Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius. Gentlemen all, -alas! what shall I fay?
My credit now stands on fuch flippery ground, That one of two bad ways you must conceit me, Either a coward, or a flatterer.-
That I did love thee, Cæfar, O, 'tis true: If then thy spirit look upon us now, Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death, To see thy Antony making his peace, Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes, Most noble in the prefence of thy corse? Had I as many eyes as thou haft wounds, Weeping as faft as they stream forth thy blood, It would become me better, than to close In terms of friendship with thine enemies. Pardon me, Julius!-Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart; Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe. O world! thou wast the forest to this hart;
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.- How like a deer, stricken by many princes,
Doft thou here lie?
Caf. Mark Antony,
Pardon me, Caius Caffius:
The enemies of Cæfar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modefty.
Caf. I blame you not for praising Cæfar fo; But what compact mean you to have with us ?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends; Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed,
Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæfar. Friends am I with you all, and love you all;
Speak in the order of his funeral.
Bru. You shall, Mark Antony.
You know not what you do; Do not confe That Antony speak in his funeral:
Know you how much the people may be m By that which he will utter ?
I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Cæfar's death= What Antony shall speak, I will protest He speaks by leave and by permiffion; And that we are contented, Cæfar shall Have all true rites, and lawful ceremonies. It shall advantage more, than do us wrong. Caf. I know not what may fall; I like it Bru. Mark Antony, here take you Cæfa You shall not in your funeral speech blame But fpeak all good you can devise of Cæfar And fay you do't by our permiffion; Else shall you not have any hand at all About his funeral: And you shall speak In the fame pulpit whereto I am going, After my speech is ended.
Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.
Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers ! Thou art the ruins of the noblest man, That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! Over thy wounds now do I prophecy, - Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue ;- A curse shall light upon the limbs of men; Domestick fury, and fierce civil strife,. Shall cumber all the parts of Italy : Blood and destruction shall be so in use, And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile, when they behold Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war; All pity chok'd with custom of fell deeds: And Cæfar's spirit, ranging for revenge, With Até by his fide, come hot from hell, Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice, Cry Havock, and let flip the dogs of war; That this foul deed shall smell above the earth With carrion men, groaning for burial.
You serve Octavius Cæfar, do you not? Serv. I do, Mark Antony.
Ant. Cæfar did write for him, to come to Rome. Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming :
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet ;
Hie hence, and tell him fo. Yet, stay a while Thou shalt not back, till I have borne this co Into the market-place: there shall I try, In my oration, how the people take The cruel issue of these bloody men;
According to the which, thou shalt discourse To young Octavius of the state of things.
Enter BRUTUS, and CASSIUS, and a throng o
Cit. We will be fatisfied; let us be satisfied Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience Caffius, go you into the other street,
And part the numbers.
Those that will hear me speak, let them stay h Those that will follow Cassius, go with him; And publick reasons shall be rendered
censure me in your wisdom; and awake you at you may the better judge. If there be any ir bly, any dear friend of Cæfar's, to him I say, us' love to Cæfar was no less than his. If then 1 demand, why Brutus rose against Cæfar, this wer,-Not that I loved Cæfar less, but that I me more. Had you rather Cæfar were living, 1 slaves; than that Cæfar were dead, to live all As Cæfar loved me, I weep for him; as he was I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour - as he was ambitious, I flew him: There is his love; joy, for his fortune; honour, for his nd death, for his ambition. Who is here so would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him Fended. Who is here so rude, that would not man? If any, speak; for him have I offended. here so vile, that will not love his country? If <; for him have I offended. I pause for a
ne, Brutus, none. [feveral speaking at once. hen none have I offended. I have done no Cæfar, than you should do to Brutus. The f his death is enroll'd in the Capitol: his glory
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