Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.

Cassius, go you into the other street,

And part the numbers.—

Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
And public reasons shall be rendered

Of Cæsar's death.

1 Pleb. I will hear Brutus speak.

[reasons,

2 Pleb. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks.
1 Pleb. Peace, ho!

Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:
5 Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Cæsar's glories; which Mark Antony
By our permission is allow'd to make.
I do intreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, 'till Antony have spoke.

2 Pleb. I will hear Cassius; and compare their 10 When severally we hear them rendered.

15

[Exit Cassius, with some of the Plebeians : Brutus goes into the rostrum. 3 Pleb. The noble Brutus is ascended: Silence! Bru. Be patient 'till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause; and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honour; and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe: censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you 20 may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say, that Brutus love to Cæsar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cæsar, this is my answer,-Not that I lov'd Cæsar 25 less, but that I lov'd Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves; than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæsar lov'd me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I ho-30 nour him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him: There are tears, for his love; joy, for his fortune;, honour, for his valour; and death, for his ambition. Who is here so base, that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. 35 Who is here so rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile, that will not love his country? It any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.

All. None, Brutus, none.

[Exit.

1 Pleb. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Pleb. Let him go up into the public chair; We'll hear him:-Noble Antony, go up.

Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beho den to you. 4 Pleb. What does he say of Brutus?

3 Pleb. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholden to us all.

[here.

4 Pleb. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus 1 Pleb. This Cæsar was a tyrant.

3 Pleb. Nay, that's certain:

We are blest, that Rome is rid of him.

2 Pleb. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say.
Ant. You gentle Romans,-

All. Peace, ho! let us hear him. [your ears;
Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me
I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him.
The evil, that men do, lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Cæsar! The noble Brutus
Hath told you, Casar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously hath Cæsar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest,
(For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men)
Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says, he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
40 Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious?

Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Casar, than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enroll'd in the Capitol: his glory not extenuated, wherein he was 45 worthy; nor his offences enforc'd, for which he suffered death.

Enter Mark Antony, &c. with Cæsar's body. Here comes his body, mourn'd by Mark Antony: who, though he had no hand in his death, shall 50 receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; As which of you shall not? With this I depart; That, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to 55 need my death.

All. Live, Brutus, live! live!

[house.

1 Pleb. Bring himn with triumph home unto his 2 Pleb. Give him a statue with his ancestors.

3 Pleb. Let him be Cæsar.

4 Pleb. Cæsar's better parts

Shall be crowned in Brutus.

1 Pleb. We'll bring him to his house with

shouts and clamours.

Bru. My countrymen,

60

When that the poor have cry'd, Cæsar hath wept;
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff;
Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see, that, on the Lupercal,
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious;
And sure, he is an honourable man.

[ocr errors]

I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause;
What cause with-holds you then to mourn for
him?

O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason !---Bear with me:
My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar,
And I must pause 'till it come back to me.

1 Pleb. Methinks, there is much reason in his
sayings.

2 Pleb. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar has had great wrong.

3 Pleb. Has he, masters?

651 fear, there will a worse come in his place. 3 C 2

4 Pleb

4 Pleb. Mark'd ye his words? He would not
take the crown:

'Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious.
1 Pleb. If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
2 Pleb. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with
weeping.
[Antony.
3 Pleb. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than
4 Pleb. Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæsar might
Have stood against the world: now lies he there,
And none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters! if I were dispos'd to stir
Your hearts and minds 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 myself, and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men.
But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar,
I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:
Let but the commons hear this testament,
(Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read)
And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds,
And dip their napkins' in his sacred blood;
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it, as a rich legacy,
Unto their issue.

[tony.

5

10

You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Cæsar put it on;
Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent;
That day he overcame the Nervii :-
Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through
See, what a rent the envious Casca made:
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;
And, as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Cæsar follow'd it;
As rushing out of doors, to be resolv'd

If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;

For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel:
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar lov'd him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all:

15 For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,

20 Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
25 The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what, weep you, when you but behold
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here!
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors,
- 1 Pleb. O piteous spectacle!

4 Pleb. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark AnAll. The will, the will; we will hear Cæsar's will. 30 Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not

read it;

It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;|
And, being men, hearing the will of Cæsar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad :
"Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;
For if you should, O, what would come of it!

4 Pub. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will; Cæsar's will.

35

2 Pleb. O noble Cæsar!

3 Pleb. O woeful day!

4 Pleb. O traitors, villains!
1 Pleb. O most bloody sight!

2 Pleb. We will be reveng'd: Revenge: About,→→ Seek,-burn,-fire,-kill,-slay!—let not a trai

tor live.

Ant. Stay, countrymen.

1 Pleb. Peace there :-Hear the noble Antony. 2 Pleb. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll 140die with him.

Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile?
I have o'er-shot myself, to tell you of it!
I fear, I wrong the honourable men,
Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar: I do fear it.
4 Pleb. They were traitors: Honourable men45
All. The will! the testament!

2 Pleb. They were villains, murderers: The will! read the will!

[will?

Ant. You will compel me then to read the
Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar,
And let me shew you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?
All. Come down.

2 Pleb. Descend. [He comes down from the pulpit.
3 Pleb. You shall have leave.
4 Pleb. A ring; stand round.

[body.

1 Pleb. Stand from the hearse, stand from the 2 Pleb. Room for Antony;-most noble Antony. Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. All. Stand back! room! bear back!

Ant. If you have tears,prepare to shed them now.}

50

Ant. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not
stir you up
To such a sudden flood of mutiny.

They, that have done this deed, are honourable;
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it; they are wise, and honour-
And will,no doubt, with reasons answer you. [able,
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts;
I am no orator, as Brutus is:

But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend; and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him.
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
55 To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
I tell you that, which you yourselves do know;
Shew you sweet Casar's wounds, poor, poor
dumb mouths!

And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus, 60 And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue

1i. e. their handkerchiefs.-Napery was the ancient term for all kinds of linen. 2 i. e. the impression of pity.

In

[blocks in formation]

1 Pleb. We'll burn the house of Brutus.

3 Pleb. Away then, come, seek the conspirators. 5 Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me

speak.

[tony. All. Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble AnAnt. Why, friends, you go to do you know

not what :

Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves? Alas, you know not:-I must tell you then:You have forgot the will I told you of.

All. Most true;-the will;-let's stay, and hear the will.

Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man, seventy-five drachmas1. 2 Pleb. Most noble Cæsar!-We'll revenge his 3 Pleb. O royal Cæsar!

Ant. Hear me with patience.
All. Peace, ho!

10

15

[death. 20

Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours, and new planted orchards, On this side Tiber; he hath left them you, And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures, To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves. Here was a Cæsar! When comes such another?

1 Pleb. Never, never:-Come, away, away: We'll burn his body in the holy place, And with the brands fire the traitor's houses. Take up the body.

2 Pleb, Go, fetch fire.

3 Pleb, Pluck down benches.

25

30

4 Pleb. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. 35 [Exeunt Plebeians, with the body.

Ant. Now let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt!-How now, fellow?

Enter a Servant.

Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Ant. Where is he?

Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house. Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him: He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry, And in this mood will give us any thing.

Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.

40

Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the people, How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. A Street.

Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him the Plebeians.
Cin. I dreamt to night, that I did feast with
And things unluckily charge my fantasy: [Cæsar,
I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.

1 Pleb. What is your name?
2 Pleb. Whither are you going?

3 Pleb. Where do you dwell?

4 Pleb. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 2 Pleb. Answer every man directly.

1 Pleb. Ay, and briefly.

4 Pleb. Ay, and wisely.

3 Pleb. Ay, and truly, you were best,

Cin. What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married inan, or a bachelor? Then to answer every man directly, and briefly, wisely, and truly. Wisely I say, I Jam a bachelor.

2 Pleb. That's as much as to say, they are fools that marry:-You'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly,

Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral. 1 Pleb. As a friend, or an enemy?

Cin. As a friend.

2 Pieb. That matter is answer'd directly.
4 Pleb. For your dwelling,-briefly.
Cin. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.

3 Pleb. Your name, sir, truly,
Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna,

1 Pleb. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator. Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 4 Pleb. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.

Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator.

4 Pleb. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

3 Pleb. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, 45ho! firebrands. To Brutus' and to Cassius', burn all, Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius'! away; go.

[Exeunt.

[blocks in formation]

A drachma was a Greek coin of the value of seven-pence farthing. little river Rhenus near Bononia, according to Hanmer. meant, who was uncle by the mother's side to Mark Antony.

3 C3

i. e. condemn him.

Fetch

Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
Lep. What, shall I find you here?
Octa. Or here, or at the Capitol. [Exit Lepidus.
Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit,

The three-fold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?

Octa. So you thought him; And took his voice who should be prick'd to die, In our black sentence and proscription.

Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you: And though we lay these honours on this man, To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads, He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold, To groan and sweat under the business, Either led or driven, as we point the way; And having brought our treasure where we will, Then take we down his load, and turn him off, Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears, And graze in commons.

Octa. You may do your will;

But he's a try'd and valiant soldier.

Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and, for that,

[blocks in formation]

5

10

But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard, and honour.

Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius;— How he receiv'd you, let me be resolv'd.

Luc. With courtesy, and with respect enough; But not with such familiar instances,

Nor with such free and friendly conference,
As he hath us'd of old.

