paid 
 My vows, and to her beauty altars made; 
 So, among all thofe (laves that (igh'd in vain, 
 She thought me only worthy of my chain. 
 Love's heavy burden my fubmi(rive heart 
 Endur'd not long, before (he bore her parr; 
 My vi'olent flame melted her frozen bread:. 
 And in foft (ighs herpity (lieexprefs'd; 
 Her gentle voice allay'd my raging pains, 
 A nd her fair hands fuftain'd me in my chains : 
 Ev'n tears of pity waited on my moan, 
 And tender looks were cafl: on me alone. 
 My hopes and dangers were lefs mine than hers^ 
 Thofe fill'd her foul with joys, and thefe with fears: 
 Our hearts, united, had the fame defires, - 
 
 And both alike burn'd with impatient fires. 
 
OF DEATH. J 
 
 Too faithful Memory ! I give thee leave 
 Thy wretched mafter kindly to deceive ; 
 Oh, make me not poflefTorof her charms. 
 Let me not find her languiihin ray arras ; 
 Pad joys are now my fancy's mournful themes ; 
 Make all my happy nights appear but dreams : 
 Let not fuch blifs before my eyes be brought; 
 O hide thofe fcenes from ray tormenting thought; 
 And in their place difdainful beauty (how; 
 If thou would'ft not be cruel, make herfo: 
 And, fomething to abate my deep defpair, 
 
 let her feem lefs gentle, or lefs fair. 
 But I in vain flatter my wounded mind; 
 Never was nymph fo lovely, or fo kind : 
 No cold repulfes my defires fupprcfs'd ; 
 
 I feldom figh'd, but on Almeria's breaft: 
 Of all the paffions which mankind deftroy, 
 
 1 only felt excefsoflove and joy: 
 Unnnmber'<t pleafures charm'd ray (enfe, and they 
 Were, as my love, without the leaft allay. 
 
 As pure, alas ! but not fo fure to laft, 
 
 For, like a pleafing dream, they all are paft. 
 
 From Heav'n her beauties like fierce lightnings came. 
 
 Which break thro* darknefs with a glorious flame; 
 
 A while they fiiine, a while our minds amaze. 
 
 Our wondring eyes aredazled with the blaze; 
 
 But thunder follows, whofe refiftlcfs rage 
 
 None can withftand, and nothingcanalTuage; 
 
 And all that light which thofe bright flalhes gave, 
 
 Serves only to condu<5l us to our grave. 
 
 When I had juft begun love's joys to tafte, 
 ^ Thofe full rewards for fears and dangers pafl) 
 
8 THETEMPLE 
 
 A fever feizM her, and to nothing brought 
 The richeft work that ever Nature wrought. 
 All things below, alas ! uncertain ftand; 
 The firmed rocks are fixM upon the fand : 
 Under this lav/ both Kings and kingdoms bend. 
 And no beginning is without an end. 
 A facrifice to Time, Fate dooms us all. 
 And at the Tyrant's feet we daily fall : 
 Time, whofe bold hand will bring alike to duft 
 Mankind, and temples too in which they truft. 
 
 Her wafled fpirits now begin to faint, 
 Yet patience ties her tongue from all complaint. 
 And in her heart as in a fort remains ; 
 But yields at laft to her refifllefs pains. 
 Thus while the fever, am'rous of his prey, 
 Through all her veins makes his delightful way. 
 Her fate's like Seme le*s ; the flames dellroy 
 That beauty they too eagerly enjoy. 
 .Her charming face is in its fpring decay 'd, 
 Pale grow the rofes, and the lilies fade; 
 Her skin has loft that luftre which furpafs'd 
 The Sun's, and well deferv'd as long to laft : 
 Her eyes, which us'd to pierce the hardeft hearts. 
 Are now difarm'd of all their flames and darts; 
 Thofe ftarsnow heavily andflowly move; 
 And ficknefs triumphs in the throne of love. 
 The fever ev'ry moment more prevails, 
 Its rage her body feels, and tongue bewails: 
 She, whofe difdain fo many lovers prove, 
 Sighs now for torment, as they figh for love, 
 And with loud cries, which rend theneighb'ringair. 
 Wounds my fad heart, and wakens my defpair. 
 
O F D E A T H. 9 
 
 Both men and Gods I charge now with my lofs, 
 And, wild with grief, my thoughts each other crofs ; 
 My heart and tongue labour in both extremes, 
 This fends up humble pray'rs, while thatblafphemes: 
 I ask their help, whofe malice I defy, 
 And mingle facrilege with piety. 
 ]5ut, that which mult yet more perplex my mind, 
 To love her truly, I muft feem unkind: 
 So unconcern'd a face my forrow wears, 
 I mufl: reftrain unruly floods of tears. 
 My eyes and tongue put on diifembllng forms, 
 I fliew a calmnefs in the midfl: of ftorms ; 
 I feem to hope when all my hopes are gone, 
 And almoft dead with grief, difcover none. 
 But who can long deceive a loving eye, 
 Or with dry eyes behold his miftrefs die? 
 When Paifion had with all its terrors brought 
 Th' approaching danger nearer to my thought. 
 Off on a fudden fell the forc'd difguife, 
 And fliew'd a fighing heart in weeping eyes : 
 Myapprehenfions, now no more confin'd, 
 Expos'd my forrows, and betray'd my mind. 
 The Fair afilided foon perceives my tears, 
 Explains my fighs, and thence concludes my fears : 
 With fad prefages of her hopelefs cafe. 
 She reads her fate in my dejefted face ; 
 Then feels my torment, and negledls her own, 
 While I am fenfible of hers alone; 
 Each does the other's burthen kindly bear, 
 I fear her death, and flie bewails my fear : 
 Tho' thus we fufFer under fortune's darts, 
 'Tis only thofe of love which reach our hearts, 
 B 
 
1.0 THETEMPLE 
 
 Mean while the fever mocks at all our fe ars, 
 Grows by our fighs, and rages at our tears : 
 Thofe vain efFeds of our as vaiii defire, 
 Like wind and oil, increafe the fatal fire. 
 
 Almeri A then, feeling thedeftinies 
 About to (hut her lips, and clofe her eyes ; 
 Weeping, in mine fix'd her fair trembling hand, 
 And with thefe words I fcarce could underftand, 
 Herpaflion in a dying voice expreis'd 
 Half, and her fighs, alas ! made out the reft. 
 
 'Tis paft ; this pang — Nature gives o'er the ftrife ; 
 Thou muft thy miftrefs lofe, and I my life. 
 I die ; but dying thine, the Fates may prove 
 Their conqueft: over me, but not my love : 
 Thy memory, my glory, and my pain. 
 In fpite of death itfelf, ftiall (till remain. 
 Deareft Orontes, my hard fatedenies. 
 That hope is the laft thing which in us dies : 
 From my griev'd breaft all thofe foft thoughts are fled. 
 And love furvives it, tho' my hope is dead ; 
 I yield my life, but keep my paffion yet, 
 Andean all thoughts, but of Orontes, quit; 
 My flame increafes as my ftrength decays ; 
 Death, which puts out the light, the heat will raife: 
 That ftill remains, tho' I from hence remove; ' 
 I lofe my lover, but I keep my love. 
 
 The figh which fent forth that lafl: tender word, 
 Up tow'rds the Heav'n's like a bright meteor foar'd ; 
 And the kind nymph, not yet bereft of charms, 
 Fell cold and breathlefsin her lover's arms. 
 
 Goddefs, who now my fate haft underftood. 
 Spare but my tears, and freely take my blood : 
 
OFDEATH. II 
 
 Here let me end the ftory of my cares ; 
 My difmal grief enough the reft declares. 
 Judge thou by all this mifery diiplay'd, 
 "Whether I ought not to implore thy aid : 
 Thus to furvive, reproaches on me draws; 
 Never fad wilhes had fojuft a caufe. 
 
 Come then, my only hope ; in ev'ry place 
 Thou vifiteft, men tremble at thy face, 
 And fear thy name : once let thy fatal hand 
 Fall on a fwain that does the blow demand. 
 Vouchfafe thy dart; I need not one of thofe. 
 With which thou doft unwilling Kings depofe; 
 A welcome death the flighteft wound can bring, 
 And free a foul already on her wing. 
 Without thy aid, molt mifcrable I 
 Muft ever wilh, yet not obtain to die. 
 
 B 2 
 
O D E on L O V E. 
 
 LET others fongs or fatires write, 
 Provok'd by Vanity or Spite ; 
 My mule a nobler caufe fliall move, 
 To found aloud the praife of Love : 
 
 That gentle, yet refilHefs heat, 
 Which raifes man to all things good and great: 
 While other paflions of the mind 
 To low brutality debafe mankind. 
 By love we are above ourfelves refin'd. 
 Oh Love, thou trance Divine ! in which the foul, 
 Unclogg'd with worldly cares, may range without 
 
 controul; 
 And foaring to her Heav'n, from thence infpir'd can 
 
 teach 
 High mylleries, above poor Reafon's feeble reach. 
 
 IL 
 
 To weak old age Prudence fomc aid may prove,-^ 
 And curb thofe appetites that faintly move ; 
 But wild, impetuous youth is tam'd by nothing 
 
 lefs than love. 
 Of men too rough for peace, too rude for arts, 
 Love's pow'r can penetrate the hardefl hearts ; 
 And through theclofefl pores a palTage find. 
 Like that of light, to fliine all o'er the mind. 
 The want of love docs both extremes produce; 
 Maids are too nice, and men as much too loofe ; 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 13 
 
 While equal good an am'rous couple find, 
 She makes him conftant,and he makes her kind. 
 New charms in vain a lover's faith would prove; 
 Hermits or bed-rid men they'll fooner move: 
 The fair inveigler will but fadly find, 
 
 There's no fuch eunuch as a man in love. 
 But when by his chafte nymph embrac'd, 
 ( For love makes all embraces chafte) 
 Then the tranfported creature can 
 Do wonders, and is more than man. 
 Both Heav'n and earth would our defires confine; *> 
 But yet in vain both Heav'n and earth combine, v 
 Unlefs where lovebleffes the great defign. 
 Hymen makes fad the hand, but love the heart ; 
 He the fool's God, thou Nature's Hymen art; 
 AVhofe laws once broke, we are not held by force. 
 But the falfe breach itfelf is a divorce. 
 
 III. 
 
 For love the mifer will his gold defpifc, 
 The falfe grow faithful, and the foolifh wife; 
 Cautious the young, and complaifant the old. 
 The cruel gentle, and the coward bold. 
 Thou glorious Sun within our fouls, 
 Whofe influence fo much controuls; 
 Ev'n dull and heavy lumps of love, 
 Quicken'd by thee, more lively move ; 
 And if their heads but any fubftance hold, 
 Love ripens all that drofsinto the pureft gold. 
 
 In Heav'n's great work thy part is fuch. 
 That mafter-like thou giv'ft the laft great touch 
 
14 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 To Heav'n'sown mafter- piece of man ; 
 And finifheft what nature but began : 
 Thy happy ftrokecan into foftnefs bring 
 
 Reafon, that rough and wrangling thing. 
 
 From childhood upwards we decay, 
 And grow but greater children ev'ry day: 
 So, Reafon, how can we be faid to rife? 
 So many cares attend the being wife, 
 'Tis rather falling down a precipice. 
 From Senfe to Reafon unimprov'd we move ; 
 We only then advance, wlien Reafon turns to Love, 
 
 IV. 
 
 Thou reigneft o'er our earthly Gods ; 
 Uncrown'd by thee, their other crowns are loads; 
 One beauty's fmile their meaneft courtier brings 
 Rather to pity than to envy Kings ; 
 His fellow flaves he takes them now to be, 
 Favour'd by love perhaps much Icfs than he, 
 
 For love, the tim'rous bafhful maid 
 Of nothing but denying is afraid; 
 
 For love fhe overcomes her fhame, 
 Forfakes her fortune, and forgets her fame; 
 Yet, if but with a conftant lover blefl:. 
 Thanks Heav'n for that, and never minds the reft. 
 
 V. 
 
 Love is the fait of life; a higher tafte 
 
 It gives to pieafure, and then makes it laft. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 15 
 
 Thofe flighted favours which cold nymphs difpenfe. 
 
 Mere common counters of the fenfe, 
 Defe»ftive both in mettle and in meafure, 
 A lover's fancy coins into a treafure. 
 How vaft the fubje6t ! what a boundlefs ftore 
 of bright ideas, fhining all before 
 The raufes fight, forbids me to give o'er ! 
 But the kind God excites us various ways, 
 And now 1 find him all my ardor raife, 
 His precepts to perform, as well as praife. 
 
ELEGY 
 
 TO THE 
 
 DUTCHESS of R . 
 
 THOU lovely flave to a rude husband's will. 
 By Nature us'd fo well, by him Co ill I 
 For ail that grief we fee youi mind endure, 
 Yourglafs prefents yon with a pleafingcure. 
 Thofe maids you envy for their happier ftate, 
 To have your form, would gladly have your fate ; 
 And of like flavery each wife complains, 
 Without fuch beauty's help to bear her chains. 
 Husbands like him weev'ry-wheie may fee j 
 But where can we behold a wife like thee ? 
 While to a tyrant you by fate are ty 'd, 
 By love you tyrannize o'er all bcfide : 
 Thofe eyes, tho' weeping, can no pity move; 
 Worthy our grief! more worthy of our love ! 
 You, while fo fair (do fortune what fhe pleafc) 
 Can be no more in pain, than we at eafe : 
 Unlefs, unfatisfied with all our vows, 
 Your vain ambition fo unbounded grows, 
 That you repine a husband fliould efcape 
 Th' united force of fuch a face and fhape. 
 If fo, alas ! for all thofe charming pow'rs, 
 Your cafe is juft as defperate as ours. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 17 
 
 Expe(5t that birds (houldonly fing to you, 
 And, as you walk, that cv'ry tree flioiild bow ; 
 Expect thofe ftatues, as you pafs, fhould burn ; 
 And that with wonder men fhould ftatues turnj 
 Such beauty is enough to give things life, 
 But not to make a husband love his wife : 
 A husband, worfc than ftatues, or than trees; 
 Colder than thofe, lefs fenfible than thefe. 
 Then from (6 dull a care your thoughts remove. 
 And wafte not fighs you only owe to love. 
 'Tis pity, fighs from fuch a breaft fhould part, 
 Unlefs to eafe fome doubtful lover's heart; 
 Who dies becaufe hemuft too juftly prize 
 What yet the dull pofTefTor does defpife. 
 Thus precious jewels among Indians grow, 
 Who nor their ufe, nor wondrous value know; 
 But we for thofe bright treafures tempt the main, 
 And hazard life for what the fools difdain. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 A LETTER from SEA. 
 
 F Air EST, if time and ab fence can incline 
 Your heart to wand'ring thoughts no more than 
 mine; 
 Then fhall my hand, as changelefs as my mind, 
 From your glad eyes a kindly welcome find ; 
 Then, while this note my conftancy alTures, 
 You'll be almoft as pleas'd, as I with yours. 
 And trufl: me, when 1 feel that kind relief, 
 Abfence itfelf a while fufpends its grief: 
 So may it do with you, but ftraight return ; 
 For it were cruel not fometimes to mourn 
 His fate, who this long time he keeps away. 
 Mourns all the night, and fighs out all the day ; 
 Grieving yet more, when he refledls that you 
 Aiufl: not be happy, or muft: not be true. 
 But fince to me it feems a blacker fate 
 To be inconftant, than unfortunate; 
 llcmember all thofe vows between us paft, 
 When I from all I value parted laft; 
 May you alike with kind impatience burn. 
 And fomething mifs, till I with joy return ; 
 And foon may pitying Heav'n that bleflinggive, 
 As in the hopes of that alone I live. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 19 
 
 LOVE'S SLAVERY. 
 
 GRAVE fops my envy now beget. 
 Who did my pity move ; 
 They, by the right of wanting wit, 
 Are free from cares of love. 
 
 Turks honour fools, becaufe they are 
 
 By that defect fecure 
 From flavery and toils of war, 
 
 Which all the reft: endure. 
 
 So I, who fuffer cold negkcH: 
 
 And wounds fromCELiA*s eyes, 
 
 Begin extremely to refpeft 
 Thefe fools that feem fo wife. 
 
 'Tis true, they fondly fet their hearts 
 
 On things of no delight ; 
 To pafs all day for men of parts, 
 
 They pafs alone the night : 
 
 But Celi A never breaks their reft ; 
 
 Such fervants (he difdains ; 
 And fo the fops are dully bled, 
 
 While I endure her chains. 
 
 G 2 
 
20 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 The D R E A M. 
 
 READY to throw me at the feet 
 Of that fair nymph whom 1 adore, 
 Impatient thofe delights to meet, 
 Which I enjoy 'd the night before ; 
 
 By her v.'onted fcornful brow, 
 Soon the fond mifbls.e I find ; 
 
 IxiON mourn'd his error fo. 
 
 When Juno's form the cloud refign'd. 
 
 Sleep, to make its charms more priz'd 
 Than waking joys, which mod prevail, 
 
 Had cunningly itfelf difguis'd 
 In a fliape that could not fail. 
 
 There my Celia's fnowy arms, 
 
 Breads, and other parts more dear, 
 
 Expofing new and unknown charms, 
 To my tranfported foul appear. 
 
 Then you fo much kindnefs iTiow, 
 
 My defpair deluded flies ; 
 And indulgent dreams beftow 
 
 What vour crueltv denies. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 21 
 
 Blufli not that your image love 
 
 Naked to my fancy brought; 
 'Tis hard, methinks, to difapprove 
 
 The joys I feel without your fault. 
 
 Wonder not a fancy'd blifs 
 
 Can fuch griefs as mine remove ; 
 That honour as fantaftick is, 
 
 Which makes you flight fuch conftant love. 
 
 The virtue which you value fo, 
 
 Is but a fancy frail and vain ; 
 Nothing is folid here below, 
 
 Except my love, and your difdain. 
 
22 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 To one who accufed him of being too 
 fenfual in his Love. 
 
 THINK not, my fair, 'tis fin or fhame. 
 To blefs the man who fo adores ; 
 Nor give fo hard, unjuft a name, 
 To all thofe favours he implores. 
 
 Beauty is Heav'n's mod bounteous gift efteem'd, 
 Becaufe by love men arc from vice redeem'd. 
 
 Yet wilh not vainly for a love 
 
 From all the force of nature clear; 
 That is referv'd for thofe above, 
 
 And 'tis a fault to claim it here. 
 For fenfual joys ye fcorn that we fliould love ye; 
 But love without 'em is as much above ye. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. aj- 
 
 The WARNING. 
 
 LOVERS, who wafte your thoughts and youth 
 In paflion's fond extremes ; 
 Who dream of womens love and truth. 
 And doat upon your dreams : 
 
 I Ihould not here your fancy take 
 
 From fuch a pleaGng ftate, 
 Were you not fure at laft to wake, 
 
 And find your fault too late. 
 
 Then learn betimes, the love which crowns 
 
 Our cares, is all but wiles ; 
 Compos'd of falfe fantaftick frowns, 
 
 And foft diiTembling fmiles. 
 
 With anger, which fometimes they feign, 
 
 They cruel tyrants prove; 
 And then turn flatterers again, 
 
 With as affeflcd love. 
 
 As if fome injury were meant 
 
 To thofe they kindly us'd, 
 Thofe lovers are the mod content, 
 
 That have been ftill refus'd. 
 
 Since each has in his bofom nurft 
 
 A falfe and fawnmg foe j 
 'Tis juft and wife, by ftriking firft^ 
 
 To 'fcape the fatal blow. 
 
44 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 To AMORETTA, 
 
 WHE N I held out againft your eyes, 
 You took the fureft courfe 
 A heart unwary to furprize. 
 You ne'er could take by force. 
 
 However, tho* I jflrive no more. 
 
 The fort will now be priz'd ; 
 Which, if furrender'd up before. 
 
 Perhaps had been defpis'd. 
 
 But, gentle Amoretta, tho* 
 
 I cannot love refift. 
 Think not, when you have caught me Co, 
 
 To ufe me as you iid. 
 
 Inconftancy or coldnefs will 
 
 My foolifti heart reclaim : 
 Then I come off with honour dill. 
 
 But you, alas ! with fharae. 
 
 A heart by kindnefs only gain*d. 
 
 Will a dear conqueft prove ; 
 And, to be kept, muft be maintain'd 
 
 At vaft expence of love. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 35 
 
 The VENTURE. 
 
 OH, how I languifh ! What a ftrange 
 Unruly fierce define ! 
 My fpirits feel fome wondrous change. 
 My heart is all on fire. 
 
 Now, all ye wifer thoughts, away. 
 
 In vain your tale ye tell 
 Of patient hopes, and dull delay. 
 
 Love's foppifli part ; farewell. 
 
 Suppofe one week's delay would give 
 
 All that my wifhes move; 
 Oh, who fo long a time can live, 
 
 Stretch'd on the rack of love ? 
 
 Her foul perhaps is too fublime. 
 
 To like fuch flavifii fear; 
 Difcretion, prudence, all is crime, 
 
 If once condemned by her. 
 
 When honour does the foldier call 
 
 To fome unequal fight, 
 Refolv'd to conquer or to fall. 
 
 Before his gen'ral's fight ; 
 
 Advanc'd the happy hero lives ; 
 
 Or if ill fate denies, 
 The noble ralhnefs heav'n forgives, 
 
 And glorioufly he dies. 
 D 
 
26 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 Inconftancy Excufed. 
 
 SONG. 
 
 I Mud confefs, I am untrue 
 To G L o R I A N a's eyes ; 
 But he that's fmil'd upon by you, 
 Mud all the world defpife. 
 
 In winter, fires of little worth 
 
 Excite our dull dcfirc; 
 But when the fun breaks kindly forth, 
 
 Thofe fainter flames expire. 
 
 Then blame me not for flighting now 
 
 What I did once adore; 
 O, do but this one change allow, 
 
 And 1 can change no more: 
 
 Fixt by your never failing charms, 
 
 Till I with age decay, 
 Till languifhing within your arms, 
 
 I figh my foul away. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 27 
 
 N G. 
 
 OH, conceal that charming creature 
 From my wondring, wifhing eyes ! 
 Ev'ry motion, ev'ry feature 
 
 Does fome ravi(h'd heart furprize; 
 But oh, I fighing, fighing, fee 
 The happy fwain ! flie ne'er can be 
 Falfe to him^ or kind to me. 
 
 Yet, if I could humbly (how her. 
 Ah ! how wretched I remain ; 
 
 'Tis not, fure, a thing below her, 
 Still to pity fo much pain. 
 
 The Gods fome pleafure, pleafurc take, 
 
 Happy as themfelves to make 
 
 Thofe who fufFer for their fake. 
 
 Since your hand alone was giv'n 
 To a wretch not worth your care; 
 
 Like fome angel fent from heav'n. 
 Come and raife me from defpair ! 
 
 Your heart I cannot, cannot mifs, 
 
 And I defire no other blifs ; 
 
 Let all the v/orld befides be his. 
 
 D 2 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 DESPAIR. 
 
 AL L hopelefs of relief, 
 Incapable of reft, 
 In vain I ftrlve to vent a grief 
 That's not to be expreft. 
 
 This rage within my veins 
 
 No reafon can remove ; 
 Of all the mind's moft cruel pains, 
 
 The fliarpeft, fure, is love. 
 
 Yet while I Janguifh fo, 
 
 And on thee vainly call ; 
 Take heed, fair caufe of all my woe, 
 
 What fate may thee befall. 
 
 Ungrateful, cruel faults 
 
 Suit not thy gentle fex ; 
 Hereafter, how will guilty thoughts 
 
 Thy tender confcience vex ! 
 
 When welcome death (hall bring 
 
 Relief to wretched me. 
 My foul enlarg'd, and once on wing, 
 In hafte will fly to thee. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 29 
 
 When in thy lonely bed, 
 
 My ghofl its moan fhall make, 
 "With faddeft figns that I am dead, 
 
 And dead for thy dear fake. 
 
 Struck with that confcious blow, 
 
 Thy very foul will ftart ; 
 Pale as my fhadow thou wilt grow, 
 
 And cold as is thy heart. 
 
 Too late remorfc will then 
 
 Untimely pity (how 
 To him, who of all mortal meo 
 
 Did raoft thy value know. 
 
 Yet, with this broken heart, 
 
 I wifli thou never be 
 Tormented with the thoufandth part 
 
 Of what I feel for thee. 
 
so SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 On Apprehenfion of lofing what he had 
 newly gain'd. 
 
 In Imitation of O V ID. 
 
 SURE I of all men am the firft 
 That ever was by kinJnefs curft, 
 Who muft my only blifs bemoan, 
 And am by happ'mefs undone. 
 
 Had I at diftance only feen 
 That lovely face, I might have been 
 With the delightful objeft pleased. 
 But not with all this paflion feiz'd. 
 
 When afterwards fo near I came. 
 As to be fcorch'd in beauty's flame; 
 To fo much foftnefs, fo much fenfe, 
 Reafon itfelf made no defence. 
 
 What pleafing thoughts pofTefs'd my mind 
 When little favours fliew'd you kind ! 
 And tho', when coldnefs oft prevail'd. 
 My heart would fink, and fpirits faiPd, 
 Yet willingly the yoke I bore, 
 And all your chains as bracelets wore : 
 At yourlov'd feet all day would lie, 
 Deliring, without knowing why j 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 31 
 
 For, not yet bleft within your arms. 
 Who could have thought of half your charms ? 
 Charms of fuch a wondrous kind, 
 Words we cannot, muft not find, 
 A body worthy of your mind : 
 Fancy could ne'er fo high refled:, 
 Nor love itfelf fuch joys expe^Sl. 
 
 After fuch embraces paft, 
 Whofe memory will ever lad, 
 Love is ftill reflecting back : 
 All my foul is on a rack : 
 To be in hell's fufHcient corfe, 
 But to fall from heav'n is worfe. 
 I liv'd in grief ere this I knew, 
 But then I dwelt in darknefs too. 
 Of gains, alas ! I could not boaft; 
 But little thought how much I loft. 
 
 Now heart-devouring eagernefs. 
 And fliarp impatience to poflefs ; 
 Now reftlefs cares, confuming fires. 
 Anxious thoughts, and fierce defires, 
 Tear my heart to that degree. 
 Forever fix'don only thee: 
 Then all my comfort is, I (hall 
 Live in thy arms, or not at all. 
 
31 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 The Reconcilement. 
 
 SONG, 
 
 COME, let us now tefolve at laft 
 To live and love in quiet; 
 We'll tie the knot fo very fafl. 
 That time fliall ne'er untie it. 
 
 The trueft joys they feldom prove. 
 
 Who free from quarrels live ; 
 'Tis the moft tender part of love. 
 Each other to forgive. 
 
 When leaft I feem'd con<:ern*d, I took 
 No pleafurc, nor no reft; 
 
 And when I feign'd an angry look, 
 Alas ! I lov'd you beft. 
 
 Own but the fame to me, you'll find 
 How bleft will be our fate; 
 
 Oh, to be happy, to be kind, 
 Sure, never is too late. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 33 
 
 SONG. 
 
 FROM all uneafy pafllons free. 
 Revenge, ambition, jealoufy. 
 Contented I had been too blcft, 
 If love and you had let me reft. 
 Yet that dull life I now defpife ; 
 
 Safe from your eyes, 
 I fear'd no griefs, but then I found no joys. 
 
 Amidft a thoufand kind defires, 
 Which beauty moves, and love infpires ; 
 Such pangs I feel offender fear, 
 No heart fo foft as mine can bear. 
 Yet I'll defy the worft of harms : 
 
 Such are your charms, 
 'Tis worth a life to die within your arms. 
 
34 
 
 ^ONGS AND VERSE'S. 
 
 To a Coquet Beauty. 
 
 FROM wars and plagues come no fuch harms, 
 As from a nymph fo full of charms ; 
 So much fweetnefs in her face. 
 In her motions fuch a grace, 
 In her kind inviting eyes 
 Such a foft enchantment lies ; 
 That we pleafe ourfelves too foon'. 
 And are with empty hopes undone. 
 
 After all her foftnefs, we 
 Are but flaves, while fhe is free; 
 Free, alas ! from all defire. 
 Except to fet the world on fire. 
 
 Thou, fair difTembler, doftbut thus 
 Deceive thyfelf, as well as us. 
 Like a reftlefs monarch, thou 
 \\'ould'ft rather force mankind to bow. 
 And venture round the world to roam, 
 Than govern peaceably at home. 
 But trud me, Celia, truft me, when 
 Apollo's felf infpires my pen; 
 One hour of love's delights outweighs 
 Whole years of univerfal praife; 
 And one adorer, kindly us'd, 
 Gives truer joys than crouds refus'd. 
 
 For what does youth and beauty ferve ? 
 Why more than all your fex deferve ? 
 Why fuch foft alluring arts 
 To charm our eyes, and melt our hearts ? 
 By our lofs you nothing gain : 
 Unlefs you love, you pleafe in vain. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. jj 
 
 The RELAPSE. 
 
 LIKE children in a ftarry night, 
 When I beheld thofe eyes before, 
 I gaz'd with wonder and delight, 
 Infenfible of all their pow'r. 
 
 I play'd about the flame fo long, 
 At lafl: I felt the fcorching fire ; 
 
 My hopes were weak, my pafTion ftrong, 
 And I lay dying with defire. 
 
 By all the helps of human art, 
 I juft recover'd fo much fenfe, 
 
 As to avoid, with heavy heart, 
 The fair, but fatal influence. 
 
 But, fince you fhine away defpair, 
 And now my fighs no longer fliun, 
 
 No Perfian in his zealous pray'r 
 So much adores the rifing fun. 
 
 If once again my vows difpleafe, 
 
 There never was fo lofl: a lover ; 
 In love, that languifhing difeafe, 
 A fad relapfe we ne'er recover. 
 
 E 2 
 
^6 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 The RECOVERY. 
 
 SIGHING and languifhing I lay, 
 A ftranger grown to all delight, 
 Pafling with tedious thoughts the day, 
 And with unquiet dreams the night. 
 
 For your dear fake, my only care 
 Was how my fatal love to hide; 
 
 For ever drooping with defpair, 
 Negledting ail the world bcfide : 
 
 Till, like fome angel from above, 
 Cornelia came to ray relief ; 
 
 And then I found the joys of love 
 Can make amends for all the grief. 
 
 Thofe pleafing hopes I now purfue. 
 Might fail, if you could prove unjuft; 
 
 But promifes from heav'n and you, 
 Who is fo impious to miftruft ? 
 
 Here ail my doubts and troubles end ; 
 
 One tender word my foul a/Tures ; 
 Nor am I vain, fmce I depend 
 
 Not on my own defer t, but yours. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 37 
 
 The CONVERT. 
 
 DEJECTED, as true converts die, 
 But yet with fervent thoughts inflam'd. 
 So, faireft ! at your feet I lie, 
 Of all my fex's faults aftiam'd. 
 
 Too long, alas ! have I abus'd 
 
 Love's innocent and facred flame, 
 And that divineft pow'r have us'd 
 
 To laugh at, as an idle name. 
 
 But fince fo freely I confefs 
 
 A crime which may your fcorn produce. 
 Allow me now to make it Icfs 
 
 By any jufl: and fair excufe. 
 
 I then did vulgar joys purfue, 
 
 Variety was all my blifs ; 
 But ignorant of love and you, 
 
 How could I chufe but do amifs ? 
 
 If ever now my wandring eyes 
 
 Seek out amufements as before ; 
 If e'er I look, but to defpife 
 
 Such charms, and value yours the more ; ' 
 
 May fad reraorle, and guilty fhame, 
 Revenge your wrongs on faithlefs me; 
 
 And, what I tremble ev'n to name, 
 May I lofe all in lofing thee. 
 
^58 SONGS AND VERSES 
 
 The PICTURE. 
 
 In Imitation of ANACRtow. 
 
 THOU flatterer of all the fair. 
 Come with all your skill and care ; 
 Draw me fuch a (hape and face, 
 As your flatt'ry would difgrace. 
 Wifli not that (he would appear ; 
 'Tis well for you (he is not here ; 
 Scarce can you with fafety fee 
 All her charms defcrib'd by me : 
 I, alas ! the danger know ; 
 I, alas ! have felt the blow; 
 Mourn, as loft, my former days, 
 That never fung of Celiacs praife; 
 
 And thofe few that are behind 
 
 I (hall bleft or wretched find. 
 
 Only juft as (he is kind. 
 
 With her tempting eyes begin. 
 
 Eyes that would draw angels in 
 
 To a fecond, fweetcr fm. 
 
 Oh, thofe wanton rolling eyes ! 
 
 At each glance a lover dies: 
 
 Make them bright, yet make them willing; 
 
 Let them look both kind and killing. 
 
 Next, draw her forehead ; then her nofe. 
 
 And lips juft op'ning, that difclofe 
 
 Teeth fo bright, and breath fo fweet, 
 
 So much beauty, fo much wit, 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 3^ 
 
 To our very foul they ftrike, 
 All our fenfes pleas *d alike. 
 
 But fo pure a white and red, 
 Never, never, can be faid : 
 "What are words in fuch a cafe ? 
 What is paint to fuch a face ? 
 How fhould either art avail us ? : 
 
 Fancy here itfelf muft fail us. 
 
 In her looks, and in her mien. 
 Such a graceful air is feen. 
 That if you, with all your art. 
 Can but reach the fmalleft part ; 
 Next to her, the matchlefs fhe. 
 We fhall wonder moft at thee. 
 
 Then her neck, and breads, and hair. 
 
 And her ^but my charming fair 
 
 Does in a thoufand things excel. 
 Which I muft not, dare not tell. 
 
 How go on then ? oh ! I fee, 
 A lovely Venus drawn by thee ; 
 Oh how fair fhe does appear ! 
 Touch it only here and there. 
 Make her yet feem more divine, 
 Your Venus then may look like mine, 
 Whofe bright form if once you faw. 
 You by her would Ve nus draw. 
 
46 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 On Don A l o n z o 's being killed in Portugal, 
 upon account of the I n f a n t a, in the Year 
 1683. 
 
 IN fuch a caufe no mufe (hould fail 
 To bear a mournful part ; 
 'Tis jufl: and noble to bewail 
 The fate of fall'n defert. 
 
 In vain ambitious hopes defign'd 
 
 To make his foul afpire, 
 If love and beauty had not join'd 
 
 To raife a brighter fire. 
 
 Amidft fo many dangerous foes 
 How weak the wifeft prove ! 
 
 Reafon itfelf would fcarce oppole. 
 And feems agreed with love. 
 
 If from the glorious height befalls, 
 
 He greatly daring dies ; 
 Or mounting where bright beauty calls. 
 
 An empire is the prize. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 41 
 
 The SURPRIZE. 
 
 SAFELY perhaps dull crowds admire; 
 But I, alas ! am all on fire. 
 
 Like him who thought in childhood paft 
 That dire difeafe which kill'd atlaft, 
 I durft have fworn I lov'd before, 
 And fancy'd all the danger o'er; 
 Had felt the pangs of jealous pain. 
 And born the blafts of cold difdain ; 
 Then reap'd at length the mighty gains, 
 That full reward of all our pains ! 
 
 But what was all fuch grief or joy. 
 That did my heedlefs years employ ? 
 Mere dreams of feign 'd fantaftick pow'rs. 
 But the difeafe of idle hours ; 
 Amufement, humour, affecftation, 
 Compar'dwith this fublimerpaffion, 
 Whofe raptures, bright as thofe above, 
 Outfhine the flames of zeal or love. 
 
 Yet think not, Faireft, v;hat I fing, 
 Can from a love Platonick fpring ; 
 That formal foftnefs (falfe and vain) 
 Not of the heart, but of the brain. 
 Thou art indeed above all nature ; 
 But I, a wretched human creature. 
 Wanting thy gentle gen'rous aid, 
 Of husband, rivals^ friends afraid 1 
 F 
 
4i SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 Amidft all this feraphick fire, 
 
 Am almoft dying with defirc, 
 
 With eager wifhes, ardent thoughts, 
 
 Prone to commit love's wildeft faults ! 
 
 And (as we are on Sundays told 
 
 The lufty patriarch did of old) 
 
 Would force a blefling from thofe charms, 
 
 Andgrafp an angel in my arms. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 43 
 
 A Dialogue fung on the Stage between an 
 elderly Shepherd, and a very young Nymph. 
 
 S H E p . T> RIGHT and blooming as the Spring, 
 X-J Univerfal love infpiring ! 
 All our fwains thy praifes fing. 
 Ever gazing and admiring, 
 
 Ny M. Praifes In fo high a ftrain, 
 
 And by fuch a fhepherd fung, 
 Are enough to make me vain, 
 Yet fo harmlefs and fo young. 
 
 S H E p . I fhould have defpalr'd among 
 Rivals that appear fo gayly : 
 But your eyes have made me young. 
 By their fmlling on me daily. 
 
 N Y M. Idle boys admire us blindly, 
 
 Are inconftant, wild, and bold; 
 And your ufing me fo kindly 
 Is a proof you are not old. 
 
 r. H E p. With thy pleafing voice and fafliion, 
 With thy humour and thy youth, 
 Chear my foul, and crown my paflion : 
 Oh ! reward my love and truth. 
 F 2 
 
44 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 N y M. With thy careful arts to cover 
 
 That which fools will count a fault, 
 Trueft friend as well as lover. 
 Oh ! deferve fo kind a thought. 
 
 ' EACH A PART FIRST, AXD THEN BOTH TOGETHER. 
 
 Happy we fhall lie pofTeiling, 
 Folded in each other's arms, 
 
 Love and nature's chiefefl: bleffing 
 In the ftill increafing charms. 
 
 So the dearefl joys of loving, 
 
 Which fcarce Heav'n can go beyond, 
 
 Well be ev'ry day improving, 
 S H E P. You more fair, and I more fond. 
 J«l y M. I more fair^ and you more fond. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 45 
 
 On one who died difcovering her Kindnefs. 
 
 SOME vex their fouls with jealous pain. 
 While others figh for cold difdain : 
 Love's various flaves we daily fee; 
 Yet happy all, compar'd with me. 
 
 Of all mankind, I lov*d the beft 
 A nymph fo far above the reft, 
 That we outfhin'd the bleft above. 
 In beauty (he, and I in love. 
 
 And therefore they who could not bear 
 To be outdone by mortals here. 
 Among themfelves haveplac'd hernow. 
 And left me wretched here below. 
 
 All other fate I could have born. 
 
 And ev'n endur'd her very fcorn ; 
 
 But oh I thus all at once to find 
 
 That dread account ! both dead and kind ! 
 
 What heart can hold ? If yet I live, 
 
 'Tis but to fhew how much I grieve, 
 
46 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 On Lucinda's Death. 
 
 COME all ye doleful, difmal cares. 
 That ever haunted guilty mind ! 
 The pangs of love when it defpairs, 
 
 And all thofe flings the jealous find: 
 Alas ! heart-breaking tho' ye be. 
 Yet welcome, welcome all to me ! 
 
 "Who now have loft ^but oh ! how much ? 
 
 No language, nothing can exprefs. 
 Except my grief; for fhe was fuch, 
 
 That praifes would but make her lefs. 
 Yet who can ever dare to raife 
 His voice on her, unlefs to praife? 
 Free from her fex's fmalleft faults, 
 
 And fair as womankind can be; 
 Tender and warm as lover's thoughts, 
 
 Yet cold to all the world but me. 
 Of all this nothing now remains. 
 But only fighs and endlcfs pains ! 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 47 
 
 To a Lady retiring into a Monaftery. 
 
 WHAT breaft but yours can hold the double fire 
 of fierce devotion, and offend defire? 
 Love would (hine forth, were not your zeal fo bright, 
 Whofe glaring flames eciipfe his gentler light: 
 Lefs feems the faith that mountains can remove, 
 Than this which triumphs over youth and love. 
 
 But fhall fome threat'ning prieft divide us two ? 
 What worfe than that could all his curfes do ? 
 Thus with a fright fome have refign'd their breath, 
 And poorly dy'donly for fear of death. 
 
 Heav'n fees our pafTions with indulgence ftill, 
 And they who love well, can do nothing ill. 
 "While to us nothing but ourfelves is dear. 
 Should the world frown, yet what have we to fear ? 
 Fame, wealth, and pow'r,thofe high-priz'd gifts of fate, 
 The low concerns of a lefs happy ftate. 
 Are far beneath us : fortune's felf may take 
 Her aim at us, yet no impreflion make ; 
 Let worldlings ask her help, or fear her harms ; 
 We can lie fafe, lock'd in each other's arms, 
 Like the bleft faints, eternal raptures know; 
 And flight thofe ftorms that vainly reft below. 
 
 Yet this, all this you are refolv'd to quit ; 
 I fee my ruin, and I muft fubmit : 
 But think, O think, before you prove unkind, 
 How loft a wretch you leave forlorn behind. 
 
 Malignant envy, mix'd with hate and fear, 
 Revenge for wrongs too burdenfome to bear. 
 
48 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 Ev'n zeal itfelf, from whence all mifchiefs fpring, 
 Have never done fo barbarous a thing. 
 
 With fuch a fate the heav'ns decreed to vex 
 Arm IDA once, tho' of the fairer fex; 
 RiNALDO file had charm'd with fo much art, 
 Her's was his pow'r, his perfon, and his heart : 
 Honour'shigh thoughts no more his mind could move ; 
 She footh'd his rage, and turn'd it all to love : 
 When ftrait a guft of fierce devotion blows, 
 And in a moment all her joys o'erthrows : 
 The poor Armida tears her golden hair, 
 Matchlefs till now, for love, or for defpair. 
 Who is not mov'd while the fad nymph complains ? 
 Yet you now aft what Tas so only feigns ; 
 And after all our vows, our (ighs, our tears, 
 My banifh'd forrows, and your conquer'd fears ; 
 So many doubts, fo many dangers paft, 
 Vifions of zeal muft vanquifii me at laft. 
 
 Thus, in great Homer's war, throughout the field 
 Some hero flill made all things mortal yield ; 
 But when a God once took the vanquifii'd llde, 
 The weak prevail'd, and the vidorious dy'd. 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. 49 
 
 The VISION. 
 
 AVritten during a Sea Voyage, when fentto com- 
 mand the Forces for the Relief of Tangier. 
 
