ACT III. SCENE I.-The same. The Capitol; the Senate sitting. A crowd of people in the street leading to the Capitol; Cæs. The ides of March are come. Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first: for mine 's a suit Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. CÆSAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise. Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. Cas. What enterprise, Popilius? Pop. Fare you well. [Advances to CÆSAR. Bru. What said Popilius Lena? Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprise might thrive. I fear our purpose is discovered. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. VOL. X. L Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.-—— Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. Bru. Cassius, be constant : Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. the Senators take their seats. CESAR and Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is address'd: press near, and second hinf. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cæs. Are we all ready? what is now amiss, That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat [Kneeling. Cæs. With that which melteth fools; I mean sweet words, If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn, for him, Know, Cæsar doth not wrong: nor without cause Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, a Address'd-ready. To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear, Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Cas. Pardon, Cæsar: Cæsar, pardon: As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, Cin. O Cæsar, Cæs. Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus? Dec. Great Cæsar, Cæs. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Casca. Speak, hands, for me. [CASCA stabs CESAR in the neck. CASAR catches hold of his arm. He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and at last by MARCUS BRUTUS. Cæs. Et tu, Brute?—Then fall, Cæsar. [Dies. The senators and people retire in confusion. Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!— Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted; Dec. Bru. Where 's Publius? And Cassius too. Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cæsar's Should chance Bru. Talk not of standing;-Publius, good cheer; There is no harm intended to your person, Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius. Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people, Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief. Bru. Do so;-and let no man abide this deed But we the doers. Cas. Re-enter TREBONIUS. Tre. Fled to his house amaz'd: Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run, Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures :- Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: Cas. Stoop then, and wash.-How many ages hence Shall this our lofty scene be acted over, In states unborn, and accents yet unknown! Bru. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport, That now on Pompey's basis lies along, No worthier than the dust! Cas. So oft as that shall be, So often shall the knot of us be call'd Cas. Enter a Servant. Brit. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Depart untouch'd. Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit Servant. |