Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, If I know this, know all the world besides, ACT II. AMBITION CLOTHED IN SPECIOUS HUMILITY. But 'tis a common proof,* That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degreesf CONSPIRACY DREADFUL TILL EXECUTED. Between the acting of a dreadful thing BRUTUS'S APOSTROPHE TO CONSPIRACY. O conspiracy! Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, racy; Hide in it smiles, and affability: For if thou path thy native semblance§ on, To hide thee from prevention. * Experience. + Low steps. + Visionary. || Hell. § Walk in thy true form. AGAINST CRUELTY. Gentle friends, SLEEP. Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber: Thou hast no figures,* nor no fantasies, Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep'st so sound. PORTIA'S SPEECH TO BRutus. You have ungently, Brutus, foot: Stole from my bed; and yesternight at supper, Cal. Cesar, I never stood on ceremonies,‡ Besides the things that we have heard and seen, And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead: In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war, The noise of battle hurtled* in the air, And ghosts did shriek, and squealt about the streets. And I do fear them. What can be avoided, Ces. Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen, The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. AGAINST THE FEAR OF DEATH. Cowards die many times before their deaths; It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Will come, when it will come. DANGER. Danger knows full well That Cesar 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 CESAR. O, mighty Cesar! Dost thou lie so low? * Encountered. + Cry with pain. + Envy. Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, 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 Cesar's death's hour; nor no instrument I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard, Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke No place will please me so, no mean of death, REVENGE. Cesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, BRUTUS'S SPEECH TO THE PEOPLE. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cesar's; to him I say, that Brutus's love to Cesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cesar, this is my answer, -Not that I loved Česar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cesar were living, and die all slaves; than that Cesar were dead, to live all freemen? As Cesar 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 * Grown too high for the public safety. The signal for giving no quarter. To let slip a dog at a deer, &c. was the technical phrase of Shakspeare's time. rude, that would not be a Roman? if any, speak; for him have 1 offended. Who is here so vile, that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. ANTONY'S FUNERAL ORATION. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; Hath told you, Cesar was ambitious: And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome When that the poor have cried, Cesar hath wept: 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. And, sure, he is an honourable man. |