Bru. Thou hast describ'd

A hot friend cooling: Ever note, Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
It useth an enforced ceremony.

There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
15 Make gallant shew and promise of their mettle;
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades,
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?

20

25

forth:30

His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On objects, arts, and imitations;
Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men,
Begin his fashion: Do not talk of him,
But as a property. And now, Octavius,
Listen great things.--Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers: we must straight make head:
Therefore let our alliance be combin'd, [out;
Ourbest friends made,and our best means stretch'd
And let us presently go sit in council,
How covert matters may be best disclos'd,
And open perils surest answered.

Octa. Let us do so: for we are at the stake,
And bay'd about with many enemies;

135

Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd;

The greater part, the horse in general,
Are come with Cassius.

Bru. Hark, he is arriv'd:

March gently on to meet him.

[March within.

Enter Cassius, and Soldiers.

[blocks in formation]

Cus. Most noble brother, you have done me

wrong.

[mies? Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine ene¡And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother? Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides And when you do them-[wrongs;

Bru. Cassius, be content, Speak your griefs softly,-I do know you well:— Before the eyes of both our armies here,

40 Which should perceive nothing but love from us, Let us not wrangle: Bid them move away; Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs, And I will give you audience.

And some, that smile, have in their hearts, I fear, 45
Millions of mischief.
[Exeunt.

[blocks in formation]

50

55

Cas. Pindarus,

Bid our commanders lead their charges off
A little from this ground.

Bru. Lucilius, do you the like; and let no man Come to our tent,'till wehave done our conference. Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The inside of Brutus' Tent.

Enter Brutus, and Cassius.

Cas. That you have wrong'd me, doth appear
in this:

You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella,
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein, my letter, praying on his side,

60 Because I knew the man, was slighted off. [case.
Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a
Cas. In such a time as this, it is not meet
[That every nice' offence should bear his comment.

2i. e. small trifling offence.

Bru.

Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself,
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palin;
To sell and mart your offices for gold,
To undeservers.

Cas. I an itching palm?

You know, that you are Brutus that speak this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
Bru. ThenameofCassiushonoursthis corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
Cas. Chastisement !

5

[member! 10
Bru. Remember March, the ides of March re-
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost 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 honours,
For so much trash, as may be grasped thus?-
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon',
Than such a Roman.

Cas. Brutus, bay not nre,

I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in'; I am a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions'.

Bru. Go to; you are not, Cassius.
Cas. I am.

Bru. I say, you are not.

Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health,tempt me no further. Bru. Away, slight man!

Cas. Is 't possible?

Bru. Hear me, for I will speak.

Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?

Cas. O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this?
Bru. All this? ay, inore: Fret, 'till your proud
heart break;

Go, shew your slaves how cholerick you are,
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humour? By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you: for, from this day forth,
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.

Cas. Is it come to this?

Bru. You say you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well: For mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men. [Brutus:

Cas. You wrong me every way, you wrong me,
I said, an elder soldier, not a better:
Did I say, better?

[blocks in formation]

Cas. What? durst not tempt him?

Bru. For your life you durst not.

Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love, may do that I shall be sorry for.

[for.

Bru. You have done that you should be sorry
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty,

That they pass by me, as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you

15 For certain sums of gold, which you deny'd me;-
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash,
20 By any indirection. I did send

To you for gold to pay my legions, [sius?
Which you deny'd me: Was that done like Cas-
Should I have answered Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
25 To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,
Dash him to pieces!

30

35

40

Cas. I deny'd you not.
Bru. You did.

Cas. I did not:

-he was but a fool,

That brought my answer back.-Brutus hath
riv'd my heart:

A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
Bru. I do not, 'till you practise them on me.
Cas. You love me not.

Bru. I do not like your faults.

Cas. A friendly eye could neversee such faults.
Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do
As huge as high Olympus.
[appear

Cas. Come, Antony, and youngOctavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,

For Cassius is aweary of the world:
Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother:
45 Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observ'd,
Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes!-There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart
50 Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;

I, that deny'd thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike, as thou didst at Cæsar; for, I know, [better
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov'dst him
[55]Than ever thou lov'dst Cassius.

Warburton comments on this passage thus: "The poets and common people, who generally think and speak alike, suppose the dog bays the moon out of envy to its brightness; an allusion to this notion makes the beauty of the passage in question: Brutus hereby insinuates a covert accusation against his friend, that it was only envy at Cæsar's glory which set Cassius on conspiring against him; and ancient history seems to countenance such a charge. Cassius understood him in this sense, and with much conscious pride retorts the charge by a like insinuation:-" Brutus, bay not me." 2 i. e. to limit my authority by your direction or censure. That is, to know on what terms it

is fit to confer the offices which are at my disposal.
3 C 2

Bru.

« AnteriorContinuar »