The Works of John Sheffield Earl of Mulgrave, Marquis of Normanby, and Duke of Buckingham. In two volumes ... The third edition, Corrected |
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 | The Works of John Sheffield |  |
385
SCENE II.
Manent Cassius and Brutus.Cassius.
The Fight is well begun, most noble Brutus:
And may the rest be still so favourable,
That we may lengthen out our Lives to Age,
In all the peaceful Joys of Love and Friendship.
But, since the Chance of War is most uncertain,
'Tis Wisdom to provide against the Worst:
Which is, our Parting, if we lose the Battle,
Never to meet again: In such a Case
What is my dearest Friend resolv'd to do?
Brutus.
I am, alas! so weary of a World,
All full of Faults and Follies, I would leave it:
But that to me it seems a want of Spirit
To shrink from Life for fear of future Ill.
'Tis to distrust the Justice of the Gods,
Or else their Pow'r; and is, in my Opinion,
Not Courage, but a bold Disguise for Fear.
With Patience arm'd, I'll bear the Blows of Fortune.
Cassius.
Then, dearest Brutus, you can be content
To wear a Chain; nay, what is yet much worse,
To see great Rome as much a Slave as you?
386
O never, never come that fatal Day!
The very Sound offends. Oh! you have nam'd
The only thing, ye Gods! I cannot bear.
When-e'er ye send that Summons, 'tis my last.
And therefore, lest we ne'er should meet again,
Here let us take our everlasting Leave.
Cassius.
For ever, and for ever, farewel, Brutus!
After this famous Day we shall be Victors,
Or else beyond the Sense of being vanquish'd.
Brutus.
For ever, and for ever, farewel, Cassius!
'Twill be with Pleasure if we meet hereafter;
If not, this Parting is our greatest Pain.
[Exeunt severally.
| The Works of John Sheffield | |