Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. Though now we must appear bloody and cruel, 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 (As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity,) Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him, Have thus proceeded. Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom. 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, Metellus; Yours, Cinna;-and, my valiant Casca, yours;Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius. Gentlemen all,-alas! what shall I say? My credit now stands on such slippery ground, That I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true: Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death, In terms of friendship with thine enemies. hart; Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, Cas. Mark Antony,- Cas. 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? Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed, Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar. Ant. That'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 know not what you do; Do not consent, That Antony speak in his funeral: [Aside. Know you how much the people may be mov'd Bru. By your pardon;— I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Cæsar's death: Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar's body. You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, 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 About his funeral: And you shall speak In the same pulpit whereto I am going, After my speech is ended. Ant. I desire no more. Be it so; Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. [Exeunt all but Antony. Ant. O, pardon me, thou piece of bleeding earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Thou art the ruins of the noblest man, That ever lived in the tidel of times. Wo to the hand that shed this costly blood! Domestic fury, and fierce civil strife, Shall cumber all the parts of Italy: Blood and destruction shall be so in use, And dreadful objects so familiar, That mothers shall but smile, when they behold Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice, Enter a Servant. You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome. Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming: And bid me say to you by word of mouth, O Cæsar! [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, Began to water. Is thy master coming? Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd: Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous 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 my oration, how the people take The cruel issue of these bloody men; Lend me your hand. [Exeunt, with Cæsar's body. Enter SCENE II.-The same. The Forum. (1) The signal for giving no quarter. (2) To let slip a dog at a deer, &c. was the echnical phrase of Shakspeare's time. Cassius, go you into the other street, And part the numbers. Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here; Those that will follow Cassius, go with him; And public reasons shall be rendered Of Caesar's death. 1 Cit. I will hear Brutus speak. 2 Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, When severally we hear them rendered. [Exit Cassius, with some of the Citizens. Brutus goes into the rostrum. 3 Cit. 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 may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cæsar was no less than his. If ther that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cæsar, this is my answer,-Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves; than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæsar 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 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. |