Imatges de pàgina
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1 Pleb. I will hear Brutus fpeak.

2 Pleb. I will hear Caffius, and compare their reaWhen feverally we hear then rendered. [fous, [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 cause; and be filent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe. Cenfure me in your wisdom, 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' love to Cæfar was no lefs than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rofe against Cæfar, this is my answer: not that I loved Cæfar lefs, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæfar were diving, and die all flaves, than that Cæfar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæfar loved 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 base, that would be a bond-man? If any, fpcak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo vile, that will not love his country? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended.---I paufe for a reply

All. None, Brutus, none.

Bru. Then none have I offended.—I have done no more to Cæfar, than you fhall do to Brutus. The queftion of his death is inrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was VOL. X.

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worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he fuffered death.

Enter MARK ANTONY, with Cæfar's Body. Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who though he had no hand in his death, fhall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this I depart, that as I flew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the fame dagger for myself, when it shall please my Country to need my death.

All. Live, Brutus, live! live!

2 Pleb. Bring him with triumph home unto his house.

2 Pleb. Give him a ftatue with his ancestors.

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Pleb Cæfar's better parts

Shall be crowned in Brutus.

1 Pleb. We'll bring him to his houfe With fhouts and clamours.

Bru. My Countrymen

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

Bru. Good Countrymen, let me depart alone, And, for my fake, ftay here with Antony;

Do grace to Cæfar's corps, and grace his fpeech
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.

[Exit.

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 fay of Brutus?

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Pleb. He fays, for Brutus' fake

He finds himself beholden to us all.

4 Pleb. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.

1 Pleb. This Cæfar was a tyrant.

3 Pleb. Nay, that's certain;

We are bleft that Rome is rid of him.

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

All. Peace, ho, let us hear him.

[ears.

Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your
I 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, Cæfar was ambitious:
If it were fo, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously hath Cæfar answered it.
Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest,
(For Brutus is an honourable man,
So are they all, all honourable men)
Come I to speak in Cafar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me;
But Brutus fays, he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.

He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whofe ransoms did the general coffers fill;

Did this in Cæfar feem ambitious?

When that the poor have cried, Cæfar hath wept;
Ambition fhould be made of sterner stuff.

Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did fee, that on the Lupercal,

I thrice presented him a kingly crown;

Which he did thrice refufe. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious,

And, fure, he is an honourable man.

I speak not to difprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What caufe withholds you then to mourn for him?
O judgment, thou art fed to brutith breafts,
And men have loft their reafon! Bear with me,
My heart is in the coffin there with Cæfar,
And I muft paufe till it come back to me.

I Pleb. Methinks there. is much reafon in his If thou confider rightly of the matter, [fayings. Cæfar has had great wrong.

3 Pleb. Has he, Mafters? I fear there will a worfe come in his place.

4 Pleb. Marked ye his words? he would not take

the crown;

Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious.

1. Pleb. If it be found fo, fome will dear abide it. 2 Pleb. Poor foul! his eyes are red as fire with

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weeping.

Pleb. There's not a nobler man in Rome than

Antony.

4 Pleb Now mark him, he begins again to speak. Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæfar might Have ftood against the world; now lyes he there, And none fo poor to do him reverence.

O mafters! if I were difpofed to ftir

Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I fhould do Brutus wrong, and Caffius wrong;
Who, you all know, are honourable men.
I will not do them wrong: I rather chufe
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong fuch honourable men.
But here's a parchment, with the feal of Cæfar,
I found it in his clofet, 'tis his will;
Let but the commons hear this teftament,
(Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read)

And they would go and kifs dead Cæfar's wounds,
And dip their napkins in his facred blood;
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,

And dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy

Unto their illue.

4 Pleb. We'll hear the will, read it, Mark Antony. All. The will, the will; we will hear Cæfar's will.

Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not
read it;

It is not meet you know how Cæfar lov'd you.
You are not wood, you are not ftones, but men ;
And, being men, hearing the will of Cæfar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad.
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs ;
For if you fhould-O what would come of it!

4 Pleb. Read the will, we will hear it, Antony: You fhall read us the will, Cæfar's will.

Ant. Will you be patient? will you stay a while? (I have o'er-fhot myfelf, to tell you of it.) fear I wrong the honourable men,

Whofe daggers have stabbed Cæfar

-I do fear it. 2 Pleb. They were traitors-honourable men! All. The will! the teftament!

2 Pleb. They were villains, murderers; the will! read the will!

Ant. You will compel me then to read the will?
Then make a ring about the corps of Cæfar,
And let me fhew you him that made the will.
Shall I defcend? and will you give me leave?
All. Come down.

2 Pleb. Defcend. [He comes down from the Pulpit.
Pleb. You fhall have leave.

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4 Pleb. A ring; ftand round.

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