[CASCA stabs CESAR in the neck. CESAR catches hold of his arm. He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and at last by MARCUS BRUTUS. Cas. Et tu, Brute ?-Then fall, Cæsar. [Dies. The Senators and People retire in confusion. Cin, Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead :· Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement ! Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted; Fly not; stand still :-ambition's debt is paid. Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus. Dec. And Cassius too. Bru. Where's Publius? 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. Casca. 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. Re-enter TREBONIUS. Cas. Where's Antony? Treb. Fled to his house amaz'd: Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures :- Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life, 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. Ay, every man away : Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels- Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's.Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel; Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down : And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say: Say, I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him, and lov'd him. Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Depart untouch'd. Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit.. Bru. I know, that we shall have him well to friend. Cas. I wish, we may; but yet have I a mind, That fears hm much; and my misgiving still Falls shrewdy to the purpose. Re-enter ANTONY. Bru.Butere comesAntony.-Welcome, Mark Antony, Ant. Omighty Cæsar! Dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure ?-Fare thee wellI know rot, gentlemen, what you intend, 21* VOL. VI. Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:8 As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument Of half that worth, as those your swords, made rich I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard, Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, No place will please me so, no mean of death, Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, In the disposing of new dignities. Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him, 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, [8] Who else may be supposed to have overtopped his equal, and grown too high for the public safety, JOHNS. 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. Pardon me, Julius!-Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart; Cas. Mark Antony, Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius : The enemies of Cæsar shall say this; Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty. 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. Friends am I with you all, and love you all; Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons, Why, and wherein, Cæsar was dangerous. Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle : Ant. That's all I seek : And am moreover suitor, that I may You know not what you do; Do not consent, [Aside. Know you how much the people may be mov'd [9] Lethe is used by many of the old translators of novels, for death. STE. By that which he will utter? 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. Ant. Be it so ; I do desire no more. Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. [Exe. 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 tide of times. 3 Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, And dreadful objects so familiar, That mothers shall but smile, when they behold [3] That is, in the course of times. JOHNS. E4] A learned correspondent has informed me, that, in the military operations of old times, Havock was the word by which declaration was made that no quarter should be given.In a tract intitled, "The Office of the Con |