And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, You all did love him once; not without cause; O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason!-Bear with me; And I must pause till it come back to me. 1st Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his sayings. 2nd Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar has had great wrong. 3rd Cit. Has he, masters? I fear, there will a worse come in his place. 4th Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown; Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious. 1st Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it. 2nd Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. 3rd Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than Antony. 4th 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, O masters! if I were dispos'd to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar, Let but the commons hear this testament, 4th 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 Cæsar, 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! 4th Čit. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will; Cæsar's will. Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay a while? I have o'ershot myself, to tell you of it. I fear I wrong the honorable men, Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar: I do fear it. 4th Cit. They were traitors: Honorable men! Cit. The will! the testament! 2nd 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 Cæsar, Cit. Come down. 2nd Cit. Descend. 3rd Cit. You shall have leave. 4th Cit. A ring; stand round. [He comes down from the pulpit. 1st Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. 2nd Cit. Room for Antony;-most noble Antony. Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. 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 it on; "Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent; That day he overcame the Nervii :— Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through: Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd; Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Even at the base of Pompey's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. 2nd Cit. O noble Cæsar! 4th Cit. O traitors, villains! 1st Cit. O most bloody sight! 2nd Cit. We will be revenged: revenge; about,-seek,-burn fire,-kill,-slay !-let not a traitor live. Ant. Stay, countrymen. 1st Cit. Peace there :-Hear the noble Antony. 2nd Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him. Ant. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny. They, that have done this deed, are honorable : But as you know me all, a plain blunt man, 1s Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what: Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves! Alas, you know not-1 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. To every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man, seventy-five drachmas. 2nd Cit. Most noble Cæsar!-we'll revenge his death. 3rd Cit. O royal Cæsar! Ant. Hear me with patience. Cit. Peace, ho! Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, [Exeunt Citizens 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 Cæsar's house. Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius ACT IV. [Exeunt. Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, assume the government of Rome. They are opposed by Brutus and Cassius, who levy powers to make war on the triumvirate. SCENE. Before Brutus' Tent, in the Camp near Sardis. Drum.-Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers: TITINIUS and PINDARUS meeting them. Bru. Stand here. Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand. Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near? Luc. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master. [PINDARUS gives a letter to BRUTUS. Bru. He greets me well.-Your master, Pindarus, In his own change, or by ill officers, Hath given me some worthy cause to wish Pin. I do not doubt, Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius; Luc. With courtesy, and with respect enough; Nor with such free and friendly conference, Thou hast describ'd Bru. There are no tricks in plain and simple faith: Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd; Are come with Cassius. Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. [March within Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies? And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother? Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs; And when you do them Bru. Cassius, be content, Speak your griefs softly, I do know you well:- Which should perceive nothing but love from us, |