I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank;1
If I myself, there is no hour so fit

As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument

Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, in-
deed,

Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar.
Friends am I with you all, and love you all;

Why, and wherein, Cæsar was dangerous.

Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle:
Our reasons are so full of good regard,
That were you, Antony, the son of Cæsar,
You should be satisfied.
That's all I seek:

Of half that worth, as those your swords, made rich Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons,
With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.

Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands, and this our present act,
You see we do; yet see you but our hands,
And this the bleeding business they have done :
Our hearts you see not, they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
(As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity,)
Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:
Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts,
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
Cas. Your voice shall be as strong as any man's,
In the disposing of new dignities.

Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.

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 Tre-
bonius.

Gentlemen all,-alas! what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
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,
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble in the presence of thy corse?
Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
It would become me better, than to close
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius!-Here wast thou bay'd, brave
hart;

Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Sign'd in thy spoil, and conson'd in thy lethe.
O world! thou wast the forest to this hart;
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.-
How like a deer, stricken by many princes,
Dost thou here lie?

Cas. Mark Antony,-
Ant.
The enemies of Cæsar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Ant.
And am moreover suitor, that I may
Produce his body to the market-place;
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral,
Bru. You shall, Mark Antony.
Cas.

Brutus, a word with you.
You know not what you do ; Do not consent,

[Aside.

That Antony speak in his funeral :
Know you how much the people may be mov'd
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:
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 Caesar'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 shall speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.
Ant.
Be it so;

I desire no more.

you

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.
[Exeunt 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 tide2 of times.
Wo to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,-
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue;—
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury, and fierce civil strife,
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy:
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects so familiar,

That mothers shall but smile, when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
All pity chok'd with custom of fell deeds;
And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Até by his side, come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice,
Cry Havoc,3 and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth

Pardon me, Caius Cassius:|| With carrion men, groaning for burial.
Enter a Servant.

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?

(1) Grown too high for the public safety.
(2) Course. (3) The signal for giving no quarter.

You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not?
Serv. do, Mark Antony.

Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome.
Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming :

(4) To let slip a dog at a deer, &c. was the technical phrase of Shakspeare's time.

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.
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 Caesar'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,
Had you rather
but that I loved Rome more.
Cæsar were living, 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 de 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.

(1) Friends.

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 the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for mythis I depart; That, as I slew my best lover for self, 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.

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,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony :
his speech
grace
Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and
Tending to Cæsar's glories; which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow'd to make.
do entreat you, not a man depart,

Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

[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.
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.
4 Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus
here.

I

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;

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
Hath told you, Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously hath Cæsar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest,
(For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men ;)
Come I to speak in Cæsar'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,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept :
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see, that on the Lupercal,
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.

I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.

1 Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his You all do know this mantle: I remember

4 Cit. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Antony.live."
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? 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.

And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony

[He comes down from the pulpit. Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue

(1) The meanest man is now too high to do writers.

The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
Cit. We'll mutiny.

JULIUS CAESAR.

1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus.
3 Cit. Away then, come, seek the conspirators.
Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me
speak.

Cit. Peace,ho! Hear Antony,most noble Antony.
Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not
what:

Wherein hath Caesar thus deserv'd your loves?
Alas, you know not:-I must tell you then: -
You have forgot the will I told you of.

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 Cil. 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 Cæsar'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.

SCENE III.-The same. A street.
Cinna, the Poet.

[Exeunt.

Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feast
Cæsar,

And things unluckily charge my phantasy:
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?

Enter

with

4 Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor?

2 Cit. 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 (1) Greek coin.

VOL. II.

243

bachelor? Then to answer every man directly, and briefly, wisely, and truly, Wisely I say, I am a bachelor.

that marry:-You'll bear me a bang for that, I
2 Cit. That's as much as to say, they are fools
fear. Proceed; directly.

Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral.
1 Cit. As a friend, or an enemy?
Cin. As a friend.

2 Cit. That matter is answer'd directly.
4 Cit. For your dwelling,-briefly.
Cin. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.
3 Cit. Your name, sir, truly.

Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna.

1 Cil. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator. Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 4 Cit. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him

for his bad verses.

2 Cit. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. 3 Cit. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, ho! Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; fire-brands. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. some to Ligarius':-away; go. [Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I-The same. A room in Antony's house. Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, seated at a table.

Ant. These many then shall die; their names
are prick'd.
Consent you,

Oct. Your brother too must die;
Lepidus?

Lep. I do consent.

Oct.
Prick him down, Antony.
Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live,
Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.
Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I
damn him.

But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house;
Fetch the will hither, and we will determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
Lep. What, shall I find you here?
Oct.

Or here, or at [Exit Lepidus.

The Capitol.
Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit,
Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man,
The three-fold world divided, he should stand

One of the three to share it?

Oct.
In our black sentence and proscription.
And took his voice who should be prick'd to die,
So you thought him;

Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you;
And though we lay these honours on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads,
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold;
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way;
And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load, and turn him off,
And graze in coinmons.
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears,

His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth:
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On objects, arts, and imitations;
Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men,
Begin his fashion: Do not talk of him,
But as a property: And now, Octavius,
Listen great things-Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers: we must straight make head:
Therefore, let our alliance be combin'd,

Our best friends made, and our best means stretch'd
out;

And let us presently go sit in council,
How covert matters may be best disclos'd,
And open perils surest answer'd.

Oct. Let us do so; for we are at the stake,
And bay'd2 about with many enemies;

Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine ene-
mies?

And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?
Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides

wrongs;

And when you do them——

Bru.
Cassius, be content,
Speak your griefs3 softly,-I do know you well:-
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle: Bid them move away;
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.
Cas.
Pindarus,
Bid our commanders lead their charges off
A little from this ground.

Bru. Lucilius, do the like; and let no man Come to our tent, till we have done our conference. And some, that smile, have in their hearts, I fear,Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door. Millions of mischief.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II-Before Brutus's tent, in the camp near Sardis. Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, Lucius, and Soldiers: Titinius and Pindarus meeting them.

Bru. Stand here.

Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand.

Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near? Luc. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master.

[Pindarus gives a letter to Brutus. Bru. He greets me well.-Your master, Pindarus,

In his own change, or by ill officers,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done, undone: but, if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.

Pin.
I do not doubt,
But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard, and honour.

Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius:
How he receiv'd you, let me be resolved.

Luc. With courtesy, and with respect enough;
But not with such familiar instances,
Nor with such free and friendly conference,
As he hath us'd of old.

Thou hast describ'd

Bru.
A hot friend cooling: Ever note, Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
It useth an enforced ceremony.
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle:
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades,
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?

Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be
ter'd;

The greater part, the horse in general,
Are come with Cassius.

[Exeunt.

ruption,

And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
Cas. Chastisement!

Bru. Remember March, the ides of March re
member!

Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world,
But for supporting robbers; shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes?
And sell the mighty space of our large honours,
For so much trash, as may be grasped thus?—
I had rather be a dog, and bays the moon,
quar-Than such a Roman.
Cas.

[March within.

Hark, he is arriv'd;—

Brutus, bay not me,
I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in ;6 I am a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.7