Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprise might Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
I fear our purpose is discover'd.
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.
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,
[Exeunt Antony and Trebonius Cæsar
and the Senators take their seats.
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.
Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
Caes. Are we all ready? what is now amiss,
That Cæsar and his senate must redress?
Met. Most high, most mighty, and most
sant Cæsar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart:-
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.
Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
And Cassius too.
Bru. Where's Publius!
Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of
Cæsar's
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.
Re-enter Trebonius.
Cas. Where's Antony ?
Fled to his house amar'd
puis-Tre.
Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run,
As it were doomsday.
[Kneeling.
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
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar'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.
Cas. What, Brutus!
Cas.
Pardon, Cæsar: Cæsar, pardon:
As low as to thy foot doth Cassins fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
Cas. 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; "Tis 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,-
Cas.
Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
Dec. Great Cæsar,-
Cas.
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
Casca. Speak, hands, for me.
[Casca stabs Cæsar in the Neck. Cæsar
catches hold of his Arm. He is then
stabbed by several other Conspirators,
and at last by Marcus Brutus.
Cæs. Et tu, Brute?-Then, fall, Cæsar.
Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures:-
That we shall die, we know; 'tis 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:
So are we Cæsar's friends, that have abridg'd
His time of fearing death.-Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar's blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Then 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. Stoop then, and wash. How many ages
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 on Pompey's basis lies along,
No worthier than the dust?
So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave our country liberty.
Dec. 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 a Servant.
Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Ar
tony's.
Serv. 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 his
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.
Serv.
I'll fetch him presently. [E
Bru. I know, that we shall have him well
friend.
[Dies. The Senators and People retire in Cas. I wish, we may: but yet have I a mind,
That fears him much; and my misgiving sal
Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!-Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
Re-enter Antony.
Bru. But here comes Antony.-Welcome, Mark
Antony.
Ant. O mighty Cæsar! Dost thou lie so low 7
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 you, 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,
And this the bleeding business they have done :
Our hearts you see not, they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
(As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity,)
Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark
Antony:
Our arms, in strength of malice, 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 Brutus, yours;-Now yours, Me-
tellus;
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."
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 ?
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. 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 1 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.
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.
Wo to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,-
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
Yours, Cinna;-and, my valiant Casca, yours;-To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue!
Tho' 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, 'tis 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 the 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 term of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius !-Here wast thou bay'd,
brave hart:
Here did'st thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Sing'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe.
O world! thou wast the forest to this hart;
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.-
How like a deer, stricken by many princes,
Dost thou here lie!
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;"
Domestick fury, and fierce civil strife,
Shall cumber all the parts in 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 chok'd with custom of fell deeds:
And Cæsar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate 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 a Servant.
You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not?
Serv. I do, Mark Antony.
Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome.
Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming:
And bid me say to you by word of mouth,-
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,
Pardon me, Caius Cassius: Began to water. Is thy master coming?
Cas. Mark Antony,-
Ant.
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,
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,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;
Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay a while;
Thou shalt not back, till I have borne this corse
Into the market-place: there shall 1 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.
Lend me your hand.
[Exeunt with Cæsar's Body.
2 Cit.
1 Cit. Peace, ho!
Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And for my sake, stay here with Antony:
Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Cæsar's glories; which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow'd to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
Peace; silence! Brutus speaks
Enter Brutus and Cassius, and a throng of 1 Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.
When severally we hear them rendered.
3 Cit. Let him go up into the publick chair; We'll hear him :-Noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you. 4 Cit. What does he say of Brutus 7 3 Cit. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholden to us all. 4 Cit. "Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus
1 Cit. This Cæsar 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
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;
Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral.
So are they all; all honourable men,)
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says, he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honourable man."
[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. 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 Cesar'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, He hath brought many captives home to Rome, and die all slaves; than that Cæsar were dead, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: to live all free men? As Cæsar loved me, I weep Did this in Cæsar seem ambitions? for him; as he was fortunate I rejoice at it; as When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: he was valiant, I honour him: but, as he was Anibition should be made of sterner stuff: ambitious, I slew him: There is tears, for his Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. love; joy, for his fortune; honour, for his va- You all did see, that on the Lupercal, lour; and death, for his ambition. Who is here I thrice presented him a kingly crown, so base, that would be a bondman? If any, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, speak for him have I offended. Who is here so vile, And sure, he is an honourable man. 1 speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, that will not love his country? If any, speak; But here I am to speak what I do know. for him have I offended. I pause for a reply. You all did love him once, not without canse; Cit. None, Brutus, none. [Several speaking at once. What cause withholds you then to mourn for 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 that good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to neel my death.
