Cæsar.
The Ides of March are come.

Sooth.
Ay, Cæsar, but not gone.

Art.
Hail, Cæsar: read this schedule.

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

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

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

Art.
Delay not, Cæsar, read it instantly.

Cæs.
What, is the fellow mad?

Pub.
Sirrah, give place.

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

Pop.
I wish your enterprize to-day may thrive.

Cas.
What enterprize, Popilius?

Pop.
Fare you well.

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 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 my self.

Bru.
Cassius be constant:
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes,
For look he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change.

Cas.
Trebonius knows his time; for look you, Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.

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

Bru.
He is addrest; press near, and second him.

Cin.
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 [Kneeling.
An humble heart.

Cæs.
I must prevent thee, Cimber;
These couchings and these lowly curtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turn pre-ordinance and first decree
Into the lane 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-curtsies, 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.* ^note












Let me a little shew it, even in this;
That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
And constant do remain to keep him so.

Cim.
O Cæsar—

Cæs.
Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?

Dec.
Great Cæsar—

Cæs.
Do not, Brutus, bootless kneel.

Casc.
Speak hands for me. [They stab Cæsar.

Cæs.
Et tu? Brute!—then fall Cæsar! [Dies.

Cin.
Liberty! freedom! Tyranny is dead—
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets—

Cas.
Some to the common pulpits, and cry out,
Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement.

Bru.
People and Senators! be not affrighted;

Fly not, stand still. Ambition's debt is paid.

Casc.
Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

Dec.
And Cassius too.

Bru.
Where's Publius?

Cin.
Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.

Met.
Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cæsar'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.

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