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Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: John D. Cox
Peer Reviewed
The Tragedie of Julius Cæsar
119
To sound more sweetly in great Cæsars eare,
For the repealing of my banish'd Brother?
Bru. I kisse thy hand, but not in flattery Cæsar:
1260Desiring thee, that Publius Cymber may
Haue an immediate freedome of repeale.
Cæs. What Brutus?
Cassi. Pardon Cæsar: Cæsar pardon:
As lowe as to thy foote doth Cassius fall,
1265To begge infranchisement for Publius Cymber.
Cæs. I could be well mou'd, if I were as you,
If I could pray to mooue, Prayers would mooue me:
But I am constant as the Northerne Starre,
Of whose true fixt, and resting quality,
1270There is no fellow in the Firmament.
The Skies are painted with vnnumbred sparkes,
They are all Fire, and euery one doth shine:
But, there's but one in all doth hold his place.
So, in the World; 'Tis furnish'd well with Men,
1275And Men are Flesh and Blood, and apprehensiue;
Yet in the number, I do know but One
That vnassayleable holds on his Ranke,
Vnshak'd of Motion: and that I am he,
Let me a little shew it, euen in this:
1280That I was constant Cymber should be banish'd,
And constant do remaine to keepe him so.
Cinna. O Cæsar.
Cæs. Hence: Wilt thou lift vp Olympus?
Decius. Great Cæsar.
1285Cæs. Doth not Brutus bootlesse kneele?
Cask. Speake hands for me.
They stab Cæsar.
Cæs. Et Tu Brutè? ---Then fall Cæsar.
Dyes
Cin. Liberty, Freedome; Tyranny is dead,
1290Run hence, proclaime, cry it about the Streets.
Cassi. Some to the common Pulpits, and cry out
Liberty, Freedome, and Enfranchisement.
Bru. People and Senators, be not affrighted:
Fly not, stand still: Ambitions debt is paid.
1295Cask. Go to the Pulpit Brutus.
Dec. And Cassius too.
Bru. Where's Publius?
Cin. Heere, quite confounded with this mutiny.
Met. Stand fast together, least some Friend of Cæsars
1300Should chance---
Bru. Talke not of standing. Publius good cheere,
There is no harme intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else: so tell them Publius.
Cassi. And leaue vs Publius, least that the people
1305Rushing on vs, should do your Age some mischiefe.
Bru. Do so, and let no man abide this deede,
But we the Doers.
Enter Trebonius.
Cassi. Where is Antony?
1310Treb. Fled to his House amaz'd:
Men, Wiues, and Children, stare, cry out, and run,
As it were Doomesday.
Bru. Fates, we will know your pleasures:
That we shall dye we know, 'tis but the time
1315And drawing dayes out, that men stand vpon.
Cask. Why he that cuts off twenty yeares of life,
Cuts off so many yeares of fearing death.
Bru. Grant that, and then is Death a Benefit:
So are we Cæsars Friends, that haue abridg'd
1320His time of fearing death. Stoope Romans, stoope,
And let vs bathe our hands in Cæsars blood
Vp to the Elbowes, and besmeare our Swords:
Then walke we forth, euen to the Market place,
And wauing our red Weapons o're our heads,
1325Let's all cry Peace, Freedome, and Liberty.
Cassi. Stoop then, and wash. How many Ages hence
Shall this our lofty Scene be acted ouer,
In State vnborne, and Accents yet vnknowne?
Bru. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport,
1330That now on Pompeyes Basis lye along,
No worthier then the dust?
Cassi. So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of vs be call'd,
The Men that gaue their Country liberty.
1335Dec. What, shall we forth?
Cassi. I, euery man away.
Brutus shall leade, and we will grace his heeles
With the most boldest, and best hearts of Rome.
Enter a Seruant.
1340Bru. Soft, who comes heere? A friend of Antonies.
Ser. Thus Brutus did my Master bid me kneele;
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall downe,
And being prostrate, thus he bad me say:
Brutus is Noble, Wise, Valiant, and Honest;
1345Cæsar was Mighty, Bold, Royall, and Louing:
Say, I loue Brutus, and I honour him;
Say, I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him, and lou'd him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolu'd
1350How Cæsar hath deseru'd to lye in death,
Mark Antony, shall not loue Cæsar dead
So well as Brutus liuing; but will follow
The Fortunes and Affayres of Noble Brutus,
Thorough the hazards of this vntrod State,
1355With all true Faith. So sayes my Master Antony.
Bru. Thy Master is a Wise and Valiant Romane,
I neuer thought him worse:
Tell him, so please him come vnto this place
He shall be satisfied: and by my Honor
1360Depart vntouch'd.
Ser. Ile fetch him presently.
Exit Seruant.
Bru. I know that we shall haue him well to Friend.
Cassi. I wish we may: But yet haue I a minde
That feares him much: and my misgiuing still
1365Falles shrewdly to the purpose.
Enter Antony.
Bru. But heere comes Antony:
Welcome Mark Antony.
Ant. O mighty Cæsar! Dost thou lye so lowe?
1370Are all thy Conquests, Glories, Triumphes, Spoiles,
Shrunke to this little Measure? Fare thee well.
I know not Gentlemen what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is ranke:
If I my selfe, there is no houre so fit
1375As Cæsars deaths houre; nor no Instrument
Of halfe that worth, as those your Swords; made rich
With the most Noble blood of all this World.
I do beseech yee, if you beare me hard,
Now, whil'st your purpled hands do reeke and smoake,
1380Fulfill your pleasure. Liue a thousand yeeres,
I shall not finde my selfe so apt to dye.
No place will please me so, no meane of death,
As heere by Cæsar, and by you cut off,
The Choice and Master Spirits of this Age.
1385Bru. O Antony! Begge not your death of vs:
Though now we must appeare bloody and cruell,
As by our hands, and this our present Acte
You see we do: Yet see you but our hands,
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