CESAR'S FUNERAL. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens. 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 Cesar's death. 1 Cit. I will hear Brutus speak. 2 Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, When severally we hear them rendered. Exit CASSIUS, with some of the CITIZENS. the Rostrum. BRUTUS goes into 3 Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended: Silence! Romans, countrymen, and lovers? hear me for my cause; and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honor; and have respect to mine honor, 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 Cesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cesar, this is my answer.-Not that I loved Cesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cesar were living, and die all slaves; than that Česar were dead to live all freemen? As Cesar lov'd me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him: There are tears, for his love; joy, for his fortune; honor for his valor; 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 Cesar, 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. Enter ANTONY and others, with CESAR'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. Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Cit. Give him a statute with his ancestors. 3 Cit. Let him be Cesar. 4 Cit. Cesar'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 Cesar'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 Cesar 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 Cesar, not to praise him. The evil, that men do, lives after them; He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cesar hath wept: Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, 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, Cesar 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 Cesar 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, But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar, Let but the commons hear this testament, And they would go and kiss dear Cesar's wounds, Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, 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 Cesar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cesar lov'd you. You are not wood, you are not stones, but men; 4 Cit. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will; Cesar's will. Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile? I have o'ershot myself, to tell you of it. I fear I wrong the honorable men, Whose daggers have stabb'd Cesar: I do fear it. 4 Cit. They were traitors: Honorable 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. 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 Cesar 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: Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd; For when the noble Cesar saw him stab, Even at the base of Pompey's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cesar fell. 2 Cit. O noble Cesar! 3 Cit. O woeful day! 4 Cit. O traitors, villains! 1 Cit. O most bloody sight! 2 Cit. We will be revenged: revenge; about,—seek,burn,-fire,-kill,-slay!-let not a traitor live. Ant. Stay, countrymen. 1 Cit. Peace there :-Hear the noble Antony. 2 Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him. Ant. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny. They, that have done this deed, are honorable; What private griefs they have, alas, I know not, That made them do it; they are wise and honorable, I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts, I am no orator, as Brutus is: But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, Show you sweet Cesar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths, And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony |