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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)
  
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[dedication]
  
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[volume]
  
THE TEMPLE OF DEATH.
  
ODE on LOVE.
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SONGS AND VERSES.
  
ELEGY TO THE Duchess of R*****.
  
A LETTER from SEA.
  
Love's Slavery.
  
The DREAM.
  
To one who accused him of being too sensual in his Love.
  
The WARNING.
  
To AMORETTA.
  
The VENTURE.
  
Inconstancy Excused.
  
SONG.
  
DESPAIR.
  
On Apprehension of losing what he had newly gain'd.
  
The Reconcilement.
  
SONG.
  
To a Coquet Beauty.
  
The RELAPSE.
  
The RECOVERY.
  
The CONVERT.
  
The PICTURE.
  
On Don Alonzo's being killed in Portugal, upon Account of the Infanta, in the Year 1683.
  
The SURPRIZE.
  
A Dialogue sung on the Stage between an elderly Shepherd, and a very young Nymph.
  
On one who died discovering her Kindness.
  
On Lucinda's Death.
  
To a Lady retiring into a Monastery.
  
The VISION.
  
HELEN to PARIS,
  
Part of the Story of Orpheus.
  
AN ESSAY ON SATIRE.
  
ODE ON BRUTUS.
  
The RAPTURE.
  
On Mr. HOBBS, and his Writings.
  
Written over a Gate.
  
The MIRACLE, 1707.
  
ODE on the Death of Henry Purcell.
  
On the Loss of an only Son, Robert Marquis of Normanby.
  
On Mr. POPE, and his Poems.
  
STANZAS.
  
The Election of a Poet Laureat in 1719.
  
On the TIMES.
  
ON THE DUKE of YORK Banished to Brussels.
  
On the DEITY.
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THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CÆSAR, ALTERED:
  
PROLOGUE to the Alteration of JULIUS CÆSAR.
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ACT I.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 1. 
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ACT II.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 2. 
[section]
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ACT III.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 VI. 
SCENE VI.
 3. 
Third CHORUS.
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ACT IV.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 VI. 
SCENE VI.
 4. 
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ACT V.
 I. 
SCENE I.
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THE TRAGEDY OF MARCUS BRUTUS.
  
PROLOGUE. By the AUTHOR.
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ACT I.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 1. 
Of Athenian Philosophers. Written at the Command of his Grace, by Mr. POPE.
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ACT II.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 2. 
Of Athenian Youths and Virgins. By Mr. Pope.
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ACT III.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 3. 
Of Roman Senators.
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ACT IV.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 4. 
Of Roman Soldiers.
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ACT V.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 VI. 
SCENE VI.

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SCENE II.

Enter Dolabella, pulling off his Disguise.
Lucilius.
What! Dolabella here?

Dolabella.
A Friend to Varius,
Sent by Antonius in most secret manner,
To ask an Interview of noble Brutus,
Before the Soldier joins in bloody Battle.
Who knows but each great Chief may grow more kind,
In Sight of wond'ring Armies may embrace,
And Rome shall smile at their returning Friends?

[Exit Lucilius.
Varius.
And can you think that Brutus slew great Julius,
314

To suffer Tyranny in other Hands?

Dolabella.
Alas! that Tyranny is but a Word,
Us'd only by us when we hate our Ruler.
Have we not found (you'll pardon me, good Varius)
That ev'n this Change you call Deliverance
Has but remov'd one Hardship for a greater,
A single Grievance for a Civil War?

Varius.
What do I hear! Is any Grievance equal
To that most abject State of being Subjects
To Will, to Passion, or to lawless Humour?

Dolabella.
Yet these Expressions shew 'tis not mere ruling,
But ruling ill, you fear. When Prudence sways,
'Tis Happiness, not Slav'ry, to be govern'd.
To bless our Times with Plenty, and with Pleasures,
Prevent Disorders, and promote Diversions,
Hinder us all from hurting one another,
Take all the Cares, and leave us all the Joys,
Can only be accomplish'd by great Power,
When plac'd in such a Man as God-like Brutus.

Varius.
Where is Content or Pleasure under Force?
The Freedom of Man's Will not Heav'n constrains:
315

Who wants it, and endures it, is a Brute.
Yet put the Case some Phœnix Prince should reign,
A Vultur might succeed; a Son, or Brother,
Who will undo in a few Months of Folly,
(For short will be his Regin, tho' seeming long)
Whate'er the Wise had been whole Years contriving.
Like Brutus, did you say? A Man like Brutus
No more would be a Sov'reign, than a Slave:
A Man so virtuous, and so wise, well knows
'Tis better much to bear than do a Hardship.

Dolabella.
What Hardship's done by acting for Mens Good?

Varius.
What Good can come from arbitrary Sway?
The choicest Fare, forc'd down, will cloy the Stomach.
But here he comes himself to hear your Message:
At once the humblest and the highest Mind
That ever shin'd in all our Roman Story!

[Exit Varius.
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