Julius Caesar

Actus Tertius

Flourish

Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Caska, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cynna, Antony, Lepidus, Artimedorus, Publius, and the Soothsayer.

Caes The Ides of March are come

 
Sooth. I Caesar, but not gone
 
 
Art. Haile Caesar: Read this Scedule
 
 
   Deci. Trebonius doth desire you to ore-read
(At your best leysure) this his humble suite
 
 
   Art. O Caesar, reade mine first: for mine's a suite
That touches Caesar neerer. Read it great Caesar
 
 
Caes What touches vs our selfe, shall be last seru'd
Art. Delay not Caesar, read it instantly
 
 
   Caes What, is the fellow mad?
 
 
  Pub. Sirra, giue place
 
 
   Cassi. What, vrge you your Petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitoll
 
 
Popil. I wish your enterprize to day may thriue
 
 
   Cassi. What enterprize Popillius?
 
 
  Popil. Fare you well
 
 
   Bru. What said Popillius Lena?
 
 
  Cassi. He wisht to day our enterprize might thriue:
I feare our purpose is discouered
 
 
Bru. Looke how he makes to Caesar: marke him
 
 
   Cassi. Caska be sodaine, for we feare preuention.
Brutus what shall be done? If this be knowne,
Cassius or Caesar neuer shall turne backe,
For I will slay my selfe
 
 
   Bru. Cassius be constant:
Popillius Lena speakes not of our purposes,
For looke he smiles, and Caesar doth not change
 
 
   Cassi. Trebonius knowes his time: for look you Brutus
He drawes Mark Antony out of the way
 
 
   Deci. Where is Metellus Cimber, let him go,
And presently preferre his suite to Caesar
 
 
Bru. He is addrest: presse neere, and second him
 
 
Cin. Caska, you are the first that reares your hand
 
 
   Caes Are we all ready? What is now amisse,
That Caesar and his Senate must redresse?
 
 
  Metel. Most high, most mighty, and most puisant Caesar
Metellus Cymber throwes before thy Seate
An humble heart
 
 
   Caes I must preuent thee Cymber:
These couchings, and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turne pre-Ordinance, and first Decree
Into the lane of Children. Be not fond,
To thinke that Caesar beares such Rebell blood
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth Fooles, I meane sweet words,
Low-crooked-curtsies, and base Spaniell fawning:
Thy Brother by decree is banished:
If thou doest bend, and pray, and fawne for him,
I spurne thee like a Curre out of my way:
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied
 
 
   Metel. Is there no voyce more worthy then my owne,
To sound more sweetly in great Caesars eare,
For the repealing of my banish'd Brother?
 
 
  Bru. I kisse thy hand, but not in flattery Caesar:
Desiring thee, that Publius Cymber may
Haue an immediate freedome of repeale
 
 
   Caes What Brutus?
 
 
  Cassi. Pardon Caesar: Caesar pardon:
As lowe as to thy foote doth Cassius fall,
To begge infranchisement for Publius Cymber
 
 
   Caes I could be well mou'd, if I were as you,
If I could pray to mooue, Prayers would mooue me:
But I am constant as the Northerne Starre,
Of whose true fixt, and resting quality,
There is no fellow in the Firmament.
The Skies are painted with vnnumbred sparkes,
They are all Fire, and euery one doth shine:
But, there's but one in all doth hold his place.
So, in the World; 'Tis furnish'd well with Men,
And Men are Flesh and Blood, and apprehensiue;
Yet in the number, I do know but One
That vnassayleable holds on his Ranke,
Vnshak'd of Motion: and that I am he,
Let me a little shew it, euen in this:
That I was constant Cymber should be banish'd,
And constant do remaine to keepe him so
 
 
Cinna. O Caesar
 
 
   Caes Hence: Wilt thou lift vp Olympus?
 
 
  Decius. Great Caesar
 
 
   Caes Doth not Brutus bootlesse kneele?
 
 
  Cask. Speake hands for me.
 
 
They stab Caesar.
 
 
Caes Et Tu Brute? – Then fall Caesar.
 
 
Dyes
 
 
  Cin. Liberty, Freedome; Tyranny is dead,
Run hence, proclaime, cry it about the Streets
 
 
   Cassi. Some to the common Pulpits, and cry out
Liberty, Freedome, and Enfranchisement
 
 
   Bru. People and Senators, be not affrighted:
Fly not, stand still: Ambitions debt is paid
 
 
Cask. Go to the Pulpit Brutus
 
 
Dec. And Cassius too
 
 
   Bru. Where's Publius?
 
 
  Cin. Heere, quite confounded with this mutiny
 
 
   Met. Stand fast together, least some Friend of Caesars
Should chance-
 
 
  Bru. Talke not of standing. Publius good cheere,
There is no harme intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else: so tell them Publius
 
 
   Cassi. And leaue vs Publius, least that the people
Rushing on vs, should do your Age some mischiefe
 
 
   Bru. Do so, and let no man abide this deede,
But we the Doers.
 
 
Enter Trebonius
 
 
   Cassi. Where is Antony?
 
 
  Treb. Fled to his House amaz'd:
Men, Wiues, and Children, stare, cry out, and run,
As it were Doomesday
 
 
   Bru. Fates, we will know your pleasures:
That we shall dye we know, 'tis but the time
And drawing dayes out, that men stand vpon
 
 
   Cask. Why he that cuts off twenty yeares of life,
Cuts off so many yeares of fearing death
 
 
   Bru. Grant that, and then is Death a Benefit:
So are we Caesars Friends, that haue abridg'd
His time of fearing death. Stoope Romans, stoope,
And let vs bathe our hands in Caesars blood
Vp to the Elbowes, and besmeare our Swords:
Then walke we forth, euen to the Market place,
And wauing our red Weapons o're our heads,
Let's all cry Peace, Freedome, and Liberty
 
 
   Cassi. Stoop then, and wash. How many Ages hence
Shall this our lofty Scene be acted ouer,
In State vnborne, and Accents yet vnknowne?
 
 
  Bru. How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompeyes Basis lye along,
No worthier then the dust?
 
 
  Cassi. So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of vs be call'd,
The Men that gaue their Country liberty
 
 
   Dec. What, shall we forth?
 
 
  Cassi. I, euery man away.
Brutus shall leade, and we will grace his heeles
With the most boldest, and best hearts of Rome.
 
 
Enter a Seruant.
 
 
Bru. Soft, who comes heere? A friend of Antonies
 
 
   Ser. Thus Brutus did my Master bid me kneele;
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall downe,
And being prostrate, thus he bad me say:
Brutus is Noble, Wise, Valiant, and Honest;
Caesar was Mighty, Bold, Royall, and Louing:
Say, I loue Brutus, and I honour him;
Say, I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him, and lou'd him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolu'd
How Caesar hath deseru'd to lye in death,
Mark Antony, shall not loue Caesar dead
So well as Brutus liuing; but will follow
The Fortunes and Affayres of Noble Brutus,
Thorough the hazards of this vntrod State,
With all true Faith. So sayes my Master Antony
 
 
   Bru. Thy Master is a Wise and Valiant Romane,
I neuer thought him worse:
Tell him, so please him come vnto this place
He shall be satisfied: and by my Honor
Depart vntouch'd
 
 
Ser. Ile fetch him presently.
 
 
Exit Seruant.
 
 
Bru. I know that we shall haue him well to Friend
 
 
   Cassi. I wish we may: But yet haue I a minde
That feares him much: and my misgiuing still
Falles shrewdly to the purpose.
 
 
Enter Antony.
 
