Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

4 Citizen. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad

verses.

Cinna. I am not Cinna the conspirator.

31

2 Citizen. It is no matter, his name 's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

3 Citizen. Tear him, tear him! Come, brands, ho! firebrands! To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away! go!

[merged small][merged small][graphic]
[graphic][merged small][merged small]

SCENE I. A Room in Antony's House. ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a table.

Antony. These many, then, shall die; their names are prick'd.

Octavius. Your brother too must die. Consent you, Lep

idus?

Lepidus. I do consent.

Octavius.

Prick him down, Antony.

Lepidus. Upon condition Publius shall not live,

Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.

Antony. 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 shall determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
Lepidus. What, shall I find you here?
Octavius. Or here, or at the Capitol.
Antony. This is a slight, unmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on errands; is it fit,

The three-fold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?

10

[Exit Lepidus.

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

Antony. 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,
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears
And graze in commons.

Octavius.

You may do

your will;

But he's a tried and valiant soldier.

Antony. So is my horse, Octavius, and for that

I do appoint him store of provender.

30

It is a creature that I teach to fight,

To wind, to stop, to run directly on,

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
A barren-spirited fellow, one that feeds

[blocks in formation]

On objects, arts, and imitations

Which, out of use and stal'd by other men,

[blocks in formation]

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, our means stretch'd ;
And let us presently go sit in council,
How covert matters may be best disclos'd,
And open perils surest answered.

Octavius. Let us do so: for we are at the stake,

And bay'd about with many enemies ;

And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,
Millions of mischiefs.

40

50

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. Before the Tent of Brutus, in the Camp near

Sardis.

Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, and Soldiers; PINDARUS meeting them; LUCIUS at a distance.

Brutus. Stand, ho!

Lucilius. Give the word, ho! and stand.

Brutus. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near?
Lucilius. He is at hand, and Pindarus is come

To do you salutation from his master.

[Pindarus gives a letter to Brutus.

Brutus. 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.

[blocks in formation]

But that my noble master will appear

Such as he is, full of regard and honour.

Brutus.. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius:

How he receiv'd you, let me be resolv'd.

10

Lucilius. 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.

Brutus.

Thou hast describ'd

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?

20

Lucilius. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd ; The greater part, the horse in general,

[blocks in formation]

Brutus. Stand, ho! Speak the word along.

I Soldier. Stand.

2 Soldier. Stand.

3 Soldier. Stand.

Cassius. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. Brutus. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies? -And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?

Cassius. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs, 40 And when you do them—

Brutus.

Cassius, be content; Speak your griefs softly,-I do know you well. Before the eyes of both our armies here,

Which should perceive nothing but love from us,

G

« ZurückWeiter »