Our reasons are so full of good regard, That's all I seek: JULIUS CÆSAR. Brutus, a word with you.You know not what you do; Do not consent, (Aside.) That Antony speak in his funeral : By your pardon;- Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body. You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar; And say you do 't by permission; Else shall you not have any hand at all About his funeral: And you shall speak In the same pulpit whereto I am going, After my speech is ended. Ant. Be it so; I do desire no more. Taat mothers shall but smile, when they behold Enter a Servant. You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Serv. I do, Mark Antony. Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome. Sere. He did receive his letters, and is coming : Ard bid me say to you by word of mouth,O Cesar!(Seeing the body.) Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep, Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes, Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, Began to water. Is thy master coming? (Rome. Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd: Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, He hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay a while; 373 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. Romaus, 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 Caesar 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, 1 honour him : but, as he was ambitious, I slew him There is tears, for his love; joy, for his fortune; honour for his valour; and death, for his ambition. Who is here so base, that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile, that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply. Cit. None, Brutus, none. (Several speaking at once.) Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar, than you should do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol: his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. Enter ANTONY and others, with Cæsar's body. Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; As which of you shall not? With this I depart; That, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the saine dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live! [house. 1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his 2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. 3 Cit. Let him be Cæsar. 4 Cit. Cæsar's better parts Shall now be crown'd in Brutus. 1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours. Bru. My countrymen,— 2 Cit. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks. I do entreat yon, not a man depart, Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. [Exit. 1 Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Cit. Let him go up into the public chair; We'll hear him:-Noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you. He says, for Brutns' sake. He finds himself beholden to us all. 4 Cit. Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. I Cit. This Casar was a tyrant. 3 Cit. Nay, that's certain: We are bless'd, that Rome is rid of him. 2 Cit. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say. Ant. You gentle Romans,Cit. Peace, ho ! let us hear him. Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears: I come to bury Casar, not to praise him. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Casar hath wept ; And Brutus is an honourable man. Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, 1 Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his sayings. 2 Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar has had great wrong. 3 Cit. Has he, masters? I fear, there will a worse come in his place. 4 Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown ; Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitions. 1 Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it." 2 Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. [Antony. 3 Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than 4 Cit. Now mark him, he begins again to speak. Ant. But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world: now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence. O masters! if I were dispos'd to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong. Who, you all know, are honourable men: I will not do them wrong; I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself, and yon, Than I will wrong such honourable men. But here's a parchment, with the seal of Casar, 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,) 4 Cit. We'll hear the will : Read it, Mark Antony. Cit. The will, the will; we will hear Cæsar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd you. 4 Cit. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony: You shall read us the will; Caesar's will. Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay a while? I have o'ershot myself, to tell you of it. fear, I wrong the honourable men, Whose daggers have stabb'd Casar: I do fear it. 4 Cit. They were traitors: Honourable men ! Cit. The will! the testament! 2 Cit. They were villains, murderers: The will! read the will! Ant. You will compel me then to read the will? Then make a ring about the corpse of Casar, And let me shew you him that made the will. Shall I descend? And will you give me leave? Cit. Come down. 2 Cit. Descend. (He comes down from the pulpit. 3 Cit. You shall have leave. 4 Cit. A ring; stand round. 1 Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. 2 Cit. Room for Antony ;-most noble Antony. Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far of Cit. Stand back ! room ! bear back ! Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. Look ! in this place ran Cassius' dagger through: 2 Cit. O noble Cæsar! 3 Cit. O woful day! 4 Cit. O traitors, villains! 2 Cit. We will be revenged: revenge; about.— seek,-burn.-fire,-kill,-slay!-let not a traitor Ant. Stay, countrymen. live. 1 Cit. Peace there:-Hear the noble Antony, 2 Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him. Ant. Good friends, sweet friends let me not sta you up 1 To such a sudden flood of mutiny. They, that have done this deed, are honourable; Bat, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus, 1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus. Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves? Cit. Most true;-the will;-let's stay, and hear the will. Sere. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The Same. A Street. Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feast with Cæsar, And things unluckily charge my fantasy: have no will to wander forth of doors, Yet something leads me forth. Enter Citizens. 1 Cit. What is your name? 2 Cit. Whither are you going? 3 Cit. Where do you dwell? 4 Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 2 Cit. Answer every man directly. 1 Cit. Ay, and briefly. 4 Cit. Ay, and wisely. 3 Cit. Ay, and truly, you were best. Cin. What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married man, or a bachelor? Then to answer every man directly, and briefly, wisely, and truly. Wisely I say, I am a bachelor. 2 Cit. That's as much as to say, they are fools that marry:-You'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed: directly. Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral. 1 Cit. As a friend, or an enemy? Cin. As a friend. 2 Cit. That matter is answered directly. 4 Cit. For your dwelling,-briefly. Cin. Briefly I dwell by the Capitol. 