Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of
Should chance-
[Cæsar's
Bru. Talk not of standing :—Publius, good
cheer;

There is no harm intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else': so tell them, Publius.

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, 5 He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour, Depart untouch'd.

Cus. 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, 10| But we the doers.

Re-enter Trebonius.

Cas. Where is Antony?

Tre. Fled to his house amaz'd:

Men, wives, and childreu, stare, cry out, and run,[15]
As it were dooms-day.

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,
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.

Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
So are we Cæsar'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 their 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 Sercant.

20

Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit Servant.
Bru. I know, that we shall have him well to
friend.

Cas. I wish we may: but yet have I a mind,
That fears him much; and my misgiving still
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
Re-enter Antony.
Bru. But here comes Antony.-
Mark Antony.

-Welcome,

Ant. O mighty Cæsar! Dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
Shrunk to this little measure?-Fare thee well.—
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank2:
If I myself, there is no hour so fit

As Casar's death's hour; nor no instrument
Of half that worth, as those your swords, made
rich

25 With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard, [smoke,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and
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 Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.

30

Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
35 As, by our hands, and this our present act,
You see we do: yet 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
40(As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity)

Hlath 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 brother's 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
50 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.

Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of An-45
tony's.
[kneel;
Sere. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me
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 Casar 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,

Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom.

53 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, Me-
tellus;-

60lYours, Cinna ;-and, my valiant Casca, yours ;

Brutus' mean

This use of two negatives, not to make an affirmative, but to deny more strongly, is common to our ancient writers. i. e. who else is grown too high for the public safety. ing is, Antony, our arms, strong in the deed of malice they have just perform'd, and our hearts, united like those of brothers in the action, are yet open to receive you with all possible affection. Though

3 C

Though last, not least in love, yours, good Tre- You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,

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;

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

5 About his funeral: And you shall speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.

10

Ant. Be it so;

I do desire no more.

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.
[Exeunt Conspirators.
Manet Antony

Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! 15 Thou art the ruins of the noblest man,

That ever lived in the tide2 of times.

Woe 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,
25 And dreadful objects so familiar,

Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe'. 20
O world! thou wast the forest to this hart;
And, this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.-
How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
Dost thou here lie?

Cas. Mark Antony,

Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius:
The enemies of Cæsar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Cus. 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? [indeed,
Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was,
Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar.
Friends am I with you all, and love you
all;
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons,
Why, and wherein, Cæsar 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 Cæsar,
You should be satisfied.

Ant. 'I hat'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 knownotwhat 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 shew 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.

That mothers shall but smile, when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
All pity choak'd with custom of fell deeds:
And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
30 With Ate by his side, come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice,
Cry, Havock, and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.
Enter a Servant.
You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not?
Serv. I do, Mark Antony.

35

Ant. Cæsar did write for him, to come to Rome. Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming: 40 And bid me say to you by word of mouth,O Casar![Seeing the body.

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, 45 Began to water. Is thy master coming? Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of [hath chanc'd: Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, 50 No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;

Rome,

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
55 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 Casar's body.
SCENE II.

my oration, how the people take

160

The Forum.

Enter Brutus, and Cassius, with the Plebeians.
Pleb. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.

1 Lethe was a common French word, signifying death or destruction, from the Latin lethum, and used in that sense by many of the old translators of novels. 2 i. e. the course of times. 3 D. Johnson proposes to read, "these lymnus of men;" that is, these bloodhounds of men. See note, p. 722.

Bru.

2 Pleb. I will hear Cassius; and compare their 10 When severally we hear them rendered.

15

[Exit Cassius, with some of the Plebeians : Brutus goes into the rostrum. 3 Pleb. 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 20 may the better judge. If there be any in this assenibly, 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 Casar, this is my answer,-Not that I lov'd Cæsar 25 less, but that I lov'd Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves; than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men? As Casar lov'd me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I ho-30 nour him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him: There are 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. 35 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 I offended. I pause for a reply.

All. None, Brutus, none.

2 Pleb. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks.
1 Pleb. Peace, ho!

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

[Exit.
1 Pleb. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.
3 Pleb. Let him go up into the public chair;
We'll hear him:-Noble Antony, go up.
Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beho den to you.
4 Pleb. What does he say of Brutus?
3 Pleb. He says, for Brutus' sake,
He finds himself beholden to us all.

[here.

