No Rome of safety for Octavius yet: Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay a while; Thou shalt not back, till I have borne this corse Into the market-place: there shall I try, The cruel issue of these bloody men; According to the which, thou shalt discourse Το young Octavius of the state of things. Lend me your hand. [Exeunt, with CESAR'S Body. SCENE II. The Same. The Forum. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a Throng of Citizens. Cit. We will be satisfied: let us be satisfied. 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 Cæsar'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. 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 Cæsar'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, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather 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 I pause for a reply. All. None, Brutus, none. Bru. Then, none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar, than you shall 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. All. 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. Caesar'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. 1 Cit. Peace, ho! Peace! silence! Brutus speaks. Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone; Do grace to Cæsar'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 beholding to you. [Exit. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholding to us all. 4 Cit. "Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. 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: I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. The good is oft interred with their bones; (For Brutus is an honourable man, And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar 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, You all did love him once, not without cause: 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, Cæsar 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 weep ing. 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 Cæsar 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, Let but the commons hear this testament, 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. All. 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. 4 Cit. Read the will! we'll 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. 12 |