Re-enter Trebonius.
Cas. Where's Antony?
Treb.
Fled to his house amaz'd:
Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run,
As it were doomsday.

Cæs.
I must prevent thee, Cimber. But we the doers.
These couchings, and these lowly courtesies,
Might fire the blood of ordinary men;
And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree,
Into the law of children. Be not fond,
To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood,
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words,
Low-crook'd curt'sies, and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished;

If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.

Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's car,
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.
Ces. What, Brutus!

Cas.
Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon:
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

Cas. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd, and resting quality,
There is no fellow in the firmament.

The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
They are all fire, and every one doth shine;
But there's but one in all doth hold his place:
So, in the world; 'Tis furnish'd well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive ;1
Yet, in the number, I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,2
Unshak'd of motion: and, that I am he,
Let me a little show it, even in this;

That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
Cin. O Cæsar,-
Cas.
Dec, Great Cæsar,
Cas.

Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?

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 sereral other conspirators, and at last by Marcus Brutus.

Cæs. Et tu, Brute ?-Then, fall, Cæsar.

[Dies. The Senators and People retire
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?

in

And Cassius too.

Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures: That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, And drawing days ou', that men stand upon.

Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life,
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.

Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridg'd
His time of fearing death.-Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar's blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place
And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
Let's all cry, Peace! Freedom! and Liberty!
Cas. Stoop then, and wash. How many ages
hence,
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over,

In states unborn, and accents yet unknown?
Bru. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompey's basis lies along,
No worthier than the dust?

Cas.

So oft as that shall be,

So often shall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave our country liberty.
Dec. What, shall we forth?

Cas.
Ay, every man away:
Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.

Enter a Servant.

Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's.
Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down:
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Say, I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him, and lov'd him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolv'd
How Cæsar hath deserv'd to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Cæsar dead'
So well as Brutus living; but will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus,
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state,
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
I never thought him worse.

Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour,
Depart untouch'd.

Serv.

I'll fetch him presently.

[Exit Servant. Bru. I know, that we shall have him well to

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

Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, in-
deed,

Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar.
Friends am I with you all, and love you all;

Of half that worth, as those your swords, made rich Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons,
With the most noble blood of all this world.

I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Cæsar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.

Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands, and this our present act,
You see we do; vet see you but our hands,
And this the bleeding business they have done :
Our hearts you see not, they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
(As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity,)
Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony;
Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts,
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
Cas. Your voice shall be as strong as any man's,
In the disposing of new dignities.

Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.

Ant.

I doubt not of your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody hand:
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you:-
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand ;-
Now, Decius Brutus, yours;-now yours, Metellus;
Yours, Cinna;-and, my valiant Casca, yours;-
Though last, not least in love, yours, good Tre-
bonius.

Gentlemen all,-alas! what shall I say?

My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.-

That I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true:
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death,
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?
Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
It would become me better, than to close
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius!-Here wast thou bay'd, brave
hart;

Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd 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?

Why, and wherein, Cæsar was dangerous.
Bru. Or else were this a savage specacle:
Our reasons are so full of good regard,
That were you, Antony, the son of Cæsar,
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,

[Aside

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,
And show the reason of our Cæsar's death:
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission;
And that we are contented, Cæsar 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 not.
Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar's body.
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar;
And say, you do't by our permission;
Else shall you not have any hand at all
About his funeral: And you shall speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.
Be it so ;

Ant.

I desire no more.

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.
[Exeunt all but Antony.
Ant. O, pardon me, thou piece of bleeding 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.
Wo to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,-
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
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, Cæsar's spirit, ranging for revenge:
With Até by his side, come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice,
Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth

Cas. Mark Antony,-
Ant.
Pardon me, Caius Cassius: With carrion men, groaning for burial.
The enemies of Cæsar shall say this;
Enter a Servant.
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so;
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends;
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

(1) Grown too high for the public safety.
(2) Course. (3) The signal for giving no quarter.

You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not?
Serv. I do, Mark Antony.

Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome.
Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming:

(4) To let slip a dog at a deer, &c. was the technical phrase of Shakspeare's time.

And bid me say to you by word of mouth,-
O Cæsar!

[Seeing the body.
Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep."
Passion, I see, is catching for mine eyes,
Seeing those beards 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,
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 Cæsar's body.
SCENE II.-The same. The Forum.

Enter

Brutus and Cassius, and a throng of Citizens.
Cit. We will be satified; let us be satisfied.
Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience,
friends.-

Cassius, go you into the other street,
And part the numbers.-

Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
And public reasons shall be rendered

Of Cæsar'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.

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 Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Cæsar's glories; which Mark Antony,
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.

4 Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.

3 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 I come to bury Casar, not to praise him.
Brutus' love to Cæsar was no less than his. If then The evil, that men do, lives after them;
that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cæsar, The good is oft interred with their bones;
this is my answer,-Not that I loved Cæsar less, So let it be with Cæsar. The noble Brutus
but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Hath told you, Casar was ambitious:
Cæsar were living, and die all slaves; than that If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
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
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,

1 Cit. This Cæsar was a tyrant.
3 Cil.

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;

(1) Friends.

I

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 Caesar 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 :
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see, that on the Lupercal,
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.

I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.

And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony

[He comes down from the pulpit. Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue

(1) The meanest man is now too high to do writers.

Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man, Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit, The three-fo'd 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 die, Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feast with In our black sentence and proscription.

[Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A street. Enter Cinna, the Poet.