University of Virginia Library


247

SCENE THE FOURTH.

Brutus, People, Senators, and Patricians, who place themselves successively in the Forum.
Bru.
Oh thou supreme discerner of those thoughts
Which lurk most privily in human breasts!
Thou who dost see and dost inflame my heart!
Rome's great protector, everlasting Jove!
Give me, I pray thee, language, sense, and ardour
To the great cause proportion'd ... Yes, oh Jove,
This wilt thou do, if it be true that thou
Hast chosen me to be the instrument
Of liberty, thy first and genuine blessing.