Think of this life; but, for my single self

I had as lief not be, as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
I was born free as Cæsar; so were
you:

We both have fed as well; and we can both

Endure the winter's cold, as well as he.

For once upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,

Cæsar said to me," Dar'st thou, Cassius, now

Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point?" Upon the word,

Accoutred as I was, I plungèd in, And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did.

The torrent roared, and we did buffet it

With lusty sinews; throwing it aside, And stemming it with hearts of controversy.

But ere we could arrive the point proposed,

Caesar cried, "Help me, Cassius, or

I sink."

I, as Eneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulders

The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tiber

Did I the tired Cæsar: and this man Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend

his body,

If Cæsar carelessly but nod on him. He had a fever when he was in Spain;

And when the fit was on him, I did mark

How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake:

His coward lips did from their color fly;

And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world,

Did lose his lustre; I did hear him groan:

Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans

Mark him, and write his speeches in
their books,
Alas! it cried,
Titinius,"

Give me some drink,

ANTONY OVER THE DEAD

BODY OF CÆSAR.

Antony. - FRIENDS, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears:

I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him.

The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones;

So let it be with Cæsar. The noble Brutus

Hath told you Cæsar was ambitious; If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answered it.

Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest,

(For Brutus is an honorable man;
So are they all, all honorable men ;)
Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just

to me:

But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:

Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept:

Ambition should be made of sterner

stuff:

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man. You all did see, that on the Lupercal;

I thrice presented him a kingly

crown,

Which he did thrice refuse. Was

this ambition?

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honorable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus
spoke;

But here I am to speak what I do know.

You all did love him once, not with

out cause;

What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him?

O judgment, thou art fled to brutish

beasts,

And men have lost their reason!

bear with me;

My heart is in the coffin there with

Cæsar,

But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar,

I found it in his closet, 'tis his will: Let but the commons hear this testament,

(Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,)

And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds,

And dip their napkins in his sacred blood:

Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their
wills,
Bequeathing it, as a rich legacy,
Unto their issue.

Citizen. We'll hear the will;

Read it, Mark Antony.

Citizen. The will. the will; we will hear Cæsar's will.

Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cæsar loved you.

You

are not wood, you are not stones, but men;

And being men, hearing the will of Cesar,

It will inflame you, it will make you

Dauphin. -Your grace shall pardon me, I will not back;

I am too high-born to be propertied,
To be a secondary at control,
Or useful serving-man and instru-
ment,

To any sovereign state throughout the world.

Your breath first kindled the dead coal of wars,

Between this chástised kingdom and myself,

And brought in matter that should feed this fire;

And now 'tis far too huge to be blown out

With that same weak wind which enkindled it.

You taught me how to know the face of right,

Acquainted me with interest to this land,

Yea, thrust this enterprise into my

Have I not heard these islanders shout out,

Vive le roy! as I have banked their towns?

Have I not here the best cards for the game,

To win this easy match played for a crown?

And shall I now give o'er the yielded set?

No, on my soul, it never shall be said.

Outside or inside, I will not return

Till my attempt so much be glori fied

As to my ample hope was promisèd Before I drew this gallant head of

war,