 
  Bru. But heere comes Antony:
Welcome Mark Antony
 
 
   Ant. O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lye so lowe?
Are all thy Conquests, Glories, Triumphes, Spoiles,
Shrunke to this little Measure? Fare thee well.
I know not Gentlemen what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is ranke:
If I my selfe, there is no houre so fit
As Caesars deaths houre; nor no Instrument
Of halfe that worth, as those your Swords; made rich
With the most Noble blood of all this World.
I do beseech yee, if you beare me hard,
Now, whil'st your purpled hands do reeke and smoake,
Fulfill your pleasure. Liue a thousand yeeres,
I shall not finde my selfe so apt to dye.
No place will please me so, no meane of death,
As heere by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The Choice and Master Spirits of this Age
 
 
   Bru. O Antony! Begge not your death of vs:
Though now we must appeare bloody and cruell,
As by our hands, and this our present Acte
You see we do: Yet see you but our hands,
And this, the bleeding businesse they haue done:
Our hearts you see not, they are pittifull:
And pitty to the generall wrong of Rome,
As fire driues out fire, so pitty, pitty
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
To you, our Swords haue leaden points Marke Antony:
Our Armes in strength of malice, and our Hearts
Of Brothers temper, do receiue you in,
With all kinde loue, good thoughts, and reuerence
 
 
   Cassi. Your voyce shall be as strong as any mans,
In the disposing of new Dignities
 
 
   Bru. Onely be patient, till we haue appeas'd
The Multitude, beside themselues with feare,
And then, we will deliuer you the cause,
Why I, that did loue Caesar when I strooke him,
Haue thus proceeded
 
 
   Ant. I doubt not of your Wisedome:
Let each man render me his bloody hand.
First Marcus Brutus will I shake with you;
Next Caius Cassius do I take your hand;
Now Decius Brutus yours; now yours Metellus;
Yours Cinna; and my valiant Caska, yours;
Though last, not least in loue, yours good Trebonius.
Gentlemen all: Alas, what shall I say,
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad wayes you must conceit me,
Either a Coward, or a Flatterer.
That I did loue thee Caesar, O 'tis true:
If then thy Spirit looke vpon vs now,
Shall it not greeue thee deerer then thy death,
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy Foes?
Most Noble, in the presence of thy Coarse,
Had I as many eyes, as thou hast wounds,
Weeping as fast as they streame forth thy blood,
It would become me better, then to close
In tearmes of Friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me Iulius, heere was't thou bay'd braue Hart,
Heere did'st thou fall, and heere thy Hunters stand
Sign'd in thy Spoyle, and Crimson'd in thy Lethee.
O World! thou wast the Forrest to this Hart,
And this indeed, O World, the Hart of thee.
How like a Deere, stroken by many Princes,
Dost thou heere lye?
 
 
  Cassi. Mark Antony
 
 
   Ant. Pardon me Caius Cassius:
The Enemies of Caesar, shall say this:
Then, in a Friend, it is cold Modestie
 
 
   Cassi. I blame you not for praising Caesar so.
But what compact meane you to haue with vs?
Will you be prick'd in number of our Friends,
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
 
 
  Ant. Therefore I tooke your hands, but was indeed
Sway'd from the point, by looking downe on Caesar.
Friends am I with you all, and loue you all,
Vpon this hope, that you shall giue me Reasons,
Why, and wherein, Caesar was dangerous
 
 
   Bru. Or else were this a sauage Spectacle:
Our Reasons are so full of good regard,
That were you Antony, the Sonne of Caesar,
You should be satisfied
 
 
   Ant. That's all I seeke,
And am moreouer sutor, that I may
Produce his body to the Market-place,
And in the Pulpit as becomes a Friend,
Speake in the Order of his Funerall
 
 
Bru. You shall Marke Antony
 
 
   Cassi. Brutus, a word with you:
You know not what you do; Do not consent
That Antony speake in his Funerall:
Know you how much the people may be mou'd
By that which he will vtter
 
 
   Bru. By your pardon:
I will my selfe into the Pulpit first,
And shew the reason of our Caesars death.
What Antony shall speake, I will protest
He speakes by leaue, and by permission:
And that we are contented Caesar shall
Haue all true Rites, and lawfull Ceremonies,
It shall aduantage more, then do vs wrong
 
 
Cassi. I know not what may fall, I like it not
 
 
   Bru. Mark Antony, heere take you Caesars body:
You shall not in your Funerall speech blame vs,
But speake all good you can deuise of Caesar,
And say you doo't by our permission:
Else shall you not haue any hand at all
About his Funerall. And you shall speake
In the same Pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended
 
 
   Ant. Be it so:
I do desire no more
 
 
Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow vs.
 
