University of Virginia Library

SCENA 2.

Enter Cæsar
Cæs.
Follow your chase, and let your light-foote steedes
Flying as swift as did that winged horse
That with strong fethered Pinions cloue the Ayre,
Or'take the coward flight of your base foe.

Bru.
Do not with-drawe thy mortall woundring blade,
But sheath it Cæsar in my wounded heart:
Let not that heart that did thy Country wound
Feare to lay Brutus bleeding on the ground.
Thy fatall stroke of death shall more mee glad,
Then all thy proud and Pompous victories;
My funerall Cypresse, then thy Lawrell Crowne,
My mournefull Beere shall winne more Praise and Fame
Then thy triumphing Sun-bright Chariot.
Heere in these fatall fieldes let Brutus die,
And beare so many Romaines company.

Cæsa.
T'was not 'gainst thee this fatall blade was drawne
Which can no more pierce Brutus tender sides
Then mine owne heart, or ought then heart more deere,
For all the wronges thou didst, or strokes thou gau'st
Cæsar on thee will take no worse reuenge,
Then bid thee still commande him and his state:
True setled loue can neere bee turn'd to hate.

Brut.
To what a pitch would this mans vertues sore,
Did not ambition clog his mounting fame,
Cæsar thy sword hath all blisse from me taine
And giuest me life where best were to be slaine.
O thou hast robd me of my chiefest ioy,
And seek'st to please me with a babish toye.
Exit Brutus.

Cæs.
Cæsar Pharsalia doth thy conquest sound
Ioues welcom messenger faire Victory,
Hath Crown'd thy temples with victorious bay.
And Io ioyfull, Io doth she sing
And through the world thy lasting prayses ring.
But yet amidst thy gratefull melody
I heare a hoarse, and heauy dulfull voyce,
Of my deare Country crying, that to day
My Glorious triumphs worke her owne decay.
In which how many fatall strokes I gaue,
So many woundes her tender brest receiu'd.
Heere lyeth one that's boucher'd by his Sire
And heere the Sonne was his old Fathers death,
Both slew vnknowing, both vnknowne are slaine,
O that ambition should such mischiefe worke
Or meane Men die for great mens proud desire.