Will you be prick'd in number of our friends,
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed,
Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæfar.
Friends am I with you all, and love you all;
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons,
Why, and wherein Cæfar was dangerous.

Bru. Or else this were a savage spectacle.
Our reasons are so full of good regard,
That were you, Antony, the Son of Cæfar,
You should be facisfied.

Ant. That's all I seek
And am moreover suitor, that I may
Produce his body to the Market-place,
And in the Pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.
Bru. You shall, Mark Antony.

Caf. Brutus, a word with you.
You know not what you do; do not consent, [Afde.
That Antony speak in his funeral :
Know you, how much the People may be moy'd
By. That which he will utter?

Bru. By your pardon,
I will my self into the Pulpit first,
And shew the reason of our Cæfar's death.
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave, and by permission;
And that we are contented, Cæfar shall
Have all due rites, and lawful ceremonies :
It shall advantage more, than do us wrong.

Caf. I know not what may fall, I like it not.

Bru. Mark Antony, here take you Cæsar's body:
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Cæfar;
And fay, you do't by our permission :
Elle fall you not have any hand at all
About his Funeral. And you shall speak
In the same Pulpit whereto I ain going,
After my speech is ended.
Ant. Be it fo;

i do defire no more.
· Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.

[Exeunt Conspirators.

Manet Antony Ant. O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth! That I am meek and gentle with these butchers. Thou art the ruins of the noblest Man, That ever lived in the tide of times. Woe to the hand, that thed this costly blood! Over thy wounds now do I prophesie, (Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue) A curfe shall light upon the limbs of men; Domestick fury, and fierce civil ftrife, Shall cumber all the parts of Italy; Blood and destruction shall be so in use, And dreadful objects so familiar, That mothers shall but smile, when they behold Their infants quarter'd by the hands of war. All pity choak'd with custom of fell deeds ; And Cefar's Spirit, ranging for revenge, With Até by his fide come hot from Hell, Shall in these confines, with a Monarch's voice, Cry Havock, and let slip the Dogs of war; That this foul deed shall smell above the earth With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Enter Octavius's Servant.
You serve Oétavius Cæfar, do you not?

Ser. I do, Mark Antony.
Ant. Cæfar did write for him to come to Rome.

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

[Seeing the body. Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart

and

weep; Passion I see is catching; for mine eyes, (21) Seeing those Beads of sorrow stand in thine,

Began (21) Seeing those Beds of Sorrow ) Thus Mr. Pope's two Editions, for what Reason I know not: but I have reford from all the other

Copies,

Began to water. Is thy Master coming ?

Ser. He lyes to night within feven leagues of Rome. . Ant. Poft back with speed, and tell him what hath

chanc'd. Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, No Rome of safety for Oétavius yet Hie hence, and tell him fo. Yet stay a while ; Thou shalt noc back, 'till I have borne this corse Into the Market-place : there shall I try In my Oration, how the People take The cruel issue of these bloody mens According to the which, thou shalt discourse To young Ottavius of the state of things Lend me your hand. [Exeunt with Cæsar's body,

SCENE changes to the Forum. Enter Brutus, and mounts the Roftra ; Caffius, with

the Plebeians. Pleb. E will be satisfied, let us be satisfied,

Bru. Then follow me, and give me au

dience, friends.
Caffius, go you into the other ftreet,
And part the numbers :
Those, that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here;
Those, that will follow Casius, go with him;
And publick reasons shall be rendered
Of Cæfar's death.

i Pleb. I will hear Brutus speak.

2 Pleb. I will hear Caffius, and compare their reasons, When sev’rally we hear them rendered,

(Exit Caffius, with some of the Plebeians. Copies, Beads; which was certainly the Poet's Word. Thus Lady Conflance in King Jobn;' ;

I; with these cryftal Beads Hean'n Mall be bribd

To do bim fuffice, and Revenge on You.
And fo Lady Percy in the 1. Henry IV.

Thy Spirit within thee hath been so at War,
And thus hath fo beftir'd thee in thy Sleepa
I hat Beads of Sweat have stood upon thy Brow.

WE

3 Pleb.

3 Pleb. The noble Brutus is ascended: filence! Bru. Be patient 'till the last.

Romans, Country-men, 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 wife, dom, 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's love to Cefar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cæfar, this is my Answer : Not that I lov'd. Cæfar less, but that I lov'd Rome more. Had you rather Cefar were living, and dye all flaves ; than that Cæfar were dead, to live all free-men? As Cæfar lov'd 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 flew him. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death for his ambition. Who's here so base, that would be a bond-man? if any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude, that would not be a Roman? if any, speaks for him have I of fended. Who is here so vile, that will not love his Country ? if any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a Reply

Al. None, Brutus, none.

Bru. Then none have I offended. - I have done no more to Cæfar, than you shall do to Bratus. The question of his death is inroll'd in the Capitol ; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy ; nor his offences enforc'd, for which he suffered death.

Enter Mark Antony with Cæsar's body. Here comes his body, mourn’d by Mark Antony, 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 my self, when it shall please my Country to need my death.

All

1

All. Live, Brutus, live! live! i Pleb. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Pleb. Give him a statue with his Ancestors. 3

Pleb. Let him be Cæfar. 4 Pleb. Cæsar's better Parts Shall be crown'd in Brutus.

i Pleb. We'll bring him to his house With shouts and clamours.

Bru. My Countrymen.
2 Pleb. Peace! filence! Brutus speaks.
1 Pleb. Peace, ho!

Bru. Good Countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my fake, stay here with Antony;
Do grace to Cæfar's corps, and grace his speech
Tending to Cæsar's Glories; which Mark Antony
By our permission is allow'd to make.
I do intreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

[Exit. 1 Pleb. Stay, ho, and let us hear Mark Antony. 13 Pleb. Let him go up into the publick Chair, We'll hear him: noble Antony, go up:

Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you: 4 Pleb. What does he say of Brutus ?

3 Pleb. He says, for Brutus' sake He finds himself beholden to us all.

4 Pleb. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. i Pleb. This Cesar was a Tyrant.

3 Pleb. Nay, that's certain;
We are blest, that Rome is rid of him.

2 Pleb. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say.
Ant. You gentle Romans
All. Peace, ho, let us hear him.

Ant. Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears ;
I come to bury Cæfar, not to praise him.
The Evil, that men do, lives after them;
The Good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Cæfar! noble Brutus
Hath told you, Cæfar was ambitious;
If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously hath Cæfar answer'd it.

Here,