University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

SCENE the Forum.
Enter Brutus and Cassius, followed by Crowds of Citizens.
FIRST CITIZEN.
Behold the Men who have deliver'd Rome.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Brutus has freed us all, and he shall rule us.

THIRD CITIZEN.
We will be free, and serve the Noble Brutus.

BRUTUS.
Why Friends, ye speak Impossibilities;
Would ye be free, yet serve? how odd that sounds!
I grieve to see you bear your change no better.
But give me leave to satisfie you all,
Why we have done this Deed, and for whose sakes.
I'll go up here; they who will hear me, stay;
The rest may follow Cassius, and hear him.

FIRST CITIZEN.
I would hear Brutus speak.

SECOND CITIZEN.
I'll follow Cassius.
And we'll compare together what they say.

THIRD CITIZEN.
The Noble Brutus is ascended: Silence.

BRUTUS.
Friends, dearest Countrymen, and worthy Romans;
You lovers of your Laws and Liberties;
Hear me throughout with Patience, not with Passion:
For, tho' your kindness is my chief Contentment,
I would not owe your judgment of this Deed
To any thing but Reason well inform'd.
Who is it here thinks Cæsar innocent?
I was his Friend, and yet I thought him guilty;
And Faults are great, which Friends cannot forgive.
Why should I kill him then but for your sakes?
A Wretch who yields a Limb to be cut off,
Does only that to save a Life that's dearer:
And when a grieving Parent whips his Child,
Call it Correction, but not Cruelty.
If then the very best of Cæsar's Friends
Shou'd ask me why I kill'd him? Thus I answer:
It was not that I lov'd him less than he,
But 'twas because I lov'd my Country more.
Wou'd you have Cæsar live, and dye all Slaves;
Rather than have him dead, to live all Freemen?
As Cæsar lov'd me, oh I weep for him;
As he was fortunate, I can rejoice;
As he was valiant, I honour him;
But, as he was Ambitious, I slew him.
Who's here so base, as would become a Bondman?
If any, speak; for him I have offended.
Who's here so rude, that would not be a Roman?
If any, speak; for him I have offended.
Who's here so vile, to value any thing,
Ev'n his best Friend, before the Publick Good?
I own, nay boast, I have offended him.
What say you Countrymen?

CITIZEN.
None, Brutus, none.

BRUTUS.
Then none have I offended by his Death.
The Reason for it shall be fair enroll'd;
His Glory not diminish'd in the least.
Here comes his Body, mourn'd by good Antonius.
Enter Antony with the Body of Cæsar.
Who, tho' a Friend of Cæsar, is ours too;
And so has leave to bury him with Honour.
In a Free Government all should be Friends:
And he, who would have sav'd this Cæsar's Life,
Shall yet receive advantage by his Death,
Freedom of Vote in governing the World:
As which of you shall want it? I conclude;
That, as I slew my Friend to save my Country,
I here have the same Dagger for my self,
Whenever Rome shall wish, or need my Death.

(Descends.
FIRST CITIZEN.
Live, Brutus, live: bring him in Triumph home.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Give him a Statue by his Ancestors.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Let him be Cæsar.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Cæsar was nothing to him;
Let him be crown'd, I will have Brutus crown'd.

BRUTUS.
Hold worthy Countrymen.

FIRST CITIZEN.
Peace; Silence.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Peace; for Brutus speaks again.

BRUTUS.
You'll make me draw this Dagger once again;
But 'tis against my self; for I would dye
Your fellow Friend, rather than live your Lord.
You almost make me wish Cæsar alive:
If one must rule, there's none could do it better.
Pray hear Marc-Antony, for my sake hear him;
He speaks by our Permission, and is noble.
But, while he praises Cæsar, then remember
I honour'd him as much but lov'd you more.
Nay, stay good Romans; not a Man go with me.

(Exit.
FIRST CITIZEN.
This Cæsar was a Tyrant; Brutus says so;
And no Man living knows a Tyrant better.

SECOND CITIZEN.
For, Neighbours, why should Brutus kill him else?
He lov'd him. Therefore sure he was a Tyrant.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Notably said! answer me that who can.
But come, let's hear Marc Antony a little.

ANTONY.
For Brutus' sake I am beholden to you.

FIRST CITIZEN.
What's that of Brutus? best speak well of Brutus.

SECOND CITIZEN.
How's this? What does he say, for Brutus sake?

