ΟΝ ΤΗΕ

DEITY.

Wretched mankind! void both of strength and

Dextrous at nothing but at doing ill! [skill!

In merit humble, in pretenfion high;

Among them none, alas! more weak than I;
And none more blind: tho' ftill I worthless thought
The best I ever fpoke, or ever wrote.

But zealous heat exalts the humblest mind ;
Within my foul fuch strong impulfe I find
The heav'nly tribute of due praise to pay:
Perhaps 'tis facred, and I must obey.

Yet fuch the fubjects, various, and fo high!
Stupendous wonders of the Deity!
Miraculous effects of boundless pow'r!
And that as boundlefs goodnefs fhining more!
All thefe, fo numberlefs, my thoughts attend,
Oh where fhall I begin, or ever end?

R

But on that theme which ev'n the wise abuse, So facred, fo fublime, and so abstruse,

Abruptly to break off, wants no excufe.

While others vainly strive to know thee more,
Let me in filent reverence adore
;

Wishing that human pow'r were higher rais'd,
Only that thine might be more nobly prais'd!
Thrice happy angels in their high degree;
Created worthy of extolling thee!

THE END.

}

THE

TRAGEDY

OF

JULIUS CAESAR,

ALTERED:

WITH A

PROLOGUE AND CHORUS;

BY HIS GRACE

JOHN DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

PROLOGUE

TO THE

ALTERATION

O F

JULIUS CAESAR.

E to mend SHAKESPEARE! or to match his style! 'Tis fuch a jeft, would make a Stoick smile.

Too fond of fame, our Poet foars too high;
Yet freely owns he wants the wings to fly:
So fenfible of his prefumptuous thought,
That he confefles while he does the fault:
This to the Fair will no great wonder prove,
Who oft in blushes yield to what they love.

of greatest actions, and of noblest men,
This story most deserves a poet's pen.
For who can wish a scene more justly fam’d,
When Rome and mighty JULIUS are but nam'd!
That flate of heroes, who the world had brav'd!
That wond'rous man, who such a state inflav'd!
Yet loth he was to take fo rough a way,
And after govern'd with fo mild a sway,
At diftance now of fev'nteen hundred years,
Methinks a lovely ravisher appears;
Whom tho' forbid by virtue to excufe,
Anymph might pardon, and could.carce refufe.