 | The Roman Revenge |  |
SCENE IV.
BRUTUS, CASSIUS, DECIMUS, CINNA, CASCA.CASSIUS.
Hail! death-devoted Brutus! Romes last Friend!
DECIMUS.
Guardian, in vain, of our expiring Liberty!
CASSIUS.
Cæsar, To-morrow, marches hence, a King.
BRUTUS.
What are Rome's Prospects, then?
CASSIUS.
Taxes, and Chains.
Brutus, farewell, for ever
(Embracing.)
—Life grows Shameful,
Where Freedom is resign'd, and Man's a Slave.
BRUTUS.
Can Cassius feel Despair?
CASSIUS.
When Rome Despairs.
DECIMUS.
When even her Soul—her Brutus!—Breaths for Cæsar.
CASSIUS.
No Force on Earth, but our unshaken Hearts
Held back this bold Invader.
48
Cæsar's too Wise,
To spare our Lives, who live,—to shake his Throne.
CASSIUS.
Escaping us, he meets but Men:—Not Romans.
BRUTUS.
Oh! Honour, Virtue, and the Rights of Law!
CASSIUS.
Tis past:—The Laws have been.—Honour, and Virtue
Are, now, the public Jest of pension'd Parasites:
Who sell Submission, and receive back—Scorn.
DECIMUS.
Rome, and the World are fall'n!—'tis Cæsar, All!
CASSIUS.
All, that Six Hundred bleeding Years have gain'd,
Thrown, at one Cast, to Cæsar!—Why had Times,
Like these, a Brutus?—Grac'd with fruitless Virtues?
BRUTUS.
If I have Virtues—Why shou'd They be Fruitless?
CASSIUS.
Join every Power, above?—To bless that Question!
DECIMUS.
Hear yon licentious Noise!
(Shouts at a Distance)
BRUTUS.
—Curse the vile Sound!
'Tis Breath of Adulation! Rome's lost Gods
Expell'd!—And Insense paid to human Pride!
(Shouts again.)
CASSIUS.
Again!—Those Shouts are Insult.
DECIMUS.
—Cimber comes,
49
Cæsar's Attempts succeeds; for, see! he's Angry.
| The Roman Revenge | |