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diff --git a/2263-0.txt b/2263-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e21fe1a --- /dev/null +++ b/2263-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3617 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2263 *** + + +Executive Director's Notes: + +In addition to the notes below, and so you will *NOT* think all +the spelling errors introduced by the printers of the time have +been corrected, here are the first few lines of Hamlet, as they +are presented herein: + + Barnardo. Who's there? + Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold +your selfe + + Bar. Long liue the King + + * * * * * + +As I understand it, the printers often ran out of certain words +or letters they had often packed into a "cliche". . .this is the +original meaning of the term cliche. . .and thus, being unwilling +to unpack the cliches, and thus you will see some substitutions +that look very odd. . .such as the exchanges of u for v, v for u, +above. . .and you may wonder why they did it this way, presuming +Shakespeare did not actually write the play in this manner. . . . + +The answer is that they MAY have packed "liue" into a cliche at a +time when they were out of "v"'s. . .possibly having used "vv" in +place of some "w"'s, etc. This was a common practice of the day, +as print was still quite expensive, and they didn't want to spend +more on a wider selection of characters than they had to. + +You will find a lot of these kinds of "errors" in this text, as I +have mentioned in other times and places, many "scholars" have an +extreme attachment to these errors, and many have accorded them a +very high place in the "canon" of Shakespeare. My father read an +assortment of these made available to him by Cambridge University +in England for several months in a glass room constructed for the +purpose. To the best of my knowledge he read ALL those available +. . .in great detail. . .and determined from the various changes, +that Shakespeare most likely did not write in nearly as many of a +variety of errors we credit him for, even though he was in/famous +for signing his name with several different spellings. + +So, please take this into account when reading the comments below +made by our volunteer who prepared this file: you may see errors +that are "not" errors. . . . + +So. . .with this caveat. . .we have NOT changed the canon errors, +here is the Project Gutenberg Etext of Shakespeare's play. + +Michael S. Hart +Project Gutenberg +Executive Director + + * * * * * + +Scanner's Notes: + +What this is and isn't. This was taken from a copy of +Shakespeare's first folio and it is as close as I can come in +ASCII to the printed text. + +The elongated S's have been changed to small s's and the +conjoined ae have been changed to ae. I have left the spelling, +punctuation, capitalization as close as possible to the printed +text. I have corrected some spelling mistakes (I have put +together a spelling dictionary devised from the spellings of +the Geneva Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio and have unified +spellings according to this template), typo's and expanded +abbreviations as I have come across them. Everything within +brackets [] is what I have added. So if you don't like that you +can delete everything within the brackets if you want a purer +Shakespeare. + +Another thing that you should be aware of is that there are +textual differences between various copies of the first folio. So +there may be differences (other than what I have mentioned above) +between this and other first folio editions. This is due to the +printer's habit of setting the type and running off a number of +copies and then proofing the printed copy and correcting the type +and then continuing the printing run. The proof run wasn't thrown +away but incorporated into the printed copies. This is just the +way it is. The text I have used was a composite of more than 30 +different First Folio editions' best pages. + +David Reed + +===================================================================== + + + + +The Tragedie of Julius Caesar + + +Actus Primus. Scoena Prima. + +Enter Flauius, Murellus, and certaine Commoners ouer the Stage. + + Flauius. Hence: home you idle Creatures, get you home: +Is this a Holiday? What, know you not +(Being Mechanicall) you ought not walke +Vpon a labouring day, without the signe +Of your Profession? Speake, what Trade art thou? + Car. Why Sir, a Carpenter + + Mur. Where is thy Leather Apron, and thy Rule? +What dost thou with thy best Apparrell on? +You sir, what Trade are you? + Cobl. Truely Sir, in respect of a fine Workman, I am +but as you would say, a Cobler + + Mur. But what Trade art thou? Answer me directly + + Cob. A Trade Sir, that I hope I may vse, with a safe +Conscience, which is indeed Sir, a Mender of bad soules + + Fla. What Trade thou knaue? Thou naughty knaue, +what Trade? + Cobl. Nay I beseech you Sir, be not out with me: yet +if you be out Sir, I can mend you + + Mur. What mean'st thou by that? Mend mee, thou +sawcy Fellow? + Cob. Why sir, Cobble you + + Fla. Thou art a Cobler, art thou? + Cob. Truly sir, all that I liue by, is with the Aule: I +meddle with no Tradesmans matters, nor womens matters; +but withal I am indeed Sir, a Surgeon to old shooes: +when they are in great danger, I recouer them. As proper +men as euer trod vpon Neats Leather, haue gone vpon +my handy-worke + + Fla. But wherefore art not in thy Shop to day? +Why do'st thou leade these men about the streets? + Cob. Truly sir, to weare out their shooes, to get my +selfe into more worke. But indeede sir, we make Holyday +to see Caesar, and to reioyce in his Triumph + + Mur. Wherefore reioyce? +What Conquest brings he home? +What Tributaries follow him to Rome, +To grace in Captiue bonds his Chariot Wheeles? +You Blockes, you stones, you worse then senslesse things: +O you hard hearts, you cruell men of Rome, +Knew you not Pompey many a time and oft? +Haue you climb'd vp to Walles and Battlements, +To Towres and Windowes? Yea, to Chimney tops, +Your Infants in your Armes, and there haue sate +The liue-long day, with patient expectation, +To see great Pompey passe the streets of Rome: +And when you saw his Chariot but appeare, +Haue you not made an Vniuersall shout, +That Tyber trembled vnderneath her bankes +To heare the replication of your sounds, +Made in her Concaue Shores? +And do you now put on your best attyre? +And do you now cull out a Holyday? +And do you now strew Flowers in his way, +That comes in Triumph ouer Pompeyes blood? +Be gone, +Runne to your houses, fall vpon your knees, +Pray to the Gods to intermit the plague +That needs must light on this Ingratitude + + Fla. Go, go, good Countrymen, and for this fault +Assemble all the poore men of your sort; +Draw them to Tyber bankes, and weepe your teares +Into the Channell, till the lowest streame +Do kisse the most exalted Shores of all. + +Exeunt. all the Commoners. + +See where their basest mettle be not mou'd, +They vanish tongue-tyed in their guiltinesse: +Go you downe that way towards the Capitoll, +This way will I: Disrobe the Images, +If you do finde them deckt with Ceremonies + + Mur. May we do so? +You know it is the Feast of Lupercall + + Fla. It is no matter, let no Images +Be hung with Caesars Trophees: Ile about, +And driue away the Vulgar from the streets; +So do you too, where you perceiue them thicke. +These growing Feathers, pluckt from Caesars wing, +Will make him flye an ordinary pitch, +Who else would soare aboue the view of men, +And keepe vs all in seruile fearefulnesse. + +Exeunt. + +Enter Caesar, Antony for the Course, Calphurnia, Portia, Decius, +Cicero, +Brutus, Cassius, Caska, a Soothsayer: after them Murellus and +Flauius. + + Caes. Calphurnia + + Cask. Peace ho, Caesar speakes + + Caes. Calphurnia + + Calp. Heere my Lord + + Caes. Stand you directly in Antonio's way, +When he doth run his course. Antonio + + Ant. Cæsar, my Lord + + Caes. Forget not in your speed Antonio, +To touch Calphurnia: for our Elders say, +The Barren touched in this holy chace, +Shake off their sterrile curse + + Ant. I shall remember, +When Caesar sayes, Do this; it is perform'd + + Caes. Set on, and leaue no Ceremony out + + Sooth. Caesar + + Caes. Ha? Who calles? + Cask. Bid euery noyse be still: peace yet againe + + Caes. Who is it in the presse, that calles on me? +I heare a Tongue shriller then all the Musicke +Cry, Caesar: Speake, Caesar is turn'd to heare + + Sooth. Beware the Ides of March + + Caes. What man is that? + Br. A Sooth-sayer bids you beware the Ides of March + Caes. Set him before me, let me see his face + + Cassi. Fellow, come from the throng, look vpon Caesar + + Caes. What sayst thou to me now? Speak once againe, + Sooth. Beware the Ides of March + + Caes. He is a Dreamer, let vs leaue him: Passe. + +Sennet + +Exeunt. Manet Brut. & Cass. + + Cassi. Will you go see the order of the course? + Brut. Not I + + Cassi. I pray you do + + Brut. I am not Gamesom: I do lacke some part +Of that quicke Spirit that is in Antony: +Let me not hinder Cassius your desires; +Ile leaue you + + Cassi. Brutus, I do obserue you now of late: +I haue not from your eyes, that gentlenesse +And shew of Loue, as I was wont to haue: +You beare too stubborne, and too strange a hand +Ouer your Friend, that loues you + + Bru. Cassius, +Be not deceiu'd: If I haue veyl'd my looke, +I turne the trouble of my Countenance +Meerely vpon my selfe. Vexed I am +Of late, with passions of some difference, +Conceptions onely proper to my selfe, +Which giue some soyle (perhaps) to my Behauiours: +But let not therefore my good Friends be greeu'd +(Among which number Cassius be you one) +Nor construe any further my neglect, +Then that poore Brutus with himselfe at warre, +Forgets the shewes of Loue to other men + + Cassi. Then Brutus, I haue much mistook your passion, +By meanes whereof, this Brest of mine hath buried +Thoughts of great value, worthy Cogitations. +Tell me good Brutus, Can you see your face? + Brutus. No Cassius: +For the eye sees not it selfe but by reflection, +By some other things + + Cassius. 