TITINIUS.
What mean these sumptuous Preparations?
Is this a Time for either Pomp, or Pleasure?
When two, the best and boldest Sons of Rome,
The justest Cause too that was e'er defended,
Are on the very Brink of their Destruction.

VARIUS.
Oh wrong not sacred Athens, Sir, the Nurse
The Mother of all Arts and Sciences:
Has she spread Wit and Learning thro' the World,
Nay soften'd Rome her self (but rough before)

To Arts, to Eloquence, and gentler Manners;
And is she now upbraided?

TITINIUS.
Fallacious Eloquence, and useless Arts!
I own her Learning; but that Polishing
Has but too much weaken'd our harder Steel.
Our ancient, rough, and manly Worth now bends
At the hard touch of Perils and of Toils.
Our Gold is melted to a finer Shape,
But mix'd with dross of Flatt'ry and Corruption.
How else could Brutus be a banish'd Man?
Or how could Liberty fly here for Refuge?

VARIUS.
And whither should it fly, if not to Athens?
The School of all Philosophy and Virtue.
Our publick Recreations here are sacred:
This Day th' Athenians, ever true to Virtue,
In this low Ebb, in spite of pow'rful Rome,
Have kept their Custom tho' against their Safety,

And consecrated Sports for your Success.

TITINIUS.
Is't possible? Pardon a Stranger's Error,
Newly arriv'd with Succours from afar,
Sent from the Gods, I think: for 'tis their Cause;
And unknown Regions have espous'd our Quarrel.

VARIUS.
The Sports are just beginning; I have time
Only to let you know these are not Trifles,
Or such as are in Nations loose of Manners;
But solemn Celebrations to the Gods,
With pious Hymns imploring their Protection.
Wise Athens ever has indulg'd Diversions
With more Magnificence than greatest Princes:
But they are all dispos'd in Praise of Virtue,
Inspiring Courage, Generosity,
And most of all, Affection to their Country.
How think you now, Titinius?

TITINIUS.
I recant,
And grow my self impatient for your Pleasures. SCENE II. The Scene opens, and discovers the magnificent Temple of Bacchus, where the Publick Entertainments were wont to be celebrated at Athens. The Statue of Brutus being this Day erected, is supposed to be the Occasion of these Solemnities, and must appear in the farthermost part of the Stage. After the Shews and Songs are over, Brutus, Lucilius, Titinius, and Varius remain on the Stage.

LUCILIUS.
By these refin'd Diversions, we perceive
This Town retains its old Magnificence.
No wonder Atticus, so nice a Judge,
When he retir'd, preferr'd this place to all.

VARIUS.
Philosophy is highly'st honour'd here;
And from that Fountain of superior Wisdom
Flows all this Stream of Arts and Sciences.

BRUTUS.
Here Poetry, harmoniously divine,
Is most transporting, thus accompany'd
With artful Paintings, and melodious Sounds.
The Muses join in all Athenian Pleasures.

VARIUS.
But that which has occasion'd these Delights,
Gives the true taste to all; your matchless Merit.

BRUTUS.
Hold, Varius; too much has been said already
In complement: and I receive it only
As Honour done me for Rome's sake, not mine.
So Prizes, taken but by vulgar Hands,
Are brought in Triumph to the Capitol.

LUCILIUS.
Yet then, we know, that Leader justly triumphs
Under whose Conduct those rich Spoils are gain'd.

BRUTUS.
But were our Conduct equal to our Cause,
In which the noble Cassius, and my self
Have here engag'd all Asia on our Side;
Yet the whole World deliver'd, must acknowledge
All owing to this gen'rous Commonwealth.

VARIUS.
Rome could not fail to find support in Athens,
Her elder Sister, both in Arts and Arms,
And great Protectress of fair Liberty;
That Liberty to which she owes her Splendour.

BRUTUS.
Most truly noted: From whence ever came
Good Sense, or Learning, Arts of Peace, or War?
Deepness of Thought, or Nobleness of Nature?
Except where Liberty enlarg'd the Mind?

VARIUS.
The very Air of Freedom breeds great Souls,
Which Education ripens into Virtue.

BRUTUS.
And here inspires the usefullest of Virtues,
Tender Affection to our native Country.

VARIUS.
My Friends and near Relations, when I took
My tender leave, after a thousand Counsels,
Assur'd me that their greatest Satisfaction
Was, that they sent me to this famous Place
Where Wisdom, and where Virtue best are taught;
And own'd, when Romans write the most politely,
Their highest Praise is to have copy'd well.

BRUTUS.
Tully himself confesses Greece superiour:
Yet he, of all our famous Wits of Rome,
Shines much the brightest.

VARIUS.
Such applause from Brutus
Is a Reward equal to all his Merit.

TITINIUS.
To be esteem'd by you, the greatest Kings
Here send their Legions, and have lent their Treasure.