 
Exeunt.
 
 
Manet Antony.
 
 
O pardon me, thou bleeding peece of Earth:
That I am meeke and gentle with these Butchers.
Thou art the Ruines of the Noblest man
That euer liued in the Tide of Times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly Blood.
Ouer thy wounds, now do I Prophesie,
(Which like dumbe mouthes do ope their Ruby lips,
To begge the voyce and vtterance of my Tongue)
A Curse shall light vpon the limbes of men;
Domesticke Fury, and fierce Ciuill strife,
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy:
Blood and destruction shall be so in vse,
And dreadfull Obiects so familiar,
That Mothers shall but smile, when they behold
Their Infants quartered with the hands of Warre:
All pitty choak'd with custome of fell deeds,
And Caesars Spirit ranging for Reuenge,
With Ate by his side, come hot from Hell,
Shall in these Confines, with a Monarkes voyce,
Cry hauocke, and let slip the Dogges of Warre,
That this foule deede, shall smell aboue the earth
With Carrion men, groaning for Buriall.
Enter Octauio's Seruant.
You serue Octauius Caesar, do you not?
 
 
  Ser. I do Marke Antony
 
 
Ant. Caesar did write for him to come to Rome
 
 
   Ser. He did receiue his Letters, and is comming,
And bid me say to you by word of mouth-
O Caesar!
 
 
  Ant. Thy heart is bigge: get thee a-part and weepe:
Passion I see is catching from mine eyes,
Seeing those Beads of sorrow stand in thine,
Began to water. Is thy Master comming?
 
 
  Ser. He lies to night within seuen Leagues of Rome
 
 
   Ant. Post backe with speede,
And tell him what hath chanc'd:
Heere is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octauius yet,
Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay a-while,
Thou shalt not backe, till I haue borne this course
Into the Market place: There shall I try
In my Oration, how the People take
The cruell issue of these bloody men,
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To yong Octauius, of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.
 
 
Exeunt.
 
 
Enter Brutus and goes into the Pulpit, and Cassius, with the Plebeians.
 
 
Ple. We will be satisfied: let vs be satisfied
 
 
   Bru. Then follow me, and giue me Audience friends.
Cassius go you into the other streete,
And part the Numbers:
Those that will heare me speake, let 'em stay heere;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him,
And publike Reasons shall be rendred
Of Caesars death
 
 
1. Ple. I will heare Brutus speake
 
 
2. I will heare Cassius, and compare their Reasons, When seuerally we heare them rendred
 
 
3. The Noble Brutus is ascended: Silence
Bru. Be patient till the last. Romans, Countrey-men, and Louers, heare mee for my cause, and be silent, that you may heare. Beleeue me for mine Honor, and haue respect to mine Honor, that you may beleeue. Censure me in your Wisedom, and awake your Senses, that you may the better Iudge. If there bee any in this Assembly, any deere Friend of Caesars, to him I say, that Brutus loue to Caesar, was no lesse then his. If then, that Friend demand, why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I lou'd Caesar lesse, but that I lou'd Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were liuing, and dye all Slaues; then that Caesar were dead, to liue all Free-men? As Caesar lou'd mee, I weepe for him; as he was Fortunate, I reioyce at it; as he was Valiant, I honour him: But, as he was Ambitious, I slew him. There is Teares, for his Loue: Ioy, for his Fortune: Honor, for his Valour: and Death, for his Ambition. Who is heere so base, that would be a Bondman? If any, speak, for him haue I offended. Who is heere so rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, speak, for him haue I offended. Who is heere so vile, that will not loue his Countrey? If any, speake, for him haue I offended. I pause for a Reply
 
 
All. None Brutus, none
 
 
Brutus. Then none haue I offended. I haue done no more to Caesar, then you shall do to Brutus. The Question of his death, is inroll'd in the Capitoll: his Glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforc'd, for which he suffered death. Enter Mark Antony, with Caesars body.
 
