This by Calphurnia's dream is sgnify'd. Here will I stand, 'till Cæsar pass along, Cæs. And this way liave you well expounded it. And as a suitor will I give himn this. SCENE IV. Another part of the same Street. Enter Portia, and Lucius. Why dost thou stay? Luc. To know my errand, madam. [gain, Por. I would have had thee there, and here a- Cæs. How foolish do your fears seem now, Cal O constancy, be strong upon my side! Seta huge inountain 'tween my heart and tongue ! I have a man's mind, but a woman's might. 20 Art thou here yet? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And so return to you, and nothing else? (well, Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. Luc. I hear none, madam. Por. Pr’ythee, listen well: And the wind brings it from the Capitol. Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing. Enter Soothsuyer. Por. Come hither, fellow : Which way hast 35 thou been: Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady. Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol ? [ Aside. Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Sooth. That I have, lady, if it will please Cæsar Cæs. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me : 45)I shall beseech bim to befriend himself. And we, like friends, will straightway go together. Por. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended Bru. That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, towards him? (fear may chance. The heart of Brutus yerns to think upon ! [Exeunt. Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: SCENE III. 50 The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels, Of senators, of prætors, common suitors, Will crowd a feeble man almost to death: . The heart of woman is ! O Brutus ! Say, I am merry: come to nie again, And bring me word what he doth say to thee. (Ercunt. with me; i. e. subordinate. i. e. the fates join with traitors in contriting thy destruction. ACT SCENE I. Into the lane' of children. Be not fond, To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, That will be thaw'd from the true quality With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet Flourish. Enter Cæsar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, 5 words, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Low-crooked cur'tsies, and base spaniel fawning. Lepidus, Artemidorus, Popilius, Publius, and Thy brother by decree is banished; the Soothsayer. If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn, for him, [ Cæs. THE ides of March are come. spurn thee like a cur out of my way: Sooth. Ay, Cæsar, but not gone. 10Knox, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause Art. Hail, Cæsar? Read this schedule. Will he be satisfied. Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my At your best leisure, this his humble suit. (suit own, Art. 0, Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear, That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar. 15|For the repealing of my banish'd brother? Cæs. What touches us ourself, shall be last Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; serv'd. Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Cæs. What, is the fellow mad? Cæs. What, Brutus ! Pub. Sirrah, give place. 1201 Cus. Pardon, Cæsar ; Cæsar, pardon: Cas. What urge you your petitions in the street ? As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, Come to the Capitol. To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. [Cæsar enters the Capitol, the rest following.] Cæs. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you ; Pop. I wish your enterprize to-day may thrive. If I could pray to move, prayers would move me: Cas. What enterprize, Popilius? 125 But I am constant as the northern star, Pop. Fare you well. Of whose true-fixt, and resting quality, Bru. What said Popilius Læna ? [thrive. There is no fellow in the firmament, Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, I fear, our purpose is discover'd. [him. They are all fire, and every one doth shine; Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark|30 But ihere's but one in all doth hold his place: Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. So, in the world ; 'Tis furnish'd well with men, Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, And men areflesh and blood, and apprehensive *; Cassius, or Cæsar, never shall turn back, Yet, in the number, I do know but one For I will slay myself. Chat unassailable holds on his rank, Bru. Cassius, be constant: 135 Unshak'd of motion : and, that I am he, Popilius Læna speaks not of our purposes; Let me a little shew it, even in this ; l'or, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, Cas. Trebonius knows his time ; for, look you, And constant do remain to keep him so. Brutus, Cin. O Cæsar, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. 40. Cæs. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus ? [E.xeunt Ant. and Treb. Dec. Great Casar,Dec. Where is Mictellus Cimber? Let him go, Cos. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. [him. Casca. Speak, hands, for me. Bru. He is addrest: press near, and second [They stab Cæsar. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rear your hand. 45 Cæs. Et tu, Brute ? Then fall, Cæsar! Cæs. Are we all ready? What is now amiss, [Dies. That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress ? Cin, Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Cæsar, Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, MetellusCimberthrows before thy seat [Kneeling. 50 “Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!" An humble heart : Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted; Cæs. I must prevent thee, Cimber. Fly not; stand still :--ambition's debt is paid. These couchings, and these lowly courtesies, Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus, Might fire the blood of ordinary men; Dec. And Cassius too. And turn pre-ordinance’, and first decree, 155) Bru. Where's Publius? 'i.e. he is ready. Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already established. 'Dr. Johnson proposes to read, "the law of children. That is, change pre-ordinance and decree into the law of children; into such slight determinations as every start of will would alter." : i. e. susceptible of fear, or other passions. Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. With all true faith. So says my master Antony. (Cæsar's I never thought himn worse. 5 He shall be satisfied; and, by my lionour, Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people, Bru. I know, that we shall have him well to friend. That fears him much'; and my misgiving still Falls shrewdly to the purpose. Re-enter Antony. Bru. But here comes Antony: -Welcome, Mark Antony Ant. O niighty Cæsar! Dost thou lie so low ? Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life,20 Who else must be let blood, who else is rank?: If I myself, there is no hour so fit rich As here by Cesar, and by you cut off, The choice and master spirits of this age. You see we do: yet see you but our hands, And this the bleeding business they have done; Our hearts you see not, they are pitiful; 40/(As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity) Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, Antony: Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts, [kneel; With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence'. ind then we will deliver you the cause, \Vhy I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him, Ant. I doubt not of your wisdoni, First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;- follow Now, Decius Brutus, yours;—now youis, Me- Jool Yours, Cinna ;--and, my valiant Casca, yours;- * i. e, who else is grown too high for the public safety. our arms, strong in the deed of malice they have just perforin’d, and our hearts Though tellus; 1 This 9 Brutus' mean Though last, not least in love, yours, good Tre. You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, bonius. But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar; Gentlemen, all, alas ! what shall I say? And say, you do't by our permission; In the same pulpit whereto I am going, Ant. Be it so; 10 Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes, [Ereunt Conspirators. Most noble! in the presence of thy corse? Manet Antony Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds, Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! It would become me better, than to close 15 Thou art the ruins of the noblest man, In terms of friendship with thine enemies. That ever lived in the tide ? of times. Paruon me, Julius !-Here wast thou bay'd, brave Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! hart; Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, Which, lihe dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, Sign’d in thy spoil, and crimson's in thy lethe. 20 To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue;() world! thou wast the forest to this härl; A curse shall light upon the limbs of men; And, this, indeed, () world, the heart of thee. Domestic fury, and fierce civil strife, How like a deer, strucken by many princes, Shall cumber all the parts of Italy: Dost thou here lie? Blood and destruction shall be so in use, Cas. Mark Antony, 125 And dreadful objects so familiar, Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius : That mothers shall but smile, when they behold The enemies of Cæsar shall say this; Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war; Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty. All pity choak'd with custom of fell deeds : Cus. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so; And Cæsar's spirit, ranging for revenge, But what compact mean you to have with us? 30 With Atè by his side, come hot from hell, Will you be prick'd in number of our friends; Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice, Or shall we on, and not depend on you? [indeed, Cry, Harock *, and let slip the dogs of war; Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, That this foul deed shall smell above the earth Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar. With carrion men, groaning for burial. Friends am I with you all, and love you all; 35 Enter a Serrant. Upon this hope, that you shall give ine reasons, You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Why, and wherein, Cæsar was dangerous. Serr. I do, Mark Antony: Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle: Ant. Cæsar did write for him, to come to Rome. Our reasons are so full of good regard, Sert. He did receive his letters, and is coming: That were you, Antony, the son of Cæsar, 40 And bid me say to you by word of mouth, You should be satisfied. o Cæsar! [Secing the body. Ant. That's all I seek : Ant. Thy heart is big; get thce apart and weep. And am moreover suitor, that I may Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes, Produce his body to the market-place; Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend, 43 Began to water. Is thy master coming ? Speak in the order of his funeral. Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Bru. You shall, Mark Antony. Rome, Chath chanc'd: Cas. Brutus, a word with you. Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what You know notwhat you do; Do not consent,[ Aside. Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, That Antony speak in his funeral : 50 No Rome of safety for Octavius yet; Know you how much the people may be mov'd Hie hence, and tell hiin so. Yet, stay a while; By that which he will utter? Thou shalt not back, 'till I have borne this corse Bru. By your pardon ; Into the market-place: there shall I try, I will myself into the pulpit first, In ny oration, how the people take And shew the reason of our Cæsar's death: 55 The cruel issue of these bloody men; What Antony shall speak, I will protest According to the which, thou shalt discourse He speaks by leave and by permission; To young Octavius of the state of things. And that we are contented, Cæsar shall Lend me your hand. [Exeunt, with Cæsar's body. Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies. SCENE II. It shall advantage more than do us wrong. 160 The Forum. Cos. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Enter Brutus, and Cassius, with the Plebeians, Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar's body. Pleb. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied. Lethe was a common French word, signifying death or destruction, from the Latin lethum, and used in that sense by many of the old translators of novels. ? i.e. the course of times. 3 Di. Johnson proposes to read, " these lymns of men;" that is, these bloodhounds of men. * See note', p. 792. Bru. Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, 2 Pleb. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks. i Pleb. Peace, ho! Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, And, for my sake, stay here with Antony: By our perın ssion is allow'd to inake. (do intreat you, not a man depart, 3 Pleb. Let him go up into the public chair; [Exit Cassius, twith some of the Plebeims : We'll hear him:--Noble Antony, go up. Brutus goes into the rostrum. Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am bého den to you. 3 Pleb. The noble Brutus is ascended: Silence! 4 Pleb. What does he say of Brutus: Bru. Be patient 'till the last. 13 3 Pleb. He says, for Brutus' sake, Romans, countrymen, and lovers! bear me for He finds himself beholden to us all. (here. my cause; and be silent, that you inay hear: bc 4 Pleb. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus lieve me for mine honour; and have respect to i Pleb. This Cæsar was a tyrant. mine honour, that you may believe: censure me 3 Pleb. Nay, that 's certain : in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you 20 We are blest, that Rome is rid of him. may the better judge. If there be any in this as 2 Pleb. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say. sembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say, Ant. You gentle Romans,that Brutus love to Cæsar was no less than his. If All. Peace, ho! let us hear hiin. [your carg; then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me Cesar , this is my answer,--Not that I lov'd Cæsar 25 I come to bury Cesar, not to praise him. The evil, that men do, lives after them; Here, uncier leave of Brutus, and the rest, 0 Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious ? Ambition should be made of sterner stull: [thrice presented him a kingly crown, him? O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts, ! My heart is in the coifin there with Cæsar, 160 i Pleb. Methinks, there is inuch season in his sayings. 2 Pleb. If thou consider rightly of the matter, 3 Pleb. Has he, masters? 4 Pleb. for a reply. suffered death. 4 Pleb. Cæsar's better parts Bru. My countrymen,- |