 WITHIN the filent fhades of foft repofe. 
 Where fancy's boundlefs ftream for ever flows ; 
 Where the enfranchis'd foul at eafecan play, 
 Tir'd with the toilfome bufinefs of the day; 
 Where princes gladly reft their weary heads, 
 And change uneafy thrones for downy beds; 
 Where feeming joys delude defpairing minds, 
 And where ev'n jealoufy fome quiet finds ; 
 There I and forrow for a while could part, 
 Sleep clos'd my eyes, and eas'd a fighing heart. 
 But here too foon a wretched lover found 
 Indeepeft griefs the deep can ne'er be found; 
 With ftrange furprize my troubled fancy brings 
 Odd antick fhapes of wild unheard-of things ; 
 Difmal and terrible they all appear, 
 My foul was (hook with an unufual fear. 
 But as when vifions glad the eyes of faints, 
 And kind relief attends devout complaints, 
 Some beauteous angel in bright charms will ftiine. 
 And fpreads a glory round, that's all divine ; 
 Juft fuch I bright and beauteous form appears. 
 The monfters vanilh; and with them my fears. 
 G 
 
so SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 The faireft fliape was then before me brought, 
 
 That eyes e'er faw, or fancy ever thought ; 
 
 How weak are words to (hew fuch excellence, 
 
 Which ev'n confounds the foul, as well as fenfe f 
 
 And, while our eyes tranfporting pleafure find, 
 
 It flops not here, but ftrikes the very mind. 
 
 Some angel fpeak her praife ! No human tongue. 
 
 But with its utmoft art mud do her wrong. 
 
 The only woman that has pow'r to kill, 
 
 And yet is good enough to want the will; 
 
 V/ho needs no foft alluring words repeat, 
 
 Kor ftudy'd looks of languiftiing deceit. 
 
 Fantaftick beauty, always in the wrong, 
 
 Still thinks fome pride muft to its pow'r belong; 
 
 An air affected, and a haughty mien ; 
 
 Something that feems to fay, " I would be feen.*' 
 
 But of all womankind this only fhe, 
 
 Pull of its charms, and from its frailty free, 
 
 Deferves fome nobler mufe her fame to raife, 
 
 By making the whole fex befide, herpyramid of praife. 
 
 She, fhe appear'd, the fource of all my joys; 
 
 The deareft care that all my thought employs : 
 
 Gently fhe look'd, as when I left her lafl ; 
 
 When firft: fhe feiz'd my heart, and held it fafl ; 
 
 When, if my vows, alas ! were made too late, 
 
 I faw my doom came not from her, but fate. 
 
 With pity then fhe eas'd my raging pain, 
 
 And her kind eyes could fcarce from tears refraiw : 
 
 Why gentle fwain, faid fhe, why do you grieve 
 
 In words I fhould not hear, much lefs believe ? 
 
 I gaze on that which is a fauh to mind. 
 
 And ought to fly the danger which 1 find : 
 
SONGS AND VERSES. ^j 
 
 Of falfe mankind tho' you may be the beft, 
 Ye all have robb'd poor women of their reft. 
 I fee your pain, and fee it too with grief, 
 Becaufe I would, yet mufl: not give relief. 
 Thus, for a husband's fake, as well as yours. 
 My fcrup'lous foul divided pain endures ; 
 Guilty, alas ! to both ; for thus I do 
 Too much for him, yet not enough for you. 
 Give over then, give over, haplefs fwain, 
 A paflion moving, but a paffion vain. 
 Not chance, nor time fhall ever change my thought : 
 *Tis better much to die, than do a fault. 
 
 Oh, worfe than ever ! Is it then my doom 
 Juft to fee Heav'n, where I muft never come ? 
 Your foft compaflion, if not fomething more: 
 Yet I remain as wretched as before : 
 The wind, indeed, is fair, but ah ! no fight of fhore 
 Farewell, too fcrup'lous fair-one ; oh ! farewell. 
 What torments I endure, no tongue can tell ; 
 Thank Heav'n, my fate tranfports me now, where I 
 Your martyr may with eafe and fafety die. 
 
 With that I kneel'djand feiz'd her trembling hand, 
 While (he impos'd this cruel kind command : 
 Live and love on ; you will be true, I know ; 
 But live then, and come back to tell me fo : 
 For tho' I blufb at this laft guilty breath, 
 I can endure that better than your death. 
 
 Tormenting kindnefs ! Barbarous reprieve! 
 Condemned to die, and yet compell'd to live! 
 
 This tender fcene my dream repeated o'er, 
 Juft as it pafs'd in real truth before. 
 G 2 
 
^^ SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 Methought I then fell grov'ling to the ground, 
 'Till on a fudden rais'd, I wond'ring found 
 A ftrange appearance all in taintlefs white ; 
 His form gave rev'rence, and his face delight : 
 Goodnefs and greatnefs in his eyes were feen ; 
 Gentle his look, and affable his mien. 
 A kindly notice of me thus he took : 
 *' What mean thefe flowing eyes, this ghaftly look ! 
 " Thefe trembling joints, this loofe difhevd'd hair» 
 *^ And this cold dew, the drops of deep defpair? " 
 
 With grief and wonder firft my fpirits faint, 
 But thus, at laft, I vented my complaint. 
 Behold a wretch whom cruel fate has found, 
 And in the depth of all misfortune drown 'd. 
 There (hines a nymph, to whom an envy'd fwain 
 Is ty'd in Hymen's ceremonious chain ; 
 But cloy'd with charms of fuch a marriage- bed, 
 And fed with manna, yet he longs for bread ; 
 And will, moft husband-like, not only range 
 For love perhaps of nothing elfe but change; 
 But to inferior beauty proftrate lies. 
 And courts her love, in fcorn of Flavians eyes. 
 
 All this I knew (the form divine reply'd) 
 And did but ask to have thy temper try'd, 
 Which prove fincere. Of both I know the mind ; 
 She is too fcrupulous, and thou too kind : 
 But fince thy fatal love's for ever fix'd: 
 Whatever time or abfence come betwixt; 
 Since thy fond heart ev'n her difda'n prefers 
 To others love, I'll fomething foften hers. 
 Elfe in the fearch of virtue fhe may ftray : 
 Well-meaning mortals (hould not lofe their way. 
 
SONGS AND VfiRSES. 
 Slie now indeed fins on the fjfer fide, 
 For hearts too loofe are never to be ty'd ; 
 But no extremes are either good or wife. 
 And in the midft alone true virtue lies. 
 When marriage vows unite an equal pair, 
 'Tis a mere contract, made by human care. 
 By which they both are for convenience ty'd, 
 The bridegroom yet more ftridlly than the bride : 
 For circuPiftances alter ev'ry ill, 
 And woman meets with moft temptation ftill ; 
 She a forfaken bed muft often bear. 
 While he can never fail to find here there. 
 And therefore lefs excus'd to range elfewhere. 
 Yet this (he ought to fufFer and fubmit : 
 But when no longer for each other fit. 
 If ufage bafe {hall juH: refentment move. 
 Or, what is worfe, affronts of wand'ring love ; 
 Iso obligation after that remains. 
 'Tis mean, not juft, to wear a rival's chains. 
 
 Yet decency requires the wonted cares 
 Of int'rell:, children, and remote affairs ; 
 But in her love, that dear concern of life, 
 She all the while may be another's wife : 
 Heav'n that beholds her wrong'd and widowM bed. 
 Permits a lover in her husband's flead. 
 
 I flung me at his feet, his robes would kifs. 
 
 And cry'd, Ev'n our bafe world is juft in this ; 
 
 Amidft our cenfures, love we gently blame ; 
 And love fometimes preferves a female fame. 
 What tie lefs flrong can woman's will reftraiti ? 
 When honour, checks, and confcience plead in vain; 
 
54 SONGS AND VERSES. 
 
 When parents threats, and friends perfuafions fail, 
 
 When int'reft and ambition fcarce prevail. 
 
 To bound that fex when nothing elle can move ; 
 
 They'll live referv'd to pleafe the man they love ! 
 
 The fpirit then reply'd to all I faid. 
 She may be kind, but not till thou art dead ; 
 Bewail thy memory, bemoan thy fate : 
 Then fhe will love, when 'tis, alas ! too late : 
 Of all thy pains fhe will no pity have. 
 Till fad defpair has fent thee to the grave. 
 
 Amaz'd, I wak'd in hafte, 
 All trembling at my doom ; 
 
 Dreams oft repeat adventures pall:, 
 And tell our ills to come. 
 
C ss 1 
 HELEN TO PARIS. 
 
 FROM 
 
 OVID. 
 
 TRANSLATEO BY THE 
 
 Earl of MULGRAVE and Mr. DRYDEN. 
 
 WHEN loofe epiftles violate chafte eyes, 
 She half confents, who filently denies : 
 How dares a ftranger, with defigns To vain, 
 Marriage and hofpitable rights profane ? 
 Was it for this your fate did fhelter find 
 From fwelling feas, and ev'ry faithlefs wind ? 
 (For tho' a diflant country brought you forth, 
 Your ufage here was equal to your worth.) 
 Does this deferve to be rewarded fo ? 
 Did you come here a ftranger, or a foe ? 
 Your partial judgment may perhaps complain, 
 And think me barb'rous for my juft difdainj 
 Ill-bred then let me be, but not unchafte, 
 Nor my clear fame with any fpot defac'd. 
 Tho' in my face there's no afFedted frown, 
 Kor in my carriage a feign'd nicenefs fliown, 
 
$6 HELEN TOPARIS. 
 
 I keep my honour ftill without a (lain, 
 
 Nor has my love made any coxcomb vain. 
 
 Your boldnefs I with admiration fee. 
 
 What hope had you to gain a queen like me ? 
 
 Becaufc a hero forc'd me once away, 
 
 Am I thought fit to be a fecond prey? 
 
 Had I been won, I had deferv'd your blame; 
 
 But fure my part was nothing but the fhame: 
 
 Yet the bafe theft to him no fruit did bear; 
 
 1 'fcap'd unhurt by any thing but fear : 
 
 Rude force might fome unwilling kilfesgain, 
 
 But that was all he ever could obtain. 
 
 You on fuch terms would ne'er have let me go ; 
 
 Were he like you, we had not parted fo. 
 
 Untouch'd the youth reftor'd me to my friends. 
 
 And modeft ufage made me fome amends. 
 
 'Tis virtue to repent a vicious deed. 
 
 Did he repent, that Paris might fucceed ? 
 
 Sure 'lis fome fate thatfetsme above wrongs. 
 
 Yet ftill expofes me to bufy tongues. 
 
 I'll not complain ; for who's difpleas'd with love, 
 
 If it fincere, difcreet, and conftant prove .^ 
 
 But that I fear not that I think you bafe. 
 
 Or doubt the blooming beauties of my face j 
 
 But all your fex is fubje«5t to deceive, 
 
 And ours, aiasi too willing to believe. 
 
 Yet others yield ; and love o'ercomes the beft— 
 
 But why fhould I not fiiine above the reft ? 
 
 Fair Led a's ftory feems at firft to be 
 
 A fit example ready found for me : 
 
 But fhe was couzen'd by a borrow'd fhape, 
 
 And under harmiefs feathers felt a rape ; 
 
HELEN TO PARIS. 57 
 
 If I fiiould yield, what reafbn could I ufe? 
 By what miftake the loving crime excufe ? 
 Her fault was in her pow'rful lover lo(l ; 
 But of what Ju p I T E R ha ve I to boafl: ? 
 Tho' you to heroes, and to kings fucceed. 
 Our famous race does no addition need; 
 And great alliances but ufelefs prove 
 To one that fprings herfelf from mighty Jove. 
 Go then and boafl: in fome lefs haughty place 
 Your Phrygian blood, and Pr i a m's ancient race, 
 Which I would fhew I valu'd, if I durft ; 
 You are the fifth from Jo v e , but I the firfl. 
 The crown of Troy is pow'rful, I confefs; 
 But I have reafon to think ours no lefs. 
 Your letter, fill'd with promifes of all 
 That men can good, and women pleafant call. 
 Gives expeftation fuch an ample field, 
 As would move goddefTes themfelves to yield. 
 But if I e'er offend great Jun o's laws, 
 Yourfelf fhall be the dear, the only caufe ; 
 Either my honour I'll to death maintain. 
 Or follow you without mean thoughts of gain. 
 . Not that fo fair a prefent I defpife ; 
 AVe like the gift, when we the giver prize : 
 But 'tis your love moves me, which made you take 
 Such pains, and run fuch hazards for my fake. 
 I have perceiv'd (tho' I diifembled too) 
 A thoufand things that love has made you do : 
 Your eager eyes would alraoft dazzle mine, [ihine. 
 In which (wild man ! ) your wanton thoughts would 
 Sometimes you'd figh,fometimesdiforder'd (land, 
 And withvinufual ardour prefs mv hand j 
 H 
 
S8 HELEN TO PARIS. 
 
 Contrive juft after me to take the glafs, 
 
 Nor would you let the leaft occafion pafs : 
 
 Which oft I fear'd I did not mind alone, 
 
 And blufhing fat for things which you have done : 
 
 Then murmur'd to myfelf, he'll for my fake 
 
 Do any thing ; I hope 'twas no miftake. 
 
 Oft have I read within this pleafant grove, 
 
 Under my name, thofe charming words, ** I love.** 
 
 I, frowning, feem'd not to believe your flame; 
 
 But now, alas ! am come to write the fame. 
 
 If I were capable to do amifs, 
 
 I could not but be fenfible of this. 
 
 For, oh ! your face has fuch peculiar charms. 
 
 That who can hold from flying to your arms ! 
 
 But v/hat I ne'er can have without offence. 
 
 May fome bleft maid polTefs with innocence. 
 
 Pleafure may tempt, but virtue more fhould move ; 
 
 Oh ! learn of me to want the thing you love. 
 
 What you defire, is fought by all mankind: 
 
 As you have eyes, fo others are not blind. 
 
 Like you they fee, like you my charms adore; 
 
 They wifli not lefs, but j^ou dare venture more. 
 
 Oh ! had you then upon our coafts been brought. 
 
 My virgin love when thoufand rivals fought. 
 
 You had I feen, you fliouldhave had my voice; 
 
 Nor cou'd my husband juiHy blame my choice. 
 
 For both our hopes, alas ! you come too late; 
 
 Another now is mafter of my fate. 
 
 More to my wifh I cou'd have liv'd with you. 
 
 And yet my prefent lot can undergo. 
 
 Ceafe to foUicit a weak woman's will. 
 
 And urge not her you love, to fo much ill : 
 
HELEN TO PARIS. 59 
 
 But let me live contented as I may, 
 And make not my unfpotted fame your prey. 
 Some right you claim, fince naked to your eyes 
 Three goddelTes difputed beauty's prize : 
 One ofFer'd value, t'other crowns ; but (he 
 Obtaln'd her caufe, who fmiling promis'd me. 
 But, firrt, I am not of belief fo light. 
 To think fuch nymphs wou'd (hew you fuch a fight. 
 Yet, granting this, the other part is feign'd : 
 A bribe fo mean, your fentence had not gain'd. 
 With partial eyes I jfhould myfelf regard. 
 To think that Venus made me her reward : 
 I humbly am content with human praife ; 
 A goddefs's applaufe would envy raife. 
 But be it as you fay; for 'tis confeft. 
 The men who flatter higheft, pleafe us bed : 
 That I fufpe(5t it, ought not to difpleafe; 
 For miracles are not believ'd with eafe. 
 One joy I have, that I had Venus' voice; 
 A greater yet, that you confirm'd her choice; 
 That proffer'd laurels, promis'd fov'reignty, 
 Juno and Pallas, you contemn'd for me. 
 Am I your empire then, and your renown ? 
 What heart of rock but muft by this be won ? 
 And yet bear witnefs, O you pow'rs above, 
 How rude I am in all the arts of love ! 
 My hand is yet untaught to write to men ; 
 This is th' effay of my unpra(5lis'd pen : 
 Happy thofe nymphs, whom ufe has perfed made ; 
 I think all crime, and tremble at a fhade. 
 Ev'n while I write, my fearful confcious eyes 
 Look often back, mifdoubting a furprize. 
 H 2 
 
6o HELEN TO PARIS. 
 
 For now the rumour fpreads among the croud, 
 
 At court in whifpers, but in town aloud. 
 
 DilTemble you, whate'er you hear 'em fay; 
 
 To leave off loving were your better way; 
 
 Yet, if you will diffemble it, you may. 
 
 Love fccretly : the abfencc of my lord 
 
 More freedom gives, but does not all afford. 
 
 Long is his journey, long will be his ftay ; 
 
 Call'd by affairs of confequence away. 
 
 To go or not, when unrefolv'd he llood, 
 
 I bid him make what fwift return he could : 
 
 Then kiffing me, he faid, I recommend 
 
 All to thy care, but mod my Trojan friend. 
 
 I fmil'd at what he innocently faid. 
 
 And only anfwer'd, you fhall be obey'd. 
 
 Propitious winds have born him far from hence, 
 
 But let not this fecure your confidence. 
 
 Abfent he is, yet abfent he commands: 
 
 You know the proverb, ^^ Princes have long hands.' 
 
 My fame's my burthen ; for the more I'm prais'd, 
 
 A jufler ground of jealoufy is rais'd. 
 
 Were I lefs fair, I might have been moreblefr. 
 
 Great beauty through great danger is poffefl:. 
 
 To leave me here, his venture was not hard, 
 
 Becaufe he thought my virtue was my guard. 
 
 He fear'd my face, but trufled to my life. 
 
 The beauty doubted, but believ'd the wife. 
 
 You bid me ufe th'occafion while I can, 
 
 Put in our hands by the good eafy man. 
 
 I would, and yet I doubt, 'twlxt love and fear ; 
 
 One cr4ws me from you, and one brings me near. 
 
HELEN TO PARIS. 6i 
 
 Our flames are mutual, and my husband's gone: 
 The nights are long ; I fear to lie alone ; 
 One houfe contains us, and weak walls divide. 
 And you're too preffing to be long deny'd. 
 Let me not live, but ev'ry thing confpires 
 To join our loves, and yet my fear retires. 
 You court with words, when you fliou'd force employ, 
 A rape is requifite to fhame-fac'd joy : 
 Indulgent to the wrongs which we receive, 
 Our fex can fufFer what we dare not give. 
 "What have I faid ! for both of us 'twere bed, 
 Our kindling fire if each of us fupprcft. 
 The faith of ftrangers is too prone to change, 
 And, like themfelves, their wand'ring paflions range. 
 Hypsipyle, and the fond Minoian maid. 
 Were both by trufting of their gueft betray'd. 
 How can I doubt that other men deceive. 
 When you yourfelfdid fair Oenone leave? 
 But left I ftiou'd upbraid your treachery. 
 You make a merit of that crime to me. 
 Yet grant you were to faithful love inclin'd, 
 Your weary Trojans wait but for a wind. 
 Should you prevail, while I aflign the night, 
 Your fails are hoifted, and you take your flight; 
 Some bawling mariner our love deftroys, 
 And breaks afunder our unfinifh'd joys. 
 But I with you may leave the Spartan port, 
 To view the Trojan wealth, and Pri a m's court. 
 Shown while 1 fee, I (hall expofe my fame ; 
 And fill a foreign country with my (hame. 
 In Afia what reception (hall I find ? 
 And what dilhonour leave in Greece behind? 
 
62 HELENTO PARIS. 
 
 What will your brothers, Priam, Hecuba, 
 
 And what will all your modeft matrons fay ? 
 
 Ev'n you, when on this aftion you reflcft. 
 
 My future condudl juftly may fufpe(5l : 
 
 And whate'er ftranger lands upon your coaft. 
 
 Conclude me, by your own example, loft. 
 
 I, from your rage, a ftrumpet's name (hall hear. 
 
 While you forget what part in it you bear. 
 
 You, my crime's author, will my crime upbraid: 
 
 Deep under ground, oh ! let me firft be laid ! 
 
 You boafl: the pomp and plenty of your land. 
 
 And promife all (hall be at my command : 
 
 Your Trojan wealth, believe me, I defpife; 
 
 My own poor native land has dearer ties. 
 
 Shou'd I be injur'd on your Phrygian (hore, 
 
 What help of kindred cou'd I there implore? 
 
 Medea was by Jason's flatt'ry won: 
 
 I may, like her, believe and be undone. 
 
 Plain honefl hearts, like mine, fufpedt no cheat. 
 
 And love contributes to its own deceit. 
 
 The fhips, about whofe fides loud tempefts roar. 
 
 With gentle winds were wafted from the (hore. 
 
 Your teeming mother dreamt a flaming brand, 
 
 Sprung from her womb, confum'd the Trojan land; 
 
 To fecond this, old prophecies confpire, 
 
 That Ilium (hall be burnt with Grecian fire : 
 
 Both give me fear, nor is it much allay'd. 
 
 That Venus is oblig'd our loves to aid. 
 
 For they who loft their caufe, revenge will take, 
 
 And for one friend two enemies you make. 
 
 Kor can I doubt, butfhould I follow you, 
 
 The fword would foon our fatal crime purfue : 
 
HELEN TO PARIS. ^5 
 
 A wrong fb great my husband's rage would rouze. 
 And my relations would his caufe efpoufe. 
 You boaft your llrength and courage; but, alas ! 
 Your words receive fmall credit from your face. 
 Let heroes in the dufty field delight, 
 Thofe limbs were fafliion'd for another fight. 
 Bid Hector fally from the walls of Troy ; 
 A fweeter quarrel fliould your arms employ. 
 Yet fears like thefe fhou'd not my mind perplex, 
 Were I as wife as many of my fex : 
 But time and you may bolder thoughts infpirc ; 
 And I, perhaps, may yield to your defire. 
 You laft demand a private conference: 
 Thefe are your words ; but I can guefs your fenfe. 
 Your unripe hopes their harveft muft attend : 
 Be rul'd by me, and time may be your friend. 
 This is enough to let you underftand, 
 For now my pen has tir'd my tender hand ; 
 My woman knows the fecret of my heart. 
 And may, hereafter, better news impart. 
 
t 64l 
 
 Part of the Story of ORPHEUS. 
 Being a Tranflatlon out of the Fourth Book of 
 
 VIRGIL'S GEORGIC. 
 
 TISnotfornothing when j uft heav'n does frown * 
 The injur'd Orpheus calls thefe judgments 
 "Whofe fpoufe, avoiding to become thy prey, [down ; 
 And all his joys at once were fnatch'd away ; 
 The nymph, fore-doom'd that fatal way to pafs, 
 Spy'dnot the ferpent lurking in the grafs : 
 A mournful cry the fpacious valley fills, 
 With echoing groans from all the neighb'ring hills ; 
 The Dryades roar out in deep defpair, 
 And with united voice bewail the fair. 
 
 For fuch a lofs he fought no vain relief, 
 But with his lute indulg'd the tender grief; 
 Along the (hore he oft would wildly ftray, 
 With doleful notes begin, and end the day. 
 At length to hell a frightful journey made, 
 Pafs'd the wide-gaping gulph, anddifmalfliade: 
 Vifits the ghofts, and to that king repairs, 
 Whofe heart's inflexible to human prayers. 
 
THE STORY OF ORPHEUS. 6; 
 All hell is ravifli'd with fo fweet a long ; 
 Light fouls and airy fpirits glide along 
 In troops, like millions of the feather'd kind, 
 Driv'nhome by night, or fome tempeftuous wind: 
 Matrons and men, raw youths and unripe maids ; 
 And mighty heroes' more majeftick fhades ; 
 And fons entomb'd before their parents face ; 
 Thefe the black waves of bounding Styx embrace 
 Nine times circumfluent ; ciogg'd with noifome weeds, 
 And all that filth which (landing water breeds. 
 Amazement reach'd ev'n the deep caves of death; 
 The lifters with blue fnaky curls took breath; 
 Ix ion's wheel awhile unmov'd remain'd, 
 And the fierce dog his three-mouth'd voice reftrain'd. 
 
 When fafe return'd, and all thefe dangers paft. 
 His wife, reftor'd to breathe frefh air atlaft, 
 Following (for fo Proserpina was pleas*d) 
 A fudden rage th' unwary lover feiz'd, 
 He, as the firft bright glimpfe of day-light {hin*d. 
 Could not refrain to caft one look behind ; 
 A fault of love ! could hell compaffion find. 
 A dreadful found thrice (hook the Stygian coaft. 
 His hopes quite fled, and all his labour loft ! 
 Why haft thou thus undone thyfelf and me ? 
 What rage is this ? Oh, I am fnatch'd from thee ! 
 (she faintly cry'd) Night and the pow'rs of hell 
 Surround my (ight; Oh, Orpheus! oh, farewel 
 My hands ftretch forth to reach thee as before ; 
 But all in vain, for I am thine no more ; 
 
 No more allow'd to view thy face, or day ! 
 
 Then from his eyes, like fmoke, (he fleets away. 
 I 
 
66 THE STORY OF ORPHEUS. 
 Much he would fain have fpoke : but fate, alas ! 
 Would ne'er again confent to let him pafs. 
 Thus twice undone, what courfe remain'd to take. 
 To gain her back, already pafs'd the lake ? 
 What tears, what patience could procure him eafc? 
 Or, ah ! what vows the angry pow'rs appeafe ? 
 'Tis faid, he fev'n long moons bewail'd his lofs 
 To bleak and barren rocks, on whofe cold mofs, 
 While languifhi ng he fung his fatal flame, 
 He mov'd ev'n trees, and made rierce tygers tame, 
 
 So the fad nightingale, when childlefs made 
 By fome rough fwain who Hole her young away, 
 
 Bewails her lofs beneath a poplar (hade. 
 Mourns all the night, in murmurs waftes the day; 
 Her melting fongs a doleful pleafure yield, 
 And melancholy tiiufick fills the field. 
 
 Marriage, nor love, could ever move his mind; 
 B'lt all alone, beat by the northern wind, 
 Shiv'ring on Tanais banks the bard remain'd, 
 And of the Gods' unfruitful gift complain'd. 
 Ciconian dames, enrag'd tobedcfpis'd, 
 Asthey thefeaft of Bacchus folemniz'd, 
 Slew the poor youth, and Itrcw'd about his limbs; 
 His head, torn off from the fair body, fwims 
 Down that fwift current where the Heber flows. 
 And IHII its tongue in doleful accents goes. 
 Ah, poor Eur YD ICE ! he dying cry'd ; 
 Eur YD ICE refounds from every fide. 
 
C «7 ] 
 
 A N 
 
 I 
 
 ESSAY 
 
 O N 
 
 SATIRE. 
 
 Written in the Year 1675. 
 
 HOW vain, and how infcnfible a beaft: 
 Is man ! who yet would lord it o'er the reft ! 
 Philofophers and poas vainly drove, 
 Inev'ry age thelumpirti mafs to move: 
 But thofewere pedants, if compar'd with thcfe. 
 Who knew not only to inftrufl, but pleafe: 
 Poets alone found the delightful way, 
 Myfterious morals gently to convey 
 In charming numbers, that when once men grew 
 Pleas'd with their poems, they grew wifer too. 
 
 SATI K E has always (hin'd among the reft, 
 And is the boldeft way, perhaps the beft, 
 To (hew men freely all their fouleft faults ; 
 To laugh at their vain deeds, and vainer thoughts. 
 
 In this great work the wife took diff' rent wa^s, 
 The' each deferving its peculiar praife : 
 I 2 
 
68 AN ESSAY ON SATIRE. 
 Some did our follies with jufl: fliarpnefs blame; 
 AVhlle others laugh'd, and fcorn'd us into fharae; 
 But, of thefe two, the laft fucceeded beft; 
 As men hit righteft, when they (hoot in jed. 
 
 Yet, if w£ may prefume to blame our guides, 
 And ccnfure thofe who cenfur'd all befides : 
 In all things elfc they juftly are preferr'd ; 
 In this alone methinks the ancients err'd : 
 Againft the grolled follies they declaim, 
 Hard they purfue, but hunt ignoble game. 
 Nothing iseafier than fuch blots to hit, 
 And but the talent of a vulgar wit : 
 Befides, 'tis labour lofl ; for who would teach 
 
 W SLY to write, or Te-^ to preach? 
 
 'Tis being devout at play, wife at a ball, 
 Or bringing wit and friendfliip to Whitehall. 
 
 But, with (harp eyes thofe nicer faults to find, 
 Which lie obfcurely in the wifeft mind. 
 That little fpcck, which all the reft will fpoil; 
 To wafh off this, would be a noble toil ; 
 Beyond the loofe-writ libels of this age, 
 Or the forc'd fcenes of our declining ftage : 
 Above the reach of ev'ry little wit, 
 Who, yet, will fmile to fee a greater hit. 
 But ev'n the greateft, tho' expos'd the moft, 
 Of fuch corredion fhould have caufe to boaft : 
 In fuch a fatire they might court a fiiare, 
 And each vain fool would fancy he was there. 
 
 Old ftory- tellers then will pine and die, 
 To find their antiquated wit laid by ; 
 J^ike her who mlfs'd her name in a lampoon. 
 And Cgh'd, to. find herfelf decay'd fo foon. 
 
AN ESSAY ON SATIRE. 69 
 
 No common coxcomb muftbe mention'd here. 
 Nor the dull train of dancing fparks appear ; 
 No feather'd officers, who never fight ; 
 of fuch a wretched rabble who would write ? 
 Much lefs half-wits ; that's more againft our rules ; 
 For they are fops, the others are but fools : 
 
 Who would not be as filly as D r. 
 
 Or dull as W ly, rather than C r.? 
 
 The cunning courtier fhould be flighted too. 
 Who with dull knav'ry makes fomuch ado. 
 Till the fhrewd fool, by thriving too too faft. 
 Like E sop's fox, becomes a prey at laft. 
 
 Nor fhould the royal miftrefTes be nam'd ; 
 Too ugly, or too eafy to be blam'd ; 
 With whom each rhiming fool keeps fuch a pother. 
 They are as common that way as the other : 
 While fauntring C h a r l e s, betwixt fo mean a brace, 
 Meets with difTembling ftill in either place, 
 Affe<5led humour, or a painted face. 
 In loyal libels we have often told him, 
 How one has jilted him, the other fold him ; 
 How thatafFeds to laugh, and this to weep j 
 But who fo long can rail, as he can keep ? 
 Was ever prince by two at once mifled, 
 Foolifh and falfe, ill-natur'd and ill-bred ? 
 
 E Y and A y, with ail the race 
 
 Of formal blockheads, fhali have here no place ; 
 
 At council fet, as foils, on Da 's fcore, 
 
 To make that great falfe jewel fhine the more ; 
 W^ho all the while is thought exceeding wife. 
 Only for taking pains, and telling lies. 
 
70^ AN ESSAY ON SATIRE. 
 
 But there's no meddling with fuch naufeous men ; 
 Their very names have tir'd my nicer pen ; 
 *Tis time to quit their company, and chufe 
 Some nobler fubje(51 for a (harper mufe. 
 
 And firft, behold the merrieft man alive 
 Againfthis carelefs gv'nius vainly (hive; 
 Quit his dear eafe fome deep defign to lay. 
 Appoint the hour, and then forget the day. 
 "Yet he will laugh, ev'n at his friends, and be 
 Juft as good company as No k E s or Le e ; 
 But when he would the court or nation rule, 
 He turns himfelf the bed to ridicule. 
 When ferrous, few for great affairs more fit ; 
 But fhewhim mirth, and bait that mirth with wit, 
 That fhadow of a jell fhall be enjoy'd, 
 Tho' he left all mankind to be deftroy'd. 
 
 SoPufs, transformed, fat like a mumping bride, 
 Penfivp, and prudent, till the Moufe (he fpy'd; 
 Biit foon the lady had him in her eye. 
 And from the board did juft as oddly fly. 
 
 Straining above our nature does no good; 
 We muft (ink back to our old fle(h and blood. 
 
 As by our little Matchi avel we find, 
 That nimbleft creature of the bufy kind : 
 His legs are crippled, and his body (hakes, -\ 
 
 Yet his bold mind, that all this bu(tle makes, > 
 
 No pity of its poor companion takes; ^ 
 
 What gravity can hold from laughing out. 
 To fee that lug his feeble limbs about ? 
 Like hounds ill-coupled, Jowler is fo ftrong, 
 He jades poor Trip, and drags him ail-along. 
 
AN ESSAY ON SATIRE. 71 
 
 'Tis fucjh a cruelty as ne'er was known, 
 
 To ufe a body thus, tho' 'tis one's own. 
 
 Yet this vain comfort in his mind he keeps; 
 
 His foul is foaring, while his body creeps. 
 
 Alas! that foaring, to thofe few who know, 
 
 Is but a bufy flutt'ringhere below. 
 
 So vifionary brains afcend the sky, .^ 
 
 While on the ground entranc'd the wretches lie j C 
 
 And Co late fops have fancy'd they can fly. J 
 
 Next, our new earl, with parts deferving praife. 
 And wit enough to laugh at his own ways j 
 Yet lofes all foft days, and fenfual nights. 
 Kind nature checks, and kinder fortune flights. 
 Striving againft his quiet all he can, 
 For the fine notion of a bufy man : 
 And what is that atbeft, but one whofe mind 
 Is made to vex hirnfelf and all mankind ? 
 Drudging for wealth, a courtier let him live ; 
 For, if fome old fantalHck lord will drive 
 A hackney coach, and meaner bufinefs do. 
 We fhould both pay him, and admire him too. 
 But is there any other bealt alive, 
 Can his own harm fo wittily contrive? 
 Will any dog, that has his teeth and ftones, 
 Refin'dly leave his bitches and his bones. 
 To turn a wheel, and bark to be employ'd ; 
 While Venus is by rival dogs enjoy'd? 
 Yet this vain man, to get a ftatefman's name. 
 Forfeits his friends, his freedom, and his fame. 
 
 Tho' Satire, nicely writ, no folly ftlngs 
 But theirs, who merit praife for other things : 
 
^i AN ESSAY ON SATIRE. 
 Yet we muft needs this one exception makcj 
 And break our rule for filly Tro po's fake ; 
 Who lately too much fcorn'd to be accus'd. 
 Now therefore fcarce deferves to be abus'd, 
 Rais'd only by a mercenary tongue. 
 For railing fmoothly, and for reas'ning wrong. 
 As boys on holidays, let loofe to play. 
 Halloo a ftumbling jade in flipp'ry way; 
 Then laugh to fee in dirt and deep diftrefs 
 Some awkard cit in her flowr'd foolifli drefs ; 
 Such mighty fatisfadlion have I found, 
 To fee this tinfel eloquence a-ground. 
 The florid gravity we often faw 
 Baffled by common whifflers of the law. 
 For fenfe fits filent, and condemns for weaker 
 The finer, nay fometimes the wittier fpeaker. 
 So odd a mixture no man elfe affords ; 
 Such fcarcity of fenfe, fuch choice of words I 
 At bar abufivc, on the bench unable, 
 Knave on the wool-fack, fop at council table I 
 
 But thefe are politicians, fuch as wou'd 
 Be rather high than honed, great than good. 
 Another fort of wits fhall now be fiiown, 
 Whofe harmlefs foibles hurt themfelves alone; 
 Who think excefs of luxury can pleafe. 
 And lazinefs call loving of their eale; 
 Pleafure and indolence their only aim ; 
 Yet their whole life's but intermitting pain. 
 Such head-achs, furfeits, ails, their days divide. 
 They fcarce perceive the little time befide. 
 
 Well-meaning men, who make this grofs miflakc, 
 And pleafure lofe, only for pleafure's fake 1 
 
AN ESSAY ON SATIRE. 73 
 
 Each pleafure hath its price, and when we pay 
 Too much of pain, we fquander life away. 
 
 Thus D -T, purring like a thoughtful cat, 
 
 Marry 'd ; but wifer Pufs ne'er thinks on that. 
 
 Like Pembroke's dog, fierce at his fondeft time, 
 
 At once he woes, and worries her in rhime; 
 
 To gain her love, expofes all her life, 
 
 A teeming widow, but a barren wife. 
 
 With tame fubmiflion to the will of fate, 
 
 He lugg'd about the matrimonial weight ; 
 
 Till fortune, blindly kind as well as he, 
 
 Has ill reftor'd him to his liberty; 
 
 That is, to live in his old idle way, 
 
 Smoakingall night, and dozing all the day; 
 
 Dull as Ned H rd, whom his brisker time 
 
 Had fam'd for nonfenfe in immortal rhime. 
 
 M VE had much ado to 'fcape the fnare, 
 
 Tho* vers'd in all thofe arts that cheat the fair. 
 Beauty and wit had feiz'd his heart fo faft. 
 That NuMPs himfelf feem'd in the flocks at lad. 
 Old injur'd parents dry'd their weeping eyes, 
 In hopes to fee this pirate made a prize; 
 Th' impatient town waited the wifh'd-for change. 
 And cuckolds fneer'd in hopes of fweet revenge; 
 Till his ambition fet his love afide. 
 And fav'd him, not by prudence, but by pride. 
 What tender thoughts his harden'd heart can move. 
 Who for a (hadow quits fubftanlial love ? 
 And little* Sid, for fimile renown'd, 
 Pleafure has always fought, but feldom found : 
 K 
 
 * Remarkable for making pleaiant and proper Similies on 
 all Ocoafions, 
 
74 AN ESSAY ON SATIRE. 
 
 Tho* wine and women are his only care, 
 
 of both he takes a lamentable (hare. 
 
 The flefli he lives on is too rank and ftrong-; 
 
 His meat and miftrcfles are kept too long. 
 
 But, fure, we all miftake the pious man, 
 
 Who mortifies his pcrfon all he can ; 
 
 And what the world counts lewdnefs, vice, and fin, 
 
 Are penances of this odd capuchin : 
 
 For never hermit, under grave pretence'. 
 
 Has liv'd more contrary to common fenfe. 
 
 Expe<5ling fuppcr is his chief delight j- ■« 
 
 Like any labourer, cwr little knight > 
 
 Toils all the day, but to be drunk at night ; ^ 
 
 When o'er his caps this night-bird chirping fits, 
 
 Till he takesHuETT and Jack Hall for wits. 
 
 Laft enter R r, of fprightly wit, 
 
 Yet not for converfe fafe, or bufinefs fit. 
 
 Mean in each ad:ion, lewd in ev'ry limb, 
 
 Manners themfelves are mifchievous in him. 
 
 A glofs he gives to ev'ry foul defign. 
 
 And we mud own his very vices fliine. 
 
 Rut of this odd ill-nature to mankind 
 
 Himfelf alone the illeffe(5ts will find. 
 
 So envious hags in vain their witchcraft try. 
 
 Yet for intended mifchief juflly die. 
 
 For what a B £ s s u s has he always liv'd. 
 
 And his own kickings notably contriv'd ? 
 
 For (there's the folly that's (till mix'd with fea#) 
 
 Cowards more blows than any heroes bear. 
 
 jOf fighting fparks fame may her pleafure fay ; 
 
 But 'tis a bolder thing to runaway. 
 
AN ESSAY ON SATIRE. 
 The world may well forgive him all his ill, 
 For ev'ry fault does prove his penance dill. 
 Eafily he falls into fome dang'rous noofe, 
 And then as meanly labours to get loofe : 
 A life fo infamous is better quitting, 
 Spent in bafe injuring, and low fubmittlng. 
 
 How weak, and yet how vain a thing is man, 
 Mean what he will, endeavour what he can ! 
 I, who defign'd to be fo wondrous wife. 
 Perceive at laft, where the gr^at foliy lies : 
 ^Vhile others wcaknefs is fo gravely fhowu, 
 Their fame we ruin, but to raife our own ; 
 That we may angels feem, we paint them elves, 
 And write but fatires, to fet up ourfelves. 
 Tho' to myfelf this task appeared fo nice, 
 That ev'n the ancients feem'd to want advice ; 
 With ftrength unequal I have dar'd to climb 
 That lofty height unreach'd in former time. 
 No wonder in the bold attempt I fall. 
 And this, too late, to my remembrance call ; 
 *^ Learn to write well, or not to write at all.'* 
 
 K 2 
 
C 76 3 
 
 A N 
 
 ESSAY 
 
 O N 
 
 POETRY. 
 
 OF all thofe arts in which the wife excel, 
 Nature's chief mafler-piece is writing well 
 No writing lifts exalted man fo high, 
 As facred and foul-moving poefy : 
 No kind of work requires fo nice a touch, 
 And, ifwellfinifh'd, nothing (hines fo much. 
 But heav'n forbid wefhou'd be fo profane. 
 To grace the vulgar with that noble name. 
 *Tis not a flafh of fancy, which fometimes, 
 Dazling our minds, fets off the flighted rhimes ; 
 Bright as a blaze, but in a moment done: 
 True wit is everlarting, like the fun. 
 Which, tho' fometimes behind a cloud retir'd. 
 Breaks out again, and is by all admir'd. 
 Number and rhime, and that harmonious found, 
 Which not the niceft ear with harfhnefs wound, 
 
ANESSAY ON POETRY. 77 
 Are necefTary, yet but vulgar arts ; 
 And all in vainthefe fuperficial parts 
 Contribute to the ftru<fture of the whole, 
 Without a Genius too ; for that's the Soul : 
 A fpirit which inTpires the work throughont. 
 As that of nature moves the world about ; 
 A flame that glows amidft conceptions fit; 
 Ev'n fomething of divine, and more than wit; 
 Itfelf unfeen, yet all things by it ftiown, 
 Defcribing alljnen, but defcrib'd by none. 
 Where doft thou dwell ? What caverns of the brain 
 Can fuch a vaft and mighty thing contain ? 
 When I, at vacant hours, in vain thy abfence mourn. 
 Oh ! where doft thou retire ? and why doll thou return, 
 Sometimes with pow'rful charms to hurry me away. 
 From pleafures of the night, and bus'nefs of theday? 
 Ev'n now, too far tranfported, I am fain 
 To check thy courfe, and ufe the needful rein. 
 As all is dulnefs, when the fancy's bad ; 
 So, without judgment, fancy is but mad : 
 And judgment has a boundlefs influence 
 Not only in the choice of words, or fenfe, 
 But on the world, on manners, and on men ; 
 Fancy is but ihe feather of the pen ; 
 Reafon is that fubftantial ufcful part, 
 Which gains the head, while t'other wins the heart. 
 
 Here I fhould all the various forts of verfe. 
 And the whole art of poetry rehearfe ; 
 But who that task would after Ho race do? 
 The bed: of mailers, and examples too i 
 Echoes at bed, all we can fay is vain ; 
 Dull the defign, and fruitlefs were the pain. 
 
