University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A spacious Hall.
Enter Junius, Brutus, Cassius, Citizens, &c.
Junius.
It's time, high time to check the rage of slaughter
And let our actions show that we are freemen.

Brutus.
Welcome thrice happy day! for so I call thee,
Tho' scenes of woe attend us—
I feel a ray of hope that richest gem,
Which glimmers in the darkest night,
And gilds the gloom—that firm determin'd spirit,
Which seems to animate this grand assembly,
The most august that ever set in Servia,
We'll rescue freedom—yes, thy wounds my country
Shall soon be clos'd, and from the precious gore,
Which stains thy streets shall spring a glorious harvest.
Now is the crisis; if we lose this moment,
All's gone for ever—Catch the happy period,
And boldly hurl oppression from her basis.

Cassius.
And can you want for motives to perswade us?
Go to yon tomb and ask the weeping marble,
The fate of those, who sleep within it's bosom.
They fell in cries (and listen to the tale)
Unhappy victims to inhuman ruffians;
Who wish to drink this countries richest blood,
And crush expiring freedom—Tell me ye patriots
Will you submit to fall without a struggle?
The very worm you tread on shews resentment.

Brutus.
'Tis true there's mighty danger—
But shall that thought, that mean ungenerous thought
Damp in the lest our ardor!
We ne'er can be seduc'd by gaudy charms of riches
Pleasure's fantastick ray—
Leave this for weaker minds—We scorn them all.
Rather let Servia tumble from her basis.
And in one general ruin cover all,
Than see her citizens oppress'd with chains
And sweetly slumb'ring in the gilded fetters.
The man who boasts his freedom,
Feels solid joy—tho' poor and low his state,
He looks with pity on the honor'd slave.

Cassius.
These are sentiments, Which make us men.
Has life so many charms,
That it can sweeten every hour of bondage?
Look to the Turk, and relish if you can,
A life in chains—he sighs, but sighs unpitied.
Groans are so frequent, that they pass unnotic'd,
And no one counts the steps of misery.
Enter a Ghost with naked breasts exposing his wounds. Cassius proceeds,
Oh! Heaven! see yonder ghastly form,
It comes to push us on, and cries again REVENG,
Points to it's wounds, and beckons us away.
And shall we faulter?

[ghost sinks.
Brutus.
There glow'd the flame of heroes.
If thus resolv'd, some to Rapatio speed;
Tell him we are determin'd—fix'd as fate—
The soldier stay no longer—if deni'd—
A scene of woe shall quickly open.
Yon sun shall set in blood—the weeping moon,
Shrink in her orb—we'll dare, what men can dare;
And with our daggers force a way to freedom.

[A number are sent to Rapatio's with an account of this resolution.]