Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar.
Friends am I with you all, and love you all;
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons,
Why, and wherein, Cæsar was dangerous.
Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle:
Our reasons are so full of good regard,
That were you, Antony, the son of Cæsar,
You should be satisfied.

Ant. That's all I seek:

And am moreover suitor, 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 shall, Mark Antony.

Cas. Brutus, a word with you.

[Aside.] You know not what you do: Do not consent, That Antony speak in his funeral:

Know you how much the people may be moved
By that which he will utter?

Bru. [Aside.] By your pardon:

I will myself into the pulpit first,

And show the reason of our Cæsar's death:
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission;
And that we are contented, Cæsar shall
Have all true rites, and lawful ceremonies.
It shall advantage more, than do us wrong.

Cas. [Aside.] I know not what may fall; I like it

not.

Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar'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 our 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.

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. [Exeunt all but ANTONY, SERVIUS, and STRATO. Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of 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 prophesy,-

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 choak'd with custom of fell deeds:
And Cæsar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Até 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 FLAVIUS, CLITUS, and ATTENDANTS,

News from Octavius Cæsar, is it not?
Fla. It is, Mark Antony.

Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome. Fla. He did receive his letters, and is coming: He writes, that I should say to you,

-O Cæsar![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 Octavius coming?

Fla. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. Ant. Post off with speed, and tell him what hath chanced.

Yet, stay a while;

Thou shalt not back, till I have borne this corse
Into the market-place: there shall I try,
oration, how the people take

In

my

The cruel issue of these bloody men;

According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius of the state of things.-
Come, bring the body on.

[Exeunt with CESAR'S Body.

SCENE III.

Rome.

A Street.

Enter CINNA, with the Cap of Liberty, a Throng of PLEBEIANS, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS, DECIUS, METELLUS, with their Swords drawn, and another Throng of PLEBEIANS.

All the Ple. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied. Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.

Cassius, go you into the other street,

And part the numbers.

Those that will hear me speak, come to the Forum. Cas. Those that will follow Cassius, go with me; And public reason shall be render'd

Of Cæsar's death..

-Several Ple. We will hear Brutus speak,

1

Several Ple. We will hear Cassius.

[Exeunt CINNA and BRUTUS with the greater part of the PLEBEIANS, CASSIUS, and the other CONSPIRATORS, with the rest of them.

SCENE IV.

Rome.

The Forum.

Enter a Throng of PLEBEIANS, BRUTUS, and another Crowd of PLEBEians.

[BRUTUS goes into the Rostrum.]

All the Ple. Silence! silence!

2 Ple. 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 was ambitious, I slew him : There is tears for hs love; joy, for his fortune; ho

nour, 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.

All the Ple. None, Brutus, none.

Bru. Then none have I offended.-I have done no more to Cæsar, than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enroll'd in the Capitol: his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffer'd death.

All the Ple. Brutus! Brutus! Brutus !

1 Ple. Bring him with triumph home unto his house:

Give him a statue with his ancestors.

2 Ple. Let him be Cæsar.

All the Ple. Brutus! Brutus! Brutus !

Bru. My countrymen,

2 Ple. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks.

Bru. Here comes Cæsar's body mourn'd by Mark
Antony,-

Enter GUARDS, bearing CESAR's Body on a Hearse,
ANTONY, SERVIUS, STRATO, and CLITUS.

Good countrymen, let me withdraw alone;
I do entreat no man of you will stir;
But, for my sake, stay here with Antony,
Do grace to Cæsar's corse; and grace his speech
Tending to Cæsar's glories, which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow'd to make.

(BRUTUS leaves the Rostrum. With this I depart,-That, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. [Exit BRUTUS. All the Ple. Live, Brutus! live! live!

H