78 AN ESSAY ON POETRY. 
 'Tis true, the ancients we may rob with eafe; 
 But who with that mean (hift himfelf can pleafcj, 
 Without an aflor's pride ? A player's art 
 Is above his, who writes a borrow'd part. 
 Yet modern laws are made for later faults, 
 And new abfurdities infpire new thoughts ; 
 What need has fatire then lo live on theft, 
 When fo much frefti occafion ftill is left? 
 Fertile our foil, and full of ranked weeds, 
 And monfters worfe than ever Nilus breeds. 
 But hold, the fools Ihail have no caufe to fear ; 
 *Tis wit and fenfe that is the fubjedt here : 
 Defedls of witty men deferve a cure. 
 And thofewho are fo, will ev'n this endure. 
 
 Fir/l then, of S O N G S, which now fo much abound, 
 Without his fong no fop is to be found ; 
 A moft ofFenfive weapon, which he draws 
 On all he meets, againft Apollo's laws. 
 Tho' nothing feems more eafy, yet no part 
 Of poetry requires a nicer art ; 
 For as in rows of richeft pearl there lies 
 Many a blemifh that efcapes our eyes, 
 The leaft of which defecfls is plainly fliown 
 In one fmall ring, and brings the value down : 
 So fongs (houjd be to jufl: perfection wrought ; <n 
 Yet where can one be feen without a fault ? > 
 
 Ex2L£t propriety of words and thought ; J 
 
 Expreffion eafy, and the fancy high ; 
 Yet that not feem to creep, nor this to fly ; 
 No words tranfpos'd, but in fuch order all, 
 As wrought with care, yet feem by chance to fall, 
 
r 
 
 AN ESSAY ON FGETRY. 79 
 Here, as in all things elfe, is moft unfit, 
 Bare ribaldry, that poor pretence to wit; 
 Suchnaufeous fongs by a * late author made, 
 Call an unwilling cenfure on his fhade. 
 Not that warm thoughts of the tranfporting joy 
 Can (hock the chafteft, or the niceft cloy ; 
 But words obfcene, too grofs to move defire. 
 Like heaps of fuel, only choak the fire. 
 On other themes he well deferves cur praifc j 
 But palls that appetite he meant to raife. 
 
 Next, E L E G Y, of fweet, but folemn voice. 
 And of afubjedgrave, exadts the choice; 
 The praife of beauty, valour, wit contains ; 
 And there too oft defpairing love complains : 
 In vain, alas ! for who by wit is mov'd ? 
 That Phenix-fhc deferves to be belov'd ; 
 
 But noify nonfenfe, and fuch fops as vex 
 
 Mankind, take mod with that fantaftick fex. 
 
 This to the praife of thofe who better knew ; 
 
 The many raife the value of the few. 
 
 But here (as ail our fex too oft have try'd) 
 
 Women have drawn my wandring thoughts afide. 
 
 Their greateft fault, who in this kind have writ. 
 
 Is not defed in v/ords, or want of wit ; 
 
 But fhould this mufe harmonious numbers yield. 
 
 Andev'ry couplet be with fancy fill'd ; 
 
 If yet a juft coherence be not made 
 
 Between each thought ; and the whole model laid 
 
 So right, that ev'ry line may higher rife, 
 
 Like goodly mountains, till they reach the skies • 
 
 • TheE. ofF-. 
 
n<y AN ESSAY ON POETRY. 1 
 
 Such trifles may, perhaps, of late have paft, 
 
 And may be lik'd a while, but never laft ; 
 
 *Tis epigram, 'tis point, 'tis what you will, 
 
 But not an elegy, nor writ with skill. 
 
 No * Panegyrick, nor a f Cooper's-Hill. 
 
 A higher flight , and of a happier force. 
 Are ODES: the mufes' moft unruly horfe. 
 That bounds fo fierce, the rider has no rell. 
 Here foams at mouth, and moves like one poflTefs'd. 
 The Poet here mufl: be indeed infpir'd, 
 With fury too, as well as fancy fir'd. 
 Cowley might boaft to have perform 'd this part, 
 Had he with nature join'd the rules of art; 
 But fometimes didion mean, or verfe ill-v/rought, 
 Deadens, or clouds, his noble flame of thought. 
 Tho' all appear in heat and fury done, 
 The language ftill muft foft and eafy run. 
 Thefe laws may found a little too fevere; 
 But judgment yields, and fancy governs here, 
 Which, tho' extravagant, this mufe allows. 
 And makes the work much eafier than it fhows. 
 
 Of all the ways that wifeft men could find 
 To mend the age, and mortify mankind, 
 SATIRE well-writ has moft fuccefsfui prov'd. 
 And cures, becaufe the remedy is lov'd. 
 'Tis hard to write on fuch a fubjedt more. 
 Without repeating things faid oft before : 
 Some vulgar errors only we'll remove, 
 That (lain a beauty which we fo much love. 
 Of chofen words fome take not care enough, 
 And think they fliould be as the fubje*5t rough ; 
 
 •Waller's. f Denhair/s. 
 
AN ESSAY ON POETRY. 81. 
 
 This pdem muft be more exadlly made, 
 
 And fiiarpeft thoughts in fmootheft words convey'd. 
 
 Some think, if fharp enough, they cannot fail, 
 
 As if their only bus'nefs was to rail: 
 
 But human frailty nicely to unfold, 
 
 Diftinguiflies a fatyr from a fcold. 
 
 Rage you muft hide, and prejudice lay down ; 
 
 A fatyr's fmile is (harper than his frown ; 
 
 So while you feem to (light fome rival youth. 
 
 Malice it(elf may pafs fometimes for truth- 
 
 The * La u R E AT here may juftly claim our praife, 
 
 Crown 'd by f Mack-Fleckno with immortal bays; 
 
 Yet once his J Pegasus has born dead weight. 
 
 Rid by fome lumpilh minifter of (late. 
 
 Here reft, my mufe, fufpend thy cares a while^ 
 A more important task attends thy toil. 
 As fome young eagle, that defigns to fly 
 A long unwonted journey through the sky. 
 Weighs all the dang'rousenterprize before. 
 O'er what wide lands and feas (he is to foar. 
 Doubts her own ftrength fo far, and juftly fearj 
 That lofty road of airy travellers ; 
 But yet incited by fome bold defign, 
 That does her hopes beyond her fears incline, 
 Prunes ev'ry feather, views herfelf with care. 
 At laft, refolv'd, (he cleaves the yielding air j 
 Away (he flies, fo ftrong, fo high, fo faft. 
 She leifens to us, and is loft at laft: 
 L 
 
 * Mr. Drydcn. -J- A famous fatirical poem of bis, 
 I A poem called the hind and panther. 
 
8i AN ESSAY ON POETRY, 
 So (tho' too weak for fuch a weighty thing) 
 The mufe infpires a (harper note to fing. 
 And why fliould truth ofFend, when only told 
 To guide the ignorant, and warn the bold ? 
 On then, my mufe, adventroufly engage 
 To give infl:rud:ions that concern the STAGE. 
 
 The unities of adion, time, and place, 
 Which, if obferv'd, give plays fo great a grace, 
 Are, tho' but little pra6tis'd, too well known 
 To be taught here, where we pretend alone 
 From nicer faults to purge the prefent age, 
 Lefs obvious errors of the Englifli ftage. 
 
 Firftthen, Solilo(vuies had need be few, 
 Extremely fhort, and fpoke in paflion too. 
 Our lovers talking to themfelves, for want 
 Of others, make the pit their confidant; 
 Kor is the matter mended yet, if thus 
 They truft a friend, only to tell it us : 
 Th' occafion fhould as naturally fall, 
 As when » Bella rio confeiTes all. 
 
 Figures of fpeech, which poets think fo fine, 
 (Art's needlefs varnifti to make nature fhine) 
 Are all but paint upon a beauteous face, 
 And in defcriptions only claim a place : 
 But, to make rage declaim, and grief difcourfe. 
 From lovers indefpair fine things to force. 
 Mud needs fucceed : for who can chufe but pity 
 A dying hero, miferably witty ? 
 But oh ! the Dialogues, where jeft and mock 
 Is held up like a re(l at (hittle-cock 1 
 
 * In Ph iLA STEK, a pb.y of Beaumont and Flstcher, 
 
AN ESSAY ON POETRY. 83 
 
 Or elfe, like belJs, eternally they chime, 
 They figh inSiMiLE, and die in Rhime. 
 What things are thefe who would be poets thought. 
 By nature not infpir'd, nor learning taught ? 
 Some wit they have, and therefore may dcferve 
 A better courfe than this, by which they ftarve: 
 But to write plays ! why, 'tis a bold pretence 
 To judgment, breeding, wit, and eloquence : 
 Nay more; for they mufl: look within, to find 
 Thofe SECRET TURNS of nature in the mind: 
 Without this part, in vain would be the whole. 
 And but a body all, without a foul. 
 All this united yet, but makes a part 
 Of Dialogue, that great and pow'rful art, 
 Nowalmofl: loft, which the old Grecians knew. 
 From whom the Romans fainter copies drew. 
 
 Scarce comprehended fince, but by a few. 
 Pl a to andLuciAN are the beft remains 
 
 Of all the wonders which this art contains ; 
 
 Yet to ourfelves we juftice muft allow, 
 
 Shakespeare and Fletcher arethewondersnow: 
 
 Confider them, and read them o'er and o'er ; 
 
 Go fee them play'd ; then read them as before ; 
 
 For tho' in many things they grofly fail, 
 
 Over our paffions ftill they fo prevail, 
 
 That our own grief by theiis is rock'd aflcep ; 
 
 The dull are forc'd to feel, the wife to weep. 
 
 Their beauties imitate, avoid their faults; 
 
 Firft, on a plot employ thy careful thoughts; 
 
 Turn it, with time, a thoufand feveral ways ; 
 
 This oft, alone, has giv'n fuccefs to plays. 
 L 2 
 
84 AN ESSAY ON POETRY. 
 Reject that vulgar error (which appears 
 So fair) of making perfect characters j 
 There's nofuch thing in nature, and you'll draw 
 A faultlefs monfter which the world ne'er faw. 
 Some faults muftbe, that his misfortunes drew, 
 But foch as may defer ve compaflion too. 
 Befides the main defign compos'd with art. 
 Each moving scene muft be a plot apart; 
 Contrive each little turn, mark cv'ry place, 
 As painters firft chalk out the future face : 
 Yet be not fondly your own flave for this. 
 But change hereafter what appears amifs. [[place. 
 Think not fo much where fhining thoughts to 
 As what a man would fay in fuch a cafe : 
 "Neither in comedy will this fuffice, 
 The Player toomuft be before your eyes; 
 And, tho' 'tis drudgery to (loop fo low, 
 To him you mufl: your fecret meaning (how. 
 
 Expofe no fmgle fop, but lay the load 
 More equally, and fpread the folly broad ; 
 Mere coxcombs are too obvious ; oft we fee 
 A fool derided by as bad as he : 
 Hawks fly at nobler game ; in this low way, 
 A very owl may prove a bird of prey. 
 Small poets thus will one poor fop devour. 
 But to colleft, like bees, from ev'ry flow'r. 
 Ingredients to compofe that precious juice, 
 Which ferves the world for pleafure andforufc, 
 In fpite of fa(51ion this would favour get ; 
 But*FALSTAFF flands inimitable yet. 
 
 * An admirable character io a play ofSHAKESPEARi* 
 
AN ESSAY ON POETRY. 8^ 
 Another fault which often may befall, -^ 
 
 Is, when the wit of fome great poet (hall t 
 
 So overflow, that is, be none at all ; J 
 
 That ev'n his fools fpeak fenfe, as if poileft. 
 And each by infpiration breaks his jeft . 
 If once the juftnefs of each part be loft:. 
 Well we may laugh, but at the poet*s coft. 
 That filly thing men call s h e e r-wi t avoid, 
 With which our age fo naufeoufly is cloy'd ; 
 Humour is all; witftiouldbe only brought 
 To turn agreeably fome proper thought. 
 
 But fince the poets we of late have known. 
 Shine in no drefs fo much as in their own^ 
 The better by example to convince, 
 Caft but a view on this wrong (ide of fenfe. 
 
 Firft, a Soliloq^uy is calmly made, 
 Where ev'ry reafon is exactly weighed ; 
 Which once perform'd, moft opportunely comes 
 Some hero frighted at the noife of drums; 
 For her fweet fake, whom at firft fight he loves, 
 And all in Metaphor his paflion proves: 
 But fome fad accident, tho' yet unknown. 
 Parting this pair, to leave the fwain alone ; 
 He ftrait grows jealous, tho* we know not why; 
 Then, to oblige his rival, needs will die: 
 But firft he makes a Speech, wherein he tells 
 The abfent nymph how much his flame excels ; 
 And yet bequeaths her generoufly now, 
 To that lov'd rival whom he does not know ! 
 Who ftrait appears; but who can fate withftand ? 
 Too late, alas ! to hold his hafty hand. 
 
U AN ESSAY ON POETRY. 
 
 That juft has giv'n himfelf the cruel ftrokc ! 
 
 At which his very rival's heart is broke: 
 
 He, more to his new friend than miflrefs kind, 
 
 Moft fadly mourns at being left behind; 
 
 Of fuch a death prefers the pleafing charms 
 
 To love, and living in a lady's arms. 
 
 "What fhameful and what monftrous things are thefe? 
 
 And then they rail at thofe they cannot pleafe; 
 
 Conclude us only partial to the dead, 
 
 And grudge the fign of old Ben Johnson's head; 
 
 When the intrinfick value of the ftage 
 
 Can fcarce be judg'd but by a following age : 
 
 For dances, flutes, Italian fongs, and rhime. 
 
 May keep up finking nonfenfe for a time ; 
 
 But that muft fail, which now fo much o'er-rules. 
 
 And fenfe no longer will fubmit to fools. 
 
 By painful fteps at lafl: we labour up 
 ParnafTus' hill, on whofe bright airy top, 
 The E P I C K poets fo divinely fhow, 
 And with juft pride behold the reft below. 
 Heroick poems have a juft pretence 
 To be the utmoft ftretch of human fenfe ; 
 A work of fuch ineftimable worth. 
 There are but two the world has yet brought forth ! 
 Homer and Virgil ! with what facred awe, 
 Do thofe mere founds the world's attention drawl 
 Juft as a changeling feems below the reft 
 of men, or rather is a two-legg'd beaft ; 
 So thefe gigantick fouls amaz'd we find 
 As much above the reft of human kind ! 
 Nature's whole ftrength united ! endlefs fame, 
 And univerfal ftiouts, attend their name ! 
 
AN ESSAY ON POETRY. 87 
 Read Homer once, and you can read no morej 
 For all books elle appear fo mean, fo poor, 
 Verfe will feem profe; but flill perfift to read, 
 And Homer will be all the books you need. 
 Had Bossu never writ, the world had (till, 
 Like Indians, view'd this wondrous pieceof skill j 
 As fomething of divine, the work admir'd; 
 "Not hop'd to be inftruded, but infpir'd : 
 But he, difcloGng facred myfteries. 
 Has (hewn where all the mighty magick lies; 
 Defcrib'd the feeds, and in whit order fown, 
 That have to fuch a vaft proportion grown. 
 Sure, from (bme angel he the fecret knew, 
 AVho thro' this labyrinth has lent the clue ! 
 But what, alas ! avails it poor mankind. 
 To fee this promis'd land, yet flay behind ? 
 The way is (hewn, but who has ftrength to go ? 
 Who can all fciences profoundly know ? 
 Whofe fancy flies beyond weak reafon's fight. 
 And yet has judgment to diredl it right ? 
 Whofe juft difcernment, Vi rg i L-like, is fuch. 
 Never to fay too little, or too much ? 
 Let fuch a man begin without delay ; 
 But he muft do beyond what I can fay ; 
 Muft above Ta sso's lofty flights prevail, 
 Succeed where Spencer, and ev'n M i l t o n fail. 
 
C 88 3 
 
 D 
 
 O N 
 
 BRUTUS 
 
 I. 
 
 >^ I ^ IS faid, that favorite, mankind, 
 
 X Was made the lord of all below ; 
 But yet the {a) doubtful are (^) concern'd to find^ 
 *Tis (c) only one man tells another fo. 
 
 And, for this great dominion here, 
 
 Which over other beafts we claim, 
 (^cf) Reason our beft credential does appear; 
 
 By which, indeed, we domineer ; 
 Bat how abfurdly, we may fee with fhame. 
 
 Reason, that folemn trifle! light as air ; 
 Driv'n up and down by (^) cenfureor applaufe: 
 
 By partial love away 'tis blown, 
 Or theleaft prejudice can weigh it down ; 
 Thus our h'gh privilege becomes our if) fliare, 
 
 Jn any nice and weighty caufe, 
 
ODE ON BRUTUS. 89 
 
 How weak, at beft, is reason ! yet the grave 
 Iippofe on that fraall judgment which we have. 
 
 II. 
 
 In all thofe wits j whofe names have fpread Co wide, 
 And ev'n the force of time defy'd, 
 Some failings yet may be defcry'd. 
 Among the reft, with wonder be it told, 
 That Brutus is admir'd for Cesar's death; 
 
 By which he yet furvives in fame's immortal breath. 
 Brutus, ev'n he, of all the reft. 
 In whom we Ihould that deed the moft deteft, 
 Is of mankind efteem'd the beft. 
 
 As fnow defcending from fome lofty hill, 
 
 Is by its rolling courfe augmenting ftill ; 
 
 So from illuftrious authors down have roU'd 
 
 Thofe great encomiums he receiv'd of old: 
 Republick orators ftill ftiew efteem, 
 And gild their eloquence with (^) praifeofhim. 
 
 But truth unveil'd like a bright fun appears. 
 
 To Ihine away this heap of fev'nteen hundred years. 
 
 III. 
 
 In vain 'tis urg'd by an (^) illuftrious wit, 
 (To whom in all befides I v/illingly fubmit) 
 That C;es ar's life no pity could deferve 
 From one who kill'd himfelf, rather than ferve. 
 Had Brutus chofe rather himfelf to flay, 
 Than any mafter to obey ; 
 M 
 
90 ODE ON BRUTUS. 
 
 Happy for Rome had been that noble pride; 
 The world had then remained in peace, and onl5r 
 Brutus dy'd. 
 For he, whofc fouldifdains to own 
 Subjection to a tyrant's frown, 
 And his own life would rather end ; 
 Would, fure, much rather kill himfelf, than only 
 hurt his friend. 
 To his own fword in the Philippian field 
 
 Brutus, indeed, at laft did yield: 
 But in thofe times felf-killing was not rare ; 
 And his proceeded only from defpair: 
 
 He might have chofen (/') elfe to live. 
 In hopes another C<esar would forgive ; 
 Then, for the good of Rome, he could once more 
 Confpire againft a life which had fpar'd his before. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Our country challenges our utmoft care, 
 A nd in our thoughts deferves the tender'ft (hare j 
 Her to a thoufand friends we ftiould prefer 
 Yet not {k) betray *em, tho' it be for her. 
 Hard is his heart, whom no defert can move, 
 
 A miftrefs or a friend to love, 
 Above whate'er he does befides enjoy ; 
 
 But may he, for their fakes, his fire or fons deftroy ? 
 
 For facred juftrce, or for publick good, 
 
 Scorn'd be our wealth, our honour, and our blood: 
 
 In fuch acaufe, want is a happy ftate ; 
 
 £v'n low diigrace would be a glorious fate ; 
 
ODE ON BRUTUS. 94 
 
 And death itfelf, when noble fame furvivcs, 
 More to be valu'd than a thoufand lives. 
 But 'tis not, furely, of fo fair renown, 
 To fpill another's blood, as to expofe our own : 
 Of all that's ours we cannot give too much ; 
 But what belongs to friendfhip, oh i 'tis facrilege 
 to touch. 
 
 (/) " Can we (land by unmov'd, and fee 
 ^' Our mother robb'd and ravifti'd ? Can we be 
 
 *' Excus'd, if in her caufe we never ftir, 
 ** Pleas'd with the (irength and beauty of ihe ravlfher ? 
 
 Thus fings our bard with almoft heat divine ; 
 'Tis pity that his thought was not (w) as ftrong as fine» 
 Wou'd it more juftly did the cafe exprefs, 
 Or that its beauty and its grace were lefs. 
 (Thus a nymph fomctimes we fee, 
 Who fo charming feems to be, 
 That, jealous of a foft furprize, 
 We fcarce durft truft our eager eyes) 
 Such a fallacious ambufh to efcape, 
 It were but vain to plead a willing rape ; 
 A valiant fon would be provok'd the more ; [before ; 
 A («) force we therefore muft confefs, but aded long 
 A (0) marriage fincedid intervene, 
 With all the folemn and the facred fcene; 
 Loud was the Hymenean fong ; 
 The violated * dame walk'd fmilingly along, 
 M 2 
 
 * Komc. 
 
99 ODE ON BRUTUS. 
 
 And in the midfl: of the mod facred dance, 
 As if enamour'd of his fight, 
 Often (he caft a kind admiring t^lance 
 On the bold ftruggler for delight ; 
 Who afterwards appear'd fo moderate and cool, 
 As if for publick good alone he fo defir'd to rule. 
 
 VI. 
 
 But, oh ! that this were all which we can urge 
 
 Againft a Roman of fo great a foul ! 
 
 And that (/>) fair truth permitted us to purge 
 
 His fa&y of what appears fo foul ! 
 Friendfhip, that facred and fublimeft thing 1 
 The nobleft quality, and chiefeft good, 
 
 (In this (^) dull agefcarce underftood) [fing. 
 Infpircs us with unufual warmth, her injur'd rites to 
 (r) Affiftyye angels ! whofe immortal blifs, 
 Tho' more refin'd, chiefly confills in this ! 
 (f) How plainly your bright thoughts to one another 
 Oh ! how ye all agree in harmony divine ! [fhine ! 
 The race of mutual love with equal zeal ye run ; 
 A (/)courfe,asfarfromanyend,aswhenatfir(l begun. 
 («) Ye faw, and fmil'd upon this matchlefs pair. 
 Who ftill betwixt 'em did fo many virtues (hare, 
 Some which belong to peace, and fome to ftrife, 
 Thofe of a calm, and of an a<^ive life. 
 That all the excellence of human-kind 
 Concurr'd to make of both but one united mind ; 
 Which friendfhip did fo fad and clofely bind, 
 Kot the leafl: cement could appear, by which their 
 fouls were join 'd. 
 
OBE ON'BRUTUS. 9J 
 
 That tye which holds our mortal frame, 
 
 Which poor unknowing we a foul and body name, 
 Seems not a compolition more divine, 
 
 Or more abftrufe, than all that does in friendfhip (hine. 
 
 VII. 
 
 From mighty C^s ar, and his boundlefs grace, 
 Tho* Brutus (-zy) once at lead, his life received; 
 Such (x) obligations, tho' fo high believ'd, 
 
 Are yet but (light in fuch a cafe, 
 Where friend (hip fo pofTefles all the place. 
 There is no room for gratitude; fince he, [be. 
 
 Who fo obliges, is morepleas'd than his fav'd friend can 
 Juft in themidft of all this noble heat. 
 
 While their great hearts did both fo kindly beat. 
 That it amaz'd the lookers on. 
 
 And forc'd them to fufpedl a * father and a fon ; 
 
 (Tho' hereev'n nature's felf dill feem'd to be out-done) 
 From fuch a friendfhip unprovok'd to fall, 
 Is horrid ; yet I wifhthat faft were iy) all, [call. 
 
 'Which does with too much caufe ungrateful Brutus 
 
 viir. 
 
 In cooleft blood he laid a long defign 
 
 Againft his bed and deareft friend ; 
 Did ev'n his foes in zeal exceed, 
 
 To fplrit others up to work fo black a deed ; 
 Himfelf the (z) centre where they all did join, 
 
 * Caeiar was flifpe^ed to have begotten Brutus. 
 
1^4 ODE ON BRUTUS. 
 
 Cjes AR, mean time, fearlefs, and fond of him, 
 
 Was as induftrious all the while, 
 To give fnch {a) ample marks offend efteem. 
 As made the graveft Romans fmile, 
 To fee with how much eafelove can the wife beguile. 
 He, whom thus Brutus doom'd to bleed, 
 Did, fetting his own race afide, 
 Nothing lefs for him provide, 
 Than in the world's great empire to fucceed: 
 Which we are bound in juftice to allow, 
 Is all-fijfficient proof to fliow. 
 That Brutus did not ftrike for his own fake; 
 hrai if, alas ! he faird, 'twas only by miflake. 
 
C 91 1 
 
 N O 
 
 (a) '' I ** HE Doubtful.'] In which number arc compre- 
 I headed all the fceptics of both forts, viz. they 
 who without much confideration are apt to flight the Holf 
 Bible, and all religion depending on it, bccaufe they have nei- 
 ther the patience, nor the parts, to examine any thing through- 
 ly; and others, more modeft, who would on fevtral accounts 
 accept thofe doftrincs which are taughtus, if their judgment, 
 informed by a well-meaning and induftrious inquiry (which 
 is all that God has given us for our guide) did not perceive, 
 in fome of them at leaft, a manifeft abfurdity; apprehend- 
 ing alfo a kind of impiety in believing things inconfjftent not 
 only with common (cnfc, but with that reverend notion wc 
 ought to have of the Deity. They conceive it to be one of 
 thofe abfurdities, that a poor animal, called a man, ftouldbe 
 inverted by God with a right of dcfpotick dominion overall 
 the reft of the creation, when all the while we are but too 
 plainly (cnfible of being unable to comprehend rightly the 
 minutcft part of it. Should we not (fay they) undervalue 
 and laugh at one of ourfelves, for giving a large patrimony to 
 a booby fon, without inftruiling or breeding him up to nnder- 
 ftand or enjoy it? But when no other anfwcr is to be well 
 made, the reply to all is, that, as odd as this appears, yet God 
 has done it, and therefore we ought to believe it well done, 
 and highly prudent ; which moH certainly is a true conle- 
 
96 NOTES. 
 
 qnence, if the prcmifes were right; but that will be examlo- 
 cd impartially in the following notes. 
 
 (i) Concerned.'] A word of a double fignification; both of 
 being interefted in a bufinefs, and of being troubled at any- 
 ill fucccfs of it. The word in this place implies both; firft, 
 bccaufe the Doubtful are a part of mankind, who claim this 
 dominion, and Co are reafbnably inquifitlve about it ; and fe^ 
 condly, becaufe they have occafion to be troubled upon find- 
 ing their title to it fo very weak, after fo much wealth and 
 blood fpent in the controverfy. 'Tis well too, if we are not 
 one day called to account, and made to pay dear cods for fo 
 contentious a quarrel. 
 
 (c) Only one Man.] Here now comes properly the exami- 
 nation of what grounds they go on, who pretend that God 
 has done us this great honour, and that therefore we ought 
 to believe it well and wifely done, whatever incongruities 
 may appear in it ; which is a confequence that muft certain- 
 ly be agreed to, if the firft part can be as well made out : but, 
 alas! (fay our fcepticks) when we come to that, inftcad of a 
 proof, there is nothing produced but one poor text in Ge- 
 nefis, whether written by Mofes or (bme other man (for 
 that is now disputed among divines themfelves) is of no im- 
 portance, fmce a man ftill, one of our own imperfect, un- 
 knowing kind; and, if he is to be credited on his fingle word 
 againft all our fcnfe and reafbn, in a thing alfb that feems 
 to derogate fo much from the infinite wifdom of divine Pro- 
 vidence, fure there is need firft of proving him infallible ; 
 whereas all the proof of that is only derived by tradition from 
 other men ftill, who therefore cannot certify for one another. 
 *Tis faid alfo by thefe fceptics, that 'tis worth onr obferving, 
 how the author of this text of man's dominion over all other 
 creatures, has written another very extraordinary one ; viz. 
 that Cod walked in the garden of Eden in the cool of the even- 
 ing ; which, if excus'd on the account of being only a figura- 
 tive exprcflion, yet much invalidates a narration of fuch a 
 vaft importance, that tropes and figures fecm a little impro- 
 
NOTES. 97 
 
 per in it. Divines are unwilling to fave its credit by the dif- 
 ficulty of ourunderftanding the Hebrew tongue (the' no ill 
 excufe, fince it is allowed to be fometimes unintelligible) fur 
 fear of their adverfarics making the fame objeftion toother 
 texts as extraordinary, and perhaps to all the Old Teflament. 
 Upon the whole matter, and to end fo tedious a note, 'tis pro- 
 bable the wife author of Genefis, forreafons that might be gi- 
 ven; and many more which we now cannot gu-fsat, had found 
 it fit and neceflary to infufc this opinion of man's fuperiority 
 into the Jews. And who knows but it was as needful to en- 
 courage them againft the bcafts of a wildernefs in which they 
 wandered Co long, as againft the kings of Canaan; whom 
 Moses, like a wile leader, affuredthem before-hand the Lord 
 would deliver into their hands ? 
 
 (J) Reafon.'] Left their aforefaid argutil^nt in defence of 
 this opinion may not appear convincing, divines have added 
 that of Reafon, and fet it up to be not only an inftance, but 
 an evidence of our title over all things ; as being a particu- 
 lar talent and blelTing bcftowed on mankind alone. But the 
 fccpticks evade this again, firft, by denying that 'tis a talent 
 peculiar to man, fince other animals appear manifeftl' endued 
 with it, at leafr tb fbme degree ; and, if that degree be found 
 inferior, yet the difference fecms as great fometimes between 
 one man and another, and (perhaps they may fay merrily) e- 
 ven between themfelvesand their adverfaries. Secondly, they 
 find this Reafon to be fuch a narrow, mifleading, uncertain 
 faculty, that, in their opinion, it is much unworthy of being 
 thcgreat credential from the moft high God, for domineering 
 over all our fellow-creatures, who indeed feem neither to owe 
 us, nor pay us obedience. And if the boldeft maintainer of 
 this opinion would be pcrfuaded to take a walk into a wilder- 
 nefs of wild beads, (hewing his credential among them ; 'tis 
 probable they would all pay as great fubmiffion to it, as fncll 
 a rational afVion deferved. 
 
 {e) Cenfitre, or Applaitfe.'] Either of thcfc, if any thing 
 general, is enough to carry away the opinion of moft people, 
 N 
 
98 NOTES. 
 
 who judge more by the ear than the eye ; of which there arc 
 ridiculous inftanccs enough. 1 have feen a man who was po- 
 pular, not only excufed but applauded, on account of the ve- 
 ry fame action for which another lay juftly under a publick 
 odium. 
 
 (/) Snare.] If we did not truft fo much to this noble fa- 
 culty of Reafon, but chiefly to our fenfes, as other creatures 
 do; we Ihould be no more deceiv'd than they are, who fel- 
 dom play the fool and hurt themfclves by their profound con- 
 fiderations, as many a wife man does. Was any bead ever 
 fcen to leap chcarfully into a fire, like the widows and flavcs 
 in India? which tho' wives in thefe parts are not extremely 
 apt to imitate ; yet, even among us, how many people, of all 
 religions, have fuffered and fought out death on feveral ac- 
 counts, that are not much lefs unrcafonable ? 
 
 (g) Praifes.'] I believe no man had ever a greater repu- 
 tation than Brutus, not only for learning, parts, and elo- 
 quence, but for a quality above all that, moral honefty: 
 whofe glory therefore I would by no means endeavour to 
 leflcn, except in this fmgle adion ; nor in that neither, as to 
 his defign in doing it ; for I have a real veneration for him, 
 but yet more for truth. I fancy the general partiality for 
 Brutus, as to his killing C^sar, has proceeded from two 
 caufes; firft, the common cuftom of the world to cry up 
 whatever they are like to be the better for j and fo on the 
 contrary : as for example, prodigality, a vice equal to ava- 
 rice, tho' not fb fordid, is commonly rather commended than 
 blamed, and called gcnerofity, which is a virtue. Thus in 
 commonwealths (which, by the way, have bred always the 
 bell writers) nothing could be more beneficial than killing 
 any great a/piring perfon ; and therefore thofe refined wits 
 put the befl: glofs upon fuch inhumanities. The other caufe 
 oftheir partiality is the almoftunparallelled merit of the man, 
 whofe very doing a thing was enough to make every body 
 think it juft. But nothing is fo dangerous as to be led into 
 
NOTES. 99 
 
 this fort of miftake for want of eonfidering, that as thcworlV 
 men do well (bmetimes, the very befl: are not infallible. 
 
 (/) Chofe to live.] This is the hardell thing I have faid of 
 Brutus in this whole ode; which the thought of Cesar's 
 clemency, and his ingratitude, lias wrung from me: for, tho'a 
 bcntfaftor may carry himfelfafterwards fo unjuftly as to for- 
 feit all title to our friendfhip, and perhaps toour fervicealfo; 
 yet to return him evil for good, is in my opinion horrible, 
 and the very reverfe of Christ's excellent fermon of mora- 
 lity. And fince he kill'd Cjf.^ar after receiving a pardon of 
 his life from him, I do Brutus no wrong in fuppofing him 
 again capable of the fame fault againft another Caesar, whom 
 he neither knew, nor loved fo well ; fmce the publick good 
 and liberty of Rome were as much concern'd in deltroying 
 one as the other. 
 
 (k) Betray.] In this Inflance of betraying a friend, and 
 in the following one, of deftroying one's father, or children ; 
 my meaning only is, that whatever obligation or concern we 
 happen to be under, it may be a good reafon for facrificing 
 our intcreft to it, but not our honefty, by doing any ill-natur'd 
 or immoral a£tion. 
 
 (/) Can ive.] In repeating thcfe four verles of Mr. Cowley, 
 I have done an unufual thing; for.notuithflanding thathe is 
 my adverfary in the argument, and a very famous one too, I 
 could not endure to let fo fine a thought remain as ill ex- 
 prefs'd in this ode as it is in his; which any body may find by 
 comparing them together. But I would not be underftood as 
 if I pretended to correct Mr. Cowley, tho" expreffion was not 
 his beft talent : for, as I have mended thefe few verfes of his, 
 I doubt not but he could have done as much for a great many 
 of mine. 
 
 (m) j4s Jlrong as fine.] I, who oppofe his argument, muft 
 be allow'd to fay 'tis not a good one ; tho' at the fame time I 
 acknowledge it to be fo fine a fallacy, and to have fomcthing 
 in it fb very fiiblime, that it impofes on our reafon, as much 
 as Cjesax did on Rome ; and may be a little excufcd by that 
 N 2 
 
70O NOTES. 
 
 Vfurper's apophthegm, " Si violandum eft jus, rcgnandi 
 
 " caufa eft." 
 
 («) A Rape-I No-body argues well, who does not argue 
 fairly; and theiefore I freely admit there was a Rape in the 
 c&Ct at firft, which is not to be defended. Accordingly, if 
 Brutus had killed C^sar at the famous battle of Phar- 
 falia, he might have { r^vented this Rape, and his own crime 
 befides in revenging it fo long afterwards. But, inftead of 
 cpnfpiriiig aga.nft his life at that thne, he only begg'd his 
 own. 
 
 (o) A marriage fince -I Cesar wa* inexcufablc for doing 
 violence to his country ; yet Rome at lait finding him {o mil4 
 a govtrnor, and fo excellent a perlbn in ail respects, fubmitted 
 chcarfully to him ; all her grcatefl men, of whom Brutus 
 himfcif was one, acquicfcing entirely under his d;clatorlhip : 
 which ha? made me carry on Mr Cowley's metaphor a little 
 farther than he did, and give his violated matron in marriage ; 
 fuppofing Rome a wealthy bride, who, out of kindnefs and 
 prudence together, is willing enough to make the beft of it, 
 and lo cfpouie an agreeable raviflier. 
 
 {p) Fair Truth ] He was a w.fe man who fald women were 
 ftronger than either the king or wine; buthiswifdom ap- 
 peared molt in preferring Truth to them all. She has a beauty 
 outfhining ail the art and eloquence in the world ; and 1 fhould 
 not wonder to fee a very Dcift willing to die a martyr for 
 her, tho' he believ'd no refurredion, and expected no reward. 
 There was one of that principle lately among the Turks; a 
 roan of parts, and in nothing fantallical, who, rather than re- 
 nounce fome do<ftrines he maintained againfl a future life, 
 and the f^olilh fuperllicioa of adoring Mahomet, chofe 
 rather to die as calmly and as confiderately as Socrates 
 himfeif. 
 
 (^) In this hafe Age.'] 'Tis almoft incredible what the an- 
 cients have written, and really performed of friendfhip. And 
 therefore wc fee the famous old tragedies are often turned 
 $11 upon that; whereajoursareonly filled with love; which, 
 
NOTES. loi 
 
 tho' as tender a concern as the other, yet (a woman being 
 one of the parties) is uncapablc of many fublime thoughts 
 that arife among the men, a lex n>much more knowing and 
 a£live in the world. And even for foftnef^ itielf, it will be hard 
 to Ihew a fcene more moving than that between Amyntor 
 and Melantius in the Maid's Tragedy j which I fliould be 
 (brry to fee without great emotion, fmce 'tis a (hrewd fi^^n of 
 being both dull and iil-natur'd. No-body has equalled the an- 
 cients on this lubjed, exceptMoNT. agn e, uhoonallfubjefts 
 has hardly been equalled by the mox'erns. The word of it is, 
 this friendfliip is a virtue which does not depend upon one's 
 fclf alone to have ; fur in fuch a felfilh age, one man, the' ne- 
 ver fo capable of it, may look about a great while before he 
 finds out another; and thiscontra£t will never hold, without 
 an exact counterpart. 
 
 (r) Jjjiji, ye Ang(U.'] All religions agree in believing that 
 fuperior beings affift us on ibme important occafions; but a- 
 bove all Poetry, ar,d efpecially this kind of it, has an cflablifh- 
 ed ri^ht to depend on infpiration. To (peak truth, all poets 
 have endeavoured to hide their vanity under this veil of pre- 
 tended modefty ; nothing feeming more humble than to dif- 
 truft themselves, and implore afliftai^.ce, while at the fame time 
 they prefum'd that fomething like divine infpiration might 
 fhinecut in their poems On which occafion (thefe notes be- 
 ing already a rambling fort of rhapfody ) I will venture to fay 
 a little on afubjeft, of which others, for aught I can find, have 
 not faid much : I mean, of that which poets call a mufe, by 
 whom they pretend to be infpir'd, and is by allundetftood to 
 be a genius for poetry ; to which genius a poet may be allow- 
 ed in fome mcafure to pretend, becaufe whoever wants it, tho* 
 wich never fo good words and fmooth cadence, is yet little 
 better than a player at Crambo. My imperfeft notion of a ge- 
 nius is this, which I lubrnit to better judgments ; 1 think it a 
 happy temper of the brain, fo equally mix'd of fancy and 
 judgment, that as great heat of imagination is apt to ijpring 
 
I02 NOTES. 
 
 all fort of game, fo the underftanding faculty is ftill near at 
 hand, to feleft the good, and to reject the reft. 
 
 (/) Hovj plainly.] This is according to the univerfal opi- 
 nion of angels, that they need no organs of fpeech among 
 themfelvcs ; and their thoughts are communicated to one a- 
 rothcr by what the fchoolmen call intuition. Which, how- 
 ever true or falfe, is enough for a poet's applying it to this 
 fub]e£i of friendftiip, which feems, even among us mortals, 
 to have fomething of divine in it. 
 
 (t) A Race as far, &C.^ According to the Chriftian faith, 
 the angels had a beginning, tho' they can have no end; and 
 we have as good an opinion of our own fouls alfb. 
 
 («) Toil faw and fmiVd.] Since angels are fuppos'd to be 
 particularly concern'd for mankind (tho' I confefs I think 
 we are very unworthy of that honour) they muft needs be 
 pleas 'd with feeing in us any fort of virtue, efpecially this 
 Ibrt of friendfhip, fo much praftis'd by thcmfelves. 
 
 {■w) Life received.'] Befides that Brutus received his life 
 once from CiESAR on the account of the civil war, he was 
 very much fufpeded to be hisfbn ; and the more, becaufe of 
 his great fondncfs of him. 'Tis certain the tiriie of CiESAR's 
 intrigue with Servilia is very confident with it. But his 
 forgiving him at Pharfalia was not fo much as the leaft proof 
 of it; for the mother's part favours had been alone fuffici- 
 ent to procure a pardon for her Ion, efpecially with fo merci- 
 ful a nature as Cesar's. 
 
 (x) Obligations.'] This to fome humours Is like enough to 
 appear an over-refinement ; and I expeft they will rather fan- 
 cy to have the plcafure of receiving good turns, let who will 
 take theotherof doing them. But I appeal to many, if they 
 have not found the doing a kindnefs a much greater fatisfac- 
 tion than receiving one. Yet I admit the latter part to be 
 very agreeable alfo, when 'tis from worthy perfons; being 
 a new inftance of their efteeni and favour. 
 
 (y)All.] Becaufe a fa£t committed in paffion, or by inad- 
 vertence, is nothing in comparifon with one done on dclibera- 
 
NO T E S. ^ lej 
 
 tlon, and by a long-laid defign: which fo far excused Ale- 
 xander's killing of Ci-YTus, that it has lefTened his great 
 fame of being generous and good-natured. 
 
 (z) The Centre.^ This was fo great a defign, that none but 
 fuch an extraordinary perfbn as Brutus could have brought 
 it about by his influence over all the confpirators ; who being 
 the chief patriots among the nobleft people that ever the fun 
 fhinedon, 1 cannot but think Brutus appears higher at the 
 head of fuch anillufbrious party, than CjEsar himfcif com- 
 manding the whole Roman empire. 
 
 (a) Ample Marks.'] Cesar had in a publick manner gi- 
 ven Brutls the preference to Cassius, and to all Rome 
 bcfides, by making him the chief Praetor a few days before 
 he killed him. 
 
 (h) Empire.'] It was generally believed in Rome, that 
 Cjesar thought Brutus the fitted man to fucceed him; 
 which therefore excufes Brutus fo far, as it isaproof of his 
 preferring the good of the commonwealth, not only to his 
 bed friend, but to the higheft temptation of intereft and am- 
 bition that could poflibly be laid in any man's way. 
 
104 MISCELLANIES. 
 
 The RAPTURE. 
 
 I Yield, I yield, and can no longer (lay 
 My eager thoughts, that force themfelves away. 
 Sure, none infpir'd (whofe heat tranfports 'em ftill 
 Above their reafon, and beyond their will) 
 Can firm againfl the ftrong impulfe remain: 
 Cenfure itfelf were not fo (harp a pain. 
 Let vulgar minds fubmit to vulgar fway ; 
 What ignorance fhall think, or malice fay, 
 To me are trifles ; if the knowing few, 
 Who can fee faults, but can fee beautys too. 
 Applaud that genius which themfelves partake. 
 And fpare the poet for the mufe's fake. 
 
