But, with an angry wafture of your hand, Which seem'd too much enkindled; and withal, CALPHURNIA'S ADDRESS TO CÆSAR ON THE PRODIGIES Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead: And I do fear them. Cæs. What can be avoided, Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? Yet Cæsar shall go forth: for these predictions Are to the world in general, as to Cæsar. Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; • Temper. Encountered. + Never paid a regard to prodigies or omens. § Cry with pain. The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. AGAINST THE FEAR OF DEATH. Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I have heard, yet It seems to me most strange that men should fear; DANGER. Danger knows full well That Cæsar is more dangerous than he. ENVY. My heart laments that virtue cannot live Out of the teeth of emulation*. ACT III. ANTONY'S ADDRESS TO THE CORPSE OF Cæsar. O mighty Cæsar! Dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure?-Fare thee well. ANTONY'S SPEECH TO THE CONSPIRATORS. 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 Of half that worth, as those your swords, made rich * Envy. + Grown too high for the public safety. With the most noble blood of all this world. Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, No place will please me so, no mean of death, REVENGE. Cæsar's spirit, ranging for revenge, BRUTUS'S SPEECH TO THE people. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cæsar was no 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 *The signal for giving no quarter. + To let slip a dog at a deer, &c. was the technical phrase of Shakspeare's time. his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. ANTONY'S FUNERAL ORATION. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Cæsar, 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 Cæsar. The noble Brutus Hath told you, Cæsar was ambitious: If it were so, it was a grievous fault; And grievously hath Cæsar 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 Cæsar'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 Cæsar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; You all did love him once, not without cause; O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts, But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might Let but the commons hear this testament, And, dying, mention it within their wills, Unto their issue. 4 Cit. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Antony. Cit. The will, the will; we will hear Cæsar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd you. * The meanest man is now too high to do reverence to Cæsar. + Handkerchiefs. |