CAESAR

DICTATOR

ACTI.

SCENE I.

Enter two Roman Senators at one Door,
TREBONIUS and CASCA at another.

4

TREBONIUS.

But we had Triumphs :

And tho' the Conqueror fat high exalted,
We all partook both of his Fame and Merit:
The gaz'd-on Warrior in the gilded Chariot
Enjoy'd his Fill of Fame, but, as Rome's Subject:
And, to his great Renown in glorious Arms,
A higher, much more valu'd Crown, was added;
Immortal Praise for ferving well his Country.

CASCA.

Oh how our Hearts were fir'd at POMPEY's Triumphs!
The Blood more lively danc'd within our Veins :
The very Image of it strikes my Fancy!
Methinks I fee a thoufand noble Captives
Drooping with Grief, which yet was lighter made
By his kind Ufage. After came the Treasures;
Our Treasures! for it was not then as now,
When one Man's greedy Gripe ingroffes all.
We did not, as Law-Suiters for Contention,
Disburse more Charges than the Prize was worth ;
Grow Beggars, only to make others rich.

TREBONIUS.

But then, at laft, behold ev'n captive Kings
In golden Chains with penfive Thought look down,
Remembring they had us'd their Subjects worse.

CASCA.

CASCA.

Yet fhew'd a gloomy Comfort through their Sadness, For being vanquish'd by so brave a People.

TREBONIUS.

Which of us, then, oh which of us went home
From fuch a Spectacle unmov'd with Joy,

With virtuous Pride, to fee our Blood well spent,
Our Treasures manag'd, and our Glory rais'd?

CASCA.

Yet ev❜n to POMPEY, Chief of all our State,
No Roman but difdain'd a mean Submiffion;
A Tribute only owing to the Gods.

TREBONIUS.

But now we crouch, and ftand in fervile Awe;
Like Children, fear the Goblin we have made.
This CÆSAR, tho' Dictator, is our Creature,
And from Election all his Pride proceeds.

CASCA.

We meet thefe Murmurs now in ev'ry Mouth;
Ill-boding Sounds to late unfettled Pow'r,
Like new-built Houses, cafily blown down.

TREBONIUS.

Yet CÆSAR, ftill intrepidly ferene,

Goes proudly on, defpifing us, and Danger.

SCENE

II.

SCENE

Enter a Croud of common Tradefmen.

CASCA.

What's all this Croud, and whither are ye going,
My gazing Fellow-Citizens? To wait

On your own Shame, and ftare upon your Bondage?

I TRADESMAN.

I know not what you mean by Shame and Bondage: We go to fee great CÆSAR, and the Sports.

CASCA.

And much good do you, Friend: You little think, The Man you fo admire would be your Mafter.

TRADESMAN.

My Mafter! He would fcorn fo mean a Servant.
I hope you will not jeft at mighty CÆSAR!

CASCA.

[CASCA laughs.

I only laugh at you for loving CÆSAR.

TRADESMAN.

Oh, is that all? Well, Sir, make bold with me;
But have a care of meddling with your Betters.

CASCA.

Betters! Thou fawcy Citizen, be filent.

TRADES

TRADESMAN.

Then I am hush'd. Speak you, Sir.

CASCA.

What, to Fools?

To Men, whofe Minds are funk in low Submission? Born free, and yet contented to be Slaves?

Form'd like the dull ftrong Horse, to bear a Rider? Well, we may wish, and vent our Rage in Curfes: May CÆSAR

TRADESMAN.

Hold; and hear if he speaks Treason.

CASCA.

May CESAR live, as long as good Men wish him!

TRADESMAN.

Why, what does this Man mean? he prays for CÆSAR, Long may he live Rome's great, and wife Dictator!

TREBONIUS.

Oh, my good Friends, how blind are those Defires!
Did you but know how much you curse yourselves,
No People, fure, would be fuch Self-destroyers,
Tho' but in Wifh. Did ever Men before
Pray for Continuance of a Tyrant Ague

That shakes their very Souls? Sec, how Rome

trembles,

And