CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise. Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. Cas. What enterprise, Popilius? Pop. Fare you well. [Advances to CESAR. Bru. What said Popilius Lena? Cas. He wished, to-day, our enterprise might thrive. I fear our purpose is discovered. Bru. Look how he makes to Cæsar: mark him. Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; He draws Marc 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 addressed: press near, and second him. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cas. Are we all ready? what is now amiss, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat [Kneeling. Low-crooked curt'sies, and base spaniel fawning. If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, cause Will he be satisfied. Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear, For the repealing of my banished brother? But I am constant as the northern star, Cæs. Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus? Cæs. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Casca. Speak, hands, for me. [CASCA stabs CESAR in the neck. CESAR catches hold of his arm. He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and at last by MARCUS BRUTUS. 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. Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel; 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. Bru. But here comes Antony.-Welcome, Marc Antony. Re-enter ANTONY. Ant. O mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure ?-Fare thee well.I know not, gentlemen, what you intend; Who else must be let blood, who else is rank: If I myself, there is no hour so fit Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts, Bru. Only be patient till we have appeased : Ant. Gentlemen all,-alas! what shall I say? That I did love thee, Cæsar, O 't is true: brave hart; Here didst thou fall: and here thy hunters stand, Signed in thy spoil, and crimsoned in thy lethe. O world! thou wast the forest to this hart: And this indeed, O world, the heart of thee.How like a deer, stricken by many princes, Dost thou here lie! Cas. Marc Antony, Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius: The enemies of Cæsar shall say this; Then in a friend it is cold modesty. Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so: But what compact mean you to have with us? Will you be pricked in number of our friends; Or shall we on, and not depend on you? Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed, Swayed from the point by looking down on Cæsar. Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle. Bru. By your pardon: I will myself into the pulpit first, And shew the reason of our Cæsar's death. You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, Ant. Be it so: I do desire no more. That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! That mothers shall but smile when they behold Enter a Servant. You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome. Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced. Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay awhile: [Exeunt, with CESAR's body. SCENE II.-The same. The Forum. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens. Cit. We will be satisfied: let us be satisfied! Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends. When severally we hear them renderéd. [Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Citizens. BRUTUS goes into the Rostrum. 3rd 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 not 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, 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 CESAR's body. Here comes his body, mourned by Marc 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 myself when it shall please my country to need my death. Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1st Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2nd Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. 3rd Cit. Let him be Cæsar. 4th Cit. Cæsar's better parts Shall now be crowned in Brutus. 1st Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours. Bru. My countrymen,— 2nd Cit. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks. 1st Cit. Peace, ho! Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, And for my sake stay here with Antony. Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech Tending to Cæsar's glories: which Marc Antony, By our permission, is allowed to make. I do entreat you not a man depart, Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. [Exit. 1st Cit Stay, ho! and let us hear Marc Antony. 3rd 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. 4th Cit. What does he say of Brutus? 3rd Cit. He says, for Brutus' sake He finds himself beholden to us all. 4th Cit. 'T were best to speak no harm of Brutus here. 1st Cit. This Cæsar was a tyrant. We are blessed that Rome is rid of him. 2nd Cit. Peace: let us hear what Antony can say. Ant. You gentle Romans, Cit. Peace, ho! let us hear him. I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him: |