Ser. He did receive his letters, and is coming; And bid me fay to you by word of mouth O Cafar! [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 ftand in thine, Ser. He lyes to night within feven leagues of Rome. 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 Plebeians. Pleb. WE will be fatisfied; let us be fatisfied. ence, friends. Caffius, go you into the other ftreet, And part the numbers: Thofe, that will hear me fpeak, let 'em ftay here; Of Cafar's death. 1 Pleb. I will hear Brutus fpeak. 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 wifdom, 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 Cafar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rofe againft Cæfar, 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 base, 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 paufe for a Reply All. None, Brutus, none. -I have done no Bru. Then none have I offended.more to Cæfar, 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 suffered 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 myfelf, when it fhall pleafe my Country to need my death. All. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1 Pleb. Bring him with triumph home unto his houfe. VOL. VII. C 2 Pleb. 2 Pleb. Give him a ftatue with his Ancestors, Pleb. We'll bring him to his houfe 2 Pleb. Peace! filence! Brutus fpeaks. Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, Do grace to Cafar's corps, and grace his fpeech 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 3 Pleb. He fays, for Brutus' fake He finds himfelf beholden to us all. [Exit 4 Pleb. 'Twere beft he speak no harm of Brutus here, 1 Pleb. This Cæfar was a Tyrant. 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 praife him. The Evil that men do, lives after them, (For (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 cry'd, Cafar hath wept; Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious; You all did love him once, not without caufe: 1 Pleb. Methinks, there is much reason in his sayings. 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 so, some will dear abide it. 2 Pleb. Poor foul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. 3 Pleb. There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. 4 Pleb. Now, mark him, he begins to speak. Ant. But yesterday the word of Cafar might C 2 Have Have ftood against the world; now lies he there, Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, Let but the Commons hear this Teftament, And dying, mention it within their Wills, Unto their iffue. 4 Pleb. We'll hear the Will, read it, Mark Antony. All. The Will, the Will; we will hear Cæfar's Will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I muft not read it ; It is not meet you know how Cafar lov'd you. Ant. Will you be patient? will you stay a while? (I have o'er-fhot myfelf, to tell you of it.) I fear, I wrong the honourable men, Whofe daggers have ftabb'd Cæfar-I do fear it. 4 Pleb. They were traitors-honourable men! All. The Will! the Teftament! 2 Pleb. They were villains, murtherers; the Will! read the Will! Ant. You will compel me then to read the Will? Then |