University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Enter Brutus.
Brutus.
A Message from Antonius claims a Hearing,
Whom, tho' my Enemy, I still esteem.

Dolabella.
His boldest Wishes aim at nothing higher;
And therefore thus assures most noble Brutus,
That what he has done was by Nature forc'd,
From his fresh Sorrow for his slaughter'd Friend;
But now his bleeding Country moves him more,
And his Soul shakes at Sight of Civil War.
Secure him but by taking Sov'reign Pow'r,
To you alone he joins with all his Force.

Brutus.
And I abandon Cassius, and my Friends!

Dolabella.
Far be it from me to propose such Baseness.
May they, and we, be happy under you,
And the whole World once govern'd by the Virtuous.

Brutus.
Ah! Dolabella, little do you know
The Mind of Brutus. When I slew your Cæsar,
Think you it was Ambition? Jove is Witness,
I would have crown'd him rather than myself.
But Rome claim'd Freedom, tho' by Cæsar's Death;
Tho' by Destruction of my dearest Friend:
And free she shall be still, if I prevail.
Antonius joining in that glorious Work,
May claim whate'er a Commonwealth can give:
Nay, I will be his Soldier in her Service.
Then, neither he nor we shall longer strive,
But only who shall serve his Country best.

Dolabella.
Will you then rather see the World in Arms,
Than govern it yourself to make it happy?

Brutus.
May the great Gods destroy that World and me,
If e'er I suffer Rome to be enslav'd!
Rome, that has toil'd for Fame so many Ages,
By Valour, and by Virtue tam'd Mankind,
Soften'd rude Minds, and in the wildest Soils
Establish'd Manners and Humanity;
And, cultivating Youth with strictest Care,
First taught Urbanity, that useful Art
Of being most politely sociable;
(A Virtue scarce known in the World beside,
And chiefly owing to our Liberty)
Gods! shall all this sink into mean Submission?
Which in a Moment would debase our Souls,
Like those in wretched Governments around us.

Dolabella.
But yet Submission seems design'd by Nature:
Why, else, has she bestow'd such diff'rent Talents?
Some, like your own, with Worth, and Skill to govern;
And Thousands only fitted to obey.

Brutus.
As well you might imagine harmless Sheep
Only created for the rav'nous Wolf.

Dolabella.
But is Man blameable for mast'ring both?

Brutus.
No; for those Beasts are of inferior Rank:
But where does Nature, or the Will of Heav'n,
Subject a Creature to one like itself?
Man is the only Brute enslaves his Kind.

Dolabella.
'Tis not the Shape, but Soul, that shews the Likeness:
Is a mere Changeling like a Man of Prudence?

Brutus.
A Man of Prudence never will at once
Make both himself and all the World unhappy.
Think you that 'tis for Envy Kings are hated?
Pity would rather plead in their Defence,
Did we not more compassionate their Subjects.
Alas! they scarce have one contented Hour;
Few to confide in, and whole Crowds to fear;
Asham'd to rule so many wiser Subjects,
Yet often sway'd by weaker than themselves.

Dolabella.
All this were reconcil'd, if Brutus govern'd;
Freedom and Empire might consist together:
Yourself would be the only Man uneasy;
Which, for the sake of all, you will not grudge.

Brutus.
If there were Colour for so vile a Change,
Or the least Pleasure in the greatest Power;
Yet I abhor what I disdain to hear.
Return in Safety back, but tell Antonius,
My highest Wish is to fix Rome in Freedom;
My next, to die before she is enslav'd.

[Exit Dolabella; manet Brutus.