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Should outlive Cesar: We shall find of him
A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means,
If he improves them, may well stretch so far,
As to annoy us all which, to prevent,
Let Antony and Cesar fall together.

Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius
Cassius,

To cut the head off, and then hack the limbs;
Like wrath in death, and envy afterwards:
For Antony is but a limb of Cesar.

Let us be sacrificers, but no butchers, Caius.
We all stand up against the spirit of Cesar;
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
Oh that we then could come by Cesar's spirit,
And not dismember Cesar! But, alas,
Cesar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
Not hew him as a carcass tit for hounds:
And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,
Stir up their servants to an act of rage,

And after seem to chide them. This shall make
Our purpose necessary, and not envious:
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.
And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
For he can do no more than Cesar's arm,
When Cesar's head is off.

Cas. Yet I do fear him:

For in the ingrafted love he hears to Cesar,——
Bru. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him:
If he love Cesar, all that he can do

Is to himself; take thought, and die for Cesar:
And that were much he should; for he is given
To sports, to wildness, and much company.
Treb. There is no fear in him: let him not die;
For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter.
[Clock strikes.

Bru. Peace, count the clock.
Cas. The clock hath stricken three.
Treb. 'Tis time to part.
Cas. But it is doubtful yet,

Whe'r Cesar will come forth to-day, or no:
For he is superstitious grown of late;
Quite from the main opinion he held once
Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies; *
It may be, these apparent prodigies,
The unaccustom'd terror of this night,
And the persuasion of his augurers,
May hold him from the Capitol to-day.

Dec. Never fear that: if he be so resolv'd,
I can o'ersway him: for he loves to hear
That unicorns may be betray'd with trees,
And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,
Lions with toils, and men with flatterers:
But, when I tell him he hates flatterers,
He says, he does; being then most flatiered.
Let me work :

For I can give this humour the true bent;
And I will bring him to the Capitol.

Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to

him.

Bru. By the eighth hour: Is that the most?

Boy Lucius!-Fast asleep? It is no matter;
Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber :
Thou hast no figures, nor no fantasies,
Which busy care draws in the brains of men ;
Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.

Enter PORTIA.

Por. Brutus, my lord!

Bru. Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise
you now?

It is not for your health, thus to commit
Your weak condition to the raw-cold morning.
Por. Nor for your's neither. You have un-
gently, Brutus,

Stole from my bed: And yesternight, at supper,
You suddenly arose, and walk'd about,
Musing, and sighing, with your arms across :
And when I ask'd you what the matter was,
You star'd upon me with ungentle looks:

I urg'd you further: then you scratch'd your
head,

And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot:
Yet I insisted. yet you answer'd not;
But, with an angry wafture of your hand,
Gave sign for me to leave you: So I did;
Fearing to strengthen that impatience,
Which seem'd too much enkindled; and, withal
Hoping it was but an effect of humour,
Which sometime hath his bour with every man.
It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep;
And, could it work so much upon your shape,
As it hath much prevail'd on your condition, t
I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.

Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all.
Por. Brutus is wise, and were he not in health,
He would embrace the means to come by it.
Bru. Why, so I do :-Good Portia, go to bed.
Por. Is Brutus sick? and is it physical
To walk unbraced, and suck up the humours
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick;
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed
To dare the vile contagion of the night?
And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus ;
You have some sick offence within your mind,
Which, by the right and virtue of my place,
I ought to know of: And upon my knees,
I charm you, by my once commended beauty,
By all your vows of love, and that great vow
Which did incorporate and make us one,
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
Why you are heavy; and what men to-night
Have had resort to you for here have been
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.

Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia.

Por. I should not need, if you were gentle
Brutus.

fetch Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,
Is it excepted, I should know no secrets
utter-That appertain to you? Am I yourself,
But, as it were, in sort, or limitation;
To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,
And talk to you sometimes? Dwell 1 but in the
suburbs

Cin. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.
Met. Caius Ligarius doth bear Cesar hard,
Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey;
I wonder none of you have thought of him.

Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him:
He loves me well, and I have given him reasons;
Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him.
Cas. The morning comes upon us: We'll leave
[member
you, Brutus:-
And, friends, disperse yourselves: but all re-
What you have said, and show yourselves true
Romans.

Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily;
Let not our looks put on our purposes:
But bear it as our Roman actors do,
With untir'd spirits, and formal constancy:
And so good morrow to you every one.

