That play'st so subtly with a king's repose; Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave, 50 Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep, What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace, Citizens. From JULIUS CAESAR. [1601?] Act III. Scene II. The Forum. Enter Brutus and Cassius, and a throng of Citizens. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied. Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends. Cassius, go you into the other street, And part the numbers. 6 Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here; Those that will follow Cassius, go with him; And public reasons shall be rendered Of Cæsar's death. First Cit. I will hear Brutus speak. Sec. Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, 10 When severally we hear them rendered. (Exit Cassius, with some of the Citizens. Brutus goes into the pulpit.) Third Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended: silence! Bru. Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause; and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine 15 honour, 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 20 Rome more. 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 honour him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his ambition. 25 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. Citizens. None, Brutus, none. 30 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 Cæsar's body.) Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who, though he had no 35 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. All. Live, Brutus! live, live! 40 First Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. Sec. Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. Third Cit. Let him be Cæsar. Fourth Oit. Shall be crown'd in Brutus. Cæsar's better parts First Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours. 45 Bru. My countrymen, Sec. Oit. First Cit. Peace, ho! Peace, silence! Brutus speaks. Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, And, for my sake, stay here with Antony: Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech 50 Tending to Cæsar's glories, which Mark Antony, By our permission, is allow'd to make. 55 I do entreat you, not a man depart, Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. First Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. Third 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. Herrig-Förster, British Authors. (Goes into the pulpit.) 3 (Exit.) 60 65 Fourth Cit. What does he say of Brutus? He finds himself beholding to us all. He says, for Brutus' sake, harm of Brutus here. Nay, that's certain: We are blest that Rome is rid of him. Citizens. Peace, ho! let us hear him. Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; 75 So are they all, all honourable men, And Brutus is an honourable man. 80 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: 85 Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? 90 Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And, sure, he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, 100 And men have lost their reason! Bear with me; And I must pause till it come back to me. First Cit. Methinks there is much reason in his sayings. Third Cit. Has he, masters? I fear there will a worse come in his place. Fourth Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown; 105 Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious. 110 First Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it. Sec. Oit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world: now lies he there, O masters, if I were disposed to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, 115 I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong, Who, you all know, are honourable men: I will not do them wrong; I rather choose 120 But here's a parchment with the seal of Cæsar; Let but the commons hear this testament And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds 125 And dip their napkins in his sacred blood, Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, 130 And, dying, mention it within their wills, Unto their issue. Fourth Oit. We'll hear the will read it, Mark Antony. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cæsar loved you. You are not wood, you are not stones, but men; And, being men, hearing the will of Cæsar, 135 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! 140 145 Fourth Oit. 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 awhile? I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it. I fear I wrong the honourable men Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar; 1 do fear it. Fourth Oit. They were traitors: honourable men! Citizens. The will! the testament! Sec. Oit. They were villains, murderers. the will! read the will. 150 Shall I descend? and will you give me leave? 155 Fourth Oit. A ring; stand round. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. 160 You all do know this mantle: I remember The first time ever Cæsar put it on; Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through: For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel: For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. 190 195 Sec. Cit. O noble Cæsar! Third Cit. O woful day! Sec. Oit. We will be revenged. All. Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay! Let not a traitor live! First Cit. Peace there! hear the noble Antony. Sec. Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him. Ant. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up |