Act 3 — Scene I. Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.[3170]

Cæs. The ides of March are come. Sooth. Ay, Cæsar; but not gone. Art. Hail, Cæsar! read this schedule.[3172] Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, At your best leisure, this his humble suit. 5 Art. O Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: read it, great Cæsar.[3173] Cæs. What touches us ourself shall be last served. Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly.[3174] Cæs. What, is the fellow mad? Pub. Sirrah, give place. 10 Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol.

Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive.[3176] Cas. What enterprise, Popilius? Pop. Fare you well.

Bru. What said Popilius Lena?[3178] 15 Cas. He wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive.[3178] I fear our purpose is discovered.[3178] Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: mark him.[3178][3179] Cas. Casca,[3178][3180] Be sudden, for we fear prevention.[3178][3180] Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,[3178][3181] 20 Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back,[3178][3182] For I will slay myself.[3178][3183] Bru. Cassius, be constant:[3178] Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;[3178][3184] For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change.[3178] Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus,[3178] 25 He draws Mark Antony out of the way.[3178][3185]

Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,[3178] And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar.[3178] Bru. He is address'd: press near and second him.[3178] Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.[3178][3186]30 Cæs. Are we all ready? What is now amiss[3187] That Cæsar and his senate must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty and most puissant Cæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat An humble heart:— [Kneeling. Cæs. I must prevent thee, Cimber.[3188] 35 These couchings and these lowly courtesies[3189] Might fire the blood of ordinary men,[3190] And turn pre-ordinance and first decree[3191] Into the law of children. Be not fond,[3192] To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood 40 That will be thaw'd from the true quality With that which melteth fools, I mean, sweet words, Low-crooked court'sies and base spaniel-fawning.[3193] Thy brother by decree is banished: If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, 45 I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Know, Cæsar doth not wrong, nor without cause[3194] Will he be satisfied. Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear 50 For the repealing of my banish'd brother? Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar, Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Cæs. What, Brutus! Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon: 55 As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,[3195] To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. Cæs. I could be well moved, if I were as you; If I could pray to move, prayers would move me: But I am constant as the northern star, 60 Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality[3196][3197] There is no fellow in the firmament.[3196] The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks;[3196] They are all fire and every one doth shine;[3196] But there's but one in all doth hold his place:[3196] 65 So in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men,[3196] And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;[3196] Yet in the number I do know but one[3196] That unassailable holds on his rank,[3196][3198] Unshaked of motion: and that I am he,[3196][3199] 70 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. Cin. O Cæsar,—[3200] Cæs. Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus? Dec. Great Cæsar,—[3201] Cæs. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?[3201][3202]75 Casca. Speak, hands, for me![3203]

Cæs. Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Cæsar![3204] [Dies. Cin. Liberty! freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out 80 'Liberty, freedom and enfranchisement!' Bru. People, and senators, be not affrighted; Fly not; stand still: ambition's debt is paid. Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus. Dec. And Cassius too. 85 Bru. Where's Publius? Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cæsar's[3205] Should chance— Bru. Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer; 90 There is no harm intended to your person, Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius. Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people Rushing on us should do your age some mischief. Bru. Do so: and let no man abide this deed 95 But we the doers.[3206]

Cas. Where is Antony?[3208] Tre. Fled to his house amazed: Men, wives and children stare, cry out and run As it were doomsday. Bru. Fates, we will know your pleasures:[3209] That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, 100 And drawing days out, that men stand upon. Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life[3210] Cuts off so many years of fearing death. Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: So are we Cæsar's friends, that have abridged 105 His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,[3211] And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar's blood[3211] Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:[3211] Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,[3211] And waving our red weapons o'er our heads,[3211] 110 Let's all cry 'Peace, freedom and liberty!'[3211] Cas. Stoop then, and wash. How many ages hence[3212] Shall this our lofty scene be acted over[3213] In states unborn and accents yet unknown![3214] Bru. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport,[3215] 115 That now on Pompey's basis lies along[3216] No worthier than the dust![3217] Cas. So oft as that shall be, So often shall the knot of us be call'd The men that gave their country liberty.[3218] Dec. What, shall we forth? Cas. Ay, every man away:[3219] 120 Brutus shall lead, and we will grace his heels With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.[3220]