BRUTUS.
And timely comes this Aid: Advice from Rome
Assures us, all their Force is on the March.

VARIUS.
I thought Dissension was among their Chiefs,
Each of them striving to set up himself. Enter Cassius.

CASSIUS.
Just now is come most unexpected News;
Our Foes have forc'd their Gen'rals to be Friends,
And call'd it Civil War to fight in Quarrels
Between Octavius and Antony;
Yet think their War is lawful against us.

TITINIUS.
Alas, what reasoning can there be in Fools,
Who, bred in Faction, blindly join with Knaves?

LUCILIUS.
They are for License, not for Liberty;
And love those Gen'rals best, who lead to Mischief.

BRUTUS.
You have describ'd a State just ripe for Ruin.

CASSIUS.
Small Marches need they make, to meet a Foe
So eager as we are, to free our Country.
Oh the delay is tiresome!

BRUTUS.
Yet have Patience.
With Vigour act, but think of all with Caution.

CASSIUS.
Our Rendezvouz is settled at Philippi.

BRUTUS.
Thither you march to Night, and I to Morrow.

But Junia comes, I fear, to mourn your Absence. (Exeunt, Manet Cassius. SCENE III. Enter Junia.

JUNIA.
Now, all the Gods that guard the Innocent,
Protect my Cassius! they are marching hither:
Ruin is rolling on us from afar.

CASSIUS.
Not hither, Junia; we shall spare their Pains;
Our Forces intercept their bold Presumption,
And I just now am making haste to meet them.

JUNIA.
Come then, away; with you all Pains are easy;
I am this moment ready for the Journey.

CASSIUS.
Ready, alas! you must not for this world
Share in the Shifts and Hazards I must run;
Virtue, like yours, here none will dare to harm;

And while you stay in Athens, I am easy;
My dear, and better half, is out of Danger.

JUNIA.
And am I yet more wretched than I thought?
I had no Comfort left for your Misfortunes,
But that I was to share them ev'ry where:
And will you take that from me? O 'tis hard!
You would not, if you saw my sighing Heart.

CASSIUS.
And you should go, did I not doubt my own:
But 'tis so tender always towards you,
It shakes, alas, my firmest Resolutions.
I, like some skilful Swimmer in a Shipwreck,
Grasping his only Treasure in his Arms,
May, for thy sake, make too much haste to shore,
Leaving the Bark with all my Friends behind.
Your Sighs would blow away my best Resolves,
Soften my Soul, and slacken all its Strength.
When all's at stake, I eagerly may fix

My Mind on you, and never think beyond.

JUNIA.
Beyond? Why, is there any thing beyond
The dear, the charming Object of our Love:
Mere Thought of that is height of Happiness.
What Image have we of Elysian Bowers,
But such a gentle, calm, contented State?
What has this trifle of a World to do
With a blest Pair, who live embracing thus?

CASSIUS.
What says my Charmer? can I leave this Woman?
I could look thus, and languish here for ever.
Yet there's one Tye, more dear than Life, Love;
'Tis Honour, and the sacred Good of Rome.
For these I kill'd the greatest Man on Earth,
Engag'd the best and noblest of Mankind
(And saying that, I need not name your Brother)
To stab his Friend, and his own Heart at once.
Since I have done all this, I must do more;

Leave Junia here, and all my Joys behind.

JUNIA.
Did I e'er think that Cassius would forsake me?

CASSIUS.
Forsake? I leave you as the richest Pledge
Which can be giv'n to this illustrious City,
That Rome it self can be no dearer to me,
Than friendly Athens for protecting you.

JUNIA.
Jewels we prize we seldom leave behind:
Oh take me with you! my officious Love
Perhaps may shield you from some sudden Danger,
Soften your angry and uneasy Hours,
And make Adversity it self seem pleasing.
My Love could do all this, if yours were equal. (Weeps.

CASSIUS.
All this? nay more, what cannot Junia do?
Then, since I dare not hazard you in Armies,

I will stay here, and dye within your Arms.

JUNIA.
You dye? Oh Heav'n! the very Sound of that
Checks my Designs, and chills all my Desires.

CASSIUS.
Hast thou not heard how hard ungrateful Rome
Pursues the Men who once deliver'd her,
And riots in the Blood of her Redeemers?
Two of our Band they have destroy'd already,
And vow to spare no Murderer of Cæsar;
That is to say, no Man that lov'd his Country,
Ruin'd himself, only to rescue her.

JUNIA.
Oh I have talk'd too long: go on, make haste;
I am not wont, alas, to use this Language,
But now I can say nothing else: Away,
No matter what becomes of Me, away.

