University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

BRUTUS, TORBILIUS
BRUTUS.
Torbilius! Thou intrud'st on my Retirement:
The Muse, and my sad Heart are, now, not social.

TORBILIUS.
Cassius approaches.—There's a Name, indeed,
Unsocial!—Every Muse wou'd start, to hear it.

BRUTUS.
Thou wrong'st him.—Cassius is a noble Roman.

TORBILIUS.
There is a Jaundice, in thy Judgment, Brutus,
That lends him Golden Colour, from thy own:
I know him, to the Soul.—Have sounded all
The Shallows of his Envy;—and I cou'd,
But that an Oath, injoin'd, has bound my Tongue,
Convince thee, that he dares assault thy Honour;
And plots, to blast thee to the World, for ever.

BRUTUS.
Who bound thee, by such Oath?

TORBILIUS.
Calphurnia's Piety.

BRUTUS.
What had Calphurnia's Piety to do
With Plots? and Oaths? and Secrecy? and Brutus?

TORBILIUS.
Earnest, herself, to warn endanger'd Brutus
With Consequence, she fear'd, my Words might lose,
She claims your instant Ear:—Be swift—incline it.
Shun the too near Approach of Cassius, hither:
And, hast'ning to the House of Cæsar, weigh,
What her Wish forms, to guard thy Fame, and Virtue.

BRUTUS.
Thou art too bold, Torbilius:—Tell Calphurnia,
I, best, myself, defend my Honour's Claims:
And grasp, too hard, to need a Woman's Aiding.
Torbilius!—Rome has lost thee.—Cæsar's Bounties
Have brib'd thy Gratitude, to slander Honesty.

TORBILIUS.
Ill am I known, where, most, my Heart lies open,
If, after all my rash Contempts of Power,
Brutus can doubt me Venal:—Yet, doubt on:
No undeserv'd Reproach adheres to Virtue.
No Matter what bold Slander wounds Torbilius,
Where he, who Wrongs him, has the Rights of Friendship.

BRUTUS.
I will not see Calphurnia.

TORBILIUS.
Oh! revoke those fatal Words, lest

BRUTUS.
By the Gods! I will not; till Cassius, and his Friends have, first, been heard.

TORBILIUS.
Cassius is Cæsar's Enemy.

BRUTUS.
But I am Brutus;-and thou know'st me Cæsar's Friend.
Let that Truth, known, content thee.

TORBILIUS.
—No.—It cannot:
Brutus not fearing, I must fear for Brutus.
Greatness of Soul, confiding in itself,
Exposes an unguarded Side, to Baseness.

BRUTUS.
What woud'st thou lead me to?

TORBILIUS.
To one kind Promise:
I urge it but to save thee.—I conjure thee;
By every Claim of long, untir'd Adherence!
By every Recompence, thou ow'st my Dangers!
By every grateful Sense of every Duty!
Love, Friendship, Reverence, Faith, Advice, and Service!
Promise, whatever dire Result the Gods
Permit,—for Cassius comes on no light Errand!
Previous to any Deed, thy will may purpose,
To hear my Thoughts:—Intrust me with thy own:
And teach my willing Hand, and Heart, to aid thee.

BRUTUS.
I see the strangely mov'd:—I will, by Heaven!
Intrust thee, unreserv'd, and seek thy Counsel.

TORBILIUS.
Bark on, ye Dogs of envy! Bark, in vain:
Brutus is Safe, and Spotless

[Exit Torbilius.
BRUTUS.
(Alone.)
—Cæsar's Graces.
Win every Heart! and no Corruption's Power
Out-bribes the native Sweetness of his Pity.