With carrion men, groaning for burial, Enter a Servant. You ferve Octavius Cæfar, do you not? Serv. I do, Mark Antony. Ant. Cæfar did write for him, to come to Rome. Serv. 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, Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. 3. Ant. Poft back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd: Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, Lend me your hand. [Exeunt, with CÆSAR's body. SCENE II. The Forum. Enter BRUTUS, and CASSIUS, with the Plebeians. friends. Caffius, go you into the other street, E And And part the numbers.- And public reasons shall be rendered Of Cæfar's death. 1 Pleb. I will hear Brutus fpeak. 2 Pleb. I will hear Caffius; and compare their rea When severally we hear them rendered. [fons, [Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Plebeians. BRUTUS goes into the Roftrum. 3 Pleb. The noble Brutus is ascended: Silence! 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: censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this affembly, any dear friend of Cæfar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cæfar 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 less, 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 Cæfar lov'd me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him: bat 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 is here fo bafe, that would be a bond-man? If any, fpeak; 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! 1 country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. hat I paufe for a reply. All. None, Brutus, none. Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæfar, than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enroll'd in the Capitol: his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforc'd, for which he suffered death. Enter MARK ANTONY, &c. with CÆSAR's body. Here comes his body, mourn'd 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, of Rome, ome. I have en it shall please my as I flew my best lover for the good the fame dagger for myself, when it 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 statue with his ancestors. 3 Pleb. Let him be Cæfar. 4 Pleb. Cæfar's better parts Shall be crowned in Brutus. 1 Pleb. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours. Bru. My countrymen, 2 Pleb. Peace; filence! Brutus speaks. 1 Pleb. Peace, ho! Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, By our permiffion is allowed to make. Ido entreat you, not a man depart, E2 Save [Exit Save I alone, 'till Antony have spoke. We'll hear him:-Noble Antony, go up. He finds himself beholden to us all. 4 Pleb. "Twere best he fpeak noharm of Brutus here. I Pleb. This Cæfar was a tyrant. 3 Pleb. Nay, that's certain. We are blest, 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. Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your I come to bury Cæfar, not to praife him. Hath told you, Cæfar was ambitious: He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Eears; When that the poor have cry'd, Cæfar hath wept: Ambition JULIUS CÆSAR Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; 53 I fpeak 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 with-holds you then to mourn for him?O judgment, thou art fled to brutish hearts, And men have loft their reason ! - Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Cæfar, And I must pause 'till it come back to me. 1 Pleb. Methinks, there is much reason in his fayings. 2 Pleb. If thou confider rightly of the matter, Cæfar has had great wrong. 3 Pleb. Has he, masters? I fear there will a worse come in his place. 4 Plet. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown; Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious. 1 Pleb. If it be found so, some will dear abide it. 2 Pleb. Poor foul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. 3 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 lies he there, And none fo poor to do him reverence. O mafters! if I were difpos'd to ftir E3 Your |