 
Heere comes his Body, mourn'd by Marke Antony, who though he had no hand in his death, shall receiue the benefit of his dying, a place in the Co[m]monwealth, as which of you shall not. With this I depart, that as I slewe my best Louer for the good of Rome, I haue the same Dagger for my selfe, when it shall please my Country to need my death
 
 
All. Liue Brutus, liue, liue
 
 
1. Bring him with Triumph home vnto his house
 
 
2. Giue him a Statue with his Ancestors
 
 
3. Let him be Caesar
 
 
   4. Caesars better parts,
Shall be Crown'd in Brutus
 
 
   1. Wee'l bring him to his House,
With Showts and Clamors
Bru. My Country-men
 
 
2. Peace, silence, Brutus speakes
 
 
1. Peace ho
 
 
   Bru. Good Countrymen, let me depart alone,
And (for my sake) stay heere with Antony:
Do grace to Caesars Corpes, and grace his Speech
Tending to Caesars Glories, which Marke Antony
(By our permission) is allow'd to make.
I do intreat you, not a man depart,
Saue I alone, till Antony haue spoke.
 
 
Exit
 
 
1 Stay ho, and let vs heare Mark Antony
 
 
3 Let him go vp into the publike Chaire, Wee'l heare him: Noble Antony go vp
 
 
Ant. For Brutus sake, I am beholding to you
 
 
   4 What does he say of Brutus?
 
 
  3 He sayes, for Brutus sake
He findes himselfe beholding to vs all
 
 
   4 'Twere best he speake no harme of Brutus heere?
 
 
  1 This Caesar was a Tyrant
 
 
   3 Nay that's certaine:
We are blest that Rome is rid of him
 
 
2 Peace, let vs heare what Antony can say
 
 
Ant. You gentle Romans
 
 
All. Peace hoe, let vs heare him
 
 
   An. Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears:
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him:
The euill that men do, liues after them,
The good is oft enterred with their bones,
So let it be with Caesar. The Noble Brutus,
Hath told you Caesar was Ambitious:
If it were so, it was a greeuous Fault,
And greeuously hath Caesar answer'd it.
Heere, vnder leaue of Brutus, and the rest
(For Brutus is an Honourable man,
So are they all; all Honourable men)
Come I to speake in Caesars Funerall.
He was my Friend, faithfull, and iust to me;
But Brutus sayes, he was Ambitious,
And Brutus is an Honourable man.
He hath brought many Captiues home to Rome,
Whose Ransomes, did the generall Coffers fill:
Did this in Caesar seeme Ambitious?
When that the poore haue cry'de, Caesar hath wept:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuffe,
Yet Brutus sayes, he was Ambitious:
And Brutus is an Honourable man.
You all did see, that on the Lupercall,
I thrice presented him a Kingly Crowne,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this Ambition?
Yet Brutus sayes, he was Ambitious:
And sure he is an Honourable man.
I speake not to disprooue what Brutus spoke,
But heere I am, to speake what I do know;
You all did loue him once, not without cause,
What cause with-holds you then, to mourne for him?
O Iudgement! thou are fled to brutish Beasts,
And Men haue lost their Reason. Beare with me,
My heart is in the Coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pawse, till it come backe to me
 
 
1 Me thinkes there is much reason in his sayings
 
 
2 If thou consider rightly of the matter, Caesar ha's had great wrong
 
 
3 Ha's hee Masters? I feare there will a worse come in his place
 
 
4. Mark'd ye his words? he would not take y Crown, Therefore 'tis certaine, he was not Ambitious
 
 
1. If it be found so, some will deere abide it
 
 
2. Poore soule, his eyes are red as fire with weeping
 
 
3. There's not a Nobler man in Rome then Antony
 
 
4. Now marke him, he begins againe to speake
 
 
   Ant. But yesterday, the word of Caesar might
Haue stood against the World: Now lies he there,
And none so poore to do him reuerence.
O Maisters! If I were dispos'd to stirre
Your hearts and mindes to Mutiny and Rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong:
Who (you all know) are Honourable men.
I will not do them wrong: I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong my selfe and you,
Then I will wrong such Honourable men.
But heere's a Parchment, with the Seale of Caesar,
I found it in his Closset, 'tis his Will:
Let but the Commons heare this Testament:
(Which pardon me) I do not meane to reade,
And they would go and kisse dead Caesars wounds,
And dip their Napkins in his Sacred Blood;
Yea, begge a haire of him for Memory,
And dying, mention it within their Willes,
Bequeathing it as a rich Legacie
Vnto their issue
 
