SCENE II. Enter a Crowd of common Tradesmen. CASCA. What's all this Croud, and whither are ye going, 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 so admire would be your Master. TRADESMAN. My Mafter! He would scorn so mean a Servant. CASCA. [CASCA laughs. I only laugh at you for loving Cæsar. TRADESMAN. Oh, is that all? Well Sir, make bold with me, CASCA. Betters! Thou fawcy Citizen, be filent. TRADES TRADESMAN.. Then I am hufh'd. Speak you, Sir. CASCA. What, to Fools? To Men, whofe Minds are funk in low Submiffion? Born free, and yet contented to be Slaves? Form'd like the dull ftrong Horfe, to bear a Rider? Well, we may wifh, and vent our Rage in Curfes : May CÆSAR TRADESMAN. Hold; and hear if he speaks Treason. CASCA. May CÆSAR live, as long as good Men wish him! TRADESMAN. Why, what does this Man mean? he prays forCÆSAR. Long may he live Rome's great, and wife Dictator! TREBONIUS. Oh, my good Friends, how blind are thofe Defires! Did you but know how much you curfe your felves, No People, fure, would be fuch Self-destroyers, Tho' but in Wish. Did ever Men before Pray for continuance of a Tyrant Ague That shakes their very Souls? See, how Rome trem bles, And And looks all pale, with lofs of guiltless Blood! Nay, are not you dead too? fince in his Power Was Mafter of the World, and fhar'd the Power; The Greatness, nay the Goodness of this CÆSAR, And do you think, because he gives you Pleasures, Those lofty Thoughts, which like true mettled Hawks For For fhame, repent of fuch a childish Folly; CASCA. And POMPEY too, methinks, fhould be remember'd, TREBONIUS. See if they are not mov'd; the Roman Soul- Kill him with staring. I CITIZEN. Farewel worthy Lords! You love your Country, and we love you for it. TREBONIUS. Shall we not be accus'd for this? CASCA. No matter; We break no Laws either of Gods or Men : So, if we fall, it is with Reputation ; A Fate which Cowards fhun, and brave Men seek. If CÆSAR punish Men for speaking Truth, My My honeft Tongue fhall dare his utmost Doom. But here he comes, with all that Pomp and Pride In which young Power so childishly delights. SCENE III. Enter CESAR attended by ANTONY, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and many other Senators: Sits down in a magnificent Seat, to behold feveral Divertifements after the Roman manner. When the Sports are ended, ANTONY prefents him a Crown. ANTONIUS. Hail, mighty Man! thou Godlike CÆSAR, hail! CÆSAR. I am not call'd your King, but your Dictator; [CASAR defcends from his Seat to the middle of the Stage. A Name, I hope, that bears as great a Sound; |