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 then 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 honor him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him: There is tears, for his love; joy, for his fortune; honor, for his valor; 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. Cit. None, Brutus, none. [Several speaking at once. 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, mourned 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 house. 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 clamors. Bru. My countrymen, 2 Cit. 1 Cit. Peace, ho! Peace; silence! Brutus speaks. Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, And, for my sake, stay here with Antony: Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech Tending to Cæsar's glories: which Mark Antony, By our permission, is allowed to make. I do entreat you, not a man depart, Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. [Exit. Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Cit. Let him go up into the public chair; We'll hear him:-Noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you. 4 Cit. What does he say of Brutus? 3 Cit. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholden to us all. 4 Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. 1 Cit. This Cæsar was a tyrant. 3 Cit. Nay, that's certain: We are bless'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 Cæsar, not to praise him. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: 2 Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar has had great wrongs. 3 Cit. Has he, masters? I fear, there will a worse 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 so, some will dear abide it. 2 Cit. Poor soul! 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. I will not do them wrong; I rather choose Unto their issue. 4 Cit. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Antony. Cit. The will, the will; we will hear Cæsar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; 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 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 awhile? I have o'ershot myself, to tell you of it. I fear, I wrong the honorable men, Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar: I do fear it. 4 Cit. They were traitors: Honorable men! Cit. The will! the testament! 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; Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through: See, what a rent the envious Casca made: Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. 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, -seek,-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 honorable; But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus, 1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus. 2 Cit. Away then! come, seek the conspirators. Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen, yet hear me speak. Cit. Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what: Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves? Cit. Most true;-the will:-let's stay, and hear the will. Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.6 2 Cit. Most noble Cæsar!-we'll revenge his death. Statua for statue, is common among the old writers. • Impression. Grievances. Near fifty shilling 3 Cit. O royal Cæsar! Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, 2 Cit. Go, fetch fire. 3 Cit. Pluck down benches. 4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. [Exeunt Citizens, 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. Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the people How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. SCENE III.-A Street. Enter CINNA, the Poet. [Exeunt. 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? 2 Cit. Whither are you going? 3 Cit. Where do you dwell? 4 Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 2 Cit. Answer every man directly. 1 Cit. Ay, and briefly. 4 Cit. Ay, and wisely. 3 Cit. 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 am a bachelor. 2 Cit. 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. Cin. As a friend. 2 Cit. That matter is answered directly. 4 Cit. For your dwelling,-briefly. Cin. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol. 4 Cit. Your name, sir, truly. 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 Cil. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses. Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator. 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! firebrands. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away; go. [Exeunt. ACT IV. The Capitol. Or here, or at [Exit LEPIDUS. Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man, Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit, The three-fold world divided, he should stand One of the three to share it? Oct. So you thought him; And took his voice who should be prick'd to die, In our black sentence and proscription. Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you; And though we lay these honors on this man, To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads, He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold, To groan and sweat under the business, Either led or driven, as we point the way; And having brought our treasure where we will, Then take we down his load, and turn him off, Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears, And graze in commons. Oct. You may do your will; But he's a tried and valiant soldier. Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and, for that, I do appoint him store of provender. It is a creature that I teach to fight, To wind, to stop, to run directly on; His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit. He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth; Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men, Our best friends made, and our best means stretch'd out; And let us presently go sit in council, Oct. Let us do so; for we are at the stake, SCENE II.-Before Brutus' Tent, in the Camp near Sardis. Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers: TITINIUS and PINDARUS meeting them. Bru Stand here. Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand. [PINDARUS gives a Letter to BRUTUS. Bru. He greets me well.-Your master, Pindarus, In his own charge, or by ill offices, But that my noble master will appear Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd; The greater part, the horse in general, Bru. [March within. Hark, he is arriv'd: March gently on to meet him. Enter CASSIUS and Soldiers. Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies? And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother? Bru. Cas. Pindarus, Bid our commanders lead their charges off Bru. Lucilius, do the like; and let no man Come to our tent, till we have done our conference. Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Within the Tent of BRUTUS. LUCIUS and TITINIUS at some distance from it. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS. Cas. That you have wrong'd me, doth appear in this: You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella, I an itching palm? You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last. Bru. The name of Cassius honors this corruption, And chastisement doth therefore hide his head. Cas. Chastisement! Bru. Remember March, the ides of March re member! Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? 1 Trifling. Bru. I say, you are not. Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further. Bru. Away, slight man! 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, more: Fret, till your proud heart break; Go show your slaves how choleric you are, Cas. Is it come to this? 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 denied me;- And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me: Was that done like Cassius? Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Cas. Bru. You did. Cas. I denied you not. I did not :-he was but a fool, That brought my answer back.-Brutus hath rived2 my heart: A friend should bear his friend's infirmities, Bru. appear As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, For Cassius aweary of the world: Split. Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother; Than ever thou lov'dst Cassius. Hath Cassius liv'd Bru. And my heart too. Cas. Bru. O Brutus! What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humor, which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bru. Luc. Within.] You shall not come to them. Cas. How now? What's the matter? Poet. For shame, you generals: What do you Cas. Ha, ha; how vilely doth this cynic rhy me! What should the wars do with these jigging fools? Cas. Away, away, begone. Enter LUCILIUS and TITINIUS. If you give place to accidental evils. Bru. No man bears sorrow better:- Portia is Cas. My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge:- Re-enter TITINIUS, with MESSAla. Good-night, Titinius:-Noble, noble Cassius, Bru. Come in, Titinius:-Welcome, good Mes- Let it not, Brutus. sala. Now sit we close about this taper here, And call in question our necessities. Mes. Myself have letters of the self-same tenor. Mes. That by proscription, and bills of outlawry, Have put to death a hundred senators. Bru. Therein our letters do not well agree: Ay, Cicero is dead, Mes. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her? That, methinks, is strange. Bru. Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in yours? Mes. No, my lord. Bru. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. Mes. Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell: For certain she is dead, and by strange manner. Bru. Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala: 'Tis better that the enemy seek us: Bru. Good reasons must, of force, give place to The people, 'twixt Philippi and this ground, For they have grudg'd us contribution: The enemy, marching along by them, By them shall make a fuller number up, Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encouraged; Cas. That we have tried the utmost of our friends, We, at the height, are ready to decline. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Is bound in shallow 3, and in miseries. Cas. Cas. No more. Good-night; Early to-morrow will we rise, and hence. • Theory. Bru. Good-night, good brother. Tit. Mes. Good-night, lord Brutus. Farewell, every one. [Exeunt CAS., TIT., and MES. Bru. What, thou speak'st drowsily! Enter VARRO and CLAUDIUS. Var. Calls my lord? Bru. I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent, and sleep; Var. So please you, we will stand, and watch Bru. I will not have it so: lie down, good sirs; [Servants lie down. Luc. I was sure your lordship did not give it me. Bru. Bear with me, good boy. I am much forgetful. Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile, It does, my boy: Bru. I should not urge thy duty past thy might; Bru. It is well done; and thou shalt sleep again; [Music and a Song. night. I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee. down, Where I left reading? Here it is, I think. Enter the Ghost of CESAR. Ghost. Thy evil spirit, Brutus. Why com'st thou? Then I shall see thee again? Ay, at Philippi. Luc. The strings, my lord, are false. Bru. He thinks, he still is at his instrument.Lucius, awake. |