 
4 Wee'l heare the Will, reade it Marke Antony
 
 
All. The Will, the Will; we will heare Caesars Will
 
 
   Ant. Haue patience gentle Friends, I must not read it.
It is not meete you know how Caesar lou'd you:
You are not Wood, you are not Stones, but men:
And being men, hearing the Will of Caesar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad:
'Tis good you know not that you are his Heires,
For if you should, O what would come of it?
 
 
  4 Read the Will, wee'l heare it Antony:
You shall reade vs the Will, Caesars Will
 
 
   Ant. Will you be Patient? Will you stay a-while?
I haue o're-shot my selfe to tell you of it,
I feare I wrong the Honourable men,
Whose Daggers haue stabb'd Caesar: I do feare it
 
 
   4 They were Traitors: Honourable men?
  All. The Will, the Testament
 
 
   2 They were Villaines, Murderers: the Will, read the
Will
 
 
   Ant. You will compell me then to read the Will:
Then make a Ring about the Corpes of Caesar,
And let me shew you him that made the Will:
Shall I descend? And will you giue me leaue?
 
 
  All. Come downe
 
 
2 Descend
 
 
3 You shall haue leaue
 
 
4 A Ring, stand round
 
 
1 Stand from the Hearse, stand from the Body
 
 
2 Roome for Antony, most Noble Antony
 
 
Ant. Nay presse not so vpon me, stand farre off
 
 
All. Stand backe: roome, beare backe
 
 
   Ant. If you haue teares, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this Mantle, I remember
The first time euer Caesar put it on,
'Twas on a Summers Euening in his Tent,
That day he ouercame the Neruij.
Looke, in this place ran Cassius Dagger through:
See what a rent the enuious Caska made:
Through this, the wel-beloued Brutus stabb'd,
And as he pluck'd his cursed Steele away:
Marke how the blood of Caesar followed it,
As rushing out of doores, to be resolu'd
If Brutus so vnkindely knock'd, or no:
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesars Angel.
Iudge, O you Gods, how deerely Caesar lou'd him:
This was the most vnkindest cut of all.
For when the Noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong then Traitors armes,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his Mighty heart,
And in his Mantle, muffling vp his face,
Euen at the Base of Pompeyes Statue
(Which all the while ran blood) great Caesar fell.
O what a fall was there, my Countrymen?
Then I, and you, and all of vs fell downe,
Whil'st bloody Treason flourish'd ouer vs.
O now you weepe, and I perceiue you feele
The dint of pitty: These are gracious droppes.
Kinde Soules, what weepe you, when you but behold
Our Caesars Vesture wounded? Looke you heere,
Heere is Himselfe, marr'd as you see with Traitors
 
 
   1. O pitteous spectacle!
 
 
  2. O Noble Caesar!
 
 
  3. O wofull day!
 
 
  4. O Traitors, Villaines!
 
 
  1. O most bloody sight!
 
 
  2. We will be reueng'd: Reuenge
About, seeke, burne, fire, kill, slay,
Let not a Traitor liue
 
 
Ant. Stay Country-men
 
 
1. Peace there, heare the Noble Antony
 
 
2. Wee'l heare him, wee'l follow him, wee'l dy with him
 
 
   Ant. Good Friends, sweet Friends, let me not stirre you vp
To such a sodaine Flood of Mutiny:
They that haue done this Deede, are honourable.
What priuate greefes they haue, alas I know not,
That made them do it: They are Wise, and Honourable,
And will no doubt with Reasons answer you.
I come not (Friends) to steale away your hearts,
I am no Orator, as Brutus is:
But (as you know me all) a plaine blunt man
That loue my Friend, and that they know full well,
That gaue me publike leaue to speake of him:
For I haue neyther writ nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor Vtterance, nor the power of Speech,
To stirre mens Blood. I onely speake right on:
I tell you that, which you your selues do know,
Shew you sweet Caesars wounds, poor poor dum mouths
And bid them speake for me: But were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle vp your Spirits, and put a Tongue
In euery Wound of Caesar, that should moue
The stones of Rome, to rise and Mutiny
 
