ACT III. JULIUS CESAR. 39 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, 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 ll, 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, Cæs. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? Cas. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? [4] Susceptible of fear, or other passions. [5] 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 CæSAR 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. Bru. Talk not of standing ;-Publius, good cheer, 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 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. ; 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 Anfony. 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 Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him, 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. That I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true: Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death, Pardon me, Julius !-Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart Cas. Mark Antony, Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius : The enemies of Cæsar shall say this; Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty. Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so; But what compact mean you to have with us? Will you be prick'd in number of our friends; Or shall we on, and not depend on you? Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was, indeed, Our reasons are so full of good regard, Ant. That's all I seek : And am moreover suitor, that I may Bru. You shall, Mark Antony. You know not what you do ; Do not consent, [9] Lethe is used by many of the old translators of novels, for death. [Aside STEEY |