Cas. Mark Antony

Ant. Pardon me, Cams Cajfas; The enemies of Ctsar shall lay this: Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Cas. I blame you not for praising Ctsar so, But what compact mean you to have with us? Will you be prick'd in number of our friends, Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

Ant. Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed S way'd from the point, by looking down on Casar. Friends am I with you all, and love you all, Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons Why, and wherein Ctsar was dangerous.

Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle.
Our reasons are so full of good regard,
That were you Antony the son of Ctsar,
You should be satissied,

Ant. That's all I seek;
And am moreover suitor, 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 shall, Mark Antony.

Cas. Brutus, a word with you
You know not what you do, do not consent ( Afidt
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 my self into the pulpit sirst,
And shew the reason of our Casals death.
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave, and by permission;
And that we are contented Casar shall
Have all due rites, and lawful ceremonies:
It shall advantage more, than do us wrong.

How like a deer, stricken by many princes,
Dost thou here lye?
Cas. Mark Antony, Sec.

Cas. I know not what may fall, I like it not.

Bra. Mark Antony, here take your Casar's body:
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Ctsar,
And say you do't by our permission:
You shall not elseJiaye any hand at all
About his funeral. And you shall lpeak
In the fame pulpit whereto 1 am going,
After my speech is ended.

Ant. Beit io;
I do desire no more.

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. \Extunt.

SCENE IV.
Manet Antony.

Ant. O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of 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.

Woe to the hand that slied this costly blood!

Over thy wounds now do I prophesie,

(Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,

To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue)

A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;

Domcstick fury, and sierce civil strife.

Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;

Blood and destruction shall be so in use,

And dreadful objects so familiar,

That mothers shall but smile, when they behold

Their infants quarter'd by the hands of war.

All pity choak'd with custom of fell deeds;

And Casarh Spirit, ranging for revenge,

With Ati by his side come hot from hell,

Shall in these consines, with a monarch's voice,

Cry Havock, and let flip the dogs of war;

That this foul deed shall finell above the earth

With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Enttr Enter Octavius'* Servant,

You serve Oltavius Ctsar, do you not?

Serv. I do, Mark Antony.

Ant, Ctsar did write for him to come ro Rome.

Ser. He did receive his letters, and is coming,

And bid me fay to you by word of mouth

OCdsar\ (Seeing the body.

Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep i
Passion I fee is catching, for mine eyes
Seeing those beds of sorrow stand in thine,
Began to water. Is thy master coming?

Ser. He lyes to-night within seven leagues of Rome.

Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, (chane'd. No Rente of safety for Oltavius j et; Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay a while, Thou shalt not back, 'till I have born this corse Into the market place: there shall I try In my Oration, how the people take The cruel issue of these bloody men; According to the which, thou shalt discourse To young Oftavius of the state of things. Lend me your hand, (Exeunt with Cæsar I body,

SCENE V.

The Forum.

Enter Brutusr W mounts the Rostra. Caflius, with the Plebeians.

Pleb. We will be satissied; let us be satissied.

Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends, Caffius, go you into the other street, And part the numbers:

Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here;

Those that will follow Caflius, go with him,

And publick reasons shall be rendered

OfC^r's death. i Pleb, I Pieb. I will hear Brutus speak. X Pleb. I will hear Cajfius, and compare their reasons, When sev'rally we hear them rendered. which of you shall not? With this I depart, that as I flew my best lover for trie good or Rome, I have the some dagger for my self, when it shall please my country to need my death.

{Exeunt Caffius, with some os the Pleb eians. 3 Pleb. The noble Brutus is ascended: silence! Bru. Be patient'till the last.

Romans,Country.men,and («) Friends! hear me for my cauk; 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, anda. wake your senses that you may the better judge. * If 1 there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Ct. 'sar% to him I say, that Brutus'% love to Ctsar was no

* less than his. If then that friend demand, why Bru'tus rose against Ctsar., this is my answer: Not that I 'lov'd Ctsar lels, but that I lov'd Rome more. Had you « rather Cesar were living, and dye all slaves; than that

* Cesar were dead, to live all free.men? As Ctsar lov'd 1 me, 1 weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at 'it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but as he was am'bitious, 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 so bale that would be a

* bond.man? if any, speak; for him have I offended. 'Who is here so rude, that would not be a Roman r if

* any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so

* vile, that will not love his country? ifany,fpeak; for 'him have I offended. 1 pause for a reply > .

All. None, Brutus, none.

Bru. Then none have I offended 1 have done no

more to Ctsar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is inroll'd in the capital; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enfore'd, for which he suffered death.

Enter Mark Antony with CaesarV body.

Here comes his body; mourn'd by Mark Antony: who though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benesit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as

All. Live, Brutus, live!

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

2 Pleb, Give him a statue with his ancestors.

3 Pleb. Let him be Ctsar. i,Pleb. Ctsar\ better parts

Shall now be cro wn'd in Brutus.

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

Bru. My countrymen •

i Pleb. Peace 1 silence! Brutus speaks.

1 Pleb. Peace, ho!

Bru. Good countrymen, iet me depart alone, And for my fake, stay here with Antony; Do grace to Ctsar's corps, and grace his speech Tending to Ctsar's glories, which Mark Antony By our permission is allow'd to make. I do intreat you, not a man depart, Save I alone, 'till Antony have spoke. (Exit.

SCENE VI.

1 l>leb. Stay, ho, and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Pleb. Let him go up into the publick chair, We'll hear him: noble Antony, go up.

Ant. For Brutus' fake lam beholden to you. 4. Pleb. What does he fay of Brutus f

3 Pleb. He fays, for Brutus'> fake He sinds himself beholden to us all.

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

1 Pleb. This Ctsar was a tyranr. 3 Pleb. Nay, that's certain;

We are glad that Rome is rid of him.

2 Pleb. Peace, let us hear what Antony can fay. Ant. You gentle Romans

All. Peace, ho, let us hear him. (ears; Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your

* I come