 | The Roman Revenge |  |
SCENE VIII.
CÆSAR. ANTONY.ANTONY.
(after a Pause.)
Now, Cæsar! what deserve such Romans?
CÆSAR.
(after a short Pause.)
—Freedom.
ANTONY.
They are too free, who treat their Friends, with Insult,
CÆSAR.
If Man were plac'd above the Reach of Insult.
To Pardon, were no Virtue:—Think, warm Antony,
What Mercy is—'Tis daring to be wrong'd,
Yet, unprovok'd by Pride, persist in Pity.
ANTONY.
Power, that endures Contempt, invites Rebellion,
CÆSAR.
Dream not, that Moderation weakens Power:
The heart-felt Sovereign smiles, at Faction's Rage;
And those malignant Men, who hate unjustly,
We punish most, when we are most belov'd.
ANTONY.
What Prince, who was not fear'd, was, ever, safe?
CÆSAR.
Only, in War, he should be fear'd.—In Peace, be honour'd Antony.
ANTONY.
Even Self-defence requires, at least, that bloody Cassius fall.
24
Why shou'd I strike the Weak, who cannot wound me?
ANTONY.
Punish the guilty Will, that dar'd imagine.
CÆSAR.
So Minions teach tame Kings, to merit Hate.
ANTONY.
Where Kings suspect,—preventing, they secure.
CÆSAR.
Scorn to suspect, where thou woud'st scorn to fear.
Nor waste, on ev'ry slight and weak Offence,
The Dignity of Vengeance.—I will, anon,
Trust Brutus with his Birth: Nature must move him.
If not—I leave him to the Gods, and Time.
ANTONY.
Shall he oppose, yet, wear his Father's Crown?
CÆSAR.
Shou'd Life allot me Hope, to stretch Rome's Soul
To Latitude for Liberty—'twere more
Than Empire, to restore her.—If the Task,
Hard, and extensive, calls for lengthening Years,
While, in untimely Hour, I, distant, die,
Brutus, by this last Light, will judge my Purpose.
(gives a Paper.)
ANTONY.
Long may the Gods, preserving Cæsar's Life,
Protect his Purposes, from Care, not Cæsar's.
CÆSAR.
Life has too short a Reach, for long Designs:
And, oft, the Fruit not ripe, the Tree declines:
No Help unneedful, Man shou'd all pursue,
Lest Time slide from him,—and his Hopes die, too.
| The Roman Revenge | |