The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare

To kindle cowards, and to steel with valour
The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,
What need we any spur, but our own cause,
To prick us to redress? what other bond,
Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word,
And will not palter? and what other oath,
Than honesty to honesty engag'd,
That this shall be, or we will fall for it?
Swear priests, and cowards, and men cautelous,
Old feeble carrions, and such suffering souls
That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear
Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain
The even virtue of our enterprize,

Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
To think, that, or our cause, or our performance,
Did need an oath; when every drop of blood,
That every Roman bears, and nobly bears,
Is guilty of a several bastardy,

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? I think he will stand very strong with us. Casca. Let us not leave him out. Cin. No, by no means.

Met. O let us have him; for his silver hairs
Will purchase us a good opinion,

And buy men's voices to commend our deeds:
It shall be said, his judgment rul'd our hands;
Our youths, and wildness, shall no whit appear,
But all be buried in his gravity.

Bru. O, name him not; let us not break with him
For he will never follow any thing
That other men begin.

Cas. Then leave him out.
Casca. Indeed, he is not fit.

Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd, but only Caesar?
Cas. Decius, well urg'd: I think it is not meet,
Mark Antony, so well belov'd of Caesar,
Should outlive Caesar: we shall find of him
A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means,
If he improve them, may well stretch so far,
As to annoy us all: which to prevent,
Let Antony, and Caesar, fall together.

Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
To cut the head off, and then hack the limbs;
Like wrath in death, and envy afterwards:
For Antony is but a limb of Caesar.

Let us be sacrificers, but no butchers, Caius.
We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar;
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,
And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,
Caesar must bleed for it! and, gentle friends,
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
Not hew him as a carcase fit for hounds:
And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,
Stir up their servants to an act of rage,
And after seem to chide them. This shall make
Our purpose necessary, and not envious:
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
We shall be call'd purgers, uot murderers.
And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
For he can do no more, than Caesar's arm,
When Caesar's head is off.

Cas. Yet I do fear him:

For in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar,-
Bru. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him:
If he love Caesar, all that he can do

Is to himself; take thought, and die for Caesar;
And that were much he should; for he is given
To sports, to wildness, and much company.
Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die;

;

For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter.

Bru. Peace, count the clock!
Cas. The clock hath stricken three.
Treb. 'Tis time to part.

Cas. But it is doubtful yet,

[Clock strikes.

Whe'r Caesar will come forth to-day, or no:
For he is superstitious grown of late;
Quite from the main opinion he held once
Of fantasy, of drea 1s, and ceremonies:
It may be, these apparent prodigies,
The unaccustom'd terror of this night,
And the persuasion of his augurers,
May hold him from the Capitol to-day.
Dec. Never fear that. If he be so resolv'd,
I can o'ersway him: for he loves to hear,
That unicorns may be betray'd with trees,
And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,
Lions with toils, and men with flatterers:
But, when I tell him, he hates flatterers,
He says, he does; being then most flattered.
Let me work;

For I can give his humour the true bent:
And I will bring him to the Capitol.

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 Caesar 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 well, 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 show 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 untir'd 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.

It is not for your health, thus to commit
Your weak condition to the raw-cold morning.
Por. Nor for yours neither. You have ungently,
Brutus,

Stole from my bed: and yesternight, at supper,
You suddenly arose, and walk'd about,
Musing, and sighing, with your arms across :
And, when I ask'd you what the matter was,
You star'd upon me with ungentle looks:

I urg'd you further; then you scratch'd your head,
And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot:
Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not;
But, with an angry wafture of your hand,
Gave sigu for me to leave you. So I did;
Fearing to strengthen that impatience,
Which seem'd too much enkindled; and withal,
Hoping it was but an effect of humour,
Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep;
And, could it work so much upon your shape,

As it hath much prevail'd on your condition,
I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all.
Por. Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health,
He would embrace the means to come by it.
Bru. Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed!
Por. Is Brutus sick? and is it physical
To walk unbraced, and suck up the humours
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick;
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,
To dare the vile contagion of the night?
And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;
You have some sick offence within your mind,
Which, by the right and virtue of my place,
I ought to know of: and upon my knees
I charm you, by my once commended beauty,
By all your vows of love, and that great vow
Which did incorporate and make us one,
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
Why you are heavy; and what men to-night
Have had resort to you: for here have been
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.

Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia !

Por, I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus,
Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,
Is it excepted, I should know no secrets
That appertain to you? Am I yourself,
But, as it were, in sort, or limitation;

To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,
And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs
Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.

Bru. You are my true and honourable wife;
As dear to me, as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart.

Lig. But are not some whole, that we must make sick?

Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius,
I shall unfold to thee, as we are going,
To whom it must be done.
Lig. Set on your foot;

And, with a heart new-fir'd, I follow you,
To do I know not what: but it sufficeth,
That Brutus leads me on.
Bru. Follow me then!

You

Tha

And

Let

And

Her

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. The same. Aroom in Caesar's palace. Thunder and lightning. Enter CAESAR, in his nightgown.

Caes. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace tonight:

Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out: Help, ho! They murder Caesar. Who's within? Enter a Servant.

Serv. My lord? Caes. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, And bring me their opinions of success. Serv. I will, my lord.

Enter CALPHURNIA. Cal. What mean you, Caesar? Think forth?

Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see

Por. If this were true; then should I know this se- The face of Caesar, they are vanished.

cret.

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..
Think you, I am no stronger, than my sex,
Being so father'd, and so husbanded?

Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose them:
I have made strong proof of my constancy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound

Here, in the thigh. Can I bear that with patience,
And not my husband's secrets?

Render me worthy of this noble wife!

[Knocking within. Hark, hark! one knocks. Portia, go in a while; And by and by thy bosom shall partake

The secrets of my heart.

All my engagements I will construe to thee,
All the charactery of my sad brows: —
Leave me with haste!

[Exit Portia.

Enter LUCIUS and LIGARIUS.
Lucius, who is that, knocks?
Luc. Here is a sick man, that would speak with you.
Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.-
Boy, stand aside!-Caius Ligarius! how?

Lig. Vouchsafe good-morrow from a feeble tongue.
Bru. O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius,
To wear a kerchief? 'Would you were not sick!
Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
Any exploit worthy the name of honour.
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,

Cal. Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, 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; And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead: Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds, In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol: The noise of battle hurtled in the air, Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan; And ghosts did shriek, and squeal about the streets. O Caesar! these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them.

Caes. What can be avoided, Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? Yet Caesar shall go forth: for these predictions Are to the world in general, as to Caesar.

Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen: The heavens themselves' blaze forth the death of princes.

Caes. 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,
They could not find a heart within the beast.

Caes. The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Caesar should be a beast without a heart,

If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well,
That Caesar is more dangerous, than he.
We were two lions litter'd in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible;
And Caesar shall go forth.

Cal. Alas, my lord!

Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence.

Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear,

That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house;
And he shall say, you are not well to-day:
Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

Caes. 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.
Dec. Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar!
I come to fetch you to the senate-house.
Caes. And you are come in very happy time,
To bear my greeting to the senators,
And tell them, that I will not come to-day:
Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, falser;
I will not come to-day. Tell them so, Decius!
Cal. Say, he is sick.

Caes. Shall Caesar send a lie?

Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afeard to tell grey-beards the truth!
Decius, go tell them, Caesar will not come.
Dec. Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so.
Caes. The cause is in my will, I will not come;
That is enough to satisfy the senate.
But, for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know.
Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,
Which like a fountain, with a hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it.
And these does she apply for warnings, portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee

Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to-day.
Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision, fair and fortunate:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies, that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood; and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
This by Calphurnia's dream is signified.

Caes. And this way have you well expounded it.
Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say:
And know it now. The senate have concluded
To give, this day, a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word, you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock-
Apt to be render'd, for some one to say,
Break up the senate till another time,
When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper,
Lo, Caesar is afraid?

Pardon me, Caesar; for my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this;

And reason to my love is liable.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Ant. So to most noble Caesar!
Caes. Bid them prepare within:
I am to blame to be thus waited for.
Now, Cinna!

-now, Metellus! what, Trebonius!
I have an hour's talk in store for you;
Remember, that you call on me to-day:
Be near me, that I may remember you.
Treb. Caesar, I will:- and so near will I be, [Aside.
That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
Caes. 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 Caesar,
The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! [Exeunt.

SCENE III. The same. A street near the Capitol.
Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper.
Art. Caesar, 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 Caesar. If
thou be'st not immortal, look about you. Security
gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend
thee! Thy lover,

ARTEMIDORUS.

Enter PORTIA and Lucius.

Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-house;
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone!
Why dost thou stay?

Luc. To know my errand, madam!

Por. I would have had thee there, and here again,
Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there. -
O constancy, be strong upon my side!

Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue!
I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.
How hard it is for women to keep counsel!
Art thou here yet?

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,

Caes. How foolish do your fears seem now, Cal- For he went sickly forth and take good note,

phurnia?

I am ashamed I did yield to them.

Give me my robe, for I will go.

What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Luc. I hear none, madam.

Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, Ligarius, METELLUS, CASCA, Por. Pr'ythee, listen well!

TREBONIUS, and CINNA.

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.

Pub. Good-morrow, Caesar!

I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.