'Tis iust, +And it is very much lamented Brutus, +That you haue no such Mirrors, as will turne +Your hidden worthinesse into your eye, +That you might see your shadow: +I haue heard, +Where many of the best respect in Rome, +(Except immortall Caesar) speaking of Brutus, +And groaning vnderneath this Ages yoake, +Haue wish'd, that Noble Brutus had his eyes + + Bru. Into what dangers, would you +Leade me Cassius? +That you would haue me seeke into my selfe, +For that which is not in me? + Cas. Therefore good Brutus, be prepar'd to heare: +And since you know, you cannot see your selfe +So well as by Reflection; I your Glasse, +Will modestly discouer to your selfe +That of your selfe, which you yet know not of. +And be not iealous on me, gentle Brutus: +Were I a common Laughter, or did vse +To stale with ordinary Oathes my loue +To euery new Protester: if you know, +That I do fawne on men, and hugge them hard, +And after scandall them: Or if you know, +That I professe my selfe in Banquetting +To all the Rout, then hold me dangerous. + +Flourish, and Shout. + + Bru. What meanes this Showting? +I do feare, the People choose Caesar +For their King + + Cassi. I, do you feare it? +Then must I thinke you would not haue it so + + Bru. I would not Cassius, yet I loue him well: +But wherefore do you hold me heere so long? +What is it, that you would impart to me? +If it be ought toward the generall good, +Set Honor in one eye, and Death i'th other, +And I will looke on both indifferently: +For let the Gods so speed mee, as I loue +The name of Honor, more then I feare death + + Cassi. I know that vertue to be in you Brutus, +As well as I do know your outward fauour. +Well, Honor is the subiect of my Story: +I cannot tell, what you and other men +Thinke of this life: But for my single selfe, +I had as liefe not be, as liue to be +In awe of such a Thing, as I my selfe. +I was borne free as Caesar, so were you, +We both haue fed as well, and we can both +Endure the Winters cold, as well as hee. +For once, vpon a Rawe and Gustie day, +The troubled Tyber, chafing with her Shores, +Caesar saide to me, Dar'st thou Cassius now +Leape in with me into this angry Flood, +And swim to yonder Point? Vpon the word, +Accoutred as I was, I plunged in, +And bad him follow: so indeed he did. +The Torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it +With lusty Sinewes, throwing it aside, +And stemming it with hearts of Controuersie. +But ere we could arriue the Point propos'd, +Caesar cride, Helpe me Cassius, or I sinke. +I (as Aeneas, our great Ancestor, +Did from the Flames of Troy, vpon his shoulder +The old Anchyses beare) so, from the waues of Tyber +Did I the tyred Caesar: And this Man, +Is now become a God, and Cassius is +A wretched Creature, and must bend his body, +If Caesar carelesly but nod on him. +He had a Feauer when he was in Spaine, +And when the Fit was on him, I did marke +How he did shake: Tis true, this God did shake, +His Coward lippes did from their colour flye, +And that same Eye, whose bend doth awe the World, +Did loose his Lustre: I did heare him grone: +I, and that Tongue of his, that bad the Romans +Marke him, and write his Speeches in their Bookes, +Alas, it cried, Giue me some drinke Titinius, +As a sicke Girle: Ye Gods, it doth amaze me, +A man of such a feeble temper should +So get the start of the Maiesticke world, +And beare the Palme alone. + +Shout. Flourish. + + Bru. Another generall shout? +I do beleeue, that these applauses are +For some new Honors, that are heap'd on Caesar + + Cassi. Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world +Like a Colossus, and we petty men +Walke vnder his huge legges, and peepe about +To finde our selues dishonourable Graues. +Men at sometime, are Masters of their Fates. +The fault (deere Brutus) is not in our Starres, +But in our Selues, that we are vnderlings. +Brutus and Caesar: What should be in that Caesar? +Why should that name be sounded more then yours +Write them together: Yours, is as faire a Name: +Sound them, it doth become the mouth aswell: +Weigh them, it is as heauy: Coniure with 'em, +Brutus will start a Spirit as soone as Caesar. +Now in the names of all the Gods at once, +Vpon what meate doth this our Caesar feede, +That he is growne so great? Age, thou art sham'd. +Rome, thou hast lost the breed of Noble Bloods. +When went there by an Age, since the great Flood, +But it was fam'd with more then with one man? +When could they say (till now) that talk'd of Rome, +That her wide Walkes incompast but one man? +Now is it Rome indeed, and Roome enough +When there is in it but one onely man. +O! you and I, haue heard our Fathers say, +There was a Brutus once, that would haue brook'd +Th' eternall Diuell to keepe his State in Rome, +As easily as a King + + Bru. That you do loue me, I am nothing iealous: +What you would worke me too, I haue some ayme: +How I haue thought of this, and of these times +I shall recount heereafter. For this present, +I would not so (with loue I might intreat you) +Be any further moou'd: What you haue said, +I will consider: what you haue to say +I will with patience heare, and finde a time +Both meete to heare, and answer such high things. +Till then, my Noble Friend, chew vpon this: +Brutus had rather be a Villager, +Then to repute himselfe a Sonne of Rome +Vnder these hard Conditions, as this time +Is like to lay vpon vs + + Cassi. I am glad that my weake words +Haue strucke but thus much shew of fire from Brutus, +Enter Caesar and his Traine. + + Bru. The Games are done, +And Caesar is returning + + Cassi. As they passe by, +Plucke Caska by the Sleeue, +And he will (after his sowre fashion) tell you +What hath proceeded worthy note to day + + Bru. I will do so: but looke you Cassius, +The angry spot doth glow on Caesars brow, +And all the rest, looke like a chidden Traine; +Calphurnia's Cheeke is pale, and Cicero +Lookes with such Ferret, and such fiery eyes +As we haue seene him in the Capitoll +Being crost in Conference, by some Senators + + Cassi. Caska will tell vs what the matter is + + Caes Antonio + + Ant. Caesar + + Caes Let me haue men about me, that are fat, +Sleeke-headed men, and such as sleepe a-nights: +Yond Cassius has a leane and hungry looke, +He thinkes too much: such men are dangerous + + Ant. Feare him not Caesar, he's not dangerous, +He is a Noble Roman, and well giuen + + Caes Would he were fatter; But I feare him not: +Yet if my name were lyable to feare, +I do not know the man I should auoyd +So soone as that spare Cassius. He reades much, +He is a great Obseruer, and he lookes +Quite through the Deeds of men. He loues no Playes, +As thou dost Antony: he heares no Musicke; +Seldome he smiles, and smiles in such a sort +As if he mock'd himselfe, and scorn'd his spirit +That could be mou'd to smile at any thing. +Such men as he, be neuer at hearts ease, +Whiles they behold a greater then themselues, +And therefore are they very dangerous. +I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd, +Then what I feare: for alwayes I am Caesar. +Come on my right hand, for this eare is deafe, +And tell me truely, what thou think'st of him. + +Sennit. + +Exeunt. Caesar and his Traine. + + Cask. You pul'd me by the cloake, would you speake +with me? + Bru. I Caska, tell vs what hath chanc'd to day +That Caesar lookes so sad + + Cask. Why you were with him, were you not? + Bru. I should not then aske Caska what had chanc'd + + Cask. Why there was a Crowne offer'd him; & being +offer'd him, he put it by with the backe of his hand thus, +and then the people fell a shouting + + Bru. What was the second noyse for? + Cask. Why for that too + + Cassi. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? + Cask. Why for that too + + Bru. Was the Crowne offer'd him thrice? + Cask. I marry was't, and hee put it by thrice, euerie +time gentler then other; and at euery putting by, mine +honest Neighbors showted + + Cassi. Who offer'd him the Crowne? + Cask. Why Antony + + Bru. Tell vs the manner of it, gentle Caska + + Caska. I can as well bee hang'd as tell the manner of +it: It was meere Foolerie, I did not marke it. I sawe +Marke Antony offer him a Crowne, yet 'twas not a +Crowne neyther, 'twas one of these Coronets: and as I +told you, hee put it by once: but for all that, to my thinking, +he would faine haue had it. Then hee offered it to +him againe: then hee put it by againe: but to my thinking, +he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then +he offered it the third time; hee put it the third time by, +and still as hee refus'd it, the rabblement howted, and +clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw vppe their sweatie +Night-cappes, and vttered such a deale of stinking +breath, because Caesar refus'd the Crowne, that it had +(almost) choaked Caesar: for hee swoonded, and fell +downe at it: And for mine owne part, I durst not laugh, +for feare of opening my Lippes, and receyuing the bad +Ayre + + Cassi. But soft I pray you: what, did Caesar swound? + Cask. He fell downe in the Market-place, and foam'd +at mouth, and was speechlesse + + Brut. 'Tis very like he hath the Falling sicknesse + + Cassi. No, Caesar hath it not: but you, and I, +And honest Caska, we haue the Falling sicknesse + + Cask. I know not what you meane by that, but I am +sure Caesar fell downe. If the tag-ragge people did not +clap him, and hisse him, according as he pleas'd, and displeas'd +them, as they vse to doe the Players in the Theatre, +I am no true man + + Brut. What said he, when he came vnto himselfe? + Cask. Marry, before he fell downe, when he perceiu'd +the common Heard was glad he refus'd the Crowne, he +pluckt me ope his Doublet, and offer'd them his Throat +to cut: and I had beene a man of any Occupation, if I +would not haue taken him at a word, I would I might +goe to Hell among the Rogues, and so hee fell. When +he came to himselfe againe, hee said, If hee had done, or +said any thing amisse, he desir'd their Worships to thinke +it was his infirmitie. Three or foure Wenches where I +stood, cryed, Alasse good Soule, and forgaue him with +all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them; +if Caesar had stab'd their Mothers, they would haue done +no lesse + + Brut. And after that, he came thus sad away + + Cask. I + + Cassi. Did Cicero say any thing? + Cask. I, he spoke Greeke + + Cassi. To what effect? + Cask. Nay, and I tell you that, Ile ne're looke you +i'th' face againe. But those that vnderstood him, smil'd +at one another, and shooke their heads: but for mine +owne part, it was Greeke to me. I could tell you more +newes too: Murrellus and Flauius, for pulling Scarffes +off Caesars Images, are put to silence. Fare you well. +There was more Foolerie yet, if I could remember +it + + Cassi. Will you suppe with me to Night, Caska? + Cask. No, I am promis'd forth + + Cassi. Will you Dine with me to morrow? + Cask. I, if I be aliue, and your minde hold, and your +Dinner worth the eating + + Cassi. Good, I will expect you + + Cask. Doe so: farewell both. +Enter. + + Brut. What a blunt fellow is this growne to be? +He was quick Mettle, when he went to Schoole + + Cassi. So is he now, in execution +Of any bold, or Noble Enterprize, +How-euer he puts on this tardie forme: +This Rudenesse is a Sawce to his good Wit, +Which giues men stomacke to disgest his words +With better Appetite + + Brut. And so it is: +For this time I will leaue you: +To morrow, if you please to speake with me, +I will come home to you: or if you will, +Come home to me, and I will wait for you + + Cassi. I will doe so: till then, thinke of the World. +Exit Brutus. + +Well Brutus, thou art Noble: yet I see, +Thy Honorable Mettle may be wrought +From that it is dispos'd: therefore it is meet, +That Noble mindes keepe euer with their likes: +For who so firme, that cannot be seduc'd? +Caesar doth beare me hard, but he loues Brutus. +If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius, +He should not humor me. I will this Night, +In seuerall Hands, in at his Windowes throw, +As if they came from seuerall Citizens, +Writings, all tending to the great opinion +That Rome holds of his Name: wherein obscurely +Caesars Ambition shall be glanced at. +And after this, let Caesar seat him sure, +For wee will shake him, or worse dayes endure. +Enter. + +Thunder, and Lightning. Enter Caska, and Cicero. + + Cic. Good euen, Caska: brought you Caesar home? +Why are you breathlesse, and why stare you so? + Cask. Are not you mou'd, when all the sway of Earth +Shakes, like a thing vnfirme? O Cicero, +I haue seene Tempests, when the scolding Winds +Haue riu'd the knottie Oakes, and I haue seene +Th' ambitious Ocean swell, and rage, and