[Exeunt all but BRUTUS.

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Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.

Bru. You are my true and honourable wie;
As dear to me, as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart.

Por. If this were true, then should I know
this secret.

I grant, I am a woman; but, withal,
A woman that lord Brutus took to wife:
I grant, I am a woman; but, withal,
A woman well-reputed; Cato's daughter.
Think you, I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so father'd, and so husbanded?
Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose them
I have made strong proof of my constaucy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound

Ideal shapes. + Temper. * Charge

Here, in the thigh: Can I bear that with patience, | l'he noise of battle hurtled in the air, And not my husband's secrets?

Bru. O ye gods,

Render me worthy of this noble wife!

[Knocking within.
Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in a while;
And by and by thy bosom shall partake
The secrets of my heart.

All my engagements I will construe to thee,
All the charactery of my sad brows:-
Leave me with haste.

[Exit PORTIA. Enter LUCIUS and LIGARIUS.

Lucius, who is that, knocks?

Luc. Here is a sick man, that would speak with you.

Bru. Caius Ligarins, that Metellus spake of. Boy, stand aside.-Caius Ligarius! how? Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue.

Bru. Oh! what a time have you chose out, brave Caius,

To wear a 'kerchief? 'Would you were not sick! Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honour.

Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.

Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before, I here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome! Brave son, deriv'd from honourable loins! Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjur'd up My mortified spirit. Now bid me run, And I will strive with things impossible; Yea, get the better of them. What's to do? Bru. A piece of work that will make sick men whole.

Lig. But are not some whole that we must make sick?

Bru. That must we also. What it is
Caius,

I shall unfold to thee, as we are going,
To whom it must be done.

Lig. Set on your foot;

And, with a heart new fir'd, I follow you,
To do I know not what: but it sufficeth,
That Brutus leads me on.

Bru. Follow me then.

my

[Exeunt.

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Cal. What mean you, Cesar? Think you to walk forth?

You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Ces. Cesar shall forth: The things that threaten'd me,

Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see The face of Cesar, they are vanished.

Cal. Cesar, I never stood on ceremonies,+ Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness bath whelped in the streets;

And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead:

Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds,
In ranks and squadrons, and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol :

All that is charactered on.
† On prodigies or omeus.

Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan; And ghosts did shriek, and squeal + about the

streets,

O Cesar! these things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.

Ces. What can be avoided,

Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? Yet Cesar shall go forth for these predictions Are to the world in general, as to Cesar.

Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets

seen:

The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

Ces. Cowards die many times before their deaths;

The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should
fear;

Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come, when it will come.

Re-enter a SERVANT.

What say the augurers?

Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day.

Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.
Ces. The gods do this in shame of cowardice :
Cesar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
No, Cesar shall not: Danger knows full well,
That Cesar is more dangerous than he.
We were two lions litter'd in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible;
And Cesar shall go forth.

Cal. Alas, my lord,

Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence.
Do not go forth to-day: Call it my fear

That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house;
And he shall say you are not well to-day:

Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
Ces. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well;
And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.
Enter DECIUS.

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.
Dec. Cesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy

Cesar :

I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

Ces. And you are come in very happy time, To bear my greeting to the senators, And tell them that I will not come to-day: Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, faiser; I will not come to-day: Tell them so, Decius. Cal. Say, he is sick.

Ces. Shall Cesar send a lie?

Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afeard to tell grey-beards the truth?
Decius, go tell them, Cesar will not come.
Dec. Most mighty Cesar, let me know some

cause,

Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so.
C'es. The cause is in my will, I will not come ;
That is enough to satisfy the senate.
But, for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know.
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statue,
Which like a fountain, with a hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it.
And these does she apply for warnings, portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to-day.
Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision, fair and fortunate:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bath'd,
Signines that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood; and that great men shall press

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If Cesar hide himself, shall they not whisper,
Lo, Cesar is afraid?

Pardon me, Cesar; for my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this;
And reason to my love is liable. +

Ces. How foolish do your fears seem now,
Calphurnia!

1 am ashamed I did yield to them.Give me my robe, for I will go :—

Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS,
CASCA, TREBONIUS, and CINNA.

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.
Pub. Good morrow, Cesar.

Ces. Welcome, Publius.

What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?
Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,
Cesar was ne'er so much your enemy,

As that same ague which hath made you lean.-
What is't o'clock ?

Bru. Cesar, 'tis strucken eight.