CASSIUS.
Your spotless Fame must always be your Guard,

Rudeness it self will reverence such Virtue.
I must immediately haste to our Friends,
Who all assembled in the Fields of Sardis,
Wait there for me and Brutus. He, to morrow,
Shall follow, at the Head of mighty Numbers,
Rais'd only by the Credit of our Cause;
A Cause, well worthy of the World to succour!
Oh, while I languish out this long, long Absence,
Take care of all my Treasure, thy dear self.

JUNIA.
Farewel! thou truest, kindest, best of Men!
But one Look more—and then a long Farewel
To all Content—all, till we meet again. (Exit Cassius, Manet Junia. SCENE IV. Enter Varius.

VARIUS.
Junia in Tears! so shines an April Sun;
And so the precious Dew that drops on Flowers,

Steals down unheeded by the vulgar Eye:
But I admire this Master-piece of Nature.

JUNIA.
Alas, my Lord, Cassius is gone to Sardis.

VARIUS.
Is't possible? So I was told before,
Yet never could believe it till this moment.

JUNIA.
Why, was it not determin'd so in Council?

VARIUS.
I must confess it was debated there,
And wish'd by some, that all our Force at Sardis
Had some great Chief, for keeping martial Sway:
But who could hope that Cassius would be willing
To part from you, one Day, without Occasion?

JUNIA.
Is it so strange that Cassius should be forward
In all the Proofs of Courage, or of Conduct?

VARIUS.
His Fame forbids I should have such a Thought.
But yet—

JUNIA.
But what? I cannot guess your Meaning.

VARIUS.
Not all the noble Discipline of War,
Strict Rules of Conduct, Heat of martial Prowess,
The Faith of Friendship, or the Oaths of Leagues,
Not Fame it self, no nor the Publick Good,
Deserve to be preferr'd to Junia's Love.

JUNIA.
But Rome's at stake.

VARIUS.
And well it would be lost,
For staying here one Night within those Arms.

JUNIA.
Varius, so high a Complement as this
Shews you have study'd long at courtly Athens;

Where you have learn'd to know all things, but me:
Who, tho' I value Caius Cassius,
As Slaves do Liberty, or sick Men Health,
Nay more than most of my own Sex love Power;
Yet (what I think the very worst of Fates)
I would lose sight of that dear Man for ever,
Rather than see him fail our Country's Cause.

VARIUS.
Oh ample Recompence for all his Troubles,
To be so lov'd by you! But is he grateful,
Who can so easily endure your Absence?

JUNIA.
I mourn for his, and judge his Grief by mine.
Retirement suits a solitary Wife,
And Melancholy loves to be alone. (Offers to go out.

VARIUS.
But should not be indulg'd against your Health. (Stops her.

Rather shine forth, and chear your Brother's Soul,
Which daily sinks beneath a thousand Cares.

JUNIA.
His Soul's too great to need such feeble Help.
Besides, tho' priz'd he be above Expression,
Yet ev'n his Friendship must not vye with Love:
One Thought of Cassius out-weighs all things else.
Cassius, whose noble Soul would ne'er submit
To him who domineer'd o'er all besides:
Cassius, Contriver of the Tyrant's Fall;
And, (what is more, far more than all the rest)
That hardy Man who mov'd it first to Brutus.
This Man, my Husband, or my Hero rather,
Shall with his Presence ever chear my Eyes,
Or in his Absence take up all my Thoughts. (Exit Junia.

SCENE V. Enter Brutus.

BRUTUS.
My Sister weeping! Tho' her Reason governs,
I judge her Grief for Cassius, by my own,
For Portia's Absence sits upon my Heart:
Nor need I blush to bear the tender Burthen,
So much she merits, and so well she loves.
But publick Cares must silence private Grief;
Since ev'ry Hour some fresh Expresses tell
New fatal Turns in Rome, portending ill:
The wav'ring Lepidus (perceiving Cæsar
Had cunningly agreed with Antony)
Tho' with a greater Army, yields to them.

VARIUS.
What says the noble Brutus?—Junia gone!

BRUTUS.
Is Varius deaf to Dangers of his Country?

VARIUS.
Forbid it Jove! But Junia's Melancholy,
So very moving, took up all my Thoughts.

BRUTUS.
Too moving, I'm afraid.

VARIUS.
Indeed my Lord,
Had you perceiv'd the Charms of weeping Beauty,
That gorgeous Dress which Sorrow had put on,
(Out-shining all the Gaiety of Youth,
The pleasing Smiles of Mirth, and Airs of Joy)
Your gentle Nature would be mov'd like mine.

BRUTUS.
Why you have drawn a Picture, my young Varius,
Like any Poet, nay like any Lover.
What, does that word draw forth a guilty Blush?
Be not alarm'd, no more than I am, Varius;
Junia's strict Virtue and known Love to Cassius,
Fully prevent my Fears, unless for you;

Whose Father's wond'rous Merit, and your own,
Give me a soft Concern, as for a Son.
She is above your very vainest Hopes:
Not the most tempting Charms of Wit, or Worth,
Most graceful Forms, or dazling shew of Greatness,
Can make Impression on a Mind like her's;
Who, tho' my Sister, forces Praises from me.

