 | The Roman Revenge |  |
SCENE V.
PORTIA. (alone.)PORTIA.
Live, Cæsar! live, and reign!—Tho' Cato's Blood.
Calls for Revenge;—and a whole People's Rights,
Usurp'd, absolve one bold Assumer's Fall;—
The Hand of Brutus must not stain Rome's Justice;
Nor, with detested Murder, pay back Mercy.
(Peruses the Paper.)
Heaven! what confederate Power! what Names, least likely,
Start from this dreadful Roll, and threaten Cæsar!
—Wou'd I were still a Stranger to this Secret!
Yet, that unknown,—who had dissuaded Brutus?
Is he dissuaded?—let me weigh that Question.
Who knows but, while I speak, th' appointed Hour
Impends!—It Does!—Farewell, he said—and left me!
Farewell!—then added—if again we meet!
If!—Heaven! what meant that if?—tis plain he doubted,
Whether we ever were to meet, or No!
| The Roman Revenge | |