Julius Cæfar. vius are pathetically perfuafive, and the mob reply with humorous, characteristic bluntness; however, we are not fond of fuch ludicrous matter in a tragedy, and wish the piece could have been faved from the intrufion of inadequate characters, without enervating several paffages, which as they stand at prefent discover peculiar force.

As Cæfar goes to the Course he is accofted by a Soothsayer, who warns him to beware of the Ides of March, this prediction, however, he treats with contempt, and paffes on to the games, leaving Brutus and Caffius on the ftage; from the former's declining to join the public feftivity, his friend takes occafion to hint a gloominefs which feems to have hung for fome time on his difpofition; Brutus being fo touched, confeffes that paffions of fome difference cloud his mind; upon this foundation Caffius works with great fubtlety to feel the pulse of his political principles; a distant shout occafions Brutus to express apprehenfion that the people are conferring royalty upon Cæfar, whom Caffius, in a long, fpirited, and picturefque fpeech endeavours to depreciate, by an unfavourable comparison with himfelf; however, there is more of oftentatious vanity than found argument in it, for the strength of a very brave and good man might fail in fwimming, and his tongue, parched with feverish thirst, call for drink without any just imputation against his cou-, rage; the next fpeech of Caffius, where he accufes the Romans of enflaving themfelves, and compares. Brutus with Cæfar, applies clofely to the point in view.

Brutus perceiving the drift of Caffius, replies with fenfible referve, but delivers one pofitive and

noble

Julius Cæfar. noble declaration, that he would prefer a state of rural obfcurity rather than confefs himself a citizen of Rome, under a difgraceful state of public affairs. Here their converfation is judiciously interrupted by the return of Cæfar and his train: what the conqueror of the world fays in this scene is very unimportant, and we heartily concur with BEN JOHNSON, that his quaint remark upon the leannefs of Caffius deferves to be fneered at; indeed, fome good reafons for fufpecting that fenator of gloomy defigns are fubjoined, but how the author could carry Cæfar off the stage with an uneffential, ridiculous remark on the deafnefs of one of his own ears, we cannot conceive.

In the next scene Cafca, with a blunt peculiarity, informs Brutus and Caffius what happened while the people were offering Cæfar a crown; his picture of popular vehemence, irregularity and weakness, is juft and ftriking, but fweaty nightcaps need not have been mentioned upon Brutus's obferving that Cæfar is liable to the falling fickness, Caffius makes a most emphatic and comprehenfive reply in two lines at the conclufion of this interview, our author has, with fingular judgment, given Caffius a foliloquy, which fully explains his own principles and character, while it throws fome diftant light on the contraft difpofition of Brutus, which being generous, open and unfufpecting, Caffius justly thinks well calculated for him to work upon, thereby to gratify his perfonal refentment against Cæfar.

Casca and Cicero are next brought in view, alarmed at violent, elementary concuffions and ftrange prodigies; the defcriptive part is powerful B 2

and

Julius Cæfar and poetical. When Cicero retires, Caffius appears, who seems to rejoice in the aftonishing circumstances which furround Rome, and infers from them, matters of important dependancy relative to the state: upon mention of Cæfar, as king, Caffius proclaims a refolution of never submitting to what he terms flavery; to this Cafca agrees, and hence a dawn of the confpiracy, against Cæfar breaks upon the audience; when Cinna enters, Caffius declares him one of his faction: Brutus being mentioned as a most desirable addition to the party, Caffius gives fome papers calculated for that purpose, and directs how they may be thrown in the way of Brutus's obfervation; with which preparative circumftances, and a short,but energetic elogium on the popularity of Brutus, the first act properly and agreeably concludes.

Brutus is introduced at the beginning of the fecond act, as meditating by ftar-light; and his foliloquy respecting Cæfar's greatnefs, is finely imagined, especially that part of it which touches on ambition. Upon Lucius's bringing fome papers found in his mafter's ftudy, Brutus questions him, whether to-morrow is not the Ides of March; this, though apparently a trifling point of interrogation, must be confidered as a good preparative for the death of Cæfar, which has been predicted at that time.

Upon perufal of what Lucius has brought him, he finds a dark, yet forcible infinuation, relative to the enslaved state of Rome, and his own inactivity. He explains the matter, takes the point home to himself, and with juft, patriotic feeling, determines to attempt the redrefs of his country's wrongs

Julius Cæfar. upon being told that Caffius and some other persons are come to wait upon him, he concludes, we think rather too haftily, that they are the conspiracy; he has reafon to apprehend much public difcontent, but there does not appear any foundation for his fuppofing an actual confpiracy is formed.

When the confpirators enter, Caffius introduces them severally, and the reception they meet is cordial. Our author manifefts great judgment in communicating the matter they come upon afide, and happily threw in to fill up, the digreffion of where the fun rifes. At the propofition of an oath to bind mutual fidelity, Brutus characteristically refufes fo fufpicious an obligation upon noble, generous minds, and eloquently fhews why the caufe alone is fufficient to bind them, or if not that, nothing can; the manner of debating who are fit for their purpose is very natural, and Brutus's objection to cutting off Antony, merely as a friend to Cæfar, heroically humane; the knowledge Decius difplays of Cæfar's difpofition, and the use he proposes to make of it, fhew deep policy; the warning Brutus gives his friends to wear difengaged looks, is prudent: upon calling to Lucius, and perceiving that he is afleep, Brutus fhews moft pleafing benevolence of difpofition, by leaving his boy's flumber undisturbed.

Introducing Portia, though what she says cannot affect an audience much, is judicious, as it is a relief to the other scenes, and approaches the pathetic, though it cannot touch the tender feelings. Her method of founding the care which lies heavy on him, and his method of declining an explanation, are fenfibly natural; however, to foften the prefent

referve,

Julius Cæfar.

referve, he promises future information, and fends her off to make way for a vifitant, Caius Ligarius, with whom a very unimportant conference enfues, which we think is left out and properly in the reprefentation.

Cæfar appears next in his palace, evidently alarmed at the turbulence of the preceding night, and orders the priests to do present facrifice; Calphurnia approaches, filled with dreadful apprehenfions, and by drawing a ftrong picture of those prodigies which have been recounted to her, endeavours to diffuade Cæfar from going to the capitol; however, he feems to treat omens with fenfible contempt, and even rejects the unfavourable opinion of the Augurs; at laft, Calphurnia's tender remonfrances prevail, and he consents that Antony fhall acquaint the fenate with his refolution not to go.

Matters thus circumstanced, Decius Brutus appears, as being deputed to folicit Cæfar's appearance at the capitol, which, after fome refufal, by touching Cæfar's vanity, and alarming him with the imputation of fear, he works him up to go; the reft of the confpirators coming to attend him, he refolves to accompany them, and proposes previous refreshment, which occafions Brutus to make a most beautiful reflection on Cæfar's unfufpecting mind, and their own fatal diffimulation.

That every like is not the fame, oh Cæfar!
The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon.

In the next fcene we meet Artemidorus, a foothfayer, perufing a paper defigned for Cæfar, wherein he warns that monarch of all the confpirators by name. Portia, anxious for the great event depend.