William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (293 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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3.1
Enter
⌈
at one door
⌉
Artemidorus, the Soothsayer,
and citizens. Flourish. Enter
⌈
at another door
⌉
Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna,
⌈
Ligarius,
⌉
Antony, Lepidus, Publius, Popillius,
⌈
and other senators
⌉
Enter
⌈
at one door
⌉
Artemidorus, the Soothsayer,
and citizens. Flourish. Enter
⌈
at another door
⌉
Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna,
⌈
Ligarius,
⌉
Antony, Lepidus, Publius, Popillius,
⌈
and other senators
⌉
CAESAR (
to the Soothsayer
) The ides of March are come.
to the Soothsayer
) The ides of March are come.
SOOTHSAYER Ay, Caesar, but not gone.
ARTEMIDORUS Hail, Caesar! Read this schedule.
DECIUS (
to Caesar
)
to Caesar
)
Trebonius doth desire you to o’er-read
At your best leisure this his humble suit.
At your best leisure this his humble suit.
ARTEMIDORUS
O Caesar, read mine first, for mine’s a suit
That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.
That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.
CAESAR
What touches us ourself shall be last served.
ARTEMIDORUS
Delay not, Caesar, read it instantly.
CAESAR
What, is the fellow mad?
PUBLIUS (
to Artemidorus
)
to Artemidorus
)
Sirrah, give place.
CASSIUS (
to Artemidorus
)
to Artemidorus
)
What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.
Come to the Capitol.
⌈
They walk about the stage
⌉
POPILLIUS (
aside to Cassius
)
aside to Cassius
)
I wish your enterprise today may thrive.
CASSIUS
What enterprise, Popillius?
POPILLIUS Fare you well.
He leaves Cassius, and makes to Caesar
BRUTUS What said Popillius Laena?
CASSIUS
He wished today our enterprise might thrive.
I fear our purpose is discovered.
I fear our purpose is discovered.
BRUTUS
Look how he makes to Caesar. Mark him.
CASSIUS
Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.—
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.
BRUTUS Cassius, be constant.
Popillius Laena speaks not of our purposes,
For look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
For look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
CASSIUS
Trebonius knows his time, for look you, Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
Exeunt Trebonius and Antony
DECIUS
Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
⌈
Caesar sits
⌉
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
⌈
Caesar sits
⌉
BRUTUS
He is addressed. Press near, and second him.
CINNA
Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
⌈
The conspirators and the other senators take their places
⌉
CAESAR
Are we all ready? What is now amiss
That Caesar and his Senate must redress?
That Caesar and his Senate must redress?
METELLUS (
coming forward and kneeling
)
coming forward and kneeling
)
Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart.
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart.
CAESAR I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turn preordinance and first decree
Into the law of children. Be not fond
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
That will be thawed from the true quality
With that which melteth fools: I mean sweet words,
Low-crooked curtsies, and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished.
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know Caesar doth not wrong but with just cause,
Nor without cause will he be satisfied.
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turn preordinance and first decree
Into the law of children. Be not fond
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
That will be thawed from the true quality
With that which melteth fools: I mean sweet words,
Low-crooked curtsies, and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished.
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know Caesar doth not wrong but with just cause,
Nor without cause will he be satisfied.
METELLUS
Is there no voice more worthy than my own
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar’s ear
For the repealing of my banished brother?
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar’s ear
For the repealing of my banished brother?
BRUTUS (
coming forward and kneeling
)
coming forward and kneeling
)
I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar,
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
CAESAR
What, Brutus?
CASSIUS (
coming forward and kneeling
)
coming forward and kneeling
)
Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon.
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
CAESAR
I could be well moved if I were as you.
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me.
But I am constant as the Northern Star,
Of whose true fixed and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks;
They are all fire, and every one doth shine;
But there’s but one in all doth hold his place.
So in the world: ‘tis furnished well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion; and that I am he
Let me a little show it even in this—
That I was constant Cimber should be banished,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me.
But I am constant as the Northern Star,
Of whose true fixed and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks;
They are all fire, and every one doth shine;
But there’s but one in all doth hold his place.
So in the world: ‘tis furnished well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion; and that I am he
Let me a little show it even in this—
That I was constant Cimber should be banished,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
CINNA (
coming forward and kneeling
) O Caesar!
coming forward and kneeling
) O Caesar!
