FIRST CITIZEN.
I would hear BRUTUS speak.
SECOND CITIZEN.
I'll follow CASSIUS.
And we'll compare together what they say.
THIRD CITIZEN.
The noble BRUTUS is afcended: Silence!
Friends, dearest Countrymen, and worthy Romans;
You Lovers of your Laws and Liberties;
Hear me throughout with Patience, not with Paffion:
For, tho' your kindness is my chief Contentment,
I would not owe your judgment of this Deed
To any thing but Reafon well inform'd.
Who is it here thinks CESAR innocent?
I was his Friend, and yet I thought him guilty;
And Faults are great, which Friends cannot forgive.
Why should I kill him then but for your fakes?
A Wretch who yields a Limb to be cut off,
Does only that to fave a Life that's dearer :
And when a grieving Parent whips his Child,
Call it Correction, but not Cruelty.
If then the very beft of CESAR's Friends.
Shou'd ask me why I kill'd him? Thus I anfwer:
It was not that I lov'd him less than he,
But 'twas because I lov'd my Country more.
Wou'd you have CÆSAR live, and die all Slaves;
Rather than have him dead, to live all Freemen ?
As CÆSAR lov'd me, oh I weep for him;
As he was fortunate, I can rejoice;
As he was valiant, I honour him;
But, as he was Ambitious, I flew him.
Who's here fo bafe, as would become a Bondman !
If any, fpeak; for him I have offended.
Who's here fo rude, that would not be a Roman?
If any, fpeak; for him I have offended.
Who's here fo vile, to value any thing,
Ev'n his best Friend, before the Publick Good?
I own, nay boast, I have offended him.
What fay you, Countrymen?
CITIZEN.
None, BRUTUS, none.
Then none have I offended by his Death.
The Reason for it fhall be fair enroll'd;
His Glory not diminifh'd in the leaft.
Here comes his Body, mourn'd by good ANTONIUS.
Enter ANTONY with the Body of CESAR.
Who, tho' a Friend of CÆSAR, is ours too;
And fo has leave to bury him with Honour.
In a Free Government all fhould be Friends:
And he, who would have fav'd this CÆSAR's Life,
Shall yet receive advantage by his Death,
Freedom of Vote in governing the World:
As which of you fhall want it? I conclude;
That, as I flew my Friend to fave my Country,
I here have the fame Dagger for my self,
Whenever Rome fhall wifh, or need my Death.
[Defcends.
Live, BRUTUS, live: bring him in Triumph home.
SECOND CITIZEN.
Give him a Statue by his Ancestors.
THIRD CITIZEN.
CÆSAR was nothing to him?
Let him be crown'd, I will have BRUTUS Crown'd.
Hold, worthy Countrymen.
FIRST CITIZEN.
SECOND CITIZEN.
Peace; for BRUTUS fpeaks again.
You'll make me draw this Dagger once again;
But 'tis against my felf; for I would die
Your Fellow-Friend, rather than live your Lord.
You almost make me wifh CASAR alive:
If one muft rule, there's none could do it better.
Pray hear MARC ANTONY, for my fake hear him;
He speaks by our Permiffion, and is noble.
But, while he praises CÆSAR, then remember
I honour'd him as much, but lov'd you more.
Nay, ftay good Romans; not a Man go with me.'
[Exit.
This CÆSAR was a Tyrant; BRUTUS fays fo;
And no Man living knows a Tyrant better.
SECOND CITIZEN.
For, Neighbours, why should BRUTUS kill him else? He lov'd him. Therefore fure he was a Tyrant.
THIRD CITIZEN.
Notably faid! answer me that who can.
But come, let's hear MARC ANTONY a little.
For BRUTUS' fake I am beholden to you.
What's that of BRUTUS? beft fpeak well of BRUTUS.
How's this? What does he fay, for BRUTUS' fake?
THIRD CITIZEN.
He fays, for BRUTUS' fake he is beholden to us.
SECOND CITIZEN.
Oh, very well; go up, MARC ANTONY.
Shall I go up, and will you give me leave?
Friends, Countrymen, and Romans, hear me gently;
I come to bury CÆSAR, not to praise him.
Lo here the fatal End of all his Glory :
The Evil that Men do, lives after them;
The Good is often bury'd in their Graves 3
So let it be with CESAR. Noble BRUTUS
Has told you CÆSAR was ambitious:
If he was fo, then he was much to blame ;
And he has dearly paid for his Offence.
Here, under leave of BRUTUS and the reft,
I come to do my duty to dead CÆSAR.
He was my Friend, faithful and juft to me;
But yet it seems he was Ambitious.
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