Enter Soothsayer.

Por. Come hither, fellow! Which way hast thou been?

Sooth. At mine own house, good lady!

Por. What is't o'clock?

Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady!
Por. Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol ?
Sooth. Madam, not yet; I go to take my stand,
To see him pass on to the Capitol.

Por. Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?
Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Caesar
To be so good to Caesar, 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.

Good-morrow to you! Here the street is narrow:
The throng, that follows Caesar at the heels,
Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
I'll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.
Por. I must go in. Ah me! how weak a thing

[Exit.

The heart of woman is! O Brutus!
The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize!
Sure, the boy heard me :- Brutus hath a suit,
That Caesar will not grant.-0, I grow faint:-
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
Say, I am merry: come to me again,

[Exeunt Antony and Trebonius. Caesar and
the Senators take their seats.
Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
Bru. He is address'd: press near, and second him.
Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
Caes. Are we all ready? what is now amiss,
That Caesar, and his senate, must redress?
Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant
Caesar,

And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt.

SCENE I.

А С Т The same.

III.
The Capitol; the Senate
sitting.

[Kneeling.

Caes. 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
To think, that Caesar bears such rebel blood,
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words,
Low-crooked curt'sies, and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished;

If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Caesar doth not wrong; nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.

Met. Is there no voice more worthy, than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear,
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar; Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Caes. What, Brutus!

Cas. Pardon, Caesar! Caesar, pardon! As low, as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. A Crowd of People in the street leading to the Ca- Caes. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you; pitol; among them ARTEMIDORUS, and the Sooth-If I could pray to move, prayers would move me: sayer. Flourish. Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, But I am constant as the northern star, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, AN- Of whose true-fix'd, and resting quality,

TONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and Others.
Caes. The ides of March are come.

Sooth. Ay, Caesar; but not gone.
Art. Hail, Caesar! Read this schedule.
Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.
Art. O, Caesar, read mine first; for mine's a suit
That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar!
Cues. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd.
Art. Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly!
Caes. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place!

Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol!

Caesar enters the Capitol, the rest following. All

the Senators rise.

Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive.
Cas. What enterprize, Popilius?
Pop. Fare you well!

[Advances to Caesar.
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 Caesar: mark him!
Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. -
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.

Bru. Cassius, be constant!

Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;

There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
They are all fire, and every one doth shine;
But there's but one in all doth hold his place:
So, in the world. "Tis furnish'd well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet, in the number, I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshak'd of motion: aud, that I am he,
Let me a little show it, even in this;
That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
Cin. O Caesar, -

For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you,
Brutus,

He draws Mark Antony out of the way.

Caes. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
Dec. Great Caesar, —

Caes. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
Casca. Speak, hands, for me!

[Casca stabs Caesar in the neck. Caesar catch-
es hold of his arm. He is then stabbed by
several other Conspirators, and at last by

Marcus Brutus.

Caes. Et tu, Brute? - Then fall, Caesar!

confusion.

out:

[Dies. The Senators and People retire in Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets! Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and 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?

cry

Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cae-

sar's

Should chance

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,
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
Bru. Do so!- and let no man abide this deed,
But we the doers.

Re-enter TREBONIUS.

Cas. Where's Antony?

Tre. Fled to his house amaz'd:

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.
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 Caesar's friends, that have abridg'd
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop!
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar'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?

Bru. How many times shall Caesar 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

The men that gave our country liberty.
Dec. What, shall we forth?

Cas. Ay, every man away!

Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
Enter a Servant.

Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's.
Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down.

And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say.
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him;

Ant. O mighty Caesar! 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 se fit

As Caesar's death's hour; nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if ye bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us.
Though how we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands, and this our present act,
You see we do; yet see you but our hands,
And this the bleeding business they have done:
Our hearts you see not, they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
(As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity,)
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony!
Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts,
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
Cas. Your voice shall be as strong, as any man's,
In the disposing of new dignities.

Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.

Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom.

Let each man render me his bloody hand:
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus ;
Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;—
Though last, not least in love, yours, good Tre-
bonius.
Gentlemen all; alas! what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.

That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true:

If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death,

Say, I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him, and lov'd him. To see thy Antony making his peace,

If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolv'd
How Caesar hath deserv'd to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead,
So well as Brutus living; but will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus,
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state,
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
I never thought him worse.

Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour!
Depart untouch'd.

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.
Antony!

Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?
Had I as many eyes, as thou hast wounds,
Weeping as fast, as they stream forth thy blood,
It would become me better, than to close
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave,
hart;

Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd 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. Mark Antony,

Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius!
The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
Cas. I blame you not for praising Caesar so;
Welcome, Mark But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends?

« 上一頁繼續 »

圖書