Bru. What said Popilius Lena? ·

Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive.

I fear, our purpose is discovered.

Bru. Look, how he makes to Caesar: Mark

him.

Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.

Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Caesar never shall turn, back,

For I will slay myself.

Bru. Cassius, be constant:

Popilius Lena speaks not for our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you,

Brutus,

He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS.

and the Senators take their seats.

CAESAR

Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.

go,

Bru. He is addrest: press near, and second him. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your

hand.

1

Caes. Are we all ready? what is now amifs, That Caesar, and his senate, must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,

Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat

An humble heart:

[Kneeling.

Caes. I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings, and these lowly courtesies,
Might fire the blood of ordinary men;
And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree,
Into the law of children. Be not fond,
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood,
That will be thaw'd from the true quality

With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet

words,

Low-crooked curt'sies, and base spaniel fawning. Thy brother by decree is banished;

If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn, for him, 1 spurn thee like a cur out of my way.

Know, Caesar doth not wrong; nor without

Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my

own,

To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear,
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

Bru. I kifs thy hand, but not in flattery,
Caesar;

'Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
Caes. What, Brutus!

Cas. Pardon, Caesar: Caesar, pardon:
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

Caes. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd, and resting quality,
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
They are all fire, and every one doth shine;
But there's but one in all doth hold his place:
So, in the world; 'Tis furnish'd well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet, in the number, I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rauk,
Unshak'd of motion: and, that I am he,
Let me a little shew it, even in this;

That I was constant Gimber should be banish'd,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
Cin. O Caesar, -

Caes. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
Dec. Great Caesar,

Caes. Doth not Brutus bootlefs kneel?

Casca. Speak, hands, for me.

[Casca stabs Caesar in the neck. Caesar catches

hold of his arm.

He is then stabb'd by se

veral other conspirators, and at last by Marcus Brutus.

Caes. Et tu, Brute:

Then fall, Caesar. [Dies. The senators and people retire in confusion.

Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! — Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!

Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted; Fly not; stand still: ambition's dept is paid. Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

Dec. And Cassius too.

Bru. Where's Publius?

Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of

Caesar's

Should chance

Bru. Talk not of standing;

cheer;

Publius, good

There is no harm intented to your person,
Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius.
Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the

people,

Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.

Bru. Do so;

But we the doers.

and let no man abide this deed,

Re-enter TREBONIUS.

Cas. Where is Antony?

Tre. Fled to his house amaz'd:

Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and

run,

As it were doomsday.

Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures: That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, And drawing days out, that men stand upon. Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of: life,

Cuts off so many years of fearing death.

Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridg'd His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans,

And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place;
And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
Let's all cry, Peace! Freedom! and Liberty!
Cas. Stoop then, and wash.
How many?

ages hence,

Shall this our lofty scene be acted over,
In states unborn, and accents yet unknown?
Bru. How many times shall Caesar bleed in
sport,

That now on Pompey's basis lies along,
No worthier than the dust?

Cas. So oft as that shall be,

So often shall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave our country liberty.
Dec. What, shall we forth?

Cas. Ay, every man away:

Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome,

Enter a Servant.

Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's..

Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;

Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say.
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Say, I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him, and lov'd
him.

If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolv'd
How Caesar hath deserv'd to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead
So well as Brutus living; but will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus,
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state,
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
I never thought him worse.

Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour,
Depart untouch'd.

Serv. I'll fetch him presently.

[Exit Servant.

Bru. I know, that we shall have him well to

friend.

Cas. I wish, we may:

: but yet have I a mind, That fears him much; and my misgiving still Falls shrewdly to the purpose.

Re-enter ANTONY.

Bru. But here comes Antony.

Mark Antony.

Welcome,

Ant. O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee

well.

I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,