CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise. Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. Cas. What enterprise, Popilius? Pop. Fare you well. [Advances to CÆSAR. Bru. What said Popilius Lena? Cas. He wished, to-day, our enterprise might thrive. I fear our purpose is discovered. Bru. Look how he makes to Cæsar: mark him. Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear preven- Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; He draws Marc Antony out of the way. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. CESAR and the Senators take their seats. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is addressed: press near, and second him. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cæs. Are we all ready? what is now amiss, That Cæsar and his senate must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar. Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat [Kneeling. Low-crooked curt'sies, and base spaniel fawning. If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, cause Will he be satisfied. Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear, For the repealing of my banished brother? Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Cæs. What, Brutus! Cas. Pardon Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon! As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. Cæs. I could be well moved if I were as you : If I could pray to move, prayers would move me: But I am constant as the northern star, Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel; Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit Servant. Bru. I know that we shall have him well to friend. Cas. I wish we may: but yet have I a mind That fears him much; and my misgiving still Falls shrewdly to the purpose. Bru. But here comes Antony.—Welcome, Marc Antony. Re-enter ANTONY. Ant. O mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure?-Fare thee well.I know not, gentlemen, what you intend; Who else must be let blood, who else is rank If I myself, there is no hour so fit As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts, Bru. Only be patient till we have appeased Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom. Gentlemen all,-alas! what shall I say? That I did love thee, Cæsar, O 't is true : Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death, brave hart; Here didst thou fall: and here thy hunters stand, Signed in thy spoil, and crimsoned in thy lethe. O world! thou wast the forest to this hart: And this indeed, O world, the heart of thee.— How like a deer, stricken by many princes, Dost thou here lie! Cas. Marc Antony, Ant. Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so: But what compact mean you to have with us? Will you be pricked in number of our friends; Or shall we on, and not depend on you? Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed, Swayed from the point by looking down on Cæsar. Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle. That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! That ever lived in the tide of times. That mothers shall but smile when they behold Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced. Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, [Exeunt, with CESAR's body. SCENE II.-The same. The Forum. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens. Cit. We will be satisfied: let us be satisfied! Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends. When severally we hear them rendered. [Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Citizens. BRUTUS goes into the Rostrum. 3rd Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended: silence! Bru. Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause; and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honour; and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe: censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say that Brutus' love to Cæsar was not less than his. If, then, that friend demand why Brutus rose against Cæsar, this is my answer,-Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves, than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men?-As Cæsar loved me, I weep for him as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it as he was valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his ambition.-Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended.—I pause for a reply. Cit. None, Brutus, none. [Several speaking at once. Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar than you should do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol: his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. Enter ANTONY and others, with CESAR's body. Here comes his body, mourned by Marc Antony; who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying,—a place in the commonwealth: as which of you shall not? With this I depart: that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself when it shall please my country to need my death. 1st Cit Stay, ho! and let us hear Marc Antony. 3rd Cit. Let him go up into the public chair : We'll hear him.-Noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' sake I am beholden to you. 4th Cit. What does he say of Brutus? 3rd Cit. He says, for Brutus' sake He finds himself beholden to us all. 4th Cit. 'T were best to speak no harm of Brutus here. 1st Cit. This Cæsar was a tyrant. We are blessed that Rome is rid of him. 2nd Cit. Peace: let us hear what Antony can say. Ant. You gentle Romans, Cit. Peace, ho! let us hear him. I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him: Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious? |