The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus, Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit Servant. 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; and my misgiving still 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? As Cæsar's death's hour! nor no instrument Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, 10 Johnson explains this:- Who else may be supposed to have overtopped his equals, and grown too high for the public safety.' This explanation will derive more support than has yet been given to it from the following speech of Oliver in As You Like It, Act i. Sc. 1, when incensed at the high bearing of his brother Orlando:-'Is it even so? begin you to grow upon me? I will physick your rankness.' Fulfil you pleasure. Live a thousand years, Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. 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, With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence 11. Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd The multitude, beside themselves with fear, 11 To you (says Brutus) our swords have leaden points: our arms, strong in the deed of malice they have just performed, and our hearts united like those of brothers in the action, are yet open to receive you with all possible regard.' This explanation by Steevens is, it must be confessed, very ingenious; and yet I think we should read, as he himself suggested: - 'Our arms no strength of malice.' which would render the passage clear without a commentary. 12 Mr. Blakeway observes, that Shakspeare has maintained the consistency of Cassius's character, who, being selfish and greedy himself, endeavours to influence Antony by similar motives. Brutus, on the other hand, is invariably represented as disinterested and generous, and is adorned by the poet with so many good qualities, that we are almost tempted to forget that he was an assassin. And then we will deliver you the cause, Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him, 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, 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 I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true:- Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death, Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, 13 Lethe is used by many old writers for death. 'The proudest nation that great Asia nurs'd Is now extinct in lethe.' Heywood's Iron Age, Part II. 1632. It appears to have been used as a word of one syllable in this sense; and is derived from lethum, Lat. Our ancient language was also enriched with the derivatives lethal, lethality, lethiferous, &c. O world! thou wast the forest to this hart; And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.-- Dost thou here lie! Cas. Mark Antony, Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius: The enemies of Cæsar shall say this; Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so; Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, in deed, you all; Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar. Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle: Ant. That's all I seek: And am moreover suitor, that I may Cas. Brutus, a word with you.You know not what you do; Do not consent, That Antony speak in his funeral: [Aside. Know you how much the people may be mov'd 14 This grammatical impropriety is still so prevalent that the omission of the anomalous s would give some uncouthness to the sound of an otherwise familiar expression. Bru. By your pardon; I will myself into the pulpit first, Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Ant. I do desire no more. Be it so; Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. [Exeunt all but ANTONY. Ant. O, pardon me, thou piece of bleeding 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 15. Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, 15 That is, in the course of times. 16 By men Antony means not mankind in general, but those Romans whose attachment to the cause of the conspirators, or wish to revenge Cæsar's death, would expose them to wounds in the civil wars which he supposed that event would give rise The generality of the curse is limited by the subsequent words, the parts of Italy,' and 'in these confines.' to. |