Bru. Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's.[3222] Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;[3223] Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down; 125 And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:[3224] Brutus is noble, wise, valiant and honest; Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal and loving:[3225] Say I love Brutus and I honour him; Say I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him and loved him. 130 If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony May safely come to him and be resolved How Cæsar hath deserved to lie in death, Mark Antony shall not love Cæsar dead So well as Brutus living, but will follow 135 The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus Thorough the hazards of this untrod state With all true faith. So says my master Antony.[3226] Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman; I never thought him worse.[3227] 140 Tell him, so please him come unto this place, He shall be satisfied and, by my honour, Depart untouch'd. Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit.[3228] Bru. I know that we shall have him well to friend. Cas. I wish we may: but yet have I a mind[3229] 145 That fears him much, and my misgiving still Falls shrewdly to the purpose.[3230]

Bru. But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.[3231] Ant. O mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low?[3232] Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, 150 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 Cæsar's death's hour, nor no instrument[3233] 155 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,[3234] Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years, 160 I shall not find myself so apt to die: No place will please me so, no mean of death,[3235] As here by Cæsar, and by you cut off, The choice and master spirits of this age. Bru. O Antony, beg not your death of us. 165 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: Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; 170 And pity to the general wrong of Rome— As fire drives out fire, so pity pity— Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part,[3236] To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:[3236] Our arms in strength of malice, and our hearts[3237] 175 Of brothers' temper, do receive you in[3238] With all kind love, good thoughts and reverence. Cas. Your voice shall be as strong as any man's In the disposing of new dignities. Bru. Only be patient till we have appeased 180 The multitude, beside themselves with fear, And then we will deliver you the cause Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him,[3239] Have thus proceeded. Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom.[3240] Let each man render me his bloody hand:[3241] 185 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; Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius. 190 Gentlemen all,—alas, what shall I say?[3242] My credit now stands on such slippery ground, That one of two bad ways you must conceit me, Either a coward or a flatterer. That I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true:[3243] 195 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,[3244] Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?[3244] 200 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. Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart;[3245] 205 Here didst thou fall, and here thy hunters stand, Sign'd in thy spoil and crimson'd in thy lethe.[3246] O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;[3247] And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.[3247][3248] How like a deer strucken by many princes[3247][3249] 210 Dost thou here lie![3247] Cas. Mark Antony,— Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius:[3250] The enemies of Cæsar shall say this; Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty. Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so; 215 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 Cæsar. 220 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. Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle:[3251] Our reasons are so full of good regard 225 That were you, Antony, the son of Cæsar,[3252] You should be satisfied. Ant. That's all I seek: And am moreover suitor that I may Produce his body to the market-place, And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend, 230 Speak in the order of his funeral. Bru. You shall, Mark Antony. Cas. Brutus, a word with you.[3253] [Aside to Bru.] You know not what you do: do not consent[3254] That Antony speak in his funeral: Know you how much the people may be moved 235 By that which he will utter?[3255] Bru. 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 He speaks by leave and by permission, 240 And that we are contented Cæsar shall Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.[3256] It shall advantage more than do us wrong. Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not.[3257] Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar's body.[3258] 245 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[3259] About his funeral: and you shall speak 250 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 us.

Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,[3261] 255 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![3262] Over thy wounds now do I prophesy, 260 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;[3263] Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all the parts of Italy; 265 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;[3264] All pity choked with custom of fell deeds: 270 And Cæsar's spirit ranging for revenge, With Ate by his side come hot from hell, Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;[3265] That this foul deed shall smell above the earth 275 With carrion men, groaning for burial.[3266]

You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not? Serv. I do, Mark Antony. Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome.[3267] Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming; 280 And bid me say to you by word of mouth— O Cæsar! [Seeing the body.[3268] Ant. Thy heart is big; get thee apart and weep. Passion, I see, is catching, for mine eyes,[3269] Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,[3270] 285 Began to water. Is thy master coming?[3271] Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced:[3272] Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;[3273] 290 Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay awhile; Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse[3274] Into the market-place: there shall I try, In my oration, how the people take The cruel issue of these bloody men; 295 According to the which, thou shalt discourse To young Octavius of the state of things. Lend me your hand. [Exeunt with Cæsar's body.[3275]