Our reasons are so full of good regard,
That were you, Antony, the son of Cæsar,
You should be satisfied.
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.
Cas.

Brutus, a word with you.You know not what you do; Do not consent,

(Aside.)

That Antony speak in his funeral :
Know you how much the people may be mov'd
By that which he will utter?
Bru.

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

Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body. You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar; And say you do 't by permission; Else shall you not have any hand at all About his funeral: And you shall speak In the same pulpit whereto I am going, After my speech is ended.

Ant.

Be it so;

I do desire no more.
Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.
[Exeunt all but Antony.
Ant. O pardon me, thou piece of bleeding 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 shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,-
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue;—
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury, and fierce civil strife,
Stall cumber all the parts of Italy:
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects so familiar,

Taat mothers shall but smile, when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
AL pity choak'd with custom of fell deed:
And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Até by his side, come hot from hell,
Stall in these confines, with a monarch's voice,
Cry Havoc, and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Enter a Servant.

You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Serv. I do, Mark Antony.

Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome. Sere. He did receive his letters, and is coming : Ard bid me say to you by word of mouth,O Cesar!(Seeing the body.) Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep, Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes, Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, Began to water. Is thy master coming? (Rome. Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what

hath chanc'd:

Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;

He hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay a while;
Taon shalt not back, till I have borne this corse
Ito the market place: there shall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
The crael issue of these bloody men;

373

reasons,

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.

Romaus, 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 Caesar 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, 1 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.

Enter ANTONY and others, with Cæsar's body. Here comes his body, mourned 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 saine dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live!

[house. 1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his 2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. 3 Cit. Let him be Cæsar. 4 Cit.

Cæsar's better parts

Shall now be crown'd in Brutus.

1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.

Bru. My countrymen,—

2 Cit. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks.

I do entreat yon, not a man depart, Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

[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 Brutns' sake. He finds himself beholden to us all.

4 Cit. Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. I Cit. This Casar was a tyrant. 3 Cit. Nay, that's certain: We are bless'd, that Rome is rid of him. 2 Cit. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say. Ant. You gentle Romans,Cit.

Peace, ho ! let us hear him. Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your

ears:

I come to bury Casar, 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 Cæsar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you, Cæsar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest,
(For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all; all honourable men;)
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me :
But Brutus says, he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.

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, Casar hath wept ;
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says, he was ambitions;

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?
Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.

I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?
O judgment, thon art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason : - Bear with me;
My heart is in the coflin there with Cæsar,
And I must pause, till it come back to me.

1 Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his sayings.

2 Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar has had great wrong.

3 Cit.

Has he, masters?

I fear, there will a worse come in his place. 4 Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take

the crown ;

Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitions.

1 Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it." 2 Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. [Antony. 3 Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than 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 poor 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 yon, Than I will wrong such honourable men. But here's a parchment, with the seal of Casar, 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,)

4 Cit. We'll hear the will : Read it, Mark Antony. Cit. The will, the will; we will hear Cæsar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;

It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
And, being men, hearing the will of Casar,
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!

4 Cit. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony: You shall read us the will; Caesar's will.

Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay a while? I have o'ershot myself, to tell you of it. fear, I wrong the honourable men,

Whose daggers have stabb'd Casar: I do fear it. 4 Cit. They were traitors: Honourable men ! Cit. The will! the testament!

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 Casar, And let me shew you him that made the will. Shall I descend? And will you give me leave? Cit. Come down.

2 Cit. Descend. (He comes down from the pulpit. 3 Cit. You shall have leave.

4 Cit. A ring; stand round.

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 of

Cit. Stand back ! room ! bear back !

Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Cæsar put in on;
'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent;
That day he overcame the Nervii:-

Look ! in this place ran Cassius' dagger through:
See, what a rent the envions Casca made:
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;
And, as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Cæsar follow'd it;
As rushing out of doors, to be resolv'd
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel:
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar lov'd him?
This was the most unkindest cut of all:
For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell
O what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
0. now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what, weep you, when you
but behold
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
1 Cit. piteous spectacle!

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 Ant. Stay, countrymen. live.

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 sta

you up

To such a sudden flood of mutiny.

They, that have done this deed, are honourable;
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it; they are wise and honourable,
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts;
I am no orator, as Brutus is:

Bat, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend; and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him.
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
I tell you that, which you yourselves do know;
Shew you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor dumb
mouths,

And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
la every wound of Cæsar, that should move
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.
Ast. 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.

Sere. 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.
Sere. 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 Cæsar, And things unluckily charge my fantasy: have no will to wander forth of doors,

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 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. 1 Cit. As a friend, or an enemy?

Cin. As a friend.

2 Cit. That matter is answered directly.

4 Cit. For your dwelling,-briefly.

Cin. Briefly I dwell by the Capitol. 3 Cit. Your name, sir, truly.

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.

Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator.

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 him, 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.

ACT IV. SCENE I.-The same. A Room in Antony's House. ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a table.

Ant. These many then shall die; their names are prick'd. [Lepidus? Oct. Your brother too must die; Consent you, Lep. I do consent.

(him.

