a

And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. [him.
Bru. He is address'd: press near, and second
Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
1 Casca. Are we all ready?
Cæs.
What is now amiss,
That Cæsar and his senate must redress? [Cæsar,
Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart.-
[Kneeling.
Cas.
I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These crouchings, 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 Cæsar bears such rebel blood,
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words,
3 Low-crouched courtesies, and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished:

b

If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.

Met. Is there no voice, more worthy than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear,
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Cas. What, Brutus! Cas.

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

Cas. 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 rank,
Unshak'd of motion: and, that I am he,
Let me a little show it, even in this,

That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, And constant do remain to keep him so. Cin. O Cæsar!Cas. Dec. Great Cæsar,Cas. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Casca. Speak, hands, for me. [CASCA stabs CESAR in the Neck. CESAR catches hold of his Arm. He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and last by MARCUS BRUTUS. Cæs. Et tu, Brute?-Then fall, Cæsar.

Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?

[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 debt 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 Cæsar's Should chance

Bru. Talk not of standing.-Publius, good cheer:
There is no harm intended 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:-and let no man abide this deed,
But we, the doers.

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.

That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, Fates, we will know your pleasures.— And drawing days out, that men stand upon.

Casca. 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 Cæsar's friends, that have abridg'd His time of fearing death.-Stoop, Romans, stoop, And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar'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 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 The men that gave their 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; 5 [Kneeling.

Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down,
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say.
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say, I love Brutus, and I honor him;
Say, I fear'd Cæsar, honor'd him, and lov'd him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolv'd
How Cæsar hath deserv'd to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Cæsar 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.

[Rising.

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 honor,
Depart untouch'd.

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
Cas. I wish, we may; but yet have I a mind,
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.

Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming, And bid me say to you by word of mouth,O Cæsar!

[Seeing the body. Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep. Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes, Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, Began to water. Is thy master coming?

Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd.

Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet:

Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay a while;
Thou shalt not back, till I have borne his corse
Into the market-place: there shall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men;
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius of the state of things.

Lend me your hand. [Exeunt, with CESAR's Body.

SCENE II.-The Same. The Forum.

who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this I depart; that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. 3 All. Live, Brutus! live! live!

1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. 3 Cit. Let him be Cæsar. 4 Cit.

Cæsar's better parts [and clamors. 1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts Bru. My countrymen,—

Shall now be crown'd in Brutus.

2 Cit.

1 Cit. Peace, ho!

Peace! silence! Brutus speaks.

Of Cæsar's death.

2 Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their When severally we hear them rendered. [reasons,

[Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Citizens. BRUTUS goes into the Rostrum.

3 Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence! Bru. Be patient till the last.

more.

Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause, and be silent that you may hear: believe me for mine. honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe: censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cæsar was no less than his. If, then, that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cæsar? this is my answer, -not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves, than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæsar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honor for his valor; and death for his ambition. Who is here so base, that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile, that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply. All. None, Brutus, none.

Bru. Then, none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar, than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy, nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death.

Enter ANTONY and others, with CESAR's Body. Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony:

•Lover and friend were formerly synonymous.

[Exit.

1 Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Cit. Let him go up into the public chair: We'll hear him.-Noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you. 4 Cit. What does he say of Brutus? 3 Cit. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholding to us all.

4 Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. 1 Cit. This Cæsar was a tyrant.

3 Cit.

Nay, that's certain. We are bless'd, that Rome is rid of him. 2 Cit. Peace! let us hear what Antony can say. Ant. You gentle Romans,Cit. Peace, ho! let us hear him. Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. [ears: The evil that men do lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bones: So let it be with Cæsar. The noble Brutus Hath told you, Cæsar was ambitious: If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Cæsar answer'd it. Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest, (For Brutus is an honorable man, So are they all, all honorable men) Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says, he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man. You all did see, that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; And, sure, he is an honorable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love him once, not without cause: What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him? O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason.-Bear with me;

Was this ambition?

My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar,

b Friend.

And I must pause till it come back to me.

[ings. 1 Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his say2 Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar has had great wrong.

3 Cit.

Has he, masters?

I fear, there will a worse come in his place.

Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious.

1 Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it. 2 Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. [Antony. 3 Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome than 4 Cit. Now mark him; he begins again to speak. Ant. But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world: now, lies he there, And none so poor to do him a reverence. O masters! if I were dispos'd to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong, Who, you all know, are honorable men. I will not do them wrong: I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself, and you, Than I will wrong such honorable men. But here's a parchment with the seal of Cæsar; I found it in his closet, 'tis his will: Let but the commons hear this testament, (Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,) And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds, And dip their napkins in his sacred blood; Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, And, dying, mention it within their wills, Bequeathing it, as a rich legacy, Unto their issue.

4 Cit. We'll hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony. All. The will, the will! we will hear Cæsar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends; I must not

read it:

It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men,
And, being men, hearing the will of Cæsar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad.
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs ;
For if you should, O! what would come of it?
4 Cit. Read the will! we'll hear it, Antony;
You shall read us the will: Cæsar's will!

Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay a while?
I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it.
I fear, I wrong the honorable men,
Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar: I do fear it.
4 Cit. They were traitors: honorable men!
All. The will! the testament!

2 Cit. They were villains, murderers. The will! read the will.

Ant. You will compel me, then, to read the will? Then, make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar, And let me show you him that made the will. Shall I descend? and will you give me leave? All. Come down.

2 Cit. Descend.

3 Cit. You shall have leave. 4 Cit. A ring! stand round.

[He comes down.

1 Cit. Stand from the hearse; stand from the body. 2 Cit. Room for Antony;-most noble Antony! Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. All. Stand back! room! bear back!

Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle: I remember The first time ever Cæsar put it on; 'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,

That is, The meanest man is above doing reverence to Cæsar., Handkerchiefs.

If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;
For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel:
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar lov'd him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all;
For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;
And in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
O! now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls! what! weep you, when you but behold
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
1 Cit. O piteous spectacle!

2 Cit. O noble Cæsar!

3 Cit. O woful day!

4 Cit. O traitors! villains!
1 Cit. O most bloody sight!

All. We will be revenged. Revenge! abort,— seek,-burn,-fire,-kill,-slay!-let not a traitor

live.

Ant. Stay, countrymen. [They are rushing out. 1 Cit. Peace there! hear the noble Antony.

2 Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him. [you up

Ant. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir To such a sudden flood of mutiny.

They that have done this deed are honorable:
What private 'griefs they have, alas! I know not,
That made them do it; they are wise and honorable,
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:
I am no orator, as Brutus is,

But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend; and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him.
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
I tell you that, which you yourselves do know,
Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor, poor dumb
mouths,

And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Cæsar, that should move
The sones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
All. We'll mutiny.

[what

1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus. 3 Cit. Away then! come, seek the conspirators. Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak. All. Peace, ho! Hear Antony; most noble Antony. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves? Alas! you know not :-I must tell you, then. You have forgot the will I told you of.

[will.

All. Most true;-the will:-let's stay, and hear the

"Caesar's angel," i. e., his guardian angel, or the being in whom he most trusted. Stroke.- Defaced; destroyedGrievances.