 The mufe, who raifes me from humble ground. 
 To view the vaft and various world around : 
 How fall I mount ! In what a wond'rous way 
 I grow tranfported to this large furvey ! 
 I value earth no more, and far below 
 Methinks I fee the bufy pigmies go. 
 My foul entranc'd is in a rapture brought 
 Above tlie common tracks of vulgar thought: 
 With fancy wing'd, I feel the purer air, 
 And with contempt look down on human care. 
 
 Airy ambition, ever foaring high, 
 Stands firft expos'd to my cenforious eye. 
 
MISCELLANIES. ^os 
 
 Behold fome toiling up a flipp'ry hill. 
 Where, the' arriv'd, they muft be toiling ftill: 
 Some, with unfteady feet, juft fall*n to ground ; 
 Others at top, whofe heads are turning round. 
 To this high fphere it happens flill that fome. 
 The moft unfit, are forwarded to come; 
 Yet among thefe are princes forc'd to chufe. 
 Or feek out fuch as would perhaps refufe. 
 Favour too great is fafely plac'd on none ; 
 And foon becomes a dragon or a drone; 
 Either remifs and negligent of all. 
 Or elfe imperious and tyrannical. 
 
 The mufe infpires me now to look again, 
 And fee a meaner fort of fordid men 
 Doating on little heaps of yellow duft ; 
 For that defpifing honour, eafe, and lull. 
 Let other bards, exprefling how it (hines, 
 Defcribe with envy what the miler finds; 
 Only as heaps of dirt it feems tome. 
 Where we fuch dcfpicable vermin fee ; 
 Who creep thro' filth a thoufand crooked ways, 
 Infenfible of infamy or praife: 
 Loaded with guilt, they ftill purfue their courfe; 
 Not even reftrain'd by love, or friendfliip's force. 
 
 Not to enlarge on fuch an obvious thought ; 
 Behold their folly, which tranfcends their fault ! 
 Alas ! their cares and cautions only tend 
 To gain the means, and then to lofe the end. 
 Like heroes in romances, ftill in fight 
 For miftrefTes that yield them no delight. 
 This, of all vice, does moft debafe the mind, 
 Gold is itfelf th' allay to human-kind. 
 O 
 
106 MISCELLANIES. 
 
 Oh, happy times ! when no^ fnch thing as coirt 
 
 E'er tempted friends to part, or foes to join I 
 
 Cattle or corn, among thofe harmlefs men, 
 
 Was all their wealth, the gold and filver then : 
 
 Corn was too bulky to corrupt a tribe, 
 
 And bell'win^ herds would have betray'd the bribe. 
 Ev'n traffick now is intercourfe of ill. 
 
 And ev'ry wind brings a new mifchief ftill ; 
 
 By trade we floarifh in our leaves and fruit, 
 
 But av'rice and excefs devour the root. 
 Thus far the mule unwillingly has been 
 
 Fix'd on the dull, lefs happy forts of fin ; 
 
 But, now more pleas'd, flie views the different ways 
 Of luxury, and all its charms furveys. 
 
 Dear luxury ! thou foft, but fare deceit I 
 Rife of the mean, and ruin of the great 1 
 Thou fure prefage of ill-approaching fates ! 
 The bane of empires, and the change of ftates I 
 Armies in vain refill thy mighty pow'r ; 
 3Sot the word condu(5l would confound them more. 
 Thus Rome herfelf, while o'er the world Ihe flew, 
 And did by virtue all that world fubdue. 
 Was by her own vi(5torious arms opprefs'd. 
 And catch'd infeiflion from the conqtier'd Eaft; 
 Whence all thofe vices came, which foon devour 
 The befl foundations of renown and pow'r. 
 
 But oh ! what need have we abroad to roam. 
 Who feel too much the fad elfeds at home, 
 of wild excefs ? which we fo plainly find, 
 Decays the body, and impairs the mind. 
 But yet grave fops muft not prefume from hence 
 To flight the facrcd pleafures of the fenfe : 
 
MISCELLANIES. X07 
 
 Our appetites are nature's laws, and giv*n 
 Under the broad authentick feal of heav'n. 
 Let pedants wrangle, and let bigots fight, ^ 
 
 To put reftraint on innocent delight ; C 
 
 But heay'n and nature's always in the right ; J 
 
 They would not draw poor wretched mortals in, 
 Or give defires that (hall be doom'd for fin. 
 Yet, that in height of harmlefs joys we may 
 Lad to old age, and never lofe a day ; 
 Amidft our pleafures we ourfelves (hould fpare. 
 And manage all with temperance and care. 
 The Gods forbid but we fometimes may deep 
 Our joys in wine, and lull our cares aflcep. 
 It raifes nature, ripens feeds of v/orth. 
 As moift'ning pidlures calls the colours forth ; 
 But if the varnifii we too oft apply, 
 Alas ! like colours, we grow faint and die. 
 Hold, hold, impetuous mufe : I would reftrain 
 Her over-eager heat, but all in vain; 
 Abandon'd to delights, fhe longs to rove; 
 I check her here, and now fhe flies to love; 
 Shews me fome rural nymph by Ihephcrd chas'd. 
 Soon overtaken, and as foon embrac'd : 
 The grafs by her, as (he by him is prefs'd ; 
 For (hame, my mufe, let fancy guefs the reft ; 
 At fuch a point fancy can never (lay. 
 But flies beyond whatever you can fay. 
 Behold the filent (hades, the am*rous grove, 
 The dear delights, the very aft of love. 
 This is his lowefl: fphere, his country fcene, 
 Where love is humble, and his fare but mean ; 
 O 2 
 
lo5 MISCELLANIES, 
 
 Yet fpringing up without the help of art, 
 
 Leaves a fincererrelifhin the heart, 
 
 More healthfully, tho'not fo finely fed, 
 
 And better thrives than where more nicely bred. 
 
 But 'tis in courts where mod he makes a (how, 
 
 And high enthron'd, governs the world below j 
 
 For tho' in hiftories learn'd ignorance 
 
 Attributes all to cunning, or to chance ; 
 
 Love will in thofe difguifes often fmile. 
 
 And knows, the caufe was kindnefs all the while. 
 
 What ftory, place, or perfon cannot prove 
 
 The boundlefs influence of mighty love ? 
 
 Where-e'er the fun can vig'rous heat infpire. 
 
 Both fexes glow, and languifli with defire. 
 
 The weary'd fwain faft in the arms of fleep 
 
 Love can awake, and often fighing keep ; 
 
 And bufy gown-men, by fond love difguis'd, 
 
 Will leifure find to make themfelves defpis'd. 
 
 The proudefl kings fubmit to beauty's fway ; 
 
 Beauty itfelf, a greater prince than they, 
 
 Lies fometimes languifhing with all its pride 
 
 By a belov'd,tho' fickle lover's fide. 
 
 I mean to flight the foft enchanting charm, 
 
 But, oh ! my head and heart arc both too warm. 
 
 I doaton womankind with all their faults ; 
 
 Love turns my fatire into fofteft thoughts ; 
 
 of all that paflion which our peace defiroys, 
 
 Inftead of mifchiefs, I defcribe the joys. 
 
 But (liort will be his reign; (I fear too fhort) 
 
 And prefent cares fiiall be my future fport. 
 
 Then love's bright torch put out, his arrows broke, 
 
 Loofe from kind chains^ and from th' engaging yoke. 
 
MISCELLANIES. 109 
 
 To all fond thoughts I'll fing fuch counter-charms. 
 The fair (hall liften in their lovers arms. 
 
 Now the enthufiaftick fit is fpent, 
 I feel my weaknefs, and too late repent. 
 As they who walk in dreams, oft climb too high 
 For fenfe to follow with a waking eye ; 
 And in fuch wild attempts are blindly bold, 
 A\Tiich afterwards they tremble to behold : 
 So I review thefe fallies of my pen, 
 And modeft reafon is return^ agen ; 
 My confidence I curfe, my fate accufe. 
 Scarce hold from cenfuring the facred mufe. 
 
 No wretched poet of the railing pit, 
 No critick curs'd with the wrong fide of wit, 
 Is more feverefrom ignorance and fpite, 
 Than I with judgment againft all I write. 
 
no MISCELLANIES. 
 
 On Mr. HO BBS, and his Writings. 
 
 SUCH is the mode of thefc cenforious dayg, 
 The art is loft of knowing how to praife; 
 Poets are envious now, and fools alone 
 Admire at wit, becaufe themfelves have none. 
 Yet whatfoe*er is by vain criticks thought, 
 Praifing is harder much than finding fault; 
 In homely pieces ev'n the Dutch excel, 
 Italians only can draw beauty well. 
 
 As ftrings, alike wound up, fo equal prove, 
 That one refounding makes the other move ; 
 From fuch a caufe our fatires pleafe fo much. 
 We fympathize with each ill-natur'd touch ; 
 And as the (harp infection fpreads about, 
 The reader's malice helps the writer out. 
 To blame, iseafy; to commend, is bold; 
 Yet, if the mufe infpiresit, who can hold? 
 To merit we are bound to give applaufc, 
 Content to fuffer in fo juft a caufe. 
 
 While in dark ignorance we lay afraid 
 Of fancies, ghofts, and ev'ry empty fhade ; 
 Great Hobbs appeared, and by plain reafon's light 
 Put fuch fan taftick forms to fhameful flight. 
 Fond is their fear, who think men needs mud be 
 To vice enflav'd, if from vain terrors free; 
 The wife ai?d good, morality will guide, 
 And fuperftition all the world befide. 
 
 In other authors, tho' the thought be good, 
 *Tis not fometimes fo cas'ly underftood ; 
 
MISCELLANIES. nr 
 
 That jewel oft unpoliftiM has rcraain*d; 
 Some words fiiould be left out, and forae explain'd ; 
 So that in fearch of fenfe, we either ftray. 
 Or elfe grow weary in fb rough a way. 
 But here fweet eloquence does always (mile, 
 In fuch a choice, yet unaffedcd ftyle, 
 As muft both knowledge and delight impart. 
 The force of reafon, with the flow'rs of art; 
 Clear as a beautiful tranfparent skin, 
 AVhich never hides the blood, yet holds it in: 
 Like a delicious ftream it ever ran, 
 As fraooth as woman, but as ftrong as man. 
 
 Bacon himfelf, whofe univerfal wit 
 Does admiration through the world beget, 
 Scarce more his age's ornament is thought. 
 Or greater credit to his country brought. 
 
 While fame is young, too weak to fly away, 
 Malice purfues her, like fome bird of prey ; 
 But once on wing, then all the quarrels ceafe ; 
 Envy herfelf is glad to be at peace, 
 Gives over, weary'd with fo high a flight. 
 Above her reach, and fcarce within her fight, 
 HoBBS to this happy pitch arriv'd at laft. 
 Might have look'd down with pride on dangers pafl i 
 But fuch the frailty is of humankind. 
 Men toil for fame, which no man lives to find ; 
 Long rip'ning under ground this China lies; 
 Fame bears no fruit, till the vain planter dies. 
 Thus nature, tir'd with his unufual length 
 Of life, which put her to her utmoft ftrenglh, 
 Such (lock of wit unable to fupply. 
 To fpare herfelf, was glad to let him die* 
 
jU miscellanies. 
 
 Written over a Gate. 
 
 HERE lives a man, who, by relation, 
 Depends upon predcftination ; 
 For which the learned and the wife 
 His underftanding much defpife : 
 But I pronounce with loyal tongue 
 Him in the right, them in the wrong. 
 For how could fuch a wretch fucceed ? 
 But that, alas, it was decreed! 
 
MISCELLANIES. , 113 
 
 The MIRACLE, 1707. 
 
 MERIT they hate, and wit they flight ; 
 They neither a<5t, nor reafon right. 
 
 And nothing mind but pence. 
 Unskilful they vidlorious are, 
 Condud a kingdom without care, 
 
 A council without fenfe. 
 So MosE s once, and Joshua, 
 And that virago Debor A, 
 
 Beftrid poor Israel : 
 Like rev'rence pay to thefe ! for who 
 Could ride a nation as they do, 
 
 Without a miracle ? 
 
114 MISCELLANIES. 
 
 ODE on the Death of Henry Purcell. 
 
 Set to Mufick. 
 
 GOOD angels fnatch'd him eagerly oivhigh ; 
 Joyful they flew, Tinging and foaring thro' the 
 Teaching his new-fledg'd foul to fly; [sky, 
 Whik we, alas ! lamenting lie. 
 He went muling all along, 
 Corapofing new their hcav'nly fong. 
 A while his skilful notes loud hallelujahs drown'd ; 
 But foon they ceas'd their own-, to catch His pleafing 
 David himfelfiraprov'd the harmony, [found, 
 David in facred ftory fo renown 'd 
 No lefs for mufick, than for poetry ! 
 Genius fublime in either art ! 
 Crown'd with applaufe furpafling all defert! 
 
 A man juft after God's own heart 1 
 If human cares are lawful "to the bleft. 
 Already fettled in eternal reft; 
 Keeds muft he wifli that PuRCELt only might 
 Have liv'd tofet what he vouch faf'd to write; 
 for, fure, the noble third of fame 
 W i th the frail body never dies ; 
 But with the foul afcends the skies^ 
 From whence at firft it came. 
 
MISG ELLANI ES. its 
 
 •Tls fure no little proof we have 
 That part of us furvivcs the grave, 
 And in our fame below ftill bears a (hare : 
 Why is the future elfe fo much our care, 
 Ev'n in our lateft moment of defpair ? 
 And death defpis'd for fame by all the wife and brave ? 
 
 Oh, all ye bled harmonious choir ! 
 Who pow'r Almighty only love, and only that admire ! 
 Look down with pity from your peaceful bow'r. 
 On this fad ifle perplex'd. 
 And ever, ever vex'd 
 With anxious care of trifles, wealth, and pow'r. 
 In our rough minds due reverence infufe [mufe. 
 for fweet melodious founds, and each harmonious 
 
 MuCck exalts man's nature, and infpires 
 High elevated thoughts, or gentle, kind defires. 
 
 P 3 
 
Ii6 MISCELLANIES. 
 
 On the Lofs of an only Son, 
 
 ROBERT Marquis of Normanby. 
 
 OU R morning's gay and rtiining ; 
 The days our joys declare; 
 At ev'ning no repining ; 
 And night's all void of care. 
 
 A fond tranfported mother 
 
 Was often heard to cry. 
 Oh, where is fuch another 
 
 So blefs'd by Heav'n as I ? 
 
 A child at lirft was wanting; 
 
 Now fuch a fon is fent, 
 As parents mod lamenting 
 
 In him would find content. 
 
 A child, of whom kind Heaven 
 
 Not only hope beftows. 
 But has already given 
 
 Him all our hopes propofe. 
 
 The happy (ire's poflTcfling 
 
 His fhare in fuch a boy. 
 Adds ftill a greater blefling 
 
 To all my other joy. 
 
MISCELLANIES. 117. 
 
 But ah ! this fliiny weather 
 Became too hot to laft; 
 
 Black clouds began to gather. 
 And all the sky o'ercaft. 
 
 So fierce a fever rages, 
 
 We all lie drown'd in tears ; 
 And difmal fad prefages 
 
 Come thund'ringinour cars. 
 
 The doubts that made us languifli^ 
 Did worfe, far worfe than kill : 
 
 Yet, oh, with all their anguifh, 
 Would we had doubted flill ! 
 
 By why fo much digreffion. 
 This fatal lofs to fliow ? 
 
 Alas, there's no expreffion 
 Can tell a parent's woe 1 
 
iiS MISCELLANIES. 
 
 On Mr. POPE, and his Poems. 
 
 WITH age decayed, with courts and bus'nefstifd, 
 Caring for nothing but what eafe requir'd, 
 Too ferious now a wanton mufe to court, 
 And from the criticks fafe arriv'd in port; 
 I little thought of launching forth agen, 
 Amidft advent'rous rovers of the pen; 
 And, after fome fmall undeferv'd fuccefs, 
 Thus hazarding at laft to make it lefs. 
 
 Encomiums fuit not this cenforious time, 
 Itfelf a fubje£t for fatirick rhyme ; 
 Ignorance honour'd, wit and worth defam'd. 
 Folly triumphant, and ev'n Homer blam'd. 
 
 But to this Genius, join'd with fo much art, 
 Such various learning mix'd in ev'ry part, 
 Poets are bound a loud applaufe to pay ; 
 Apollo bids it, and they muft obey. 
 
 And yet fo wond'rous, fo fublime a thing, 
 As the great Iliad, fcarce (houldmake me fing; 
 Except I juflly could at once commend 
 A good companion, and as firm a friend. 
 One moral, or amerewell-natur'd deed, 
 Can all defert in fciences exceed. 
 
 'Tis great delight to laugh at fome mens ways ; 
 But a much greater to give merit praife. 
 
MISCELLANIES. tif 
 
 STANZAS 
 
 WHene'er my foolifti bent topublick geod, 
 Or fonder zeal for fome mifguided prince^ 
 Shall make ray dang'rous humour underftood, 
 For changing minifters for men of fenfe: 
 
 When vainly proud to fliew my publick care, 
 And ev'n aftiam'd tofee three nations foord, 
 
 I (hall no longer bear a wretched fliare 
 In ruling ill, or being over-rul'd: 
 
 Then, as old letchers in a winter's night 
 
 To yawning hearers all their pranks difclofc } 
 
 And what decay deprives them of delight. 
 Supply with vain endeavours to impofc : 
 
 Juft fo (hall I as idly entertain 
 
 Some (tripling patriots, fond of (eeming wife; 
 Tell, how Iftill cou'd great employments gain, 
 Without concealing truths, or whifp'ring lyes; 
 
 Boaft of fucceedlng in my country's cau(e 
 
 Ev'n againft fome almoft too high to blame ; 
 
 Whom, when advanc'd beyond the reach of law?, 
 I oft have ridicul'd to fenfe and (hame; 
 
f20 MISCELLANIES. 
 
 Say, I refifted the moft potent fraud ; 
 
 Butfriendlefs merit openly approv'd; 
 And that I was above the being aw'd 
 
 Not only by my prince, but thofe he lov'd : 
 
 Who knows but my example then may pleafe 
 Such noble, hopeful fpirits as appear 
 
 Willing to flight their pleafures, and their eafc, 
 For fame and honour ? till at laft they hear. 
 
 After much trouble borne, and danger run. 
 The crown aflifted, and my country ferv'd ; 
 
 Without good fortune I had been undone, 
 Without a good eftate I might have ttarv'd. 
 
MISCELLANIES. 121 
 
 The Election of a Poet Laureat 
 in 1719. 
 
 AFamousafTembly wasfummon'dof late : [date; 
 To crown a new Laureat came Phoebus in 
 With all that Montfaucon him felf could defire, 
 His bow, laurel, harp, and abundance of fire. 
 
 At Bartlemew-Fair ne*er did bullies fo juftle, 
 No country eledlion e'er made fuch a buftle: 
 From garret, mint, tavern, they all poll: away, 
 Some thirfting for fack, fome ambitious of bay. 
 
 All came with full confidence, flufh'd with vain hope, 
 From Gibber and Durfey, to Prior and Pope. 
 Phoebus fmil'd on thefe lail, but yet ne'erthelels. 
 Said, he hop'd they had got enough by the prefs. 
 
 With a huge mountain-load of heroical lumber, 
 Which from Ton son to Curi.l ev'ry prefs had 
 
 groan 'd under; 
 Came Bl — e, and cry'd, Look, all thefe are my lays ; 
 Butatprefent I beg you'd but read my essays. 
 
 Lampooners and criticks rufh'd in like a tide, 
 Stern Dennis and Gildon came firft fide by fide. 
 
122 MISCELLANIES. 
 
 Apollo confefs'd that their laflies had ftlngs, 
 But beadles and hangmen were never chofe kings. 
 
 Steel long had fo cunningly manag'd the town. 
 He could not be blam'd for expefling the crown : 
 Apollo demurr'd as to granting his wifh. 
 But wifh'd him good luck in his project of fifli. 
 
 Lame Congreve, unable fuch things to endure, 
 Of Apollo begg'd either a crown or a cure; 
 To refufe fuch a writer, Afo l l o was loth, 
 And almoll inchn'd to have granted him both. ■> 
 
 When Buckingham came, he fcarce car 'd to be feen, 
 Till Phoebus defir'd his old friend to walk in : 
 But a laureat peer had never been known ; 
 The commoners claim'd that place as their own. 
 
 Yet if the kind God had been ne'er fo inclin'd 
 To break an old rule, yet he well knew his mind, 
 Who of fuch preferment would only make fport, 
 And laugh'd at all fuitors for places at court. 
 
 Notwithftanding this law, yet Lansdown was 
 
 nam'd, 
 But Apollo with kindnefs his indolence blam'd; 
 And faid he would chufehim, but that he fliould fear, 
 An employment of trouble he never could bear. 
 
 A * prelate for wit and for eloquence fam'd, 
 Apollo foon mifs'd, and he needs not be nam'd; 
 
 * Dr. Attcrbnry, bif]-,op of Rochefler. 
 
MISCELLANIES. i2q 
 
 Since amidft a whole bench, ofwhich fome arefo bright, 
 No one of them fliines fo Icarn'd and polite. 
 
 ToShippen, Apollo was cold with refpecf^. 
 Since he for the ftate could the mufes negledl : 
 But faid, in a greater afTembly he fhin'd, 
 And places were things he had ever dechn'd. 
 
 Tr p,Y candVANBRUGH expelled reward, 
 
 For fome things writ well; but Apollo declar'd. 
 That one was too flat, the other too rough. 
 And the third fure already had places enough. 
 
 Pert B L L came next, and demanding the bays. 
 
 Said, Thofe works muft be good, which had Addi- 
 son's praife; 
 But Apollo reply'd, Child Eustace, 'tis known, 
 Moft authors will praife whatfbever's their own. 
 
 Then Ph ps came forth, as (larch as a Quaker, 
 
 Whofe (imple profefTion's a Paftoral-raaker ; 
 Apollo advis'dhim from playhoufe to keep. 
 And pipe to nought elfebuthis dog and his fheep. 
 
 H — HES, F — TON, and G— v, camelaftin the train. 
 Too modefl: to ask for the crown they would gain : 
 Phoebus thought them too bafhful, and faid they 
 
 would need 
 More boldnefs, if ever they hop'd to fuccecd, 
 
 Apollo, now driv'n to a curfed quandary. 
 Was wiihing for Swift, or the fam'd lady Mary : 
 0.2 
 
124 MISCELLANIES. 
 
 Kay, had honed ToxM Southern but been within 
 
 call 
 
 But at lart he grew wanton, and laugh'd at them all: 
 
 And fo rpying one who came only to gaze, 
 A hater of verfe, and defpifer of plays ; 
 To him in great form, without any delay, 
 (Tho' a zealous fanatick) prefcnted the bay. 
 
 All the wits flood aftonlfh'd, at hearing the God 
 So gravely pronounce an eledion fo odd ; 
 A nd tho' Prior and Pope only laugh'd in his face, 
 Moft others were ready to Cnk in the plsce. 
 
 Yet fome thought the vacancy open was kept. 
 Concluding the bigot would never accept: 
 But the hypocrite told them, he well underftood, 
 Tho' the fundlion was wicked, the ftipend was good. 
 
 At lafl: in rufh'd Eusde n, and cry'd, '^ Who fhall 
 
 have it, 
 '^ But I, the true laureat, to whom the king gave it ?'* 
 Apollo begg'd pardon, and granted his claim; 
 But vow'd tho', till then he ne'er heard of his name. 
 
MISCELLANIES. ISJ 
 
 On the TIME S. 
 
 SINCE In vain our parfons teach. 
 Hear, for once, a poet preach. 
 Vice has loft its very name, 
 Skill and coz'nage thought the fame ; 
 Only playing well the game. 
 Foul contrivances we fee 
 Call'd but ingenuity ; 
 Ample fortunes often made 
 Out of frauds in ev'ry trade, 
 Which an aukward child afford 
 Enough towed the greateft lord. 
 The mifer ftarves to raife a fon ; 
 But, if once the fool is gone, 
 Years of thrift fcarce ferve a day, 
 Rake-hell fquanders all away. 
 Husbands fneaking for a place, 
 
 Or toiling for their pay; 
 V/hile the wives undo their race 
 
 By petticoats and play : 
 Breeding boys to drink and dice. 
 Carrying girls to comedies. 
 Where ma- ma's intrigues are (hewn, 
 Which ere long will be their own. 
 Having firft at fermon flept. 
 Tedious day is weekly kept 
 
126 MISCELLANIES. 
 
 By worfe hypocrites, than men. 
 
 Till Monday comes to cheat agen. 
 
 Ev'n among the nobleft-born. 
 
 Moral virtue is a fcorn ; 
 
 Gratitude, but rare at beft ; 
 
 And fidelity a jeft. 
 
 All our wit but party-mocks ; 
 
 All our wifdom, railing flocks : 
 
 Counted folly to defend 
 
 Sinking fide, or falling firiend. 
 
 Long an officer may ferve ; 
 
 Praised and wounded, he may flarve : 
 
 No receipt to make him rife. 
 
 Like inventing loyal lyes. 
 
 We, whofe anceflors have fhin'd 
 
 In arts of peace, and fields of fame^ 
 To ill and idlenefs inclined, 
 
 Now are grown a publick fhame. 
 Fatal that inteftine jar. 
 Which produc*d our civil war ! 
 Ever fince, how fad a race ! 
 Senfelefs, violent, and bafe ! 
 
MISCELLANIES, t27 
 
 On the Duke of York baniilied to BrufTels^ 
 
 I Feel a ftrange impulfe, a {Irong defire, 
 (For what vain thoughts will not a mufe Infpire ?) 
 To fing on lofty fubjedts, and to raife 
 My own low fame, by writing Jam e s's praifc. 
 
 oft have we heard the wonders of his youth ; 
 Obferv'd thofe feeds of fortitude and truth ; 
 Which fincehave fpread fowide, fo wondrous high, 
 The good diftrefs'd beneath that fhelter lie. 
 
 In arms more a6live than ev'n war requir'd. 
 And in the midit of mighty chiefs admir'd. 
 Of all Heav'n's gifts, no temper is fo rare, 
 As fo much courage, mix'd with fo much care. 
 
 When martial fire makes all the fpirits boiJ, 
 And forces youth to military toil; 
 Iso wonder it fliould fiercely then engage ; 
 W^omen themfclves will venture in a rage : 
 But in the midft of all that furious heat, 
 Vvhile fo intent on anions brave and great. 
 For other lives to feel fuch tender fears, 
 And carelefs of his own, to care for theirs; 
 Is that compofure which a hero makes. 
 And which illuftrious York alone partakes, 
 With that great * man whofe fame has flown fo far, 
 Who taught him firft the noble art of war. 
 
 * The Marefchal de Turenne. 
 
128 MISCELLA!<IIE§. 
 
 Oh wondrous pair ! whom equal virtues crown ; 
 Ol\ worthy of each other's vaft renown ! 
 None butTuRENNE with York couI3 glory {hare, 
 Jind none but YoR k deferve Co great a mafter's care^ 
 
 Scarce was he come to blcfs his native ifle, 
 And reap the foft rewards of glorious toil, 
 But like A LCiDES,ftill new dangers call 
 His courage forth, and ftill he vanquifli'd all. 
 
 At fca/that bloody fccneof boundlefs rage. 
 Where floating caftles in fierce flames engage, 
 (Where Mars him felf does fro wningly command. 
 And by lieutenants only fights at land) 
 For his own fame howe'er he fought before, 
 For England's honour yet he ventur'd more. 
 
 In thofe black times, when fadlion raging high, 
 Valour and innocence were forc'd to fly, 
 With Yo R K they fled ; but not depreft his mind ; 
 Still, like a diamond in the duf}, it fhin'd. 
 When from afar his drooping friends beheld 
 How in diftrefs heev'n himfelf excell'd.; 
 How to his envious fate, his country's frown. 
 His brother's will, he facrific'd his own ; 
 They rais'd their hearts, and never doubted more 
 But that juft Heav'n would all our joys reQore. 
 
 So when black clouds furroundheav'n's glorious face, 
 Tempeftuous darknefs cov'ring all the place ; 
 If we difcern but the leaft glimm'ring ray 
 Of that bright orb of fire which rules the day ; 
 The chearful fight our fainting courage warms ; 
 Fix'd upon that, we fear no future harms. 
 
MISCELLANIES. 129 
 
 ON THE 
 
 DEITY. 
 
 W Retched mankind! void both of rtrength and 
 Dextrous at nothing but at doing ill ! [skill ! 
 In merit humble, in pretenfion high ; 
 Among them none, alas ! more weak than I ; 
 And none more blind : tho' Oill I worthlefs thought 
 The bed I ever fpoke, or ever wrote. 
 
 But zealous heat exalts the humbled: mind ; 
 Within my foul fuch ftrong impulfe I find 
 The hcav'nly tribute of due pra.ife to pay : 
 Perhaps 'tisiacred, and I mull obey. 
 
 Yet fuch the fubjecls, various, and fo high ! 
 Stupendous v/onders of the Deity ! 
 Miraculous effe<5ts of boundlcfs pow'r ! 
 And thatasboundlefsgoodnefs fhiningmore ! 
 All thefe, (o numberlefs, my thoughts attend. 
 Oh where (hall I begin, or ever end ? 
 R 
 
130 MISCELLANIES. 
 
 But on that theme which ev'n the wife abufe, 
 So racied, rofublime, and fo abftrufe, 
 Abruptly to break off, wants no excufe. 
 
 AVhlle others vainly ftrive to know thee more, 
 Let me in (lient reverence adore ; 
 AVifhing that human pqw'r were higher rais'd. 
 Only that thine might be more nobly prais'd ! 
 Thricv happy angels in their high degree ; 
 Created worthy of extolling thee ! 
 
 THE END. 
 
THE 
 
 TRAGEDY 
 
 O F 
 
 JULIUS CAESAR, 
 
 ALTERED: 
 
 WITH A 
 
 PROLOGUE AND CHORUS; 
 
 BY HIS GRACE 
 
 JOHN DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. 
 
 R 2 
 
C 133 ] 
 
 PROLOGUE 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 ALTERATION 
 
 O F 
 
 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 HOPE to mend Shakespeape! or to match hisftylc J 
 *Tis fiich a jtft, would make a Stoick fmile. 
 Too fond of fame, our Poet foars too high ; 
 Yet freely owns he wants the wings to fly: 
 So fenfiblc of his prefumptuous thought. 
 That he confefles while he does the fault: 
 This to the Fair will no great wonder prove, 
 "Who oft in blu(hes yield to what they love. 
 
 Of greatcft actions, and of nobleft men. 
 This ftory moft deserves a poet's pen. 
 For who can wifh a (cenc more juftly fara'd, 
 "When Rome and mighty Julius arc but nam'd ! 
 That ftate of heroes, who the world had brav'd ! 
 That wond'rous man, who fuch a ftate inflav'd! 
 Yet loth he was to take (b rough a way, 
 And after govern *d with Co mild a fway. 
 At diftance now of fev'nteen hundred years, 
 Methinks a lovely raviflier appears ; 
 Whom, tho' forbid by virtue to excufe, 
 A nymph might pardon, and could fcarcc rcfafc. 
 
Dramatis Perfonac. 
 
 JULIUS CAESAR, dictator. 
 
 BRUTUS, 
 
 CASSIUS, 
 
 DEC. BRUTUS, } conspirators. 
 
 TREBOMUS, 
 
 CASCA, 
 
 M. ANTONIUS. 
 
 JUNIUS, ONE O F CaES A r's FR EEDMEN. 
 
 PORTIA, WIFE OF Brutus. 
 
 LUCIUS, ONE OF HIS SERVANTS. 
 
 SENATORS. 
 
 PRIESTS. 
 
 TRADESMEN AND CITIZENS. 
 
 SPURINNA, A SOUTH-SAYER, 
 
 THIS PLAY BEGINS THE DAY BEFORE CaESAR's DEATH, 
 AND ENDS WITHIN AN HOUR AFTER IT. 
 
JUL lUS C A E S A R. 135 
 
 ACT I. SCENE I. 
 
 Enter tivo Roman Senators at 07ie doGr, TuEBONiys 
 and C A s c A at a 72 other. 
 
 HI Senator. 
 AIL, good Trebonius. 
 2 Senator. 
 Health to worthy G a sca. 
 Will you go with us to the fpot^s to-day ? 
 
 I Senator. 
 Before this Cesar's time, wc had no (hews 
 Magnificent as thefe. 
 
 Tr EBONIUS. 
 
 But we had triumphs : 
 i^.nd the' the conqueror fat high exalted, 
 We all partook both of his fame and merit: 
 The gaz'd-on warrior in the gilded chariot 
 Enjoy 'd his nil of fime, but, as Rome's fubjeft: 
 And, to his great renown in glorious arms, 
 A higher, much more valu'd crown, was added; 
 Immortal praife for ferving well his country. 
 
 Casca, 
 Oh how our hearts were fir'd at Pompey's triumphs! 
 The blood more lively dancM within our veins : 
 The very image of it ftrikes my fancy ! 
 Methinks 1 fee a thoufand noble captives 
 Drooping with grief, which yet was lighter made 
 Ey his kind ufage. After c.ime the treafures ; 
 Our treafures ! for it was not then as now, 
 
136 JULTUS CAESA R. 
 
 When one man's greedy gripe ingrolfes all. 
 We did not, as law-fuiters for contention, 
 Disburfe more charges than the prize was worth; 
 Grow beggars, only to m ike others rich. 
 
 Trebonius. 
 But then, at laO:, behold ev'n captive kings 
 In golden chains with pentive thought look down, 
 Remembring they had us'd their fubjecits worfe. 
 
 Casca. 
 Yet fliew'd a gloomy comfort through their fadnefs. 
 For being vancjuifli'd by fo brave a people. 
 
 Trebon I us. 
 Which of us, then, oh which of us went home 
 From fuch a fpeftacie unmov'd with joy, 
 With virtuous pride, to fee our blood well fpent. 
 Our treafures manag'd, and our glory rais'd ^ 
 
 Casca. 
 Yet ev'n to Pompey, chief of all our (late, 
 No Roman but difdain'da mean fubmiflion; 
 A tribute only owing to the Gods. 
 
 Trebdnius. 
 But now we crouch, and ftand in fervile awe; 
 Like children, fear the goblin we have made. 
 This Caesar, tho' didiator, is our creature, 
 And from eledlion all his pride proceeds. 
 
 Casca. 
 We meet thefe murmurs now in ev'ry mouth; 
 Ill-boding founds to late unfettled pow'r, 
 Like new-built houfes, eafily blown down. 
 
 Trebonius. 
 Yet Cafsar, ftill intrepidly ferene, 
 Goes proudly on, defpifing us, and danger. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 137 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 E?itcr a Croud of coinmon Tradefmen* 
 
 Casca. 
 What's all this croud, and whither are ye going. 
 My gazing feilovv-citizcns .'' To wait 
 On your own (hame, and (tare upon your bondage? 
 
 I Tradesmam. 
 I know not what you mean by (hame and bondage : 
 We go to fee great Caesar, and the fports. 
 
 Casca. 
 And much good do you, friend : you little think. 
 The man you fo admire would be your mafter. 
 
 Tradesman. 
 My mafter ! He would fcorn 'io mean a fervant. 
 I hope you will not jeft at mighty Caesar ! 
 
 [Casca laughs, 
 Casca. 
 I only laugh at you for loving Caesar, 
 
 Tradesman. 
 Oh, is that all ? Well, Sir, make bold with me j 
 But have a care of meddling with your betters. 
 
 Casca. 
 Betters ! Thou fawcy citizen, be filent. 
 
 Tradesman. 
 Then I am hulh'd. Speak you, Sir. 
 Casca. 
 
 What, to fools ? 
 To men, whofe minds are funk in low fubmifllon ? 
 Born free,and yet contented to be ilaves ? 
 Form'ci like the dull ftrong horfe, to bear a rider ? 
 S 
 
138 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 AVell, we may wifh, and vent our rage in curfcs : 
 
 INIay Caesar » 
 
 Tradesman. 
 Hold ; and hear if he fpeaks treafon. 
 Casca. 
 May Cae SAR live, as long as good men wifii him ! 
 
 Tradesman. 
 Why, what does this man mean ? he pray s for Caesar. 
 Long may he live Rome's great, and wife didtaror ! 
 
 Trebo nius. 
 Oh, my good friends, how blind are thofe dcCres ! 
 Did you but know how much you curfe yourfclves, 
 Iso people, fure, would be fuch fclf-deflroyers^ 
 Tho' but in wifh. Did ever men before 
 Pray for continuance of a tyrant ague 
 That fhakes their very fouls ? See, how Rome trembles, 
 And looks all pale, with lofs of guiltlefs blood ! 
 Who has not loft akinfman, or a friend, 
 Whofe honeftlife the war has facrific'd 
 To this man's wild ambition ? 
 >[ay, are not you dead too ? (ince in his pow'r 
 To kill you when he pleafes ? with this diff 'rence ; 
 That death, once come, frees yon from all its force. 
 Which ev'ry hour ye now expecT: with terror. 
 Before this fatal time each good man here 
 Was mafter of the world, and fhar'd the pow'r ; 
 Kings waited on your votes, and watch 'd your wills : 
 But now (I weep to fay how fad a change !) 
 The greatnefs, nay the goodnefs of this Caesar, 
 Is founded on our bafenefs : For, alas ! 
 What muft we be, to be forgiv'n by him ? 
 And do you think, becaufe he gives you pleafures. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 139 
 
 Treats you with (hows, and popular appearance, 
 That all this feeming foftncfs isnotfliadow? 
 A very trick to lull your thoughts aflecp, 
 And then fubjeft them ? make them mild, and tame. 
 Fit for the fervile ufe of being fubjefts ? 
 Thofe lofty thoughts, which, like true mettled hawks, 
 Were us'd to fly fo ftrong, and foar fo high, 
 Which nature has defjgn'd to prey on tyrants, 
 And not to fcrve them ; now are whittled off 
 With ev'ry pageant pomp, and gawdy (how. 
 F6r Hiame ! repent of fuch a childifti folly ; 
 And rather tear, like Cat©, your own bowels. 
 Than live to fee your country torn by tyrants. 
 
 Casca. 
 And PoMPKY too, methinks, Hiould be remember'd. 
 Who died for you fo lately ; on whofe ruin 
 This Caesar ftands, and fcorns us all beneath him. 
 
 Trebonius, 
 See' if they are not mov'd ; the Roman foul 
 Now fwells within them. Go, my worthy friends ; 
 And, if you needs will fee your tyrant's triumph, 
 Gaze on him then with angry envious eyes : 
 Be ev'ry one a Bafilisk to him ; 
 Kill him with ftaring. 
 
 I (Citizen. 
 Farewel, worthy lords ! 
 You love your country, and we love you for It. 
 
 Treboni us. 
 Shall we not be accus'd for this ? 
 Casca. 
 Ko matter; 
 We break no laws either of Gods or men : 
 S 2 
 
140 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 So, if we fall, it is with reputation ; 
 
 A f:ite which cowards fhun, and brave men feek. 
 
 If Caesar punifh men for fpeaking truth, 
 
 Myhoneft tongue fliall dare his utmoftdoom. 
 
 But here he comes, with all that pomp and pride 
 
 In which young pow'r To childifhly delights. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Enter Caesar attended i^^)* A n to n y, Brutus, Cas- 
 
 5 1 u s , and many other Senators : Jits down in a mag- 
 nificent featy to behold feveral divert ifements after 
 the Roman manner. When the f ports are ended, h.^' 
 T o^Y prefents him a cro^n. 
 
 Antonius. 
 Hail, mighty man ! thou Godlike Caesar, hail \ 
 Stoop to our wifhes, and vouchfafe to wear 
 This crown, prefented thee by all mankind : 
 Shine on us, like the fun, in your full luftre; 
 While Rome reviv'd lies basking in your beams. 
 And flourifhes beneath that kindly heat. 
 Adorn us with your pow'r, and make us proud 
 Of being fubjects to fo great a king. 
 
 Caesar. 
 I am not call'd your king, but your didlator ; 
 
 [Caesar defcends from his feat to 
 the middle of the fl age, 
 A name, I hope, that bears as great a found ; 
 If not, 'tis no vain titles that can help it : 
 Therefore J both refufe, and (light a crown, 
 
 \He puts back the cro^jon nvith his hand, 
 at which the people fl?out for jcy. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 141 
 
 Which can add nothing to my power, or Rome's. 
 I'm glad, my friends, you are {"o eafjly pleas'd 
 With my refuCng what I think below me ; 
 Were it above mc, I (hould quickly reach it. 
 Your kings, it feems,. exerted pow'r fo ill, 
 That you expell'd the hated name for ever. 
 But 'tis the tvranny. not name, ye fear ; 
 And that my foul abhors, as mnch as you. 
 Witnefs, ye Gods, I have no other atm 
 Than to advance your good, and my own honour. 
 
 Antoni us. 
 Take then this crown, which fet-ms fo much for both ; 
 ^Offering the criyuon once more. 
 For pow'r well plac'd, can never be too great. 
 
 Caesar. 
 Again ! this needs not ; 'tis unfeemly joy ; 
 
 [Caesar refufes it, and they Jhout 
 a fecond t'mie. 
 It looks as if you doubted me before, 
 And are furpriz'd to fmdmy moderation. 
 
 Antonius. 
 'Tis I, Sir, am furpriz'd ; but 'tis with grief, 
 
 \_He offers the cronxjn the third time. 
 To fee you fhuna pow'r, you ought to feek; 
 At leaft, rejed it not with fuch irrev'rence; 
 Crov/ns are the faireft prefents of the Gods. 
 
 Caesar. 
 Again ! \He refufes it again ^ and they 
 
 fhout the third time* 
 Peace, you unmannerly, unthinking croud ! 
 Are you fo pleas'd I and have I no way left 
 But this, to be as popular as Pompey ? 
 
142 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 How have I us'd my pow'r, that you fliould fear it P 
 
 Then, to be more fecure, here take my life ; 
 
 I freely offer it to ev'ry Roman ; 
 
 Let out that blood, you think boils with ambition ; 
 
 I'd rather lofe it, than out-live my fame; 
 
 Nor wou'd accept of pow'r, unlefs to pleafe, 
 
 I feel their pulfes, and I find them beat 
 
 {To Antony afide, 
 FevVifh, and high, unfit for my defigns : 
 Their reafon loft, they rave for liberty, 
 Like lunaticks, confin'd for their own good. 
 Strive for a fatal freedom to be ruin'd. 
 
