The Works of John Sheffield :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Works of John Sheffield

Earl of Mulgrave, Marquis of Normanby, and Duke of Buckingham. In two volumes ... The third edition, Corrected

Buckingham, John Sheffield (1648-1720 or 21)

[epigraph]

THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CÆSAR, ALTERED:

THE TRAGEDY OF MARCUS BRUTUS.

PROLOGUE. By the AUTHOR.

II.

III.

IV.

Of Athenian Philosophers. Written at the Command of his Grace, by Mr. POPE.

II.

III.

IV.

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213

PROLOGUE to the Alteration of JULIUS CÆSAR.

Hope to mend Shakespear! or to match his Style!
'Tis such a Jest, would make a Stoick smile.
Too fond of Fame, our Poet soars too high;
Yet freely owns he wants the Wings to fly:
So sensible of his presumptuous Thought,
That he confesses while he does the Fault:
This to the Fair will no great Wonder prove,
Who oft in Blushes yield to what they love.

Of greatest Actions, and of noblest Men,
This Story most deserves a Poet's Pen.
For who can wish a Scene more justly fam'd,
When Rome and mighty Julius are but nam'd!
That State of Heroes, who the World had brav'd!
That wond'rous Man, who such a State inslav'd!
Yet loth he was to take so rough a way,
And after govern'd with so mild a Sway,
At Distance now of sev'nteen hundred Years,
Methinks a lovely Ravisher appears;
Whom, tho' forbid by Virtue to excuse,
A Nymph might pardon, and could scarce refuse.

214

Dramatis Personæ.

Julius Cæsar, Dictator.
Brutus, Conspirator.
Cassius, Conspirator.
Dec. Brutus, Conspirator.
Trebonius, Conspirator.
Casca, Conspirator.
M. Antonius.
Junius, One of Cæsar's Freedmen.
Portia, Wife of Brutus.
Lucius, One of his Servants.
Senators.
Priests.
Tradesmen and Citizens.
Spurinna, A Sooth-sayer.

This Play begins the Day before Cæsar's Death, and ends within an Hour after it.