As low as to thy foot doth Caffius fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimbe
Caf. I could be well mov'd, if I were as
If I could pray to move, prayers would mo
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd, and resting quality,
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber'd spa
They are all fire, and every one doth shine
But there's but one in all doth hold his plac
So, in the world; 'Tis furnish'd well with
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehe
Yet, in the number, I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshak'd of motion: and, that I am he,
Let me a little show it, even in this;
That I was constant Cimber should be bani
And conftant do remain to keep him fo.
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
Cafca. Speak, hands, for me.
[CASCA ftabs CÆSAR in the neck. CÆSAR catches bold of his arm. He is then ftabb'd by several other confpirators, and at last by MARCUS BRUTUS.
Caf. Et tu, Brute?-Then fall, Cæfar.
[Dies. The senators and people retire in confusion.
Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead !-
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
Caf. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out,
Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement !
Bru. People and fenators! be not affrighted;
Fly not; stand still:-ambition's debt is paid.
Cafca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
Met. Stand fast together, left fome friend of Cæfar's Should chance
Bru. Talk not of fstanding; -Publius, good cheer;
There is no harın intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else so tell them, Publius.
Caf. And leave us, Publius; left that the people,
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
Bru. Do fo;-and let no man abide this deed,
But we the doers.
Caf. Where's Antony?
Tre.
Fled to his house amaz'd:
Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run,
As it were doomsday.
Bru.
Fates! we will know your pleafures :-
That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time,
And drawing days out, that men stand upon.
Caf. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life,
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
So are we Cæfar's friends, that have abridg'd
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Cæfar's blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place;
And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
Let's all cry, Peace! Freedom! and Liberty!
Caf. Stoop then, and wash.-How many ages hence, Shall this our lofty scene be acted over,
In states unborn, and accents yet unknown ?
Bru. How many times shall Cæfar bleed in sport, That now on Pompey's bafis lies along,
No worthier than the duft?
So often fhall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave our country liberty.
Dec. What, shall we forth?
Brutus fhall lead; and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's.
Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say.
Brutus is noble, wife, valiant, and honeft;
Cæfar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Say, I fear'd Cæfar, honour'd him, and lov'd him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolv'd
How Cæfar hath deserv'd to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Cæfar dead
So well as Brutus living; but will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus,
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state,
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
Bru. Thy master is a wife and valiant Roman;
I never thought hin worse.
Teil him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be fatisfied; and, by my honour,
I'll fetch him presently.
Bru. I know that we shall have him well to friend.
Caf. I wish, we may: but yet I have a mind,
That fears him much: and my misgiving still
Falls threwdly to the purpose.
Bru. But here comes Antony. - Welcome, Mark An
Ant. O mighty Cæfar! Dost thou lie so low?
Are 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, who else is rank;
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Cæfar's death's hour; nor no instrument
Of half that worth, as those your swords, made rich
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 d
Our hearts you fee not, they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
(As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity,)
Hath done this deed on Cæfar. For your
To you our swords have leaden points, Ma
Our arms in strength of malice, and our he
Of brother's temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and re
Caf. Your voice shall be as strong as any
In the disposing of new dignities.
Bru. Only be patient, till we have appea:
The multitude, beside themselves with fear
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Cæfar when I struck
Have thus proceeded.
Let each man render me his bloody hand :
First, Marcus Brutus, will I thake with yo
Next, Caius Caffius, do I take your hand,
Now, Decius Brutus, yours;-now yours,
Yours, Cinna; and my valiant Cafca, you
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