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y moruined 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 [make sick?

whole.

Re-enter a Sercan

5 What say the augurers?

Lig. But are not some whole, that we must
Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius, 10
I shall unfold to thee, as we are going
To whom it must be done.

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Sere. They would not have yo Plucking the entrails of an offeri They could not find a heart withi Cas. The gods do this in sham Casar should be a beast without If he should stay at home to-day No, Cæsar shall not: danger ki That Cæsar is more dangerous th We were two lions litter'd in one 15 And I the elder and more terribl And Cæsar shall go forth.

Thunder and lightning. Enter Cesar, in his night-gown. 20
Cas. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace
to-night:
Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cry'd out,
Help, ho! They murder Casar. Who's within?
Enter a Servant.

Serv. My lord? .
Cas. Go, bid the priests do present sacrifice,
And bring me their opinions of success.
Serv. I will, my lord.

Enter Calphurnia.

[Exit.

Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you to walk You shall not stir out of your house to-day. [forth? Cæs. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threat

en'd me,

Cal. Alas, my lord,

Your wisdom is consum'd in con
Do not go forth to-day: call it n
That keeps you in the house, and
We'll send Mark Antony to the S
And he shall say, you are not wel
Let me, upon my knee, prevail i

Cas. Mark Antony shall say, I
25 And, for thy humour, I will stay
Enter Decius.
Here's DeciusBrutus, he shall tell tl
Dec. Cæsar, all hail! Good m
I come to fetch you to the senate
30-Cas. And you are come in very
To bear my greeting to the senat
And tell them, that I will not con
Cannot, is false; and that I dare i
will not come to-day: Tell the
Cul. Say, he is sick.

Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see 35
The face of Cæsar, they are vanished.

Cal. Cæsar, 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 hath whelped in the streets; [dead:
And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their
Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds,
In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol :
The noise of battle hurtled in the air,
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan;
And ghosts did shriek, and squeal about the streets.
O Casar! these things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.

40

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Cas. Shall Cæsar send a lye? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine To be afeard to tell grey-beards t Decius, go tell them, Cæsar will no Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let m Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell th Cas. The cause is in my will, I That is enough to satisfy the senat But, for your private satisfaction, 45 Because I love you, I will let you Calphurnia here, my wife, stays m She dreamt to-night she saw my s Which, like a fountain, with a hun Did run pure blood; and many! 50 Came smiling, and did bathe thei And these does she apply for war And evils imminent; and on her Hath begg'd, that I will stay at ho

Cas. What can be avoided,
Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods?
Yet Cæsar shall go forth; for these predictions
Are to the world in general, as to Cæsar.
Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets 55
seen;
[princes.
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of
Cas.Cowards diemany times beforetheirdeaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,

1 i.

60

Dec. This dream is all amiss int It was a vision, fair and fortunate Your statue spouting blood in ma In which so many smiling Romans Signifies, that from you great Rom Reviving blood; and that great n For tinctures, stains, relicks, and c

e. I never paid a ceremonious or superstitious regard to prodigies or omens. perhaps, to clash, or move with violence and noise. There are two allusions in th to coats armorial, to which princes make additions, or give new tinctures, and new mark the other to martyrs, whose reliques are preserved with veneration.-The Romans, s come to you as to a saint, for reliques, as to a prince, for honours,

This by Calphurnia's dream is signify'd.

5

Cas. And this way have you well expounded it. Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can And know it now; the senate have concluded [say; To give, this day, a crown to mighty Cæsar. If you shall send them word, you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides,it were a mock,| Apt to be render'd, for some one to say, "Break up the senate 'till another time, "WhenCasar'swifeshall meetwithbetterdreams." 10 If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper,

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Lo, Cæsar is afraid!"

Pardon me, Casar; for my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this;
And reason to my love is liable'. [phurnia
Cas. How foolish do your fears seem now, Cal-
I 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, Cæsar.

Cas. Welcome, Publius.What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?Good-morrow, Casca.-Caius Ligarius, Casar was ne'er so much your enemy, As that same ague which hath made you lean.What is 't o'clock?

Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight.

Cas. 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 Cæsar.

Cas. Bid them prepare within:

[nius!

I am to blame to be thus waited for.---
Now, Cinna:-Now, Metellus :-What, Trebo-

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. Cæsar, I will:—and so near will I be,
[Aside.
That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
Cas. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine

with me;

And we, like friends, will straightway go together. Bru. That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, The heart of Brutus yerns to think upon! [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A Street near the Capitol.