Ces. I thank you for your pains and courtesy.

Enter ANTONY.

See! Antony, that revels long o'nights,

Is notwithstanding up :

Good morrow, Antony.

Ant. So to most noble Cesar.

Ces. Bid them prepare within :

I am to blame to be thus waited for.

Now, Cinna :-Now, Metellus :-What, Trebonius!
I have an hour's talk in store for you;
Remember that you call on me to-day:
Be near me, that I may remember you.

Treb. Cesar, I will-and so near will I be, That your best friends shall wish I had been farther. [Aside. Ces. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me;

And we, like friends, will straightway go to gether.

Bru. That every like is not the same, O Cesar, The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-A street near the Capitol.

Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a Paper. Art. Cesar, beware of Brutus; take head of Cassius; come not neur Casca; have an eye on Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Cesar. If thou be'st not immortal, look about you: Security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover, ý

ARTEMIDORUS.

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SCENE IV.-The same.-Another part of the same Street before the House of BRUTUS.

Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS.

Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-house; Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone: Why dost thou stay?

Luc. To know my errand, madam.

Por. I would have had thee there, and here again,

Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there.

O constancy, be strong upon my side!

Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue!

I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.
How hard it is for women to keep counsel!-
Art thou here yet!

Luc. Madam, what should I do?

Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And so return to you, and nothing else?

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord

look well,

For he went sickly forth: And take good note,
What Cesar doth, what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Luc. I hear none, madam.
Por. Pr'ythee, listen well;

I heard a bustling rumour like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.

Enter SOOTHSAYER.

Por. Come hither, fellow :

Which way hast thou been?

Sooth. At mine own house, good lady.
Por. What is't o'clock ?

Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady.

Por. Is Cesar yet gone to the Capitol!

Sooth. Madam, not yet; I go to take my stand,

To see him pass on to the Capitol.

Por. Thou hast some suit to Cesar, hast thou

not?

Sooth. That I have, lady if it will please
Cesar

To be so good to Cesar, as to hear me,
I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
Por. Why, knowest thou any harm's intended

towards him?

Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance. Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: The throng that follows Cesar at the heels, Of senators, of prætors, common suitors, Will crowd a feeble man almost to death: I'll get me to a place more void, and there Speak to great Cesar as he comes along. [Exit. Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing The heart of woman is! O Brutus! The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise ! Sure, the boy heard me :-Brutus hath a suit, That Cesar will not grant.-Oh! I grow faint:Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord; Say, I am merry: come to me again, And bring me word what he doth say to thee [Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE I.-The same.-The Capitol; the Senate sitting.

A Crowd of People in the Street leading to the Capitol; among them ARTEMIDORUS, and the SOOTHSAYER. Flourish. Enter CESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others.

Ces. The ides of March are come. Sooth. Ay, Cesar; but not gone. Art. Hail, Cesar! Read this schedule. Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, At your best leisure, this his humble suit.

Art. O Cesar, read mine first; for mine's a suit

That touches Cesar nearer: Read it, great Cesar. Ces. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd.

Art. Delay not, Cesar; read it instantly.
Ces. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place.

Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street!

Come to the Capitol,

CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following.
All the SENATORS rise.

Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive.
Cas. What enterprise, Popilius ?
Pop. Fare you well.

[Advances to CESAR.
Bru. What said Popilius Lena ?
Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprise might
I fear our purpose is discovered. [thrive.

Bru. Look, how he makes to Cesar: Mark him.

Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear preven tion.

Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Cesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.

Bru. Cassius, be constant:

Popilins Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Cesar doth not change.
Cas. Trebonius knows his time for, look you,
Brutus,

He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
[Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS.

CESAR

and the SENATORS take their Seats. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cesar.

Bru. He is address'd :* press near and second him.

Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.

Ces. Are we all ready? what is now amiss, That Cesar and his senate must redress?

Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puis

saut Cesar,

Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat An humble heart:

[Kneeling.

Ces. I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings, and these lowly courtesies,
Might fire the blood of ordinary men;
And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree,
Into the law of children. Be not fond
To think that Cesar bears such rebel blood,
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet
words,

Low-crook'd curt'sies, and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished;
If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Cesar doth not wrong; uor, without cause,
Will he be satisfied.

Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my

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Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal.

Ces. What, Brutus !