3 Cit. Your name, sir, truly. Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna. 1 Cit. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator. Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 4 Cit. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses. Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator. 2 Cit. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. 3 Cit. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, ho! fire-brands. To Brutus, to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away; go. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.-The same. A Room in Antony's House. ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a table. Ant. These many then shall die; their names are prick'd. [Lepidus? Oct. Your brother too must die; Consent you, Lep. I do consent. (him. Oct. Prick him down, Antony. Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live, Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony. Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house; Fetch the will hither, and we determine. How to cut off some charge in legacies. Lep. What, shall I find you here? Oct. The Capitol. Or here, or at [Exit Lepidus. Ant. This a slight unmeritable man, Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit, The three-fold world divided, he should stand One of the three to share it? Oct. So you thought him; And took his voice who should be prick'd to die, In our black sentence and proscription. Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you: And though we lay these honours on this man, To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads, He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold, To groan and sweat under the business, Either led or driven, as we point the way; And having brought our treasure where we will, Then take we down his load, and turn him off, Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears, And graze in common. Oct. You may do your will; But he's a tried and valiant soldier. Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and, for that, I do appoint him store of provender. It is a creature that I teach to fight, To wind, to stop, to run directly on; His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit. And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so; He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth: Pin. I do not doubt, But that my noble master will appear, Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius: Luc. With courtesy, and with respect enough; But not with such familiar instances, Nor with such free and friendly conference, As he hath us`d of old. Bru. Thou hast describ'd A hot friend cooling: Ever note, Lucilius, When love begins to sicken and decay, It useth an enforced ceremony. There are no tricks in plain and simple faith: But hollow men, like horses hot at hand, Make gallant shew and promise of their mettle: But, when they should endure the bloody spur, They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades, Sink in the trial. Comes his army on? Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarThe greater part, the horse in general,. Are come with Cassius. Bru. {ter'd; (March within.) Hark, he is arriv'd:- March gently on to meet him. Enter CASSIUS and Soldiers. Cas. Stand, ho! Bru. Stand, ho! Speak the word along. Within. Stand. Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me [enemies? wrong. Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother? Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides And when you do them[wrongs; Bru. Cassius, be content, Speak your griefs softly,-I do know you well:Before the eyes of both our armies here, Which should perceive nothing but love from us, Let us not wrangle: Bid them move away: Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs, And I will give you audience. Cas. Pindarus, Bid our commanders lead their charges off A little from this ground. Br Lucilius, do the like; and let no man Come to our tent. till we have done our conference. Let Lucius aud Titinius guard our door. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Within the Tent of Brutus. Lucius and Titinius at some distance from it. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS. Cas. That you have wrong'd me, doth appear to this: You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella, You know, that you are Brutus that speak this. [member Bru. Remember March, the ides of March reDid not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, And not for justice? What, shall one of us, That struck the foremost man of all this world, But for supporting robbers; shall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes? And sell the mighty space of our large honours, For so much trash, as may be grasped thus?I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than such a Roman. Cas. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, Bru. Cas. I am. Go to; you're not, Cassies. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Shall I be frighted, when a madman stares? Cas. O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this" Bru. All this? ay, more: Fret, till your prod heart break; Go, shew your slaves how choleric you are, Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love; Imay do that I shall be sorry for. [for. For certain sums of gold, which you deny'd me ;- And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me: Was that done like Cassius? When Marcus Brutus grows sc covetons, Cas. Bru. You did. Cas. I denied you not. I did not :-he was but a fool, That brought my answer back.-Brutus hath riv'd my heart: A friend should bear his friend's infirmities, Bru. Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, For Cassius is a-weary of the world: To cast into my teeth. O, I conld weep My spirit from mine eyes!-There is my dagger, Bru. I that denied thee gold, will give my heart: Cas. Cas. Bru. O Brutus! Hath Cassius liv'd To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him? Bru. When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too. Cas. Do you contess so much? Give me your Bru. And my heart too. [hand. What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, Wcea that rash bumour, which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bry. Yes, Cassius; and, henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, Heil think your mother chides, and leave you so. (Noise within.) Poet. (Within.) Let me go in to see the general; There is some grudge between them, 'tis not meet They be alone. Luc. Within.) You shall not come to them. Enter LUCILIUS and TITINIUS. Bru. Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders Prepare to lodge their companies to-night. Cas. And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you Immediately to us. [Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius. Cas. Of your philosophy you make no use, If you give place to accidental evils. Bru. No man bears sorrow better:-Portia is Cas. Ha! Portia? Bru. She is dead. [dead Now sit we close about this taper here, Bru. Mes. That by proscription, and bills of outlawry, Bru. Therein our letters do not well agree Mes. Ay, Cicero is dead, Mes. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her" Bru. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. Mes. Then like a Roman bear the truth I teli: For certain she is dead, and by strange manner. Bru. Why, farewell, Portia.-We must die, Messala: |