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. Enter ANTONY and others, with CESAR'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 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 need my death. Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his 2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. Cæsar's better parts Shall now be crown'd in Brutus. 1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours. Bru. My countrymen, 2 Cit. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks. 1 Cit. Peace, ho! Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, I do entreat you, not a man depart, [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' sake, I am beholden to you And Brutus is an honourable man. Antony. 4 Cit. Now mark him, he begins again to speak. I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong, I will not do them wrong; I rather choose He says, for Brutus' sake, | Than I will wrong such honourable men. He finds himself beholden to us all. But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar, 4 Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus I found it in his closet, 'tis his will: here. 1 Cit. This Cæsar was a tyrant. Cit. I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: Let but the commons hear this testament, 4 Cit. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Antony. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not It is not meet you know how Cæsa lov'd you. 4 Cit. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony ; You shall read us the will; Cæsar's will. Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay a while? I fear I wrong the honourable men, 2 Cit. They were villains, murderers: The will! read the will! Ant. You will compel me then to read the will? Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar, And let me show you him that made the will. Shall I descend? And will you give me leave? Cit. Come down. 2 Cit. Descend. [He comes down from the pulpit. 3 Cit. You shall have leave. 4 Cit. A ring; stand round. 1 Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. 2 Cit. Room for Antony; - most noble Antony. Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. Cit. Stand back! room! bear back! Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. 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; 2 Cit. O noble Cæsar! 3 Cit. O woful day! 4 Cit. O traitors, villains! 1. Cit. O most bloody sight! 2 Cit. We will be revenged: revenge; about, scek,-burn,― fire,-kill,- slay !—let not a traitor live. Ant. Stay, countrymen. 1 Cit. Peace there: - Hear the noble Antony. 2 Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him. Ant. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny. They, that have done this deed, are honourable; But as you know me all, a plain blunt man, Show you sweet Cæsar s wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths, And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus, 1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what : Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours, and new-planted orchards, On this side Tyber; he hath left them you, And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures, To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves. Here was a Cæsar: When comes such another? 1 Cit. Never, never :- - Come, away, away; We'll burn his body in the holy place, And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. Take up the body. Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house. Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome. Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the people, How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feast with Cæsar, And things unluckily charge my fantasy: I have no will to wander forth of doors, Yet something leads me forth. Enter Citizens. 1 Cit. What is your name? Cin. As a friend. 2 Cit. That matter is answered directly. 1 Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna. 1 Cit. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator. Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 4 Cit. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses. 2 Cit. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. 3 Cit. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, ho! fire-brands. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius' away; go. [Exeunt. The Capitol. On objects, arts, and imitations; and stal'd by other men, Brutus and Cassius Are levying powers: we must straight make head: Therefore, let our alliance be combin'd, Our best friends made, and our best means stretch'd out; And let us presently go sit in council, How covert matters may be best disclos'd, Oct. Let us do so: for we are at the stake, And bay'd about with many enemies; And some, that smile, have in their hearts, I fear, Millions of mischief. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Before Brutus' Tent, in the Camp 4. This is a slight unmeritable inan, Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit, The three-fold world divided, he should stand So you thought him; And took his voice who should be prick'd to die, In our black sentence and proscription. Otarius, I have seen more days than you: And though we lay these honours on this man, To use ourselves of divers slanderous loads. He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,, To groan and sweat under the business, Fite od or driven, as we point the way; And having brought our treasure where we w The take we down 25 And and turn him o 1 le so they do to shake his cars Jai graze in You may do your wills Basarad and vallant selden my Ann devis; and for dat 1 do govis Mat com o prowada near Sardis. Enter BRUTUS, Lrces, Lucius, and Soldiers: TINIUS and PINDARUS meeting themBr. Stand here. Inc. Give the word, ho! and stand. PANPARUS gives a letter to BRUTUS. B. He greets me well. Your master, Pindars In his own change, or by ill officers, Hath given me some worthy cause to wish Things done, undone: but, if he be at hand, 1 shall be satisfied. Cas. Is't possible? Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Shall I be frighted, when a madman stares? Cas. O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this? Bru. All this? ay, and more: Fret, till your proud heart break; Go, show your slaves how cholerick you are, Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say, you are a better soldier: Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, And it shall please me well: For mine own part, I shall be glad to learn of noble men. Cas. You wrong me every way; you wrong me, I said, an elder soldier, not a better : If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd me. Bru. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempted him. Cas. I durst not? Bru. No. Cas. What? durst not tempt him? Bru. For your life you durst not Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love, I may do that I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. For certain sums of gold, which you deny'd me ;- To you for gold to pay my legions, Bru. I do not like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, For Cassius is aweary of the world: Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother; Than ever thou lov'dst Cassius. Bru. Sheath your dagger: Be angry when you will, it shall have scope; Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour. O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb That carries anger, as the flint bears fire; Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark, And straight is cold again. Cas. Hath Cassius liv'd To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him? Bru. When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too. Cas. Do you confess so much? Give me your hand. Bru. What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humour, which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Cassius; and, henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so. [Noise within. Poet. [Within.] Let me go in to see the generals; There is some grudge between them, 'tis not meet They be alone. Luc. [Within.] You shall not come to them. Poet. [Within.] Nothing but death shall stay me. Enter Poet. Cas. How now? What's the matter? Poet. For shame, you generals; What do you mean? Love, and be friends, as two such men should be; What should the wars do with these jigging fools? Away, away, be gone. Enter LUCILIUS and TITINIUS. [Exit Poet. Bru. Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders Prepare to lodge their companies to-night. Cus. And come yourselves, and bring Messala with Now sit we close about this taper here, Mess. That by proscription, and bills of outlawry, Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus, Have put to death an hundred senators. Bru. Therein our letters do not well agree; Ay, Cicero is dead, Mes. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her? |