foame, +To be exalted with the threatning Clouds: +But neuer till to Night, neuer till now, +Did I goe through a Tempest-dropping-fire. +Eyther there is a Ciuill strife in Heauen, +Or else the World, too sawcie with the Gods, +Incenses them to send destruction + + Cic. Why, saw you any thing more wonderfull? + Cask. A common slaue, you know him well by sight, +Held vp his left Hand, which did flame and burne +Like twentie Torches ioyn'd; and yet his Hand, +Not sensible of fire, remain'd vnscorch'd. +Besides, I ha' not since put vp my Sword, +Against the Capitoll I met a Lyon, +Who glaz'd vpon me, and went surly by, +Without annoying me. And there were drawne +Vpon a heape, a hundred gastly Women, +Transformed with their feare, who swore, they saw +Men, all in fire, walke vp and downe the streetes. +And yesterday, the Bird of Night did sit, +Euen at Noone-day, vpon the Market place, +Howting, and shreeking. When these Prodigies +Doe so conioyntly meet, let not men say, +These are their Reasons, they are Naturall: +For I beleeue, they are portentous things +Vnto the Clymate, that they point vpon + + Cic. Indeed, it is a strange disposed time: +But men may construe things after their fashion, +Cleane from the purpose of the things themselues. +Comes Caesar to the Capitoll to morrow? + Cask. He doth: for he did bid Antonio +Send word to you, he would be there to morrow + + Cic. Good-night then, Caska: +This disturbed Skie is not to walke in + + Cask. Farewell Cicero. + +Exit Cicero. + +Enter Cassius. + + Cassi. Who's there? + Cask. A Romane + + Cassi. Caska, by your Voyce + + Cask. Your Eare is good. +Cassius, what Night is this? + Cassi. A very pleasing Night to honest men + + Cask. Who euer knew the Heauens menace so? + Cassi. Those that haue knowne the Earth so full of +faults. +For my part, I haue walk'd about the streets, +Submitting me vnto the perillous Night; +And thus vnbraced, Caska, as you see, +Haue bar'd my Bosome to the Thunder-stone: +And when the crosse blew Lightning seem'd to open +The Brest of Heauen, I did present my selfe +Euen in the ayme, and very flash of it + + Cask. But wherefore did you so much tempt the Heauens? +It is the part of men, to feare and tremble, +When the most mightie Gods, by tokens send +Such dreadfull Heraulds, to astonish vs + + Cassi. You are dull, Caska: +And those sparkes of Life, that should be in a Roman, +You doe want, or else you vse not. +You looke pale, and gaze, and put on feare, +And cast your selfe in wonder, +To see the strange impatience of the Heauens: +But if you would consider the true cause, +Why all these Fires, why all these gliding Ghosts, +Why Birds and Beasts, from qualitie and kinde, +Why Old men, Fooles, and Children calculate, +Why all these things change from their Ordinance, +Their Natures, and pre-formed Faculties, +To monstrous qualitie; why you shall finde, +That Heauen hath infus'd them with these Spirits, +To make them Instruments of feare, and warning, +Vnto some monstrous State. +Now could I (Caska) name to thee a man, +Most like this dreadfull Night, +That Thunders, Lightens, opens Graues, and roares, +As doth the Lyon in the Capitoll: +A man no mightier then thy selfe, or me, +In personall action; yet prodigious growne, +And fearefull, as these strange eruptions are + + Cask. 'Tis Caesar that you meane: +Is it not, Cassius? + Cassi. Let it be who it is: for Romans now +Haue Thewes, and Limbes, like to their Ancestors; +But woe the while, our Fathers mindes are dead, +And we are gouern'd with our Mothers spirits, +Our yoake, and sufferance, shew vs Womanish + + Cask. Indeed, they say, the Senators to morrow +Meane to establish Caesar as a King: +And he shall weare his Crowne by Sea, and Land, +In euery place, saue here in Italy + + Cassi. I know where I will weare this Dagger then; +Cassius from Bondage will deliuer Cassius: +Therein, yee Gods, you make the weake most strong; +Therein, yee Gods, you Tyrants doe defeat. +Nor Stonie Tower, nor Walls of beaten Brasse, +Nor ayre-lesse Dungeon, nor strong Linkes of Iron, +Can be retentiue to the strength of spirit: +But Life being wearie of these worldly Barres, +Neuer lacks power to dismisse it selfe. +If I know this, know all the World besides, +That part of Tyrannie that I doe beare, +I can shake off at pleasure. + +Thunder still. + + Cask. So can I: +So euery Bond-man in his owne hand beares +The power to cancell his Captiuitie + + Cassi. And why should Cæsar be a Tyrant then? +Poore man, I know he would not be a Wolfe, +But that he sees the Romans are but Sheepe: +He were no Lyon, were not Romans Hindes. +Those that with haste will make a mightie fire, +Begin it with weake Strawes. What trash is Rome? +What Rubbish, and what Offall? when it serues +For the base matter, to illuminate +So vile a thing as Caesar. But oh Griefe, +Where hast thou led me? I (perhaps) speake this +Before a willing Bond-man: then I know +My answere must be made. But I am arm'd, +And dangers are to me indifferent + + Cask. You speake to Caska, and to such a man, +That is no flearing Tell-tale. Hold, my Hand: +Be factious for redresse of all these Griefes, +And I will set this foot of mine as farre, +As who goes farthest + + Cassi. There's a Bargaine made. +Now know you, Caska, I haue mou'd already +Some certaine of the Noblest minded Romans +To vnder-goe, with me, an Enterprize, +Of Honorable dangerous consequence; +And I doe know by this, they stay for me +In Pompeyes Porch: for now this fearefull Night, +There is no stirre, or walking in the streetes; +And the Complexion of the Element +Is Fauors, like the Worke we haue in hand, +Most bloodie, fierie, and most terrible. +Enter Cinna. + + Caska. Stand close a while, for heere comes one in +haste + + Cassi. 'Tis Cinna, I doe know him by his Gate, +He is a friend. Cinna, where haste you so? + Cinna. To finde out you: Who's that, Metellus +Cymber? + Cassi. No, it is Caska, one incorporate +To our Attempts. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna? + Cinna. I am glad on't. +What a fearefull Night is this? +There's two or three of vs haue seene strange sights + + Cassi. Am I not stay'd for? tell me + + Cinna. Yes, you are. O Cassius, +If you could but winne the Noble Brutus +To our party- + Cassi. Be you content. Good Cinna, take this Paper, +And looke you lay it in the Pretors Chayre, +Where Brutus may but finde it: and throw this +In at his Window; set this vp with Waxe +Vpon old Brutus Statue: all this done, +Repaire to Pompeyes Porch, where you shall finde vs. +Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there? + Cinna. All, but Metellus Cymber, and hee's gone +To seeke you at your house. Well, I will hie, +And so bestow these Papers as you bad me + + Cassi. That done, repayre to Pompeyes Theater. + +Exit Cinna. + +Come Caska, you and I will yet, ere day, +See Brutus at his house: three parts of him +Is ours alreadie, and the man entire +Vpon the next encounter, yeelds him ours + + Cask. O, he sits high in all the Peoples hearts: +And that which would appeare Offence in vs, +His Countenance, like richest Alchymie, +Will change to Vertue, and to Worthinesse + + Cassi. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, +You haue right well conceited: let vs goe, +For it is after Mid-night, and ere day, +We will awake him, and be sure of him. + +Exeunt. + + +Actus Secundus. + +Enter Brutus in his Orchard. + + Brut. What Lucius, hoe? +I cannot, by the progresse of the Starres, +Giue guesse how neere to day- Lucius, I say? +I would it were my fault to sleepe so soundly. +When Lucius, when? awake, I say: what Lucius? +Enter Lucius. + + Luc. Call'd you, my Lord? + Brut. Get me a Tapor in my Study, Lucius: +When it is lighted, come and call me here + + Luc. I will, my Lord. +Enter. + + Brut. It must be by his death: and for my part, +I know no personall cause, to spurne at him, +But for the generall. He would be crown'd: +How that might change his nature, there's the question? +It is the bright day, that brings forth the Adder, +And that craues warie walking: Crowne him that, +And then I graunt we put a Sting in him, +That at his will he may doe danger with. +Th' abuse of Greatnesse, is, when it dis-ioynes +Remorse from Power: And to speake truth of Caesar, +I haue not knowne, when his Affections sway'd +More then his Reason. But 'tis a common proofe, +That Lowlynesse is young Ambitions Ladder, +Whereto the Climber vpward turnes his Face: +But when he once attaines the vpmost Round, +He then vnto the Ladder turnes his Backe, +Lookes in the Clouds, scorning the base degrees +By which he did ascend: so Caesar may; +Then least he may, preuent. And since the Quarrell +Will beare no colour, for the thing he is, +Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, +Would runne to these, and these extremities: +And therefore thinke him as a Serpents egge, +Which hatch'd, would as his kinde grow mischieuous; +And kill him in the shell. +Enter Lucius. + + Luc. The Taper burneth in your Closet, Sir: +Searching the Window for a Flint, I found +This Paper, thus seal'd vp, and I am sure +It did not lye there when I went to Bed. + +Giues him the Letter. + + Brut. Get you to Bed againe, it is not day: +Is not to morrow (Boy) the first of March? + Luc. I know not, Sir + + Brut. Looke in the Calender, and bring me word + + Luc. I will, Sir. +Enter. + + Brut. The exhalations, whizzing in the ayre, +Giue so much light, that I may reade by them. + +Opens the Letter, and reades. + +Brutus thou sleep'st; awake, and see thy selfe: +Shall Rome, &c. speake, strike, redresse. +Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake. +Such instigations haue beene often dropt, +Where I haue tooke them vp: +Shall Rome, &c. Thus must I piece it out: +Shall Rome stand vnder one mans awe? What Rome? +My Ancestors did from the streetes of Rome +The Tarquin driue, when he was call'd a King. +Speake, strike, redresse. Am I entreated +To speake, and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, +If the redresse will follow, thou receiuest +Thy full Petition at the hand of Brutus. +Enter Lucius. + + Luc. Sir, March is wasted fifteene dayes. + +Knocke within. + + Brut. 