I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, Por. Come hither, fellow : Which way hast thou been? Sooth. At mine own house, good lady. Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady. Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol ? To see him pass on to the Capitol. Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself. Por.Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him? Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance. Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow : Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing The heart of woman is ! O Brutus ! The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise ! [Exit. And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I.-The same. The Capitol; the Senate sitting. A Crowd of people in the street leading to the Capitol ; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, ME- Cæsar. THE ides of March are come. Art. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule. 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. Caes. What, is the fellow mad? Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. The senators rise. 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; you, Brutus, CESAR and the Senators take their seats. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? let him go, Bru. He is address'd :' press near, and second him. 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 : Cas. I must prevent thee, Cimber. These couchings, and these lowly courtesies, Might fire the blood of ordinary men; And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree,3 [2] That is, He is ready. STEEVENS. [3] Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already established. [Kneeling. WARBURTON. Into the law of children. Be not fond, To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, That will be thaw'd from the true quality 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, Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon : To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. Caes. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you; The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, 6 That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd, Cas. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? Cæs. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? [4] Susceptible of fear, or other passions. JOHNSON. [5] One, and only one. 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, Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief. Bru. Do so; and let no man abide this deed, But we the doers. 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? 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 Enter a Servant. Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say : 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, |