 Antonius. 
 Therefore in pity. Sir, reftrain them more. 
 
 Caesar. 
 I'll guard them from themfelves, their own worft foes ; 
 And will have pow'r to do whate'er I pleafe ; 
 Yet bear my thunder in a gentle hand. 
 Like Jove, I'll fit above; but 'tis to (how 
 My love and care of all the world below. 
 Enter a Mejfenger. 
 Messenger. 
 Some other fports are in the field of Mars, 
 And only wait your prefence. 
 Caesar. 
 
 Let us go. 
 The ey'ning is far fpent, it will be dark ; 
 And I, thou know'ft, have not been well to-day. 
 
 [T'j? Brutus. 
 Exeunt Caesar^ and Avtohy. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 143 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Will you not wait on C a e s a r to the courle ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 Not I. 
 
 How Co 1 
 
 Cassius. 
 
 Brutus. 
 I am not fit for fports ; 
 I want the airy humour of Marc Antony. 
 Let me not hinder, Cassius, your defircs. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Brutus, I have obferv'd you much of late ; 
 I have not from your eyes that gentlenefs. 
 And (how of love, which I was us'd to find : 
 Pardon my cares, that only come from kindnefs; 
 Your carriage is a little too referv'd. 
 And ftrange, to friends who would be more familiar. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Cassius, miftake me not : if I have veil'd 
 My look, I turn the trouble of my countenance 
 Merely upon myfelf : I am of late 
 Troubled with paflions of a diff 'rent nature, 
 Conceptions only proper to myfelf, 
 "Which give perhaps fome foil to ray behaviour. 
 But let not therefore my good friends complain, 
 (Amongft which number Cassius is the chief) 
 Kor mi (interpret farther my negleifl ; 
 But think poor Brutus, with himfelf at war, 
 Forgets tlie (hows of love to other men. 
 
144 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 Cassius. 
 I am mofl- glad to find I was miitaken. 
 That error made this bread of mine conceal 
 Thoughts of ^reat value, worthy of your ear: 
 Tell me, good Br u t u s , can you lee your face i 
 
 Brutus. 
 Ko, C A s s • u s ; for, the eye fees not itfelf^ 
 But by refledlion from fome other thing. 
 
 Cassius. 
 'Tisjuft: then know, 'tismuch lamented, Brutus, 
 That you have no fuch mirror as might fhow 
 (Spite of your modefty) your own hid worth ; 
 That you for once might fee the noble fliadow. 
 Ihaveheardfomcof the beft rank in Rome, 
 (Except immortal Caesak) talk of Brutus; 
 And groaning underneath this age's yoke, 
 Have wifh'd, that noble Brutus had his eyes. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Into what dangers wou'd you lead me, Cassius, 
 That you would have me look into myfelf 
 For that which is not in mc ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 
 Brutus, hear; 
 And fince, you know, you cannot fee yourfelf 
 So well as by reflection ; I, your gbfs, 
 Will without all difguife difcover now 
 That of yourfelf, which yet you know not of. 
 And be not jealous of me, gentle Brutus. 
 Were I fome flight buffoon, or us'd to flatter, 
 To cloy each man I meet with profFer'd love, 
 And then betray him ; did I ufe to fawn, 
 And hug men hard, then crufh them with my fcandal ; 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 145 
 
 Of if you ever knew me riotous 
 To lofs of reafon ; then you might CufpeS. me. 
 What fhouts are thefe ? \_A great JJjout , 
 
 Brutus. 
 I hope, like thofe juft now, 
 For joy that Caesar has refus'd the crown. 
 
 Cassius. 
 If you hope that, you would not have him king. 
 
 Brutus. 
 I would not, Cassius; yet Hove him well. 
 
 Cassius. 
 And do you think he would forgive that wirti. 
 Or would accept your love, with that allay ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 If juft, he will; and, if unjuft, I care not. 
 But wherefore do you hold me here fo long ? 
 I fee you labour with fome weighty thing. 
 If it be tow'rds the general good, fpeak quickly ; 
 I am in hafte to meet your noble thoughts. 
 Set virtue in my eye, and let grim death 
 Shake his unheeded dart, I'll dill befix'd. 
 For, may the Gods fo help me, as, for honour, 
 I look indiff'rently on life or death. 
 
 Cassius. 
 I know your virtue, Brutus, and dare trufl: it. 
 Well,4ionouris the fubjedl of my (tory. 
 I cannot tell what you and other men 
 Think of this life; but for my fingiefel^ 
 I'll chufe much rather not to live at all, 
 Than live to be in awe of any thing. 
 I was born free as Ca e s a r ; fo are you : 
 We both are bred as well ; and we can both 
 T 
 
I4<S JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 Endure the Winter's cold as well as he. 
 
 >or, once, upon a raw and gufty day. 
 
 The troubled Tiber turn'd into a foam, 
 
 Caesar fays to me, CAssius,dar'fl:thou now 
 
 Leap in with me into this angry flood, 
 
 And fwim to yonder point ? Upon the word', 
 
 Accoutred as I was, I plung'd me in, 
 
 And bade him foliOw; fo indeed he did : 
 
 The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it 
 
 "With lufty finews, throwing it afide ; 
 
 But yet, ere we could reach the point propos'd, 
 
 Caes ARcry'd, Help me, Cassius, or I fink ! 
 
 JuftasAENEAS, our great anceftor, 
 
 Did from the flames of Troy bear on his flioulders 
 
 The old ANCHiSESjIfrom Tiber's waves- 
 
 Bore the tir'd Caesar: yet this feeble mart 
 
 Is now become a God ; and Cassius is 
 
 A wretched creature, and niufl: bend his body, 
 
 If C A E s A R give him but a carelefs nod. 
 
 A flrange dlfeafe poflTefles him fometimes : 
 
 This day I faw him fall into his fit : 
 
 (That which delay'd the fports till afternoon.) 
 
 This God has fall'n to ground, and foam'd at mouth ; 
 
 His limbs have trembled, and his eyes have roU'd ; 
 
 Yet now his look muft avv^e the trembling world. 
 
 Kay, I have heard him groan, like a fick girl ; 
 
 And that fmooth tongue which us'd to move fo much. 
 
 And make the Romans fet down all it faid. 
 
 Would faulterthen, and flammcroiit ftrange things. 
 
 Gods ! why fliould one of fuch a feeble temper 
 
 Be fet upon the top of all this v/orld, 
 
 To look down on mankind ? \^Afi}oi^^ 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 147 
 
 Brutus. 
 Another fhout! fure Rome is turn'd a revel ! 
 
 \_AnotherJJmit. 
 I fear at lead they crown him with applaufe. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Why, man, he now beftrides the narrow world. 
 Like a ColofTus ; and we petty meu 
 Walk under his huge legs, and peep about, 
 To find ourfelvesdiflionourable graves. 
 Men, at Tome times, are mafters of their fates; 
 The fault, dear Br utus, is not in our (lars. 
 But in ourfelvcs, that we are underlings. 
 Brutus and Caesar ! where's the difference? 
 Why fhould that name be founded more than yours? 
 Write them together, yours is as fair a name; 
 Shout Brutus, and the echo is as loud* 
 Brutus and Caesar ! Conjure with thofe names, 
 Brutus will ftart afpirit, asfoon asCAESAR. 
 Kow in the name of all the Gods at once, 
 On what high fame docs this our Caesar feed. 
 That he is grown fo great ? Age, thou art Iham'd I 
 Rome, thou haft lo(l thy breed of noble blood ! 
 When did there pafs an age, fmce time firll was. 
 That the whole world refounded but one man ? 
 When could they fay, till now, who talk'd of Rome, 
 That her wide walls contain'd one (ingle hero ? 
 O, you and I have heard our fathers fay, 
 There was a Brutus once, who kill'd his fons, 
 And would have flain his dearefl: friend, nay father. 
 Rather than fuffer Rome to be enflav'd. 
 
 Brutus. 
 That Ca s sius loves me, I am noihing jealous 5 
 T 3 
 
148 JULltrs CAESAk. 
 
 What yo'J would work me to, I have fome aim ; 
 How I hav€ thought of this, and of thefe times, 
 I fhall recount hereafter; for this prefent, 
 I wouM not {if with love 1 might intreat it) 
 Be any farther mov'd. What you have faid, 
 I will confider ; what you have to fay, 
 I will with patience bear, and find a time 
 Both fit to hear, and anfv/er fuch high things. 
 Till then, my noble friend, remember this ; 
 Brutus had rather be a vill -ger, 
 A worthlefs Itranger, than a fon of Rome, 
 Under fuch hard conditions as this time 
 Is like to lay upon us. 
 
 Cassius. 
 
 I am happy, [tus. 
 
 That my weak words have drawn thus much from Br u- 
 
 Brutus. 
 A fudden ftorm ! I'll leave you, noble Cassius; 
 
 [Excejfive thunder and lightning on a fudde?u 
 We are obferv'd. At midnight, if you pleafe. 
 We'll meet again, and talk of this more largely. 
 
 Cassius. 
 I will not fall to wait on worthy Brutus. 
 
 [£'x// Brutus. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Enter Casca /<? Cassius, 
 Cassius. 
 Who's there? 
 
 Casca* 
 A Roman. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 149 
 
 Cassius. 
 Gasca, by your voice. 
 Casca. 
 
 Your ear Is good. The air is ftrangely chang'd ! 
 Cassius. 
 
 A very harmlefs air to honefl: men. 
 Casca. 
 
 "Who ever knew the Heavens threaten fo ? 
 Cassius. 
 
 Who ever knew the earth fo full of faults ? 
 
 For my part, I'll walk ftill about the ftreets. 
 
 Submitting to the dangers of the ftorm ; 
 
 Unbutton'd thus, and carclefs, as you fee, 
 
 AVill baremybofom to the thunderbolt, 
 
 Juft as the fiery flafh begins to dart, 
 Casca. 
 
 But wherefore would you fo much tempt the Gods, 
 
 Sure, 'tis our part rather to fear and tremble. 
 
 When they, for'caufes to poor men unknown, 
 
 Send dreadful heralds to denounce a war, 
 
 Cassius. 
 You are dull, Casca ; and ihofe fparks of fire, 
 That fhould inflame a Roman bread, you want, 
 Or elfe difTemble: you look pale, and gaze. 
 And put on fear, and lofe yourfclf in wonder. 
 To fee this ftrange diforder inthe Heav'ns: 
 Think on the earth, good Casca; think on Rome-; 
 If fiery meteors, and fool-frighting ghofts, 
 If monflrous births, and ftrange portentous things, 
 As you believe, break nature's fettled courfej 
 'Tis to accompany this monftrous ftate. 
 I could now, Casca, name to thee a man 
 
1^0 JULIUS CAESAR, 
 
 Mod like this dreadful night, which thunders, lightens. 
 Tears open graves, and keeps us ail in terror : 
 A man no mightier than thyfelf, or me, 
 In real might, in worth ; yet grown a giant; 
 And ev'ry Roman elfe feems but a pigmy. 
 
 Casca. 
 It is not hard to guefs the man you mean. 
 
 Cassius. 
 No matter for his name ; for Romans now 
 Have limbs and (inews, like their anceftors ; 
 But where the minds of all our famous fathers ? 
 Dead, dead with them ! we have our mothers fpirits ; 
 'Tis womanifh to fee, and fuffcr this. 
 
 Casca. 
 Indeed, they fay, the fen ators to-morrow 
 Mean to eftablifli Caesar for their king; 
 Aad he (hall wear his crown by fea and land. 
 In ev'ry place, but here in Italy. 
 
 Cassius. 
 I know v/here I fhall wear this dagger then. 
 Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. 
 Herein the poor are rich, the weak mod ftrong ; 
 By this, the wretched mock at bafe oppreffion; 
 The meanefl: are vic'^orious o'er the mighty. 
 Not tow'rs of ftcnc, nor walls of harden'd brafs, 
 Nor airlefs dungeons, the poor llrength of tyrants I 
 Not all their flrongell: guards, nor heavieft chains. 
 Can in the leaft controul the mighty fpirit. 
 For, noble life, when weary of itself. 
 Has always pow'r to fliake it off, at pleafure. 
 Since I know this, know all the world befides, 
 That part of tyranny prepar'd for rae, 
 
JtJLIUS CAESAR. 152 
 
 T can and v/ill defy. 
 
 Casca. 
 And fo can I. 
 Thus ev'ry bondman In his own hand bears 
 The pow'r to cancel his captivity. 
 
 Cassius. 
 And why (hould Caesar be a tyrant then ? 
 Poor man ! 1 know he would not be a wolf. 
 But that he fees the Romans are but (keep : 
 He were no lion, if we were not lambs. 
 But oh, diforder'd grief! where haft thou led me ! 
 I fpeak, perhaps, before a willing bondman. 
 One whom tame fools mifcal a mod'rate man ; 
 That is, a mean complyer with the times. 
 But I am arm'd within againft all danger. 
 
 Casca. 
 Cassius, you fpeak to Casca, to a man [words; 
 Whofe thoughts have all this while out-gone your 
 Here, take my hand, and make what ufe of it 
 The times and our neceflltles require ; 
 I am refolv'd. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Then, there's a bargain made. 
 Kowknow, good Casca, I have mov'd already 
 Some of the boideft nobleft- minded Romans 
 To undertake with me an enterprize 
 Of honourable, dangerous confequence. 
 They now all ftay for me in Pompey's porch, 
 And fuch a night as this requires a fhelter ; 
 A night, that's like the noble work in hand, 
 All black, and terrible ! But foft ; ftand clofe. 
 
152 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 Enter Trebonius. 
 
 Casca. 
 Trebonius! now I know him by his gait. 
 
 Gassius. 
 He is a friend ; pray hold ; whither fo fall ? 
 
 Trebonius. 
 To look out you. Who's that, Me tellus Cimber i 
 
 Gassius. 
 No, 'tis our Casca, one as bold and honeft. 
 Am I not flay 'd for? 
 
 Trebonius. 
 "What a night is this ! 
 There's two or three of us have feen flrange fights ? 
 
 Gassius. 
 Well, let 'em fee them. Tell me, am I flaid for ? 
 
 Trebonius. 
 You are. 
 
 O Gassius, if you could prevail v/ith Brutus; 
 He, as a band, would tyeour party flrong. 
 
 Casca. 
 Why, is not Brutu s one ? I thought him fure. 
 
 Gassius. 
 Be you content. Trebonius, take this fcroll, 
 And look you lay it in the ready way. 
 Where Brutus needs muft find it; then, throw this 
 In at his window ; fet this up with wax 
 Upon old Brutus' flatue: all this done, 
 Repair to Pompey's porch, where you (hall find us. 
 Is Decius Brutus, and Mar ullus there ? 
 
 Trebonius. 
 All, all are there, except Metell us Cimber; 
 And he is gone to feek you at your houfe. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 153 
 
 Cassius. 
 Away then ; lo fe no time : come, my good C a s c a. 
 We will go vifit Brutus yet ere day : 
 Three parts of that good man are ours already, 
 And, on the next afTault, he yields entire. 
 
 Casca. 
 Oh, he fits high in all the people's hearts. 
 
 Cassius. 
 So, that which would appear offence in us, 
 His countenance, like the great art of chymifts. 
 Will change lo virtue, and to noble deeds. 
 
 Casca. 
 Him, and his worth, and our great need of him. 
 You have confider'd well. Come, let's make hade. 
 
 Cassius. 
 The fun that fees him next, fhallfind him ours. 
 
 [Exeunt, 
 
 Inflead of the mufick ufuallyplafd bet-ween the Ads, the 
 following verfes are, after this Jcl, to be fung by a 
 Chorus reprefenting the Roman people. 
 
 FIRST CHORUS. 
 
 I. 
 
 WH I T H E R is Roman honour gone ? 
 Where is our antient virtue now ? 
 That valour, which fo bright has (hone, 
 And with the wings of conqueft flown. 
 Mud to a haughty mafter bow : 
 Who, with our toil, our blood, and all we have befide. 
 Gorges his ill-got pow'r, his humour, and his pride. 
 U 
 
154 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 II. 
 Fearlefs he will his life expofe ; 
 
 So does a lion, or a bear; 
 His very virtues threaten thofe, 
 Who more his bold ambition fear. 
 How ftupid wretches we appear, 
 Who round the world for wealth and empire roam ; 
 Yet never, never think what flaves we are at home? 
 III. 
 Did men, for this, together join ; 
 
 Quitting the free wild life of nature ? 
 What otlier beafl did e'er defign 
 
 The fetting up his fellow- creature, 
 And of two mifchiefs chufe the greater? 
 Oh ! rather than be flaves to bold imperious men, 
 Give us our wildnefs, and our woods, our huts, and 
 caves again. 
 
 IV. 
 There, fecure from lawlefs fway, 
 Out of pride or envy's way ; 
 Living up to nature's rules, 
 Not deprav'd by knaves and fools ; 
 Happily we all fiiould live, and harmlefs as our flieep. 
 And at lafl as calmly die, as infants fall afleep. 
 
H 
 
 JULIUS GAESAR. 15S 
 
 A C T II. S C E N E I. 
 
 Brutus alone in his houfe undrejl, 
 
 E would be king; nay, will be, if be lives ; 
 
 This mod important day difcJos'd that fecretc 
 Ambition, like a mad tempeftuous fea, 
 Swell'd him above the bounds of wife difTembling, 
 And ended all our hopes of future freedom. 
 Juftice and liberty ! farewel for ever ! 
 If Brutus is thus fenfible of flav'ry, 
 I, who am C a E s a R 's friend, and partial for him ; 
 What is it then to others ? to thofe thoufands. 
 Who mufi: lieheap'd in duft, to raife him higher? 
 But my own words reproach me; can I call 
 Myfelf his friend, and yet confent to kill him? 
 ByHeav'n, no lefs than plain ingratitude! 
 That heavy load prefTes my tender mind ; 
 I cannot bear it. Nay, this Caesar alfo 
 Is humbly brave, and gentle in his greatnefs ; 
 Apt for converfe, andeafy of accefs; 
 Skiird in all arts, matchlefs in eloquence; 
 In war and bufinefs indefatigable. 
 Bounteous as nature, merciful as Heav*n ; 
 In all, fublime, high, and unparallel'd. 
 Yet oft humility is but the ladder, 
 By which th' ambitious climber gets fo high ; 
 But, when he once attains the upmofl: round. 
 Then ftrait he throws the ufelefs engine down. 
 Looks in the clouds, and fcorns the low degrees 
 By which he did afcend. Then Rome is loft ! 
 But is there no way left us, but his death ? 
 U 2 
 
156 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 What ! kill the bed, and braveft of mankind. 
 
 Only for jealoufy ! of being (laves. 
 
 Oh difmal found ! Who can dread that too much ? 
 
 The fear of flavery is fortitude. 
 
 And, to advife him ! No, 'tis eafier 
 
 To kill a tyrant amidft all his guards, 
 
 Than give him counfel for his country's good. 
 
 This Caesar's prudence may a while reftrain him; 
 
 But if ambition once tranfports his mind, 
 
 Down fmk at once all thoughts of right or reafon. 
 
 Goodnels of nature makes fome druggie in him ; 
 
 But ev'n that goodnefs will incline to think, 
 
 Rome (hall be happier, when himfelf is higher. 
 
 Llcf us, awake; whathoa! why Lucius I 
 
 I would it were my fault to fleep (b foundly, 
 
 Lucius, awake, awake ! 
 
 Lucius. 
 
 Call you, my lord ? 
 Brutus. 
 Get me a taper in my ftudy, boy ; 
 Then come and call me ftrait. 
 
 \^Exit Lucius; re-enters immediatefy. 
 Lucius. 
 
 Here is a fcroll 
 Kewly thrown in at window, faft feal'd up. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Give it me, boy, and hafte to light the taper. 
 
 [^x// Lucius. 
 'Tis not yet day, but fuch a (iery night. 
 That I may make a (hift to read this parchment. 
 *' Brutus, awake; for Rome has loft her reft, 
 
 IReads, 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 157 
 
 " And takes it ill that thou fhouldfl: fleep fo {bundly : 
 " Awake, and ftrike! — There was a Brutus once — 
 *' AndTARQjuiN" — Ha! thus I mufl: piece it out; 
 There was a Brutus who redeem'd his country. 
 And did what now we all expert from thee. 
 *' Shall Rome" — 'Tis dark, but fure it muft be thus. 
 
 {_Reads. 
 '* Shall Rome, the midrefs of the proftrate world, 
 " Be ravifh'd by a tyrant ? Brutus, ftrike.'* 
 O Rome ! and doft thou call upon thy Brutus ? 
 Am I thought worthy of thy choice ? 'Tis done : 
 Thou fhalt not wait for aid that I can bring thee. 
 Enter Lucius again. 
 Lucius. 
 Somebody knocks at the gate : Sir, fliall I open ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 See who 'tisfirftj 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 harflinefs of this deed would (ink my fpirits, 
 Did not afTifting juftice hold me up. 
 
 Enter Lucius luith a taper, 
 Lucius. 
 'Tis Cass I us, ray lord. 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 Is he alone ? 
 Lucius. 
 Ko, but I could not well perceive the reft, 
 There faces are fo muffled in their robes. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Let them come in. They are the fadion ! 
 
158 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 SCENE If. 
 
 Enfer Cassius, and the rejl of the ConJpiratorSy 
 muffled up J in their robes, 
 
 Brutus. 
 Wdcome, good brother Cassius : welcome all. 
 
 Cassius. 
 "Welcome the hour that brings us thus together, 
 
 Brutus. 
 Know I thefe men ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 You know them, and their hearts, 
 "Which are all fet upon the noble Br utus. 
 This is Trebo mius, this Decius Brutus, 
 This CiNNA, Casca, and MetellusGimber s 
 Your friends^ and followers all. 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 They are moft welcome. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Br u t us, a word. \They ivhifper, 
 
 Casca. 
 If Brutus will but join, 
 Ourfabrick's firm, and nothing then can (hake it: 
 He is the cement that muft hold us faft. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Well, noble lords, I am at laft refolv*d ; 
 Ev'n againft friendftiip, juftice has prevail'd. 
 Give me your refoiute hands. 
 
 Cassius. 
 
 And let us fwear. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 159 
 
 Brutus. 
 No oath : the caufe already is Co facrcd, 
 There is no need of oaths to make it more : 
 If fenfe of flavery, and noble (hame. 
 If thirft of honeft fame in after-ages, 
 If glorious juflice cannot move our fouls. 
 They are too weak for fuch a deed as this ; 
 Break off betimes, and ev'ry Roman here 
 Retire with bluflies to his idle bed ; 
 And then let tyranny for ever range. 
 Till each man falls unpity'd : but if thefe 
 (As who dares make a doubt ?) are noble Romans 5 
 What needs a tye among us, but our words ? 
 Plain honefty to honefty engag'd. 
 That Caesar fhall not live to laugh at cowards. 
 Let priefts, and women fwear, and feeble minds. 
 Which, wav'ring flill, need fuch a childifh check: 
 We are above fuch helps, and fteady bear 
 Our even fouls, without one doubtful ftart. 
 What Roman dares be bafe in fuch a buCnefs ? 
 Reckon his guilt, and (hame, he ventures more 
 Than if he did attempt ten thoufand tyrants. 
 
 Cassius. 
 But what of Ci CE R o ? Shall we found him ! 
 His gravity will countenance our heat. 
 
 Trebonius. 
 No need of that, now Brutus is engag'd. 
 
 Brutus, 
 I know him well, believe him jufi: and wife; 
 Yet vanity a little clouds his virtue: 
 Nor is he bold enough for fuch a bufincfs. 
 
l6o JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 The horfe that ftarts, however good beiides, 
 In war is troublefome, nay, dangerous. 
 
 Decius Brutus. 
 But Antony, fo well belov'd by Caesar, 
 That inftrument of all his tyranny. 
 If he furvive, will be another Caesar. 
 
 Trebonius. 
 Decius, well urg'd; AntgniOs muftdle. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Oh ! by no means ; our courfe will feem 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 Caesar's favour. 
 Let us be facrificers, but not butchers. 
 We only draw our fvvords againft ambition ; 
 Not againft Caesar's perfon, but his power: 
 Oh ! that we, then, could come at Ca esar's fplrit, 
 Abate his pride, and yet not fpill his blood ! \_Sighs» 
 It cannot be; Caesar, alas! mud bleed. 
 Yet, gentle friends ! 
 
 Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully ; 
 Let's ferve him up, a difh fit for the Gods ; 
 Not mangled, as a feaft to beads of prey. 
 Our hearts fhould melt, like thofe of tender parents. 
 Who oft in fiiarp, but necelTary rage, 
 Corretft offending children with remorfe, 
 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 An TO Ni us therefore, think not of him; 
 For he can do no more than Caesar's arm, 
 When Caesar's head is off. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. j^j 
 
 Trebonius. 
 
 But yet I fear him: 
 For he loves Caesar, and is moft audacious, 
 
 Brutus. 
 I hope that loving Caesar is no fault; 
 Elfe I confefs that I am guilty too : 
 If he loves Caesar, all that he can do 
 Is tobegriev'd, and pine away for Caesar : 
 And it were ftrange he (houldj for he is giv'n 
 Too much to wildnefs, company, and pleafures. 
 
 Cassius. 
 There is no fear of him ; let him not die ; 
 For he will live and laugh at this hereafter. 
 
 Decius Br utus. 
 But hold; how late's the night ? 
 Brutus. 
 
 'Tis five, at leaft. 
 Cassius. 
 O how I long to welcome the eighth hour. 
 The wilh'd alarm to our great purpofes ! 
 
 Decius Brutus. 
 *Tis time to part, left at our feveral homes 
 We fhould be mifs'd too long. 
 Cassius. 
 
 But what if Caesar 
 Should forbear coming to the Capitol i 
 The unaccuftom'd terror of this night 
 May move the augurs to forbid his going : 
 And, tho' hirafelf's above fuch idle fears. 
 Yet the moft wife and brave muft yield to cuftom. 
 
 Decius Brutus. 
 Never doubt that : and the* he were refolv'd, 
 X 
 
l62 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 I can o'erfvvay him ; for he loves to hear me. 
 
 Prudence, the' much fuperior, often yields 
 
 To fubtle mirth, and fly infmuation. 
 
 If Caesar ftay at home, becaufe it thunders, 
 
 I can in jeft reproach him with his fear; 
 
 He'll laugh, yet fear he (hall be thought afraid. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Kay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. 
 But fee, 'tis almoft day ; fome light appears. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Then let us be difpers'd, like foggy clouds. 
 To meet again in thunder. 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 Friends, farewel. 
 Only remember that we all are Romans ; 
 That thought will keep up our exalted fpirits. 
 
 \_Ey:eiL?it Confpirators ; inariet Brutus. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 E?iter Portia midrefs^dy as neiu rifen from hed, 
 
 Portia. 
 Brutus ! my lord, where are you ? 
 
 Br utus. 
 
 What, my Portia! 
 Why do you thus expofe your tender healtli ? 
 
 Portia. 
 Can I confider health, without your love ? 
 You have unkindly ftol'n from me to-night. 
 And by your abfence robb'd me of my reft : 
 How could my Br UTUS tlius ungently leave 
 One fo unwilling to be left by you ? 
 
JULIUS caesar; i6i 
 
 Brutus. 
 Chide not too much, my Portia ; and yet 
 There is fome pleafure to be chid Co kindly. 
 Our fex has tendernefs equal to yours; 
 Yet we, incumbred with vexatious cares, 
 No fooner bend our fofter thoughts to love. 
 But bufinefs, like a mafter too fevere, 
 Stands hov'ring over us amidft our pleafure. 
 And drags us to our tirefome task again. 
 
 Portia. 
 But life is fhort ; oh ! why (hould we mif fpend It ? 
 A wretch condemn'd to die within few hours, 
 Would think them ill emplcy'd in compliments ; 
 The folemn trifles of a bufy world 
 Are oft but compliment, compar'd with love, 
 Whofe (hort and precious hours you throw away. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Dear Po r t i a , now you but difturb my thoughts, 
 
 Portia. 
 Can mine be eafy then ? 'Tis no fmall thing 
 Can vex your even mind, and make you froward, 
 Froward with me, which you was ne'er till now: 
 This night I folded you within thefe arms, 
 And ask'd you if you flept, if you were well ? 
 You faid,you cou'd not fleep, and yet turn'd from me, 
 
 Brutus. 
 Turning from thee is reftleffnefs indeed ; 
 Thou only comfort to my troubled mind ! 
 May joys and full content remain in yours, 
 
 Portia. 
 Oh ! preach content to one upon a rack, 
 And he will hear as foon. 
 
 X 2 
 
i'64 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 My foul is fo perplex'd with fears for you. 
 That all the joys of nature, or of fortune. 
 Could find no entrance here at fuch a time. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Retire, retire ; talking fo tenderly, 
 You, like officious and condoling friends, 
 But more afflidt that mind you would compofe : 
 I hope you think me neither falfe nor foolifli. 
 If it were fit for you to know my cares, 
 ' Fwere ill in me to let you ask me twice: 
 Let iliatfuffice, and leave me; 'tis a word 
 I never us'd to thee before. 
 
 Portia. 
 
 Alas ! 
 You would not ufe it now, if dill you lov'd. 
 Can you have thoughts unfit to own to me ? 
 You are unjuft, and I undone : farewel. 
 
 Brutus. 
 What means my Po r t i a ? 
 
 Portia. 
 
 Brutus unjuft! 
 Oh ! 'tis a wonder, which your very foes 
 "Would not believe, tho' told it by your friends; 
 And to me too, who had lead caufe to fear it ! 
 So little I deferv'd to find him fo. 
 Am I but only partner of your pleafures. 
 Fit for your trifling hours, and to be kept 
 At hateful diftance from your nobler thoughts ? 
 "What is it I have innocently done. 
 To lofe that truft, which always follows kindnefs. 
 And therefore yours is chang'd ; I fee it plainly : 
 Thunder is fall'n on my poor guiltlefs liead, [IVeeps, 
 And ail but I; perhaps, have heard the blow. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 165 
 
 Brutus, 
 In this you wrong me, Portia. 
 
 Portia. 
 
 Would I did I 
 I never wifh'd a wrong to you before. 
 
 Brutus, 
 How have I liv'd,and which of all my aftlons 
 Has giv'n theieaft occafion ev'n for malice ? 
 I am, you know, not like the reft of husbands ; 
 JMy promife and my vows are ties to me. 
 As ftrcng as fame and virtue are to you : 
 I will not mention now the bands of love. 
 In which I thought we were for ever fix'd. 
 What thefe unjuftfufpicions may produce 
 Either in you or me, alas ! I know not. 
 Therefore be calm and kind, as thou art us'd, 
 w-^nd try fuch rough, ungentle ways no more. 
 My mind, you know, hardens againft compullion. 
 But eafily bends under gentle ufage. 
 
 Portia. 
 O let me now try that foft way again. 
 Thus low, thus tenderly, I beg to know 
 
 [Falls 071 his neck. 
 That which, in troubling you, ev'n tortures me. 
 Shu nn'd as I am, I have a fhare in all 
 Your refolutions, fpite of your unkindnefs. 
 You cannot (hut me out from tender cares 
 For ev'ry thought of yours: that zealous part 
 Themeaneft flave may have in mighty Caesar, 
 And yet give no offence. 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 The mighty Caesar ! 
 
l66 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 I am that meaneft flave, if he remain \_j4part. 
 
 The mighty Caesar. Kneel not, gentle Portia. 
 
 Portia. 
 I fhouldnot need, if you were gentle Brutus. [JVeeps. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Oh ! my foft heart ! my refolution*s arm'd 
 Againft all dangers, nay, againft my friend ; 
 Yet, firm to all things elfe, it yields to love ; 
 
 [Takes her in hU arms. 
 It yields to Portia. You are now too charming: 
 For pity, hide your kindnefs, or your beauty ; 
 There's no refifting both. 
 
 Portia. 
 
 'Tis kindnefs only 
 Which makes me wifti I had that beauty too. 
 But are you, then, not angry ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 What ! with thee ? 
 The mod obdurate creature, ev'n a tyrant, 
 In all his height of anger, and of pride, 
 Could not be proof againft one tear of thine. 
 
 \KiJfes her. 
 Oh! Portia, be not you that tyrant then; 
 For well you know your pow'r, and may be mine. 
 
 Portia. 
 But tell me all. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Then , know, that they who came to me this night— 
 But why {hould I go on to thee, my Portia, 
 In any language but in that of love ? 
 'Tis to profane thy ear to entertain it 
 With any harfher found ; fpare then thyfelf. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 167 
 
 Portia. 
 But you were juft about to let me know. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Know what ! know things that will but trouble thee ! 
 Believe me, Portia, 'tis dangerous 
 For thee to tread in thefe obfcurer paths ; 
 Serpents lie hidden there, whofe confcious fting 
 Will rob thee of thy reft. 
 Oh ! prefs not thus to bear a part in that, 
 Which with its weight will crufh thy tender mind. 
 
 Portia. 
 lama woman, but am Cato's daughter: 
 My heart is tender, but to Brutus only. 
 Think you 'tis nothing, to have fuch a father, 
 And fuch a husband ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 Well then, hear it all. 
 Portia. 
 Hold, deareft Brutus. 
 I dare not hear it yet ; I'll try this firft. 
 
 \She Jiahs herfelfin the arm, 
 Brutus. 
 Hold, what d'ye mean ? 
 
 Portia. 
 To try my fortitude. 
 For, tho' I durft have trufted my firm mind 
 With any thing which but concern'd myfelf ; 
 Where you're engag'd, it was too great a venture: 
 I doubt my firmeft thoughts, while you fufpefl them. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Oh, wonder of thy fex ! 
 Gods ! make me worthy of this matchlefs woman ! 
 
l68 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 Hafte, hafle, and let thy wouod be quickly drefs'd. 
 
 Within I'll tell thee all, " 
 
 And in thy bofom pour my very foul. 
 
 [Ejf// Portia. 
 
 Enter Lucius. 
 Lucius. 
 A meflenger, my lord, from mighty Caesar 
 Is fent to fummon you, and Caius CassiUs> 
 About fome weighty matter prefently. 
 
 [£'x//Lucius» 
 Brutus. 
 From C A E B A R ! and my brother Ca s s i u s too ! 
 An early fummons this ! We are -betray 'd. 
 Loft and undone, yet lefs in our own ruin. 
 Than in the letting him efcape. Oh ! Rome, 
 Thou haft in vain depended on thy Brutus ! 
 But I will go, left my delaying now 
 Should raife fufpicion ; and if all's difcover'd, 
 My life is ufelefs, and not worth my care. 
 
 [Exeunt, 
 
 BetiDeen the fecond and tJnrd Acl^ thefe verfes are to he 
 fling by a per/on reprefentirtg the Genius of Rome, 
 
 SECOND CHORUS. 
 
 LO ! to prevent this mighty empire's doom, 
 From bright unknown abodes of blifs I come. 
 The awful Genius of majeftick Rome. 
 
 Great is her danger : but I will engage 
 Some few, the mafter-fouls of all this age. 
 To do an a<^ of juft heroick rage. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 169 
 
 *Tls hard, a man fo great fhould fall fo low ; 
 
 More bard, to let fo brave a people bow 
 
 To one themfelves have rais'd, who fcorns them now. 
 
 Yet, oh ! I grieve that Brutu s fhould be ftain'd ; 
 Whofe life, excepting this one a(5t, remain'd 
 So pure, that future times will think it feign'd. 
 
 But only he can make the reft combine ; 
 The very life and foul of their dcfign ; 
 The centre, where thofe mighty fpirits join. 
 
 Unthinking men no fort of fcruples make; 
 Others do ill, only for mifchief 's fake ; 
 But ev'n the beft are guilty by miftake. 
 
 Thus feme, for envy, or revenge, intend 
 
 To bring the bold ufurper to his end; 
 
 But for his country, Br y tu s (labs his friend. 
 
lid JULIUS CAESAR, 
 
 ACT III. SCENE I, 
 
 T^^ Scene w Caesar's apartment, *where he appears 
 undrefs^d. 
 
 Caesar. 
 \ Mbition, O thou tyrant of my foul \ 
 JljL How much a gentler lord am I to Rome^ 
 Than thou to me ! I am the only Oive. 
 This day was dully fpent in publick fports, 
 Things too magnificent for true delight. 
 Joy dwells in filent fhades, and private pleafures; 
 In peace, and not in pomp: then, my long nights, 
 Thofe precious hours defign'd for foft repofe, 
 Are by unruly cares thus ravilh'd from me. 
 Etiter Ji/Nius. 
 
 Junius. 
 Brutus andCASSius attend your pleafurc, 
 
 Caesar. 
 I tell thee, Junius, my trufty freedman, 
 That melancholic Cassius needs obferving. 
 If e'er I could be capable of fear, 
 I think it would be thatof penfive Cassius. 
 He loves not learning, no, nor poetry; 
 Nor is his fullen humour pleas'd with mufick. 
 "When others laugh, he fo demurely fmiles, 
 As if he thougtit neannefs to be merry. 
 Seldom he likes what others moH: approve, 
 And loves to praifewhat all men elfe diflike. 
 Such men as he arc never at their oafe, 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 171 
 
 "While they behold a greater than themfelves. 
 Yet he is brave, and Ihall have due preferment. 
 
 [£x// Junius. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 £';?/<?r Brutus and Cassius. 
 
 Caesar. 
 You feem amaz'd at fuch an early fummons ; 
 I have notflept all night. 
 
 Cassius. 
 
 On what account ? 
 
 Caesar. 
 *Tis only what I fuffer from my cares. 
 But my unquiet mind fhould not difturb 
 Such noble Romans, had you not been both 
 Nearly concern 'd in what I have to fay. 
 
 Cassius. 
 .We are betray'd. {.Softly, 
 
 Brutus. 
 No matter ; let us not 
 JBetray ourfelves by want of refolution . {Softly, 
 
 Caesar. 
 The two great vacant offices of praetors 
 (On which ev'n neighb'ring princes look with envy) 
 Shall now be fill'dby two the greateO: Romans. 
 I owe the commonwealth that care, to find 
 Who beft deferves her favour or her frown. 
 
 Cassius. 
 We neither beg for one, nor fear the other. 
 
 Caesar. 
 Cassius,! know your foul is void of fear^ 
 Y 2 
 
172 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 And above grudging at your brother's greatnefs. 
 
 Cassius. 
 I underftand no oracles ; but fure 
 Brutus and I are friends, as well as brothers, 
 
 Caesar. 
 And therefore you will be the more contented. 
 If I advance him ev'n above yourfelf ; 
 Defert like his can never rife too high. 
 I know no pleafure equal to obliging 
 Tranfcendent merit in an humble mind. 
 Such modefl: worth (hould get the prize from courtfliip. 
 Yet this may only be my love's miftake ; 
 For, I confefs my weaknefs, I am frail. 
 
 [Embracing Brutus. 
 Like other men, and partial for a friend ; 
 Yet that's a fault Heav'n eafily forgives. 
 Be thou, my beft-lov'd Brutus, chief of praetors i 
 And Cassius may accept the fecond place, 
 
 [To Cassiu*. 
 Kot only In the ftate, but my afFetStion. 
 No thanks : a coin not counted among friends. 
 
 [Exit CaE5AR, 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Tis well it proves no worfe. 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 What worfe can be ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 Sure, Brutus has noreafon to complain. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Yes, of you, Cassi us ; if you can believe 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 173 
 
 I would receive a favour from a foe. 
 Is this a time to be oblig'd by Caesar? 
 Good Gods ! had I not doubts enough before ? 
 Did I not ftruggle hard enough for virtue ? 
 That this laft tendernefs of his is added 
 To (hake my very foul i The ftrong imprcflion 
 May break my heart, but (hall not bend my mind. 
 Gas SI us in this Is bonour*dmore than Brutus; 
 For, when our country is fomuch debased, 
 Repulfe is glorious, and advancement fhame : 
 I'll not be rais'd by him who ruins her. 
 It was no private injury provok'd me ; 
 Frowns had not frighten 'd me, nor {hall his favour$| 
 With all their Syren voice, entice me to him. 
 I muft go on thro' virtue's plaineft courfe ; 
 In that fmooth path there is no fear of falling. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Enfsr the Confpirators, and other Senators, 
 
 Cassius. 
 See, if our friends are not already come. 
 'Tis later than we thought. You are well mtt, 
 
 CiNKA. 
 
 Is Caesar ftirring yet ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 
 Juftnowgonein; 
 And will, when dreft, immediately come forth. 
 Fear nothing ; all's fecure. 
 
174 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 S C E N E. V. 
 
 Enter Caesar again ^ drefe'd. 
 
 Caesar. 
 "Welcome, my friends. 
 Decius Brutus. 
 The fenatc does attend great Caesar's prefence; 
 And we are come to wait upon you thither. 
 
 Caesar. 
 Let *em attend a while; *tis early yet. 
 I ... 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 f«/^r Antony, 
 
 "What, Antony, who revels all the night ! 
 Is he up too ? Nay, then 'tis time to go. 
 
 Antony. 
 Rather to ftay : I came not here in courtfliip. 
 But 'tis the facred college of the priefts 
 "Which brought me hither ; and they wait without. 
 Hear 'em, great Cae sar ; it concerns you nearly, 
 And what does fo, is for the good of Rome. 
 
 Caesar. 
 The fenate ftays ; another time will ferve. 
 
 {_As he is going out, enter thePrieJis, who flop him. 
 
 Priest. 
 Great Cae sar, hail! forgive our zealous hafte^ 
 Urg'd by divine portent, which fent us her^ 
 To warn the mighty ruler of the world. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. tji 
 
 Caesar. 
 Speak : I attend the mefTage of the Gods. 
 
 Priest. 
 As on mount Aventine I lately fat, 
 Attir'd with facred robes, and fouthward turn'd ; 
 The Heav'ns all clear, and free from black prefage; 
 With my bent w^nd I the due rites perform'd. 
 And parted all the regions of the air. 
 When lo, ill-boding birds appear'd from far, 
 Bearing misfortunes on their ominous wings : 
 I gaz'd upon them with prophetick skill. 
 Till a fierce flafli of lightning check'd my fight. 
 Then, in one inftant, all the Heav'ns were chang'd; 
 Clouds, fwcU'd with thunder, roU'd themfclves along, 
 With noife too horrible for human ear. 
 
 Caesar. 
 It thunder'd, and it lighten'd : well, go on. 
 
