Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the SENATORS rise. Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. Cas. What enterprise, Popilius ? Pop. Fare you well. Bru. What said Popilius Lena ? [Advances to CÆSAR. Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprise might thrive. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. Bru. Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. CESAR and the SENATORS take their seats. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, Bru. He is address'd:* press near and second him. That Cæsar, and his senate must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar, Cas. I must prevent thee, Cimber. That will be thaw'd from the true quality With that which melteth fools; I mean sweet words, Thy brother by decree is banish'd; If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, Know, Cæsar doth not wrong: nor without cause 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. * Ready. [Kneeling. † Ordinance already established. Cas. What, Brutus! Cas. Pardon, Cæsar, Cæsar pardon: To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd, Cin. O Cæsar, Cas. Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus? Cæs. 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 at last by MARCUS BRUTUS. Cæs. Et tu, Brute t―Then, fall, Cæsar. [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. Bru. Talk not of standing; Publius, good cheer; Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people, Re-enter TREBONIUS. Cas. Where's Antony? * Intelligent. † And thou, Brutus! Tre. Fled to his house amazed: Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures:- 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 The men that gave our country liberty. 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. Say, I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him, and loved him. Tell him, so please him come unto this place, *Steep yourselves in Cæsar's blood. Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit SERV. 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. As Cæsar's death hour; nor no instrument Of half that worth, as those your swords, made rich I do beseech ye, if ye bear me hard, Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, 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, To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony: In the disposing of new dignities. Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeased The multitude, beside themselves with fear, And then we will deliver you the cause, 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: First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you :- Now, Decius Brutus, yours;-now yours, Metellus; *Grown too high. My credit now stands on such slippery ground, That I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true: 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 heart; Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy Lethe. O world! thou wast the forest to this hart; And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.- Cas. Mark Antony, Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius: The enemies of Cæsar shall say this; Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so; But what compact mean you to have with us? Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons, Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle: Our reasons are so full of good regard, Ant. That's all I seek: And am moreover suitor, that I may You know not what you do; Do not consent, That Antony speak in his funeral: Know you how much the people may be moved Bru. By your pardon ; I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Cæsar's death: What Anthony shall speak, I will protest He speaks by leave and by permission; Aside. |