Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/54

 common account, being now turn'd of Forty. But that Work had been, in truth, the Subject of much earlier Meditation. Whilst he was working upon the first Book of it, this passage, so very remarkable in History, fell out, in which Virgil had a great share.

Cæsar, about this time, either cloy'd with Glory, or terrify'd by the Example of his Predecessor; or to gain the Credit of Moderation with the People, or possibly to feel the Pulse of his Friends, deliberated whether he should retain the Soveraign Power, or restore the Common-wealth. Agrippa, who was a very honest Man, but whose View was of no great extent, advis'd him to the latter; but Mecænas, who had throughly studied his Master's Temper, in an Eloquent Oration, gave contrary Advice. That Emperor was too Politick to commit the over-sight of Cromwell, in a deliberation something resembling this. Cromwell had never been more desirous of the Power, than he was afterwards of the Title of King: And there was