house.
2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors.
3 Cit. Let him be Csesar.
4 Cit. Caesar's better parts
Shall be crown 'd in Brutus.
1 Cit. We '11 bring him to his house with
shouts and clamours.
Bru. My countrymen,
2 Cit. Peace, silence ! Brntus speaks.
1 Cit. Peace, ho !
Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony :
Do grace to Csesar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Csesar's glories ; which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow'd to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. E)it.
1 Cit. Stay, ho ! and let us hear Mark Antony.
3 Cit. Let him go up into the pu) lie chair ;
We '11 hear him. Noble Antony, go up.
Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.
Goes into the pulpit.
4 Cit. What does he say of Brutus ?
790
JULIUS CMSAR.
ACT III., Sc. 2.
3 Git. He says, for Brutus' sake,
He finds himself beholding to us all.
4 Git. 'Twere best he speak iioharm of Brutus
here.
1 Cit. This Caesar was a tyrant.
3 Cit. Nay, that's certain :
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
2 Cit. Peace ! let us hear what Antony cau say.
Ant. You gentle Romans,
Cits. Peace, ho ! let us hear him.
Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me
your ears ;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them ;
The good is oft interred with their bones ;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious :
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Cassar answer' d it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest,
For Brutus is au honourable man ;
So are they all, all honourable men
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me :
But Brutus says he was ambitious ;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill :
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious ?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept :
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff :
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious ;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see that ou the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse : was this ambition ?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious ;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause :
What cause withholds you then , to mourn for him?
judgment ! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me ;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.
1 Cit. Methinks there is much reason in his
sayings.
2 Cit . If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Caesar has had great wrong.
3 Cit. Has he, masters ?
1 fear there will a worse come in his place.
4 Cit. Mark'd ye his words ? He would not
take the crown ;
Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.
1 Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
2 Cit. Poor soul ! his eyes are red as fire with
weeping.
3 Cit . There 's not a nobler man in Rome than
Antony.
4 Cit. Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
Ant. But yesterday the word of Caesar might
Have stood against the world ; now lies he there,
And none so poor to do him reverence.
masters, if I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
1 should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men :
I will not do them wrong ; I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men.
But here 's a parchment with the seal of Caesar ;
I found it in his closet, 'tis his will :
Let but the commons hear this testament
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.
4 Cit. We '11 hear the will : read it, Mark
Antony.
All. The will ! the will ! we will hear Csesar's
will.
Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not
read it ;
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men ;
And, being men, hearing the will of Caesar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad :
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs ;
For, if you should, O, what would cprne of it !
4 Cit. Read the will ; we '11 hear it, Antony;
You shall read us the will, Caesar's will.
Ant. Will you be patient ? will you stay awhile ?
I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it :
I fear I wrong the honourable men
Whose daggers have stabb'd Caesar ; I do fear it.
4 Cit. They were traitors : honourable men !
All. The will! the testament !
2 Cit. They were villains, murderers : the will !
read the will.
Ant. You will compel me, then, to read the will ?
Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend ? and will you give me leave H
All. Come down.
2 Cit. Descend.
He comes down from the pulpit.
3 Cit. You shall have leave.
4 Cit. A ring ; stand round.
1 Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the
body.
2 Cit. Room for Antony, most noble Antony.
Ant. Nay, press not so upon me ; stand far off.
Several Cits. Stand back. Room ! Bear back.
Ant . If you have tears, prepare to shed them
now.
You all do know this mantle : I remember
The first time ever Caesar put it on ;
'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii :
Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through :
See what a rent the envious Casca made :
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd ;
And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Caesar follow'd it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no ;
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel :
Judge, you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him !
This was the most unkindest cut of all ;
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquish'd him : then burst his mighty
heart;
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
ACT III., Sc. 3.
JULIUS CAESAR.
791
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen !
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish' d over us.
O, now you weep, and I perceive you feel
The dint of pity : these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what weep you when you but behold
Our Caesar's vesture wounded ? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
1 Cit. O piteous spectacle !
2 Cit. noble Caesar !
3 Cit. woful day !
4 Cit. O traitors, villains !
1 Cit. O most bloody sight !
2 Cit. We will be revenged.
All. Revenge ! About ! Seek ! Burn ! Fire !
Kill! Slay!
Let not a traitor live !
Ant. Stay, countrymen.
1 Cit. Peace there ! hear the noble Antony.
2 Cit. We '11 hear him, we '11 follow him, we '11
die with him.
Ant. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not
stir you up
To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
They that have done this deed are honourable :
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it : they are wise and honour-
able,
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts :
I am no orator, as Brutus is - }
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend ; and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him :
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood : I only speak right on ;
I tell you that which you yourselves do know ;
Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb
mouths,
And bid them speak for me : but were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
All. We '11 mutiny.