Here will I stand, 'till Cæsar pass along,
And as a suitor will I give him this.

My heart laments, that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of emulation.

If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou may'st live ;
If not, the fates with traitors do contrive 2. [4
SCENE IV.

Another part of the same Street.
Enter Portia, and Lucius.

Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-hou 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 he
15 Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do th
O constancy, be strong upon my side!
Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tong
I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.
How hard is it for women to keep counsel!
20 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
25 For he went sickly forth: And take good no
What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy! what noise is that?
Luc. I hear none, madam.
Por. Pr'ythee, listen well:

30I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Luc, Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
Enter Soothsayer.

35

140

Por, Come hither, fellow: Which way

thou been?

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

Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady.
Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol?
Sooth. Madam, not yet; I go to take my st
To see him pass on to the Capitol.

נו

Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast t Sooth. That I have, lady, if it will please C: To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me : 45 I shall beseech him to befriend himself.

Por, Why, know'st thou any harm's inten towards him? [fear may cha Sooth. None that I know will be, much th Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narr 50 The throng that follows Cæsar 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 Cæsar as he comes along. [

Enter Artemidorus, reading a paper. "Cæsar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Me-|55| "tellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; "thou hast wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is "but one mind in all these men, and it is bent

against Cæsar. If thou be'st not immortal, look "about you: security gives way to conspiracy. 60 "The mighty gods defend thee! "Thy lover,

66 ARTEMIDORUS.

Por. I must go in.-Ay me! how weak a t The heart of woman is! O Brutus ! The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize! Sure, the boy heard me :-Brutus hath a suit, That Cæsar will not grant.-O, 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 the [Exc

with traitom in contriving the destruction

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The Capitol: the Senate sitting.
Flourish. Enter Cæsar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca,
Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony,
Lepidus, Artemidorus, Popilius, Publius, and
the Soothsayer.

Cas. TIE ides of March are come.

5

Into the lane' of children. Be not fond,
To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood,
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet
words,

Low-crooked cur'tsies, and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished;

If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn, for him,
spurn thee like a cur out of my way.

I

10 Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause Will he be satisfied.

Sooth. Ay, Cæsar, but not gone.
Art. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule.
Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit. [suit
Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a
That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Casar. 15
Cas. What touches us ourself, shall be last
serv'd.

Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly.
Cas. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place.

Cas. What urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol.

[Cæsar enters the Capitol, the rest following.] Pop. I wish your enterprize to-day may thrive. Cas. What enterprize, Popilius?

Pop. Fare you well.

Bru. What said Popilius Læna? [thrive. Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might I fear, our purpose is discover'd.

[him.

20

Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my

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Cas, What, Brutus !

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

Cas. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
25 But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fixt, 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,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive*;
Yet, in the number, I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,

Bru. Look, how he makes to Casar: Mark 30
Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius, or Cæsar, never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.

Bru. Cassius, be constant:

Popilius Læna speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change.
Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you,
Brutus,

He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
[Exeunt Ant. and Treb.
Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him
And presently prefer his suit to Casar.

go, [him.

35 Unshak'd of motion: and, that I am he,
Let me a little shew it, even in this;

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

Cin, O Cæsar,

40

Cas. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
Dec. Great Cæsar,-

Bru. He is addrest: press near, and second
Cin. Casca, you are the first that rear your hand. 45
Cas. Are we all ready? What is now amiss,
That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress?

Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant
Cæsar,
MetellusCimberthrows before thy seat [Kneeling. 50
An humble heart :-

Cas. I must prevent thee, Cimber,
These couchings, and these lowly courtesies,
Might fire the blood of ordinary men;
And turn pre-ordinance2, and first decree,

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

[They stab Cæsar. Cæs. Et tu, Brute?- -Then fall, Cæsar!

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1i.e. he is ready. Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already established. Dr. Johnson proposes to read, "the law of children. That is, change pre-ordinance and decree into the law of children; into such slight determinations as every start of will would alter." i. e. susceptible of fear, or other passions,

Cin.

Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.]
Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend o
Should chance-
[Caesar's
Bru. Talk not of standing: --Publius, good
cheer;

There is no harm intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else1: so tell them, Publius.

With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
I never thought him worse.

