That will be thaw'd from the true quality With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear, For the repealing of my banish'd brother? Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal. 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: The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, That unassailable holds on his rank, 6 Unshak'd of motion: and, that I am he, 5 Intelligent. 6 Continues to hold it. 7 Solicitation. Let me a little show it, even in this; That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd, Casca. Speak, hands, for me. [CASCA stabs CESAR in the Neck. CESAR catches hold of his Arm. He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and at last by MARCUS BRUTUS. Cæs. Et tu, Brute? Then, fall, Cæsar. [Dies. The Senators and People retire in confusion. Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement ! Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted; Fly not; stand still:-ambition's debt is paid. Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus. Dec. Bru. Where's Publius? And Cassius too. Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cæsar's Should chance Bru. Talk not of standing ;-Publius, good cheer; There is no harm intended to your person, Nor to no Roman élse: so tell them, Publius. Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people, 8 Unsuccessfully. 9 And thou, Brutus ? Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief. Bru. Do so;-and let no man abide this deed, But we the doers. Re-enter TREBONIUS, Cas. Where's Antony? Tre. Fled to his house amaz'd: Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, As it were doomsday. 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 Cæsar'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! Cas. 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? Cas. So oft as that shall be, So often shall the knot of us be call'd In Cæsar's blood: 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 Servant. Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Serv. 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 Re-enter ANTONY, Bru. But here comes Antony.-Welcome, Mark Ant. O mighty Cæsar! Dost thou lie so low? As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument Of half that worth, as those your swords, made rich Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, I shall not find myself so apt to die : No place will please me so, no mean of death, The choice and master spirits of this age. Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, 2 Grown too high for the publick safety. |