Sooth.

Cæsar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber; Decius loves thee not; thou hast wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Cæsar. If thou be'st not immortal, look about thee!

If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou may'st live;
If not, the fates with traitors do contrive. [He retires a little.] Enter Lucius and Porcia.

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!—
Art thou here yet?

Luc.
Madam, what should I do?
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?

Por.
Yes; bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well;
For he went sickly forth: And take good note,
What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him.—
Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Luc.
I hear none, madam.

Por.
Pr'ythee, listen well:
I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.

Luc.
Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.

Por. [Seeing the Soothsayer]
Come hither, fellow:
Which way hast thou been?

Sooth.
At mine own house, good lady.

Por.
Is Cæsar 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 Cæsar, hast thou not?

Sooth.
That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar
To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me,
I shall beseech him to befriend himself.

Por.
Why, know'st thou any harm's intended tow'rds him?

Sooth.
None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance. [Exit Soothsayer.

Por.
I must go in.—Ah me, how weak a thing
The heart of woman is!—O, Brutus, Brutus,
The heaven speed thee in thine enterprise!—
Sure, the boy heard me.—Brutus hath a suit
That Cæsar will not grant.—O, I grow faint!—
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
Say, I am merry: Come to me again,
And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Rome. The Capitol. A Flourish of Instruments. The Senate sitting. Cæsar, Antony, Lepidus, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Senators, and others, discovered. Enter the Soothsayer.

Sooth.
Hail, Cæsar!

Cæs.
The ides of March are come.

Sooth.
Ay, Cæsar; but not gone.—Hail!—Read this schedule.

Dec.
Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.

Sooth.
O, Cæsar, read mine first; for mine 's a suit
That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar.

Cæs.
What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd.

Sooth.
Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly.

Cæs.
What, is the fellow mad?

Dec.
Sirrah, give place. [Exit Soothsayer. Enter Popilius Lenas.

Pop.
I wish, your enterprise to-day may thrive.

Cas.
What enterprise, Popilius?

Pop.
Fare you well. [Advances to Cæsar.]

Bru.
What said Popilius Lenas?

Cas.
He wish'd, to-day our enterprise might thrive.
I fear, our purpose is discovered.

Bru.
Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him.

Cas.
Casca, be sudden; for we fear prevention.—
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back;
For I will slay myself.

Bru.
Cassius, be constant:
Popilius Lenas speaks not of our purposes:
For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. [Exeunt Trebonius and Antony.

Cas.
Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [Metellus advances towards Cæsar.]

Dec.
Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar.

Bru.
He is address'd: press near, and second him.

Cas.
Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.

Cæs.
Are we all ready?—What is now amiss,
That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress?

Met.
Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart:— [Kneeling.]

Cæs.
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 Cæsar 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, Cæsar 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 Cæsar's ear,
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

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

Cæs.
What, Brutus!

Cas.
Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon:
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

Cæs.
I could be well mov'd, if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
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: 'T is 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: and, 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 Cæsar,—

Cæs.
Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?

Dec.
Great Cæsar,—

Cæs.
Doth not Decius bootless kneel?

Casca.
Speak, hands, for me. [Metellus lays hold on Cæsar's robe:— Casca stabs Cæsar in the neck:—Cæsar catches hold of his arm:—He is then stabbed by the other Conspirators, and at last by Marcus Brutus.]

Cæs.
Et tu, Brute?—Then, fall, Cæsar.— [Dies.]

Bru.
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!

Cas.
Run hence, proclaim it;—cry about the streets,
Liberty, Freedom, and Enfranchisement! [The Senators and Attendants are retiring in great confusion.]

Bru.
People, and Senators!—Be not affrighted;
Fly not; stand still:—Ambition's debt is paid:
There is no harm intended to your persons,
Nor to no Roman else:—so tell them, Lenas.

Cas.
Leave us, Popilius; lest that the people,
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.

Bru.
Do so:— [Exeunt Popilius Lenas, and Lepidus.
And let no man abide this deed,
But we the doers. 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'll know your pleasures:—
That we shall die we know; 't is 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.—
On, Romans, on;
With hands and swords besmear'd in Cæsar's blood,
Thus 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.
How many ages hence,
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over,
In states unborn, and accents yet unknown!

Bru.
How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport,

That now at 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 their country liberty.

Casca.
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 Servius.

Bru.
Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's.

Ser.
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;
Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him:
Say, I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him, and lov'd him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolv'd
How Cæsar hath deserv'd to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Cæsar 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.

Ser.
I'll fetch him presently. [Exit Servius.

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. Enter Antony, Servius, and Strato.

Bru.
But here comes Antony.—Welcome, Mark Antony.

Ant.
O mighty Cæsar! 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 so fit
As Cæsar'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 thee, if you 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 Cæsar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.

Bru.
O Antony! beg not your death of us.
Though now 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:
Our hearts you see not, they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:
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 Cæsar 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, yours;—now yours, Metellus;—

Yours, Cinna;—and, my valiant Casca, yours;—
Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.
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, Cæsar, O, 't is true:
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death,
To see thy Antony making his peace,
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 death.

