You fhall not in your funeral speech blame us, Ant. Be it fo; I do defire no more. Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. Manet Antony. [Exeunt Confpirators. Ant. O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth! That I am meek and gentle with thefe butchers. Thou art the ruins of the noblest man, That ever lived in the tide of times. Woe to the hand, that shed this coftly blood! That mothers fhall but fmile, when they behold Enter Octavius's Servant. You ferve Octavius Cæfar, do you not? Ant. Cæfar did write for him to come to Rome. Ser. Ser. He did receive his letters, and is coming; And bid me fay to you by word of mouth O Cæfar! [Seeing the Body. Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep; Paffion I fee is catching; for mine eyes, Seeing those Beads of forrow stand in thine, Ser. He lyes to night within feven leagues of Rome. Ant. Poft back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd. Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, Hie hence, and tell him fo. Yet stay a while; [Exeunt with Cæfar's body. SCENE changes to the Forum. Enter Brutus, and mounts the Roftra; Caffius, with the Pleb. Plebeians. E will be fatisfied; let us be fatisfied. WE ence, Bru. Then follow me, and give me audifriends. Caffius, go you into the other street, And part the numbers: Thofe, that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here; And publick reafons fhall be rendered Of Cafar's death. 1 Pleb. I will hear Brutus speak. 2 Pleb. I will hear Caffius, and compare their reasons, When fev'rally we hear them rendered. [Exit Caffius, with fome of the Plebeians 3 Pleb. The noble Brutus is afcended: filence! Bru. Be patient 'till the last. Romans, Romans, Countrymen, and Lovers! hear me for my caufe; and be filent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honour, and have refpect to mine honour, that you may believe. Cenfure me in your wisdom, and awake your fenfes, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this affembly, any dear friend of Cafar's, to him I fay, that Brutus's love to Cæfar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rofe against Cefar, this is my Anfwer: Not that I lov'd Cafar lefs, but that I lov'd Rome more. Had you rather Cafar were living, and dye all flaves; than that Cæfar were dead, to live all free-men? As Cafar lov'd 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 flew him. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death for his ambition. Who's here fo bafe, that would be a bond-man? if any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo rude, that would not be a Roman? if any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo vile, that will not love his Country? if any, fpeak; for him have I offended- I pause for a Reply All. None, Brutus, none. -I have done no Bru. Then none have I offended.more to Cafar, than you fhall do to Brutus. The queftion of his death is inroll'd in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforc'd, for which he fuffered death. Enter Mark Antony with Cæfar's body. Here comes his body, mourn'd by Mark Antony; who, though he had no hand in his death, fhall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the Commonwealth; as which of you fhall not? With this I depart, that as I flew my best lover for the good of Rome; I have the fame dagger for myself, when it shall please my Country to need my death. All. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1 Pleb. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. VOL. VII. C 2 Pleb. 2 Pleb. Give him a ftatue with his Ancestors. 3 Pleb. Let him be Gafar. 4 Pleb. Cafar's better Parts Shall be crown'd in Brutus. 1 Pleb. We'll bring him to his house With fhouts and clamours. Bru. My Countrymen 2 Pleb. Peace! filence! Brutus fpeaks. i Pleb. Peace, ho! Bru. Good Countrymen, let me depart alone, Do grace to Cefar's corps, and grace his fpeech I do intreat you, not a man depart, 1 Pleb. Stay, ho, and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Pleb. Let him go up into the publick Chair, We'll hear him: noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' fake, I am beholden to you. 4 Pleb. What does he fay of Brutus ? 3 Pleb. He fays, for Brutus' fake He finds himself beholden to us all. 4 [Exit. Pleb. 'Twere beft he speak no harm of Brutus here. 3 Pleb. Nay, that's certain; We are bleft, that Rome is rid of him. 2 Pleb. Peace; let us hear what Antony can fay. Ant. You gentle Romans - All. Peace, ho, let us hear him. Ant. Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Cafar, not to praise him. (For (For Brutus is an honourable man, He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cry'd, Cefar hath wept Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious; 1 Pleb. Methinks, there is much reafon in his fayings. If thou confider rightly of the matter, Cafar has had great wrong. 3 Pleb. Has he, Mafters? I fear there will a worse come in his place. 4 Pleb. Mark'd ye his words? he would not take the crown; Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious. 1 Pleb. If it be found fo, fome will dear abide it. 3 Pleb. There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. C 2 Have |