See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,[168]

Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.

Antony. So to most noble Cæsar.

Cæsar.

Bid them prepare within:

I am to blame to be thus waited for.

120Now, Cinna; now, Metellus: what, Trebonius!

I have an hour's talk in store for you;

Remember that you call on me to-day.

Be near me, that I may remember you.

Trebonius. Cæsar, I will. [Aside][169] And so near will I be,

125That your best friends shall wish I had been further.

Cæsar. Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me;

And we, like friends, will straightway go together.

Brutus. [Aside][170] That every like is not the same, O Cæsar,

The heart of Brutus yearns[171][172] to think upon!

[Exeunt]

Here will I stand till Cæsar pass along,

10And as a suitor will I give him this.

My heart laments that virtue cannot live

Out of the teeth of emulation.[178]

If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayest live;

If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.[179]

[Exit]

Portia.[181] I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house;

Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.

Why dost thou stay?

Lucius.

To know my errand, madam.

Portia. I would have had thee there, and here again,

5Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.

O constancy,[182] be strong upon my side!

Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue!

I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.

How hard it is for women to keep counsel!

Art thou here yet?

Lucius.

10Madam, what should I do?

Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?

And so return to you, and nothing else?

Portia. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,

For he went sickly forth: and take good note

15What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him.

Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Lucius. I hear none, madam.

Portia.

Prithee, listen well:

I heard a bustling[183] rumour,[184] like a fray,

And the wind brings it from the Capitol.

20Lucius. Sooth,[185] madam, I hear nothing.

Portia. Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou been?

Soothsayer. At mine own house, good lady.

Portia. What is 't o'clock?[188]

Soothsayer.

About the ninth hour, lady.

Portia. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol?

25Soothsayer. Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand,

To see him pass on to the Capitol.

Portia. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not?

Soothsayer. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar

To be so good to Cæsar as to hear me,

30I shall beseech him to befriend himself.

Portia. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?

Soothsayer.[189] None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.

Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:

The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels,

35Of senators, of prætors, common suitors,

Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:

I'll get me to a place more void, and there

Speak to great Cæsar as he comes along.

[Exit]

Portia.[190] I must go in. Ay[191] me, how weak a thing

40The heart of woman is! O Brutus,

The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!

Sure, the boy heard me. Brutus hath a suit

That Cæsar will not grant.[192] O, I grow faint.

Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;

45Say I am merry: come to me again,

And bring me word what he doth say to thee.

[Exeunt severally][193]

Cæsar. The Ides of March are come.

Soothsayer.[2] Ay, Cæsar; but not gone.

Artemidorus. Hail, Cæsar! read this schedule.[3]

Decius. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read,

5At your best leisure, this his humble suit.

Artemidorus. O Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit

That touches Cæsar nearer: read it, great Cæsar.

Cæsar. What touches us ourself[4] shall be last serv'd.

Artemidorus.[5] Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly.

Cæsar. What, is the fellow mad?

Publius.

Sirrah, give place.

Cassius. What, urge you your petitions in the street?

Come to the Capitol.

Popilius. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive.

Cassius. What enterprise, Popilius?

Popilius.

Fare you well.

15Brutus. What said Popilius Lena?

Cassius. He wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive.

I fear our purpose is discovered.

Brutus. Look, how he makes to[10] Cæsar: mark[11] him.

Cassius. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.

20Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,

Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back,

For I will slay myself.

Brutus.

Cassius, be constant:[12]

Popilius Lena speaks[13] not of our purposes;

For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change.

25Cassius. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus,

He draws Mark Antony out of the way.

Decius. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,

And presently[15] prefer his suit to Cæsar.

Brutus. He is address'd:[16] press near and second him.

30Cinna. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.

Cæsar. Are we all ready?[17] What is now amiss

That Cæsar and his senate must redress?

Metellus. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar,

Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat

An humble heart,—

[Kneeling][18]

35Cæsar. I must prevent thee, Cimber.

These couchings[19] and these lowly courtesies[20]

Might fire the blood of ordinary men,

And turn pre-ordinance and first decree[21]

Into the law[22][23] of children. Be not fond,

40To think[24] that Cæsar bears such rebel blood

That will be thaw'd from the true quality

With that which melteth fools, I mean, sweet words,

Low-crooked curtsies,[25] and base spaniel-fawning.[26]

Thy brother by decree is banished:

45If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,

I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.

Know, Cæsar doth not wrong,[27] nor without cause

Will he be satisfied.

Metellus. Is there no voice more worthy than my own,

50To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear

For the repealing[28] of my banish'd brother?

Brutus. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar,

Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may

Have an immediate freedom of repeal.

Cæsar. What, Brutus!

55Cassius.

Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon:

As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,

To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

Cæsar. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you;

If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:[29]

60But I am constant as the northern star,

Of whose true-fix'd[30] and resting quality

There is no fellow in the firmament.

The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks;

They are all fire and every one doth shine;

65But 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 apprehensive;[31]

Yet in the number I do know but one

That unassailable holds on his rank,

70Unshak'd of motion: and that I am he,

Let me a little show it, even in this;

That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,

And constant do remain to keep him so.[32]

Cinna. O Cæsar,—

Cæsar.

Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?

Decius. Great Cæsar,—

75Cæsar.

Doth not[33][34] Brutus bootless kneel?

Casca. Speak, hands, for me!

