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To fee thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! in the prefence of thy corfe!
Had I as many eyes as thou haft wounds,
Weeping as fast as they ftream 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, and here thy hunters ftand
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe,
Caf. Mark Antony.

Ant. Pardon me, Caius Caffius.

The enemies of Cæfar fhall fay this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

- Caf. I blame you not for praising Cæfar fo.
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends,
Or fhall 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 Cæfar.
Friends am I with you all, and love you all ;
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons,
Why, and wherein Cæfar was dangerous.
Bru. Or elfe this were a favage fpectacle.
Our reasons are fo full of good regard,
That were you, Antony, the fon of Cæfar,
You fhould be fatisfied.

Ant. That's all I feek;

And am moreover fuitor, 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 fhall, Mark Antony.

Caf. Brutus, a word with you,-----

You know not what you do; do not confent fide. That Antony speak in his funeral :

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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 fhew the reafon of our Cæfar's death.
What Antony shall speak, I will proteft
He speaks by leave, and by permiffion;
And that we are contented Cæfar fhall
Have all due rites, and lawful ceremonies.
It shall advantage more, than do us wrong.

Caf. I know not what may fall, I like it not. Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæfar's body. You fhall not in your funeral fpeech blame us, But speak all good you can devise of Cæfar ; And fay, you do't by our permiffion:

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Elfe fhall you not have any hand at all
About his funeral. And you shall speak
In the fame pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.

Ant. Be it fo;

I do defire no more.

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.

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[Exeunt Confpirators.

Manet Antony.

Ant. O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of 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 prophefy,

(Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue),

A curfe fhall light upon the line of men *;

Domestic fury, and fierce civil ftrife,

Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;

Blood and deftruction shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects fo familiar,

That mothers fhall but fmile, when they behold
Their infants quarter'd by the hands of War:
All pity chok'd with custom of fell deeds;
"And Cæfar's fpirit, ranging for revenge,

* i... human race:

"With Até by his fide come hot from hell,
"Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice,
"Cry, Havock, and let flip the dogs of war ;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groning for burial.

Enter Octavius's Servant.

You ferve Octavius Cæfar, do you not?
Ser. I do, mark Antony.

Ant. Cæfar did write for him to come to Rome
Ser. He did receive his letters, and is coming;
And bid me fay to you by word of mouth-

O Cæfar!

[Seeing the body.. Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep; Paffion I fee is catching; for mine eyes,

Seeing those beads of forrow stand in thine,

Begin to water. Is thy mafter coming?

Ser. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome, Ant. Poft back with speed, and tell him what hath Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, [chanc'd.. No Rome of fafety for Octavius yet;

Hie hence and tell him fo. Yet itay a while;
Thou shalt not back, till I have born this corfe.
Into the market-people: there fhall I try
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel iffue of thefe bloody men;
According to the which thou fhalt difcourfe

To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.

SCENE V.

[Exeunt with Cæfar's body

Changes to the Forum.

Enter Brutus, and mounts the Roftra; Caffius with the Plebeians.

Pleb. We will be fatisfied; let us be fatisfied.

Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends. Caffius, go you into the other street,

And part the numbers :

Thote that will hear me fpeak, let 'em ftay here;,
Those that will follow Caffius, go with him;
And public reasons shall be rendered

Of Cæfar's death.

2

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1 Pleb

will hear Brutus fpeak.

2 Pleb. I will hear Caffius, and compare their rea. When fev'rally we hear them rendered.

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[Exit Caffius, with fome of the Plebeians. 3 Pleb. The noble Brutus is afcended: filence! Bru. Be patient till the last.

Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my caufe; and be filent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honour, and have refpect to mine honour, that you may believe. Cenfure me in your wifdom, and awake your fenfes that you may the better judge. If there be any in this affembly, any dear friend of Cæfar's, to him I fay, that Brutus's love to Cæfar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rofe against Cæfar, this is my anfwer: Not that I lov'd Cæfar lefs, but that I lov'd Rome · more. Had you rather Cæfar were living, and die all flaves; than that Cæfar were dead, to live all freemen? As Cæfar lov'd me, I weep for him; as he < was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but as he was ambitious, I flew him. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death for his ambition. Who's here fo bafe, that would be a bond man? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who's here fo rude, ⚫ that would not be a Roman? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who's here fo vile, that will not love his country! If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. -I pause for a reply

All None, Brutus, none.

Bru. Then none have I offended.--I have done no more to Cæfar than you shall do to Brutus. The queftion of his death is inroll'd in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his of fences inforc'd, for which he suffered death.

Enter Mark Antony with Cæfar's body.

Here comes his body, mourn'd by Mark Antony; who, though he had no hand in his death, fhall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the common wealth; as which of you fhall not? With this I depart, that as I flew my belt lover for the good of Rome, I have the

fame dagger for myfelf, when it fhall pleafe my coun try to need my death.

All Live, Brutus, live! live!

1 Pleb. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Pleb. Give him a statue with his ancestors.

3

4

Pleb. Let him be Cæfar.

Pleb. Cæfar's better parts

Shall be crown'd in Brutus.

1 Pleb. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.

Bru. My countrymen—–

2 Pleb. Peace! filence! Brutus speaks. 1 Pleb Peace, ho!

Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone. -
And, for my fake, stay here with Antony;

Do grace to Cæfar's corpfe, and grace his speech↑
Tending to Cæfar's glories, which Mark Antony
By our permiffion is allowed to make.

I do intreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

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1 Pleb. Stay; ho, and let us hear Mark Antony. · 3 Pleb. Let him go up into the public chair,

We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.

Ant. For Brutus' fake, I am beholden to you. 4 Pleb. What does he say of Brutus ?

3 Pleb. He fays, for Brutus' fake

He finds himself beholden to us all.

4

Pleb. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here, i Pleb, This Cæfar was a tyrant.

3 Pleb. Nay, that's certain;

We are bless'd, that Rome is rid of him.

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2 Pleb. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say.. Ant. You gentle Romans

All, Peace, ho, let us hear him.

Ant, Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your

' 1 come to bury Cæfar, 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 Cæfar! Noble Brutus
• Hath told you, Celar was ambitious;;

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