ACT IV. SCENE I

A Field near Philippi, where CASSIUS and BRUTUS made the Rendezvous of their Armies.

T

Enter BRUTUS and Officers.

BRUTUS.

IS here that I and CASSIUS were to join:
What fay our Scouts? Is any Army near?
OFFICER.

The rifing Duft discovers their Approach;
And fome, impatient of fo flow a March,
Are just arriv'd before to meet their Friends.

Enter LUCILIUS.

BRUTUS.

O, here's LUCILIUS, whom I fent to CASSIUS.

LUCILIUS.

CASSIUS, my Lord, falutes the noble BRUTUS,

And haftens to embrace him,

BRU

BRUTUS.

O LUCILIUS!

CASSIUS is alter'd much, or ill advis'd;
Has, I am loth to say it, done fome things
Which do not well become fo great a Man.
But, fince he is fo near, I'll stay my Censure,
And wish to find my Jealousy mistaken.
But, good LUCILIUS, how did he receive you.
When you brought friendly Notice I was near?

LUCILIUS.

1

With Forms, and Compliments, and great Refpect, Out-doing Enemics in Ceremony;

But no Familiarity betwixt us;

None of that free and friendly Conference
Which we have us'd of old: and when he nam'd you,
'Twas always with such set, affected Praise,
As if the Commendation had no Meaning,
But to be told again.

BRUTUS.

I am afraid

Thou judgeft but too right: Nothing is nobler
Than Friendship, till it once begins to fail;
But then asham'd, and conscious of Defect,
It hides itself in Compliment and Care:
At the first Shock, off falls the frail Difguife;
Falfhood is foolish, and betrays itself.

There

There is no Art in plain and friendly Truth,
Which like the Sun fhines forth by its own Light.
Violent Minds fometimes make glorious Shew,
Like Gilding fhine, equal to real Gold,
But in the Ufage, how much Difference!
Hark! he's arriv'd; march gently on to meet him.

SCENE II.

Enter CASSIUS, &c.

CASSIUS.

Embracing thus is but a thing of Form;

For 'tis not fit that both our Armies here
Should once fufpect the least Dispute between us.

BRUTUS.

The common Caufe indeed requires our Care;
And all our Difcontents fhould yield to that.

CASSIUS.

BRUTUS, let us retire into my Tent,

Left here by chance fome unbecoming Word
Break out too loud.

BRUTUS.

Are we fo little Mafters of ourselves?

How can we then be fit to govern Armics?

CASSIUS.

You think yourself above thofe common Frailties:

BRUTUS.

The Stoics are above unruly Paffion.

But, fince you would retire, I am content
My Soldiers may remove beyond those Fields.
LUCILIUS, march a little off this Ground:
Let your Men do the like, under Pretence
Of our conferring about great Affairs;
Indeed our greatest; for a Home Difpute
Is of more Confequence than Foreign Dangers.
CASSIUS.

TITINIUS, let my Forces move away
To yonder Plain, and leave us all alone;
"Tis neceffary we should be in private.

[Exeunt all, except BRUTUS and CASSIUS.

SCENE III.

CASSIUS.

You ask'd me fifty Talents for your Legions,
And in a Style as to your Treasurer,

As if I thould prefer yours to my own:
Am I to be impos'd on thus by you?

370

BRUTUS.

Sure, CASSIUS little knows the Force of Friendship;
Writing fo freely, fhew'd my Trust and Kindness.
He that defires a Favour from a Friend,
Does him the greatest in defiring it.

CASSIUS.

Come, I must tell you, over-great Applause
Lifts you too high. Shou'd I, who kill'd ev❜n CÆSAD,
Only for his exceflive Pow'r and Pride,

Should I at laft fubmit thus to another?
From a Superior my Stars defend me!

BRUTUS.

From a Superior! you little know me :
I scarce would be fuperior to my Slaves,
Except in Virtue; that is worthy Pride.

CASSIUS.

Then think not, Sir, of being above me.

BRUTUS.

I wish I were not, by thefe weak Sufpicions.
What! jealous of a Friend? it moves my Pity.

CASSIUS.

Pity! I fcorn it.

BRUTUS.

Scorn your Rage, that moves it.

My