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?

Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed,
Sway'd 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 Cafar was dangerous.
Bru. Or elfe this were a favage spectacle.
Our reafons are fo full of good regard,
That were you, Antony, the Son of Cafar,
You fhould be fatisfied.

Ant. That's all I seek;

And am moreover fuitor, that I may
Produce his body to the market-place,
And in the Pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.
Bru. You fhall, Mark Antony.

Caf. Brutus, a word with you.

You know not what you do ; do not confent, [Afide.
That Antony speak in his funeral:

Know you, how much the People may be mov'd
By That which he will utter?

Bru. By your pardon,

I will myfelf into the Pulpit firft,

And fhew the reafon of our Cæfar's death.
What Antony fhall speak, I will protest
He fpeaks by leave, and by permiffion:
And that we are contented, Cafar fhall
Have all due rites, and lawful ceremonies :
It fhall advantage more, than do us wrong.

Caf. I know not what may fall, I like it not.
Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæfar's body:
You fhall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But fpeak all good you can devife of Cæfar;
And fay, you do't by our permission:
Elfe fhall you not have any hand at all
About his funeral. And you fhail fpeak

In

In the fame Pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.

Ant. Be it fo;

I do defire no more.

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.

Ant.

SCENE

[Exeunt Confpirators.

IV.

Manet Antony.

Pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth! That I am meek and gentle with thefe butchers.

Thou art the ruins of the nobleft man,

That ever lived in the tide of times.

Woe to the hand, that shed this coftly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophefy,

(Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue)
A curfe fhall light upon the line of men;
Domeftic fury, and fierce civil ftrife,

*

Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
Blood and deftruction fhall be fo in ufe,
And dreadful objects fo familiar,

That mothers fhall but fmile, when they behold
Their infants quarter'd by the hands of war:
All pity chok'd with custom of fell deeds;
And Cæfar's fpirit, ranging for revenge,
With Até by his fide come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines, with a Monarch's voice,
Cry Havock, and let flip the Dogs of war;
That this foul deed fhall fmell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Enter Octavius's Servant.

You ferve Odavius Cæfar, do you not?
Serv. I do, Mark Antony.

* ——upon the Limbs of men ;] We fhould read,
-Line of men;-- -i. e. Human Race.

Warb.

Ant.

Ant. Cafar 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

O Cæfar!

[Seeing the Body. Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep; Paffion I fee is catching; for mine eyes,

Seeing thofe Beads of forrow ftand in thine,
Began to water. Is thy mafter coming?

Ser. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. Ant. Poft back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd.

Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of fafety for Octavius yet;

Hie hence, and tell him fo. Yet flay a while;
Thou shalt not back, 'till I have borne this corfe
Into the market-place: there fhall I try
In my Oration, how the people take
The cruel iffue of thefe bloody men ;
According to the which, thou fhalt difcourfe
To young Octavius of the ftate of things.
Lend me your hand.

[Exeunt with Cæfar's body.

SCENE V.

Changes to the Forum.

Enter Brutus, and mounts the Roftra; Caffius, with

Pleb. W

the Plebeians.

E will be fatisfied; let us be fatisfied.

Bru. Then follow me, and give me

audience, friends.

Caffius, go you into the other ftreet,

And part the numbers :

Thofe, that will hear me speak, let 'em ftay here;
Thofe, that will follow Caffius, go with him;
And public reafons fhall be rendered

Of Cafar's death.

I Pleb.

1 Pleb. I will hear Brutus speak.

2 Pleb. I will hear Caffius, and compare their

reafons,

When fev'rally we hear them rendered.

[Exit Caffius, with fome of the Plebeians.

3 Pleb. The noble Brutus is afcended: filence ! Bru. Be patient 'till the laft.

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 wifdom, and awake your fenfes, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this affembly, any dear friend of Cafar's, to him I fay, that Brutus's love to Cafar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cæfar, this is my Answer: Not that I lov'd Cæfar lefs, but that I lov'd Rome more. Had you rather Cæfar were living, and die all flaves; than that Cæfar were dead, to live all free-men? As Cafar lov'd 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 bafe, that would be a bond-man? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who's here fo rude, that would not be a Roman? if any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo vile, that will not love his Country? if any, speak; 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 inroll'd in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforc'd, for which he fuffered death.

Enter

Enter Mark Antony with Cæfar's body.

Here comes his body, mourn'd 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 fhall not? With this I depart, that as I flew my beft lover for the good of Rome; I have the fame dagger for myself, when it fhall please my Country to need my death.

All. Live, Brutus, live! live!

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

2 Pleb. Give him a ftatue with his Ancestors. 3 Pleb. Let him be Cæfar.

4 Pleb. Cæfar's better Parts

Shall be crown'd in Brutus.

1 Pleb. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.

Bru. My Countrymen

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

f 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 permillion is allow'd 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?

3 Pleb.