-Bra. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends. 2 Pleb. Peace; filence! Brutus speaks. Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, And, for my fake, ftay here with Antony: Caffius, go you into the other street, And part the numbers. Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here; 5 Do grace to Cæfar's corpse, and grace his speech Those that will follow Caffius, go with him; And publick reafons shall be rendered Of Cæfar's death, 1 Pleb. I will hear Brutus speak. [Exit Caffius, with some of the Plebeians: 3 Pleb. The noble Brutus is ascended: Silence! 15 Tending to Cæfar's glories; which Mark Antony [Exit. 1 Pleb. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Pleb. Let him go up into the public chair; We'll hear him:-Noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' fake, I am beholden to you. 4 Pleb. What does he say of Brutus? 3 Pleb. He says, for Brutus' fake, He finds himself beholden to us all. [here. Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for 4 Pleb. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus lefs, but that I lov'd Rome more. Had you ra- 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. 40 Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done Enter Mark Antony, &c. with Cæfar's body. We are blest, that Rome is rid of him. All. Peace, ho! let us hear him. [ears; Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your The evil, that men do, lives after them; He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cry'd, Cæfar hath wept: You all did fee, that, on the Lupercal, who, though he had no hand in his death, shall re- 50 And sure, he is an honourable man. Ccc 2 4 Pleb 4 Pleb. Mark'd ye his words? He would not You all do know this mantle: I remember take the crown: Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious. 1 Pleb. If it be found fo, fome will dear abide it. 2 Pleb. Poor foul! his eyes are red as fire with 5 Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through: The first time ever Cæfar put it on; weeping. [Antony. 3 Pleb. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than 4 Pleb. Now mark him, he begins again to fpeak. Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæfar might See, what a rent the envious Casca made: If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no; Have stood against the world: now lies he there, 10 As rushing out of doors, to be refolv'd And none so poor to do him reverence. O masters! if I were difpos'd to ftir For Brutus, as you know, was Cæfar's angel: 20 Which all the while ran blood, great Cæfar fell. 4 Pleb. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark AnAll. The will, the will; we will hear Cæfar's will. 30 Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cæfar lov'd you. 4 Pich. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will; Cæfar's will. Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay a while? Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæfar: I do fear it. 2 Pleb. O noble Cæfar! 3 Pleb. O woeful day! 4 Pleb. O traitors, villains! 1 Pleb. O most bloody fight! 2 Pleb. We will be reveng'd: Revenge: About,35 Seek, burn, -fire, -kill,-flay !-let not a traitor live. Ant. Stay, countrymen. I Pleb. Peace there: -Hear the noble Antony. 2 Picb. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll 40 die with him. Ant. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not ftir you up To fuch a fudden flood of mutiny. They, that have done this deed, are honourable; 4 Pleb. They were traitors: Honourable men! 45 What private griefs they have, alas, I know not, All. The will! the teftament! 2 Pleb. They were villains, murderers: The will! read the will! Ant. You will compel me then to read the will? 2 Plab. Defcend. [He comes down from the pulpit. Pleb. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. That made them do it; they are wife, and honour- 50 But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, dumb mouths! And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus, 60 And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue * i. e. their handkerchiefs. Napery was the ancient term for all kinds of linen. i. c. the impression of pity. In Wherein hath Cæfar thus deserv'd your loves? All. Most true; the will; -let's stay, and Enter Cinna the Poet, and after bim the Plebeians. 101 have no will to wander forth of doors, 15 [death. 20 25 And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures, Here was a Cæfar: When comes fuch another? I Pleb. Never, never:-Come, away, away: We'll burn his body in the holy place, And with the brands fire the traitor's houses. | Take up the body. 2 Pleb. Go, fetch fire. 3 Pleb. Pluck down benches. 30 4 Pleb. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. 35 [Exeunt Plebeians, with the body. Ant. Now let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt! - How now, fellow? Enter a Servant. Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæfar's house. Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Caffius 40 I Pleb. What is your name? 2 Pleb. Whither are you going? 3 Pleb. Where do you dwell? 4 Pleb. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 2 Picb. Answer every man directly. I Pleb. Ay, and briefly. 4 Pleb. Ay, and wifely. 3 Pl.b. 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, wifely, and truly. Wisely I say, I am a bachelor. 2 Pleb. 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 Cæfar's funeral. 2 Pleb. That matter is answer'd directly. 1 Pleb. Tear him to pieces, he's a confpirator. Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 4 Pleb. Tear him for his bad verfes, tear him for his bad verses. Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator. 4 Pleb. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. 3 Pleb. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, 45 ho! firebrands. To Brutus' and to Caffius', burn all. Some to Decius' house, and fome to Cafca's, some to Ligarius'! away; 50. Exeunt. And took his voice who should be prick'd to die, 10 A hot friend cooling: Ever note, Lucilius, Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you: Ota. You may do your will; 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 fpirit. And, in fome taste, is Lepidus but fo; When love begins to ficken and decay, 20 25 He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth: 30 Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be The greater part, the horse in general, Bru. Hark, he is arriv'd: March gently on to meet him. [March witbin. Enter Caffius, and Soldiers. Caf. Stand, ho! Bru. Stand, ho! Speak the word along. Within. Stand. Within. Stand. The Go A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds On objects, arts, and imitations; Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men, Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine eneAnd, if not fo, how should I wrong a brother? 35 Caf. Brutus, this fober form of yours hides [wrongs; And let us presently go fit in council, How covert matters may be best disclos'd, Ota. Let us do fo: for we are at the stake, And open perils surest answered. And bay'd about with many enemies; 40 Which should perceive nothing but love from us, Caf. Pindarus, And fome, that smile, have in their hearts, I fear, 45 Bid our commanders lead their charges off Bru. Let me tell you, Caffius, you yourfelf Caf. I an itching palm ? You know, that you are Brutus that speak this, Caf. Do not prefume too much upon my love, Caf. Chastisement! [member! ro 1 Bru. Remember March, the ides of March re Did not great Julius bleed for justice' fake? And not for justice? What, shall one of us, But for fupporting robbers; shall we now And chastisement doth therefore hide his head. I may do that I shall be forry for. Bru. You have done that you should be forry for. That ftruck the foremost man of all this world, 15 For certain fums of gold, which you deny'd me; Contaminate our fingers with base bribes? And fell the mighty space of our large honours, Caf. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, To make conditions 3. Bru. Go to; you are not, Caffius. Caf. I am. Bru. I fay, you are not. For I can raife no money by vile means: By heaven, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring 20 By any indirection. I did fend To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you deny'd me: Was that done like Caffius? When Marcus Brutus grows fo covetous, 25 To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts, Dash him to pieces! Caf. I deny'd you not. Bru. You did. Caf. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; 30 Caf. I did not :- he was but a fool, Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further. Though it do fplit you: for, from this day forth, 45 Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observ'd, Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote, 55 Than ever thou lov'dst Caffius. Warburton comments on this paffage thus: "The poets and common people, who generally think and speak alike, suppose the dog bays the moon out of envy to its brightness; an allufion to this notion makes the beauty of the paffage in question: Brutus hereby infinuates a covert accufation against his friend, that it was only envy at Cæfar's glory which fet Caffius on confpiring against him; and ancient history seems to countenance such a charge. Caffius understood him in this sense, and with much confcious pride retorts the charge by a like infinuation" Brutus, bay not me." i. e. to limit my authority by your direction or cenfure. the offices which are at my difpofal. 3 That is, to know on what terms it is fit to confer 3C4 Bru. |