Dec. Bru. Where's Publius? And Cassius too. Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Should chance Bru. Talk not of standing;-Publius, good cheer; There is no harm intended to your person, Nor to no Roman else: so tell thein, 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? Tre. Fled to his house amaz'd: Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, As it were doomsday. 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: Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords: appeared to little advantage amidst the succeeding varieties of tumult and war. STEEVENS. Nor to no Roman else:] This use of two negatives, not to make an affirmative, but to deny more strongly, is common to Chaucer, Spenser, and other of our ancient writers. Dr. Hickes observes, that in the Saxon, even four negatives are sometimes conjoined, and still preserve a negative signification. And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads, Cas. Stoop then, and wash.-How many ages hence, Shall this our lofty scene be acted over, In states unborn, and accents yet unknown? No worthier than the dust? Cas. So oft as that shall be, So often shall the knot of us be call'd Cas. Enter a Servant. Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Say, I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him, and lov'd him. 2 Stoop then, and wash.] To wash does not mean here to cleanse, but to wash over, as we say, washed with gold; for Cassius means that they should steep their hands in the blood of Cæsar. With all true faith. So says my master Antony. 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 Ant. O mighty Cæsar! Dost thou lie so low? 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 ye, if you bear me hard, Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, No place will please me so, no mean of death, Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. who else is rank:] Who else may be supposed to have overtopped his equals, and grown too high for the publick safety. As, by our hands, and this our present act, Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence. Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him, wisdom. Ant. I doubt not of your 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 Trebo nius. 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, * Our arms, in strength of malice,] i. e. 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. peace, To see thy Antony making his Pardon me, Julius!Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart; 5 Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, Dost thou here lie? 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 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, 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. Ant. That's all I seek: And am moreover suitor, that I may crimson'd in thy lethe.] Lethe is used by many of the old translators of novels, for death. |