Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: [Exit. And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. The same. The Capitol; the senate sitting. A crowd of people in the street leading to the Capitol; Cæs. The ides of March are come. Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, At your best leisure, this his humble suit. Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar. Cas. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd. Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. Cæs. What, is the fellow mad? Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. Cæsar 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 wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discover'd. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.— Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. Bru. Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [Exeunt Antony and Trebonius. Cæsar and the Senators take their seats. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is address'd*: 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 An humble heart : Cæs. [Kneeling. I must prevent thee, Cimber. These couchings, and these lowly courtesies, Might fire the blood of ordinary men ; And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree, * Ready. Into the law of children. Be not fond, To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him. Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear, For the repealing of my banish'd 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. The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd, Cin. O Cæsar, Cæs. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? Dec. Great Cæsar,- * Intelligent. + Continues to hold it. Solicitation. Cæs. Doth not Brutus bootless* kneel? Casca. Speak, hands, for me. [Casca stabs Cæsar in the neck. Cæsar catches hold of his arm. He is then stabbed by several other conspirators, and at last by Marcus Brutus. Cæs. Et tu Brute+?-Then, fall Cæsar. [Dies. The Senators and People retire in confusion. Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!— Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement! Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted; Fly not; stand still :-ambition's debt is paid. Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus. Dec. Bru. Where's Publius? And Cassius too. Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of - Cæsar's Bru. Talk not of standing;-Publius, good cheer; There is no harm intended to your person, Nor to a Roman else: so tell them, Publius. Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people, Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief. Bru. Do so;-and let no man abide this deed, But we the doers. Re-enter Trebonius. Cas. Where's Antony? Tre. Fled to his house amaz'd: Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, As it were doomsday. Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures: That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, And drawing days out, that men stand upon. Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life, * Unsuccessfully. † And thou, Brutus ? |