And bid me fay to you by word of mouth,— O Cæfar! [Seeing the body. Ant. Thy heart is big; get thee apart and weep. Paffion, I fee, is catching; for mine eyes, Seeing those beads of forrow stand in thine, Began to water. Is thy mafter coming? Serv. He lies to-night within feven leagues of Rome. Ant. Poft back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd: Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, No Rome of fafety for Octavius yet; Hie hence, and tell him fo. Yet, stay a while; According to the which, thou shalt discourse Lend me your hand. [Exeunt with CÆSAR'S body. SCENE II. The fame. The Forum. Enter BRUTUS, and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens. Cit. We will be fatisfied; let us be fatisfied. Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.— Caffius, go you into the other street, And part the numbers. Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here; And publick reasons shall be rendered Of Cæfar's death, E 1 Cit. 1 Git. I will hear Brutus speak. 2 Cit. I will hear Caffius; and compare their reasons, When severally we hear them rendered. [Exit CASSIUS, with fome of the Citizens. BRUTUS goes into the roftrum. 3 Cit. The noble Brutus is afcended: Silence ! Bru. Be patient till the last. : Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause; and be filent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honour; and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe cenfure me in your wisdom; and awake your fenses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this affembly, any dear friend of Cæfar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cæfar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cæfar, this is my anfwer,-Not that I loved Cæfar lefs, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæfar were living, and die all flaves; than that Cæfar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæfar 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 flew him: There is tears, for his love; joy, for his fortune; honour, for his valour; and death, for his ambition. Who is here fo base, that would be a bondman? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo vile, that will not love his country? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. I paufe for a reply. : [ feveral speaking at once. Cit. None, Brutus, none. Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæfar, than you fhould do to Brutus. The question of his death is enroll'd in the Capitol: his glory not not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffer'd death. Enter ANTONY, and Others, with Cæfar's body. Here comes his body, mourn'd by Mark Antony who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; As which of you fhall not? With this I depart; That as I flew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Cit. Give him a ftatue with his ancestors. 3 Cit. Let him be Cæfar. 4 Cit. Cæfar's better parts Shall now be crown'd in Brutus. 1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with fhouts and clamours. Bru. My countrymen,— 2 Cit. 1 Cit. Peace, ho! Peace; filence! Brutus speaks. Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, Do grace to Cæfar's corpfe, and grace his speech 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 publick chair; We'll hear him :-Noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' fake, I am beholden to you. E 2 4 Cit. 4 Cit. What does he say of Brutus ? 3 Cit. He fays, for Brutus' fake, He finds himself beholden to us all. 4 Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. 1 Cit. This Cæfar was a tyrant. 3 Cit. Nay, that's certain : We are blefs'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 ; I come to bury Cæfar, 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 Cæfar. The noble Brutus Hath told you, Cæfar was ambitious : If it were fo, it was a grievous fault; And grievously hath Cæfar anfwer'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 Cæfar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me : But Brutus fays, he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Did this in Cæfar feem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Cæfar hath wept : Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious; I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? And, fure, he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, And I must pause till it come back to me. 1 Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his fayings. 2 Cit. If thou confider rightly of the matter, Cæfar has had great wrong. 3 Cit. Has he, mafters ? I fear, there will a worfe come in his place. 4 Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown; Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious. 1 Cit. If it be found fo, fome will dear abide it. 2 Cit. Poor foul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. 3 Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than Antony. 4 Cit. Now mark him, he begins again to speak. Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæfar might O masters! if I were dispos'd to stir |