To you our swords have leaden points, Mark An tony: Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts, Of brothers' temper, do receive Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd 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, 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: If then thy spirit look upon us now, Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death, It would become me better, than to close Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, O world! thou wast the forest to this hart; Cas. Mark Antony, Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius: 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 compáct 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, Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar. Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle: Ant. 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 Bru. By your pardon;I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Cæsar's death: 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, In the same pulpit whereto I am going, 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 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. Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, Blood and destruction shall be so in use, That mothers shall but smile, when they behold Enter a Servant. You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Sero. I do, Mark Antony. Ant. Cæsar did write for him, to come to Rome. Sero. He did receive his letters, and is coming: [Seeing the body. and weep. And bid me say to you by word of mouth,— eyes, Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, Sero. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay a-while; SCENE II, THE SAME. THE FORUM. Enter Brutus, and Cassius, and a throng of 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. I will hear Brutus speak. |