Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

I 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.

I 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

bad verses.

482. Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator.

483. 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.

ACT IV.

SCENE 1.- The same. A Room in ANTONY'S House.

ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a Table.

485. Ant. These many, then, shall die; their names are pricked.

Oct. Your brother too must die. Consent you, Lepidus?

Lep. I do consent.

Oct. Prick him down, Antony.

489. Lep Upon condition Publius shall not live,

Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.

490. Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.

But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house;

Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine

How to cut off some charge in legacies.

Lep. What, shall I find you here?

Oct. Or here, or at the Capitol.

493. Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man,

Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit,

[Exit LEPIDUS.

The three-fold world divided, he should stand

One of the three to share it?

Oct. So you thought him;

And took his voice who should be pricked to die

In our black sentence and proscription.

495. Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you;
And though we lay these honors 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 we down his load, and turn him off,
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears,
And graze on commons.

Oct. You may do your will;

But he's a tried and valiant soldier.

497. 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 governed by my spirit.
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;

He must be taught, and trained, and bid go forth:
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds

On objects, arts, and imitations,

Which, out of use, and staled by other men,

Begin his fashion. Do not talk of him,

But as a property.

And now, Octavius,

Listen great things. - Brutus and Cassius

Are levying powers; we must straight make head:

Therefore let our alliance be combined,

Our best friends made, and our best means stretched out;

And let us presently go sit in counsel,

How covert matters may be best disclosed,

And open perils surest answered.

498. Oct. Let us do so: for we are at the stake,

And bayed about with many enemies;

And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,
Millions of mischiefs.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

- Before BRUTUS's Tent, in the Camp near

Sardis.

Drum.-Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, and Soldiers : PINDARUS meeting them: LUCIUS at a distance.

501.

Bru. Stand, ho!

Lucil. Give the word, ho! and stand.

Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near? 502. Lucil. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master.

[PINDARUS gives a Letter to BRUTUS.

503. 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.

Pin. I do not doubt

But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honor.

505. Bru. He is not doubted. — A word, Lucilius:

How he received you, let me be resolved.

506. Lucil. With courtesy, and with respect enough; But not with such familiar instances,

Nor with such free and friendly conference,

As he hath used of old.

507. Bru. Thou hast described

A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
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?

508. Lucil. They mean this night in Sardis to be quartered;

[March within.

The greater part, the horse in general,

Are come with Cassius.

509. Bru. Hark, he is arrived:

March gently on to meet him.

Enter CASSIUS and Soldiers.

Cas. Stand, ho!

Bru. Stand, ho! Speak the word along.

[blocks in formation]

Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies? And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?

Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs; And when you do them

518. Bru. Cassius, be content:

Speak your griefs softly; I do know you well.
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, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.

Cas. Pindarus,

Bid our commanders lead their charges off
A little from this ground.

520. Bru. Lucius, do you the like; and let no man

521.

523.

Come to our tent, till we have done our conference.
Lucilius and Titinius, guard our door.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.—Within the Tent of BRUTys.

Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS.

Cas. That you have wronged me doth appear in this: You have condemned 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.

Bru. You wronged yourself, to write in such a case.
Cas. In such a time as this, it is not meet

That every nice offence should bear his comment.

524. Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemned to have an itching palm, To sell and mart your offices for gold

To undeservers.

Cas. I an itching palm?

You know that you are Brutus that speaks this, Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last. 526. Bru. The name of Cassius honors this corruption, And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.

Cas. Chastisement!

528. Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember!
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touched 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 ?
And sell the mighty space of our large honors
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman.

529. Cas. Brutus, bay not me;

I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.

530. Bru. Go to; you are not, Cassius.

533.

Cas. I am.

Bru. I say, you are not.

Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself;

Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further.

534. Bru. Away, slight man!

Cas. Is't possible?

536. 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!

538. Bru. All this? Ay, more.

break;

Must I endure all this?

Fret till your proud heart

Go, show your slaves how choleric you are,

And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?

« ПредишнаНапред »