University of Virginia Library

SENE I.

A Court before the Capitol.
CASSIUS, CIMBER, CINNA, CASCA.
CIMBER.
Sure! Never Day ran back, like this, before!
So sweet a Dawn, so chang'd, at once to Tempest:

CASSIUS.
Chang'd, like the Fate of Rome! Above, tis Sunshine
Beneath, tis, all, due Darkness!—Senate's Power
Shall brighten, and plebeian Clouds ride low.
What hasty Footstep that?

CIMBER.
—'Tis Decimus!

(Enter Decimus.)
CASSIUS.
Alone! Why comes not Brutus?

DECIMUS.
—Near thy House
I met him hast'ning to suppend our Meeting:
And urg'd the general Cause, that claim'd his Presence.

CASSIUS.
He shou'd not, yet, have heard of Portia's Danger,
Nor Cæsar's Warrant, found.—

DECIMUS.
I told no more
Than that Torbilius, trusted with our Names,
Lodg'd 'em, in Cæsar's Hand.—So, what, before,
Was common Glory, common Safety, now,
Demanded instant:—therefore, here we met,
No more to part, till Rome, or Cæsar fall.

CASSIUS.
Heard he that, firmly?

DECIMUS.
He's at Hand, to join us.

CASSIUS.
Then Fate is Ours: And this proud Climber's Height
Sinks to the Level, where his Name shall rot:
Mark, with what Ease a Tyrant's Empire falls!
But yesterday, this Man's exalted Praise
Trod on the Stars: and Cæsar was a God!
To Day, the insulting Foot of Rome shall spurn him,
And mix his powerless Ashes with the Dust.

CIMBER.
Hark! Was not that a Scream?

CASSIUS.
Some Prophet Raven,
That, conscious, on the Dame's high mould'ring roof,
Feels, and foretells, that Cæsar's Ghost is rising.

(A Noise hear'd, without, like the Fall of a Building)
CIMBER.
Some horrid Ruin that!

CASSIUS.
Look out, good Decimus.

DECIMUS.
(Looking out)
Amazement! The long, venerable, Line
Of Statues,—All Rome's old, and aweful Chiefs
Lie fallen! And shapeless Fragments load the Floor!

(Long, and loud Thunder.)
CIMBER.
Shoud not a Change, like this, that mixes Palaces
With the up heaving Center, at the Moment,
When our bold Purpose moves, alarm our Caution?

CASSIUS.
Blow, till ye burst, ye big-mouth'd Menacers!
'Tis but a Breeze, to Hearts, inflam'd for Glory.

CIMBER.
Breeze!—In such Breezes, Furies imp their Wings
Death! The Storm howls, as if the Winds felt Envy;
And woudd out-mouth the Thunder!—Call ye This
A Breeze?—my Feet want Steadiness!—The Pavement,
Heav'd, in disjointed Surge, rolls loose beneath me.

CASSIUS.
By Heaven, tis Glorious Ruin!—Round our Heads
Fall Rome's imperial Turrets:—Earthquake, and Tempest
Plow the mix'd Elements: Noises, far heard,
Live, in the Winds, and Voice the frantic Air.
Day darkens: and the Eye of Heaven seems quench'd.
Nature's wide-loos'ning Fabrick shakes, about us!
While we, with Nerves of Steel, press on to Vengeance.
Oh! my brave Friends! What future Fame is Ours!
What Cato cou'd not—what nor Asia's Aid,
Nor Pompey's failing Fleets—nor tawny Afric,
With all her Sun-defying Swarms of War!
We few-we, Roman Few—have done—this Day.

CIMBER.
One Way, or other, we shall serve the Senate:
Living, we set it free.—And, if we die,
We teach it to vote safe;—and rail, in private.

DECIMUS.
See! What a pensive Visage Brutus brings!

CASSIUS.
Save us! He looks, as if the tumbling Statues
Had crush'd him into Cowardice!