For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel :
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar loved him!
This was the worst, unkindest cut of all:
For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.-
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops,
Kind souls! What, weep you, when you but behold
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.

First Ple. O piteous spectacle!

Second Ple. O noble Cæsar!

Third Ple. O woeful day!

Fourth Ple. O traitors, villains!

Second Ple. We will be revenged! revenge; about

seek-burn-fire-kill-slay ! -let not a traitor live. Ant. Stay, countrymen.

First Ple. Peace there!-Hear the noble Antony. Second Ple. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die

with him!

Ant. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny.

They that have done this deed, are honourable;
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it: They are wise and honourable :
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:
I am no orator, as Brutus is;

But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend: and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him;
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
I tell you that, which you yourselves do know;
Show you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths,
And bid them speak for me: But, were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue

i

In every wound of Cæsar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.

All the Ple. We'll mutiny!

Second Ple. We'll burn the house of Brutus.
First Ple. Away then, come, seek the conspirators.
Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.

All the Ple. Peace, ho!

Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what;

Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserved your loves ?
You have forgot the will I told you of.

Second Ple. Most true;-the will;-let's stay and hear

the will.

Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal.

To every Roman citizen he gives,

To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

Second Ple. Most noble Cæsar! - we'll revenge his

death.

Ant. Hear me with patience.

All the Ple. Peace, ho!

Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,

His private arbours, and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tyber; he hath left them you,

And to your heirs for ever,

To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Cæsar; When comes such another ?

Second Ple. Never, never;-Come, away, away :
We'll burn his body in the holy place,
And, with the brands, fire the traitors' houses.
Take up the body.

[They raise the Hearse.

First Ple. Go, fetch fire. Pluck down benches-
Third Ple. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.
Fourth Ple. Come, brands, ho! fire-brands.
First Ple. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all!

Second Ple. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's
Third Ple. Some to Trebonius'.

All the Ple. Away; go.

[Exeunt the Plebeians, R. bearing Cæsar's Body, wit.r great noise and tumult.

Ant. [alone, and in a tone of exultation looking after the rabble.] Now let it work :-Mischief, thou art afoot,

Take thou what course thou wilt!-How now, fellow ?
Enter FLAVIUS hastily.

Fla. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
Ant. Where is he?

Fla. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house.
Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him:
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And, in this mood, will give us any thing.

Fla. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the people,
How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.

[Exeunt, R.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-A Plain near Sardis. The Camp of Brutus.A Flourish of trumpets.

BRUTUS, VARRO, LUCIUS, and others, without, L.

Bru. Stand here. Give the word, ho! and stand.
Var. Stand!

Luć. Stand!

Enter BRUTUS, VARRO, LUCIUS, an Eagle, LICTORS, &C. L.

meeting, METELLUS and PINDARUS.

Bru. What now, Metellus? Is Cassius near ?

Met. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come

To do you salutation from his master.

[Pindarius gives a Letter to Brutus.

Bru. (c.) He greets me well-Your master, Pindarus,

In his own change, or by ill officers,

Hath given me some worthy cause to wish

Things done, undone but, if he be at hand,

I shall be satisfied.

Pin. I do not doubt,

But that my noble master will appear

Such as he is, full of regard and honour.

Bru. He is not doubted.

A word, Metellus :

[Exit Pindarus, R.

How he received you, let me be resolved.

Met. With courtesy, and with respect enougn,

But not with such familiar instances,

Not with such free and friendly conference

As he hath used of old.

Bru. Thou hast described

A hot friend cooling: Ever note, Metellus
When love begins to sicken and decay,
It useth an enforced ceremony.

There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,

Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
But, when they should endure the bloody spur,

They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades,
Sink in the trial.-

Comes his army on?

[A distant sound of Trumpets.

Met. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd;

The greater part, the horse in general,
Are come with Cassius.

Bru. Hark, he is arrived.

[Trumpets sound nearer.

Cassius, Trebonius, Titinius, Pindarus, and others,

without, R.

Cas. (R. C.) Stand, ho!
Tre. Stand.

Tit. Stand

Pin Stand.

Enter CASSIUS, TREBONIUS, TITINIUS, PINDARUS, an Eagle, LICTORS, &c. R.

Cas. (c.) Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. Bru. (c.) Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies?

And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?

Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs; And when you do them,

Bru. Cassius, be content:

Speak your griefs softly-I do know you well:
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle: Bid them move away;
Then, in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,

And I will give you audience.

Cas. Pindarus,

Bid our commanders lead their charges off

A little from this ground..

[Exeunt Pindarus, Eagle, Lictors, &c,

Bru. Metellus, do the like:

And let no man

[Exeunt Metellus, Eagle, Lictors, &c.

Come to our tent, till we have done our conference

[Flourish of Trumpets. Exeunt, L. SCENE II.-The Tent of Brutus.-A Table, Papers Chairs, Cushions, &c.

Enter CASSIUS and BRUTUS, L. U. E.

Cas. [R. C.] That you have wrong'd me doth appear in

this:

You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella,
For taking bribes here of the Sardians ?
Wherein, my letters, praying on his side,
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.

Bru. [c.] You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a case.
Cas. In such a time as this, it is not meet

That every nice offence should bear his comment.
Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm;
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.

Cas. I, an itching palm!

You know that you are Brutus that speak this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.

Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corruption,

And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.

Cas. Chastisement!

Bru. Remember March-the ides of March remember!

Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake ?
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world,
But for supporting robbers-shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honours
For so much trash, as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman.

Cas. Brutus, bay not me;
I'll not endure it: I am a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.

Bru. Go to; you're not, Cassius.
Cas. I am.

Bru. I say, you are not.

Cas. Urge me no more: I shall forget myself: Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further.

Bru. Away, slight man!