Re-enter TREBONIUS. Cas. Where's Antony? Tre. Fled to his house amaz'd. Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, As it were doomsday. Bru. Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: 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 Cæsar 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 Cas. Ay, every man away: Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels Enter a Servant. Bru. Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel; 7 In STATES unborn,] The first folio has, state; corrected in the second folio. Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down, Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit Servant. Bru. I know, that we shall have him well to friend. That fears him much, and my misgiving still Re-enter ANTONY. Bru. But here comes Antony.-Welcome, Mark Antony. Ant. O mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low? I know not, gentlemen, what you intend, As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument Of half that worth, as those your swords, made rich VOL. VII. E With the most noble blood of all this world. I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard, Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years, I shall not find myself so apt to die : No place will please me so, no mean of death, Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, In the disposing of new dignities. Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him, Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand: you; First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you ;- Now, Decius Brutus, yours;-now yours, Metellus ;- My credit now stands on such slippery ground, That one of two bad ways you must conceit me, That I did love thee, Cæsar, O! 'tis true: If, then, thy spirit look upon us now, Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death, In terms of friendship with thine enemies. Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart; Dost thou here lie? Cas. Mark Antony! Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius: The enemies of Cæsar shall say this; Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so, Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed, Sway'd from the point by looking down on Cæsar. Friends am I with you all, and love you all, Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons, Our reasons are so full of good regard, - the heart of thee.] Coleridge (Lit. Remains, vol. ii. p. 140) gives it as his decided opinion, that this and the preceding line were not by Shakespeare, but interpolated by some player of the part of Antony. Upon the same rule we might arbitrarily reject many other passages. That were you, Antony, the son of Cæsar, Ant. That's all I seek: And am moreover suitor, that I may Produce his body to the market-place; Bru. You shall, Mark Antony. Cas. Brutus, a word with you. You know not what you do: do not consent, Know you how much the people may be mov'd By that which he will utter? Bru. By your pardon; And show the reason of our Cæsar's death: Cas. I know not what may fall: I like it not. Ant. I do desire no more. Be it so; Bru. Prepare the body, then, and follow us. [Exeunt all but ANTONY. Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Thou art the ruins of the noblest man, |