 Second Priest. 
 Omens of ill in feveral kinds agree: 
 Having now chofe for folemn facrifice 
 A large grown-bull, the goodlieft of the herd; 
 With an unwonted rage he breaks his chains, 
 Making fierce way thro' all the firighten'd crowd. 
 Which gaz'd, and trembled ; fo divided flood 
 Betwixt their curiofity and fear: 
 At laft, he at the altar laid him down. 
 And fcem'd to beg the blow, which none durfl give; 
 Then on a fudden (hook the air like thunder ; 
 And with unhear'd-of bellowing breath'd his laft. 
 When open'd, we beheld, with eyes amaz'd. 
 This boift'rous beaft,that rag'd with fo much clamour. 
 Yet had no heajt. 
 
^^« JULIUS GAESAR. 
 
 Caesar. 
 
 And I fhoold feem like him. 
 Did I give way to ev'ry idle fear. 
 
 Priest. 
 Is it an idle thing to fear the Gods ? 
 Thou'rt in their power, as the world in thine; 
 And each may own a fear without a blufti, 
 
 Antony. 
 Good Caesar, beadvis'd : in this one thing 
 Yield to your friends, and fend the fenate word 
 You are not well. 
 
 Caesar. 
 What, fend 'era an excufe ! 
 Have I in conquefl: ftretch'd my arm fo far. 
 And fear at laft to tell grey-beards the truth ? 
 No, Antony, truth will bear out itfelf. 
 I would do much to give my friends content; 
 So, let them know I (hall not come to-day; 
 Cannot, is falfe; and that I dare not, falfer. 
 I will not come: go, tell it to the fenate. 
 
 [To Decius Brutus. 
 Decius Brutus. 
 But (hall not I pretend fome caufe for this? 
 
 Caesar. 
 The caufe is in my will. I will not go. 
 That is enough to fatisfy the fenate. 
 Decius Brutus. 
 Sir, I obey; but pardon my afFet5^ion, 
 If it offends you with untimely care: 
 The fenate is refolv'd to give a crown 
 This day to mighty Cae sar : who can tell. 
 But by to-morrow their loofe minds may change ? 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 17^ 
 
 AfTemblles are uncertain as the fea, 
 Which ebbs and flows, now rifes and now falls, 
 Juft as the hum'rous wind inclines to move. 
 No woman changes more than crowds of men. 
 
 Caesar. 
 How weak your fears feera now, good Antonv i 
 I muft not let the fair occaCon fall. 
 Prepare the ceremony ; I am ftay'd for, 
 
 Brutus. 
 Prudence in vain defends unhappy men: 
 When Heav'n ordains, the wifeft hafte to ruin. 
 
 ^Exeu?2t omms. 
 
 To he fling after the Third A6iy by fnvo aerial Spirits, 
 
 THIRD CHORUS. 
 
 I. 
 
 TELL, oh ! tell me, whence arife 
 Thefe diforders in our skies ? 
 Rome's great Genius wildly gaz'd; 
 And the Gods feem all amaz'd. 
 
 II. 
 Know, in fight of this day's fun, 
 Such a deed is to be done, 
 Black enough to fhroud the light 
 Of all this world in difmal night, 
 
 I. 
 What is this deed? 
 
 II. 
 To kill a man. 
 The greateft fince mankind began : 
 
 Z 
 
178 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 Learned, eloquent, and wife, 
 Gen'rous, merciful, and brave I 
 I. 
 Yet not too great a facrifice, 
 The liberty of Rome to fave ? 
 IL 
 But will not goodnefs claim regard; 
 And does not worth deferve reward ? 
 
 I. 
 Does not their country lie at flake ? 
 Can they do too much for her fake ? 
 
 BOTH TOGETHER, 
 
 Tho' dreadful be this doom of fate, 
 Juft is that pow'r which governs all: 
 Better this wond'rous man fliould fall, 
 
 Than a moft glorious, virtuous ftate. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR, 17^ 
 
 A C T IV. S C E N E I. 
 
 The Scene a Street^ through 'which Caesar pajfes in 
 pomp to the Senate- houfe^ attended by thofe Senators 
 ^ho ijijere nuith him at the end of the former A^, 
 
 Enter Sp u r l N N a haflily, 
 
 T Caesar. 
 
 HE Ides of March are come. 
 
 \To Spurinna. 
 Spurinna. 
 
 But not yet paft. 
 Be pleasM, great Cae s a r , to perufe this parchment. 
 
 Messala. 
 'TIs from a friend of G a e s a r , this petition ; 
 At your firft leifure read his humble fuit. 
 
 Spurinna. 
 Oh ! Caesar, read mine firft, 'tis for your fafety : 
 Read it, great Caesar, read it inftantly. 
 
 Caesar. 
 What moft concerns ourfelf, fhall laft be read: 
 I'll lay it up againft a time of leifure. \T'o Gassius. 
 
 Cassius. 
 What ! do you trouble C a e s a r in the ftreet I 
 Bring your petitions to the Capitol. 
 
 Spurinna, 
 But, mine concerns his life. 
 
 Cassius. 
 
 I know it does ; 
 Therefore away; we'll all take care of that. 
 Z 2 
 
l8o JULIUS CAESAR,. 
 
 SCENE IL 
 
 ^he Scene is changed to the Sefiate-houfe^ which appears 
 full of Senators, nvho all rife up at Caesar's com- 
 i?2g. One of the?n ivhifpers Brutus. 
 
 Senator. 
 All good fuccefs attend your enterprize. 
 
 Cassius. 
 What did he fay ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 He wifti'd me good fuccefso 
 Cassius. 
 See, he makes up to Caesar earneftly. 
 We are betray'd ! But I will kill myfelf ; 
 Caesar or Cassius never fhall go back. 
 
 Brutus. 
 There is no danger, Cassius ; Caesar fmlles ; 
 You may perceive they talk of lomething elfe. 
 
 Decius Brutus. 
 Let's all kneel round to beg forCvMBER's life. 
 
 Brutus. 
 'Tis mean at any time, but needlefs now; 
 Go you; I will not kneel. 
 
 Cassius. 
 
 Well, what you pleafe. 
 Casca ftrikps firft; but flay, Caesar will fpcak. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. i8t 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Caesar fits oji a feat above the reft ; then rtfes up and 
 /peaks, n.vhile the Senators Jiand round him, 
 
 Kow, rev'rend lords, if any weighty thoughts 
 
 Opprcfs your minds, unload your cares on me ; 
 
 For that's a burthen which belongs to pow'r. 
 
 Is there a barb'rous people yet fo rude. 
 
 Or fo remote, as not to fear your arms ? 
 
 ril make them join with all the world befides 
 
 In due fubmiflion to fuperior virtue. 
 
 Is that great Parthian king fo haughty grown, 
 
 As not to reverence this awful fenate ? 
 
 My arms fhall hafte to humble all his pride, 
 
 And bring him bowing to your leaft commands. 
 
 Others, to raife themfelves, deprefs their country; 
 
 But my ambition is to make your valour 
 
 Shine out more bright to all the fubjeft world. 
 
 Yet vain were all my triumphs, if I (hould 
 
 Be fear'd abroad, and not be lov'd at home; 
 
 Therefore, what enemy have I not pardon'd ? 
 
 The name of foe excufes hate, and harm ; 
 
 And he that fears it leaft, forgives it fooneft. 
 
 Cold friends, indeed, are fomething more proovking; 
 
 Yet I can pafs them by with fcorn and pity. 
 
 The equal law (hall run its even courfe ; 
 
 Kothing fliall interpofe, except my mercy; 
 
 Juftice herfelf may lean that way fometimes. 
 
 Plain merit fhall not languifh unregarded. 
 
 While cunning courtfhip fleals away the favour. 
 
|8« JULIUS CAESAR, 
 
 On this depend ; and while I govern thus, 
 You will not grudge, if I (hall govern long ; 
 And not refign my pow'r, like unlearn'd Sylla, 
 For want of skill to ufe it. 
 
 Casca. 
 
 Oh ! I can hold no longer. 
 [T^ey all J} ah Caesar, 'whojiruggles ivith 
 them till he fees Brutus ft r ike, 
 
 Caesar. 
 What, Brutus too ! Nay, then *tis time to die. 
 
 [Falls do'mny and covers himfelf laith his robes* 
 
 Brutus. 
 Liberty! freedom! tyranny is dead. 
 Nay, ftir not, worthy lords, nor be amaz'd ; 
 We mean no harm to any Roman here : 
 Conful, retire, for fear the coming crowd 
 Should prefs too much upon your reverend age. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Run to the flreets, and cry out. Liberty ! 
 Ring in their ears aloud that pleafing found. 
 Stoop, Romans, ftoop, 
 
 And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood, 
 Befpot our garments, and befmear our fwords ; 
 Then walk we forth into the market-place, 
 And waving our red weapons o'er our heads. 
 Cry out aloud, freedom and liberty ! 
 
 Brutus. 
 The deed is done, what need we triumph in it ? 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. %t% 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 Enter a Senator. 
 
 Well now, what news ? 
 
 Senator. 
 
 The people are amaz*d. 
 Cry out, and ftarc, and run about the ftreets. 
 As in an earthquake. 
 
 [T/rey allfloop dorwn to Caesar's hody^ except 
 Brutus. 
 
 Casca. 
 
 How many ages hence 
 Shall this our lofty fcene be adted o'er, 
 In ftates unborn, and accents yet unknown ! 
 
 Trebonius. 
 How many times fiiall Caesar bleed in fport. 
 While the attentive throng (hall melt in tears. 
 To fee his fall ! 
 
 Brutus. 
 As oft as that (hall be, 
 So often fhall this knot of us be call'd 
 The men who gave their country liberty. 
 Let's venture forth. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Come, on then, let's away. 
 Brutus (hall lead, and we will grace his fteps 
 With all the beft and boldeft Tons of Rome. 
 
 Brutijs. 
 What ! Antony return'd, and without arms ! 
 
i^4 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Enter Antonf, and taking no notice of them f 
 falls on his knees to Ca ES ar's body, 
 
 Antony. 
 I was unable to defend thy life, 
 And therefore now can fcarce endure my own^ 
 Thou great good man ! is all thy race of glory 
 Brought to this wretched end ? Didft thou fcorn death 
 In all thofe bloody fields, to find it here ? 
 Oh, 'tis I feel it ; thou art paft the pain ; 
 But in niy heart 'tis afted o'er and o'er. 
 For ev'ry thought of thee, and of thy love, 
 Gives me frefh forrow : take my tribute here 
 Of fighs and tears that always ihall attend thee, 
 
 I ask your pardon, noble lords ; my thoughts 
 Were too much there, to look on aught befides* 
 Yet think not I repent of what I faid ; 
 For I will fpeak thepraifcsof my friend, 
 Kor fear ev'n Heav'n, (hould it reply in thunder. 
 He was my friend, and I will flill be his, 
 Tho' the Gods rage, and mankind meanly joins j 
 Who fhew regard to Heav'n in nothing elfe 
 But flighting merit, when the Gods forfake it. 
 Yet I, of all fufpec^ed, and alone. 
 Will boldly thus embrace this precious body. 
 Nay, gaze not onmc with fuchthreat'ninglooksj 
 Think not^ that if I valu'd now my life^ 
 I am fo foolifti to expofe it thus. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 185: 
 
 What hour fo fit forme, what death fo glorious, 
 As here to fall with Caesar, and by you, 
 The mafter fpirits, fure, of all the world ? 
 Kill me then quickly ; kill me with thofe daggers 
 That reek in blood of him I lov'd fo well: 
 For, could I languifh out a thoufand years, 
 I ne'er fhould find myfelf fo fit to die: 
 'Tis now a pleafure, what may be a pain. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Oh! Antony, beg not your death of us. 
 You little think, when you commended Ca e sar, 
 How much my foften'd heart approv'd your praife. 
 Rough tho' we feem, and tho' our hands are bloody, 
 Yet, Antony, you only fee our hands, 
 Which, free, as thofe of juftice, from all rage, 
 Have done adeed,fpite of our fofter fouls. 
 Your friendfiiip to dead Caesar we efteem. 
 And value yours the more: then join with us 
 To fettle Rome firm in its ancient freedom; 
 And we will join with you to make you great ; 
 As great as can confift with liberty. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Your voice fiiall found as high as any man's 
 In the election of new magiftrates. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Only be patient till you hear the caufe 
 Of all this feeming cruelty. You know 
 Caesar us'd me as kindly as yourielf. 
 Were I ambitious, or fought private ends, 
 TJiis, fure, was not the way. Witnefs, you Gods l 
 Kone e'er who kill'd himfelf, lov'd him he flew. 
 Better than I lo v'd C a e s a r ! 
 A a 
 
i86 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 Antony. 
 
 Oh m^^ heart ! 
 Hold up a while, and help me to difTemble! \Afide, 
 Give me your hands, I mufi: accept your love, 
 Mod noble Brutus, and yours, Caius Cassius. 
 Alas ! my credit ftands on flipp'ry ground ; 
 And there's a precipice on either fide. 
 To anfvver this your gentlenefs with rage, 
 (When you thus fpare me ev'n againft my will) 
 That would appear but a too rough return : 
 Yet may not this too look like fear, or flattVy ? 
 That I lov'd Caesar, I muft ever own ; 
 That he lov'd me, his favours fhew'd too well 
 How fiiall I do my part to him, and you ? 
 Unlefsyou will vouchflife to give me reafons 
 Why Caesar died; and let me bury him 
 
 (As it becomes his friend) with decent honour : 
 
 Then I'll but fteep his allies in my tears, 
 
 And in his cold urn fmother all my forrow. 
 Brutus. 
 
 'Tis jud, we grant it ; take his body hence; 
 
 And I will join myfelf to do him honour. 
 Cassius. 
 
 Hold, Brutus; firft confider v%'ell of that: 
 
 The eafy rabble maybe mov'd againft us. 
 
 Who knows how rhet'rick may prevail on fools? 
 Brutus. 
 
 We need not, Cassi us, be fo much concern'd ; 
 
 Now Rome's fecure, there's no fuch thing as danger. 
 
 'Twas Caesar's foulwefear'd, and that once gone, 
 
 We cannot ufe his harmlefs corpfe too well. 
 Cassius. 
 
 But yet I fear the worft. 
 
JUilUS CAESAR. 1S7 
 
 Brutus. 
 Befides, I'll go. 
 And r^eak before him in the market-place. 
 But, Antony, your praife muft be fo nice, 
 \s not to blame our adion: you may (hew 
 Koth love to Caesar, and eftecm of us. 
 
 Cassius. 
 His fpeech (liall be your pattern ; fo wc leave you 
 To pay that pity which you owe your friend. 
 
 \_Exeunt all but Antony, 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 Antony, '■d>hofta7ids over the bcdy ofCh E s A R, alone, 
 
 Antony. 
 
 Pity Indeed ! but what a wretched change: [foul 
 That thou fiiouldft move it! Thou, whofe wondVous 
 Was high as e'er humanity attain'd ; 
 Yet gentle as the humbled of mankind. 
 
 \E liter fo77ie friends <?/* A N t o n y . 
 Thy vafl ambition was but juft, and like 
 The element of fire when firft created, 
 Vvhich foar'd above the reft, to (hine more glorious, 
 And chear the under world with light and heat. 
 Thou ftill fhalt fhine a comet, and portend 
 A black and bloody fcene of civil war. 
 Thefe wounds infpire me with prophetick skill. 
 Which like dumb mouths op'ning their bloody lips, 
 Seem to intreat the utt'rance of my tongue. 
 Now tlie whole world difturb'd, will mifs thee foon ; 
 Aa 2 
 
iS8 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 Men fliall bemoan their mafter, beat their breads, 
 
 And lay upon thy death all their misfortunes. 
 
 Wars, bloodlhed, malTacres, fuch horrid deeds. 
 
 And fatal fury, (hall be fo familiar, 
 
 That cuftom Ihall take off all fenfe of crime. 
 
 And fhame and guilt fliall be but words forgot^ 
 
 Loft in the boundlefs licence of the times. 
 
 Come, let us bear him to the market-place. 
 This is a jewel yet, tho* dropt by fortune; 
 With which we'll purchale popularity, 
 And fet up for ourfelves in this new world. 
 Our tears and grief will foften their hard hearts. 
 Fit to receive impreflion from our words. 
 And when crowds liften once, there is no fear : 
 They have the people's hearts, who have their ear. 
 
 [Exeunt fwith the body ^Gae SAR, 
 
 To hefung after the fourth A£i. 
 FOURTH CHORUS. 
 
 HO W great a cur(e has providence 
 Thought fit to caft on human-kind ! 
 Learning, couragej eloquence, 
 
 The gentleft nature, nobleft mind. 
 Were intermixt in one alone ; 
 Yet in one moment overthrown. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. i^ 
 
 Could chance, or fenfelefs atoms join 
 
 To form a foul fo great as his ? 
 Or would thofe pow'rs we hold divine, 
 
 Deftroy their own chief mafter-piecc ? 
 Where fo much difficulty lies, 
 The doubtful are the only wife. 
 
 And, what muft more perplex our thoughts; 
 
 Great Jove the heft of Romans fends, 
 To do the very worft of faults, 
 
 And kill the kinded of his friends. 
 All this is far above our reach, 
 Whatever priefts prefume to preach. 
 
l^ JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 ACT V. SCENE I. 
 SCENE iie Forum. 
 
 Enter Brutus a^id G a s s i u s,/oI/onved by crowds 
 of Citizens, 
 
 Bi Citizen. 
 EHOLD the men who have dellver'd Rome ! 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 Brutus has freed us all, and he fhall rule us. 
 
 3 Citizen. 
 
 We will be free, and ferve the noble Br utu s. 
 
 Br utus. 
 Why, Friends, ye fpeak impoflibilities ; 
 Would ye be free, yet ferve? how odd that founds ! 
 I grieve to fee you bear your change no better. 
 But give me leave to fatisfy you all, 
 Why we have done this deed, andforwhofe fakes. 
 I'll go up here ; they who will hear me, ftay ; 
 The reft may follow Cassius, and hear him. 
 
 1 Citizen. 
 I would hear Brutus fpeak. 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 
 I'll follow Cassius : 
 And we'll compare together what they fay. 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 191 
 
 3 Citizen. 
 The noble Brutus is afceiided : Silence ! 
 
 Brutus. 
 Friends, deareft countrymen, and worthy Romans; 
 You lovers of your laws and liberties; 
 Hear me throughout with patience, not with pafiion : 
 For, tho' your kindnefs is my chief contentment, 
 I would not owe your judgment of this deed 
 To any thing but reafon well informM. 
 Who is it here thinks Caesar innocent ? 
 I was his friend, and yet I thought him guilty; 
 And faults are great, which friends cannot forgive. 
 Why fliould I kill him then but for your fakes? 
 A wretch who yields a limb to be cut off. 
 Does only that to fave a life that's dearer : 
 And when a grieving parent whips his child, 
 Call it correction, but not cruelty. 
 If then the very beft of C a E s a r 's friends 
 Should ask me, Why I kill'd him ? Thus I anfwer j 
 It was not that I lov'd him lefs than he; 
 But 'twas becaufe I lov'd my country more. 
 W'ou'd you have Caesar live, and die all flaves; 
 Rather than have him dead, to live all freemen ? 
 As Caesar lov'd me, oh ! I weep for him; 
 As he was fortunate, I can rejoice; 
 As he was valiant, I honour him: 
 But, as he was ambitious, I flew him. 
 Who's here fo bafe, as would become a bondman ? 
 If any, fpeak; for him I have offended. 
 Who's here fo rude, that would not be a Roman? 
 If any, fpeak; for him I have offended. 
 \Mio's here fo vile, to value any thing, 
 
192 JULIUS GAESAR. 
 
 Ev'n his beft friend, before the publick good ? 
 I own, nay boaft, I have offended hira. 
 What fay you countrymen ? 
 Citi3;ek. 
 
 None, Brutus, none. 
 Brutus. 
 Then none have I offended by his death. 
 The reafon for it (hall be fair enroll'd ; 
 His glory not diminifh'd in the leafl. 
 Here comes his body, moum'dby good An ton lus; 
 
 Enter Antony *with the body ©/"Caesar, 
 
 Who, tho' a friend of Caesar, is ours too ; 
 And ^o has leave to bury him with honour. 
 In a free government all fhould be friends : 
 And he, who would have fav'd this Caesar's life. 
 Shall yet receive advantage by his death. 
 Freedom of vote in governing the world : 
 As which of you (hall want it ? I conclude ; 
 That, as I flew my friend to fave my country, 
 I here have the fame dagger for myfelf. 
 Whenever Rome (hall wifh, or need ray death. 
 
 [Defcends, 
 
 1 Citizen. 
 
 Live, Brutus, live: bring him in triumph home, 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 Give him a ftatue by his anceftors. 
 
 3 Citizen. 
 Let him be Caesar. 
 
 4 Citizen. 
 
 Caesar was nothing to him; 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 193 
 
 ^et him be crown'd, I will have Brutus crown'd. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Hold, worthy countrymen. 
 
 1 Citizen. 
 
 Peace; filence. 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 
 Peace ; 
 For Brutus fpeaks again. 
 
 Brutus. 
 You'll make me draw this dagger once again ; 
 But 'tis againft myfelf ; for I would die 
 Your fellow-friend, rather than live your lord. 
 You almoft make me wifh Caesar alive : 
 If one muft rule, there's none could do it better. 
 Pray hear Marc-Antony; formy fake hear him; 
 He fpeaks by our permifTion, and is noble. 
 But, while he praifes Caesar, then remember 
 I honour'd him as much, but lov'd you more. 
 Nay, ftay, good Romans ; not a man go with me. 
 
 1 Citizen. 
 
 This Cae BAR was a tyrant ; Brutus fays lb; 
 And no man living knows a tyrant better. 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 
 For, neighbours, why (hould Brutus kill himelfe ? 
 He lov'd him. Therefore fure he was a tyrant, 
 
 3 Citizen. 
 Notably faid ! anfwer me that who can. 
 
 But come, let's hear Marc-Antony a little, 
 
 Antony. 
 ^or Brutus' fake I am beholden to you, 
 Bb 
 
1194' JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 1 Citizen. 
 
 \\ hat's that of Brutus ? bcftfpeakwellofBRUTus, 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 
 How's this ? What does he fay, for Brutus' fake? 
 
 3 Citizen. 
 
 He fays, for Brutus' fake he is beholden to us. 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 Oh, very well ; go up Mar c-An tony. 
 
 Antony. ^, 
 
 Shall I go up^ and will you give me leave ? 9 
 
 Citizens. 
 Ay, ay. [Antony afcends. 
 
 Antony. 
 Friends, countrymen, and Romans, hear me gently; 
 I^pme to bury Caesar, not to praifehim. 
 Lo here the fatal end of all his glory : 
 The evil that men do, lives after them ; 
 The good is often bury 'd in their graves : 
 So let it be with Caesar. Noble Brutus 
 Has told you Caesar was ambitious: 
 If he was fo, then he was much to blame ; 
 And he has dearly paid for his offence. 
 I come to do my duty to dead Caesar. 
 Here, under leave of Brutus and the reft. 
 He Was my friend, faithful and jufl to me; 
 But yet it fecms he was ambitious. 
 Brutus has faid it, I muft fay it too; 
 For Brutus is a man of ftridleft honour. 
 Thouf^nds of captives Caesar brought to Rome, 
 Whofe ranfom often fiU'd the publick coffers. 
 Was this ambition \ Bru t u s fays it was : 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 19^ 
 
 And Brutus is an honourable man. 
 When wretched orphans cry 'd, C a e s a r would weep ; 
 So weep for them, that they have wept no more : 
 Ambition feldom is fo tender-hearted. 
 You all have feen how at the publick fports, 
 Out of a foolifh and too forward love, 
 He was prefented with the kingly crown, 
 Which he then thrice refus'd ; was this ambition ? 
 Yet Brutus fays he was ambitious, 
 And Brutus is a man we all muft honour. 
 I fpeaknot to difprove what Brut us fpoke. 
 But mufl: as little wrong this dead, good man. 
 You all did love him once, not without caufe : 
 And will you hate him dead, whom you lov'd living ? 
 
 juftice, juftice ! whither art thou fled ? 
 For men have loll their reafon. Bear with me ; 
 
 My heart's beneath that mantle there with Caesar ; 
 And I muft paufe a while, 'till it comes back. [JVeeps. 
 
 1 Citizen. 
 
 Methinks there's much of reafon in his fayings, 
 If you confider rightly of the matter. 
 Caesar has had fome wrong. 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 
 Hashe, my mafters? 
 They will have much ado to make amends to him. 
 
 1 fear there will a worfe come in his place. 
 
 3 Citizen. 
 
 Mark'd you his words ? he would not take the crown ; 
 Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious. 
 
 I Citizen. 
 If it be found ky fome fliall pay dear for it. 
 Bb 2 
 
196 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 See, if good Antony can fpeak for weeping ? 
 
 5 Citizen. 
 There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 But mark him ; he begins again to fpeak. 
 
 Antony. 
 But yefterday the word of Caesar might 
 Have pafsM through all the world : now he lies there, 
 And none fo low to do him reverence. 
 Oh Romans ! if I were difpos'd to move 
 Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, 
 I fhould do Brut us wrong, and Cassius wrong, 
 Who, you all know, are honourable men. 
 Yet here's a parchment with the feal of Caesar, 
 I found it in his clofet; 'tis his will: 
 Let but the commons hear this teftament, 
 (Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read) 
 And they would run and kifs dead Ca e s ar's wounds, 
 And dip their napkins in his facred blood ; 
 Nay , beg a hair of his for memory, 
 And dying, mention it within their wills. 
 Bequeathing it as a rich legacy 
 To their dear ilTue. 
 
 4 Citizen. 
 We'll hear this will : read it, Mar c-Anton y. 
 
 All. 
 The will, the will, we muft hear C ae s a r 's will. 
 
 Antony. 
 Have patience, gentle friends ; I muft not read it ; 
 It is not fit you know how Caesar lov'dyou. 
 
 I 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. i^f 
 
 You are not wood, you are not ftones, but men j 
 And being men, hearing the will oFCaesar, 
 It will inflame you, it will make you mad: 
 'Tis well you know not that you are his heirs; 
 For if you did, oh ! what might come of it ? 
 
 3 Citizen. 
 Read the will, Antony ; for we will hear it. 
 
 Antony, 
 Will you be patient i will you flay a while ? 
 I have o'erfhotmyfelf to tell you of it> 
 I fear I wrong the honourable men, 
 Whofe daggers ftabb'd the undefended Caesar, 
 
 1 Citizen. 
 Traytors and rogues ! they honourable men ? 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 
 Villains and murderers ! Come, read the will, 
 
 Antony. 
 You will compel me then to read the will. 
 Then make a ring about the corps of Caesar. 
 And let me fhew you him that made the will. 
 Shall I defcend ? and will you give me leave ? 
 
 All, 
 Come down. 
 
 1 Citizen. 
 Defcend, you fhall have leave. 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 
 A ring, 
 
 3 Citizen. 
 
 Stand off a while; ftand from the body there. 
 
 4 Citizen. 
 
 Make room for Antony, mofl: noble Antony* 
 
198 JULIUS CAESAR, 
 
 Antony. 
 Nay, prefs not fo upon me, gentle friends. 
 If you have tears, prepare to Ihed 'era now. 
 You all have leen this mantle ; I remember 
 The firft time ever Caesar put it on; 
 'Twas on a Summer's ev'ning in his tent. 
 After a glorious light againft your foes. 
 Look ! in this place ran Cassius* dagger through ! 
 See what a rent the envious Casca made ! 
 Here, here, the well-belov'd Brutus ftabb'd ; 
 And as he pluck'd his curfed fteel away, 
 Mark how the blood of Caesar follow'd it! 
 As rulhing out abroad, to be refolv'd 
 If it were Brut us fo unkindly ftruck? 
 For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's fav'rite; 
 Judge, O you Gods ! how dearly Ca esar lov'd him. 
 This, this was the unkindefl: ftroke of all! 
 For when undaunted Caesar faw him ftab. 
 Ingratitude, more ftrong than traytors arms. 
 Quite vanquifh'd him. Then burft his mighty heart; 
 Then in his mantle muffling up his face, 
 Under a croud of villains, Caesar fell. 
 Oh ! what a fall was there, my countrymen ! 
 Then I, and you, and Rome itfelf too fell. 
 While bloody treafon flourifh'd o'er our heads. 
 Oh 1 now you weep, and I perceive you feel 
 The dint of pity ; thefe are worthy drops. 
 Kind fouls ! what ! weep you when you but behold 
 Our Caesar's vefturc torn ? Oh ! then look here i 
 Here is himfelf^ mangled you fee by traytors ! 
 
 [Tahs off the mantU, 
 
JUtlUS CAESAR. 19^ 
 
 1 Citizen. 
 O mournful fight ! 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 
 O cruel traytors, villains I 
 
 3 Citizen. 
 
 O noble Caesar ! but we'll be reveng'd. 
 Set fire, kill, flay, let not a tray tor live. 
 
 Antony. 
 Stay, countrymen. 
 
 4 Citizen. 
 
 Peace there ; he fpeaks again. 
 All. 
 We'll hear him, follow him, and die with him. 
 
 Antony. 
 Good friends, dear friends, let me riot ftir you up 
 To fuch a fudden flame of mutiny. 
 They who have done this deed, are men of note: 
 What private griefs they had, alas ! I know not, 
 Which made them do it ; they are wond'rous wife, • 
 And will, no doubt, give you fome fliew of reafon. 
 I come not, firiends, to fteal away your hearts : 
 I am no orator, as Cassius is; 
 But as you know me all, a plain, blunt man, 
 Who love my friend ; and that they know full well, 
 Who gave me leave to fpeak in publick of him: 
 For I have neither art, nor words, nor worth, 
 Adlicn, nor utt'rance, nor the pow'r of fpeech. 
 To ftir mens blood ; I only fpeak plain truth, 
 And tell you that which you already know: [mouths. 
 Shew you dear Caesar's wounds, poor, poor, dumb 
 And bid them fpeak for me: But, were I Brutus, 
 
200 JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 And Brutus here; fo great an orator 
 Would rouze up ev'ry foul, and put a tongue 
 In cv'ry wound of Caesar, which fhould move 
 The very ftones to rife and mutiny. 
 
 All. 
 We*ll mutiny ; we'll burn the houfe of Brutus. 
 
 4 Citizen. 
 Away then, come, feek the Confpirators* 
 
 Antony. 
 Yet hear me, countrymen, yet hear me fpeak. 
 
 All. 
 Peace, ho ! hear Antony, mod noble Antony, 
 
 Antony 
 Why, friends, you go to do you know not what. 
 W^herein has Caesar thus deferv'd your love? 
 Alas ! you know not ; I muft tell you then. 
 You have forgot the will I told you of. 
 
 All. 
 'Tis true, the will ; let's flay and hear the will. 
 
 Antony. 
 Here is the will, and under Caesar's feal; 
 To ev'ry Roman citizen he gives, 
 To ev'ry fev'ral man, fev'nty-five drachma's. 
 
 3 Citizen. 
 Well faid; thofe drachma's will coft fome men dear. 
 
 All. 
 Moft genVous Caesar ! we'll revenge his death. 
 
 Antony. 
 Hear me with patience. 
 
 All. 
 Peace, ho ! noble Caesar 1 
 
JULIUS CAESAR. 201 
 
 Antony. 
 
 Moreover, he has left you all his walks, 
 
 His private gardens, and new-planted orchards 
 
 On this fide Tiber, here he gives to you. 
 
 And to your heirs for ever ; publick pieafures. 
 
 To walk, abroad, and recreate yourfelves. 
 
 Here was a G a e s a r ! when comes fuch another ? 
 
 All. 
 O never, never ; come, Sirs, come away, 
 
 Antony. 
 Hold, hold, my mafters, (lay one moment longer; 
 Now keep your hearts from breaking if you can : 
 Prepare ye now to burft with grief and anger. 
 Behold this fcroll, the very hand of Caesar ! 
 In it he notes this firm and fettled purpofe ; 
 Firft to fubdue theParthians, our worft foes. 
 And then reftore Rome to her ancient freedom, 
 " I'll keep the pow'r, faith he, of Rome's di(ftator, 
 " Till I have vanquifh'd all her enemies : 
 " Then, oh ye Gods ! may flie be free for ever, 
 ^' Tho' at the expence of all our deareft blood ! " 
 That precious blood is here indeed let out, 
 But Where's the liberty we purchafe by it ? 
 Slaves as we are to murderers and villains, 
 
 1 Citizen. 
 We'll burn his body in the holy place, 
 
 And with the brands fire all the villains hou(es. 
 
 2 Citizen. 
 Take up tlie body. 
 
 3 Citizen. 
 
 Go, fet fire^ pull down 
 Cc 
 
2^2 JULIUS GAESAR. 
 
 The very fenate-houfe where Caesar dy'd. 
 
 Antony. 
 So, let it work : mifchief, thou art afoot, 
 Take now what courfe thou wilt ! deftrudtion, ruin, 
 The baneful ilTue of fo black a deed ! 
 
 Ambition, when unbounded, brings acurfcj 
 But an afFaflinate deferves a worfe. 
 
 THE EN1>. 
 
THE 
 
 TRAGEDY 
 
 O F 
 
 MARCUS BRUTUS 
 
 WITH THE 
 
 PROLOGUE, 
 
 AND THE 
 
 TWO LAST CHORUS'S. 
 
 WRITTEN BY HIS GRACE 
 
 JOHN DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. 
 
I 
 
I wj a 
 
 P R O LOG U E' 
 
 BY THE 
 
 AUTHOR. 
 
 /^ U R fcene is Athens. And great Athens nam'd^ 
 
 What foul fo dull as not to be inflam'd ? 
 Methlnks, at mentioning that facred place, 
 A rev'rend awe appears in ev'ry fece. 
 For men fo fam*d, of fuch prodigious parts, 
 As taught the world all fciences and arts. 
 
 Amid ft all thele, ye fhall behold a man 
 The moft applauded fince mankind began ; 
 Out-fhining ev'n thofe Greeks who moft excel ; 
 Whofe life was one fix'd courfe of doing well. 
 
2o6 THE prologue; 
 
 Oh ! who can therefore without tears attend 
 On fuch a life^ and fuch a fatal end ? 
 
 But here our author, befldes other faults 
 c»Of ill expreflions, and of vulgar thoughts. 
 Commits one crime that needs an z£t of grace, 
 And breaks the law of unity of place : 
 Yet, to fuch noble patriots, overcome 
 By fadious violence, and banifh'd Rome, 
 Athens alone a fit retreat could yield : 
 And where can Brutus fall, but in Philippi field ? 
 
 Sdme cri ticks judge, ev'n love itfelf too mean 
 A care to mix in fuch a lofty fcene, 
 And with thofe antient bards of Greece believe 
 Friendflilp has ftronger charms to pleafe or grieve ; 
 <But our more am'rous poet, finding love, 
 Amidft all other cares, ftill fhines above; 
 Lets not the beft of Romans end their lives, 
 Without juft foftnefs for the kindeft wives. 
 Yet, if ye think his gentle nature fuch. 
 As to have foften'd this great tale too much, 
 Soon will your eyes grow dry, and paflion fall ; 
 When ye refleft, 'tis all but conjugal. 
 
 This to the few and knowing was addrefl ; 
 And now 'tis fit I Ihould falute the reft. 
 
THE PROLOGUE. 207 
 
 Moft reverend dull judges of the pit. 
 By nature curs*d with the wrong fide of wit ! 
 You need not care what-e'er you fee to-night, 
 How ill fome players aft, or poets write ; 
 Should our miftakes be never fo notorious. 
 You'll have the joy of being more cenforious : 
 Shew your final] tallent then, let that fuffice ye j 
 But grow not vain upon it, I advife ye ; 
 Each petty critick can objeftions raife. 
 The grcateft skill is knowing when to praife. 
 
Dramatis Perfonae. 
 
 M. BRUTUS. 
 C. CASSIUS. 
 
 LUGILIUS, FRIEND OF Brutus. 
 
 TITINIUS> P R I E N D O F C A S S I U S . 
 
 PINDARUS, FREEDMAN OF CaSSIUS. 
 
 VARItJS, A YotTNG Roman bred at Athens. 
 
 THEODOTUS, A PHILOSOPHER. 
 
 M. ANTONIUS, the TRIUMVIR. 
 
 DOLABELLA, friend of M* Antonius. 
 
 JUNIA, wife of Cassius, and sister of Brutus. 
 
 Magistrates of Athens. 
 
 Centurions. 
 
 Officers. 
 
 Soldiers* 
 
 THE PLAY BEGINS THE PAY BEFORE THE BATTLE 0? 
 PhiLIPPI, and ends WITH IT. 
 
C 209 ] 
 ACT I. SCENE! 
 
 A Veftibiile in i\thens. 
 E?2ter LuciLius ^w^Varius. 
 
 LuciLius. 
 
 EXPRESS upon exprcfs arrives from Rome. 
 Their veneration for mod noble Brutus 
 Is now reviv'd, and makes all mourn his abfence. 
 
 Va r 1 u s . 
 But yet Tome threaten to deltroy us here, 
 For giving flielter to that worthy Roman : 
 What means this contradiction ? 
 LuciLius. 
 
 I'll inform you. 
 Our empire groanM beneath the pow'r ofCAESAR ; 
 A man fo fam'd for clemency and courage, 
 (Qualities charming ev'n in enemies) 
 That none, tho' virtuous, could refolve to 3(51 
 A bold and noble deed, which all men wifii'd. 
 
 Varius. 
 You mean the death of Caesar. Pray go en. 
 
 LuciLius. 
 At length, a man of all the world inclln'd 
 The leaft to violence, or any pafllon ; 
 
 A man fubiimely wife, exafliy juft » 
 
 Dd 
 
210 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Varius. 
 After this charafter, you need not name him. 
 
 LuciLius. 
 Brutus, the head of all thofe noble fpirits 
 Who fhine at Rome, and rule the under world, 
 Seledls the very choiceft of them all. 
 And fells the tyrant in the very fenate. 
 
 Varius. 
 This deed of Brutus feems the will of Heav'n. 
 
 LUCILIUS. 
 
 And To accounted for his wond'rous virtue. 
 
 The foldiers, fenators, and common people, 
 
 (If among Romans they can be fo call'd) 
 
 Ev'n the bcft friends of Caesar follow'd BrutuS; 
 
 As the avow'd deliv'rer of his country: 
 
 Till his foft nature, and his gen'rous fpirit, 
 
 Refign'd the corps to be interr'd with honour. 
 
 Varius. 
 That made this fatal change, as we are told. 
 
 LUCILIUS. 
 
 Moft true, in thofe that heard the fam'd oration. 
 What is it eloquence cannot perfuade? 
 Reafon itfelf comes over to its fide. 
 Thus Antony, foon as his fpeech was ended, 
 Rais'd in that heat fo great a rage agalnft us. 
 As forc'd ev'n friends to aft the part of foes : 
 Yet now the wife repent, and rev'rence Athens 
 For thus fupporting the moft worthy Brutus. 
 
 Varius. 
 The roads from Rome are fill'd by valiant crouds. 
 Who fly from fafety, to partake our danger. 
 
 LUCJLIUS. 
 
 No wonder: fince virtue has ever fix'd 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 211 
 
 Kind correfpondence between Rome and Athens. 
 The youth of Rome, and all whom Rome has con- 
 Hither repair to learn philofophy. quer'd, 
 Chief among thefe, you (fon of famous Tully) 
 Advis'd no doubt by your illurtrious father, 
 Invited Brutus and his brother Cassius 
 To make great Athens centre of the war. 
 
 Varius. 
 And (he has own'd your caufe in ample manner. 
 Armies are levy'd, and vaft funis are rais'd, 
 In the defence of Roman liberty. 
 LuciLius. 
 Oh ! noble efforts of republick fpirit ! 
 Why this is being friends to human-kind ; 
 Which, next to Heav'n, is moft oblig'd to thofe 
 Who refcue liberty from vile oppreffioij. 
 
 Varius. 
 Our ancient heroes thus grew Gods themfelves : 
 Befides, 'tis in a manner felf defence 
 To help in neighb'ring dangers ; for it hinders 
 Future encroachments on ourfelves at home. 
 
 LUCILIUS. 
 
 of that, Athenians are almoft too jealous: 
 Ev'n with ingratitude they crufh ambition. 
 And banifli merit, when the lead afpiring. 
 
 Va r I u s . 
 Mod wifely do they act, nay juflly too : 
 For we reward a leader's fervice bell:. 
 In barring him the means of doing mifchief. 
 Happier, much happier had it been for Caesar, 
 Had he been banifti'd, while yet innocent. 
 Than e'er return'd triumphant o'er his country, 
 Dd 2 
 
212 THE DEATH OF 
 
 SCENE n. 
 
 Enter Dolab^lla, ptdl:7:g off his difguife, 
 
 LuciLius. 
 What! DoLABELLA here ? 
 
 DOLABELLA. 
 
 A friend to Varius, 
 Sent by A M TON I u 5 in mofl: fecret manaer, 
 To ask an interview of noble Brutus, 
 Before the foldier joins in bloody battle. 
 Who knows but each great chief may grow more kind. 
 In fight of wond'ring armies may embrace, 
 And Rome fliall fraile at their returning friends ? 
 
 \Exit Luc I LI us. 
 Varius. 
 And can you think that Brutus flew great Julius, 
 To fuffcr tyranny in other hands? 
 
 Dolacella. 
 Alas ! that tyranny is but a word, 
 Us'd only by us when we hate our rulcF. 
 Have we not found (you'll pardon me, good Vari us) 
 That ev'n this change you call deliverance 
 Hjs but remov'd one hardfhip for a greater, 
 A fingle grievance for a civil war ? 
 
 Varius. 
 What do I hear ! Is any grievance equal 
 To that moft abjedt ftate of being fubjecls 
 To will, to paflion, or to lawlefs humour ? 
 
 Dolabella. 
 Yet thefc expreflions ihew 'tis not mere ruling, 
 But ruling ill, you fear. When prudence fways, 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 213: 
 
 *Tis happinefs, not flav'ry, to be govcrn'd. 
 To blefs our times with plenty, and with pleafures. 
 Prevent diforders, and promote diverfions, 
 Hinder uz all from hurting one another, 
 Take all the cares, and leave us all the joys, 
 Can only be accorapli(l:'d by great power, 
 W hen plac'd in fuch a man as God-like Brutus. 
 
