Though now we must appear bloody and cruel, Hath done this deed on Cæfar: for your part, tony; Our arms exempt from malice, and our hearts With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence. Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeased Why I, that did love Cæfar when I ftrook him, Ant. I doubt not of your wifdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand; Gentlemen all------alas, what shall I fay? My credit now ftands on fuch flippery ground, That I did love thee, Cæfar, oh, 'tis true; Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death, Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes, Caf. Mark Antony Ant. Pardon me, Caius Caffius: The enemies of Cæfar fhall fay this: Then, in a friend, it is cold modefty. 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? [deed, Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, inSwayed from the point, by looking down on Cæfar. Friends am I with you all, and love you all; Upon this hope, that you fhall give me reasons, Why, and wherein Cæfar was dangerous, Bru. Or elfe this were a favage ipectacle. (20) And grimon'd in thy death. All the old copies that I have feen, read, Lethe. The dictionaries, indeed, acknowledge no fuch word; and as the L might have mistakingly been formed from an obfcure D, not taking the ink equally in all parts, I have fuffered the more known word to ftand in the text; though, indeed, I am not without fufpicion of our Poet's having either coined the other term, or copied it from fome obfolete author, who had adopted it from the lethum of the Latins, which 'tis well known, was ufed for death, as well as deftruction, ruin, bever, &c, Our reasons are fo full of good regard, Ant. That's all I feek; And am moreover fuitor, that I may You know not what you do; do not confent [fide. Know you how much the people may be moved By that which he will utter? Bru. By your pardon, I will myfelf into the pulpit first, ; And fhew the reafon of our Cæfar's death. Ant. Be it fo; I'do defire no more. Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. [Exeunt Confpirators.. Manet ANTONY. Ant. O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of carth! 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 thed this coltly blood! (Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, That mothers fhall but smile, when they behold Enter Octavius's Servant. You ferve Octavius Cæfar, do you not? Ser. I do, Mark Antony. O Cæfar! 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[Seeing the Body. Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep; Paffion I fee is catching; for mine eyes, (21) Seeing thofe beads of forrow ftand in thine, (21) Seeing those beds of forrow-] Thus Mr Pope's two Began to water. Is thy mafter coming? [Rome. Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, Hie hence, and tell him fo. Yet stay a while; SCENE changes to the Forum. Enter BRUTUS, and mounts the Roftra; CASSIUS, with the Flebeians. 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; Thofe that will hear me fpeak, let 'em ftay here: Thofe that will follow Caffius, go with him; And public reafons fhall be rendered Of Cæfar's death. editions, for what reafon I know not; but I have reftored from all the other copies, beads; which was certainly the Poet's word. Thus Lady Conftance, in King John; Ay, with thefe crystal heads heaven shall he bribed And fo Lady Pe cy, in the first part of Henry IV.. |