Tell him, so please him come unto this place, 5 He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour, Depart untouch'd.

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, 10 But we the doers.

Re-enter Trebonius.

Cas. Where is Antony?

Tre. Fled to his house amaz'd:

Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, 15
As it were dooms-day.

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 Cæsar's friends, that have abridg’d
His time of fearing death.-Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Casar's blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place:
And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
Let's all cry, Peace! Freedom! and Liberty!
Cus. Stoop then, and wash.-How many ages
hence,

Shall this our lofty scene be acted over,
In states unborn, and accents yet unknown?
Bru. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompey's basis lies along,
No worthier than the dust?

Cus. So oft as that shall be,

So often shall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave their country liberty.
Dec. What, shall we forth?

Cas. Ay, every man away:

Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
Enter a Sercant.

20

Sere. 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.-
Mark Antony.

-Welcome,

Ant. O mighty Cæsar! 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 rank2:
If I myself, there is no hour so fit

As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument
Of half that worth, as those your swords, made
rich

25With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard, [smoke,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die:

30

No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, 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 must appear bloody and cruel, 35 As, by our hands, and this our present act,

Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of An-45
tony's.
[kneel;

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

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 Casar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark
Antony:

Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts,
Of brother's temper, do receive you in,
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence'.
Cus. 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
50 The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.

Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom.

55 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, Me-

tellus;

60lYours, Cinna;-and, my valiant Casca, yours;

$

1 This use of two negatives, not to make an affirmative, but to deny more strongly, is common to our ancient writers. i. e. who else is grown too high for the public safety. Brutus' meaning is, Antony, our arms, strong in the deed of malice they have just perform'd, and our hearts, united like those of brothers in the action, are yet open to receive you with all possible affection. 3 C

Though

My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
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,
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
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius!-Here wast thou bay'd, brave
hart;

Else shall you not have any har
5 About his funeral: And you sha
In the same pulpit whereto I am
After my speech is ended,
Ant. Be it so;

10

Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe 1.20
O world! thou wast the forest to this hart;
And, this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.-
How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
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? [indeed,
Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was,
Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar.
Friends am I with you all, and love
all;
you
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
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 notwhat you do; Do not consent,[Aside.
That Antony speak in his funeral:

I do desire no more.

Bru. Prepare the body then,

[Ex Manet Antony

Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleed
That I am meck and gentle wit
15 Thou art the ruins of the nobles
That ever lived in the tide of t
Woe to the hand that shed this
Over thy wounds now do I pro
Which, like dumb mouths, do of
To beg the voice and utterance
A curse shall light upon the lim
Domestic fury, and fierce civil
Shall cumber all the parts of ita
Blood and destruction shall be s
25 And dreadful objects so familiar
That mothers shall but smile, w
Their infants quarter'd with the
All pity choak'd with custom of
And Cæsar's spirit, ranging for
30 With Atè by his side, come hot
Shall in these confines, with a m
Cry, Havock, and let slip the d
That this foul deed shall smell al
With carrion men, groaning for
Enter a Servant.
You serve Octavius Cæsar, do yo
Serv. I do, Mark Antony.
Ant. Cæsar did write for him, to
Serv. He did receive his letters
40 And bid me say to you by word
O Cæsar!-

Know you how much the people may be mov'd
By that which he will utter?

Bru. By your pardon ;

I will myself into the pulpit first,

And shew the reason of our Cæsar's death:
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission;
And that we are contented, Cæsar shall
Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
Cas, I know not what may fall: I like it not.
Bru.Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body.

35

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Ant. Thy heart is big; get thee Passion, I see, is catching; for m Seeing those beads of sorrow star 45 Began to water. Is thy master c Serv. He lies to-night within s Rome,

Ant. Post back with speed, an Here is a mourning Rome, a dar 50 No Rome of safety for Octavius Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet Thou shalt not back, 'till I have Into the market-place: there sha In my oration, how the people tak 55 The cruel issue of these bloody m According to the which, thou sha To young Octavius of the state of Lend me your hand. [Exeunt, wi SCENE II. The Forum. Enter Brutus, and Cassius, with Pleb. We will be satisfied; let u

160

Lethe was a common French word, signifying death or destruction, from the Latin le in that sense by many of the old translators of novels. 2 i. e. the course of times. proposes to read, "these lymnis of men;" that is, these bloodhounds of men.

See

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