ACT III Sc. I If, then, thy Spirit look upon us now, Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death, Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes, It would become me better than to close In terms of friendship with thine enemies. 200 Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave Hart; ANT. Pardon me, Caius Cassius; Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons BRU. Or else were this a savage spectacle: 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; BRU. You shall, Mark Antony. 1 marked, blazoned: cf. 'bloody as the hunter.' 2 'a term used by hunters to signify the blood shed by a deer at its fall.' Capel, Gloss., 8.v. Letum (or lethum) 210 220 230 CASS. Brutus, a word with you. ACT III Sc. I [aside to BRUTUS.] You know not what you do; do not consent 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: BRU. Prepare the body, then, and follow us. 240 250 [Exeunt all but 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 tides of Time. Woe to the hands that shed this costly blood! Over thy wounds now do I prophesy (Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, 260 To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue) A curse shall light upon the limbs of men ; VIII: F 1 just. 41 ACT III That mothers shall but smile when they behold 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. And bid me say to you by word of mouth- ANT. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep. 270 280 SERV. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome, No Rome of safety for Octavius yet; Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile; Into the Market-Place: there shall I try, In my oration, how the People take The cruel issue of these bloody men ; According to the which, thou shalt discourse 290 [Exeunt with CESAR's body. SCENE II. The Same. The Forum. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens. Cassius, go you into the other street, And part the numbers. 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, When severally we hear them rendered. ΤΟ [Exit CASSIUS with some of the Citizens. 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 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 lov'd Cæsar less, but that I lov'd Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves, than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæsar 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 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. ALL. None, Brutus, none. 34 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 enroll'd in the Capitol; his glory not АСТ III АСТ III extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforc'd, for which he suffer'd death. 40 Enter ANTONY and others, with CESAR'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? 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! FIRST CIT. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. THIRD CIT. Let him be Cæsar. FOURTH CIT. Shall all be crown'd in Brutus. Cæsar's better parts 50 FIRST CIT. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours. BRU. My Countrymen SEC. CIT. FIRST CIT. Peace, ho! Peace! silence! Brutus speaks. BRU. Good Countrymen, let me depart alone, And, for my sake, stay here with Antony: I do entreat you, not a man depart, 60 [exit. [goes into the pulpit. FOURTH CIT. What does he say of Brutus ? He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholding to us all. FOURTH CIT. "Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. FIRST CIT. This Cæsar was a tyrant. |