Por. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him? Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance. Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels, Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise ! And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exit. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I.-The same. The Capitol; the Senate sitting. A crowd of people in the street leading to the Capitol; among them ARTEMIDORUS, and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CÆSAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others. Cæs. The ides of March are come. Art. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule. Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, At your best leisure, this his humble suit. Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first: for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: read it, great Cæsar. Cas. What touches us ourself shall be last serv'd. Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. Cæs. What, is the fellow mad? 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. 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. Bru. Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus, he draws Mark Antony out of the way. Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. CÆSAR and the Senators take their seats. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. go, Bru. He is address'd: press near, and second him. That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat An humble heart. Cæs. I must prevent thee, Cimber. 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, [Kneeling. To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear, Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Cæs. What, Brutus! 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,- Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Casca. Speak, hands, for me. [CASCA stabs CESAR in the neck. CESAR catches hold of his He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, arm. 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! Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. 66 Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, 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 :- Casca. 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 Ay, every man away; Cas. Enter a Servant. Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down; Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving; Say, I lov'd Brutus, and I honour him; Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Depart untouch'd. Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit Servant. Bru. I know that we shall have him well to friend. Bru. But here comes Antony.-Welcome, Mark Antony. Ant. O mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure?-Fare thee well.I know not, gentlemen, what you intend, Who else must be let blood, who else is rank: If I myself, there is no hour so fit 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, Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. |