Cas. Pardon, Cesar; Cesar, pardon: 45 low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

Ces. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you; If I could pray to move, prayers would move me: But I am constant as the northern star, Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality There is no fellow in the firmament. The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, They are all fire, and every one doth shine; But there's but one in all doth hold his place: So, in the world; "Tis furnish'd well with men,

• Ready.

Aud men are flesh and blood, and apprehen sive ;*

Yet, in the number, I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshak'd of motion: and, that I am he,
Let me a little show it, even in this;

That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
Cin. O Cesar-

Ces. Hence! Wilt thou lift Olympus?
Dec. Great Cesar,-

Ces. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
Casca. Speak, hands, for me.

[CASCA stubs CESAR in the neck. CESAR
catches hold of his arm. He is then
stabbed by several other Conspirators,
and at last by MARCUS BRUTUS.

Ces. Et tu, Brute ?-Then, fail, Cesar.

[Dies. The Senators and People retire in confusion.

Cin. Liberty Freedom! Tyranny is dead!— Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement !

Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted; Fly not; stand still :-ambition's debt is paid. Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

Dec. And Cassius too.

Bru. Where's Publius?

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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: So are we Cesar's friends, that have abridg'd His time of fearing death.-Stoop, Romans, stoop, And let us bathe our hands in Cesar's blood

Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords :
Then walk we forth, e'en to the market-place;
And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
Let's all cry, Peace! Freedom! and Liberty!
Cas. Stoop then, and wash. How many ages
hence,

Shall this our lofty scene be acted o'er,
In states unborn, and accents yet unknown!
Bru. How many times shall Cesar bleed in

sport,

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me

Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid
kneel;

Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Cesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Say, I fear'd Cesar, honour'd him, and lov'd
If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony [him.
May safely come to him, and be resolv'd
How Cesar hath deserv'd to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Cesar dead
So well as Brutus living; but will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus,
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state,
With all true faith.' So says my master An-
tony.

Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman; 1 never thought him worse.

Tel: him, so please him come unto this place, He shall be satisfied; and, by my honoar, Depart untouch'd.

Serv. P'il fetch him presently.

[Erit SERV. 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 Cesar! Dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.I know not, gentlemen, what you intend, Who else must be let blood, who else is rank: If I myself, there is no hour so fit

As Cesar's death 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 bands do reek and
smoke,

Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Cesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.

Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us.
Though now we inust appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands, and this our present act,
You see we do; yet see you but our hands,
And this the bleeding business they have done :
Our hearts you see not, they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
(As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity,)
Hath done this deed on Cesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark
Antony:

Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts,
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
Cas. Your voice shall be as strong as any man's,
In the disposing of new dignities.

Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Cesar 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, Cains Cassius, do I take your handNow, Decius Brutus, yours;-now yours, Metellus :

That one of two bad ways you must conceit• me, Either a coward or a flatterer.

That I did love thee, Cesar, oh! 'tis true:

If then thy spirit look upon us now,

Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death,
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?
Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
It would become me better, than to close
Jn terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius !-Here wast thou bay'd, brave

hart;

Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe. ↑
O world! thou wast the forest to this heart;
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
How like a deer, stricken by many princes,
Dost thou here lie?

Cas. Mark Antony,—

Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius: The enemies of Cesar shall say this; Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Cas. I blame you not for praising Cesar 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 Cesar.
Friends am I with you all, and love you all;
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons,
Why, and wherein, Cesar 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 Cesar,
You should be satisfied.

Ant. That's all I seek:

And am inoreover suitor, that I may
Produce his body to the market-place;
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.

Bru. You shall, Mark Antony.
Cas. Brutus, a word with you.

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
By that which he will utter!
Aside.

Bru. By your pardon ;

I will myself into the pulpit first,
And show the reason of our Cesar's death:
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission:
And that we are contented Cesar shall
Have all true rites, and lawful ceremonies.
It shall advantage inore, than do us wrong.

Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not.
Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cesar's body.
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Cesar;
And say, you do't by our permission;
Else shall you not have any hand at all
About his funeral: And you shall speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.

Ant. Be it so;

I do desire no more.

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.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood:
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,

Yours, Cinna;-and, my valiant Casca, yours ;-(Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips i
Though last, not least in love, yours, good Tre-To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue-
bonius.
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men :
Domestic fury, and fierce civil strife,
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy:
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,

Gentlemen all,-alas! what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,

• Grown too powerful for the public safety. Though strong in the deed just performed.

Suppose me.

Used by old writers for death

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