Produce his body to the market-place; Bru. You shall, Mark Antony. Cas. Brutus, a word with You know not what you do; Do not consent, That Antony speak in his funeral: you. [Aside. Know you how much the people may be mov'd Brú. By your pardon;I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Cæsar's death: What Antony shall speak, I will protest He speaks by leave and by permission; And that we are contented, Cæsar shall Have all true rites, and lawful ceremonies. It shall advantage more, than do us wrong. Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar's body. You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar; And say, you do't by our permission; Else shall you not have any hand at all About his funeral: And you shall speak In the same pulpit whereto I am going, After my speech is ended. Ant. I do desire no more. Be it so; Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. [Exeunt all but ANTONY. Ant. O, pardon me, thou piece of bleeding 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." in the tide of times.] That is, in the course of times. Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, That mothers shall but smile, when they behold Enter a Servant. You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome. Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming: And bid me say to you by word of mouth,— O Cæsar! [Seeing the Body. Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of 7 let slip] This is a term belonging to the chase. Slips were contrivances of leather by which greyhounds were restrained till the necessary moment of their dismission. By the dogs of war, as Mr. Tollet has observed, Shakspeare probably meant fire, sword, and fumine. Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay a while; Thou shalt not back, till I have borne this corse Into the market-place: there shall I try, The cruel issue of these bloody men; Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a Throng of Cit. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied. Cassius, go you into the other street, And part the numbers. Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here; Those that will follow Cassius, go with him; And publick reasons shall be rendered Of Cæsar's death. 1 Cit. I will hear Brutus speak. 2 Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, When severally we hear them rendered. [Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Citizens, BRUTUS goes into the Rostrum. 3 Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended; Silence! Bru. Be patient till the last, Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause; and be silent that you may hear: believe me for mine honour; and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe: censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cæsar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cæsar, this is my answer,→ Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves; than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæsar 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 slew him: There is tears, for his love; joy, for his fortune; honour, for his valour; and death, for his ambition. Who is here so base, that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile, that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply. Cit. None, Brutus, none. [Several speaking at once. Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar, than you should do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol: his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. Enter ANTONY and Others, with CESAR's Body. Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; As which of you shall not? With this I depart; That, as I slew my best lovers for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. 3 Cit. Let him be Cæsar. 4 Cit. Cæsar's better parts Shall now be crown'd in Brutus. 1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours. Bru. My countrymen, 2 Cit. 1 Cit. Peace, ho! Peace; silence! Brutus speaks. Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, I do entreat you, not a man depart, [Exit. 1 Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Cit. Let him go up into the publick chair; We'll hear him: Noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholden to us all. 8 4 Cit. "Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. 1 Cit. This Cæsar was a tyrant. as I slew my best lover-] This term, which cannot but sound disgustingly to rodern ears, as here applied, Mr. Malone considers as the language of Shakspeare's time; but this opinion, from the want of contemporary examples to confirm it, may admit of a doubt. |