With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Cæs. What, Brutus! Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon: As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. Cæs. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you; Of whose true, fix'd, and resting quality, The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, That unassailable holds on his rank, That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, And constant do remain to keep him so. Cin. O Cæsar! Cæs. Dec. Great Cæsar, Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Casca. Speak, hands, for me. [CASCA stabs CESAR in the Neck. CESAR catches hold of his Arm. He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and last by MARCUS BRUTUS. Cæs. Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Cæsar. [Dies. The Senators and People retire in confusion. Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted. And Cassius too. Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Bru. Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer: There is no harm intended to your person, Nor to no Roman else; so tell them, Publius. Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people, Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief. and let no man abide this deed, Bru. Do so: But we, the doers. Re-enter TRebonius. Fled to his house amaz'd. Cas. Where's Antony? Tre. Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, Bru. Fates, we will know your pleasures. That we shall die, we know; 't is but the time, Casca. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life, Cuts off so many years of fearing death. Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: So are we Cæsar's friends, that have abridg'd His time of fearing death. - Stoop, Romans, stoop, Cas. Stoop then, and wash, - How many ages hence, Shall this our lofty scene be acted over, In states unborn, and accents yet unknown? Bru. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport, That now on Pompey's basis lies along, No worthier than the dust? Cas. So oft as that shall be, So often shall the knot of us be call'd Ay, every man away: Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels Enter a Servant. Bru. Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel; Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down, And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say. Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving: Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him; Say, I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him, and lov'd him. Thorough the hazards of this untrod state, Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman: Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit Servant. Bru. I know, that we shall have him well to friend. Falls shrewdly to the purpose. Re-enter ANTONY. Welcome, Mark Antony. Bru. But here comes Antony. As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument Of half that worth, as those your swords, made rich I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard, Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, No place will please me so, no mean of death, Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. And pity to the general wrong of Rome (As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity) Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony: With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence. Cas. Your voice shall be as strong as any man's, In the disposing of new dignities. Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him, Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand: First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you; Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus; -- Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius. My credit now stands on such slippery ground, That I did love thee, Cæsar, O! 't is true: Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds, It would become me better, than to close In terms of friendship with thine enemies. Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart; Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, |