I know not, gentlemen, what you intend, 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; richUpon this hope, that you shall give me reasons, Why, and wherein, Cæsar was dangerous. As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd Ant. Gentlemen all,-alas! what shall I say? That I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true: Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle: Ant. Brutus, a word with you. [Aside. That Antony speak in his funeral: Bru. By your pardon ;- Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Ant. I desire no more. Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. Ant. O, pardon me, thou piece of bleeding earth, That mothers shall but smile, when they behold Cas. Mark Antony,- Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so; (1) Grown too high for the public safety. You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome. (4) To let slip a dog at a deer, &c. was the Course. (3) The signal for giving no quarter. Il technical phrase of Shakspeare's time. And bid me say to you by word of mouth,- Rome. Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd: Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay a while; When severally we hear them rendered. [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. 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 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 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, 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. 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. Cit. None, Brutus, none. [Several speaking at once. Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar, than you should 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. (1) Friends. 2 Cit. I do entreat you, not a man depart, [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 beholden to you. 4 Cit. What does he say of Brutus? 3 Cit. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholden to us all. 4 Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. 1 Cit. This Cæsar was a tyrant. Nay, that's certain: Cit. I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, I I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. 1 Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it. 2 Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. B Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than Antony. 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 poor1 to do him 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 honourable men: I will not do them wrong; I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, Than I will wrong such honourable 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 napkins2 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. 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. Cit. Stand back! room! bear back! Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle : I remember 2 Cit. O noble Cæsar! 3 Cit. O woful day! 4 Cit. O traitors, villains! 1 Cit. O most bloody sight! 2 Cit. We will be revenged: revenge; about, | seek,-burn,-fire,-kill,-slay !-let not a traitor 4 Cit. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Antony.live. read it; It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd you. Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay a while? 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? Cit. Come down. 2 Cit. Descend. Ant. Stay, countrymen. 1 Cit. Peace there:-Hear the noble Antony. 2 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 To such a sudden flood of mutiny. They, that have done this deed, are honourable; And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you. But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, mouths, And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus, [He comes down from the pulpit. Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue 3 Cit. You shall have leave. 4 Cit. A ring; stand round. In every wound of Cæsar, that should move (3) Statua for statue, is common among the old (1) The meanest man is now too high to do writers. reverence to Cæsar. (2) Handkerchiefs. (4) Was successful. (6) Grievances. (5) Impression. The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny. Cit. We'll mutiny. 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. Cit. Peace,ho! Hear Antony,most noble Antony. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what: 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 Cit. Most true;-the will;-let's stay, and hear the will. Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man, seventy-five drachmas. ! 2 Cit. Most noble Cæsar!-we'll revenge his death. Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Ant. Where is he? Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house. Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him: He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry, And in this mood will give us any thing. Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome. Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the people, How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A street. Enter Cinna, the Poet. Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feast with And things unluckily charge my phantasy: Yet something leads me forth. Enter Citizens. 1 Cit. What is your name? 2 Cit. Whither are you going? 3 Cit. Where do you dwell? 4 Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 2 Cit. Answer every man directly. 1 Cit. Ay, and briefly. .4 Cit. Ay, and wisely. 3 Cit. Ay, and truly, you were best. Cin. What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married man, or a (1) Greek coin. VOL. II. bachelor? Then to answer every man directly, and briefly, wisely, and truly, Wisely I say, I am a bachelor. 2 Cit. That's as much as to say, they are fools that marry:-You'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly. Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral. 2 Cit. That matter is answer'd directly. Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna. 1 Cit. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator. Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 4 Cit. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses. 2 Cit. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. 3 Cit. Tear hin, tear him. Come, brands, ho! fire-brands. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius':-away; go. [Exeunt. The Capitol. you Or here, or at [Exit Lepidus. Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man, Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit, The three-fold world divided, he should stand One of the three to share it? Oct. So you thought him; And took his voice who should be prick'd to die, In our black sentence and proscription. Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you; And though we lay these honours on this man, To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads, He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold; To groan and sweat under the business, Either led or driven, as we point the way; And having brought our treasure where we will, Then take we down his load, and turn him off, Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears, And graze in commons. Oct. You may do your will, But he's a tried and valiant soldier. Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and, for that, I do appoint him store of provender. It is a creature that I teach to fight, To wind, to stop, to run directly on; (3) Condemn. (2) Set, mark. 2 X His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit. He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth: Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men, Our best friends made, and our best means stretch'd out; And let us presently go sit in council, Oct. Let us do so; for we are at the stake, And bay'd' about with many enemies; And some, that smile, have in their hearts, I fear, Millions of mischief. [Exeunt. SCENE II-Before Brutus's tent, in the camp near Sardis. Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, Lucius, and Soldiers: Titinius and Pindarus meeting them. Bru. Stand here. Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand. Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near? Luc. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master. [Pindarus gives a letter to Brutus. Bru. He greets me well.-Your master, Pindarus, In his own change, or by ill officers, Pin. I do not doubt, Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius: How he receiv'd you, let me be resolved. Luc. With courtesy, and with respect enough; But not with such familiar instances, Nor with such free and friendly conference, As he hath us'd of old. Thou hast describ'd Bru. There are no tricks in plain and simple faith: Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be Bru. Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies? And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother? Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs; And when you do themBru. Cassius, be content, Speak your griefs3 softly,-I do know you well:Before the eyes of both our armies here, Which should perceive nothing but love from us, Let us not wrangle: Bid them move away; Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs, And I will give you audience. Cas. Pindarus, Bid our commanders lead their charges off A little from this ground. Bru. Lucilius, do the like; and let no man Come to our tent, till we have done our conference. Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door. [Exeunt. SCENE III-Within the tent of Brutus. Lucius and Titinius, at some distance from it. Enter Brutus and Cassius. Cas. That you have wrong'd me, doth appear in this : You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella, Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, And not for justice? What, shall one of us, That struck the foremost man of all this world, But for supporting robbers; shall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes? And sell the mighty space of our large honours, For so much trash, as may be grasped thus?— I had rather be a dog, and bays the moon, quar-Than such a Roman. Cas. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, To hedge me in ;6 I am a soldier, I, Older in practice, abler than yourself To make conditions.7 [March within. Hark, he is arriv'd ; Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. (1) As a thing at our disposal. (2) Surrounded, baited. (3) Grievances. |