University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

SCENE I.

A Vestibule in Athens.
Enter Lucilius and Varius.
LUCILIUS.
Express upon Express arrives from Rome.
Their Veneration for most noble Brutus
Is now reviv'd, and makes all mourn his Absence.

VARIUS.
But yet some threaten to destroy us here,
For giving shelter to that worthy Roman:
What means this Contradiction?

LUCILIUS.
I'll inform you.
Our Empire groan'd beneath the Power of Cæsar;
A Man so fam'd for Clemency and Courage,
(Qualities charming ev'n in Enemies)
That none, tho' virtuous, could resolve to act
A bold and noble Deed, which all Men wish'd.

VARIUS.
You mean the Death of Cæsar. Pray go on.

LUCILIUS.
At length, a Man of all the World inclin'd
The least to Violence, or any Passion;
A Man sublimely wise, exactly just—

VARIUS.
After this Character you need not name him.

LUCILIUS.
Brutus, the Head of all those noble Spirits
Who shine at Rome, and rule the under World,
Selects the very choicest of them all,
And fells the Tyrant in the very Senate.

VARIUS.
This Deed of Brutus seems the Will of Heav'n.

LUCILIUS.
And so accounted, for his wondrous Virtue.
The Soldiers, Senators, and common People,
(If among Romans they can be so call'd)
Ev'n the best Friends of Cæsar follow'd Brutus,
As the avow'd Deliv'rer of his Country:
Till his soft Nature, and his gen'rous Spirit,
Resign'd the Corps to be interr'd with Honour.

VARIUS.
That made this fatal Change as we are told.

LUCILIUS.
Most true, in those that heard the fam'd Oration.
What is it Eloquence cannot persuade?
Reason it self comes over to its side.
Thus Antony, soon as his Speech was ended,
Rais'd in that Heat so great a Rage against us,
As forc'd ev'n Friends to act the part of Foes:
Yet now the wise repent, and rev'rence Athens
For thus supporting the most worthy Brutus.

VARIUS.
The Roads from Rome are fill'd by valiant Crowds,
Who fly from Safety, to partake our Danger.

LUCILIUS.
No wonder: since Virtue has ever fix'd
Kind Correspondence between Rome and Athens.
The Youth of Rome, and all whom Rome has conquer'd,
Hither repair to learn Philosophy.
Chief among these, you (Son of famous Tully,)
Advis'd no doubt by your illustrious Father,
Invited Brutus and his Brother Cassius
To make great Athens Center of the War.

VARIUS.
And she has own'd your Cause in ample manner.
Armies are levy'd, and vast Sums are rais'd,
In the defence of Roman Liberty.

LUCILIUS.
Oh Noble efforts of Republick Spirit!
Why this is being Friends to Humane kind;
Which, next to Heav'n, is most oblig'd to those
Who rescue Liberty from vile Oppression.

VARIUS.
Our ancient Heroes thus grew Gods themselves:
Besides, 'tis in a manner Self-defence
To help in neighb'ring Dangers; for it hinders
Future Incroachments on our selves at home.

LUCILIUS.
Of that, Athenians are almost too jealous:
Ev'n with Ingratitude they crush Ambition,
And banish Merit, when the least aspiring.

VARIUS.
Most wisely do they act, nay justly too:
For, we reward a Leader's Service best,
In barring him the means of doing Mischief.
Happier, much happier had it been for Cæsar,
Had he been banish'd, while yet innocent,
Than e'er return'd triumphant o'er his Country.

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 Battel.
Who knows but each great Chief may grow more kind,
In sight of wondring Armies may embrace,
And Rome shall smile at their returning Friends?

(Exit Lucilius.
VARIUS.
And can you think that Brutus slew great Julius,
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'd 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:
Who wants it, and endures it, is a Brute.
Yet put the case some Phœnix Prince should reign,
A Vulture might succeed; a Son, or Brother,
Who will undo in a few Months of Folly,
(For short will be his Reign, 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 Men's 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.

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 my self.
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 your self 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 it self?
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:
Your self 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 dye before she is enslav'd.

(Exit Dolabella, Manet Brutus.

SCENE IV.

Enter Varius and Lucilius.
VARIUS.
The Areopagite Council long have sate,
To do great Brutus some unwonted Honour.
Some voted to renew th' Olympic Games,
Others with Plays would crowd the Theatres;
But these were held Diversions too divine,
And only consecrated to the Gods.
At last, the wisest and most famous Senate,
In love to you, in service to the Publick,
In veneration for superior Virtue,
Resolves to rear your Statue carv'd by Samius,
That greatest Artist, for the best of Men;
And place it in the sacred Temple, next
Harmonius and Aristogiton,
Those worthy Patriots of learned Athens.

LUCILIUS.
How many Ages hence shall wealth of Princes
Vye for these dear Remains, so doubly famous,
Both for the Work, and him it represents!

BRUTUS.
Was ever Honour from so wise a People
Design'd so kindly, yet bestow'd so ill?
I am not only destitute of Merit,
But of Ambition, more than to do good.
Fame's only due for Deeds beyond our Duty;
Who can do those in Service of his Country?
The Romans, and ev'n Cassius, may repine
At such a partial proof of their Affection.
Advise me how to shun it with Respect.

VARIUS.
You should not, cannot now, without Affront.
No mean Assembly this, such as proceeds
In shew for publick Good, with private Aim;
Sluggish to meet, yet hasty to resolve.
These, in safe Methods, and with prudent Steps,
Encourage Virtue, and uphold their Country.

SCENE V.