 Varius. 
 \Vhere is content or pleafurc under force ? 
 The freedom of man's will not Heav'n conflrains ; 
 Who wants it, and endnres it, is a brute. 
 Yet put the cafe fome Phoenix prince fhould reign, 
 A Vultur might fucceed ; a fon, or brother, 
 AVho will undo in a few months of folly, 
 (For (hort will be his reign, tho' feeming long) 
 AVhate'cr the wife had been whole years contriving. 
 Like Brutus, did you fay? A man like Brutus 
 Ko more would be a fov 'reign, than a flave : 
 A man fo virtuous, and fo wife, well knows 
 'Tis better much to bear than do a hardship. 
 
 DOLABELLA. 
 
 What hardfhip's done by ading for mens good ? 
 
 Varius. 
 What good can come from arbitrary fway ? 
 The choiceft fare, forc'd down, will cloy the ftomach. 
 But here he comes himfelf to hear your melTage : 
 At once the humbleft and thehighert mind 
 That ever (hin'd in all our Roman (lory ! 
 
 [_E>:it Varius, 
 
214 THE DEATH OF 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Enter Brutus. 
 
 Brutus. 
 A meflage from Anton lus claims a hearing, 
 \Vhom, tho' ray enemy, I ftill efteem. 
 
 DOLABELLA. 
 
 His boldeft willies aim at nothing higher; 
 And therefore thus alTures moft noble Br utus, 
 That what he has done was by nafure forc'd, 
 From his frefh forrow for his flaughter'd friend; 
 But now his bleeding country moves him more. 
 And his foul fhakes at fight of civil war. 
 Secure him but by taking fov'reign pow'r, 
 To you alone he joins with all his force. 
 
 BRUT17S. 
 
 And I abandon Cassius, and my friends! 
 
 DOLABELLA. 
 
 Far be it from me to propofe fuch bafenefs. 
 
 May they, and we, be happy under you. 
 
 And the whole world once govern'd by the virtuous. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Ah ! DoL ABELLA, little do you know 
 The mind of Brutus. When I flew your Caesar, 
 Think you it was ambition ? Jove iswitnefs, 
 I would have crown'd him rather than myfelf. 
 •But Rome claim'd freedom, tho' by Caesar's death ; 
 Tho' by defl;ru(5lion of my deareft friend : 
 And free (he (hall be (till, if I prevail. 
 An TON lus joining in that glorious work, 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 215 
 
 May claim whate'er a commonwealth can give: 
 Kay, I will be his foldier in her fervice. 
 Then, neither he nor we fhali longer ftrive, 
 But only who fhall ferve his country beft. 
 
 DOLABELLA. 
 
 will you then rather fee the world in arms. 
 Than govern it yourfelf to make it happy ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 May the great Gods deftroy that world and me, 
 If e'er I fuffer Rome to be enflav'd I 
 Rome, that has toil'd for fame fo many ages, 
 By valour, and by virtue tam'd mankind, 
 Soften'd rude minds, and in the wildeft foils 
 Eftablifh'd manners and humanity ; 
 And, cultivating youth v/ith ftri<fteft care, 
 Firft taught urbanity, that ufeful ait 
 Of being moft politely fociuble ; 
 (A virtue fcarce known in the world befide, 
 And chiefiy owing to our liberty) 
 Gods ! fhall all this fink into mean fubmilTion ? 
 Which in a moment would debafe our fouls. 
 Like thofe in wretched governments around us. 
 
 DOLABELLA. 
 
 But yet fubniiflion feems defignM by nature : 
 Why, elfe, has (he bcftow'd fuch difF'rent talents? 
 Some, like your own, with worth, and skill to govern , 
 And thoufands only fitted to obey. 
 
 Brutus. 
 As well you might imagine harmlefs flicep 
 Only created for the rav'nous wolf. 
 
 DoLABELLA. 
 
 But Is man blameable for maft'ring both ? 
 
[I2i6 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Brutus. 
 Ko ; for thofe beafts are of inferior rank : 
 But where does nature, or the will of Heav'n, 
 Subjeft a creature to one like itfelf ? 
 Man is the only brute enflaves his kind. 
 
 DOLABELLA. 
 
 'Tis not the fhape, but foul, that fhews the likencfs : 
 Is a mere changeling Jike a man of prudence ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 A man of prudence never will at once 
 Make both himfelf and all the world unhappy. 
 Think you that 'tis for envy kings are hated ? 
 Pity would rather plead in their defence, 
 Did we not more compaffionate their fubjefls, 
 Alas ! they fcarce have one contented hour; 
 Few to confide in, and whole crowds to fear; 
 Afham'd to rule fo many wifer fubjefls, 
 Yet often fway'd by weaker ihan themfelves, 
 
 DOLABELL A. 
 
 All this were reconcil'd, if Brutus govern'd; 
 Freedom and empire might confilt together: 
 Yourfelf would be the only man uneafy ; 
 Which, for the fake of all, you will not grudge. 
 
 Br utus. 
 If there were colour for fo vile a change, 
 Or the leafl: pleafc.re in the greateft power ; 
 Yet I abhor what I difdain to hear. 
 Return in fafety back, but tell Antonius, 
 My higheft wifh is to fix Rome in freedom ; 
 My next; to die before (heisenflav'd. 
 
 [_Exii DoLABELLA J 7?ianei Brutus. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 217 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Enter Varius and Lucilius. 
 
 Varius. 
 The Areopagite council long have fat, 
 To do great Brutus fome unwonted honour. 
 Some voted to renew th' Olympick games, 
 Others with plays would crowd the theatres ; 
 But thefe were held diverfions too divine, 
 And only con fecrated to the Gods. 
 At laft, the wifeft and mofl: famous fenate. 
 In love to you, in ferviceto the publick. 
 In veneration for fuperior virtue, 
 Refolves to rear your ftatue carv'd by S a mi us. 
 That greateft artift, for thebefl of men ; 
 And place it in the facred temple, next 
 HARMONiusand Aristogiton, 
 Thofe worthy patriots of learned Athens. 
 
 Lucilius. 
 How many ages hence (hall wealth of princes 
 Vie for thefe dear remains, fo doubly famous. 
 Both for the work, and him it reprefents ! 
 
 Brutus. 
 Was ever honour from fo wife a people 
 Defign'd fo kindly, yet beftov/'d fo ill ? 
 I am not only deftitute of merit, 
 But of ambition, more than to do good. 
 Fame's only due for deeds beyond our duty ; 
 Who can do thofe in fervice of his country ? 
 The Romans, and ev'nCASSius, may repine 
 E e 
 
2i8 THE DEATH OF 
 
 At fuch a partial proof of their affecflion. 
 Advife me how to fhun it with refped. 
 
 Varius. 
 You fliould not, cannot now, without affront. 
 Ko mean aiTembly this, fuch as proceeds 
 In iliew for puWick good , with private aim ; 
 Sluggifh tomeet,yetha(ty to refolve. 
 Thefe, in fafe methods, and with prudent fteps, 
 Encourage virtue, and uphold their country. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Enter Casuvs, 
 
 Cassius. 
 I greet my friend on this new compliment ; 
 Which, in your name, fhews a refped to all. 
 The death of Caesar is a common caufe, 
 Which commonwealths in prudence mud approve. 
 
 Brutus. 
 True, noble Cassius ; and I never would 
 Accept an honour fep'rate from my friends. 
 Brutus has nothing in his life or humour 
 Suited to this unprecedented honour. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Meth'nks you now efteem yourfelf too little, 
 Only to prize this compliment too much. 
 
 Brutus. 
 A ftatue rear'd to me, and rear'd by Athens, 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 219 
 
 I own a mofl: tranfcendent obligation ; 
 But ev'ry fum and foldier they have rais'd 
 In aid of liberty, affe6ts me more. 
 
 Cassius. 
 I ever thought a Roman general 
 Above rewjrd from an Athenian fenate. 
 What is 1 trifle then giv'n by grey-beards, 
 Mov'd by a little popularity? 
 
 Brutus. 
 But^ to be mov'd by envy, fure, is worfe. 
 
 Cassius. 
 I did not envy Caesar, the' I flew him. 
 
 Brutus. 
 An honed mind can envy no ufurper; 
 You faid you kill'd him for the publick good. 
 
 Cassius. 
 You know I kiird him for the publick good : 
 Who doubts it, does me wrong. 
 Brutus. 
 
 Do none yourfelf. 
 What ! fhall we two, the champions of freedom, 
 Like children, grudge at one another's play- things? 
 Come, we are friends. But think not I am fond 
 
 \_Emb races him. 
 Of airy trifles, tho' lvalue fame. 
 Fame for good deeds is the reward of virtue. 
 Third after fame is giv'n us by the Gods, 
 Both to excite our minds to noble a6ls, 
 And give a proof of foine immortal ftate, 
 Where we fiiall know, that fame we leave behind, 
 That higheft bleffing which the Gods belto\y. 
 Ec 2 
 
220 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Cassius. 
 But 'tis a greater not to need their bleflings. 
 You Stoics hold a wife man is above them. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Yet not infendble to reputation. 
 For that he flights all torments, ev'n difgrace; 
 Niy, what is harder yet, defpifes pleafure; 
 A (Irength of mind which only man poiTeires. 
 
 Cassius. 
 I fee no fuch diftin(5tion, nor wherein 
 Man fo tranfcends, except in arrogance. 
 This great fuperiority of man 
 Often comes fhort ev'n of the meaneft creatures : 
 They in their ways more happily confin'd, 
 Seem not to fcorn, or bear down one another; 
 Kever ungrateful, or the lead deceiving. 
 But keep wife nature's laws with Arid obedience. 
 Oh happy for the world, if in thefe times 
 
 Mankind in gen'ral were no worfe than brutes ! 
 
 Brutus. 
 Ill men, indeed, I muft confefs, are worfe. 
 Cassius. 
 
 And fure the worfl: of all, their country's enemies. 
 
 Thefe (houid be cenfur'd by our rev'rend priefts. 
 
 Who always raife our thoughts to things above, 
 
 But yet connive at vilb.iny below. 
 Brutus. 
 
 From hence the miferies of Rome proceed. 
 
 When fraud, oppreflTion, foulell calumny, 
 
 Contempt of laws, and bold impieties, 
 
 Appear bare-fac'd ; no auguries more furc 
 
 Foretel the ruin of a finking ftate. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. '^^^ 
 
 Cassius. 
 Ko auguries ! What do they e'er foretel. 
 But as the politician bribes the pried ? 
 ]Mere combination againft common fenfe. 
 
 Brutus. 
 You'll have your way. But do you not remember 
 That foGthfayer who faid, the Ides of March 
 Were come, not gone ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 
 And that was all he knew : 
 Had he known more, why did he not inform ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 The Gods decreed that Rome fhoald be deliver'd. 
 
 Varius. 
 That devout thought revives our finking hopes; 
 Heav'n v/ill not fail a caufe it once has bleft. 
 
 Cassius. 
 But truft not all to that; let us be careful. 
 When you (hall march to-morrow after me. 
 Should we not leave fomc forces here behind ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 For what ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 To keep thefe people firmly to us. 
 The\^, who at Rome command an empire's wealth, 
 Have dangerous temptations of feducing. 
 
 Varius. 
 Oh never fear it. Shake Athenian faith ? 
 *Tis flopping tides, or driving with the winds. 
 
 Brutus. 
 They are too learn'd, and prudent, not to know 
 That 'tis the greated folly to be falfe; 
 
2P2C THE DEATH OP 
 
 Not worth a villainy to gain the world. 
 
 A low mean a€t fo rankles in the mind, 
 
 There is no joy, nor quiet afterwards; 
 
 Kind Heav'n has formM us fo, that we might find 
 
 Content and honefty ftill join'd together. 
 
 Cassius. 
 But, then we are the more oblig'd to guard *em 
 Againfl: what they might fufFer for our fakes. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Kindly, and juftly urg'd, I muft confefs. 
 But think you, that our enemies can fpare 
 The fmallcft legion from oppofing us ? 
 Detaching fome, may be their lofs of all. 
 Yet, for this place I am concern'd fo much, 
 You fhakemyreafon when you urge their danger. 
 Let them propofe what guards themfelves deiire. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Kay, there I differ; Cnce in war- affairs, 
 With all their wit, they cannot judge fo well: 
 Nor is it fit they judge in their own caufe. 
 I'll ftrait aifemble them, and then debate 
 With calm deliberation this affair ; 
 Which well deferves our fpeedieft management, 
 Since we are forc'd to march away fo foon. 
 You'll come, I hope, and fix our refolution. 
 
 [£'3c/V Cassius. 
 
 Brutus. 
 This man has fome uneafmefs of temper, 
 But over-balanc'd by his publick fpirit, 
 M'hich ever fways him to his country's good. 
 AVhate'er our mafter Ze no may have taught us, 
 Nothing is wholly perfe(5t here belov/: 
 
 i 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 223 
 
 We fhould applaud the merit that we find. 
 And caft a friendly veil on good mens faults. 
 My filler Juni a loves him to excefs 
 (If there can be excefs in love, or friendfhip). 
 Go, and acquaint her gently with the journey 
 Which he mnd: take this night towards Philippi, 
 There to decide the important fate of Kome. 
 
 [^Exit LuciLius. 
 I muft prepare the forces under me, 
 To overtake him on his march to-morrow: 
 From thence we'll hafte conjointly to the battle: 
 This fcanty road bears us not both together ; 
 And we muft once divide, to part no more. 
 
 \_Exeunt Brutus, «//^ Varius. 
 
 FIRST CHORUS. 
 
 Of Athenian Philofophert . 
 
 Written at the command of his Grace, by Mr. POPE. 
 
 I. 
 
 YE fhades where facred truth is fought, 
 Groves, where immortal fages taught, 
 Where heav'nly vifions Plato fir'd, 
 And God-like Zeno layinfpir'd! 
 In vain your guiltlefs laurels ftood 
 Unfpotted long with human blood : 
 War, horrid war, your thoughtful walks invades, 
 And fteel now glitters in the mufes fhades. 
 
^24 THE DEATH OF 
 
 II. 
 
 Oh Heav'n-born sisters! fource of art ! 
 
 Who charm the fenfc, or mend the heart} 
 
 Who lead fair virtue's train along, 
 Moral TRUTH, and myftick song ! 
 
 To what new clime, what diftant sky, 
 
 Forfaken, friendlefs, ihall ye fly? 
 Say, will ye blefs ihe bleak Atlantic fhore. 
 Or bid the furious Gaul be rude no more? 
 III. 
 
 When Athens finks by fates unjuft; 
 
 When wild Barbarians fpurn her duft; 
 
 Perhaps ev'n Britain's utmoft fhore 
 
 Shall ceafe to blufti with ftrangers gore? 
 
 See arts her favage fons controuJ, 
 
 An Athens rifing near the Pole; 
 Till fome new tyrant lifts his purple hand. 
 And civil madnefs tears them from the land. 
 IV. 
 
 Ye Gods ! what juftice rules the ball ? 
 
 Freedom and arts together fall ; 
 
 Fools grant whate'er ambition craves. 
 
 And men, once ignorant, are flaves. 
 
 Oh curs'd effcifts of civil hate; 
 
 Inev'ry age, in ev'ry ftate ! 
 Still when the lull of tyrant pow'r fuccecds. 
 Some Athens perifhes, fome Tully bleeds. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 225 
 
 A G T II. S G E N E I. 
 
 The fame Veftibule. 
 
 Efiter V A R 1 u s , iiv'M Ti t i n i u s nenvly arrivd 
 at Athens. 
 
 TiTINlUS. 
 
 WHAT mean thefe fumptuous preparations ? 
 Is ihis a time for either pomp or pleafure ? 
 When two, the beft and bolJeft Tons of Rome, 
 The juftelt caufe too that was e'er defended, 
 Are on the very brink of their deftrudion. 
 Varius. 
 
 wrong not facred Athens, Sir, the nurfe, 
 The mother of all arts and fciences : 
 
 Has fhe fpread wit and learning thro' the world, 
 ISay foften'd Rome herfelf (but rough before) 
 To arts, to eloquence, and gentler manners, 
 And is (he now upbraided ? 
 
 TiTINIUS. 
 
 Fallacious eloquence, and ufelefs arts ! 
 
 1 own her learning ; but that polifliing 
 
 Has but too much weaken'd our harder ftee!. 
 Our ancient, rough, and manly worth now bends 
 At the hard touch of perils and of toils. 
 Our gold is melted to a finer (hape. 
 But mix'd with drofs of flatt'rv and corruption. 
 Howelfe co-jld Brutus beabanifh'd man ? 
 Or how could liberty fly here for refuge ? 
 f f 
 
226 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Varius. 
 And whither fliould it fly, if not to Athens ? 
 The fchool of all philofophy and virtue. 
 Our publick recreations here are facred : 
 This day th' Athenians, ever true to virtue. 
 In this low ebb, in fpite of powr'ful Rome, 
 Have kept their cuftom, tho' againft their fafety^ 
 And confecraied fports for your fuccefs. 
 
 TiTINIUS. 
 
 Is't poflible ? Pardon a ftranger's error, 
 Newly arriv'd with fuccours from afar. 
 Sent from the Gods, I think : for 'tis their caufe; 
 And unknown regions have efpous'd our quarrel. 
 
 Varius. 
 The fports are juft beginning ; I have time 
 Only to let you know thefe are not trifles, 
 Or fuch as are in nations loofe of manners; 
 But folemn celebrations to the Gods, 
 With pious hymns imploring their protecflion. 
 Wife Athens ever has indulg'd diverfions 
 With more magnificence than greateft princes : 
 But they are all difpos'd in praife of virtue, 
 Infpiring courage, generofity, 
 And moft of all, afFedion to their country. 
 How think you now, TiTiNius i 
 
 TiTINIUS. 
 
 I recant, 
 And grow myfelf impatient for your pleafures. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 227 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 The Scene opens y and difcovers the magnificent temple 
 of?> A c c H u s , 'where the pub lick enterta'mments luere 
 njjont to be celebrated at Athens. Theftatue o/Br u - 
 Tus being this day ere^ledy is fuppofed to be the occa- 
 fion of thefe folemnities y andmujl appear in the fur- 
 thermoji part of the flage. 
 
 After thejhe<ws afjd fongs are over, Br u tu s, Luc I - 
 Lius, TiTlNius, and Varius remain on the 
 Stage, 
 
 LuciLius. 
 By thefe refin'd diverfions, we perceive 
 This town retains its old magnificence. 
 No wonder Atticus, fo nice a judge, 
 When he retir'd, preferr'd this place to all, 
 
 Varius. 
 Phllofophy is highly'fl: honour'd here ; 
 And from that fountain of fuperior wifdom 
 Flows all this ftream of arts and fciences. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Here poetry, harmonioufly divine, 
 Is moft tranfporting, thus accompany'd 
 With artful paintings, and melodious founds. 
 The Mufes join in all Athenian pleafures. 
 
 Varius. 
 But that which has occafion'd thefe delights. 
 Gives the true tafteto all; your matchlefs merit. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Hold, Varius ; too much has beenfaid already 
 Ff 2 
 
2a8 THE DEATH OP 
 
 In compliment : and I receive it only 
 
 As honour done mc for Rome's fake, not mine. 
 
 So prizes, taken but by vulgar liands, 
 
 Are brought in triumph to the Capitol. 
 
 LuciLius. 
 Yet then, we know, that leader juftly triumphs, 
 Under whofe conduct thofe rich fpoils are gain'd^ 
 
 Brutus. 
 But were our condudl equal to our caufe. 
 In which the noble Cass i us and myfelf 
 Have here engag'd all Afia on our fide; 
 Yet the whole world deliver'd, muft acknowledge 
 All owing to this gen'rous commonwealth. 
 
 Varius. 
 Rome could not fail to find fupport in Athens, 
 Her elder fitter, both in arts and arms. 
 And great proteiflrefs of fair liberty; 
 That liberty to which (he owes her fplendor. 
 
 Br utus. 
 Moft truly noted: from whence ever came 
 Good fenfe, or learning, arts of peace, or war ? 
 Deepnefs of thought, or noblenefs of nature i 
 Except where liberty inlarg'd the mind ? 
 
 Varius. 
 The very air of freedom breeds great fouls, 
 "Which education ripbns into virtue. 
 
 Brutus. 
 And here infpires the ufefullefl: of virtues. 
 Tender affedion to our native country. 
 
 Varius. 
 My friends and near relations, when I took 
 My tender leave, after a thou fan d counfels, 
 AlTur'd me that their gfeateft fatisfa<^ion 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 229 
 
 Was, that they fent me to this famous place, 
 Where wifdom, and where virtue beft are taught; 
 And own'd, when Romans write the moft politely, 
 Their higheft praife is to have copy'd well. 
 
 Brutus. 
 TuLLY himfeif confefTes Greece fuperior: 
 Yet he, of all our famous wits of Rome, 
 Shines much the brighteft. 
 
 Var ius. 
 Such applaufe from Brut us, 
 Is a reward equal to all his merit. 
 
 TiTINlUS. 
 
 To be efleem'd by you, the grcateft kings 
 
 Here fend their legions, and have lent their treafure. 
 
 Brutus. 
 And timely comes this aid. Advice from Rome 
 Affurcs us, all their force is on the march. 
 
 Varius. 
 I thought di (Tendon was among their chiefs, 
 Each of them driving to fet up himfeif. 
 
 Enter Cassius. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Juft now is come moft unexpected news; 
 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 againft us. 
 
 TiTlNlUS. 
 
 Alas \ what reasVing can there be In fools, 
 Who, bred in faction, blindly join with knaves ? 
 
230 THE DEATH OF 
 
 LUCILIUS. 
 
 They are for licence, not for liberty ; 
 
 And love thofe gen'rals bell, who lead to mifchief. 
 
 Brutus. 
 You have defcrib'd a ftate juft ripe for ruin. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Small marches need they make, to meet a foe 
 So eager as we are, to free our country. 
 Oh the delay is tirefbme ! 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 Yet have patience ; 
 With vigour aft, 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 abfence. 
 
 {Exeunt, Manet Cassius. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 Enter Junia. 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Now, all the Gods that guard the innocent, 
 Proteft my Cassius ! they are marching hither; 
 Kuin is rolling on us from afar. 
 Cassius. 
 Not hither, Junia ; we fhall fpare their pains; 
 Our forces intercept their bold prefumption. 
 And I juft now am making hafte to meet them. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 231 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Come then, away; with you all pains are eafy; 
 I am this moment ready for the journey. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Ready, alas ! you muft not for this world 
 Share in the fhifts and hazards I muft run; 
 Virtue, like yours, here none will dare to harm; 
 And while you ftay in Athens, I am eafy ; 
 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 fhare them ev'ry where : 
 And will you take that from me ? O 'tis hard ! 
 You would not, if you faw my iighing heart. 
 
 Cassius. 
 And you Ihould go, did I not doubt my own : 
 But 'tis fo tender always towards you. 
 It fliakes, alas ! my firmeft refolutions. 
 I, like feme skilful fwimmer in a fhipwreck, 
 Grafping his only treafure in his arms, 
 May, for thy fake, make too much hafte to fliore, 
 Leaving the bark with all my friends behind. 
 Your (ighs would blow away my beft refolves, 
 Soften my foul, and flacken all itsftrength. 
 W hen 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 obje6t of our love? 
 Mere thought of that is height of happinefs. 
 WTiat image have we of EJyfian bowers. 
 
aja THE DEATH OF 
 
 But fuch a gentle, calm, contented ftate ? 
 "What has this trifle of a world to do 
 With a bleft pair, who live embracing thus ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 What fays my charmer ? can I leave this woman ? 
 I could look thus, and languifti here for ever. 
 Yet there's one tye, more dear than life, or love ; 
 'Tis honour, and the f^icred good of Rome. 
 For thefe I kill'd the greatelt man on earth, 
 Engag'd the beft 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 muft do more ; 
 LeaveJuNiA here, and all my joys behind. 
 
 Junta. 
 Did I e'er think that C a s s i u s would forfake me ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 Forfake ! I leave you as the richefl pledge 
 Which can be giv'n to this illuftrious city. 
 That Rome itfelf can be no dearer to me, 
 Than friendly Athens for protecting you. 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Jewels we prize we feldom leave behind : 
 
 Oh take me with you ! my officious love 
 
 Perhaps may fliield you from Tome fudden danger. 
 
 Soften your angry and uneafy hours, 
 
 And make, adverfity itfelf feem pleafing. 
 
 My love could do all this, if yours were equal. [Weeps » 
 
 Cassius. 
 All this! nay more; what cannot Juni a do? 
 Then, fince I dare not hazard you in armies, 
 I will (lay here, and die within your arms. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 23^ 
 
 JU N I A . 
 
 You die ! oh Heav'n ! the very found of that 
 Checks my defigns, and chills all my defires. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Haft thou not heard, how hard ungrateful Rome 
 Purfues the men who once deliver'd her. 
 And riots in the blood of her redeemers? 
 Two of our band they have deftroy'd already, 
 And vow to fpare no murderer of Caesar; 
 That is to fiy, no man thatlov'd his country, 
 Ruin'd himfelf, only to refcue her. 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Oh ! I have talk'd too long : go on, make hafte j 
 I am not wont, alas ! to ufe this language, 
 But now I can fay nothing elfe: away; 
 Ko matter what becomes of me ; away. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Your fpotlefs fame muft always be your guard, 
 Rudenefs itfelf will reverence fuch virtue. 
 I mull immediately hafte to our friends. 
 Who all ailembled in the fields of Sardis, 
 Wait there for me and Brutus. He, to-morrow. 
 Shall follow, at the head of mighty numbers, 
 Rais'd only by the credit of our caufe ; 
 A caufe, well worthy of the world to fuccour ! 
 Oh ! while I languifh out this long, long abfcnce, 
 Take care of all my treafure, thy dear felf. 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Farewei ! thou trueft, kindeft, beft of men ! 
 
 But one look more and then a long farewei 
 
 To all content — —ail, till we meet again. 
 
 [iSxi/ Cassius. Manet ]vtiiA, 
 
834 THE DEATH OF 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Enter Varius. 
 
 Varius. 
 JuNiA In tears ! fo fliines an April fun ; 
 And fo the precious dew that drops on flowers, 
 Steals down unheeded by the vulgar eye: 
 But I admire this mafter-piece of nature, 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Alas ! my lord, C a s s i u s is gone to Sardis. 
 
 Varius. 
 Is't pofFible ? So I was told before, 
 Yet never could believe it till this moment. 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Why, was it not determin'd fo in council ? 
 
 Varius. 
 I muft confefs it was debated there, 
 And wifti'd by fome, that all our force at Sardis 
 Had fome great chief, for keeping martial fway : 
 But who could hope that Cassi us would be willing 
 To part from you, one day, without occafion ? 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Is it fo ftrange that Cass lus fhouldbe forward 
 In all the proofs of courage, or of condud I 
 
 Varius. 
 His fame forbids I fhould have fuch a thought. 
 But yet- 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 But what ? I cannot guefs your meaning. 
 Varius. 
 Not all the noble difcipline of war. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 23s 
 
 StrI6l rules of condu<5l,heat of martial prowefs, 
 The faith of friendfhip, or the oaths of leagues, 
 Kot fame itfelf, no nor the publick good, 
 Deferve to be prefer r'd to Juki a's love. 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Rut Rome's at flake. 
 
 Varius. 
 
 And well it would be lofl. 
 For flaying here one night within thofe arms. 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Varius, fo high a compliment as this 
 
 Shews you have fludy'd long at courtly Athens ; 
 
 Where you have learn 'd to know all things, but me : 
 
 Who, tho' I value Cai us Cassius, 
 
 As flaves do liberty, or fick men health. 
 
 Nay more than mod of my own fex love power ; 
 
 Yet (what I think the very worfl of fates) 
 
 I would lofe fight of that dear man for ever. 
 
 Rather than fee him fail our country's caufe. 
 
 Var I us. 
 Oh ample recompence for all his troubles. 
 To be fo lov'd by you ! but is he grateful, 
 Who can fo eafily endure your abfence ? 
 
 J UN I a. 
 I mourn for his, and judge his grief by mine. 
 Retirement fuits a folitary wife. 
 And melancholy loves to be alone. 
 
 {Offers to go out, 
 Varius. 
 But fhould not be indulg'd againfl your health. 
 
 [Stops her* 
 Rather fliine forth, and chear your brother's foul, 
 Og 2 
 
i^6 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Which daily finks beneath a thoufand cares. 
 
 Junta. 
 His foul's too great to need fuch feeble help. 
 Befides, tho' priz'd he be above expreflion, 
 Yet ev'n his friendfhip mufl not vye with love: 
 One thought of Cassius out-weighs all things ejfe; 
 Cassius, whofe noble foul would ne'er fubmit 
 To him who doraineer'd o'erall befides : 
 Ca s s I us, contriver of the tyrant's fall ; 
 And (what is more, far more than all the reft) 
 That hardy man who mov'd itfirft toBR utus : 
 This man, my husband, or my hero rather, 
 Shall with his prefence ever chear my eyes. 
 Or in his abfence take up all my thoughts. 
 
 [^x//JUNIA, 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 ^RUTUS.^ 
 
 My fifter weeping ! Tho' her reafon governs, 
 I judge her grief for Ca ssius, by my own; 
 For Portia's abfence fits upon my heart: 
 Nor need rblufli to bear the tender burthen. 
 So much flie merits, and fo well (he loves. 
 But publlck cares muft filence private grief; 
 Since ev'ry hour fome frefh exprefl'es tell 
 ISIew fatal turns in Rome, portending ill : 
 The wav'ring Lepidus, (perceiving Caesar 
 Had cunningly agreed v/ith Anton y) 
 Tho' with a greater army, yields to them." 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. $37 
 
 Varius. 
 What fays the nobleBRuxus ? Junia gone ! 
 
 Brutus. 
 Is Varius deaf to dangers of his country? 
 
 Varius. 
 Forbid it, Jove ! But Junia's melancholy, 
 So very moving, took up all my thoughts. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Too moving, I'm afraid. 
 
 Varius. 
 
 Indeed, my lord, 
 Had you perceiv'dthe charms of weeping beauty. 
 That gorgeous drefs which forrow had put on, 
 (Out-fhiningall the gaiety of youth, 
 The pleafing fmiles of mirth, and airs of joy) 
 Your gentle nature would be mov'd like mine. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Why you have drawn a pi(^ure,my young Varius, 
 Like any poet, nay, like any lover. 
 What, does that word draw forth a guilty blufh ? 
 Be notalarm'd, no more than I am, Varius; 
 Junia's ftrid: virtue, and known lovetoCAssiuS, 
 Fully prevent my fears, unlefs for you ; 
 Whofe father's wond'rous merit, and your own, 
 Give me a foft concern, as for a fon. 
 She is above your very vainefl: hopes : 
 Kot the mod: tempting charms of wit, or worth, 
 Moft graceful forms, or dazling fhew of greatncfs. 
 Can make imprefiion on a miiid like her's ; 
 Who, tho' my (ifter, forces praifes from me. 
 
 Varius. 
 Top much, alas ! I join in Jun i a's praife : 
 
25« THE DEATH OF 
 
 My eager thoughts ftill fly before your words. 
 And find them (hort, far (hort of Junia's due. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Then whence can rife felf-flatt'rIngexpe<5lation? 
 Can Varius reafon thus agalnll himfelf. 
 And aft quite contrary to what he thinks ? 
 Oh what is man, when blinded with his paflion ! 
 
 Varius. 
 Whyjuftthatcreature Heav'n thoughtfit tomakehim. 
 You are, indeed, exempt from all our follies. 
 And reft ferene within : yet pity others I 
 Behold, I own my undifguis'd offence. 
 And freely open all my thoughts to you ; 
 To you, who are a very God to Varius, 
 Who can at once forgive, and cure ray weaknefs. 
 
 Brutus. 
 But only by defpair : without that help. 
 There is no God himfelf can give you eale : 
 A fliarp, I muft confefs, but certain cure. 
 Our Stoical philofophy inftrufts us, 
 A wife man is above the reach of Jove, 
 Yet hardly 'fcapes the worft of demons, love. 
 But fince good Junia's foul is firm as fate. 
 Be yours fo too. What helps it to beleam'd ! 
 Or to be wife in bus'nefs of the world ? 
 Nay, where would be the good to rule that world. 
 Without an inward pow'r to govern paffion ? 
 The man difturb'd within, is but a player; 
 May a6l abroad, perhaps, fome hero's part. 
 But finks at home, a low, uneafy flave. 
 
 Varius. 
 To teach, is eafy; but to learn, is hard. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 3^9 
 
 As well might Heav'nly Socrates infufe 
 His own wife temper, while he taught his morals, 
 As Brutus raife my foul to equal his. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Be not To raodeft, Va r i u s , nor fo courtly ; 
 Brutus is not your miftrefs, btit your friend. 
 The Roman virtue (hines fo bright in you. 
 Nothing is wanting to make up perfedion 
 But your command o'er this un^uitful paflion. 
 Love, ev'n when moft fuccefsful, makes not happy. 
 Sometimes indeed, pleafure beyond expreflion 
 PoffefTes all at once both mind and body, 
 Confounding foul and fenfe with height of rapture. 
 But what allays o'erbalance all this joy ! 
 Frequent difquiets, doubts, and jealoufies; 
 Sometimes the pains of abfence, and fometimes, 
 Amidft the blifs, a difmal dread to lofe it. 
 At bed the pleafure is but intermitting, 
 While the uneafy fever never ceafes. 
 But love, when flighted, is intolerable : 
 Who courts the faireft tyrant, is a fool, 
 And lives a martyr in the meaneft caufe. 
 
 V;\Rius. 
 Enough, enough, I am already cur'd, 
 At lejft till JUNIA is beheld again. 
 
 Brutus. 
 'Tis half a cure in love to wifh for one. 
 Give me your hand, you'll march with me to-morrow, 
 Where you will drown your fighs in founds of war. 
 And turn your tend'reft thoughts on your poor 
 country. [Exewit Brutus ^//^ Varius. 
 
240. THE DEATH OF 
 
 SECOND CHORUS. 
 
 Of Athenian Youths <7//^ Virgins, 
 By Mr. POP E. 
 
 Youths. 
 
 O Tyrant love ! haft thou poftefl: 
 The prudent, learn'd, and virtuous bread? 
 Wifdom and wit in vain reclaim, 
 And arts but foften us to feel thy flame. 
 Varius withbluflies owns he loves, 
 And Brutus tenderly reproves. 
 Why, virtue, doft thou blame defirc. 
 
 Which nature has impreft ? 
 "Why, nature, doll: thou foonefl: fire 
 The mild and gen'rous breaft ? 
 Virgins. 
 Love's purer flames the Gods approve ; 
 The Gods, and Brutus bend to love : 
 Brutus for abfent Portia fighs, 
 And fterner C a s s i us melts at Ju n i a's eyes. 
 What is loofe love ? A wand'ring fire, 
 A tranfient fit of fond defire. 
 But Hymen's flames like ftars unite. 
 
 And burn for ever one; 
 Chafte, as cold Cynthia's virgin light. 
 Productive as the fun. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 241 
 
 Youths. 
 "What various joys on one attend, 
 As fon, as father, husband, friend ? 
 "Whether his hoary fire he fpies, 
 And finds a thoufand grateful thoughts arifir. 
 Or meets his fpoufe's fonder eye. 
 Or views his fmiling progeny ; 
 "What tender palTions take their turns ? 
 
 What home-felt raptures move ? 
 His heart now melts, now leaps, now bums, 
 With rev'rence, hope and love. 
 
 CHORUS OF Both. 
 
 Hence guilty joys, diftaftes, furmifes, 
 Falfe oaths, falfe tears, deceits, difguifcj, 
 Dangers, doubts, delays, furprizes, 
 
 (Fires that fcorch, yet dare not fliine) 
 Pureft love's unwafting treafure, 
 Conftant faith, fair hope, long leifure, 
 Days of ea(e,and nights ofpleafure, 
 
 Sacred Hymen ! thefc are thine. 
 
 Hh 
 
242 THE DEATH OF 
 
 ACT III. SCENE I. 
 
 In the fame Veftibule. 
 f"/;/^;- Brutus, JUNiA,LuciLius. 
 
 LuciLius. 
 
 AMelTcnger exprefs arrrv'd from Rome, 
 Is entring mournfully the palace gates; 
 And, as he pafTes, weeping all the way. 
 
 Brutus. 
 My mind forebodes ; fpeak, is my Portia well ? 
 
 Enfer MEssEtiG^R, 'wio giv^s a Letter to Brutus. 
 
 Messenger. 
 She is, Sir. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Then I hope to bear the word. 
 ^^ My duty forces me to fend you news, ^Reads, 
 *' Which, tho' you needs mufl know, I grieve to write, 
 '^ Two hundred of the nobleft rank in Rome 
 *^ Profcrib'd, and murder'd: Cicero himfelf 
 *' Giv'n up by falfe Octavius tohis foes." 
 Good Heav'ns ! to whom do ye difpofe mankind ? 
 
 IDrops the Letter. 
 Sad fate, Indeed ! So great a villainy 
 Is mod furprizing, tho* 'tis done by them. \lVeeps. 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Difmal indeed ! but oh my dearefl brother, 
 Let not your tender mind be too much touchM ; 
 Pra(5tife that patience which you now have taught me. 
 Cassius is abfent, I amdefolate. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 243 
 
 Yet Rome (you faid) muft take up all my thoughts, 
 
 Brutus. 
 And therefore 'tis for Rome I moft lament, 
 At once depriv'd of her moft worthy fons ! 
 Thefe fons are to be envy'd, not bemoan'd ; 
 Moft noble fuff'rers in their country's caufe : 
 Great Cicero lives ftill, fhall live for ever; 
 While men can read, or value worth or learning. 
 But Rome herfelf appears all pale before me, 
 Gufliing out tears, and wringing helplefs hands ; 
 Rome, Rome has loft her beft, her pureft blood ! 
 
 \Weeps again, 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 Brutus, be chear'd : her vital parts remain ; 
 In you and Cassius flows the Roman fpirit. 
 That ftill infpires whole armies on her fide. 
 
 LuciLius. 
 'Tis nobly, truly faid ; and you, bright JuNi A, 
 Poffefs a foul, tho' in a fofter frame. 
 Lofty enough to animate ev'n them. 
 
 Brutus. 
 She does, Luc 1 LIU s ; and were Portia here, 
 (But I, alas I ftiall never be fo happy) 
 Cassius and I fliould be but followers 
 Of them in the defence of liberty. 
 But oh! my Cicero ! who fpeaks thy praife, 
 Muft have a tongue like thine, beyond the bounds 
 Of Roman eloquence ; and fit to fill 
 The mouth of fame with never-dying founds, 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 How could Oct AVI US confent to lofehim. 
 The beft, as well as wifeft of his friends ? 
 Hh 2 
 
244 THE DEATH OF . 
 
 > Brutus. - 
 
 Ambition over-eager, checks at nothing ; 
 A goodly, but a dang'rous bird of prey ; 
 Flies at all game, and never to be tam'd, 
 She pecks, and tears the hand on which (he fits. 
 I often warn'd good Tully of his danger ; 
 But all in vain, when Heav'n will have it fo. 
 Hewifli'dhimfelf with us, at Caesar's death. 
 And heartily, I doubt not; iho' his foes 
 Sufpeded his too foft and tender nature. 
 
 S G E N E II. 
 
 Enter fome L i c t o r s , bringing /«Theodotus naith 
 them bound as a Prlfoner, 
 
 LiCTOR. 
 
 We have difcover'd here The od or us, 
 Odious to all mankind for Pompe y*s death. 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 What ! he that made a formal fpeech for murder ? 
 And with a phllofophic gravity 
 SandtifyM mifchief with a reverend tongue ? 
 The orator wants words in his own caufc. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Speak for thyfelf; that juftice thou fhalt have. 
 
 Theodotus. 
 Had I not often own'd my crime with tears, 
 So felf-condemn'd already ; or if Brutus 
 Were not my judge, the good, the faultlefs Brutus ; 
 Black tho' I now appear, and all disHgur'd 
 With common prejudice; yet I might give 
 Fair colour to-this hated^ foul o^eQce. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 24J 
 
 But who can ftand the teft of ftriifteft juftice ? 
 Or how can words avail to fway the wife ? 
 This wifdom and this juftice are in Br utus. 
 So much fuperior thou to other men, 
 That at thy judgment- (eat, the greateft art 
 Is ufelefs to excufe the fmalleft fault. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Say boldly all thou canft. 
 
 Theodotus. 
 Eife, I might fay 'tis hard to be condemned 
 For doing that, which if I had not done, 
 I might have juftly been condemn'd by thofe 
 Whofummon'd me to council for their fafety. 
 I thought their fafety ask'd forPoMPEy's death: 
 O that I could redeem it with my own ! 
 Po M p E Y was great, was good, was wife, was valiant. 
 But yet was vanquilh'd by more happy Caesar ; 
 V/ho, had his foe been fpar'd, would foon have ihewn 
 A real rage, which now he but affe^ed. 
 Could Egypt ftop the victor of Pharfalia ? 
 All we could give was but a poor reprieve, 
 A hardship worfe than death to minds refolv'd. 
 Rome and her liberty entirely loft, 
 PoMPEY would have difdain'd a life precarious. 
 Which yet had coft our king and country dear. 
 Would he had counfelPd, and would I had dy'd ! 
 For he, who, as a Roman, died for Ro m e ; 
 If born with us, would have advis'd for Egypt. 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 With all thy guilt,howdurft thou name great Po mp by ? 
 
 Theodotus. 
 Ev'n he was guilty once, and ilew foav father. 
 
246 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Yet, grant he was the braveft, beft of men, 
 VitStorious often in the caufe of Rome, 
 While I was but a counfellor for Egypt ; 
 Since fame rewards his fervice to his country, 
 Should I be puniih'd for aflifling mine ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 If words could change the nature of ill deeds, 
 Thy head would be indebted to thy tongue, 
 "Which, I mufl: needs confefs, has done its part, 
 And makes my tender nature wifh thee hence. 
 Out of my reach, as well as will to punifh. 
 But here I ftand the fubftitute of Rome ; 
 Which v/ith united fighs bemoans her Pompey, 
 And weeping waits to have his death reveng'd. 
 Thy v.'orthlefs prince and country were too flight 
 A facrifice to Pompey. At his feet 
 Caesar himfelf was not too great to fall : 
 Think but on that, and thou will die content. 
 
 \_Exetint L u c I L I u s and Officers with Theodotus. 
 *Twere barbarous to rcafon with a wretch 
 Long fince condemn'd to die by Rome's decree. 
 But he was no Egyptian, as he pleaded ; 
 Nor fubjcd to that prince he fo advis'd. 
 
 JUNIA. 
 
 What king or country dares be fo audacious 
 
 To hurt the meaneft Senator of Rome ? 
 