'Tis good. Go to the Gate, some body knocks: +Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, +I haue not slept. +Betweene the acting of a dreadfull thing, +And the first motion, all the Interim is +Like a Phantasma, or a hideous Dreame: +The Genius, and the mortall Instruments +Are then in councell; and the state of a man, +Like to a little Kingdome, suffers then +The nature of an Insurrection. +Enter Lucius. + + Luc. Sir, 'tis your Brother Cassius at the Doore, +Who doth desire to see you + + Brut. Is he alone? + Luc. No, Sir, there are moe with him + + Brut. Doe you know them? + Luc. No, Sir, their Hats are pluckt about their Eares, +And halfe their Faces buried in their Cloakes, +That by no meanes I may discouer them, +By any marke of fauour + + Brut. Let 'em enter: +They are the Faction. O Conspiracie, +Sham'st thou to shew thy dang'rous Brow by Night, +When euills are most free? O then, by day +Where wilt thou finde a Cauerne darke enough, +To maske thy monstrous Visage? Seek none Conspiracie, +Hide it in Smiles, and Affabilitie: +For if thou path thy natiue semblance on, +Not Erebus it selfe were dimme enough, +To hide thee from preuention. +Enter the Conspirators, Cassius, Caska, Decius, Cinna, Metellus, +and +Trebonius. + + Cass. I thinke we are too bold vpon your Rest: +Good morrow Brutus, doe we trouble you? + Brut. I haue beene vp this howre, awake all Night: +Know I these men, that come along with you? + Cass. Yes, euery man of them; and no man here +But honors you: and euery one doth wish, +You had but that opinion of your selfe, +Which euery Noble Roman beares of you. +This is Trebonius + + Brut. He is welcome hither + + Cass. This, Decius Brutus + + Brut. He is welcome too + + Cass. This, Caska; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus +Cymber + + Brut. They are all welcome. +What watchfull Cares doe interpose themselues +Betwixt your Eyes, and Night? + Cass. Shall I entreat a word? + +They whisper. + + Decius. Here lyes the East: doth not the Day breake +heere? + Cask. No + + Cin. O pardon, Sir, it doth; and yon grey Lines, +That fret the Clouds, are Messengers of Day + + Cask. You shall confesse, that you are both deceiu'd: +Heere, as I point my Sword, the Sunne arises, +Which is a great way growing on the South, +Weighing the youthfull Season of the yeare. +Some two moneths hence, vp higher toward the North +He first presents his fire, and the high East +Stands as the Capitoll, directly heere + + Bru. Giue me your hands all ouer, one by one + + Cas. And let vs sweare our Resolution + + Brut. No, not an Oath: if not the Face of men, +The sufferance of our Soules, the times Abuse; +If these be Motiues weake, breake off betimes, +And euery man hence, to his idle bed: +So let high-sighted-Tyranny range on, +Till each man drop by Lottery. But if these +(As I am sure they do) beare fire enough +To kindle Cowards, and to steele with valour +The melting Spirits of women. Then Countrymen, +What neede we any spurre, but our owne cause +To pricke vs to redresse? What other Bond, +Then secret Romans, that haue spoke the word, +And will not palter? And what other Oath, +Then Honesty to Honesty ingag'd, +That this shall be, or we will fall for it. +Sweare Priests and Cowards, and men Cautelous +Old feeble Carrions, and such suffering Soules +That welcome wrongs: Vnto bad causes, sweare +Such Creatures as men doubt; but do not staine +The euen vertue of our Enterprize, +Nor th' insuppressiue Mettle of our Spirits, +To thinke, that or our Cause, or our Performance +Did neede an Oath. When euery drop of blood +That euery Roman beares, and Nobly beares +Is guilty of a seuerall Bastardie, +If he do breake the smallest Particle +Of any promise that hath past from him + + Cas. But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? +I thinke he will stand very strong with vs + + Cask. Let vs not leaue him out + + Cyn. No, by no meanes + + Metel. O let vs haue him, for his Siluer haires +Will purchase vs a good opinion: +And buy mens voyces, to commend our deeds: +It shall be sayd, his iudgement rul'd our hands, +Our youths, and wildenesse, shall no whit appeare, +But all be buried in his Grauity + + Bru. O name him not; let vs not breake with him, +For he will neuer follow any thing +That other men begin + + Cas. Then leaue him out + + Cask. Indeed, he is not fit + + Decius. Shall no man else be toucht, but onely Caesar? + Cas. Decius well vrg'd: I thinke it is not meet, +Marke Antony, so well belou'd of Caesar, +Should out-liue Caesar, we shall finde of him +A shrew'd Contriuer. And you know, his meanes +If he improue them, may well stretch so farre +As to annoy vs all: which to preuent, +Let Antony and Caesar fall together + + Bru. Our course will seeme too bloody, Caius Cassius, +To cut the Head off, and then hacke the Limbes: +Like Wrath in death, and Enuy afterwards: +For Antony, is but a Limbe of Caesar. +Let's be Sacrificers, but not Butchers Caius: +We all stand vp against the spirit of Caesar, +And in the Spirit of men, there is no blood: +O that we then could come by Caesars Spirit, +And not dismember Caesar! But (alas) +Caesar must bleed for it. And gentle Friends, +Let's kill him Boldly, but not Wrathfully: +Let's carue him, as a Dish fit for the Gods, +Not hew him as a Carkasse fit for Hounds: +And let our Hearts, as subtle Masters do, +Stirre vp their Seruants to an acte of Rage, +And after seeme to chide 'em. This shall make +Our purpose Necessary, and not Enuious. +Which so appearing to the common eyes, +We shall be call'd Purgers, not Murderers. +And for Marke Antony, thinke not of him: +For he can do no more then Caesars Arme, +When Caesars head is off + + Cas. Yet I feare him, +For in the ingrafted loue he beares to Caesar + + Bru. Alas, good Cassius, do not thinke of him: +If he loue Caesar, all that he can do +Is to himselfe; take thought, and dye for Caesar, +And that were much he should: for he is giuen +To sports, to wildenesse, and much company + + Treb. There is no feare in him; let him not dye, +For he will liue, and laugh at this heereafter. + +Clocke strikes. + + Bru. Peace, count the Clocke + + Cas. The Clocke hath stricken three + + Treb. 'Tis time to part + + Cass. But it is doubtfull yet, +Whether Caesar will come forth to day, or no: +For he is Superstitious growne of late, +Quite from the maine Opinion he held once, +Of Fantasie, of Dreames, and Ceremonies: +It may be, these apparant Prodigies, +The vnaccustom'd Terror of this night, +And the perswasion of his Augurers, +May hold him from the Capitoll to day + + Decius. Neuer feare that: If he be so resolu'd, +I can ore-sway him: For he loues to heare, +That Vnicornes may be betray'd with Trees, +And Beares with Glasses, Elephants with Holes, +Lyons with Toyles, and men with Flatterers. +But, when I tell him, he hates Flatterers, +He sayes, he does; being then most flattered. +Let me worke: +For I can giue his humour the true bent; +And I will bring him to the Capitoll + + Cas. Nay, we will all of vs, be there to fetch him + + Bru. By the eight houre, is that the vttermost? + Cin. Be that the vttermost, and faile not then + + Met. Caius Ligarius doth beare Caesar hard, +Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey; +I wonder none of you haue thought of him + + Bru. Now good Metellus go along by him: +He loues me well, and I haue giuen him Reasons, +Send him but hither, and Ile fashion him + + Cas. The morning comes vpon's: +Wee'l leaue you Brutus, +And Friends disperse your selues; but all remember +What you haue said, and shew your selues true Romans + + Bru. Good Gentlemen, looke fresh and merrily, +Let not our lookes put on our purposes, +But beare it as our Roman Actors do, +With vntyr'd Spirits, and formall Constancie, +And so good morrow to you euery one. + +Exeunt. + +Manet Brutus. + +Boy: Lucius: Fast asleepe? It is no matter, +Enioy the hony-heauy-Dew of Slumber: +Thou hast no Figures, nor no Fantasies, +Which busie care drawes, in the braines of men; +Therefore thou sleep'st so sound. +Enter Portia. + + Por. Brutus, my Lord + + Bru. Portia: What meane you? wherfore rise you now? +It is not for your health, thus to commit +Your weake condition, to the raw cold morning + + Por. Nor for yours neither. Y'haue vngently Brutus +Stole from my bed: and yesternight at Supper +You sodainly arose, and walk'd about, +Musing, and sighing, with your armes acrosse +And when I ask'd you what the matter was, +You star'd vpon me, with vngentle lookes. +I vrg'd you further, then you scratch'd your head, +And too impatiently stampt with your foote: +Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, +But with an angry wafter of your hand +Gaue signe for me to leaue you: So I did, +Fearing to strengthen that impatience +Which seem'd too much inkindled; and withall, +Hoping it was but an effect of Humor, +Which sometime hath his houre with euery man. +It will not let you eate, nor talke, nor sleepe; +And could it worke so much vpon your shape, +As it hath much preuayl'd on your Condition, +I should not know you Brutus. Deare my Lord, +Make me acquainted with your cause of greefe + + Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all + + Por. Brutus is wise, and were he not in health, +He would embrace the meanes to come by it + + Bru. Why so I do: good Portia go to bed + + Por. Is Brutus sicke? And is it Physicall +To walke vnbraced, and sucke vp the humours +Of the danke Morning? What, is Brutus sicke? +And will he steale out of his wholsome bed +To dare the vile contagion of the Night? +And tempt the Rhewmy, and vnpurged Ayre, +To adde vnto his sicknesse? No my Brutus, +You haue some sicke Offence within your minde, +Which by the Right and Vertue of my place +I ought to know of: And vpon my knees, +I charme you, by my once commended Beauty, +By all your vowes of Loue, and that great Vow +Which did incorporate and make vs one, +That you vnfold to me, your selfe; your halfe +Why you are heauy: and what men to night +Haue had resort to you: for heere haue beene +Some sixe or seuen, who did hide their faces +Euen from darknesse + + Bru. Kneele not gentle Portia + + Por. I should not neede, if you were gentle Brutus. +Within the Bond of Marriage, tell me Brutus, +Is it excepted, I should know no Secrets +That appertaine to you? Am I your Selfe, +But as it were in sort, or limitation? +To keepe with you at Meales, comfort your Bed, +And talke to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the Suburbs +Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, +Portia is Brutus Harlot, not his Wife + + Bru. You are my true and honourable Wife, +As deere to me, as are the ruddy droppes +That visit my sad heart + + Por. If this were true, then should I know this secret. +I graunt I am a Woman; but withall, +A Woman that Lord Brutus tooke to Wife: +I graunt I am a Woman; but withall, +A Woman well reputed: Cato's Daughter. +Thinke you, I am no stronger then my Sex +Being so Father'd, and so Husbanded? +Tell me your Counsels, I will not disclose 'em: +I haue made strong proofe of my Constancie, +Giuing my selfe a voluntary wound +Heere, in the Thigh: Can I beare that with patience, +And not my Husbands Secrets? + Bru. O ye Gods! +Render me worthy of this Noble Wife. + +Knocke. + +Harke, harke, one knockes: Portia go in a while, +And by and by thy bosome shall partake +The secrets of my Heart. +All my engagements, I will construe to thee, +All the Charractery of my sad browes: +Leaue me with hast. + +Exit Portia. + +Enter Lucius and Ligarius. + +Lucius, who's that knockes + + Luc. Heere is a sicke man that would speak with you + + Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of. +Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius, how? + Cai. