That this foul deed shall smell above the earth Enter a Servant. You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome. O Cesar! [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; In my oration, how the people take The cruel issue of these bloody men; To young Octavius of the state of things. Lend me your hand. [Exeunt, with CESAR's body. SCENE II. The same. The Forum. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a Throng of Citizens. Cit. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied. Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.Cassius, go you into the other street, And part the numbers. Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here; And public reasons shall be rendered Of Cæsar's death. 1 Cit. I will hear Brutus speak. stable & Mareschall in the Time of Werre," there is the following:- Also that no man be so hardy to crye Hevok upon peyne that he that is the begynner shal be deede therefore: & the remanent that doo the same or follow shal lose their horse & harncis; and the persones of such as followeth & escrien shall be under arrest of the Conestable & Mareschall warde unto tyme that they have made fyn ; & founde suretie no morr to offende; & his body in prison at the Kyng wyll. JOHNS. 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 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 liv ing, 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. 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.5 Enter ANTONY and others, with CÆSAR'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. [5] This artificial jingle of short sentences was affected by most of the orators in Shakspeare's time, whether in the pulpit, or at the bar. The speech of Brutus may therefore be regarded rather as an imitation of the false elo quence then in vogue, than as a specimen of laconick brevity. STEEV. Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. 3 Cit. Let him be Cæsar. 4 Cit. Cæsar's better parts Shall now be crown'd in Brutus. 1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours. Bru. My countrymen, 2 Cit. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks. 1 Cit. Peace, ho! Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech I do entreat you, not a man depart, 1 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. [Exit. 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. The evil, that men do, lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones ; So let it be with Cæsar. The noble Brutus But Brutus says, he was ambitious; He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept : Was this ambition ? Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, You all did love him once, not without cause; What cause withholds you then to mourn for him? And men have lost their reason!-Bear with me ; And I must pause till it come back to me. 1 Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his sayings. 2 Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar has had great wrong. 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. Ant. But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world: now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence. O masters! if I were dispos'd to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, Let but the commons hear this testament, (Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,) And, dying, mention it within their wills, 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 a while? I have o'ershot myself, to tell you of it. I fear, I wrong the honourable men, Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar: I do fear it. 4 Cit. They were traitors: Honourable 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? 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 ; 'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent; That day he overcame the Nervii : Look in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through : |