Page:The Works of Abraham Cowley - volume 2 (ed. Aikin) (1806).djvu/171

Fraud, Extortion, Calumny,
Murder, Infidelity,
Rebellion and Hypocrisy;
Do thou not grieve, nor blush to be,
As all th' inspired tuneful men,
And all thy great forefathers, were, from Homer down to Ben.

 

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BRUTUS.

 

Excellent Brutus! of all human race.
The best, till Nature was improv'd by Grace;
Till men above themselves Faith raised more
Than Reason above beasts before.
Virtue was thy life's centre, and from thence
Did silently and constantly dispense
The gentle, vigorous influence
To all the wide and fair circumference;
And all the parts upon it lean'd so easily,
Obey'd the mighty force so willingly,
That none could discord or disorder see
In all their contrariety:
Each had his motion natural and free,
And the whole no more mov'd than the whole world could be.

From thy strict rule some think that thou didst swerve
(Mistaken, honest men!) in Cæsar's blood;
What mercy could the tyrant's life deserve,
From him who kill'd himself, rather than serve?