Oct. Prick him down, Antony. Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live, Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony. Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house; Fetch the will hither, and we determine. How to cut off some charge in legacies. Lep. What, shall I find you here? Oct. The Capitol.

Or here, or at [Exit Lepidus. Ant. This 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 common.

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;

His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.

And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;

He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth:

Pin.

I do not doubt,

But that my noble master will appear,
Such as he is, full of regard, and honour.

Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius:
How he receiv'd you, let me be resolv'd.

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.

Bru. Thou hast describ'd A hot friend cooling: Ever note, Lucilius, When love begins to sicken and decay, It useth an enforced ceremony. There are no tricks in plain and simple faith: But hollow men, like horses hot at hand, Make gallant shew and promise of their mettle: But, when they should endure the bloody spur, They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades, Sink in the trial. Comes his army on? Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarThe greater part, the horse in general,. Are come with Cassius. Bru.

{ter'd;

(March within.) Hark, he is arriv'd:-

March gently on to meet him.

Enter CASSIUS and Soldiers.

Cas. Stand, ho!

Bru. Stand, ho! Speak the word along.
Within. Stand.
Within. Stand.

Within. Stand.

Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me [enemies? wrong.

Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother? Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides And when you do them[wrongs; Bru. Cassius, be content, Speak your griefs 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.

Br Lucilius, do the like; and let no man

Come to our tent. till we have done our conference. Let Lucius aud 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 to this:

You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella,
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein, my letters, praying on his side.
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.
Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a

You know, that you are Brutus that speak this.
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
Cas. Chastisement!

[member

Bru. Remember March, the ides of March reDid 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 bay the moon, Than such a Roman.

Cas.

Brutus, bay not me,

I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in: I am a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.

Bru.

Cas. I am.

Go to; you're not, Cassies.

Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Shall I be frighted, when a madman stares?

Cas. O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this" Bru. All this? ay, more: Fret, till your prod heart break;

Go, shew your slaves how choleric you are,
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I badge?
Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humour? By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you: for, from this day forth,
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.

Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love; Imay do that I shall be sorry for.

[for.
Bru. You have done that, you 'should be sorry
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty,
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you

For certain sums of gold, which you deny'd me ;-
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,

And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash,
By any indirection. I did send

To you for gold to pay my legions,

Which you denied me: Was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so?

When Marcus Brutus grows sc covetons,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,
Dah him to pieces!

Cas.

Bru. You did.

Cas.

I denied you not.

I did not :-he was but a fool,

That brought my answer back.-Brutus hath riv'd

my heart:

A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
Bet Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
Bru. I do not, till you practise them on me.
Cas. You love me not.

Bru.
I do not like your faults.
Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults.
Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do ap-
As huge as high Olympus.
[pear

Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,

For Cassius is a-weary of the world:
Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother;
Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observ'd,
Set in a note-book, learn'd and conn'd by rote,

To cast into my teeth. O, I conld weep

My spirit from mine eyes!-There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart
Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:
that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;

Bru.

I that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike, as thou didst at Cæsar; for, I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov'dst him
Than ever thou lov'dst Cassius.
[better
Sheath your dagger:
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb,
That carries anger, as the flint bears fire;
Who, much enforced, shews a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.

Cas.

Cas.

Bru.

O Brutus!

Hath Cassius liv'd To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him? Bru. When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too. Cas. Do you contess so much? Give me your Bru. And my heart too. [hand. What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, Wcea that rash bumour, which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bry. Yes, Cassius; and, henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, Heil think your mother chides, and leave you so. (Noise within.) Poet. (Within.) Let me go in to see the general; There is some grudge between them, 'tis not meet

They be alone.

Luc. Within.) You shall not come to them.
Poet. (Within.) Nothing but death shall stay me.
Enter Poet.

Enter LUCILIUS and TITINIUS.

Bru. Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders Prepare to lodge their companies to-night.

Cas. And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you

Immediately to us. [Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius.
Bru.
Lucius, a bowl of wine.
Cas. I did not think, you could have been so angry.
Bru. O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.

Cas. Of your philosophy you make no use,

If you give place to accidental evils.

Bru. No man bears sorrow better:-Portia is Cas. Ha! Portia?

Bru. She is dead.

[dead

Now sit we close about this taper here,
And call in question our necessities.
Cas. Portia, art thou gone?

Bru.
No more, I pray you.—
Messala, I have here received letters,
That young Octavius, and Mark Antony,
Come down upon as with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
Mes. Myself have letters of the self-same tenour.
Bru. With what addition?

Mes. That by proscription, and bills of outlawry,
Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus,
Have put to death an hundred senators.

Bru. Therein our letters do not well agree
Mine speak of seventy senators, that died
By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
Cas. Cicero one?

Mes.

Ay, Cicero is dead,
And by that order of proscription.—
Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
Bru. No, Messala.

Mes. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her"
Bru. Nothing, Messala.
Mes.
That, methioks, is strange.
Bru. Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in
Mes. No, my lord.
[yours?

Bru. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. Mes. Then like a Roman bear the truth I teli: For certain she is dead, and by strange manner. Bru. Why, farewell, Portia.-We must die, Messala: