SCENE III.

The Same. A Street.

Enter CINNA, the poet.

Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feast with Cæsar,

And things unlucky charge my fantasy.

I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.

4 Cit.

2 Cit.

1 Cit.

Ay, and briefly.

4 Cit.

Ay, and wisely.

Are you a married man, or a bachelor?
Answer every man directly.

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 you'll bear me a bang for that, I fear.

that marry:

Proceed; directly.

Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral. 1 Cit. As a friend, or an enemy?

Cin. As a friend.

2 Cit.

That matter is answered directly. 4 Cit. For your dwelling, briefly. Cin. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.

3 Cit.

Cin.

Your name, sir, truly.

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.

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.

SCENE I. The Same.

The Same. A Room in ANTONY'S House.

ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a table.

THES

ANTONY.

HESE many, then, shall die; their names
prick'd.

Octavius.

are

Your brother, too, must die: consent

you, Lepidus?

Lepidus. I do consent.

Oct.

Prick him down, Antony.

Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live,

Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.

Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn

him.

But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house;

Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.

Lep. What, shall I find you here?

Oct.

Or here, or at the Capitol. [Exit LEPIDUS. Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man,

Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit,

The threefold 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 honours on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers sland'rous 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:

And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;

He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth;

A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds

On objects, arts, and imitations

Which, out of use and stal'd by other men,

Begin his fashion: do not talk of him,

But as a property. And now, Octavius,
Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius

Are levying powers: we must straight make head: Therefore let our alliance be combin'd,

Our best friends made, our means stretch'd;

And let us presently go sit in council,
How covert matters may be best disclos'd,

And open perils surest answered.

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 mischiefs.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Before BRUTUS' Tent, in the Camp near Sardis.

Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers: TITINIUS and PINDARUS meet them.

Bru. Stand, ho!

Lucilius. Give the word, ho! and stand.

Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near? Lucil. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master.

Bru.

[PINDARUS gives a letter to BRUTUS. He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,

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,
I shall be satisfied.

Pindarus.

I do not doubt

But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.

Bru.

He is not doubted. — A word, Lucilius:

How he receiv'd you let me be resolv'd.

Lucil. With courtesy, and with respect enough;

But not with such familiar instances,

Nor with such free and friendly conference,

As he hath us'd of old.

Bru.

Thou hast describ'd

A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,

It useth an enforced ceremony.

There are no tricks in plain and simple faith;
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant shew and promise of their mettle,
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades,
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?

[March heard in the distance, advancing. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd:

Lucil. They mean

The greater part, the horse in general,

Are come with Cassius.

Bru.

Hark! he is arriv'd.

March gently on to meet him.

Enter CASSIUS and Soldiers.

Cas. Stand, ho!

Bru. Stand, ho! Speak the word along.

Within. Stand.

Within. Stand.

Within.

Cas.

Stand.

Most noble brother, you have done me

wrong.

Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine ene

mies?

And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?