 How then durft any think of killing Pomp e y ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 Prefumptuous wickednefs ! Pompey o'ercome, 
 Abandon'd by his friends, a fugitive. 
 At mercy of the meaneft, bafeft villain ; 
 Yet in thatloweft ebb was much too high 
 
M A RCUS BRUTlfS. 247 
 
 For fuch a prince as Ptolemy to reach. 
 From Ptolemy, proftrateat Pompey's feet, 
 Kot only aid, but reverence was due. 
 That chief efcaping, might have chang'd Rome's fate ; 
 And the whole world had been oblig*d to Egypt. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Enter Lucilius. 
 
 LuciLius. 
 Bafe villainy is feldoni at a (land, 
 But ftili proceeding on to greater mifchief: ' 
 From murd'ring Senators at Rome, they now 
 Lift their afpiring treachery to Br utus. 
 The wife Athenians watchful of your fafety. 
 Have newly feiz'd a flave in foul dilguife; 
 Who on the rack confefTes all the crime. 
 *' Hie thee to Athens (faid the bafe Octavi us) 
 ** And fave thy mafter, fave us all, fave Rome, 
 *^ Go, purchafe fame and freedom by a blow : 
 ^^ Our foes are all united in that Brutus ; 
 *' He, he alone infpir'd the death of Caesar. 
 ^' Be defperate, be fecret, and be rich." 
 
 Brutus. 
 I pity the poor wretch ; he knows no better. 
 At his return how would his mailer grieve 
 To find me fafer here than he at Rome ? 
 He does but (hoot thefe arrows in the air. 
 
 Lucilius. 
 Except at Rome infe(a:cd by our foes, 
 
34^ THE DEATH OF 
 
 Virtue like yourt is ev'ry-wherc (ccure, 
 And claims the jud protedion of mankind. 
 
 JWNIA. 
 Your life is (b important, 
 
 Youths quit their pleafurcs, foldters flight their pay, 
 Ev'n mifers leave their wealth to watch your fafety. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Let go the flave to tell Octavius this. 
 
 LUCILIUS. 
 
 What! favc that wretch? 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 Both favc and let him go. 
 In this attempt he but obeyM his mafter. 
 
 [fx/VLuciLius. 
 Oh that there were no Romans worfe than he ! 
 This Have would kill, but 'tis to get his freedom ! 
 But, ah ! ev*n Senators are growing daves, 
 Carelefs of honour, void of honefty, 
 Forgetting all their noble ancedors. 
 And ruining a glorious commonwealth ! 
 
 Enter Tirmivs and Lis ciLiVi again* 
 
 TiTINIUS. 
 
 Cassius has fent me herewith this reply, 
 He wants that gold himfelf, which you would borrow; 
 Of which, at meeting, you (hail have account. 
 Thefe letters I have brought for noble Ju n i A . 
 
 J[JvsiAgoes out *with the letters* 
 
 LuciLius. 
 Your legions then mud (lay till his are paid. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Think not the word, LuciLiu8,ere itconfjes ; 
 
AtSardis wefhallm^et bybreakofday. •'/ '* "^ 
 
 I'll take an Hmi r'srepdfe, and then for Sardfs; • ^ 
 Good night to both, 
 
 LuciLius. • 
 
 Reft to your noMeihoughts. 
 
 S C E N & lV/ii^vB& : 
 
 Brutus remains, laid on his couch, 
 .-"••-." .,5 
 Brutu^I 
 *Tis but in vain, fleep is not to be courted. 
 Sing, Boy, the fong that Po r t i a likes fo well, 
 And footh my thoughts with fome melodious founds. 
 
 {Soft mujck and fong, 
 Man is himfelf an inftrument of mufick; 
 But yet fome ftring is always out of tune, 
 And ev'ry found w€ make (hews our confufion. 
 Why fhould this death of C a e s a r trouble me ? 
 I did it not for anger, or ambition ; 
 But for mere honefty, and publick good ; 
 Nay, good to him ; for in my own opinion, 
 'Tis better much to die, than live unjufllyC 
 My fellow-citizens, my kindred, friends, - 
 All funk at once beneath his rifing fortune. 
 And fhould I tamely fufTei: an ufurper 
 T'enflave mankind, becaufc he fmlles on me ? 
 Friendfhip indeed is the moft tempting bribe; 
 But juftice fiiould be blind to all its beauty. 
 And yet a reftleffnefs attends fuch deeds, 
 Tho' ne'er fo juft; fomcthing that feels unwieldy, 
 I I 
 
Zja THE DEATH OF 
 
 That fits uneafy on a gentle nature : 
 I cannot flecp, unlefs I (hake it off. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Enter a Spirit in the Shape ^/'Caesar, full of 
 
 njcounds. 
 
 Sure I fleep now, or elfe my eyes delude me : 
 I know 'tis fancy ail ; and yet I ftagger. 
 Ha ! it comes on ! What art thou ? When alive, 
 Tho' arm'd with pow'r, adorn 'd with fame and 
 
 greatnefs, 
 I fear'd thee not, becaufe thou wert unjuft ; 
 But more than human now, thou feem'll above me 1 
 Speak, unknown being I I conjure thee, fpeak. 
 
 Spirit. 
 I am thy Evil Genius, Marcus Brutus, 
 And have aiTura'd this fliape, to give thee terror. 
 
 . - Brutus. 
 
 Terror ! How cam'ft thou to know me no better ? 
 Sure thou art ignorant, as v»'ell as evil. 
 
 Spirit. 
 Is murder then no crime ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 Killing is none; 
 When done not for ourfelves, but for our country. 
 
 Spirit. 
 Kot for yourfelf indeed ; you ftabb'd your friend. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Friend ! Oh thou toucheft now my tender part ! 
 Oh name that word no more I 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 2^1 
 
 Spirit. 
 
 A friend! a friend 1 
 Brutus. 
 But what's a friend, compar'd with publick good ? 
 Convince me, if thou canft ; oh, teach me truth 1 
 And fiiew me but one glimpfe of future being, 
 Of which we talk fo much, yet know fo little ! 
 Difpel thefe mifts that muffle poor mankind, 
 And open to me all that glorious fcene ! 
 Shew me where virtue fmiles and fits enthron'd. 
 And where morality finds juft reward ; 
 'Tis fure, above : for ill men profper here. 
 
 SriRiT. 
 Soon at Philippi thou fhalt know it all. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Shall we then meet again ? 
 
 Spirit. 
 Yes, at Philippi. 
 
 Brutus. 
 I'll meet thee there. I'll meet thee any-where. 
 
 lExa Spirit. 
 Now I am refolute, the fliadow flies, 
 And vanifiies together with my fear. 
 What hoa ! 
 
 En fer Boy. 
 My lord ! 
 
 Brutus, 
 
 Did you fee nothing ? 
 Boy. 
 
 No. 
 Brutus. 
 Nor hear me fpeak ? 
 
 li 2 
 
^ft THE DEATH.OF . 
 
 Boy. 
 Nothing at all, my lord. 
 Brutus. 
 Let ev'ry thing be ready for our march ; 
 And call me up, be fure, by break of day. 
 Till then I'll fleep within . [Exeu&. 
 
 THIRD CHORUS. 
 
 Of Rovian Senators. 
 
 I. 
 
 DARK Is the maze poor mortals tread ; 
 Wifdom itfelf a guide will need : 
 We little thought, when Caesar bled. 
 
 That a worfe Caesar would fucceed. 
 And are we under fuch a curfe, 
 We cannot change, but for the worfe ? 
 
 II. 
 With fair pretence of foreign force, 
 
 By which Rome muft herfelf enthrall j 
 Thefe, without bliifties or remorfe, 
 
 Profcribe the befl:, impov'rifti all. 
 The Gauls themfelves, our greateft foes. 
 Could ad no mlfchiefs worfe than thofe. 
 
 III. 
 That Julius, with ambitious thoughts. 
 
 Had virtues too, his foes could find ; 
 Thefe equal him in all his faults. 
 
 But never in his noble mind. 
 That free-born fpirits ftiould obey 
 Wretches, who know not to fway I 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 253 
 
 IV. 
 Late we repent our hafty choice, 
 
 In vain bemoan fo quick a turn. 
 Hark all to Rome's united voice! 
 
 Better that we a while had borne 
 Ev*n all thofe ills which moft difpleafe, 
 Than fought a cure far worfe than the difeafe. 
 
5|| THE DEATH OP 
 
 A C T IV. S G E N E I. 
 
 ^ Field near Philippic ly^^r^ C a s s i u s ^/^a^Brutus 
 made the Rendezvous of their Armies, 
 
 Enter Brutus and Officers, 
 
 Brutus. 
 "^ I ^ IS here thatlandCASsius were to join : 
 X "What fay our fcouts ? Is any army near ? 
 Officer. 
 The rifing duft difcovers their approach ; 
 And fome, impatient of fo flow a march, 
 Are juft arriv'd before to meet their friends. 
 
 Enter la\3C\'L\\j%, 
 
 O, here's LuciLius, whom I fent to Cassius. 
 
 LUCILIUS. 
 
 Cassius, my lord, falutes the noble Brutus, 
 And haftens to embrace him. 
 Brutus. 
 
 OLuciLius ! 
 Cassius is alter'd much, or ill ad vis'd ; 
 Has, I am loth to fay it, done fome things 
 Which do not well become fo great a man. 
 But, fince he is fo near, I'll ft ay my cenfure. 
 And wifti to find myjealoufymiftaken. 
 But, good Lu CI L I u s , how did he receive you, 
 When you brought friendly notice I was near ? 
 
 LuciLius. 
 With forms, and compliments, and great refpe<fl, 
 
MARCUS -BRUTUS. 25J 
 
 Out-doing enemies in ceremony; 
 But no familiarity betwixt us ; 
 Mone of that free and friendly conference 
 Which v/e have us'd of old : and when he nam'd you^ 
 'Twas always with fuch fct, affedled praife. 
 As if the commendation had no meaning, 
 But to be told again. 
 
 Brutus. 
 I am afraid 
 Thou judged but too right: nothing is nobler 
 Than friendfhip; till it once begins to fail ; 
 But then afliam'd, and confcious of defeft, 
 It hides itfelf in compliment and care : 
 At the firft fhock, off falls the frail difguife ; 
 Falfhood is foohfh, and betrays itfelf. 
 There is no art in plain and friendly truth, 
 Which like the fun fhines forth by its own light. 
 Violent minds fometimes make glorious (hew. 
 Like gilding fhine, equal to real gold. 
 But in the ufage, how much difference! 
 Hark ! he's arriv'd; march gently on to meet him. 
 
 SCENE IL 
 
 Enter CASsivZy <bc. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Embracing thus is but a thing of form; 
 For 'tis not fit that both our armies here 
 Should once fufpecl the lead difpute between us, 
 
 Br utus. 
 The common caufe indeed requires our care; 
 And all our difcon tents fliould yield to that. 
 
3^4 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Cassius. 
 Brutus, let us retire into my tent. 
 Left here by chance fome unbecoming word 
 Break out too loud. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Are we Co little mafters of ourfelves ? 
 How can we then be fit to govern armies ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 You think yourfelf above thofe common frailties, 
 
 Brutus. 
 The Stoicks are above unruly paflion. 
 But, fince you would retire, I am content 
 My foldiers may remove beyond thofe fields. 
 LuciLius, march a little off this ground : 
 Let your men do the like, under pretence 
 Of our conferring about great affairs ; 
 Indeed our greateft ; for a home difputc 
 Is of more confequence than foreign dangers. 
 
 Cassius. 
 TiTiNius, let my forces move away 
 To yonder plain, and leave us all alone ; 
 *Tis neceflary we fliould be in private, 
 
 [Exeunt all, except Brutus and Cassius. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Cassius. 
 
 You ask'd me fifty talents for your legions, 
 And in a ftyle as to your treafurer, 
 As if I fiiould prefer yours to my own ; 
 Am I to be impos'd on thus by you ? 
 
MARGTT5 BRUTUS. :2^y 
 
 Brutus. 
 Sure, Cassius little knows the force of friendihip; 
 Writing fo freely, (hew'd my truft and kindnefs. 
 He that defires a favour from a friend, 
 Does him the greateft in defiring it. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Come, I muft tell you, over-great applaufe 
 Lifts you too high. Should I, who kiU'dev'nGAESARj 
 Only for his exceflive pow'r and pride. 
 Should I at laft fubmit thus to another ? 
 From a fuperior my ftars defend me ! 
 
 Brutus. 
 From a fuperior ! you little know me i 
 I fcarce would be fuperior to my flaves. 
 Except in virtue ; that is wordiy pride. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Then think not, Sir, of being above me. 
 
 Brutus. 
 I wifh I were not, by thefe weak fufpicions. 
 What ! jealous of a friend ? It moves my pity. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Pity! Ifcornit. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Scorn your rage, that moves it. 
 My pity is not, ought not, to be flighted : 
 'Tis like the kind compaffion of a parent, 
 Full of concern, and free from all contempt. 
 Rather defervesyour thanks than your reproach. 
 
 Cassius. - 
 
 My thanks ! for what ? for domineering o'er me ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 Yet reafon has fome right to govern paHion* 
 
iSft THE DEATH OP 
 
 Cassius. 
 BtuTUS, you have an over-ruling way, 
 Which, under colour of a patient calmnefs, 
 Expedls compliance with your gentle temper. 
 But I fee thro* it. 
 
 Brutus. 
 See ! your paflion blinds you. 
 
 Cassius. 
 You have no paffion, yet provoke another*s, 
 
 Brutus. 
 Is it provoking to inform a brother 
 Of faults no other dares prefume to tell him, 
 And yet mofl: neceflary he fhould know ? 
 Your troops have done moft difmal outrages; 
 Forc'd harmlefs wretches from their native homes, 
 Slighted the widows and the orphans tears, 
 Gather'd their laft remains with greedy gripe ; 
 That which poor fwains had labour'd for whole years, 
 Is in one moment plundered by your foldiers. 
 This finks our caufe, which rofe at firft fo glorious. 
 Shall we, who foar'd fo high in reputation, 
 And open'd ev'ry mouth inour juft praifes,, 
 iNow on afudden fall to dire oppreflion ? 
 Shall we at laft pull down with our own hands 
 That lofty fabrick of well-founded honour i 
 
 Cassius. 
 Am I to anfwer for it ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 With your fame ; 
 That (lands expos'd to ev'ry juft man's cenfure. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Go on no more ; I will no longer bear it. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS; 259 
 
 Brutus. 
 By Heav'n you fhall hear all ; then do your worft. 
 Dare I not fay whatever you dare adl ? 
 Am I not equally concern'd with you 
 In this great war for freedom of our country? 
 Yet muft not tell whatever hurts our caufe ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 Tempt me no farther. Sir; you may repent it. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Tempt not you me with all your furious looks : 
 I am above your threats, and can look down 
 Both on yourfelf and them. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Were it not for the caufe we have in hand, 
 I wou'd not bear this heap of injuries. 
 
 Brutus. 
 I injure ! Where is that unlucky man 
 Who can with reafon make complaint of me ? 
 If any, I'll acknowledge it with fhame. 
 The man who wrongs his meaneft adverfary, 
 Exalts his enemy above himfelf. 
 And can you think that I could injure Cassius, 
 My brother, and my friend ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 
 If hearing lyes 
 With greedy ears, and foon believing them ; 
 If mifinterpreting whate'er I do, 
 And reprefenting things in foulefl: colours, 
 Can be call'd wronging, who was e'er fo wrong'd ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 If I have faid one word that founds unkindly. 
 My tongue has Ilipp'd, and quite dcceiv'd my heart, 
 Kk 3 
 
26o THE DEATH OF 
 
 Thai melts like wax before your hotted anger. 
 Behold my tears for having fo much vex'd you. 
 
 Cassius. 
 What fays my Brutus i Speak that word again : 
 Am I not then fo full, fo full of faults ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 It was my frailty to prefume fo much. 
 
 Cassius. 
 And mine to be fufplcious of my Brutus. 
 All ffeall be mended. 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 But can you forgive 
 Too (harp expreflions, tho' with kind intent ? 
 
 Cassius. 
 So kind intent, I own the obligation. 
 Ko man but Brut us durft have fpoke fo boldly ; 
 No man but Brutus would have fpoke fo kindly. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Oh! Cassius, nothing but the tender'ft friendfhip, 
 And when I thought it for the publick good, 
 Could have embolden 'd me to cenfure you. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Embrace me clofe, and witnefs how my heart 
 Leaps up tranfported with this fudden change. 
 
 Brutus. 
 It was an eager argument indeed, 
 But ends as it (hould do between fuch friends, 
 Refenting nothing but their country's wrongs. 
 Methinks good fpirits hov'ring all around us, 
 Should to the world proclaim our happy union^ 
 Now, while our enemies combine in mifchief. 
 Thus firmly join'd, we'll firftbe conquerors. 
 Then make all Rome contented as ourfclves. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. ^it 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Enter L\3Cih\ us andTniHivs, 
 
 Cassius. 
 Come in, Lucilius; welcome, good Tit in ius. 
 Let us confult of our neccflitics, 
 And manage well this laft important (!ake. 
 
 Brutus. 
 The (late is thus at Rome: ray letter mentions 
 Full fifty fenators, with thoufands more, 
 Newly profcrib'd ; and C i c e r o is one. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Cicero one! that talking friend of Caesar t 
 Oct Avius has well paid him for his pains ; 
 May ill men ever ufe each other fo. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Oh ! gently cenfure ev'n a foe when dead. 
 See, Cassius, here the curfe of over-caution. 
 The wary walker, who miftrufts too much, 
 Treads not fo firm, but faintly, and fo ftumbles: 
 Thus TuLLY fell, by too much fear of falling. 
 
 Cassius. 
 But Antony and youngOcTAvius 
 Are marching hither with a mighty force : 
 The ufelefs Lepidus is left at Rome. 
 
 Brutus. 
 The queflion is, whether we had not bed 
 Hafle on, with anger bent againft our foes. 
 Rather than tamely wait their bold afTault, 
 
 Cassius. 
 I am for flaying here: my reafon this; 
 
a5a THE DEATH OF 
 
 So long a march mnft weary out our ftrength, 
 
 Which reft will give us here. Let them come on, 
 
 And, tir*d with toil, expofe their bending bodies 
 
 Under our lufty arms, vigorous and frefh : 
 
 Befides, in this we take the ftouteft part; 
 
 For refolute expelling certain danger 
 
 Shews the moft fettled courage; while the coward 
 
 Runs often fiercely on to fhun his fear, 
 
 And fwallow down in hafte the bitter draught, 
 
 Brutus. 
 Some rcafons have a ftrange fallacious force; 
 Juft as the pleafing colours us'd by artifts 
 Delude the very fight. But, in my judgment. 
 It tires our army more to tarry here. 
 Opinion is the (bul of ev'ry adtion ; 
 Keep but that up, that keeps up all the reft : 
 And 'tis maintain'd by marks of refolution. 
 By ruftiing on the foe, forcing to fight, 
 IS^ot ling'ring here behind with flacken'd vigour. 
 We muft depend upon our zeal and caufe, 
 And therefore in hot blood fhall do it beft. 
 If once we cool, their furer difcipline 
 Will foon prevail againft our new-rais'd force. 
 The hearts of all our foldiers now are fet 
 On fierce encountring, all their rage inflam'd ; 
 There's nothing wanting but to draw their fwords, 
 And down goes tyranny, to rife no more. 
 Can we fit ftill, and paufc with fuch a thought ? 
 So near a glorious deed there's no repofe ; 
 Impatience makes unquiet expe<n:ation, 
 And eager nature can allow no reft. 
 
MAlRCUS BRUTUS. i6J 
 
 Cassius. 
 You fiiall prevail ; we'll let 'em but refrelli. 
 And then we'll charge the foe. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Let us embrace; and, oh ! my dearell brother, 
 This quarrel Ihall but make us better friends. 
 
 FOURTH CHORUS. 
 
 Of Roman Soldiers. 
 
 OUR vows thus chearfully we fing, 
 While martial mufick fires our blood: 
 Let all the neighb'ring echoes ring 
 
 With clamours for our country's good: 
 And, for reward, of the juft Gods we claim 
 A life with freedom, or a death with fame. 
 
 May Rome be freed from war's alarms, 
 And taxes heavy to be borne; 
 
 May fhe beware of foreign arms. 
 
 And fend them back with noble fcorn. 
 And, for reward, &c. 
 
 May (he no more confide in friends. 
 Who nothing farther underftood^ 
 Than only, for their private ends, 
 
 To wafte her wealth, and fpill her blood. 
 And, for reward, &c. 
 
264r THE DEATH OP 
 
 Our Senators, great Jove, retrain 
 
 From private piques, they prudence call * 
 From the low thoughts of little gain. 
 And hazarding the lofing all. 
 And, for reward, &c. 
 
 The fliining arms with hade prepare. 
 Then to the glorious combat fly; 
 
 Our minds unclogg'd with farther care. 
 Except to overcome or die. 
 And, for reward, &c. 
 
 They fight, oppreflion to increafe; 
 We, for our liberties and laws : 
 It were a dn to doubt fuccefs. 
 
 When freedom is the noble caufe. 
 And, for reward, of the juft Gods we claim 
 A life with freedom, or a death with fame. 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 265 
 
 AGTV. SCENE I. 
 
 The Field of Philippic 
 
 Brutus, Cassius, Lucilius and Tit ini us, with 
 other officers, at the Head of their army. 
 
 E titer V A R 1 u s hafltly, 
 
 V;\Rius. 
 
 PROPITIOUS ftars favour our caufe already. 
 Behold! a heedlefs party of Octavius, 
 Haft'ningtoo faft, is falPn within our ambufti; 
 And we may cut them off without defence. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Fall on 'em inftantly. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Hold, Cassius, hold, 
 And fpare your fellow- citizens at mercy. 
 
 Cassius. 
 The death of thefe will make the day our own. 
 
 Brutus. 
 'Twill rather make the reft more defperate. 
 Confider, Cassius, they are Romans all. 
 
 Cassius. 
 So much the worfe, fighting againft their country. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Alas ! they do but follow wicked leaders, 
 And are our countrymen, with all their faults; 
 Kindred, nay friends, perhaps, to thee or me. 
 L 1 
 
2^6 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Cassius. 
 Thy tender nature will undo us all. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Good Cassius, let me over-rule in this, 
 And you in all things clfe fliall govern me. 
 Order our foldlers not to kill a man, [To L u C I l i u s . 
 But feize them gently, as your future friends. 
 Oh 1 Cassius, what a plcafure 'tis to fave 
 Romans from falling in a fhameful caufe ! 
 
 Cassius. 
 I can no longer contradict my Br utus. 
 Your mercy is fo moving; yet I own 
 This battle never was appro v'd by me : 
 For I would ne'er have ventur'd at one bloW 
 So great a (lake as all our liberties ; 
 But rather have prolong'd th' important war, 
 I ufe to flight prefages; but of late, 
 My mind, I know not how, foreboding ill. 
 Spite of my reafon, feels a drooping fadnefs. 
 And by its gloomy light forefees misfortune. 
 
 Brutus. 
 In fuch a caufe it were a fault to fear ; 
 Elfe, Cassius, I might have fome fancies too. 
 For Caesar's gholl: appcar'd to me laft night, 
 At all his gaping wounds breathing revenge; 
 And when I would have reafon'd with it, vanifii'd. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Alas ! good Brutus, what can be in that. 
 But an effect of melancholy fumes ? 
 A dark and difmal picture lively drawn 
 By dreaming fancy, tho' we think we wake ? 
 Our feci believes no fpirlts; if there be, 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 267 
 
 At lead, if they are fuch as Plato fancies, 
 Thofe purer beings, who behold our caufe, 
 Thofe Demi-Gods will fure encourage virtue. 
 And give their fellow-creatures jult affiftance. 
 Thus, in the midft of (laughter we (hall find 
 Ten thoufand airy legions on our fide. 
 Sent to our aid, as Heav'n's auxiliaries. 
 
 E72ter Lu c I L I u s , nvith an Officer of the other Army, 
 LuciLius. 
 
 My lord, your gen'rous orders were obey'd. 
 And fee the juft fuccefs ! This worthy tribune, 
 Won by your mercy to thofe other foldiers, 
 Is come to join us with a valiant band. 
 Vowing they never will be foes to Br utus. 
 
 Officer. 
 Such virtue needs no army to fupport it; 
 It vanquifties beyond the reach of force, 
 And makes our very minds yield due fubmiffion. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Submilfion only fhould be paid to Heav'n, 
 And I muft blufh to hear it from a Roman. 
 We fcarce have in this little fpan of life 
 Sufficient time for exercife of virtue ; 
 We fhould do ill to lofe the leaft occafion. 
 Let all his cohort charge with our chief legion. 
 Such a defertion is a timely fervice. 
 
 Officer. 
 Your approbation is our higheft: aim: 
 And this day we'll deferve it. 
 
 Brutus. 
 
 'Tis not doubted: 
 LI a 
 
2o8 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Your country's freedom will excite your valour. 
 Let him have rank among our chief commanders. 
 
 [_Exit Officer 'with Varius ^;^^Titinius, 
 
 SCENE II. 
 Manent Cassius ^«^ Brutus. 
 
 Cassius. 
 The fight is well begun, moft noble Brutus: 
 And may the reft be ftill fo favourable, 
 That wc may lengthen out our lives to age, 
 In all the peaceful joys of love and friendfhip. 
 But, fince the chance of war is moft uncertain, 
 'Tis wifdom to provide againft the worft: 
 Which is, our parting, if we lofe the battle, 
 Kever to meet again : in fuch a cafe 
 "What is my deareft friend refolv'd to do ? 
 
 Brutus. 
 Iam,al3s! fo weary of a world, 
 All full of faults and follies, I would leave it ; 
 But that to me it feems a want of fpirit 
 To flirink from life for fear of future ill. 
 'Tis to diftruft the juftice of the Gods, 
 Or elfe their pow'r; and is, in my opinion, 
 ISJot courage, but a bold difguifc for fear. 
 "With patience arm'd, I'll bear the blows of fortune, 
 
 Cassius. 
 Then, deareft Brutus, you can be content 
 To wear a chain; nay, what is yet much worfir, 
 To fee great Rome as much a flave as you \ 
 
 Brutus. 
 O never, never cojne that fatal day ! 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 269 
 
 The very found offends. Oh 1 you have nam*d 
 The only thing, ye Gods ! I cannot bear. 
 When-e'er ye fend that fummons, 'tis my laft. 
 And therefore, left we ne'er fhould meet again. 
 Here let us take our everlafting leave. 
 
 Cassius. 
 For ever, and for ever, farev/el, Br utus ! 
 After this famous day we fhall be vi(5tors, 
 Or elfe beyond the fenfe of being vanqui(h'd, 
 
 Brutus. 
 For ever, and for ever, farewel, Cassius! 
 'Twill be with pleafure if we meet hereafter ; 
 If not, this parting is our greateft pain. 
 
 \Exeunt fsverally, 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Jufl ^/Cassius is going off, enter Ti t i n I u s haflifyp 
 and /tops him, 
 
 TlTINIUS. 
 
 The army of Mar c- An tony appears, 
 Fearlefs, and forward to attempt your camp. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Sure, *tis impoflible : tho* brave to raflinefs, 
 He is a foldier of too great experience ; 
 I cannot hope for fuch a fault in him. 
 'Tis fafer to beftride the angry ocean, 
 Than offer to affauit a Roman camp. 
 We'll fooncorre<a this infolent Antonius, 
 And crufh the bold attempt. [Exit Cassius. 
 
 A Charge is founded. 
 
270 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Re-enter Cassius, ^Ith Titinius, Pindarus 
 and other Officers. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Their profp'rous raflmefs terrifies our men, 
 Who never fear'd before : I doubt all's loft ; 
 The liberty of Rome is gone for ever. 
 I'll perifh with it, or redeem the day. 
 Tit I N I u s, oh ! make hafte, fly tow'rd thofe troops ; 
 Difcover quickly if they are our friends. 
 
 ^■x// Titinius, 
 Go, PiNDARUS, get on the riCng ground, 
 (My fight, thou know*ft, is (hort) and take a view 
 Quite round the field. 
 
 Pin DARUS ^o^j up the Hilly then calls to Cassius. 
 
 PiNDARUS. 
 
 Hoa, my good lord ! 
 
 Cassius. 
 What now ? 
 
 PiNDARUS. 
 
 Titinius is feiz*d on by the foe. 
 
 Cassius. 
 Oh, he is taken, and they fhout for joy. 
 
 QC a s s I u s goes alfo to view. 
 Come down, come down ; 
 Oh, I have liv'd to fee my beft friend loft ! 
 And by my own procurement ! Pindar us, 
 I took thee prisoner once, and fpar'd thy life ; 
 All the return I ask, is, now take mine. 
 
 [^PiND A Ru s turns anuay weeping, 
 I am thy general, and inafter too; 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 271 
 
 Yet I have us'd thee as becomes a friend : 
 A friend will not deny my laft requeft. 
 Kill me with this ; with this I flew the tyrant. 
 
 []C A s s 1 u s prefents him his dagger, 
 
 PiNDARUS. 
 
 Is there neceflity ? 
 
 Gassius. 
 Thou fee'ft there is. 
 Difpatch it quickly, while I turn my fece. 
 Then ^ewel, worthy Cass i us. 
 
 [PiNDARUS kills himfelf, 
 Cassius. 
 What, gone before me ? Did I need example ? 
 For fhame now Cassius, do thy own laft work ; 
 PiNDARUS leads the honourable way. 
 
 \Jalls on bisfword, 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 E^/^r TiTiNius, meeting one <?/"CassidsV Officers 
 jufi entring at the other door, 
 
 TlTfNIUS. 
 
 Brutus with chearful news greets C aiu s C a s si u s ; 
 And, having broke the forces of Octavius, 
 Is hafting hither to relieve his friend. 
 
 Officer. 
 Alas ! he comes too late, fee there lies Cassius ! 
 
 Enter Brutus 'with Officers, 
 
 Brutus. 
 Is Ca s sius on the ground ? O my dear friend ! 
 
 [^w;///^ Cassius. 
 
272 THE DEATH OF 
 
 I came to fill thy ears with pleafing news ; 
 But fuch a fight has turn'd my joy to grief. 
 
 Gassius. 
 What ! has my feeble hand made me be taken ? 
 Is Gassius to become the fcorn of Antony? 
 
 \Riftng a little y believing it to h Am onYh 
 
 Brutus. 
 Rather the grief of ev'ry worthy Roman. 
 What curfed hand has flain my deareft friend ? 
 
 Gassius. 
 What do I hear, and fee ? Is Br u t u s there ? 
 A prisoner too? 
 
 Brutus. 
 The Gods forbid that, Gassius ! 
 Look up and fee thy mournful friend vi^orious. 
 
 Gassius. 
 Have you then fav'd the liberty of Rome ? 
 I ask no more, and die with full content. 
 But yet I leave my Juni a behind : 
 Oh, ftill be tender of that beft of women ! 
 In being kind to her, remember me. 
 
 [_Dies in his arms, 
 
 Brutus. 
 Remember thee ! Who can forget thy worth ? 
 With a dead friend, difputes are all forgot. 
 And what is tender takes up all the mind ; 
 Grief only thinks on that which moft promotes it : 
 
 [Turns to his fleers. 
 And oh ! I long to give my forrow vent ; 
 But our dear country now claims all my care. 
 Summon our foldiers, that I may with praife 
 Keep up that fpirit which has Hr'd their fouls. 
 
 { 
 
 \ 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 275 
 
 \_Enter a confufed Multitude of Soldiers, 
 Hall, fellow-foldiers, worthy of that caufe 
 For which you fight fo well. Your adtions paft 
 Urge you to more : Be your own great example. 
 On far unequal terms thefe armies meet ; 
 They fight to make ambition tyranny, 
 And themfelves (laves ; their vift'ry is their ruin. 
 But if for this one day you can fubmit 
 To one who but commands you for your fakes ; 
 (Now proud to lead, while you are pleas'd to follow) 
 You ev'ry one fhall be a conqueror, 
 And equal to your general, who feeks 
 Ko other triumph but his country's freedom. 
 End but that work, and then to foreign wars. 
 There's no man here, but may by merit hops 
 To lead an army, and have me his foldier. 
 
 Acclamations of Applaufe, 
 
 Let prodigal Antonius promife treafures, 
 "VVrench'd from hard handsofwretcbedlab'rlngfwalns. 
 Who lift them up to Heav'n to call down vengeance. 
 I can out-bid him, fpitc of all his riches : 
 Hark to the pleafmg found I 'tis liberty ! 
 That only nam'd, I need to fay no more. 
 
 \Exeimt Soldiers fr:i outing . 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 A Trumpet founds mournfully. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Silence thofe dlfmal notes for Cass i us' death ; 
 There is no need of founds to raife true forrow j 
 M m 
 
 y 
 
274 THE DEATH OF 
 
 And it will chear the foe to hear us mourn. 
 Oh C A s s I u s ! what a lofs art thou to Rome I 
 
 \_Stcoping down to the dead body. 
 
 Trumpet founds again mournfuL Enter V A R i u s . 
 
 Varius. 
 'Tis with a trembling hand I fliew thefe letters ; 
 Your grief for C a s s i u s , will, alas ! be loft : 
 Like rivers in the ocean, fwallow'd up 
 Infaddernews. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Speak, is my Portia well ? 
 What! make no anfwer ? then 'tis fo indeed. 
 In faying nothing, thou haft told me all. 
 
 Varius. 
 Here is the fad account. 
 
 {Holds the Letter to Brutus. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Ob ^ read it, read it. 
 
 Varius. 
 '^ Variu s, I muft unwillingly inform youj 
 
 [_Readhig» 
 '* ThatPoRTi a, grieving for her husband's abfence, 
 ^' Had mourn'd herfelf into a raging fever; 
 *' In which, becaufe flie fancy'd he was dead, 
 ** She (none fufpefling) fwallow'd burning coals, 
 ^' So dy'd withmourhful clamours for herBRUTUs,'* 
 
 Brutus. 
 Enough, enough. O ye immortal Gods ! 
 I'll not complain of you, but ofmyfelfj 
 For, fure I am the very worft of men, 
 Since you think lit to make me the moll wretched. 
 
iMARCUS BRUTUS. 275 
 
 How all my tears are on a fudden ftopt ! 
 Something I feel within, that weighs me down; 
 And I muft fink. 
 
 Varius. 
 
 Good Sir, be comforted. 
 Brutus. 
 Oh never, never. 
 
 Had 'ft thou beheld her with my weeping eyes. 
 When tenderly we took our lateft leave; 
 How her love pleaded, and her beauty mov'd; 
 AVhen, all diffolv'd in grief, her mournful looks 
 She fix'd on mine ! Oh never talk of comfort. 
 Comfort ! dear Po r t i a , if I ever feek it. 
 
 May then alas ! I cannot curfe myfelf, 
 
 Heav'n knows, I am already fo unhappy, 
 
 Efiter L u C I L I u s hajlily, 
 
 LUCILIUS. 
 
 The enemy once more is coming on : 
 Antony leads them out of Gas si us' camp, 
 And gathers, as he goes, the large remains 
 Of the new-routed army of Oct AVI us. 
 I'Jl do my beft to ftop them in their march. 
 
 Brutus. 
 Antonius, and his army ! Alas! Varius, 
 What's that, or vidory itfelf, to me? 
 
 Varius. 
 But yet our country fhould not be forgotten, 
 
 Brutus. 
 Oh ! no: I'll bear about this heavy heart: 
 Yet, when I ftruggle moft, it weighs me dQwn» 
 M m 2 
 
2^^ THE DEATH OF 
 
 Varius. 
 But where is, Sir, your wonted refoluticn ? 
 
 Br utus. 
 Gone, Varius, gone for ever with my Portia* 
 
 Varius. 
 Then, farewel all the Liberty of Rome ! 
 
 Brutus. 
 The liberty of Rome ! The thought of that 
 Has rous'd me up — Yetonefigh more for Portia— 
 Rome yet fhall have my cares : But Oh ! my friend. 
 May this be the laft battle among Romans ! 
 It grieves my foul to fee this civil (laughter. 
 Fain I would live to leave my country free, 
 And with my dying eyes behold her profpcr. 
 Elfe I have done too much ; and Caesar's death 
 Too fliarp a med'cine, if it does not cure. 
 'Twas cutting off a limb ev'n from myfeif. 
 And, oh! I now begin to feel the maim. 
 But 'tis too late, and we muft now look forwards- 
 Command our men to fpread on both the wings. 
 Left they encompafs us with greater numbers : 
 The troops we routed of Octavius 
 Will hardly have the heart to rally more. [Exeimt. 
 
 After they have founded a Battle for fome twiey 
 enter L u ci l i u s and a?iotker Officer, 
 
 LuciLius. 
 All's loft ! Ambition triumphs over virtue. 
 
 Officer. 
 *Tis not our fault, but fate's : Did we not charge 
 With fiercenefs fit to fight for all thew^orld? 
 Firft, all our darts we flung away defpis'd, 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. S77 
 
 Uncertain weapons of remoter war, 
 And rufh'd on nearer with the furer fword ; 
 As if each common foldicr were a Brutus, 
 Rome at their hearts, and glory in their minds. 
 
 LuciLius. 
 But what is valour, when fo overmatch'd 
 By elder troops, and much fuperior numbers ? 
 Yet no one yielded, while ten thoufand dy'd; 
 Each call'd for death as fad as e'er he fell. 
 And ftill by ill-tim'd pity was refus'd, 
 We only fought to die, and they to fave us : 
 Which Brutus then perceiving, left the field. 
 And fled not from their fury, but their mercy. 
 
 Eiiler Ventidius luith a Cojnpany of Soldiers, 
 
 Ventidius. 
 Purfue them clofe, and on your lives fpareBRUTirs, 
 
 LuciLius. 
 Stop then your chace, and lead me to Antonius. 
 I might have 'fcap'd, but Brutus fcorns to fly. 
 
 Soldier. 
 He's taken, he is taken. 
 
 ^They give a great Shout, and carry outLvciLius, 
 fwhovi they fuppofe to l^e Bkutvs, 
 
 [Exeunt Omnes, 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 Enter Brutus, andTi t i n i u s, ^ithfome Officers, 
 
 Brutus. 
 Ye worthy few, who with unufual faith 
 Qnit not a friend whom fortune has forfaken j 
 
27S:. THE DEATH OF 
 
 Reft your tir'd bodies on this bank a while: 
 Where like a fhipwreck'd merchant I appear. 
 Gathering the dear remains of my loft fortunes. 
 
 Officer. 
 Oh, who can judge the councils of the Gods ? 
 
 [They all fit dovjn. 
 Behold, the beft of men is made a prey 
 To boundlefs wildnefs, and unjuft ambition. 
 
 Brutus. 
 That wild ambition but too often profpers: 
 Yet fure the Gods know better far than we. 
 How to difpofe the ruling of mankind. 
 If they will have (which yet feems wondrous flrange) 
 Injuftice to fucceed, and virtue fuffer ; 
 Our part is only to fubmit with rev'rence. 
 'Tis time, 'tis time that Rome Ihould be at reft. 
 
 1 Officer, 
 
 \_He ^hifpers each of them, 
 Kot for the world. 
 
 2 Officer. 
 
 The mighty Gods forbid ! 
 
 3 Officer. 
 May my hand wither firft ! 
 
 I Officer. 
 
 What did he whifper ? 
 
 3 Officer. 
 He earneftly entreated me to kill him. 
 
 I Officer. 
 He mov'd the fame to me. 
 
 TlTINIUS. 
 
 How is that noble foul overwhelm 'd with anguifli, 
 ^'ot for his own, but for his country's ruin ! 
 
MARCUS BRUTUS. 27^ 
 
 Brutus. 
 Romans, for ftiame fhew not fuch childlfli pity. 
 Think you I am (6 fond of painful life, 
 
 IHe rlfes hajlily. 
 That my faint hand (hould tremble at my cure \ 
 Why then refiife to do this laft good office, 
 Which I, for want of friends, mufl do myfclf ? 
 TSfay, if my life could yet but ferve my country, 
 Tho' rack'd with griefs, the very hopes of that 
 Would, like flrong cordials, force me to endure it. 
 But lawlefs empire rules ! what then remains 
 But death, or, worfe than death, ignoble bondage ? 
 Which if my foul can ne'er fubmit to bear. 
 Pardon, good Heav'n, my not enduring life 
 
 On fuch a hard condition ! Sacred virtue ! 
 
 Thou Deity that all the good adore ! 
 Why haft thou caft me off, and giv'n fuccefs 
 To thy own foes, and mine ? I follow'd thee 
 Ev'n thro' the blood of Caesar, whom I lov'd. 
 And who lov'd me. Ye powr's immortal ! know 
 V/ith what a heavy heart, and troubled mind, 
 I help'd my country by fo harfh a means : 
 
 But I moft gladly make thee this amends 
 
 TCaes A r's Ghofl appears and van'ifhes* 
 Oh Caesar, Caesar! Therefore reft appeas'd ; 
 I did not kill thee half fo willingly. \_Kills himfelf. 
 
 Enter Antony, Dolabella, Ventidius, &c, 
 
 Antony. 
 The blow Is gIv'n, and we are come too late. 
 
 {_A great Shout of Soldiers bringing /« L u c i l i u s , 
 
58o T?IE DEATH OF M. BRUTUS^ 
 
 Soldier. 
 Rewards, and triumph ! we have brought you BauTUffi 
 
 LuciLius. 
 No, Antony : the Gods forbid that BrutuS 
 Should ever be a prls'ner ! by aflTuming 
 His name, I here have (lopp'd their hot purfuit* 
 
 Antony. 
 This is not Brut us, but a worthy prize: 
 For you have brought a friend, and not a foe. 
 Youth, I admire thy virtue ; be to me, 
 As thou haft been to him who now lies there. 
 
 [L u cihi u s f^arfs, Jees the Body of Brut us^ 
 and kneels do'wn by it. 
 Oh Brutus, I am robb'd of half my triumph; 
 To thy moft gen'rous foul low'd my life, 
 And fain I would have taken kind revenge ; 
 For, 'tis a debt lies heavy on me now. 
 Rife, worthy Roman, do not mourn in vain. 
 
 [LuciLius rifes^ 
 LuciLius. 
 Yield all ye heroes of immortal name, 
 Whofc (hining mifchiefs only raife your fame: 
 If publick virtue well be underftood, 
 Here lies the greateft man that e'er was good, 
 
 DOLABELLA. 
 
 Yet the juft Gods a righteous judgment fend; 
 He lov'd his country, but he kill'd his friend. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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