The dramatic works of William Shakspeare, from the text of Johnson, Stevens [sic] and Reed, with glossarial notes, his life, and a critique on his genius & writings by N. Rowe

Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed, [Cesar. Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Friends am I with you all, and love you all; 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
Produce his body to the market-place;
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.

Bru. You shall, Mark Antony.
Cas. Brutus, a word with you.-
You know not what you do; Do not consent,
That Antony speak in his funeral:

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:
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission;
And that we are contented, Cesar shall
Have all true rites, and lawful ceremonies.
It shall advantage more, than do us wrong.
Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it

earth,

That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man,
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy lips,
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue;-
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury, and fierce civil strife,
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy:
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile, when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
All pity chok'd with custom of fell deeds:
And Cesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side, come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice,
Cry Havoc,t and let slipt the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd:

Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;

Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay a while;
Thou shalt not back, till I have borne this corse
Into the market-place: there shall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men;
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.

[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.

Cassius, go you into the other street,
Those that will hear me speak, let them stay
And part the numbers.-
[here;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
And public reasons shall be rendered
Of Cesar's death.

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 me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, to mine honour, that you may believe: censure that you may the better judge. If there be any 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 were living, and die all slaves, than that Cesar loved Rome more. Had you rather Cesar were dead, to live all free men? As Cesar loved me,

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 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 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; Enter ANTONY and others, with CESAR's Body. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, And, sure, he is an honourable man. 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.
1 Cit. Peace, ho!

Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:
Do grace to Cesar's corpse, and grace his
speech
[tony,
Tending to Cesar's glories; which Mark An-
By our permission, is allow'd to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

[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,
And men have lost their reason!-Bear with
me;

My heart is in the coffin there with Cesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.
1 Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his
sayings.

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.
4 Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not
take the crown;

Therefore, 'tis certain he was not ambitious.
1 Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide

it.

2 Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.

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.
O masters! if I were dispos'd to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men:
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself, and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men.

4 Cit. "Twere best he speak no harm of Bru-But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cesar,

tus here.

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.

Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend
me your ears;

I come to bury Cesar, not to praise him.
The evil, that men do, lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Cesar. The noble Brutus,
Hath told you, Cesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously hath Cesar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest,
(For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men ;)
Come I to speak in Cesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says, he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome.
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Cesar seem ambitious? [wept :
When that the poor have cried, Cesar hath
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious;

* Friend.

I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:
Let but the commons hear this testament,
(Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,)
And they would go and kiss dead Cesar's

wounds,

And dip their napkinst in his sacred blood;
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it, as a rich legacy,
Unto their issue.

4 Cit. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark
Antony.

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.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but

I fear, I wrong the honourable men,
Whose daggers have stabb'd Cesar: I do fear
[it.
4 Cit. They were traitors: Honourable men!
Cit. The will! the testament!

2 Cit. They were villains, murderers: The
will! read the will!

Ant. You will compel me then to read the
will?

Then make a ring about the corpse of Cesar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?
Cit. Come down.

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.

[not,

They, that have done this deed, are honour-
What private griefs they have, alas, I know
able;
That made them do it; they are wise and hon-
ourable,

I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts;
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
I am no orator, as Brutus is:

But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend; and that they know full
well

2 Cit. Room for Antony;-most noble An

That gave me public leave to speak of him.
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
[He comes down from the Pulpit. Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
Show you sweet Cesar's wounds, poor, poor
I tell you that, which you yourselves do know;
And bid them speak for me: But were I Bru-
dumb mouths,
tu3,
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
In every wound of Cesar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
Cit. We'll mutiny.

tony.

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
The first time ever Cesar put it on;
"Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent;
That day he overcame the Nervii :-
Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger
through:

See, what a rent the envious Casca made:
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;
And, as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark, how the blood of Cesar follow'd it;
As rushing out of doors, to be resolv'd
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no ;
For Brutus, as you know, was Cesar's angel:
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cesar lov'd'

him!

This was the most unkindest cut of all:
For when the noble Cesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitor's arms,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty
heart;

And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statua, [fell.
Which all the while ran blood, great Cesa:
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.t
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what, weep you, when you but
behold

Our Cesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with trai-

tors.

1 Cit. O piteous spectacle!

2 Cit. O noble Cesar!

3 Cit. O woeful day!

4 Cit. O traitors, villains!
1 Cit. O most bloody sight!

2 Cit. We will be revenged: revenge; about, -seek,-burn,-fire,-kill,-slay !-let not a

traitor live.

Ant. Stay, countrymen.

1 Cit. Peace there:-Hear the noble Antony.

2 Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him.

