Por. Enter Soothsayer Come hither, fellow: Which way hast thou been? Sooth. At mine own house, good lady. Por. What is't o'clock? Sooth. Bru. Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; About the ninth hour, lady. He draws Mark Antony out of the way. Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the capitol? Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself. 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: Of senators, of prætors, common suitors, Will crowd a feeble man almost to death: I'll get me to a place more void, and there [Exit. Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize! And bring me word what he doth say to thec. [Exe. w ACT III. SCENE 1-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 Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Popilius, Publius, and others. Cæsar. THE ides of March are come. Sooth. Ay, Cæsar; but not gone. Art, Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule. Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first : for mine's a suit 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. [Exeunt Antony and Trebonius. Cæsar and the Senators take their seatsDec. Where is Metellus Cimber? let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is address'd: press near, and second him. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cas. Are we all ready? What is now amiss, That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat [Kneeling. Cæs. To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon: As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, To beg enfranchisement of Publius Cimber. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus! Dec. Great Cæsar, Ca's. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Casca. Speak, bands, for me. [Casca stabs Cæsar in the neck. Cæsar catches hold of his arm. He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, 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. Cas. Where's Antony? Treb. Fled to his house amaz'd: Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, As it were doomsday. Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures :That we shall die, we know: 'tis but the time, And drawing days out, that men stand upon. Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life, Cuts off so many years of fearing death. Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: So are we Cæsar's friends, that have abridg’d His time of fearing death.-Stoop, Romans, stoop, And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords: Then walk we forth, even to the market-place; And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads, Let's all cry, Peace! Freedom! and Liberty! 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? Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Bru. But here comes Antony.-Welcome, Mark Ant. O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low? As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument 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. Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd Ant. Either a coward, or a flatterer. That I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true: If then thy spirit look upon us now, Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death, O world! thou wast the forest to this hart; 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, Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle: Ant. Bru. You shall, Mark Antony. Brutus, a word with you. You know not what you do ; Do not consent, [Aside. Know you how much the people may be mov'd Bru By your pardon ;~~ I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Cæsar's death: What Antony shall speak, I will protest He speaks by leave and by permission; And that we are contented, Cæsar shall Have all true rites, and lawful ceremonies. It shall advantage more, than do us wrong. Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar's body. You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar; And say, you do't by our permission; Else shall you not have any hand at all About his funeral: And you shall speak In the same pulpit whereto I am going, After my speech is ended. Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. That ever lived in the tide of tunes. Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice, You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome 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 Rane Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what h When severally we hear them rendered. [Exit Cassius with some of the Citizens. Brutu goes into the Restram. 3 Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended: Silence! Bru. Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me fat B cause; and be silent that you may bear: believe for mine honour; and have respect to mine hom that you may believe: censure me in your wishu and awake your senses that you may the better ju If there be any in this assembly, any dear friess Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Casarva no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Br tus rose against Cæsar, this is my answer,-Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves; than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men? As Cer loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I joice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; bet, 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? V Hal 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. 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. Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, And, for my sake, stay here with Antony: Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech Tending to Cæsar's glories; which Mark Antony, By our permission, is allow'd to make. I do entreat you, not a man depart, [Exit. 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. Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; I thrice presented him a kingly crown, I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, 4 Cit. Now mark him, he begins again to speak. O masters! if I were dispos'd to stir I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong, I will not do them wrong; I rather choose Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you. 4 Cit. What does he say of Brutus? 3 Cit. He finds himself beholden to us all. Let but the commons hear this testament, 4 Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. (Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read.) 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. I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. So are they all, all honourable men ;) Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me : But Brutus says, he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds, Unto their issue. 4 Cit. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Antony. Cit. The will, the will; we will hear Caesar's will.. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd you. 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 Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar, And let me show you him that made the will. Shall I descend? And will you give me leave? Cit. Come down. 2 Cit. 3 Cit. 4 Cit. Descend. [He comes down from the pulpit. 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 Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through: As rushing out of doors, to be resolv'd If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no ; Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar 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.— seck,-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 honourable; 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, That love my friend; and that they know full well mouths, And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus, And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony 1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus. Cit. Most true;-the will;-let's stay, and hear the will. Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man, seventy-five drachmas. 2 Cit. Most noble Cæsar!-We'll revenge his death 3 Cit. O royal Cæsar! Ant. Hear me with patience. Cit. Peace, ho! Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours, and new-planted orchards, On this side Tyber; he hath left them you, And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures, To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves. Here was a Cæsar: When comes such another? 1 Cit. Never, never:-Come, away, away: We'll burn his body in the holy place, And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. Take up the body. 2 Cit. Go, fetch fire. 3 Cit. Pluck down benches. 4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. [Exeunt Citizens, with the body. Ant. Now let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt!-How now, fellow? Enter a Servant. Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Ant. Where is he? Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cesar's house. Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him: He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry, And in this mood will give us any thing. Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome. Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the people, How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A Street. Enter Cinna, the Poet. Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feast with Caesar, And things unluckily charge my fantasy: I have no will to wander forth of doors, Yet something leads me forth. Enter Citizens. 1 Cit. What is your name? 2 Cit. Whither are you going? 3 Cit. Where do you dwell? 4 Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 2 Ci'. Answer every man directly. 1 Cit. Ay, and briefly. 4 Cit. Ay, and wisely. 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 bache |