Cas.
Mark Antony,—

Ant.
Pardon me, Caius Cassius:
The enemies of Cæsar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Cas.
I blame you not for praising Cæsar so:
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends;
Or shall 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 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 mov'd
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;
Domestick 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 chanc'd.—
Yet, stay a while;
Thou shalt not back, till I have borne this corse
Into the market-place: there shall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
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 Cæsar'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 publick reasons shall be rendered
Of Cæsar's death.

Several Ple.
We will hear Brutus speak.

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 lov'd Cæsar less, but that I lov'd Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves; than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæsar 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 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.

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 enforc'd, 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 Cæsar'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.

All the Ple.
Live, Brutus! live! live!

1 Ple.
Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.

Ant.
For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you. [Antony goes into the Rostrum.]

2 Ple.
What does he say of Brutus?

1 Ple.
He says, for Brutus' sake,
He finds himself beholden to us all.

2 Ple.
'T were best he speak no harm of Brutus here.

1 Ple.
This Cæsar was a tyrant.

2 Ple.
Nay, that 's certain:
We are bless'd, that Rome is rid of him.

Ant.
You gentle Romans,—

All the Ple.
Peace, ho! let us hear him.

Ant.
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 Cæsar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest,—

(For Brutus is an honourable man,
So are they all, all honourable 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 honourable 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 honourable 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 honourable 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 without cause;
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?
O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason!—Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar,
And I must pause till it come back to me. [Weeps.]

1 Ple.
Methinks there is much reason in his sayings;
If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Cæsar has had great wrong.

2 Ple.
Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown;
Therefore, 't is certain, he was not ambitious.

1 Ple.
There 's not a nobler man in Rome, than Antony.

2 Ple.
Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.

3 Ple.
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 you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men.
But here 's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar,
I found it in his closet, 't is 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.

2 Ple.
We 'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Antony.

All the Ple.
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.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
And, being men, hearing the will of Cæsar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad:
'T is good, you know not that you are his heirs;
For, if you should, O, what would come of it!

1 Ple.
Read the will; we will hear it; Cæsar's will!

Ant.
Will you be patient? Will you stay a while?
I have o'ershot myself, to tell you of it.
I fear, I wrong the honourable men,
Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar: I do fear it.

2 Ple.
They were traitors: Honourable men!

All the Ple.
The will! the testament!

Ant.
You will compell me then to read the will?

Then, make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?

2 Ple.
Descend: you shall have leave.

All the Ple.
Come down, come down! [Antony quits the Rostrum.]

1 Ple.
Room for Mark Antony;—most noble Antony!

All the Ple.
Stand back! room! bear back!

Ant.
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Cæsar put it on;
'T was on a summer's evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii:—
Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through:
See, what a rent the envious Casca made:
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;
And, as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Cæsar follow'd it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolv'd
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no!
For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel:
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar lov'd him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all:
For, when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statua,
Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.—
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls! What, weep you, when you but behold
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.

1 Ple.
O piteous spectacle!

2 Ple.
O noble Cæsar!

3 Ple.
O woful day!

4 Ple.
O traitors, villains!

2 Ple.

We will be reveng'd! revenge; about,— seek,—burn,—fire,—kill,—slay!—let not a traitor live!

Ant.

Stay, countrymen.

1 Ple.

Peace there!—Hear the noble Antony.

2 Ple.

We 'll hear him, we 'll follow him, we 'll die with him!

Ant.
Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
They, that have done this deed, are honourable:
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it; they are wise and honourable;
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:
I am no orator, as Brutus is;
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend: and that they know full well
That gave me publick leave to speak of him;
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
I tell you that, which you yourselves do know;
Show you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths,
And bid them speak for me. But, were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Cæsar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.

All the Ple.
We 'll mutiny!

2 Ple.
We 'll burn the house of Brutus.

1 Ple.
Away then, come, seek the conspirators.

Ant.
Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.

All the Ple.
Peace, ho!

Ant.
Why, friends, you go to do you know not what:
Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves?
You have forgot the will I told you of.

2 Ple.
Most true;—the will;—let's stay, and hear the will.

Ant.
Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal.
To every Roman Citizen he gives,
To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

2 Ple.
Most noble Cæsar!—we'll revenge his death.

Ant.
Hear me with patience.

All the Ple.
Peace, ho!

Ant.
Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours, and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tyber; he hath left them you,
And to your heirs for ever,
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Cæsar: When comes such another?

2 Ple.
Never, never:—Come, away, away:
We 'll burn his body in the holy place,
And, with the brands, fire the traitors' houses.
Take up the body. [They raise the Hearse on which Cæsar's Body lies.

1 Ple.
Go, fetch fire.—Pluck down benches,—

3 Ple.
Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.

4 Ple.
Come, brands, ho! fire-brands.

1 Ple.
To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all!

2 Ple.
Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's.

3 Ple.
Some to Trebonius'.

All the Ple.
Away; go. [Exeunt the Plebeians, bearing Cæsar's Body, with great noise and tumult.

Ant.
Now let it work:—Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what course thou wilt!—How now, fellow? Enter Flavius hastily.

Fla.
Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.

Ant.
Where is he?

Fla.
He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house.

Ant.
And thither will I straight to visit him:
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And, in this mood, will give us any thing.

Fla.
I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.

Ant.
Belike, they had some notice of the people,
How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt. END OF ACT III.

Previous section

Next section