4 Pleb. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus
1 Pleb. This Cæsar was a tyrant.

3 Pleb. Nay, that's certain :
We are blest, that Rome is rid of him.

2 Pleb. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say..
Ant. You gentle Romans,-
All. Peace, ho! let us hear him. [your cars;
Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me
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, Casar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously hath Casar 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,
40 Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious?

Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar, than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enroll'd in the Capitol: his glory not extenuated, wherein he was 45 worthy; nor his offences enforc'd, for wh ch he suffered death.

Enter Mark Antony, &c. with Cæsar's body. Here comes his body, mourn'd by Mark Antony: who, though he had no hand in his death, shall 50 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 55 need my death.

All. Live, Brutus, live! live!

[house.

1 Pleb. Bring him with triumph home unto his
2 Pleb. Give him a statue with his ancestors.
3 Pleb. Let him be Cæsar.

4 Pleb. Cæsar's better parts

Shall be crowned in Brutus.

1 Pleb. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.

Bru. My countrymen,

160

When that the poor have cry'd, 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.
You all did love him once, not without cause;
What cause with-holds 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 Cæsar,
And I must pause 'till it come back to me.
1 Pleb. Methinks, there is much reason in his
sayings.

2 Pleb. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar has had great wrong.

3 Pleb. Has he, masters?

165 fear, there will a worse come in his place. 3 C 2

4 Pleb.

JULIUS CESAR.

4 Pleb. Mark'd ye his words? He would not
take the crown:

Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious.
1 Pleb. If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
2 Pleb. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with
weeping.
[Antony.

3 Pleb. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than
4 Pleb. Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæsar 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.
But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar,
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 Cæsar's wounds,
And dip their napkins' 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.

[tony.

5

10

[Act 3. Scene 2.

[You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Cæsar put it on;

Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent;
Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through;
That day he overcame the Nervii:—
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;
See, what a rent the envious Casca made:
And, as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolv'd
Mark how the blood of Cæsar follow'd it;
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;
For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel:
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar lov'd him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all:

15 For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,

Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;
And, in his mantie muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
20 Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell.
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.
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
25 The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what, weep you, when you but behold
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here!
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
1 Pleb. O piteous spectacle!

4 Picb. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark AnAll. The will, the will; we will hear Cæsar's will. 30 Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;

35

2 Pleb. O noble Cæsar!

3 Pleb. O woeful day!

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

2 Pleb. We will be reveng'd: Revenge: About,Seck,-burn,-fire,-kill,-slay!-let not a trai

tor live.

Ant. Stay, countrymen.

1 Pleb. Peace there :-Hear the noble Antony. 2 Pleb. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll 40 die with him.

It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd you. You are not wood, you are not stones, but men; And, being men, hearing the will of Cæsar, It will inflame you, it will make you mad : "Tis good you know not that you are his heirs; For if you should, O, what would come of it! 4 Pleb. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will; Cæsar's will. Ant. Will you be patient? Will y I have o'er-shot myself, to tell you of it! l you stay awhile? I fear, I wrong the honourable inen, Whose daggers have stabb'd Casar: I do fear it. 4 Pleb. They were traitors: Honourable men45 All. The will! the testament!

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

[will

Ant. You will compel me then to read the
Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar,
And let me shew you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?
All. Come down.

2 Pleb. Descend. [He comes down from the pulpit.
3 Pleb. You shall have leave.
4 Pleb. A ring; stand round.

[body.

1 Pleb. Stand from the hearse, stand from the 2 Pleb. Room for Antony;-most noble Antony. Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. All. Stand back! room! bear back!

Ant. If you have tears,prepare to shed them now.

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

To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
They, that have done this deed, are honourable;
That made them do it; they are wise, and honour-
And will,no doubt, with reasons answer you. [able,
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts;
am no orator, as Brutus is:

50 But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend; and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him.
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
55 To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
I tell you that, which you yourselves do know;
Shew you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor
dumb mouths!

And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus, 60 And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue

1i. e. their handkerchiefs.-Napery was the ancient term for all kinds of linen. i. e. the impression of pity.

1 Pleb. We'll burn the house of Brutus.

3 Pleb. Away then, come, seek the conspirators. 5 Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me

[death. 20

25

130

4 Pleb. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. 35 [Exeunt Plebeians, with the body.

Ant. Now let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt!-How now, fellow?

1A drachma was a Greek coin of the value of seven-pence farthing. little river Rhenus near Bononia, according to Hanmer. meant, who was uncle by the mother's side to Mark Antony.

3C 3