Art. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule. Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, At your best leisure, this his humble suit. Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first: for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar. Cas. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd. Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. Cas. What, is the fellow mad? Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. The senators rise. Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive. Cas. What enterprize, Popilius? Pop. Fare you well. Bru. What said Popilius Lena? [Advances to CESAR. Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discovered. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. Bru. Cassius, be constant : Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. CESAR and the Senators take their seats. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is address'd : press near, and second him. That Cæsar, and his señațe, must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat. An humble heart : Cæs. I must prevent thee, Cimber. These couchings, and these lowly courtesies, [Kneeling. WARBURTON. Into the law of children. Be not fond, To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, Thy brother by decree is banished; If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause Met Is there no voice more worthy than my own, Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; Cæs. What, Brutus ! Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon : As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. Cas. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you; The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd, Caes. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? Cæs. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? [4] Susceptible of fear, or other passions. One, and only one. JOHNSON. JOHNSON. [6] Perhaps, holds on his race; continues his course. We commonly say, To hold a rank, and To hold on a course or way. JOHNSON. [CASCA stabs CESAR in the neck. CESAR catches hold of his arm. He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and at last by MARCUS BRUTUS. Cæs. Et tu, Brute ?-Then fall, Cæsar. [Dies. The Senators and People retire in confusion. Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, 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. Bru. Where's Publius? Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Met, Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cæsar's Should chance Bru. Talk not of standing ;-Publius, good cheer, There is no harm intended to your person, Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius. Casca. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people, Re-enter TREBONIUS. Cas. Where's Antony? Treb. Fled to his house amaz'd : Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures :- Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life, Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit : Cas. 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 Cæsar bleed in sport, That now on Pompey's basis lies along, No worthier than the dust? Cas. So oft as that shall be, So often shall the knot of us be call'd Cas. Ay, every man away : Brutus shall lead ; and we will grace his heels With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome. Enter a Servant. Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say: Say, I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him, and lov'd him. I never thought him worse. Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Depart untouch'd. Serv. I'll fetch him presently. ; [Exit. Bru. I know, that we shall have him well to friend. Cas. I wish, we may; but yet have I a mind, That fears him much; and my misgiving still Falls shrewdly to the purpose, Re-enter ANTONY. Bru. But here comes Antony.-Welcome, Mark Antony. Ant. O mighty Cæsar! 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 : As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard, Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, No place will please me so, no mean of death, Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom. Let 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 ;— My credit now stands on such slippery ground, [8] Who else may be supposed to have overtopped his equals, and grown too high for the public safety. JOHNSON. |