Crt. Live, Brutus, live! live!
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,→→→→→
judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason!-Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause tiil it come back to me." 1 Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his saying. 2 Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar had great wrong. 3 Cit.
Has he, masters?
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 ambitious
1 Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it
2 Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with
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 you,
Than I will wrong snch honourable men.
But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar,
I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:
et 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.
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, 1 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 Caesar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad :
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;
For if you should, O, what would come of it!
4 Cit. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony;
You shall read us the will; Cæsar's will.
Ant. Will
Will you be patien: 7 Will you stay a
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.
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 Cæsar, And let me show you him that made the will. Shall I descend 7 And will you give me leave? Cit. Come down.
2 Cit. Descend. [He comes down from 3 Cit. You shall have leave. [the Pulpit.
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 off. Cit. Stand back! room! bear back!
Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them
You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Cæsar put it on;
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 Cit piteous spectacle!
12 Cit. O noble Cæsar!
3 Cit. O woful day!
4 Cit. O traitors, villains!
1 Cit. O most bloody sight!
2 Cit. We will be revenged-revenge: about, -seek,-burn,fire,-kill,-slay 1-let not a trai
Ant. Stay, countrymen.
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 stir you up
To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
They, that have done this deed, are honourable;
What private griets they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it; they are wise and ho
nourable,
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.
Cit. We'll mutiny..
1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus.
3 Cit. Away then, come, seek the conspirators.
Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me
speak.
Cit. Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony.
Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what:
Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves 7, Alas, you know not:-I mus: tell you then: You have forgot the will I told you of.
Cit. 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 Cit. Most noble Cæsar! we'll revenge his death.
3 Cit. O royal Cæsar!
Ant. Hear me with patience.
Cit. 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; common pleasures,
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Cæsar: When comes such another?
1 Cit. 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.
2 Cit. Go, fetch fire.
3 Cit. Pluck down benches.
4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. [Exeunt Citizens, with the Body. Ant. Now let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!-How now, fellow ?
Enter a Servant. Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Ant. Where is he? Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's honse. 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.
Serv. 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.
SCENE III. The same. A Street.
Enter Cinna, the Poet.
Cin. I dreamt, to-night, that I did feast with
Cæsar,
And things unluckily charge my fantasy:
I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.
1 Cit. What is your name?
2 Cit. Whither are you going?
3 Cit. Where do you dwell 7
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, 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.
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! firebrands. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius'; away; go. [Exeunt.
SCENE I. The same.
A Room in Antony's House.
Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, seated at a
Ant. These many then shall die; their names
are prick'd.
Oct. Your brother too must die; Consent you,
Lepidus?
Prick him down, Antony. Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live,
Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.
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 me down his load, and turn him off,
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears,
And graze in commons.
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
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On objects, arts, and imitations;
Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men,
Begin his fashion. Do not talk of him,
But as a property. And now, Octavius,
Listen great things.-Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers: we must straight make
Therefore, let our alliance be combin'd,
Our best friends made, and our best means
stretch'd out,
And let us presently go sit in council,
How covert matters may be best disclos'd,
And open perils surest answered.
Oct. Let us do so; for we are at the stake,
And bay'd about with many enemies;
And some, that smile, have in their hearts, I fear,
Millions of mischiefs.
In his own change, or by ill officers,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done, undone : but, if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.
I do not doubt,
But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.
Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucillus
How he receiv'd you, let me be resolv'd.
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,
Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I It useth an enforced ceremony.
But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house;
Fetch the will hither and we will determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
Lep. What, shall I find you here?
Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit,
The threefold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?
Oct.
So you thought him; March gently on to meet 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,
Enter Cassius and Soldiers.
Cas. Stand, ho!
Bru Stand, ho! Speak the word along.
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