CAESAR Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
DECIUS (
coming forward
⌈
With Ligarius
⌉
and kneeling
) Great Caesar!
coming forward
⌈
With Ligarius
⌉
and kneeling
) Great Caesar!
CAESAR Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
CASCA (
coming forward
⌈
and kneeling
⌉)
coming forward
⌈
and kneeling
⌉)
Speak hands for me.
They stab Caesar,
⌈
Casca first, Brutus last
⌉
CAESAR
Et tu, Bruté?
—Then fall Caesar.
He dies
CINNA
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
CASSIUS
Some to the common pulpits, and cry out
‘Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!’
‘Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!’
BRUTUS
People and senators, be not affrighted.
⌈
Exeunt in a tumult Lepidus, Popillius, other senators, Artemidorus, Soothsayer, and citizen
⌉
Fly not! Stand still! Ambition’s debt is paid.
CASCA Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
DECIUS And Cassius too.
BRUTUS Where’s Publius?
CINNA
Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
METELLUS
Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar’s
Should chance—-
Should chance—-
BRUTUS
Talk not of standing.—Pubtius, good cheer!
There is no harm intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else—so tell them, Publius.
There is no harm intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else—so tell them, Publius.
CASSIUS
And leave us, Publius, lest that the people,
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
BRUTUS
Do so; and let no man abide this deed
But we the doers.
But we the doers.
⌈
Exit Publius
⌉
Enter Trebonius
CASSIUS Where is Antony?
TREBONIUS Fled to his house, amazed.
Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run,
As it were doomsday.
As it were doomsday.
BRUTUS Fates, we will know your pleasures.
That we shall die, we know; ‘tis but the time
And drawing days out that men stand upon.
And drawing days out that men stand upon.
CASCA
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
BRUTUS
Grant that, and then is death a benefit.
So are we Caesar’s friends, that have abridged
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar’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!’
So are we Caesar’s friends, that have abridged
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar’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!’
CASSIUS
Stoop, then, and wash.
They smear their hands with Caesar’s blood
How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over,
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
BRUTUS
How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompey’s basis lies along,
No worthier than the dust!
That now on Pompey’s basis lies along,
No worthier than the dust!
CASSIUS So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be called
The men that gave their country liberty.
The men that gave their country liberty.
DECIUS
What, shall we forth?
CASSIUS Ay, every man away.
Brutus shall lead, and
we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
Enter Antony’s Servant
we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
Enter Antony’s Servant
BRUTUS
Soft; who comes here? A friend of Antony’s.
SERVANT
(kneeling and falling prostrate)
(kneeling and falling prostrate)
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.
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving.
Say I love Brutus, and I honour him.
Say I feared Caesar, honoured him, and loved him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him and be resolved
How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar 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.
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down,
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say.
‘Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest.
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving.
Say I love Brutus, and I honour him.
Say I feared Caesar, honoured him, and loved him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him and be resolved
How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar 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.
BRUTUS
Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman.
I never thought him worse.
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied, and, by my honour,
Depart untouched.
I never thought him worse.
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied, and, by my honour,
Depart untouched.
SERVANT ⌈
rising
⌉ I’ll fetch him presently. Exit
rising
⌉ I’ll fetch him presently. Exit
BRUTUS
I know that we shall have him well to friend.
CASSIUS
I wish we may. But yet have I a mind
That fears him much; and my misgiving still
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
Enter Antony
That fears him much; and my misgiving still
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
Enter Antony
BRUTES
But here comes Antony.—Welcome, Mark Antony.
ANTONY
O mighty Caesarl 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.
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar’s death’s hour, nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die.
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
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.
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar’s death’s hour, nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die.
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
BRUTUS
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 Caesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony.
Our arms, unstrung of malice, and our hearts
Of brothers’ temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
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 Caesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony.
Our arms, unstrung of malice, and our hearts
Of brothers’ temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
CASSIUS
Your voice shall be as strong as any man’s
In the disposing of new dignities.
In the disposing of new dignities.
BRUTUS
Only be patient till we have appeased
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause
Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause
Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.
ANTONY I doubt not of your wisdom.
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