Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming: Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, | indeed, [Cesar. Sway'd from the point, by looking down on And bid me say to you by word of mouth,— Friends am I with you all, and love you all; O Cesar![Seeing the Body. Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons, Why, and wherein, Cesar was dangerous. Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle: Our reasons are so full of good regard, That were you Antony the son of Cesar, You should be satisfied. Ant. That's all I seek: And am moreover suitor, that I may Bru. You shall, Mark Antony. Know you how much the people may be mov'd By that which he will utter? Bru. By your pardon ; I will myself into the pulpit first, [Aside. And show the reason of our Cesar's death: earth, - That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep. Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes, Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, Began to water. Is thy master coming? Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd: Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay a while; [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. [here; Cassius, go you into the other street, 1 Cit. I will hear Brutus speak. 2 Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, When severally we hear them rendered. [Exit CASSIUS, with some of the CITIZENS. BRUTUS goes into the Rostrum. 3 Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended: Silence! Romans, countrymen, and lovers!* hear me Bru. Be patient till the last. 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 that you may the better judge. If there be any me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, in this assembly, any dear friend of Cesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cesar, this is my answer,-Not that I loved Cesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Cesar were dead, to live all free men? As Cesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour There is tears, for his love; joy, for his forhim: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him: his ambition.' Who is here so base, that would tune; honour, for his valour; and death, for be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have 1 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 bave I offended. I pause for a reply. Cit. None, Brutus, none. [Several speaking at once. Bru. Then none have I offended. I have * Friends, done no more to Cesar, than you should do to | And Brutus is an honourable man. Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled You all did see, that on the Lupercal, in the Capitol: his glory not extenuated, I thrice presented him a kingly crown, [tion? wherein he was worthy; nor his offences en- Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambiforced, for which he suffered death. Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; And, sure, he is an honourable man. Enter ANTONY and others, with CESAR's Body. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, Here comes his body, mourned by Mark An-But here I am to speak what I do know. tony: 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. Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. 3 Cit. Let him be Cesar. 4 Cit. Cesar's better parts Shall now be crown'd in Brutus. 1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours. Bru. My countrymen, 2 Cit. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks. Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, [Exit. 1 Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 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. 4 Cit. What does he say of Brutus? 3 Cit. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholden to us all. You all did love him once, not without cause; What cause withholds you then to mourn for him? O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts, My heart is in the coffin there with Cesar, 2 Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cesar has had great wrong. 3 Cit. Has he, masters? I fear, there will a worse come in his place. Therefore, 'tis certain he was not ambitious. 2 Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire 3 Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than Antony. 4 Cit. Now mark him, he begins again to speak. Ant. But yesterday, the word of Cesar might Have stood against the world: now lies he there, And none so poor* to do him reverence. 4 Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Bru-But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cesar, tus bere. 1 Cit. This Cesar was a tyrant. 3 Cit. Nay, that's certain: We are bless'd, that Rome is rid of him. 2 Cit. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say. Ant. You gentle Romans, Cit. Peace, ho! let us hear him. me your ears; I come to bury Cesar, not to praise him. I found it in his closet, 'tis his will: And dip their napkinst in his sacred blood; 4 Cit. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Cit. The will, the will; we will hear Cesar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cesar lov'd you. I fear, I wrong the honourable men, [it. 2 Cit. They were villains, murderers: The will! read the will! Ant. You will compel me then to read the Then make a ring about the corpse of Cesar, 2 Cit. Descend. 3 Cit. You shall have leave. 4 Cit. A ring; stand round. 1 Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. tony. They, that have done this deed, are honourable; [not, What private griefs they have, alas, I know That made them do it; they are wise and honourable, And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you. But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, That gave me public leave to speak of him. Cit. Room for Antony;-most noble An Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. Cit. Stand back! room! bear back! Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle: I remember See, what a rent the envious Casca made: This was the most unkindest cut of all: And, in his mantle muffling up his face, Our Cesar's vesture wounded? Look you here, tors. 1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus. 2 Cit. Go, fetch fire. 3 Cit. Pluck down benches. 4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. [Exeunt CITIZENS, with the Body. Ant. Now let it work: Mischief, thou art [fellow! afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!-How now, people, How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the | The three-fold world divided, he should stand [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-A Street. Enter CINNA, the Poet. Cin. I dreamt to night, that I did feast with And things unluckily charge my fantasy: Enter CITIZENS. 1 Cit. What is your name? 3 Cit. Where do you dwell? 4 Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 4 Cit. Ay, and wisely. man, 3 Cit. Ay, and truly, you were best. Cin. What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married or a bachelor? Then to answer every man di rectly, and briefly, wisely, and truly. Wisely I say, I am a bachelor. 2 Cit. That's as much as to say, they are 2 Cit. That matter is answered directly. 1 Cit. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator. 4 Cit. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses. 2 Cit. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. 8 Čit. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, ho! fire brands. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away; go. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.-The same.-A room in ANTONY'S ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a Ant. These many then shall die; their names Oct. Your brother too must die; Consent Oct. Prick him down, Antony. Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live, But, Lepidus, go you to Cesar's house; The Capitol. [Exit LEPIDUS. Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man, Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit, Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you; And though we lay these honours on this man, Then take we down his load, and turn him off, But he's a tried and valiant soldier. Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and, for that, A forth: Therefore let our alliance be combin'd, And let us presently go sit in council, Oct. Let us do so: for we are at the stake, SCENE 11.-Before BRUTUS' Tent, in the Drum.-Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Bru. Stand here. Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand. [PINDARUS gives a letter to BRUTUS. Pin. I do not doubt, But that my noble master will appear Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius: But not with such familiar instances, Bru. Thou hast describ'd A hot friend cooling: Ever note, Lucilius, That struck the foremost man of all this world But for supporting robbers; shall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes? And sell the mighty space of our large honours, For so much trash, as may be grasped thus?— I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than such a Roman. Cas. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, Bru. Go to; you're not, Cassius. Bru. I say, you are not. Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further. Bru. Away, slight man! Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Shall I be frighted, when a madman stares? Cas. O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this? Bru. All this? ay, more: Fret till your proud heart break; Go, show your slaves how choleric you are, Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say, you are a better soldier: Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, And it shall please me well: For mine own I shall be glad to learn of noble men. [part, Cas. You wrong me every way, you wrong me, Brutus; [Exeunt. SCENE 111.-Within the tent of BRUTUS.-I LUCIUS and TITINIUS at some distance from it. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS. Cas. That you have wrong'd me, doth appear You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella, a case. Cas. In such a time as this, it is not meet That every nicet offence should bear his comment. Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm; To sell and mart your offices for gold, To undeservers. Cas. I an itching palm? You know, that you are Brutus that speak this, Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last. Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corruption, And chastisement doth therefore hide his head. Cas. Chastisement! Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember! said, an elder soldier, not a better: Did I say, better? Bru. If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cesar liv'd he durst not thus have mov'd me. Bru. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempted him." Cus. I durst not? Bru. No. Cas. What? durst not tempt him? Bru. For your life you durst not. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my I may do that I shall be sorry for. [love, Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. From the hard hands of peasants their vile Bait, bark at. 1 Terins, fit to confer the offices at my disposal. Coin |