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue + + Bru. O what a time haue you chose out braue Caius +To weare a Kerchiefe? Would you were not sicke + + Cai. I am not sicke, if Brutus haue in hand +Any exploit worthy the name of Honor + + Bru. Such an exploit haue I in hand Ligarius, +Had you a healthfull eare to heare of it + + Cai. By all the Gods that Romans bow before, +I heere discard my sicknesse. Soule of Rome, +Braue Sonne, deriu'd from Honourable Loines, +Thou like an Exorcist, hast coniur'd vp +My mortified Spirit. Now bid me runne, +And I will striue with things impossible, +Yea get the better of them. What's to do? + Bru. A peece of worke, +That will make sicke men whole + + Cai. But are not some whole, that we must make sicke? + Bru. That must we also. What it is my Caius, +I shall vnfold to thee, as we are going, +To whom it must be done + + Cai. Set on your foote, +And with a heart new-fir'd, I follow you, +To do I know not what: but it sufficeth +That Brutus leads me on. + +Thunder + + Bru. Follow me then. + +Exeunt. + +Thunder & Lightning + +Enter Iulius Caesar in his Night-gowne. + + Caesar. Nor Heauen, nor Earth, +Haue beene at peace to night: +Thrice hath Calphurnia, in her sleepe cryed out, +Helpe, ho: They murther Caesar. Who's within? +Enter a Seruant. + + Ser. My Lord + + Caes Go bid the Priests do present Sacrifice, +And bring me their opinions of Successe + + Ser. I will my Lord. + +Exit + +Enter Calphurnia. + + Cal. What mean you Caesar? Think you to walk forth? +You shall not stirre out of your house to day + + Caes Caesar shall forth; the things that threaten'd me, +Ne're look'd but on my backe: When they shall see +The face of Caesar, they are vanished + + Calp. Caesar, I neuer stood on Ceremonies, +Yet now they fright me: There is one within, +Besides the things that we haue heard and seene, +Recounts most horrid sights seene by the Watch. +A Lionnesse hath whelped in the streets, +And Graues haue yawn'd, and yeelded vp their dead; +Fierce fiery Warriours fight vpon the Clouds +In Rankes and Squadrons, and right forme of Warre +Which drizel'd blood vpon the Capitoll: +The noise of Battell hurtled in the Ayre: +Horsses do neigh, and dying men did grone, +And Ghosts did shrieke and squeale about the streets. +O Caesar, these things are beyond all vse, +And I do feare them + + Caes What can be auoyded +Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty Gods? +Yet Caesar shall go forth: for these Predictions +Are to the world in generall, as to Caesar + + Calp. When Beggers dye, there are no Comets seen, +The Heauens themselues blaze forth the death of Princes + Caes Cowards dye many times before their deaths, +The valiant neuer taste of death but once: +Of all the Wonders that I yet haue heard, +It seemes to me most strange that men should feare, +Seeing that death, a necessary end +Will come, when it will come. +Enter a Seruant. + +What say the Augurers? + Ser. They would not haue you to stirre forth to day. +Plucking the intrailes of an Offering forth, +They could not finde a heart within the beast + + Caes The Gods do this in shame of Cowardice: +Caesar should be a Beast without a heart +If he should stay at home to day for feare: +No Caesar shall not; Danger knowes full well +That Caesar is more dangerous then he. +We heare two Lyons litter'd in one day, +And I the elder and more terrible, +And Caesar shall go foorth + + Calp. Alas my Lord, +Your wisedome is consum'd in confidence: +Do not go forth to day: Call it my feare, +That keepes you in the house, and not your owne. +Wee'l send Mark Antony to the Senate house, +And he shall say, you are not well to day: +Let me vpon my knee, preuaile in this + + Caes Mark Antony shall say I am not well, +And for thy humor, I will stay at home. +Enter Decius. + +Heere's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so + + Deci. Caesar, all haile: Good morrow worthy Caesar, +I come to fetch you to the Senate house + + Caes And you are come in very happy time, +To beare my greeting to the Senators, +And tell them that I will not come to day: +Cannot, is false: and that I dare not, falser: +I will not come to day, tell them so Decius + + Calp. Say he is sicke + + Caes Shall Caesar send a Lye? +Haue I in Conquest stretcht mine Arme so farre, +To be afear'd to tell Gray-beards the truth: +Decius, go tell them, Caesar will not come + + Deci. Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause, +Lest I be laught at when I tell them so + + Caes The cause is in my Will, I will not come, +That is enough to satisfie the Senate. +But for your priuate satisfaction, +Because I loue you, I will let you know. +Calphurnia heere my wife, stayes me at home: +She dreampt to night, she saw my Statue, +Which like a Fountaine, with an hundred spouts +Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans +Came smiling, & did bathe their hands in it: +And these does she apply, for warnings and portents, +And euils imminent; and on her knee +Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to day + + Deci. This Dreame is all amisse interpreted, +It was a vision, faire and fortunate: +Your Statue spouting blood in many pipes, +In which so many smiling Romans bath'd, +Signifies, that from you great Rome shall sucke +Reuiuing blood, and that great men shall presse +For Tinctures, Staines, Reliques, and Cognisance. +This by Calphurnia's Dreame is signified + + Caes And this way haue you well expounded it + + Deci. I haue, when you haue heard what I can say: +And know it now, the Senate haue concluded +To giue this day, a Crowne to mighty Caesar. +If you shall send them word you will not come, +Their mindes may change. Besides, it were a mocke +Apt to be render'd, for some one to say, +Breake vp the Senate, till another time: +When Caesars wife shall meete with better Dreames. +If Caesar hide himselfe, shall they not whisper +Loe Caesar is affraid? +Pardon me Caesar, for my deere deere loue +To your proceeding, bids me tell you this: +And reason to my loue is liable + + Caes How foolish do your fears seeme now Calphurnia? +I am ashamed I did yeeld to them. +Giue me my Robe, for I will go. +Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Caska, Trebonius, Cynna, and +Publius. + +And looke where Publius is come to fetch me + + Pub. Good morrow Caesar + + Caes Welcome Publius. +What Brutus, are you stirr'd so earely too? +Good morrow Caska: Caius Ligarius, +Caesar was ne're so much your enemy, +As that same Ague which hath made you leane. +What is't a Clocke? + Bru. Caesar, 'tis strucken eight + + Caes I thanke you for your paines and curtesie. +Enter Antony. + +See, Antony that Reuels long a-nights +Is notwithstanding vp. Good morrow Antony + + Ant. So to most Noble Caesar + + Caes Bid them prepare within: +I am too blame to be thus waited for. +Now Cynna, now Metellus: what Trebonius, +I haue an houres talke in store for you: +Remember that you call on me to day: +Be neere me, that I may remember you + + Treb. Caesar I will: and so neere will I be, +That your best Friends shall wish I had beene further + + Caes Good Friends go in, and taste some wine with me. +And we (like Friends) will straight way go together + + Bru. That euery like is not the same, O Caesar, +The heart of Brutus earnes to thinke vpon. + +Exeunt. + +Enter Artemidorus. + +Caesar, beware of Brutus, take heede of Cassius; come not +neere Caska, haue an eye to Cynna, trust not Trebonius, marke +well Metellus Cymber, Decius Brutus loues thee not: Thou +hast wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is but one minde in all +these men, and it is bent against Caesar: If thou beest not +Immortall, +looke about you: Security giues way to Conspiracie. +The mighty Gods defend thee. +Thy Louer, Artemidorus. +Heere will I stand, till Caesar passe along, +And as a Sutor will I giue him this: +My heart laments, that Vertue cannot liue +Out of the teeth of Emulation. +If thou reade this, O Caesar, thou mayest liue; +If not, the Fates with Traitors do contriue. +Enter. + +Enter Portia and Lucius. + + Por. I prythee Boy, run to the Senate-house, +Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone. +Why doest thou stay? + Luc. To know my errand Madam + + Por. I would haue had thee there and heere agen +Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there: +O Constancie, be strong vpon my side, +Set a huge Mountaine 'tweene my Heart and Tongue: +I haue a mans minde, but a womans might: +How hard it is for women to keepe counsell. +Art thou heere yet? + Luc. Madam, what should I do? +Run to the Capitoll, and nothing else? +And so returne to you, and nothing else? + Por. Yes, bring me word Boy, if thy Lord look well, +For he went sickly forth: and take good note +What Caesar doth, what Sutors presse to him. +Hearke Boy, what noyse is that? + Luc. I heare none Madam + + Por. Prythee listen well: +I heard a bussling Rumor like a Fray, +And the winde brings it from the Capitoll + + Luc. Sooth Madam, I heare nothing. +Enter the Soothsayer. + + Por. Come hither Fellow, which way hast thou bin? + Sooth. At mine owne house, good Lady + + Por. What is't a clocke? + Sooth. About the ninth houre Lady + + Por. Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitoll? + Sooth. Madam not yet, I go to take my stand, +To see him passe on to the Capitoll + + Por. Thou hast some suite to Caesar, hast thou not? + Sooth. That I haue Lady, if it will please Caesar +To be so good to Caesar, as to heare me: +I shall beseech him to befriend himselfe + + Por. Why know'st thou any harme's intended towards +him? + Sooth. None that I know will be, +Much that I feare may chance: +Good morrow to you: heere the street is narrow: +The throng that followes Caesar at the heeles, +Of Senators, of Praetors, common Sutors, +Will crowd a feeble man (almost) to death: +Ile get me to a place more voyd, and there +Speake to great Caesar as he comes along. + +Exit + + Por. I must go in: +Aye me! How weake a thing +The heart of woman is? O Brutus, +The Heauens speede thee in thine enterprize. +Sure the Boy heard me: Brutus hath a suite +That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint: +Run Lucius, and commend me to my Lord, +Say I am merry; Come to me againe, +And bring me word what he doth say to thee. + +Exeunt. + +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. + + +Actus Quartus. + +Enter Antony, Octauius, and Lepidus. + + Ant. These many then shall die, their names are prickt + Octa. Your Brother too must dye: consent you Lepidus? + Lep. I do consent + + Octa. Pricke him downe Antony + + Lep. Vpon condition Publius shall not liue, +Who is your Sisters sonne, Marke Antony + + Ant. He shall not liue; looke, with a spot I dam him. +But Lepidus, go you to Caesars house: +Fetch the Will hither, and we shall determine +How to cut off some charge in Legacies + + Lep. What? shall I finde you heere? + Octa. Or heere, or at the Capitoll. + +Exit Lepidus + + Ant. This is a slight vnmeritable man, +Meet to be sent on Errands: is it fit +The three-fold World diuided, he should stand +One of the three to share it? + Octa. So you thought him, +And tooke his voyce who should be prickt to dye +In our blacke Sentence and Proscription + + Ant. Octauius, I haue seene more dayes then you, +And though we lay these Honours on this man, +To ease our selues of diuers sland'rous loads, +He shall but beare them, as the Asse beares Gold, +To groane and swet vnder the Businesse, +Either led or driuen, as we point the way: +And hauing brought our Treasure, where we will, +Then take we downe his Load, and turne him off +(Like to the empty Asse) to shake his eares, +And graze in Commons + + Octa. You may do your will: +But hee's a tried, and valiant Souldier + + Ant. So is my Horse Octauius, and for that +I do appoint him store of Prouender. +It is a Creature that I teach to fight, +To winde, to stop, to run directly on: +His corporall Motion, gouern'd by my Spirit, +And in some taste, is Lepidus but so: +He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth: +A barren spirited Fellow; one that feeds +On Obiects, Arts, and Imitations. +Which out of vse, and stal'de by other men +Begin his fashion. Do not talke of him, +But as a property: and now Octauius, +Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius +Are leuying Powers; We must straight make head: +Therefore let our Alliance be combin'd, +Our