347. Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeased Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him, 348. Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom. - Let each man render me his bloody hand: My credit now stands on such slippery ground, Either a coward or a flatterer. — 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 In terms of friendship with thine enemies. Pardon me, Julius! - Here wast thou bayed, brave hart; O world! thou wast the forest to this hart; Cas. Mark Antony, 550. Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius: The enemies of Cæsar shall say this; Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty. 351. Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so; 352. Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed, 354. Ant. That's all I seek: And am moreover suitor that I may 356. Cas. Brutus, a word with you. You know not what you do. Do not consent Know you how much the people may be moved 357. Bru. By your pardon; I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Cæsar's death: [Aside. It shall advantage more than do us wrong. 358. Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not. 359. Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar'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 Ant. Be it so; I do desire no more. 361. Bru. Prepare the body, then, and follow us. [Exeunt all but ANTONY. 362. Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! 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 That mothers shall but smile when they behold Enter a SERVANT. You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome. 365. Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming: And bid me say to you by word of mouth, O Cæsar! [Seeing the Body. 366. 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, Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. 368. Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced. 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; Into the market-place: there shall I try, [Exeunt with CESAR'S Body. SCENE II. The same. The Forum. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of CITIZENS. 369. Cit. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied. 370. 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 'em stay here; Those that will follow Cassius, go with him; And public reasons shall be rendered Of Cæsar's death. I Cit. I will hear Brutus speak. 372. 2 Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, When severally we hear them rendered. [Exit CASSIUS, with some of the CITIZENS. BRUTUS goes into the Rostrum. 373. 3 Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence! 374. 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 honor; and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe: censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, 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 freemen? As Cæsar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for 375. his fortune; honor 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 have 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. 376. Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar than you shall 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 the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. Cit. 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. 381. 4 Cit. Cæsar's better parts Shall now be crowned in Brutus. 1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours. Bru. My countrymen, 2 Cit. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks. I Cit. Peace, ho! 386. Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech I do entreat you, not a man depart, I Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. [Exit. |