To fee thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! in the prefence of thy corfe!
Had I as many eyes as thou haft wounds,
Weeping as faft as they ftream forth thy blood,
It would become me better, than to clofe
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.

Pardon me, Julius-here waft thou bay'd, brave hart;
Here didst thou fall, and here thy hunters stand
Sign'd in thy fpoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe,

Caf. Mark Antony

Ant. Pardon me, Caius Caffius.

The enemies of Cæfar fhall fay this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modelty.

Caf. I blame you not for praifing Cæfar fo.
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends,
Or fhall 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 Cæfar. Friends am I with you all, and love you all; Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons, Why, and wherein Cæfar was dangerous. Bru. Or elfe this were a favage fpectacle. Our reasons are fo full of good regard, That were you, Antony, the fon of Cæfar, You fhould be fatisfied.

Ant. That's all I feek;

And am moreover fuitor, that I may
Produce his body to the market-place,
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.
Bru. You fhall, Mark Antony.
Gaf. Brutus, a word with you.-

You know not what you do; do not confent fide.
That Antony speak in his funeral :

.

Know you how much the people may be mov'd
By that which he will utter?

Bru. By your pardon,

I will myself into the pulpit firft,

And fhew the reafon of our Cæfar's death.
What Antony fhall fpeak, I will proteft
He fpeaks by leave, and by permiffion;
And that we are contented Cæfar fhall
Have all due rites, and lawful ceremonies.
It shall advantage more, than do us wrong.

Caf. I know not what may fall, I like it not. Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæfar's body. You fhall not in your funeral speech blame us, But fpeak all good you can devife of Cæfar;

And lay, you do't by our permission:

Elfe fhall you not have any hand at all
About his funeral. And you fhall speak
In the fame pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.

Ant. Be it fo;

I do defire no more.

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.

SCENE

[Exeunt Confpirators.

IV. Manet Antony.

Ant. O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth! That I am meek and gentle with thefe butchers. Thou art the ruins of the noblest man

That ever lived in the tide of times.

Woe to the hand that thed this coftly blood!

Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,

(Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue),

A curfe fhall light upon the line of men *;

Domestic fury, and fierce civil ftrife,

Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;

Blood and deftruction fhall be so in use,
And dreadful objects fo familiar,

That mothers fhall but fmile, when they behold
Their infants quarter'd by the hands of War:
All pity chok'd with custom of fell deeds;
"And Cæfar's fpirit, ranging for revenge,

*. . human race.

"With Até by his fide come hot from hell,
"Shall in thefe confines, with a monarch's voice,
"Cry, Havock, and let flip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed fhall fmell above the earth
With carrion men, groning for burial.

Enter Octavius's Servant.

You ferve Octavius Cæfar, do you not?

Ser. I do, mark Antony.

Ant. Cæfar did write for him to come to Romer Ser. He did receive his letters, and is coming; And bid me fay to you by word of mouth

• Cæfar!

[Seeing the body. Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep; Paffion 1 fee is catching; for mine eyes,

Seeing those beads of forrow ftand in thine,
Begin to water. Is thy mafter coming?

Ser, He lies to-night within feven leagues of Rome. Ant. Poft back with speed, and tell him what hath Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, [chanc'd. No Rome of fafety for Octavius yet;

Hie hence and tell him fo. Yet itay a while;
Thou shalt not back, till I have born this corfe
Into the market-people: there shall 1 try
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men;
According to the which thou shalt difcourfe

To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your-hand.

SCENE V.

[Exeunt with Cæfar's body

Changes to the Forum.

Enter Brutus, and mounts the Roftra; Caffius with the Plebeians.

Pleb. We will be fatisfied; let us be fatisfied.

Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.. Caffius, go you into the other treet,

And part the numbers:

Thole that will hear me fpeak, let 'em stay here;
Thofe that will follow Caffius, go with him;

And public reasons shall be rendered

Of. Cæfar's death,

1 Pleb

will hear Brutus fpeak.

2 Pleb. I will hear Caffius, and compare their reaWhen fev'rally we hear them rendered.

[fons,

[Exit Caffius, with fome of the Plebeians.

3 Pleb. The noble Brutus is afcended: filence! Bru, Be patient till the last.

Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my caufe; and be filent, 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 fenfes that you may the better judge. If there be any in this affembly, any dear friend of Cæfar's, to him I fay, that Brutus's love to Cæfar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rofe against Cæfar, this is my answer: • Not that I lov'd Cæfar lefs, but that I lov'd Rome more. Had you rather Cæfar were living, and die ‹ all flaves; than that Cæfar were dead, to live all freemen? As Cæfar lov'd me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but as he was ambitious, I flew him. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death for his ambition. Who's here fo bafe, that would be a bond man? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended Who's here fo rude, If any, speak; for Who's here fo vile, that will

་

that would not be a Roman? him have. I offended.

• not love his country! If any, fpeak; for him have I • offended. I paufe for a reply

All None, Brutus, none.

Bru. Then none have I offended.--I have done no more to Cæfar than you fhall do to Brutus. The queflion of his death is inroll'd in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences intorc'd, for which he fuffered death.

Enter Mark Antony with Cæfar's body.

Here comes his body, mourn'd by Mark Antony; who, though he had no hand in his death, fhall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the common wealth; as which of you fhall not? With this I depart, that as I flew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the

fame dagger for myself, when it fhall please my coun try to need my death.

All Live, Brutus, live! live!

1 Pleb. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Pleb. Give him a statue with his ancestors.

3 Pleb. Let him be Cæfar.

4 Pleb. Cæfar's better parts Shall be crown'd in Brutus.

1.Pleb. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.

Bru. My countrymen➡➡

2 Pleb. Peace! filence! Brutus fpeaks. 1 Pleb. Peace, ho!

Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone.
And, for my fake, stay here with Antony;

Do grace to Cæfar's corpfe, and grace his speech
Tending to Cæfar's glories, which Mark Antony
By our permiffion is allowed to make.
I do intreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

[Exit!

I Pleb, Stay, ho, and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Pleb. Let him go up into the public chair,

We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.

Ant. For Brutus' fake, I am beholden to you. 4 Pleb. What does he fay of Brutus ?

3 Pleb. He fays, for Brutus' fake

He finds himself beholden to us all.

4

Pleb. Twere beft he speak no harm of Brutus here. 1 Pleb. This Cæfar was a tyrant.

3 Pleb. Nay, that's certain;

We are blefs'd, that Rome is rid of him.

2 Pleb. Peace; let us hear what Antony can fay. Ant. You gentle Romans

All. Peace, ho, let us hear him.

Ant Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your"

1 come to bury Cæfar, 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 Cæfar! Noble Brutus

Hath told you, Celar was ambitious ;;

[ears..