best Friends made, our meanes stretcht, +And let vs presently go sit in Councell, +How couert matters may be best disclos'd, +And open Perils surest answered + + Octa. Let vs do so: for we are at the stake, +And bayed about with many Enemies, +And some that smile haue in their hearts I feare +Millions of Mischeefes. + +Exeunt. + +Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucillius, and the Army. Titinius and +Pindarus meete +them. + + Bru. Stand ho + + Lucil. Giue the word ho, and Stand + + Bru. What now Lucillius, is Cassius neere? + Lucil. He is at hand, and Pindarus is come +To do you salutation from his Master + + Bru. He greets me well. Your Master Pindarus +In his owne change, or by ill Officers, +Hath giuen me some worthy cause to wish +Things done, vndone: But if he be at hand +I shall be satisfied + + Pin. I do not doubt +But that my Noble Master will appeare +Such as he is, full of regard, and Honour + + Bru. He is not doubted. A word Lucillius +How he receiu'd you: let me be resolu'd + + Lucil. With courtesie, and with respect enough, +But not with such familiar instances, +Nor with such free and friendly Conference +As he hath vs'd of old + + Bru. Thou hast describ'd +A hot Friend, cooling: Euer note Lucillius, +When Loue begins to sicken and decay +It vseth an enforced Ceremony. +There are no trickes, in plaine and simple Faith: +But hollow men, like Horses hot at hand, +Make gallant shew, and promise of their Mettle: + +Low March within. + +But when they should endure the bloody Spurre, +They fall their Crests, and like deceitfull Iades +Sinke in the Triall. Comes his Army on? + Lucil. They meane this night in Sardis to be quarter'd: +The greater part, the Horse in generall +Are come with Cassius. +Enter Cassius and his Powers. + + Bru. Hearke, he is arriu'd: +March gently on to meete him + + Cassi. Stand ho + + Bru. Stand ho, speake the word along. +Stand. +Stand. +Stand + + Cassi. Most Noble Brother, you haue done me wrong + + Bru. Iudge me you Gods; wrong I mine Enemies? +And if not so, how should I wrong a Brother + + Cassi. Brutus, this sober forme of yours, hides wrongs, +And when you do them- + Brut. Cassius, be content, +Speake your greefes softly, I do know you well. +Before the eyes of both our Armies heere +(Which should perceiue nothing but Loue from vs) +Let vs not wrangle. Bid them moue away: +Then in my Tent Cassius enlarge your Greefes, +And I will giue you Audience + + Cassi. Pindarus, +Bid our Commanders leade their Charges off +A little from this ground + + Bru. Lucillius, do you the like, and let no man +Come to our Tent, till we haue done our Conference. +Let Lucius and Titinius guard our doore. + +Exeunt. + +Manet Brutus and Cassius. + + Cassi. That you haue wrong'd me, doth appear in this: +You haue condemn'd, and noted Lucius Pella +For taking Bribes heere of the Sardians; +Wherein my Letters, praying on his side, +Because I knew the man was slighted off + + Bru. You wrong'd your selfe to write in such a case + + Cassi. In such a time as this, it is not meet +That euery nice offence should beare his Comment + + Bru. Let me tell you Cassius, you your selfe +Are much condemn'd to haue an itching Palme, +To sell, and Mart your Offices for Gold +To Vndeseruers + + Cassi. I, an itching Palme? +You know that you are Brutus that speakes this, +Or by the Gods, this speech were else your last + + Bru. The name of Cassius Honors this corruption, +And Chasticement doth therefore hide his head + + Cassi. Chasticement? + Bru. Remember March, the Ides of March reme[m]ber: +Did not great Iulius bleede for Iustice sake? +What Villaine touch'd his body, that did stab, +And not for Iustice? What? Shall one of Vs, +That strucke the Formost man of all this World, +But for supporting Robbers: shall we now, +Contaminate our fingers, with base Bribes? +And sell the mighty space of our large Honors +For so much trash, as may be grasped thus? +I had rather be a Dogge, and bay the Moone, +Then such a Roman + + Cassi. Brutus, baite not me, +Ile not indure it: you forget your selfe +To hedge me in. I am a Souldier, I, +Older in practice, Abler then your selfe +To make Conditions + + Bru. Go too: you are not Cassius + + Cassi. I am + + Bru. I say, you are not + + Cassi. Vrge me no more, I shall forget my selfe: +Haue minde vpon your health: Tempt me no farther + + Bru. Away slight man + + Cassi. Is't possible? + Bru. Heare me, for I will speake. +Must I giue way, and roome to your rash Choller? +Shall I be frighted, when a Madman stares? + Cassi. O ye Gods, ye Gods, Must I endure all this? + Bru. All this? I more: Fret till your proud hart break. +Go shew your Slaues how Chollericke you are, +And make your Bondmen tremble. Must I bouge? +Must I obserue you? Must I stand and crouch +Vnder your Testie Humour? By the Gods, +You shall digest the Venom of your Spleene +Though it do Split you. For, from this day forth, +Ile vse you for my Mirth, yea for my Laughter +When you are Waspish + + Cassi. Is it come to this? + Bru. You say, you are a better Souldier: +Let it appeare so; make your vaunting true, +And it shall please me well. For mine owne part, +I shall be glad to learne of Noble men + + Cass. You wrong me euery way: +You wrong me Brutus: +I saide, an Elder Souldier, not a Better. +Did I say Better? + Bru. If you did, I care not + + Cass. When Caesar liu'd, he durst not thus haue mou'd me + + Brut. Peace, peace, you durst not so haue tempted him + + Cassi. I durst not + + Bru. No + + Cassi. What? durst not tempt him? + Bru. For your life you durst not + + Cassi. Do not presume too much vpon my Loue, +I may do that I shall be sorry for + + Bru. You haue done that you should be sorry for. +There is no terror Cassius in your threats: +For I am Arm'd so strong in Honesty, +That they passe by me, as the idle winde, +Which I respect not. I did send to you +For certaine summes of Gold, which you deny'd me, +For I can raise no money by vile meanes: +By Heauen, I had rather Coine my Heart, +And drop my blood for Drachmaes, then to wring +From the hard hands of Peazants, their vile trash +By any indirection. I did send +To you for Gold to pay my Legions, +Which you deny'd me: was that done like Cassius? +Should I haue answer'd Caius Cassius so? +When Marcus Brutus growes so Couetous, +To locke such Rascall Counters from his Friends, +Be ready Gods with all your Thunder-bolts, +Dash him to peeces + + Cassi. I deny'd you not + + Bru. You did + + Cassi. I did not. He was but a Foole +That brought my answer back. Brutus hath riu'd my hart: +A Friend should beare his Friends infirmities; +But Brutus makes mine greater then they are + + Bru. I do not, till you practice them on me + + Cassi. You loue me not + + Bru. I do not like your faults + + Cassi. A friendly eye could neuer see such faults + + Bru. A Flatterers would not, though they do appeare +As huge as high Olympus + + Cassi. Come Antony, and yong Octauius come, +Reuenge your selues alone on Cassius, +For Cassius is a-weary of the World: +Hated by one he loues, brau'd by his Brother, +Check'd like a bondman, all his faults obseru'd, +Set in a Note-booke, learn'd, and con'd by roate +To cast into my Teeth. O I could weepe +My Spirit from mine eyes. There is my Dagger, +And heere my naked Breast: Within, a Heart +Deerer then Pluto's Mine, Richer then Gold: +If that thou bee'st a Roman, take it foorth. +I that deny'd thee Gold, will giue my Heart: +Strike as thou did'st at Caesar: For I know, +When thou did'st hate him worst, y loued'st him better +Then euer thou loued'st Cassius + + Bru. Sheath your Dagger: +Be angry when you will, it shall haue scope: +Do what you will, Dishonor, shall be Humour. +O Cassius, you are yoaked with a Lambe +That carries Anger, as the Flint beares fire, +Who much inforced, shewes a hastie Sparke, +And straite is cold agen + + Cassi. Hath Cassius liu'd +To be but Mirth and Laughter to his Brutus, +When greefe and blood ill temper'd, vexeth him? + Bru. When I spoke that, I was ill temper'd too + + Cassi. Do you confesse so much? Giue me your hand + + Bru. And my heart too + + Cassi. O Brutus! + Bru. What's the matter? + Cassi. Haue not you loue enough to beare with me, +When that rash humour which my Mother gaue me +Makes me forgetfull + + Bru. Yes Cassius, and from henceforth +When you are ouer-earnest with your Brutus, +Hee'l thinke your Mother chides, and leaue you so. +Enter a Poet. + + Poet. Let me go in to see the Generals, +There is some grudge betweene 'em, 'tis not meete +They be alone + + Lucil. You shall not come to them + + Poet. Nothing but death shall stay me + + Cas. How now? What's the matter? + Poet. For shame you Generals; what do you meane? +Loue, and be Friends, as two such men should bee, +For I haue seene more yeeres I'me sure then yee + + Cas. Ha, ha, how vildely doth this Cynicke rime? + Bru. Get you hence sirra: Sawcy Fellow, hence + + Cas. Beare with him Brutus, 'tis his fashion + + Brut. Ile know his humor, when he knowes his time: +What should the Warres do with these Iigging Fooles? +Companion, hence + + Cas. Away, away be gone. + +Exit Poet + + Bru. Lucillius and Titinius bid the Commanders +Prepare to lodge their Companies to night + + Cas. And come your selues, & bring Messala with you +Immediately to vs + + Bru. Lucius, a bowle of Wine + + Cas. I did not thinke you could haue bin so angry + + Bru. O Cassius, I am sicke of many greefes + + Cas. Of your Philosophy you make no vse, +If you giue place to accidentall euils + + Bru. No man beares sorrow better. Portia is dead + + Cas. Ha? Portia? + Bru. She is dead + + Cas. How scap'd I killing, when I crost you so? +O insupportable, and touching losse! +Vpon what sicknesse? + Bru. Impatient of my absence, +And greefe, that yong Octauius with Mark Antony +Haue made themselues so strong: For with her death +That tydings came. With this she fell distract, +And (her Attendants absent) swallow'd fire + + Cas. And dy'd so? + Bru. Euen so + + Cas. O ye immortall Gods! +Enter Boy with Wine, and Tapers. + + Bru. Speak no more of her: Giue me a bowl of wine, +In this I bury all vnkindnesse Cassius. + +Drinkes + + Cas. My heart is thirsty for that Noble pledge. +Fill Lucius, till the Wine ore-swell the Cup: +I cannot drinke too much of Brutus loue. +Enter Titinius and Messala. + + Brutus. Come in Titinius: +Welcome good Messala: +Now sit we close about this Taper heere, +And call in question our necessities + + Cass. Portia, art thou gone? + Bru. No more I pray you. +Messala, I haue heere receiued Letters, +That yong Octauius, and Marke Antony +Come downe vpon vs with a mighty power, +Bending their Expedition toward Philippi + + Mess. My selfe haue Letters of the selfe-same Tenure + + Bru. With what Addition + + Mess. That by proscription, and billes of Outlarie, +Octauius, Antony, and Lepidus, +Haue put to death, an hundred Senators + + Bru. Therein our Letters do not well agree: +Mine speake of seuenty Senators, that dy'de +By their proscriptions, Cicero being one + + Cassi. Cicero one? + Messa. Cicero is dead, and by that order of proscription +Had you your Letters from your wife, my Lord? + Bru. No Messala + + Messa. Nor nothing in your Letters writ of her? + Bru. Nothing Messala + + Messa. That me thinkes is strange + + Bru. Why aske you? +Heare you ought of her, in yours? + Messa. No my Lord + + Bru. Now as you are a Roman tell me true + + Messa. Then like a Roman, beare the truth I tell, +For