Re-enter Antony.
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 weil.-
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:
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, Caesar 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.
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 Caesar'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.
Be it so;
Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.
[Exeunt all but Antony.
Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I ani meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man,
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you:-That ever lived in the tide of times.
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;- Wo to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Now, Decius Brutus, yours;-Now yours, Me- Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,-
tellus;
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. A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Gentlemen all,--alas! what shall I say? Domestick fury, and fierce civil strife,
My credit now stands on such slippery ground, Shall cumber all the parts in Italy:
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me, Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
Either a coward or a flatterer.-
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?
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!
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
Rome.
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 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.
Lend me your hand.
[Exeunt with Cæsar's Body. SCENE II. The same. The Forum.
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 MarkAntony,
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.
Cit. 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, let them stay here;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him; And publick reasons shall be rendered Of Cæsar's death. 1 Cit. 2 Cit. 1 will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons,
I will hear Brutus speak.
When severally we hear them rendered.
[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, in this assembly, any dear friend of Cesar's, that you may the better judge. If there be any 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 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 bave 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. Cit. None, Brutus, none. [Several speaking at once.
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 need my death.
Cut. Live, Brutus, live! live!
1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. 3 Cit. Let him be Cæsar.
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,→→
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 3 Cit.
He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholden to us all.
4 Cit. "Twere best he speak no harm of Brutns here.
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,➖➖➖➖
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: And grievously hath Cæsar answer'd it. If it were so, it was a grievous fault; Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest Come I to speak in Casar's funeral. (For Brutus is an honourable man; 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." He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: When that the poor have cried, Casar hath wept: Did this in Caesar seem ambitions? 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, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambitiou 7 I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; And sure, he is an honourable man. 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 canse; What cause withholds you then to mourn for
judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason!-Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Casar, And I must panse 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 ambitions. 1 Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it. 2 Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
3 Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than Antony.
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 be 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 Cassins 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, '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,
4 Cit. We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony. Cit. The will, the will: we will hear Caesar'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 Cesar,
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 you be patient? Will you stay
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.
4 Cit. They were traitors: Honourable men!
Cit. The will! the testament!
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You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Cæsar put it on;.
"Twas 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 Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
1 Cit Opiteous 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
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 griefs 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. come not, friends, to steal away your hearts; 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:
tell you that, which you yourselves do know;
Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor, poor
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 An
Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what:
Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves?;
Alas, you know not:-I must 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 Caesar: 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 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.
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.
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,
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 had 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 ?
Lep. I do consent.
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
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?
Oct.
The Capitol.
Or here, or at
[Exit Lepidus.
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;
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,
|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,
Are levying powers: we must straight make
Listen great things.-Brutus and Cassius
Therefore, let our alliance be combin'd,
Our best friends made, and our best means
And let us presently go sit in council,
stretch'd out,
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.
[Exeunt
Before Brutus' Tent, in the Camp near Sardis.
Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, Lucius, and Sor
diers Titinius and Pindarus meeting them.
Bru. Stand, ho!
Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand.
Luc. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come
Bru. What now, Lucilius? Is Cassius near?
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,
I shall be satisfied.
I do not doubt,
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.
But that my noble master will appear
Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius!
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,
I It useth an enforced ceremony.
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle :
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades,
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?
Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be
quarter'd;
The greater part, the horse in general,
Are come with Cassius.
[March within. Hark, he is arriv'd:
March gently on to meet him.
Enter Cassius and Soldiers.
Bru Stand, ho! Speak the word along.
Go, show your slaves how cholerick you are,
And make you bondmen tremble. Must 1 budge?
Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me Under your testy humour? By the gods,
And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother? Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs;
Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine ene-Though it do split you: for, from this day forth,
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,"
When you are waspish.
Is it come to this ?
Bru. You say, you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well: For mine own part,
shall be glad to learn of noble men.
And when you do them-
Bru.
Cassius, be content,
Speak your griefs softly,-I do know you weil:-
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle: Bid them move away;
Then in my tent, Cassins, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.
Bid our commanders lead their charges off
A little from this ground.
Bru. Lucilius, do you the like; and let no man
Come to our tent, till we have done our confer-
Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door.
[Exeunt. SCENE III. Within the Tent of Brutus. Lucius and Titinius at some distance from it. Enter Brutus and Cassius.
Cas. That you have wrong'd me, doth appear
in this :
You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella,
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein, my letters, praying on his side,
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.
Cas. You wrong me every way, you wrong me,
Brutus;
I said, an elder soldier, not a better:
Did I say, better?
Cas. When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd me.
Bru. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempted him
Cas. I durst not?
Bru. No.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty,
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me;
For I can raise no money by vile means:
Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
Cas. In such a time as this, it is not meet
That every nice offence should bear his comment.
Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm;
To sell and mart your offices for gold,
To undeservers.
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash,
By any indirection. I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me: Was that done like Cas
sius ?
Should I have answer'd Cains Cassius so? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, You know, that you are Brutus that speak this, To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last. Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts, Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corrup-Dash him to pieces! tion,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
Cas. Chastisement!
Bru. Remember March, the ides of March re-
member!
Did not great Julius bleed for justice sake?
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world,
But for supporting robbers; shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes 7
And sell the mighty space of our large honours,
For so much trash, as may be grasped thus 7-
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman.
Go to; you're not, Cassius.
Bru. I say, you are not.
Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself;
Have mind upon your health, tempt me no
further.
Bru. Away, slight man!
Cas. Is't possible?
Bru.
Hear me, for I will speak.
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted, when a madman stares?
Cas. O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this?
Bru. All this? ay, more: Fret, till your proud
heart break
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I do not like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear
As huge as high Olympus.
Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is aweary of the world:
Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother;
Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observ'd,
Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes!-There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart
Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike as thou didst at Cæsar; for, I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov'dst
him better
Than ever thou lov'dst Cassius.
Bru.
Sheath your dagger:
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
10 Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
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