1 Cit. We '11 burn the house of Brutus.
3 Cit. Away, then ! come, seek the conspirators.
Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen ; yet hear me
speak.
All. Peace, ho ! Hear Antony. Most noble
Antony !
Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not
what :
Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves ?
Alas, you know not : I must tell you then :
You have forgot the will I told you of.
All. Most true: the will ! Let's stay and hear
the will.
Ant. Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal.
To every Roman citizen he gives,
To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.
2 Cit . Most noble Caesar ! We '11 revenge his
death.
3 Cit, O royal Caesar !
Ant . Hear me with patience.
All. Peace, ho !
Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tiber ; he hath left them you,
And to your heirs for ever ; common pleasures,
To walk abroad and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Caesar ! when comes such another ?
1 Cit. Never, never. Come, away, away !
We '11 burn his body in the holy place,
And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.
Take up the body.
2 Cit. Go fetch fire.
3 Cit. Pluck down benches.
4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.
Exeunt Citizens ivith the body.
Ant. Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot)
Take thou what course thou wilt !
Enter a Servant.
How now, fellow !
Ser. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
Ant. Where is he?
Ser. He and Lepidus are at Caesar's house.
Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him :
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us any thing.
Ser. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
Ant. Belike they had some notice of the people,
How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.
Exeunt.
Scene III. A Street.
Enter Cinna the poet.
Gin. I dreamt to-night that I did feast with
Caesar,
And things unluckily charge my fantasy :
I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.
Enter Citizens.
1 Cit. What is your name ?
2 Cit. Whither are you going ?
3 Cit. Where do you dwell ?
4 Cit. Are you a married man or a bachelor ?
2 Cit. Answer every man directly.
1 Cit. Ay, and briefly.
4 Cit. Ay, and wisely.
3 Cit. Ay, and truly, you were best.
Cin. What is my name ? Whither am I going ?
Where do I dwell ? Am I a married man or a
bachelor ? Then, to answer every man directly
and briefly, wisely and truly : wisely I say, I am
a bachelor.
2 Cit. That 's as much as to say, they are fools
that marry : you '11 bear me a bang for that, I
fear. Proceed ; directly.
Cin. Directly, I am going to Caesar's funeral.
1 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.
1 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 hini
for his bad verses.
Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator.
792
JULIUS CMSAE.
ACT IV., Sc. 2.
4 Git. It is no matter, his name 's Cinna ; pluck
but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.
3 Git. 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 L A House in Rome.
Antony, Octavius and Lepidus, seated at a table.
Ant. These many, then, shall die ; their names
are prick' d.
Oct . Your brother too must die ; consent you,
Lepidus ?
Lep. I do consent
Oct. Prick him down, Antony.
Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live,
Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.
Ant. He shall not live ; look, with a spot I
damn him.
But, Lepidus, go you to Csesar'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. Exit Lep.
Ant. This is a slight unmeri table man,
Meet to be sent on errands : is it fit,
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 prick'd to die,
In our black sentence and proscription.
Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than
you :
And though we lay these honours 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 in commons.
Oct. You may do your will ;
But he 's a tried and valiant soldier.
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 govern'd by my spirit.
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so ;
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth ;
A barren-spirited fellow ; one that feeds
On abjects, orts 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, our means stretch' d ;
And let us presently go sit in council,
How covert matters may be best disclosed,
And open perils surest answered.
Oct. Let us do so : for we are at the stake,
And bay'd about with many enemies ;
And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,
Millions of mischiefs. Exeunt .
Scene II. Camp near Sardis. Before Brutus s
Tent.
Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, Lucius and
Soldiers ; Titinius and Pindar us meet them.
Bru. Stand, ho !
Lucil. Give the word, ho ! and stand.
Bru. What now, Lucilius ! is Cassius near ?
Lucil. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation from his master.
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 honour.
Bru. He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius,
How he received you : let me be resolved.
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.
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 ?
Lucil. They mean this night in Sardis to be
quarter'd ;
The greater part, the horse in general,
Are come with Cassius. Low march within.
Bru. Hark ! he is arrived.
March gently on to meet him.
Enter Cassius and his powers.
Gas. Stand, ho !
Bru. Stand, ho ! Speak the word along.
1 Sol. Stand !
2 Sol. Stand !
3 Sol. Stand !
Gas. 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 ?
Gas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides
wrongs ;
And when you do them
Bnt. 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.
Gas. Pindarus,
Bid our commanders lead their charges off
A little from this ground.
ACT IV., Sc. 3.
JULIUS CJESAR.
793
Bru. Lucilius,doyouthelike; and let no man
Come to our tent till we have done our conference.
Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door. Exeunt.
Scene III. Brutus' s Tent.
Enter Brutus and Cassius.
Cas. That you have wrong' d 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.
Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemn' d 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.
Bru. The name of Cassius honours this cor-
ruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
Cas. Chastisement !