THIRD CITIZEN.
He says, for Brutus sake he is beholden to us.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Oh, very well; go up Marc Antony.

ANTONY.
Shall I go up, and will you give me leave?

Citizen.
Ay, ay.

(Antony ascends.
ANTONY.
Friends, Countrymen, and Romans, hear me gently;
I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him.
Lo here the fatal end of all his Glory:
The Evil that Men do lives after them;
The Good is often bury'd in their Graves;
So let it be with Cæsar. Noble Brutus
Has told you Cæsar was ambitious:
If he was so, then he was much to blame;
And he has dearly paid for his Offence.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest,
I come to do my duty to dead Cæsar.
He was my Friend, faithful and just to me;
But yet it seems he was Ambitious.
Brutus has said it, I must say it too;
For Brutus is a Man of strictest Honour.
Thousands of Captives Cæsar brought to Rome,
Whose Ransom often fill'd the Publick Coffers.
Was this Ambition? Brutus says it was:
And Brutus is an honourable Man.
When wretched Orphans cry'd, Cæsar would weep;
So weep for them, that they have wept no more:
Ambition seldom is so tender-hearted.
You all have seen how at the Publick Sports,
Out of a foolish and too forward Love,
He was presented with a Kingly Crown,
Which he then thrice refus'd; was this Ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was Ambitious,
And Brutus is a Man we all must honour.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But must as little wrong this dead, good Man.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
And will you hate him dead, whom you lov'd living?
O Justice, Justice! whither art thou fled?
For Men have lost their Reason. Bear with me;
My Heart's beneath that Mantle there with Cæsar;
And I must pause a while till it comes back.

(Weeps.
FIRST CITIZEN.
Methinks there's much of Reason in his Sayings,
If you consider rightly of the matter.
Cæsar has had some wrong.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Has he, my Masters?
They will have much ado to make amends to him.
I fear there will a worse come in his place.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Mark'd you his words? he would not take the Crown.
Therefore 'tis certain he was not Ambitious.

FIRST CITIZEN.
If it be found so, some shall pay dear for it.

SECOND CITIZEN.
See, if good Antony can speak for weeping!

THIRD CITIZEN.
There's not a nobler Man in Rome than Antony.

SECOND CITIZEN.
But mark him, he begins again to speak.

ANTONY.
But yesterday the word of Cæsar might
Have pass'd thro' all the World: Now he lyes there,
And none so low to do him reverence.
Oh Romans, if I were dispos'd to move
Your Hearts and Minds to Mutiny and Rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable Men.
Yet 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 run and kiss dead Cæsar's Wounds,
And dip their Napkins in his sacred Blood;
Nay beg a hair of his for Memory,
And dying, mention it within their Wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich Legacy
To their dear Issue.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
We'll hear this Will: read it Marc Antony.

ALL.
The Will, the Will, we must hear Cæsar's Will.

ANTONY
Have patience, gentle Friends; I must not read it;
It is not fit 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 enflame you, it will make you mad:
'Tis well, you know not that you are his Heirs,
For if you did, oh what might come of it?

THIRD CITIZEN.
Read the Will, Antony, for we will hear it.

ANTONY.
Will you be patient? will you stay a while?
I have o'ershot my self to tell you of it;
I fear I wrong the honourable Men,
Whose Daggers stab'd the undefended Cæsar

FIRST CITIZEN.
Traytors and Rogues! they honourable Men?

FIRST CITIZEN.
Villains and Murderers! Come, read the Will.

ANTONY.
You will compell me then to read the Will.
Then make a Ring about the Corps of Cæsar,
And let me shew you him that made the Will.
Shall I descend? and will you give me leave?

ALL.
Come down.

FIRST CITIZEN.
Descend, you shall have leave.

SECOND CITIZEN.
A Ring!

THIRD CITIZEN.
Stand off a while; stand from the Body there.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Make room for Antony, most noble Antony.