certaine she is dead, and by strange manner + + Bru. Why farewell Portia: We must die Messala: +With meditating that she must dye once, +I haue the patience to endure it now + + Messa. Euen so great men, great losses shold indure + + Cassi. I haue as much of this in Art as you, +But yet my Nature could not beare it so + + Bru. Well, to our worke aliue. What do you thinke +Of marching to Philippi presently + + Cassi. I do not thinke it good + + Bru. Your reason? + Cassi. This it is: +'Tis better that the Enemie seeke vs, +So shall he waste his meanes, weary his Souldiers, +Doing himselfe offence, whil'st we lying still, +Are full of rest, defence, and nimblenesse + + Bru. Good reasons must of force giue place to better: +The people 'twixt Philippi, and this ground +Do stand but in a forc'd affection: +For they haue grug'd vs Contribution. +The Enemy, marching along by them, +By them shall make a fuller number vp, +Come on refresht, new added, and encourag'd: +From which aduantage shall we cut him off. +If at Philippi we do face him there, +These people at our backe + + Cassi. Heare me good Brother + + Bru. Vnder your pardon. You must note beside, +That we haue tride the vtmost of our Friends: +Our Legions are brim full, our cause is ripe, +The Enemy encreaseth euery day, +We at the height, are readie to decline. +There is a Tide in the affayres of men, +Which taken at the Flood, leades on to Fortune: +Omitted, all the voyage of their life, +Is bound in Shallowes, and in Miseries. +On such a full Sea are we now a-float, +And we must take the current when it serues, +Or loose our Ventures + + Cassi. Then with your will go on: wee'l along +Our selues, and meet them at Philippi + + Bru. The deepe of night is crept vpon our talke, +And Nature must obey Necessitie, +Which we will niggard with a little rest: +There is no more to say + + Cassi. No more, good night, +Early to morrow will we rise, and hence. +Enter Lucius. + + Bru. Lucius my Gowne: farewell good Messala, +Good night Titinius: Noble, Noble Cassius, +Good night, and good repose + + Cassi. O my deere Brother: +This was an ill beginning of the night: +Neuer come such diuision 'tweene our soules: +Let it not Brutus. +Enter Lucius with the Gowne. + + Bru. Euery thing is well + + Cassi. Good night my Lord + + Bru. Good night good Brother + + Tit. Messa. Good night Lord Brutus + + Bru. Farwell euery one. + +Exeunt. + +Giue me the Gowne. Where is thy Instrument? + Luc. Heere in the Tent + + Bru. What, thou speak'st drowsily? +Poore knaue I blame thee not, thou art ore-watch'd. +Call Claudio, and some other of my men, +Ile haue them sleepe on Cushions in my Tent + + Luc. Varrus, and Claudio. +Enter Varrus and Claudio. + + Var. Cals my Lord? + Bru. I pray you sirs, lye in my Tent and sleepe, +It may be I shall raise you by and by +On businesse to my Brother Cassius + + Var. So please you, we will stand, +And watch your pleasure + + Bru. I will it not haue it so: Lye downe good sirs, +It may be I shall otherwise bethinke me. +Looke Lucius, heere's the booke I sought for so: +I put it in the pocket of my Gowne + + Luc. I was sure your Lordship did not giue it me + + Bru. Beare with me good Boy, I am much forgetfull. +Canst thou hold vp thy heauie eyes a-while, +And touch thy Instrument a straine or two + + Luc. I my Lord, an't please you + + Bru. It does my Boy: +I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing + + Luc. It is my duty Sir + + Brut. I should not vrge thy duty past thy might, +I know yong bloods looke for a time of rest + + Luc. I haue slept my Lord already + + Bru. It was well done, and thou shalt sleepe againe: +I will not hold thee long. If I do liue, +I will be good to thee. + +Musicke, and a Song. + +This is a sleepy Tune: O Murd'rous slumber! +Layest thou thy Leaden Mace vpon my Boy, +That playes thee Musicke? Gentle knaue good night: +I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee: +If thou do'st nod, thou break'st thy Instrument, +Ile take it from thee, and (good Boy) good night. +Let me see, let me see; is not the Leafe turn'd downe +Where I left reading? Heere it is I thinke. +Enter the Ghost of Caesar. + +How ill this Taper burnes. Ha! Who comes heere? +I thinke it is the weakenesse of mine eyes +That shapes this monstrous Apparition. +It comes vpon me: Art thou any thing? +Art thou some God, some Angell, or some Diuell, +That mak'st my blood cold, and my haire to stare? +Speake to me, what thou art + + Ghost. Thy euill Spirit Brutus? + Bru. Why com'st thou? + Ghost. To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi + + Brut. Well: then I shall see thee againe? + Ghost. I, at Philippi + + Brut. Why I will see thee at Philippi then: +Now I haue taken heart, thou vanishest. +Ill Spirit, I would hold more talke with thee. +Boy, Lucius, Varrus, Claudio, Sirs: Awake: +Claudio + + Luc. The strings my Lord, are false + + Bru. He thinkes he still is at his Instrument. +Lucius, awake + + Luc. My Lord + + Bru. Did'st thou dreame Lucius, that thou so cryedst +out? + Luc. My Lord, I do not know that I did cry + + Bru. Yes that thou did'st: Did'st thou see any thing? + Luc. Nothing my Lord + + Bru. Sleepe againe Lucius: Sirra Claudio, Fellow, +Thou: Awake + + Var. My Lord + + Clau. My Lord + + Bru. Why did you so cry out sirs, in your sleepe? + Both. Did we my Lord? + Bru. I: saw you any thing? + Var. No my Lord, I saw nothing + + Clau. Nor I my Lord + + Bru. Go, and commend me to my Brother Cassius: +Bid him set on his Powres betimes before, +And we will follow + + Both. It shall be done my Lord. + +Exeunt. + +Actus Quintus. + +Enter Octauius, Antony, and their Army. + + Octa. Now Antony, our hopes are answered, +You said the Enemy would not come downe, +But keepe the Hilles and vpper Regions: +It proues not so: their battailes are at hand, +They meane to warne vs at Philippi heere: +Answering before we do demand of them + + Ant. Tut I am in their bosomes, and I know +Wherefore they do it: They could be content +To visit other places, and come downe +With fearefull brauery: thinking by this face +To fasten in our thoughts that they haue Courage; +But 'tis not so. +Enter a Messenger. + + Mes. Prepare you Generals, +The Enemy comes on in gallant shew: +Their bloody signe of Battell is hung out, +And something to be done immediately + + Ant. Octauius, leade your Battaile softly on +Vpon the left hand of the euen Field + + Octa. Vpon the right hand I, keepe thou the left + + Ant. Why do you crosse me in this exigent + + Octa. I do not crosse you: but I will do so. + +March. + +Drum. Enter Brutus, Cassius, & their Army. + + Bru. They stand, and would haue parley + + Cassi. Stand fast Titinius, we must out and talke + + Octa. Mark Antony, shall we giue signe of Battaile? + Ant. No Caesar, we will answer on their Charge. +Make forth, the Generals would haue some words + + Oct. Stirre not vntill the Signall + + Bru. Words before blowes: is it so Countrymen? + Octa. Not that we loue words better, as you do + + Bru. Good words are better then bad strokes Octauius + + An. In your bad strokes Brutus, you giue good words +Witnesse the hole you made in Caesars heart, +Crying long liue, Haile Caesar + + Cassi. Antony, +The posture of your blowes are yet vnknowne; +But for your words, they rob the Hibla Bees, +And leaue them Hony-lesse + + Ant. Not stinglesse too + + Bru. O yes, and soundlesse too: +For you haue stolne their buzzing Antony, +And very wisely threat before you sting + + Ant. Villains: you did not so, when your vile daggers +Hackt one another in the sides of Caesar: +You shew'd your teethes like Apes, +And fawn'd like Hounds, +And bow'd like Bondmen, kissing Caesars feete; +Whil'st damned Caska, like a Curre, behinde +Strooke Caesar on the necke. O you Flatterers + + Cassi. Flatterers? Now Brutus thanke your selfe, +This tongue had not offended so to day. +If Cassius might haue rul'd + + Octa. Come, come, the cause. If arguing make vs swet, +The proofe of it will turne to redder drops: +Looke, I draw a Sword against Conspirators, +When thinke you that the Sword goes vp againe? +Neuer till Caesars three and thirtie wounds +Be well aueng'd; or till another Caesar +Haue added slaughter to the Sword of Traitors + + Brut. Caesar, thou canst not dye by Traitors hands. +Vnlesse thou bring'st them with thee + + Octa. So I hope: +I was not borne to dye on Brutus Sword + + Bru. O if thou wer't the Noblest of thy Straine, +Yong-man, thou could'st not dye more honourable + + Cassi. A peeuish School-boy, worthles of such Honor +Ioyn'd with a Masker, and a Reueller + + Ant. Old Cassius still + + Octa. Come Antony: away: +Defiance Traitors, hurle we in your teeth. +If you dare fight to day, come to the Field; +If not, when you haue stomackes. + +Exit Octauius, Antony, and Army + + Cassi. Why now blow winde, swell Billow, +And swimme Barke: +The Storme is vp, and all is on the hazard + + Bru. Ho Lucillius, hearke, a word with you. + +Lucillius and Messala stand forth. + + Luc. My Lord + + Cassi. Messala + + Messa. What sayes my Generall? + Cassi. Messala, this is my Birth-day: at this very day +Was Cassius borne. Giue me thy hand Messala: +Be thou my witnesse, that against my will +(As Pompey was) am I compell'd to set +Vpon one Battell all our Liberties. +You know, that I held Epicurus strong, +And his Opinion: Now I change my minde, +And partly credit things that do presage. +Comming from Sardis, on our former Ensigne +Two mighty Eagles fell, and there they pearch'd, +Gorging and feeding from our Soldiers hands, +Who to Philippi heere consorted vs: +This Morning are they fled away, and gone, +And in their steeds, do Rauens, Crowes, and Kites +Fly ore our heads, and downward looke on vs +As we were sickely prey; their shadowes seeme +A Canopy most fatall, vnder which +Our Army lies, ready to giue vp the Ghost + + Messa. Beleeue not so + + Cassi. I but beleeue it partly, +For I am fresh of spirit, and resolu'd +To meete all perils, very constantly + + Bru. Euen so Lucillius + + Cassi. Now most Noble Brutus, +The Gods to day stand friendly, that we may +Louers in peace, leade on our dayes to age. +But since the affayres of men rests still incertaine, +Let's reason with the worst that may befall. +If we do lose this Battaile, then is this +The very last time we shall speake together: +What are you then determined to do? + Bru. Euen by the rule of that Philosophy, +By which I did blame Cato, for the death +Which he did giue himselfe, I know not how: +But I do finde it Cowardly, and vile, +For feare of what might fall, so to preuent +The time of life, arming my selfe with patience, +To stay the prouidence of some high Powers, +That gouerne vs below + + Cassi. Then, if we loose this Battaile, +You are contented to be led in Triumph +Thorow the streets of Rome + + Bru. No Cassius, no: +Thinke not thou Noble Romane, +That euer Brutus will go bound to Rome, +He beares too great a minde. But this same day +Must end that worke, the Ides of March begun. +And whether we shall meete againe, I know not: +Therefore our euerlasting farewell take: +For euer, and for euer, farewell Cassius, +If we do meete againe, why we shall smile; +If not, why then this parting was well made + + Cassi. For euer, and for euer, farewell Brutus: +If we do meete againe, wee'l smile indeede; +If not, 'tis true, this parting was well made + + Bru. Why then leade on. O that a man might know +The end of this dayes businesse, ere it