Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, If he do break the smallest particle Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. Cas. But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? 1 think, he will stand very strong with us. Casca. Let us not leave him out. Cia. No, by no means. Met. O let us have him; for his silver hairs And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: Bru. O, name him not; let us not break with B For he will never follow any thing That other men begin. Cas. Then leave him out. Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd, but only Cas. Decius, well urged:-I think it is not meet, Let Antony, and Cæsar, fail together. Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius To cut the head off, and then hack the limbs; And after seem to chide them. This shall make Cas. Yet I do fear him: For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cæsar, Is to himself; take thought, and die for Cæsar : Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die; For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter. [Clock strikes. Bru. Peace, count the clock. Cas. But it is doubtful yet, Whe'r Cæsar will come forth to-day, or no: It may be, these apparent prodigies, Dec. Never fear that: if he be so resolved, For I can give this humour the true bent; Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. Bru. By the eighth hour: Is that the uttermost? Cin. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then. Met. Caius Ligarius doth bear Cæsar hard, Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey; I wonder, none of you have thought of him. Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him*: He loves me weil, and I have given him reasons; Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him. Cas. The morning comes upon us: we'll leave you, Brutus: And, friends, disperse yourselves: but all remember What you have said, and shew yourselves true Ro mans. Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; Let not our looks put on † our purposes; But bear it as our Roman actors do, With untired spirits, and formal constancy: And so, good-morrow to you every one. [Exeunt all but Brutus. Boy! Lucius!-Fast asleep? It is no matter; Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber : Thou hast no figures, nor no fantasies, Which busy care draws in the brains of men ; Therefore thou sleep'st so sound. Enter PORTIA Por. Brutus, my lord! It is not for your health, thus to commit Brutus, Stole from my bed: and yesternight, at supper, Musing, and sighing, with your arms across : I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head, But, with an angry wafture of your hand, I charm you, by my once-commended beauty, Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Bru tus. Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Bru. You are my true and honourable wife ; As dear to me, as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart. And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their Ang dead; Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds, Por. If this were true, then should I know this In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war, secret. I grant, I am a woman; but, withal, A woman that lord Brutus took to wife: I grant, I am a woman; but, withal, A woman well-reputed; Cato's daughter. Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose them: Here, in the thigh: Can I bear that with patience, And not my husband's secrets? Bru. O ye gods, Render me worthy of this noble wife! [Knocking within. All my engagements I will construe to thee, [Exit Portia. Enter LUCIUS and LAGARIUS. Lucius, who is that, knocks? Luc. Here is a sick man, that would speak with you. Bru. Caius Lagarins, that Metellus spake ofBoy, stand aside.-Caius Ligarius! How? Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue. Bru. O, what a time have you chose out, brave To wear a kerchief? 'Would you were not sick! Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Had you a healthful ear to hear of it. Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before, I here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome! Brave son, derived from honourable loins! Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up My mortified spirit. Now, bid me run, And I will strive with things impossible; Yea, get the better of them. What's to do? Bru. A piece of work, that will make sick men whole. Lig. But are not some whole, that we must make You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Cas. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me, Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see The face of Cæsar, they are vanished. Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies t, Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; All that is character'd on. Never paid a regard to prodigies or omens. Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol: streets. O Cæsar! these things are beyond all use, Cas. What can be avoided, Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Cas. Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come. Re-enter a SERVANT. What say the augurers? Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to. day. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, Cas. The gods do this in shame of cowardice: Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consumed 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. Cæsar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Ces. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, cause; Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so. 2.1 Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say: And know it now; the senate have concluded When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Pardon me, Cæsar: for my dear, dear love Ces. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia? I am ashamed I did yield to them.- Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too ?- As that same ague which hath made you lean.- Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. Cas. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o' nights, Is notwithstanding up : Good morrow, Antony. Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. Cas. Bid them prepare within :— I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna:-Now, Metellus :-What, Trebonius! [Aside. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Ces. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. Bru. That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, The heart of Brutus yearns † to think upon ! [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-A Street near the Capitol. Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a Paper. Art. Cæsar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna: trust not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Cæsar. If thou be'st not immortal, look about you: security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover, Artemidorus. Here will I stand, till Cæsar pass along, If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou may'st live; [Exit. 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. I heard a bustling rumour like a fray, Por. Come hither, fellow; Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady. Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? Sooth. That I have, lady; if it will please Cæsar To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself. Por. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him? Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance. [Exit. Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: ACT III. SCENE I.-The same.-The Capitol; the Senate sitting. A Croud of People in the Street leading to the Capi tol; among them ARTEMIDORUS, and the SOOTHSAYER.-Flourish.-Enter CESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others. Cas. The ides of March are come. Art. O Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following--All the Senators rise. Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive. [Advances to Casar. Bru. What said Popilius Lena? 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 prevention,Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will stay myself. Bru. Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; • Really. He draws Mark Autony 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 Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat [Kneeling. Cas. I must prevent thee, Cimber. To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, Low-crook'd curt'sies, and base spaniel fawning. Thy brother by decree is banish'd ; If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause Will he be satisfied. Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, To sonnd more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear, Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon: Cas. I could be well moved, if I were as you; That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd, And constant do remain to keep him so. Cin. O Cæsar, Cas. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? Cas. Doth not Brutus bootless || kneel? [Casca stabs Casar in the Neck.-Cæsar catches 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? -Re-enter TREBONIUS. Cus. Where's Antony? Tre. Fled to his house amazed; 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 Lut 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 abridged 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? Cas. So oft as that shall he, So often shall the knot of us be call'd Cas. Ay, every man away: Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels Enter a SERVANT. Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. 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 I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard, Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts, Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeased Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him, Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand: Gentlemen all,-Alas! what shall I say? My credit now stands on such slippery ground, That I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true: Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, Cas. Mark 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 prick'd in number of our friends; Or shall we on, and not depend on you? Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed, Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar. Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle: Ant. That's all I seek: And am moreover suitor, that I may Bru. You shall, Mark Antony. Cas. Brutus, a word with you. You know not what you do: do not consent, [Aside. That Antony speak in his funeral: Bru. By your pardon ; I will myself into the pulpit first, And shew the reason of our Cæsar's death: Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Ant. Be it so: I desire no more. Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. [Exeunt all but Antony, Ant. O, pardon me, thou piece of bleeding earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Thou art the ruins of the noblest man, That ever lived in the tide of times. Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! Over thy wounds now do I prophecy,Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue;A curse shall light upon the limbs of men; Domestic fury, and fierce civil strife, Shall cumber all the parts of Italy: Blood and destruction shall be so in use, And dreadful objects so familiar, That mothers shall but smile, when they behold Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war; All pity choked with custom of fell deeds; And Cesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, With Ate by his side, come hot from hell, Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice, Cry Havock, and let slip the dogs of war; That this foul deed shall smell above the earth With carrion men, groaning for burial. Enter a SERVANT. You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to 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 a while; SCENE II.-The same.-The Forum. Cit. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied. friends: 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 • Course. The signal for giving no quarter. To let slip a dog at a deer, &c. was the technical phrase of Shakspeare's tinie. Friends. |