Ant. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up

To such a sudden flood of mutiny.

*Statua for statue, is common among the old writers.
+ Was successful.
+ Impression.

1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus.
3 Cit. Away then, come, seek the conspira-

tors.

Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen ; yet hear me
speak.

Cit. Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble
Antony.

Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know
not what:

Wherein hath Cesar thus deserv'd your loves?
Alas, you know not:-I must tell you then :-
You have forgot the will I told you of.

Cit. Most true;-the will;-let's stay, and
hear the will.

Ant. Here is the will, and under Cesar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives,

To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.t 2 Cit. Most noble Cesar!-we'll revenge his death.

3 Cit. O royal Cesar!

Ant. Hear me with patience.

Cit. Peace, ho!

Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours, and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tyber; he hath left them you,
And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures,
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Cesar: When comes such another?
We'll burn his body in the holy place,
1 Cit. Never, never :-Come, away, away:
Take up the body.
And with the brands fire the traitor's houses.

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 Take thou what course thou wilt!-How now, afoot, [fellow?

people, How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius.

[die,

Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the | The three-fold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?
Oct. So you thought him;
And took his voice who should be prick'd to
In our black sentence and proscription.
Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The same.-A Street.

Enter CINNA, the Poet.

Cin. I dreamt to night, that I did feast with
Cesar,

And things unluckily charge my fantasy:
I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.

Enter CITIZENS.

1 Cit. What is your name?

2 Cit. Whither are you going?

3 Cit. Where do you dwell?

4 Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 2 Cit. Answer every man directly. 1 Cit. Ay, and briefly.

4 Cit. Ay, and wisely.

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 man, 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 fools that marry:-You'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly. Cin. Directly, I am going to Cesar's funeral. 1 Cit. As a friend, or an enemy? Cin. As a friend.

2 Cit. That matter is answered directly.
4 Cit. For your dwelling,-briefly.
Cin. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.
3 Cit. Your name, Sir, truly.
Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna.

1 Cit. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator.
Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the
poet.

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 Cit. 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 House.

ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a Table.

Ant. These many then shall die; their names are prick'd.

Oct. Your brother too must die; Consent you, Lepidus? Lep. I do consent.

Oct. Prick him down, Antony.
Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live,
Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.
Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I
damnt him.

But, Lepidus, go you to Cesar's house;
Fetch the will hither, and we will determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
Lep. What, shall I find you here?
Oct. Or here, or at

The Capitol.

[Exit LEPIDUS.

Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man, Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit,

you;

And though we lay these honours on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads,
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold;'
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way;
And having brought our treasure where we
will,

Then take we down his load, and turn him off,
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears,
And graze in commons.

But he's a tried and valiant soldier.
Oct. You may do your will;

Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and, for that,
I do appoint him store of provender.
It is a creature that I teach to fight,
His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.
To wind, to stop, to run directly on;
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On objects, arts, and imitations;

forth:

Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men,
Begin his fashion: Do not talk of him,
But as a property. And now, Octavius,
Listen great things.-Brutus and Cassius,
Are levying powers: we must straight make
head:

Therefore let our alliance be combin'd,
Our best friends made, and our best means
stretch'd out;

And let us presently go sit in council,
How covert matters may be best disclos'd,
And open perils surest answered.

Oct. Let us do so: for we are at the stake, And bay'dt about with many enemies; [fear, And some, that smile, have in their hearts, I [Exeunt. Millions of mischief.

SCENE 11.-Before BRUTUS' Tent, in the Camp near Sardis.

Drum.-Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, und Soldiers: TITINIUS and PINDARUS meeting them.

* Set, mark,

† Condemn.

As a thing at our disposal,

+Surrounded, baited,

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,
To hedge me in;t I am a soldier, I
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.

Bru. Go to; you're not, Cassius.
Cus. I am.

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!
Cas. Is't possible?

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, And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?

Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humour? By the gods,
Though it do split you: for, from this day forth,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.

[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
in this:

You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella,
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein, my letters, praying on his side,
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.
Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such

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!

Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, And not for justice? What, shall one of us,

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;

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.

[love,

Cas. Do not presume too much upon my I may do that I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry

for.

There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats:
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty,
That they pass by me, as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied

me;

For I can raise no money by vile means: By heaven, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring [trash, From the hard hands of peasants their vile By any indirection. I did send

To you for gold to pay my legions, Cassius? Which you denied me: Was that done like Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, To lock such rascal counters from his friends, +Limit my authority 1 Terins, fit to confer the offices at my disposal. Coia

Bait, bark at.

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The dramatic works of William Shakspeare, from the text of Johnson, Stevens ...