come: +But it sufficeth, that the day will end, +And then the end is knowne. Come ho, away. + +Exeunt. + +Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala. + + Bru. Ride, ride Messala, ride and giue these Billes +Vnto the Legions, on the other side. + +Lowd Alarum. + +Let them set on at once: for I perceiue +But cold demeanor in Octauio's wing: +And sodaine push giues them the ouerthrow: +Ride, ride Messala, let them all come downe. + +Exeunt. + +Alarums. Enter Cassius and Titinius. + + Cassi. O looke Titinius, looke, the Villaines flye: +My selfe haue to mine owne turn'd Enemy: +This Ensigne heere of mine was turning backe, +I slew the Coward, and did take it from him + + Titin. O Cassius, Brutus gaue the word too early, +Who hauing some aduantage on Octauius, +Tooke it too eagerly: his Soldiers fell to spoyle, +Whilst we by Antony are all inclos'd. +Enter Pindarus. + + Pind. Fly further off my Lord: flye further off, +Mark Antony is in your Tents my Lord: +Flye therefore Noble Cassius, flye farre off + + Cassi. This Hill is farre enough. Looke, look Titinius +Are those my Tents where I perceiue the fire? + Tit. They are, my Lord + + Cassi. Titinius, if thou louest me, +Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurres in him, +Till he haue brought thee vp to yonder Troopes +And heere againe, that I may rest assur'd +Whether yond Troopes, are Friend or Enemy + + Tit. I will be heere againe, euen with a thought. +Enter. + + Cassi. Go Pindarus, get higher on that hill, +My sight was euer thicke: regard Titinius, +And tell me what thou not'st about the Field. +This day I breathed first, Time is come round, +And where I did begin, there shall I end, +My life is run his compasse. Sirra, what newes? + Pind. Aboue. O my Lord + + Cassi. What newes? + Pind. Titinius is enclosed round about +With Horsemen, that make to him on the Spurre, +Yet he spurres on. Now they are almost on him: +Now Titinius. Now some light: O he lights too. +Hee's tane. + +Showt. + +And hearke, they shout for ioy + + Cassi. Come downe, behold no more: +O Coward that I am, to liue so long, +To see my best Friend tane before my face +Enter Pindarus. + +Come hither sirrah: In Parthia did I take thee Prisoner, +And then I swore thee, sauing of thy life, +That whatsoeuer I did bid thee do, +Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keepe thine oath, +Now be a Free-man, and with this good Sword +That ran through Caesars bowels, search this bosome. +Stand not to answer: Heere, take thou the Hilts, +And when my face is couer'd, as 'tis now, +Guide thou the Sword- Caesar, thou art reueng'd, +Euen with the Sword that kill'd thee + + Pin. So, I am free, +Yet would not so haue beene +Durst I haue done my will. O Cassius, +Farre from this Country Pindarus shall run, +Where neuer Roman shall take note of him. +Enter Titinius and Messala. + + Messa. It is but change, Titinius: for Octauius +Is ouerthrowne by Noble Brutus power, +As Cassius Legions are by Antony + + Titin. These tydings will well comfort Cassius + + Messa. Where did you leaue him + + Titin. All disconsolate, +With Pindarus his Bondman, on this Hill + + Messa. Is not that he that lyes vpon the ground? + Titin. He lies not like the Liuing. O my heart! + Messa. Is not that hee? + Titin. No, this was he Messala, +But Cassius is no more. O setting Sunne: +As in thy red Rayes thou doest sinke to night; +So in his red blood Cassius day is set. +The Sunne of Rome is set. Our day is gone, +Clowds, Dewes, and Dangers come; our deeds are done: +Mistrust of my successe hath done this deed + + Messa. Mistrust of good successe hath done this deed. +O hatefull Error, Melancholies Childe: +Why do'st thou shew to the apt thoughts of men +The things that are not? O Error soone conceyu'd, +Thou neuer com'st vnto a happy byrth, +But kil'st the Mother that engendred thee + + Tit. What Pindarus? Where art thou Pindarus? + Messa. Seeke him Titinius, whilst I go to meet +The Noble Brutus, thrusting this report +Into his eares; I may say thrusting it: +For piercing Steele, and Darts inuenomed, +Shall be as welcome to the eares of Brutus, +As tydings of this sight + + Tit. Hye you Messala, +And I will seeke for Pindarus the while: +Why did'st thou send me forth braue Cassius? +Did I not meet thy Friends, and did not they +Put on my Browes this wreath of Victorie, +And bid me giue it thee? Did'st thou not heare their showts? +Alas, thou hast misconstrued euery thing. +But hold thee, take this Garland on thy Brow, +Thy Brutus bid me giue it thee, and I +Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace, +And see how I regarded Caius Cassius: +By your leaue Gods: This is a Romans part, +Come Cassius Sword, and finde Titinius hart. + +Dies + +Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, yong Cato, Strato, Volumnius, and +Lucillius. + + Bru. Where, where Messala, doth his body lye? + Messa. Loe yonder, and Titinius mourning it + + Bru. Titinius face is vpward + + Cato. He is slaine + + Bru. O Iulius Caesar, thou art mighty yet, +Thy Spirit walkes abroad, and turnes our Swords +In our owne proper Entrailes. Low Alarums + + Cato. Braue Titinius, +Looke where he haue not crown'd dead Cassius + + Bru. Are yet two Romans liuing such as these? +The last of all the Romans, far thee well: +It is impossible, that euer Rome +Should breed thy fellow. Friends I owe mo teares +To this dead man, then you shall see me pay. +I shall finde time, Cassius: I shall finde time. +Come therefore, and to Tharsus send his body, +His Funerals shall not be in our Campe, +Least it discomfort vs. Lucillius come, +And come yong Cato, let vs to the Field, +Labio and Flauio set our Battailes on: +'Tis three a clocke, and Romans yet ere night, +We shall try Fortune in a second fight. + +Exeunt. + +Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, Cato, Lucillius, and Flauius. + + Bru. Yet Country-men: O yet, hold vp your heads + + Cato. What Bastard doth not? Who will go with me? +I will proclaime my name about the Field. +I am the Sonne of Marcus Cato, hoe. +A Foe to Tyrants, and my Countries Friend. +I am the Sonne of Marcus Cato, hoe. +Enter Souldiers, and fight. + +And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I, +Brutus my Countries Friend: Know me for Brutus + + Luc. O yong and Noble Cato, art thou downe? +Why now thou dyest, as brauely as Titinius, +And may'st be honour'd, being Cato's Sonne + + Sold. Yeeld, or thou dyest + + Luc. Onely I yeeld to dye: +There is so much, that thou wilt kill me straight: +Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death + + Sold. We must not: a Noble Prisoner. +Enter Antony. + + 2.Sold. Roome hoe: tell Antony, Brutus is tane + + 1.Sold. Ile tell thee newes. Heere comes the Generall, +Brutus is tane, Brutus is tane my Lord + + Ant. Where is hee? + Luc. Safe Antony, Brutus is safe enough: +I dare assure thee, that no Enemy +Shall euer take aliue the Noble Brutus: +The Gods defend him from so great a shame, +When you do finde him, or aliue, or dead, +He will be found like Brutus, like himselfe + + Ant. This is not Brutus friend, but I assure you, +A prize no lesse in worth; keepe this man safe, +Giue him all kindnesse. I had rather haue +Such men my Friends, then Enemies. Go on, +And see where Brutus be aliue or dead, +And bring vs word, vnto Octauius Tent: +How euery thing is chanc'd. + +Exeunt. + +Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius. + + Brut. Come poore remaines of friends, rest on this +Rocke + + Clit. Statillius shew'd the Torch-light, but my Lord +He came not backe: he is or tane, or slaine + + Brut. Sit thee downe, Clitus: slaying is the word, +It is a deed in fashion. Hearke thee, Clitus + + Clit. What I, my Lord? No, not for all the World + + Brut. Peace then, no words + + Clit. Ile rather kill my selfe + + Brut. Hearke thee, Dardanius + + Dard. Shall I doe such a deed? + Clit. O Dardanius + + Dard. O Clitus + + Clit. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? + Dard. To kill him, Clitus: looke he meditates + + Clit. Now is that Noble Vessell full of griefe, +That it runnes ouer euen at his eyes + + Brut. Come hither, good Volumnius, list a word + + Volum. What sayes my Lord? + Brut. Why this, Volumnius: +The Ghost of Caesar hath appear'd to me +Two seuerall times by Night: at Sardis, once; +And this last Night, here in Philippi fields: +I know my houre is come + + Volum. Not so, my Lord + + Brut. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. +Thou seest the World, Volumnius, how it goes, +Our Enemies haue beat vs to the Pit: + +Low Alarums. + +It is more worthy, to leape in our selues, +Then tarry till they push vs. Good Volumnius, +Thou know'st, that we two went to Schoole together: +Euen for that our loue of old, I prethee +Hold thou my Sword Hilts, whilest I runne on it + + Vol. That's not an Office for a friend, my Lord. + +Alarum still. + + Cly. Fly, flye my Lord, there is no tarrying heere + + Bru. Farewell to you, and you, and Volumnius. +Strato, thou hast bin all this while asleepe: +Farewell to thee, to Strato, Countrymen: +My heart doth ioy, that yet in all my life, +I found no man, but he was true to me. +I shall haue glory by this loosing day +More then Octauius, and Marke Antony, +By this vile Conquest shall attaine vnto. +So fare you well at once, for Brutus tongue +Hath almost ended his liues History: +Night hangs vpon mine eyes, my Bones would rest, +That haue but labour'd, to attaine this houre. + +Alarum. Cry within, Flye, flye, flye. + + Cly. Fly my Lord, flye + + Bru. Hence: I will follow: +I prythee Strato, stay thou by thy Lord, +Thou art a Fellow of a good respect: +Thy life hath had some smatch of Honor in it, +Hold then my Sword, and turne away thy face, +While I do run vpon it. Wilt thou Strato? + Stra. Giue me your hand first. Fare you wel my Lord + + Bru. Farewell good Strato. - Caesar, now be still, +I kill'd not thee with halfe so good a will. +Dyes. + +Alarum. Retreat. Enter Antony, Octauius, Messala, Lucillius, and +the +Army. + + Octa. What man is that? + Messa. My Masters man. Strato, where is thy Master? + Stra. Free from the Bondage you are in Messala, +The Conquerors can but make a fire of him: +For Brutus onely ouercame himselfe, +And no man else hath Honor by his death + + Lucil. So Brutus should be found. I thank thee Brutus +That thou hast prou'd Lucillius saying true, + Octa. All that seru'd Brutus, I will entertaine them. +Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me? + Stra. I, if Messala will preferre me to you + + Octa. Do so, good Messala + + Messa. How dyed my Master Strato? + Stra. I held the Sword, and he did run on it + + Messa. Octauius, then take him to follow thee, +That did the latest seruice to my Master + + Ant. This was the Noblest Roman of them all: +All the Conspirators saue onely hee, +Did that they did, in enuy of great Caesar: +He, onely in a generall honest thought, +And common good to all, made one of them. +His life was gentle, and the Elements +So mixt in him, that Nature might stand vp, +And say to all the world; This was a man + + Octa. According to his Vertue, let vs vse him +Withall Respect, and Rites of Buriall. +Within my Tent his bones to night shall ly, +Most like a Souldier ordered Honourably: +So call the Field to rest, and let's away, +To part the glories of this happy day. + +Exeunt. omnes. + + +FINIS. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2263 *** |