But there's but one in all doth hold his place : Cin. O Cæsar,- Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Casca. Speak, hands, for me. [Cascu stabs Cæsar in the neck. Cæsar catches hold of his arm. He is then stabb'd by seve- Brutus. [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 enfrunchisement ! Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted; Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus. And Cassius too. 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. 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, But we the doers. Re-enter TREBONIUS, Cas. Where's Antony? Fled to his house amaz'd: Bru. Fates ! we will know your pleasures :That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, And drawing days out, that men stand upon. Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life, 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 abridg'd His time of fearing death.—2 Stoop, Romans, stoop, And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar's blood Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords : Then walk we forth, even to the market-place; And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads, Let's all cry, Peace! Freedom! and Liberty ! Cas. Stoop then, and washi-How many ages hence, VOL. X). Shall this our lofty scene be acted over, Bru. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport, So oft as that shall be, Dec. What, shall we forth? Ay, every man away: Enter a Serrant. Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel; Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down; And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say. Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest; Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving: Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him ; Say, I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him, and lov'd him. If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony May safely come to him, and be resolv'd How Cæsar hath deserv’d to lie in death, Mark Antony shall not love Cæsar dead So well as Brutus living; but will follow The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus, Thorough the hazards of this untrod state, With all true faith. So says my master Antony. Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant. Roman; Sero. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit Sero. 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. Live a thousand years, Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. 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; 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, To you our swords have leaden points, Mark An tony: 2? Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts, Of brothers' temper, do receive you in 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 appeas'd I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand: First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;Next, Caius C ius, 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. Gentlemen all,-alas! what shall I say? My credit now stands on such slippery ground, |