VARIUS.
Too much, alas, I join in Junia's Praise:
My eager Thoughts still fly before your Words,
And find them short, far short of Junia's due.

BRUTUS.
Then whence can rise self-flatt'ring Expectation?
Can Varius reason thus against himself,
And act quite contrary to what he thinks?
Oh what is Man, when blinded with his Passion!

VARIUS.
Why just that Creature Heaven thought fit to make him.
You are, indeed, exempt from all our Follies,

And rest serene within: Yet pity others!
Behold, I own my undisguis'd Offence,
And freely open all my Thoughts to you;
To you, who are a very God to Varius,
Who can at once forgive, and cure my Weakness.

BRUTUS.
But only by Despair: without that help,
There is no God himself can give you ease:
A sharp, I must confess, but certain Cure.
Our Stoical Philosophy instructs us,
A wise Man is above the reach of Jove,
Yet hardly 'scapes the worst of Demons, Love.
But since good Junia's Soul is firm as Fate,
Be yours so too. What helps it to be learn'd?
Or to be wise in Bus'ness of the World?
Nay, where would be the good to rule that World,
Without an inward Pow'r to govern Passion?
The Man disturb'd within, is but a Player;
May act abroad, perhaps, some Hero's Part,
But sinks at home, a low, uneasy Slave.

VARIUS.
To teach is easy; but to learn is hard.
As well might Heav'nly Socrates infuse
His own wise Temper while he taught his Morals,
As Brutus raise my Soul to equal his.

BRUTUS.
Be not so modest, Varius, nor so courtly;
Brutus is not your Mistress, but your Friend.
The Roman Virtue shines so bright in you,
Nothing is wanting to make up Perfection
But your Command o'er this unfruitful Passion.
Love, ev'n when most successful, makes not happy.
Sometimes indeed, Pleasure beyond expression
Possesses all at once both Mind and Body,
Confounding Soul and Sense with height of Rapture.
But what. Allays o'erbalance all this Joy!
Frequent Disquiets, Doubts, and Jealousies;
Sometimes the Pains of Absence, and sometimes
Amidst the Bliss, a dismal Dread to lose it.
At best, the Pleasure is but intermitting,

While the uneasy Fever never ceases.
But Love, when slighted, is intolerable:
Who courts the fairest Tyrant, is a Fool,
And lives a Martyr in the meanest Cause.

VARIUS.
Enough, enough, I am already cur'd,
At least, till Junia is beheld again.

BRUTUS.
'Tis half a Cure in Love to wish for one.
Give me your Hand, you'll march with me to Morrow;
Where you will drown your Sighs in Sounds of War,
And turn your tend'rest Thoughts on your poor Country. (Exeunt Brutus and Varius.

Second CHORUS. Of Athenian Youths and Virgins. By Mr. POPE. YOUTHS.
  O Tyrant Love! hast thou possest
  The prudent, learn'd, and virtuous Breast?
  Wisdom and Wit in vain reclaim,
And Arts but soften us to feel thy Flame.
  Varius with Blushes owns he loves,
  And Brutus tenderly reproves.
  Why, Virtue, dost thou blame Desire,
    Which Nature has imprest?
  Why, Nature, dost thou soonest fire
    The mild and gen'rous Breast?

VIRGINS.
  Love's purer Flames the Gods approve;
  The Gods, and Brutus bend to Love:
  Brutus for absent Portia sighs,
And sterner Cassius melts at Junia's Eyes.
  What is loose Love? A wand'ring Fire,
  A transient Fit of fond Desire.
  But Hymen's Flames like Stars unite,
    And burn for ever one;
  Chaste, as cold Cynthia's Virgin Light,
    Productive as the Sun. YOUTHS.
  What various Joys on One attend,
  As Son, as Father, Husband, Friend?
  Whether his hoary Sire he spies,
And finds a thousand grateful Thoughts arise,
  Or meets his Spouse's fonder Eye,
  Or views his smiling Progeny;

What tender Passions take theit turns?
  What home-felt Raptures move?
His Heart now melts, now leaps, now burns,
  With Rev'rence, Hope, and Love. CHORUS of Both.
Hence guilty Joys, Distastes, Surmises,
False Oaths, false Tears, Deceits, Disguises,
Dangers, Doubts, Delays, Surprises,
  (Fires that scorch, yet dare not shine)
Purest Love's unwasting Treasure,
Constant Faith, fair Hope, long Leisure,
Days of Ease, and Nights of Pleasure,
  Sacred Hymen! these are thine.

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