ANTONY.
Nay, press not so upon me, gentle Friends.
If you have Tears, prepare to shed 'em now.
You all have seen this Mantle; I remember
The first time ever Cæsar put it on;
'Twas on a Summer's Evening in his Tent,
After a glorious Fight against your Foes.
Look, in this place ran Cassius' Dagger through!
See what a Rent the envious Casca made!
Here, here, the well-beloved Brutus stab'd;
And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the Blood of Cæsar follow'd it!
As rushing out abroad, to be resolv'd
If it were Brutus so unkindly struck?
For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's Fav'rite;
Judge, O you Gods, how dearly Cæsar lov'd him;
This, this was the unkindest Stroke of all!
For when undaunted Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than Traytor's Arms,
Quite vanquish'd him. Then burst his mighty Heart;
Then in his Mantle muffling up his Face,
Under a Crowd of Villains, Cæsar fell.
Oh what a Fall was there, my Countrymen!
Then I, and you, and Rome itself too fell,
While bloody Treason flourish'd o'er our Heads.
Oh now you weep, and I perceive you feel
The dint of Pity; these are worthy drops.
Kind Souls, what weep you when you but behold
Our Cæsar's Vesture torn? O then look here:
Here is himself, mangled you see by Traytors!

(Takes off the Mantle.
FIRST CITIZEN.
O mournful Sight!

SECOND CITIZEN.
O cruel Traytors, Villains!

THIRD CITIZEN.
O Noble Cæsar! but we'll be reveng'd.
Set Fire, kill, slay, let not a Traytor live.

ANTONY.
Stay Countrymen.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Peace there, he speaks again.

ALL.
We'll hear him, follow him, and dye with him.

ANTONY.
Good Friends, dear Friends, let me not stir you up
To such a sudden Flame of Mutiny.
They who have done this Deed are Men of Note:
What private Griefs they had, alas I know not,
Which made them do it; they are wondrous wise,
And will, no doubt, give you some shew of Reason.
I come not, Friends, to steal away your Hearts:
I am no Orator, as Cassius is;
But as you know me all, a plain, blunt Man
Who love my Friend; and that they know full well
Who gave me leave to speak in publick of him:
For I have neither Art, nor Words, nor Worth,
Action, nor Utt'rance, nor the pow'r of Speech,
To stir Men's Blood; I only speak plain truth,
And tell you that which you already know:
Shew you dear Cæsar's Wounds, poor, poor dumb Mouths,
And bid them speak for me: But, were I Brutus,
And Brutus here; so great an Orator
Would rouze up ev'ry Soul, and put a Tongue
In ev'ry Wound of Cæsar, which should move
The very Stones to rise and mutiny.

ALL.
We'll mutiny; we'll burn the House of Brutus.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Away then, come, seek the Conspirators.

ANTONY.
Yet hear me, Countrymen, yet hear me speak.

ALL.
Peace ho! hear Antony, most noble Antony!

ANTONY.
Why Friends, you go to do you know not what.
Wherein has Cæsar thus deserv'd your Love?
Alas, you know not; I must tell you then.
You have forgot the Will I told you of.

ALL.
'Tis true, the Will; let's stay and hear the Will.

ANTONY.
Here is the Will, and under Cæsar's Seal;
To ev'ry Roman Citizen he gives,
To ev'ry sev'ral Man, sev'nty five Drachma's.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Well said; those Drachma's will cost some Men dear.

ALL.
Most gen'rous Cæsar! we'll revenge his Death.

ANTONY.
Hear me with Patience.

ALL.
Peace ho! noble Cæsar!

ANTONY.
Moreover, he has left you all his Walks,
His private Gardens, and new-planted Orchards
On this side Tyber, here he gives to you,
And to your Heirs for ever; publick Pleasures,
To walk abroad, and recreate your selves.
Here was a Cæsar! when comes such another?

ALL.
O never, never; come Sirs, come away.

ANTONY.
Hold, hold, my Masters, stay one Moment longer;
Now keep your Hearts from breaking, if you can:
Prepare ye now to burst with Grief and Anger.
Behold this Scroll, the very hand of Cæsar!
In it he notes this firm and settled Purpose,
First to subdue the Parthians, our worst Foes,
And then restore Rome to her ancient Freedom.
“I'll keep the Pow'r, saith he, of Rome's Dictator,
“Till I have vanquish'd all her Enemies:
“Then, Oh ye Gods! may she be free for ever,
“Tho' at th' expence of all our dearest Blood!
That precious Blood is here indeed let out,
But where's the Liberty we purchase by it?
Slaves as we are to Murderers and Villains.

FIRST CITIZEN.
We'll burn his Body in the holy Place,
And with the Brands fire all the Villains Houses.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Take up the Body.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Go, set fire; pull down
The very Senate-House where Cæsar dy'd.

ANTONY.
So, let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take now what course thou wilt! Destruction, Ruin,
The baneful Issue of so black a Deed!
Ambition, when unbounded, brings a Curse,
But an Assassinate deserves a worse.