Cæsar. Et tu, Brute?[36] Then fall, Cæsar!

Cinna. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!

Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.

80Cassius. Some to the common pulpits,[38] and cry out,

'Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!'[39]

Brutus.[40] People, and senators, be not affrighted;

Fly not; stand still: ambition's debt is paid.

Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

85Decius. And Cassius too.

Brutus. Where's Publius?

95Brutus. Do so; and let no man abide[41] this deed

But we the doers.

Cassius. Where is Antony?

Trebonius.

Fled to his house amaz'd.[43]

Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run[44]

As it were doomsday.

Brutus.

Fates, we will know your pleasures:

100That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time,

And drawing days out, that men stand upon.[45]

Casca.[46][47] Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life

Cuts off so many years of fearing death.

Brutus. Grant that, and then is death a benefit:

105So we are Cæsar's friends, that have abridg'd

His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,

And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar's blood

Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:

Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,

110And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,

Let's all cry 'Peace, freedom, and liberty!'

In states[48] unborn and accents yet unknown!

115Brutus.[49] How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport,

That now on Pompey's[50] basis lies[51] along

No worthier than the dust!

Cassius.[52][53]

So oft as that shall be,

So often shall the knot of us be call'd

With the most boldest[54] and best hearts of Rome.

Brutus. Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's.

Servant. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;

125Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;

And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:

Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;

Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:

Say I love Brutus and I honour him;

130Say I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him, and lov'd him.

If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony

May safely come to him, and be resolv'd[56]

How Cæsar hath deserv'd to lie in death,

Mark Antony shall not love Cæsar dead

135So well as Brutus living; but will follow

The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus

Thorough[57] the hazards of this untrod state

With all true faith. So says my master Antony.

Brutus. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;

140I never thought him worse.

Tell him, so please him come[58] unto this place,

He shall be satisfied, and, by my honour,

Depart untouch'd.

Servant.

Falls shrewdly to the purpose.[59]

Brutus. But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.

Antony. O mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low?

150Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,

Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well!

I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,

Who else must be let blood,[61] who else is rank:[62]

If I myself, there is no hour so fit

155As Cæsar's death's hour, nor no instrument

Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich

With the most noble blood of all this world.

I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,

Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,

160Fulfil your pleasure. Live[63] a thousand years,

I shall not find myself so apt to die:

No place will please me so, no mean of death,

As here by Cæsar, and by you cut off,[64]

The choice and master spirits of this age.

165Brutus. O Antony, beg not your death of us.

Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,

As, by our hands and this our present act,

You see we do; yet see you but our hands

And this the bleeding business they have done:

170Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;

And pity to the general wrong of Rome—

As fire drives out fire,[65] so pity pity—

Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part,

To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:

175Our arms in strength of malice,[66] and our hearts

Of brothers' temper, do receive you in

With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.

Cassius.[67] Your voice shall be as strong as any man's

In the disposing of new dignities.

180Brutus. Only be patient till we have appeas'd

The multitude, beside themselves with fear,[68]

And then we will deliver you the cause

Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck[69] him,

Have thus proceeded.

Antony.

I doubt not of your wisdom.[70]

185Let 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 Casca, yours;

190Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.

Gentlemen all,—alas, what shall I say?

My credit now stands on such slippery ground,

That one of two bad ways you must conceit[71] me,

Either a coward or a flatterer.

195That I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true:

If, then, thy spirit look upon us now,

Shall it not grieve thee dearer[72] than thy death,

To see thy Antony making his peace,

Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,

200Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?

Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,

Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,

It would become me better than to close

In terms of friendship with thine enemies.

205Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd,[73] brave hart;[74]

Here didst thou fall, and here thy hunters stand,

Sign'd in thy spoil[75] and crimson'd in thy lethe.[76][77]

O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;

And this, indeed, O world, the heart[78] of thee.

210How like a deer, strucken[79] by many princes,

Dost thou here lie!

Cassius.

Mark Antony,—

Antony.

Pardon me, Caius Cassius:

The enemies of Cæsar shall say this;

Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.[80]

215Cassius. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so;

But what compact mean you to have with us?

Will you be prick'd[81] in number of our friends,

Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

Antony. Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed

220Sway'd from the point by looking down on Cæsar.

Friends am I with you all, and love you all,

Upon this hope that you shall give me reasons

Why and wherein Cæsar was dangerous.

Brutus. Or else were this a savage spectacle:

225Our reasons are so full of good regard[82]

That, were you, Antony,[83] the son of Cæsar,

You should be satisfied.

Antony.

That's all I seek:

And am moreover suitor that I may

Produce[84] his body to the market-place;[85]

230And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,

Speak in the order of his funeral.[86]

Brutus. You shall, Mark Antony.

Cassius.

Brutus, a word with you.

[Aside to Brutus][87] You know not what you do; do not consent

That Antony speak in his funeral:

235Know you how much the people may be mov'd

By that which he will utter?

Brutus.

By your pardon:

I will myself into the pulpit first,

And show the reason of our Cæsar's death:

What Antony shall speak, I will protest

240He speaks by leave and by permission,

And that we are contented Cæsar shall

Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.

It shall advantage more than do us wrong.[88]

Cassius. I know not what may fall; I like it not.

245Brutus. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar's body.

You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,

But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar,

And say you do 't by our permission;

Else shall you not have any hand at all

250About his funeral: and you shall speak

In the same pulpit whereto I am going,

After my speech is ended.