Bru. Remember March, the ides of March re-
member :
Did not great Julius bleed for justice sake ?
What villain touch' d 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 honours
For so much trash as may be grasped thus ?
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman.
Cas. Brutus, bait not me ;
I '11 not endure it : you forget yourself,
To hedge me in ; I am a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.
Bru. Go to ; you are not, Cassius.
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 farther.
Bru. Away, slight man !
Cas. Is 't possible ?
Bru. Hear me, for I will speak.
Must I give way and room to your rash eholer ?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares ?
Cas. O ye gods, ye gods ! must I endure all this?
Bru. All this ! ay, more : fret till your proud
heart break ;
Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge,
Must I observe you? must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humour ? By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you ; for, from this day forth,
I '11 use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.
Cas. Is it come to this ?
Bru. You say you are a better soldier :
Let it appear so ; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well : for mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
Cas. You wrong me every way ; you wrong me,
Brutus ;
I ?aid, an elder soldier, not a better :
Did I say, better ?
Bru. If you did, I care not.
Cas. When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have
moved me.
Bru. Peace, peace ! you durst not so have
tempted him.
Cas. I durst not !
Bru. No.
Cas. What, durst not tempt him !
Bru. For your life you durst not.
Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love ;
I may do that I shall be sorry for.
Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats ;
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me :
For I can raise no money by vile means :
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection : I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me : was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so ?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,
Dash him to pieces !
Cas. I denied you not.
Bru. You did.
Cos. I did not : he was but a fool
That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived
my heart :
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
Bru. I do not, till you practise them on me.
Cas. You love me not.
Bru. I do not like your faults.
Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults.
Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do
appear
As huge as high Olympus.
Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come.
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is aweary of the world ;
Hated by one he loves ; braved by his brother ;
Check'd like a bondman ; all his faults observed,
Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. 0, I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes ! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast ; within, a heart
Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold :
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth ;
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart :
Strike, as thou didst at Caesar ; for I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him
better
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
Bru. Sheathe your dagger :
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope ;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
794
JULIUS
ACT IV., Sc.
ic. 3.
That carries anger as the flint bears fire,
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark
And straight is cold again.
Cas. Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief and blood ill-temper'd vexeth him ?
Bru. When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too.
Cots. Do you confess so much ? Give me your
hand.
Bru. And my heart too.
Cas. O Brutus !
Bru. What ' s the matter ?
Cas. Have not you love enough to bear with me,
When that rash humour which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful ?
Bru. Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth,
When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He '11 think your mother chides, and leave you so.
Poet. [Within.] Letmego into see the generals ;
There is some grudge between 'em ; 'tis not meet
They be alone.
Lucil. [Within.'] You shall not come to them.
Poet. [Within.] Nothing but death shall stay
me.
Enter Poet, followed by Lucilius, Titinius
and Lucius.
Cas. How now ! what 's the matter ?
Poet. For shame, you generals ! what do you
mean ?
Love, and be friends, as two such men should be ;
For I have seen more years, I 'm sure, than ye.
Cas. Ha, ha! how vilely doth this cynic rhyme !
Bru. Get you hence, sirrah ; saucy fellow, hence !
Cos. Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion.
Bru. I '11 know his humour, when he knows his
time :
What should the wars do with these jigging fools ?
Companion, hence !
Cas. Away, away, be gone ! Exit Poet.
Bru. Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders
Prepare to lodge their companies to-night.
Cas. And come yourselves, and bring Messala
with you
Immediately to us. Exeunt Lucil. and Tit.
Bru. Lucius, a bowl of wine !
Exit Lucius.
Cas. I did not think you could have been so
angry.
Bru. O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
Cas. Of your philosophy you make no use,
If you give place to accidental evils.
Bru. No man bears sorrow better. Portia is
dead.
Cas. Ha! Portia!
Bru. She is dead.
Cas. How 'scaped I killing when I cross'd you
so?
O insupportable and touching loss !
Upon what sickness ?
Bru. Impatient of my absence,
And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong : for with her
death
That tidings came : with this she fell distract,
And, her attendants absent, swallow'd fire.
Cas. And died so ?
Bru. Even so.
Cas. ye immortal gods !
Re-enter Lucius, with wine and taper.
Bru. Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl
of wine.
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. Drinks.
Cas. My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup ;
I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. Drinks.
Bru. Come in, Titinius ! Exit Lucius.
Re-enter Titinius, with Messala.
Welcome, good Messala.
Now sit we close about this taper here,
And call in question our necessities.
Cas. Portia, art thou gone ?
Bru. No more, I pray you.
Messala, I have here received letters,
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Come down upon us with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
Mes. Myself have letters of the selfsame tenour.
Bru. With what addition?
Mes. That by proscription and bills of outlawry,
Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus,
Have put to death an hundred senators.
Bru. Therein our letters do not well agree ;