 
All. Wee'l Mutiny
 
 
1 Wee'l burne the house of Brutus
 
 
3 Away then, come, seeke the Conspirators
 
 
   Ant. Yet heare me Countrymen, yet heare me speake
  All. Peace hoe, heare Antony, most Noble Antony
 
 
   Ant. Why Friends, you go to do you know not what:
Wherein hath Caesar thus deseru'd your loues?
Alas you know not, I must tell you then:
You haue forgot the Will I told you of
 
 
All. Most true, the Will, let's stay and heare the Wil
 
 
   Ant. Heere is the Will, and vnder Caesars Seale:
To euery Roman Citizen he giues,
To euery seuerall man, seuenty fiue Drachmaes
 
 
2 Ple. Most Noble Caesar, wee'l reuenge his death
 
 
3 Ple. O Royall Caesar
 
 
Ant. Heare me with patience
 
 
   All. Peace hoe
 
 
  Ant. Moreouer, he hath left you all his Walkes,
His priuate Arbors, and new-planted Orchards,
On this side Tyber, he hath left them you,
And to your heyres for euer: common pleasures
To walke abroad, and recreate your selues.
Heere was a Caesar: when comes such another?
  1.Ple. Neuer, neuer: come, away, away:
Wee'l burne his body in the holy place,
And with the Brands fire the Traitors houses.
Take vp the body
 
 
2. Ple. Go fetch fire
 
 
3. Ple. Plucke downe Benches
 
 
4. Ple. Plucke downe Formes, Windowes, any thing.
 
 
Exit Plebeians.
 
 
  Ant. Now let it worke: Mischeefe thou art a-foot,
Take thou what course thou wilt.
How now Fellow?
 
 
Enter Seruant.
 
 
Ser. Sir, Octauius is already come to Rome
 
 
   Ant. Where is hee?
 
 
  Ser. He and Lepidus are at Caesars house
 
 
   Ant. And thither will I straight, to visit him:
He comes vpon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will giue vs any thing
 
 
   Ser. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like Madmen through the Gates of Rome
 
 
   Ant. Belike they had some notice of the people
How I had moued them. Bring me to Octauius.
 
 
Exeunt.
 
 
Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him the Plebeians.
 
 
  Cinna. I dreamt to night, that I did feast with Caesar,
And things vnluckily charge my Fantasie:
I haue no will to wander foorth of doores,
Yet something leads me foorth
 
 
1. What is your name? 2. Whether are you going? 3. Where do you dwell? 4. Are you a married man, or a Batchellor? 2. Answer euery man directly
 
 
1. I, and breefely
 
 
4. I, and wisely
 
 
3. I, and truly, you were best
 
 
Cin. What is my name? Whether am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married man, or a Batchellour? Then to answer euery man, directly and breefely, wisely and truly: wisely I say, I am a Batchellor
 
 
2 That's as much as to say, they are fooles that marrie: you'l beare me a bang for that I feare: proceede directly
 
 
Cinna. Directly I am going to Caesars Funerall
 
 
1. As a Friend, or an Enemy? Cinna. As a friend
 
 
2. That matter is answered directly
 
 
4. For your dwelling: breefely
 
 
Cinna. Breefely, I dwell by the Capitoll
 
 
3. Your name sir, truly
 
 
Cinna. Truly, my name is Cinna
 
 
1. Teare him to peeces, hee's a Conspirator
 
 
Cinna. I am Cinna the Poet, I am Cinna the Poet
 
 
4. Teare him for his bad verses, teare him for his bad Verses
 
 
Cin. I am not Cinna the Conspirator
 
 
4. It is no matter, his name's Cinna, plucke but his name out of his heart, and turne him going
 
 
3. Teare him, tear him; Come Brands hoe, Firebrands: to Brutus, to Cassius, burne all. Some to Decius House, and some to Caska's; some to Ligarius: Away, go.
 
 
Exeunt. all the Plebeians.