And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. 2 Cit. Go, fetch fire. 3 Cit. Pluck down benches. 4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. [Exeunt Citizens, with the body. Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house. : 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. - [Exeuni SCENE III.9 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. 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. [9] The subject of this scene is taken from Plutarch. STEEVENS. Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral, Cin. As a friend. 2 Cit. That matter is answered directly. 1 Cit. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator. 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! 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. Antony. THESE many men shall die; their names are prick'd. 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 him. 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? The Capitol. Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man, Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit, [Exit LEPIDUS. The three-fold world divided, he should stand One of the three to share it? Oct. So you thought him; [1] Lucius, not Publius, was the person here meant, who was the uncle by the moher's side to Mark Antony. This mistake, however, is more like the mistake of the author, who has already substituted Decius in the room of Decimus, than of his ranscriber or printer. STEEVENS. And took his voice who should be prick'd to die, Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you: Oct. You may do your will; But he's a tried and valiant soldier. Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and, for that, forth: Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men, Are levying powers: we must straight make head: 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 mischief. SCENE II. [Exeunt. Before BRUTUS' Tent, in the Camp near Sardis. Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers: TITINIUS and PINDARUS meeting them. Bru. Stand, ho! Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand. Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near? Luc. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master. [PINDARUS gives a letter to BRUTUS, Bru. He greets me well.-Your master, Pindarus, 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, Pin. I do not doubt, But that my noble master will appear Luc. With courtesy, and with respect enough; Nor with such free and friendly conference, Bru. Thou hast describ'd A hot friend cooling: Ever note, Lucilius, There are no tricks in plain and simple faith: Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd ; The greater part, the horse in general, Are come with Cassius. Bru. 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. Within. Stand. Within. Stand. [March within Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies? And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother? Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs; And when you do them Bra. Cassius, be content, Speak your griefs softly,-I do know you well:- Cas. Pindarus, Bid our commanders lead their charges off Bru. Lucilius, do the like; and let no man Come to our tent, till we have done our conference. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Within the Tent of BRUTUS. LUCIUS and TITINIUS at some For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Wherein, my letters, praying on his side, Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a case Cas. I an itching palm ? You know, that you are Brutus that speak this, Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corruption, Bry. Remember March, the ides of March remember! That is, every small trifling offence. WARBURTON. This question is far from implying that any of those who touch'd Cæsar's body, were villains. On the contrary, it is an indirect way of asserting, that there was not a man among them, who was base enough to stab him for any cause but that of justice. MALONE. |