Enter Cassius.
CASSIUS.
I greet my Friend on this new Complement;
Which, in your Name, shews a Respect to all.
The Death of Cæsar is a common Cause,
Which Commonwealths in Prudence must approve.

BRUTUS.
True, noble Cassius; and I never would
Accept an Honour sep'rate from my Friends.
Brutus has nothing in his Life or Humour
Suited to this unpresidented Honour.

CASSIUS.
Methinks you now esteem your self too little,
Only to prize this Complement too much.

BRUTUS.
A Statue rear'd to me, and rear'd by Athens,
I own a most transcendent Obligation;
But ev'ry Summ and Soldier they have rais'd
In aid of Liberty, affects me more.

CASSIUS.
I ever thought a Roman General
Above Reward from an Athenian Senate.
What is a Trifle then giv'n by Grey-boards,
Mov'd by a little Popularity?

BRUTUS.
But, to be mov'd by Envy, sure is worse.

CASSIUS.
I did not envy Cæsar, tho' I slew him.

BRUTUS.
An honest Mind can envy no Usurper;
You said you kill'd him for the Publick Good.

CASSIUS.
You know I kill'd him for the Public Good.
Who doubts it, does me wrong.

BRUTUS.
Do none your self.
What, shall we two, the Champions of Freedom,
Like Children, grudge at one another's Play-things?
Come, we are Friends. But think not I am fond
(Embraces him.
Of airy Trifles, tho' I value Fame.
Fame for good Deeds is the Reward of Virtue.
Thirst after Fame is giv'n us by the Gods,
Both to excite our Minds to noble Acts,
And give a proof of some immortal State,
Where we shall know, that Fame we leave behind
That highest Blessing which the Gods bestow.

CASSIUS.
But 'tis a greater not to need their Blessings:
You Stoicks hold a wise Man is above them.

BRUTUS.
Yet not insensible to Reputation.
For that he slights all Torments, ev'n Disgrace;
Nay, what is harder yet, despises Pleasure;
A strength of Mind which only Man possesses.

CASSIUS.
I see no such distinction, nor wherein
Man so transcends, except in Arrogance.
This great Superiority of Man
Often comes short ev'n of the meanest Creatures:
They in their ways more happily confin'd,
Seem not to scorn, or bear down one another;
Never ungrateful, or the least deceiving,
But keep wise Nature's Laws with strict Obedience.
Oh happy for the World, if in these Times
Mankind in gen'ral were no worse than Brutes!

BRUTUS.
Ill Men, indeed, I must confess are worse.

CASSIUS.
And sure the worst of all, their Country's Enemies.
These should be censur'd by our rev'rend Priests,
Who always raise our Thoughts to things above,
But yet connive at Villany below.

BRUTUS.
From hence the Miseries of Rome proceed.
When Fraud, Oppression, foulest Calumny,
Contempt of Laws, and bold Impieties,
Appear barefac'd; no Auguries more sure
Foretell the Ruin of a sinking State.

CASSIUS.
No Auguries? What do they e'er foretell,
But as the Politician bribes the Priest?
Mere Combination against common Sense.

BRUTUS.
You'll have your way. But do you not remember
That Southsayer who said, the Ides of March
Were come, not gone?

CASSIUS.
And that was all he knew:
Had he known more, why did he not inform?

BRUTUS.
The Gods decreed that Rome should be deliver'd.

VARIUS.
That devout Thought revives our sinking Hopes;
Heav'n will not fail a Cause it once has blest.

CASSIUS.
But trust not all to that, let us be careful.
When you shall march to morrow after me,
Should we not leave some Forces here behind?

BRUTUS.
For what?

CASSIUS.
To keep these People firmly to us.
They, who at Rome command an Empire's wealth,
Have dangerous Temptations of seducing.

VARIUS.
Oh never fear it. Shake Athenian Faith?
Tis stopping Tides, or striving with the Winds.

BRUTUS.
They are too learn'd, and prudent, not to know
That 'tis the greatest Folly to be false;
Not worth a Villany to gain the World.
A low mean Act so rancles in the Mind,
There is no Joy, nor Quiet afterwards;
Kind Heav'n has form'd us so, that we might find
Content and Honesty still join'd together.

CASSIUS.
But, then we are the more oblig'd to guard 'em
Against what they might suffer for our sakes.

BRUTUS.
Kindly, and justly urg'd, I must confess.
But think you, that our Enemies can spare
The smallest Legion from opposing us?
Detaching some, may be their loss of all.
Yet, for this Place I am concern'd so much,
You shake my Reason when you urge their Danger.
Let them propose what Guards themselves desire.

CASSIUS.
Nay, there I differ; since in War-affairs,
With all their Wit, they cannot judge so well:
Nor is it fit they judge in their own Cause.
I'll strait assemble them, and then debate
With calm deliberation this Affair;
Which well deserves our speediest Management,
Since we are forc'd to march away so soon.
You'll come, I hope, and fix our resolution.

(Exit Cassius.
BRUTUS.
This Man has some uneasiness of Temper,
But over-balanc'd by his publick Spirit,
Which ever sways him to his Country's Good.
Whate'er our Master Zeno may have taught us,
Nothing is wholly perfect here below:
We should applaud the Merit that we find,
And cast a friendly Veil on good Men's Faults.
My Sister Junia loves him to excess;
(If there can be Excess in Love, or Friendship.)
Go, and acquaint her gently with the Journey
Which he must take this Night towards Philippi,
There to decide th' important Fate of Rome.
(Exit Lucilius.
I must prepare the Forces under me,
To overtake him on his March to morrow:
From thence we'll haste conjointly to the Battel:
This scanty Road bears us not both together;
And we must once divide, to part no more.

(Exeunt Brutus and Varius.