ACT THIRD Scene One [Before the Capitol] Flourish. Enter Cæsar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Artemidorus, [Popilius,] Publius, the Soothsayer [and Others]. Cas. [To the Soothsayer.] The ides of March are come. Sooth. Ay, Cæsar; but not gone. Art. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule. 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. Cas. What, is the fellow mad? Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cæs. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. [Cæsar goes up to the Senate-House, the rest following.] Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. Cas. What enterprise, Popilius? Pop. 12 Fare you well. [Advances to Cæsar.] Bru. What said Popilius Lena? Scene One S. d. Before . . . Capitol; cf. n. 3 schedule: written scroll 8 serv'd: attended to Cas. He wish'd 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, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. Bru. Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; 16 20 For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. 24 Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [Exeunt Antony and Trebonius.] Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. 28 Bru. He is address'd; press near and second him. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cæs. Are we all ready? What is now amiss, That Cæsar and his senate must redress? 32 Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat A humble heart,— [Kneeling.] Cæs. 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, 22 constant: unmoved 28 prefer: present, offer 29 address'd: ready 36 couchings: prostrations courtesies: bowings fond: foolish 36 40 To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, I 44 48 Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear For the repealing of my banish'd brother? Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; 52 Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Cas. What, Brutus ! 56 Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon: The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, 40 rebel: ungovernable 43 Low-crooked: low-bending spaniel: servile, obsequious 51 repealing: recalling 60 64 68 54 freedom of repeal: free, unconditional recall 61 resting: stationary 67 apprehensive: intelligent That unassailable holds on his rank, Unshak'd of motion: and that I am he Let me a little show it, even in this, That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, Cin. O Cæsar, Cæs. 73 Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? Cæs. Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Cæsar! Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Dies. Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, 80 'Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!' Bru. People and senators, be not affrighted; Fly not; stand still; ambition's debt is paid. [Exeunt all but the Conspirators and Publius.] Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus. Dec. Bru. Where's Publius? And Cassius too. 84 Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cæ sar's Should chance 88 Bru. Talk not of standing. Publius, good 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, 92 Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief. Bru. Do so; and let no man abide this deed 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. Casca. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life Cuts off so many years of fearing death. 100 104 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 hence Shall this our lofty scene be acted over, In states unborn and accents yet unknown! 108 112 Bru. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport, That now on Pompey's basis lies along, No worthier than the dust! Cas. So oft as that shall be, So often shall the knot of us be call'd 94 abide: pay the penalty for 116 Ay, every man away: 100 drawing. out: prolonging their life on, worry about 115 Pompey's basis: pedestal of Pompey's statue 117 knot: group 97 wives: women stand upon: lay stress alóng: outstretched |