Serv. They would not have you to stir forth | To give, this day, a crown to mighty Cæsar. to-day. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence. Cas. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well; And, for thy humour, I will stay at home. Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Cas. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, To be afeard to tell grey-beards the truth! Decius, go tell them, Cæsar will not come. Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so. If you shall send them word, you will not come, Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love Cæs. How foolish do your fears seem now, I am ashamed I did yield to them.— Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METEL- What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?- Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. See! Antony, that revels long o'nights, Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. - I am to blame to be thus waited for.- I have an hour's talk in store for you; Cas. The cause is in my will, I will not come ; | Be near me, that I may remember you. That is enough to satisfy the senate. But, for your private satisfaction, Caes. And this way have you well expounded it. Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say: And know it now; The senate have concluded Treb. Cæsar, I will:-and so near will I be, gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend | I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, thee! Thy lover, SCENE IV.-The same. Another part of the same street, before the house of BRUTUS. Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS. Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-house; Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone: Why dost thou stay? Luc. To know my errand, madam. Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there.O constancy, be strong upon my side! Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! I have a man's mind, but a woman's might. How hard it is for women to keep counsel !Art thou here yet? Luc. Madam, what should I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And so return to you, and nothing else? Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, For he went sickly forth: And take good note, Luc. I hear none, madam. And the wind brings it from the Capitol. Por. Come hither, fellow: Sooth. At mine own house, good lady. Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady. Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing ACT III. A Crowd of People in the street leading to the Ca- Cas. The ides of March are come. Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, At your best leisure, this his humble suit. Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar. Cæs. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd. Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. Cæsar enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise." Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive. Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discovered. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear preventionBrutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. Bru. Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [Exeunt Antony and Trebonius. Cæsar and the Senators take their seats. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is address'd: press near, and second him. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cas. Are we all ready? what is now amiss, That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat [Kneeling. Cas. I must prevent thee, Cimber. These couchings, and these lowly courtesies, Might fire the blood of ordinary men; And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree, Into the law of children. Be not fond To think, that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, That will be thaw'd from the true quality With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, Low-crooked curt'sies, and base spaniel fawning. Thy brother by decree is banished; If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, spurn thee like a cur out of my way. I Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause Will he be satisfied. Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my sar; Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon: Cas. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you; That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, Cæs. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? Cas. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Casca. Speak, hands, for me. Cæsar [Casca stabs Cæsar in the neck. Cæs. Et tu, Brute ?-Then fall, Cæsar. [Dies. The Senators and People retire in confusion. Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement ! Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted; Fly not; stand still :-ambition's debt is paid. Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus. Dec. And Cassius too. Bru. Where's Publius? Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cæsar's cheer; There is no harm intended to your person, Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius. Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people, Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief. Bru. Do so;-and let no man abide this deed, But we the doers. Re-enter TREBONIUS. Cas. Where's Antony? Tre. Fled to his house amaz'd: Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, As it were doomsday. Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures:That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, And drawing days out, that men stand upon. Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life, Cuts off so many years of fearing death. Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: So are we Cæsar's friends, that have abridg'd His time of fearing death.-Stoop, Romans, stoop, And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar's blood Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords: Then walk we forth, even to the market-place; And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads, Let's all cry, Peace! Freedom! and Liberty! Cas. Stoop then, and wash.-How many ages Shall this our lofty scene be acted over Cas. So oft as that shall be, Cas. Ay, every man away: Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome. Enter a Servant. Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down. Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit Servant. Bru. I know, that we shall have him well to friend. Cas. I wish, we may: but yet have I a mind, That fears him much; and my misgiving still Falls shrewdly to the purpose. Re-enter ANTONY. Bru. But here comes Antony.-Welcome, Mark Antony. Ant. O mighty Cæsar! Dost thou lie so low? As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years, Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts, In the disposing of new dignities. Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd The multitude, beside themselves with fear, And then we will deliver you the cause, Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him, Have thus proceeded. Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand: First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you ;Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;— Now, Decius Brutus, yours ;-now yours, Metellus ; Yours, Cinna ;-and, my valiant Casca, yours;Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius. 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, Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar. Friends am I with you all, and love you all ; Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons, Why, and wherein, Cæsar was dangerous. Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle: Ant. That's all I seek: That Antony speak in his funeral: Bru. By your pardon ; I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Cæsar's death: body. Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome. Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes, Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, Began to water. Is thy master coming? Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of 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; [Exeunt with Cæsar's body. 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. 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, 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, |