Dramatis Perfonae.

JULIUS CAESAR, DICTATOR.

BRUTUS,

CASSIUS,

DEC. BRUTUS, CONSPIRATORS.

TREBONIUS,

CASCA,

M. ANTONIUS.

JUNIUS, ONE OF CAESAR'S FREEDMEN.

PORTIA, WIFE OF BRUTUS.

LUCIUS, ONE OF HIS SERVANTS.

SENATORS.

PRIEST S.

TRADESMEN AND CITIZENS.

SPURINNA, A SOUTH-SAYER.

THIS PLAY BEGINS THE DAY BEFORE CAESAR'S DEATH AND ENDS WITHIN AN HOUR AFTER IT.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Enter two Roman Senators at one door, TREBONIUS and CASCA at another.

I SENATOR.

HAIL, good TREBONIUS.

2 SENATOR.

Health to worthy CASCA.

Will you go with us to the fports to-day?

I SENATOR.

Before this CÆSAR's time, we had no fhews
Magnificent as these.

TREBONIUS.

But we had triumphs:

And tho' 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 fill of fame, but, as Rome's fubject:
And, to his great renown in glorious arms,

A higher, much more valu'd crown, was added;
Immortal praise for ferving well his country.

CASCA.

Oh how our hearts were fir'd at POMPEY's triumphs!
The blood more lively danc'd within our veins:
The very image of it strikes my fancy!
Methinks I fee a thousand noble captives
Drooping with grief, which yet was lighter made
By his kind usage. After came the treasures;
Our treasures! for it was not then as now,

When one man's greedy gripe ingroffes all.
We did not, as law-fuiters for contention,
Disburfe more charges than the prize was worth;
Grow beggars, only to make others rich.

TREBON US.

But then, at laft, behold ev'n captive kings
In golden chains with pentive thought look down,
Remembring they had us'd their subjects worse.
CASCA.

Yet fhew'd a gloomy comfort through their sadness,
For being vanquish'd by so brave a people.
TREBONIUS.

Which of us, then, oh which of us went home
From fuch a fpectacle unmov'd with joy,
With virtuous pride, to see our blood well spent,
Our treasures manag'd, and our glory rais'd?

CASCA.

Yet ev❜n to POMPEY, chief of all our state,
No Roman but difdain'd a mean fubmiffion;
A tribute only owing to the Gods.

TREBONIUS.

But now we crouch, and stand in fervile awe;
Like children, fear the goblin we have made.
This CAESAR, tho' dictator, is our creature,
And from election all his pride proceeds.

CASCA.

We meet these murmurs now in ev'ry mouth;
Ill-boding founds to late unfettled pow'r,
Like new-built houses, eafily blown down.

TREBONIUS.

Yet CAESAR, ftill intrepidly ferene,

Goes proudly on, defpifing us, and danger.

SCENE

II.

Enter a Croud of common Tradesmen.

CASCA.

What's all this croud, and whither are ye going,
My gazing fellow-citizens? To wait

On your own shame, and stare upon your bondage?

I TRADESMAN.

I know not what you mean by fhame and bondage: We go to fee great CAESAR, and the sports.

CASCA.

And much good do you, friend: you little think, The man you fo admire would be your master.

TRADESMAN.

My master! He would fcorn fo 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;
But have a care of meddling with your betters.

CASCA.

Betters! Thou fawcy citizen, be filent.

TRADESMAN.

Then I am hush'd. Speak you, Sir.

CASCA.

What, to fools?

To men, whose minds are funk in low fubmiffion?
Born free, and yet contented to be slaves?
Form'd like the dull strong horfe, to bear a rider?

$

Well, we may wish, and vent our rage in curfes:

May CAESAR

TRADESMAN.

Hold; and hear if he speaks treason.
CASCA.

May CAESAR live, as long as good men with him!
TRADESMAN.

Why, what does this man mean? he prays for CAESAR.
Long may he live Rome's great, and wife dictator!
TREBONIUS.

Oh, my good friends, how blind are those defires!
Did you but know how much you curfe yourselves,
No people, fure, would be fuch felf-destroyers,
Tho' but in wish. Did ever men before
Pray for continuance of a tyrant ague

That shakes their very fouls? See, how Rome trembles,
And looks all pale, with lofs of guiltless blood!
Who has not loft a kinfman, or a friend,
Whofe honeft life the war has facrific'd
To this man's wild ambition?

Nay, are not you dead too? fince in his pow'r
To kill you when he pleases? with this diff'rence;
That death, once come, frees you 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 greatness, nay the goodness of this CAESAR,
Is founded on our bafenefs: For, alas !
What must we be, to be forgiv'n by him?
And do you think, because he gives you pleasures,