Either a coward or a flatterer.-
That I did love thee, Cæsar, 0, '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 fiogers 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;

Here didst thou fall; aud here thy hunters stand,
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe.
O world! thou wast the forest to this hart;
And this, indeed, 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 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? Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, in

deed,
Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæsar.
Frieuds am I with you all, and love you all;
Upon liiis 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 not what you do; Do not consent,

[Aside. That Antony speak in his funeral : 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 show the reason of our Cæsar's death : What Autony 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 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
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 desire no more.
Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.

[Ereunt all but Antony.
Ant. 0, pardon me, thou piece of bleedivg 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,-
Which, like dumb mouthis, do ope their ruby lips,
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue;

. Course,

A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestick fury, and fierce civil strife,
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy :
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile, when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
All pity chok'd with custom of fell deeds;
And Cæsar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Até by bis side, come bot from hell,
Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice,
Cry Havock*, and let slipt the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial,

Enter a Servant.

You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not?

Serv. I do, Mark Antony.
Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome.

Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming:
And bid me say to you by word of mouth,
O Cæsar!

[seeing the body.
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,
Began to water. Is thy master coming ?
Sero. He lies to-night within seven leagues of

Rome.
Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath

chanc'd :
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;
Thou shalt not back, till I have borne this corse
Into the market.place: there shall I try,

• The signal for giviug no quarter.

+ To let slip a dog at a deer, &c. was the techni. cal phrase of Shakspeare's time.

In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men;
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand. (Exeunt, with Cæsar's body.

Enter Brutus and Cassius, and a throng of Citi.

zens,

Cit. We will be satisfied ; let us be satisfied.
Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience,

friends.
Cassius, go you into the other street,
Aud part the numbers.
Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
And publick reasons shall be rendered
Of Cæsar's death.
1 Cit.

I will hear Brutus speak. 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.
3 Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended : Silence!

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 honour; and have respect to mine honour, 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 de. mand, 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 free men! As Cæsar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honourhim: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him ; There is lears, for his love; joy, for his fortune; honour, for his valour; and death, for bis 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 speuking at once. Bru. Then pone have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar, than you should 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.

• Friend.