Brutus. Prepare the body then, and follow us. [Exeunt all but ANTONY. Antony. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! That ever lived in the tide of times. Woe to the hands that shed this costly blood! Which like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips That mothers shall but smile when they behold Enter a Servant. You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Antony. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome. Servant. He did receive his letters and is coming, And bid me say to you, by word of mouth O Cæsar! [Seeing the body. Antony. 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? Servant. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. Antony. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced. Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, No Rome of safety for Octavius yet; Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile; [Exeunt with CESAR'S body. SCENE II. The Forum. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens. Citizens. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied. Brutus. Then follow me and give me audience, friends. Cassius, go you into the other street, And part the numbers. Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here. And public reasons shall be rendered Of Cæsar's death. I Citizen. I will hear Brutus speak. 2 Citizen. I will hear Cassius, and compare their rea sons, When severally we hear them rendered. [Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Citizens. BRUTUS goes into the Rostrum. 3 Citizen. The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence! Brutus. 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 honor, and have respect to mine honor, 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 demand 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 freemen? As Cæsar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his 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. Citizens. (Several speaking at once.) None, Brutus, none. Brutus. Then none 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 CESAR'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. Citizens. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1 Citizen. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Citizen. Give him a statue with his ancestors. 3 Citizen. Let him be Cæsar. 4 Citizen. Cæsar's better parts Shall now be crowned in Brutus. 1 Citizen. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamors. Brutus. My countrymen 2 Citizen. Peace! silence! Brutus speaks. 1 Citizen. Peace, ho! Brutus. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, And, for my sake, stay here with Antony; Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech Tending to Cæsar's glories, which Mark Antony [Exit. 1 Citizen. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Citizen. Let him go up into the public chair; We'll hear him.-Noble Antony, go up. Antony. For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholden to us all. 4 Citizen. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here! 1 Citizen. This Cæsar was a tyrant. 3 Citizen. Nay, that's certain; 2 Citizen. Peace, let us hear what Antony can say. Peace, ho! let us hear him. Antony. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them, If it were so, it was a grievous fault, So are they all, all honorable men― He was my friend, faithful and just to me : And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept : Yet Brutus says he was ambitious ; And Brutus is an honorable man. |