Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. There is no harm intended to your person, With all true faith. So says my master Antony. 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] Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures: Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life, Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: Shall this our lofty scene be acted over, Cas. So oft as that shall be, So often shall the knot of us be call'd Cas. Ay, every man away: Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels 20 Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit Servant. Cas. I wish we may: but yet have I a mind, -Welcome, Ant. O mighty Cæsar! Dost thou lie so low? As Casar's death's hour; nor no instrument 25 With the most noble blood of all this world. 30 Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. Hlath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts, Bru. Only be patient, 'till we have appeas'd Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of An-45 Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom. 53 Let each man render me his bloody hand: 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 I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true: But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar; 5 About his funeral: And you shall speak 10 Ant. Be it so; I do desire no more. Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. 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! Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, Cas. Mark Antony, Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius: Cus. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so; Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle: Ant. 'I hat's all I seek: And am moreover suitor, that I may Bru. You shall, Mark Antony. You knownotwhat you do; Do not consent, [Aside. Know you how much the people may be mov'd Bru. By your pardon ;— I will myself into the pulpit first, And shew the reason of our Cæsar's death: Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not. That mothers shall but smile, when they behold 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; my oration, how the people take 160 The Forum. Enter Brutus, and Cassius, with the Plebeians. 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. Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, [Exit. [here. 4 Pleb. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus 3 Pleb. Nay, that's certain : 2 Pleb. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say.. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, 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 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; I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts, 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 Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious. 3 Pleb. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than Unto their issue. [tony. 5 10 [Act 3. Scene 2. [You all do know this mantle: I remember Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent; 15 For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, 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! 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 2 Pleb. Descend. [He comes down from the pulpit. [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 To such a sudden flood of mutiny. 50 But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, 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 speak. [tony. All. Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble AnAnt. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what : 10 15 [death. 20 Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours, and new planted orchards, On this side Tiber; he hath left them you, And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures, 1 Pleb. Never, never:-Come, away, away : 2 Pleb. Go, fetch fire. 3 Pleb. Pluck down benches. 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? Enter a Servant. Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Ant. Where is he? Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house. Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him: He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry, And in this mood will give us any thing. Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome. 40 Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the people, How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt. SCENE III. A Street. Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him the Plebeians. 1 Pleb. What is your name? 4 Pleb. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 4 Pleb. Ay, and wisely. 3 Pleb. 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 directly, and briefly, wisely, and truly. Wisely I say, I Jam a bachelor. 2 Pleb. 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 Cæsar's funeral. 2 Pleb. That matter is answer'd directly. 1 Pleb. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator. Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 4 Pleb. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses. Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator. 4 Pleb. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. 3 Pleb. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, 45 ho! firebrands. To Brutus' and to Cassius', burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius'! away; go. [Exeunt. 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 i. e. condemn him. Fetch |