Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee, And hush'd with buzzing night flies to thy slumber, And lull'd with sounds of sweetest melody? Who take the ruffian billows by the tops, MOONLIGHT AND MUSIC. Lorenzo and Jessica. Lor. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears; soft stillness, and the night, Sit, Jessica: Look, how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with pattens of bright gold; There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st, Still quiring to the young ey'd cherubims: Such harmony is in immortal souls! But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.— Enter MUSICIANS. Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn; With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear, And draw her home with music. Jes. I am never merry when I hear sweet music. [Music. Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive: For do, but note a wild and wanton herd, Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, Which is the hot condition of their blood; If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, By the sweet power of music: Therefore, the poet Let no such man be trusted.-Mark the music. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA, at a distance. Por. That light we see is burning in my hall : How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the candle. A substitute shines brightly as a king, Ner. It is your music, madam, of the house. How many things by season season'd are To their right praise, and true perfection! -Peace, hoa! the moon sleeps with Endymion. And would not be awak'd! Lor. That is the voice, Or I am much deceiv'd, of Portia. [Music ceases. Por. He knows me, as the blind man knows the cuckow, By the bad voice. Lor. Dear lady, welcome home. Por. We have been praying for our husbands' welfare, Which speed, we hope, the better for our words. Are they return'd? Lor. Madam, they are not yet; But there is come a messenger before, To signify their coming. Por. Go in, Nerissa, Give order to my servants, that they take No note at all of our being absent hence.— [A trumpet sounds. Lor. Your husband is at hand, I hear his trumpet: -We are no tell-tales, madam; fear you not. Por. This night, methinks, is but the day-light sick, It looks a little paler; 't is a day, Such as the day is when the sun is hid. MERCY. Portia. The quality of mercy is not strained; Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; And earthly power doth then show likest God's EARLY FEMALE FRIENDSHIP. Helena. Is all the counsel that we two have shar'd All school-day's friendship, childhood innocence ? Have with our needles created both one flower; Two lovely berries moulded on one stem CESAR'S FUNERAL. Enter BRUTUS and Cassius, and a throng of CITIZENS. Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.— Cassius go you into the other street, And part the numbers. Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here; And public reasons shall be rendered Of Cesar's death. 1 Cit. I will hear Brutus speak. 2 Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, When severally we hear them rendered. Exit CASSIUS, with some of the CITIZENS. the Rostrum. BRUTUS goes into 3 Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended: Silence! Romans, countrymen, and lovers? hear me for my cause; and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honor ; and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe; censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cesar, this is my answer.-Not that I loved Cesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cesar were living, and die all slaves; than that Cesar were dead to live all freemen? As Cesar lov'd me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him: There are tears, for his love; joy, for his fortune; honor for his valor; and death for his ambition. Who is here so base, that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile, that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply. Cit. None, Brutus, none. [Several speaking at once. Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cesar, than you should do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol: his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. Enter ANTONY and others, with CESAR's Body. Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this I depart; That, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself,. when it shall please my country to need my death. Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live! 1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house. 2 Cit. Give him a statute with his ancestors. 3 Cit. Let him be Cesar. 4 Cit. Cesar's better parts Shall now be crown'd in Brutus. 1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours. Bru. My countrymen,— 2 Cit. Peace; silence! Brutus speaks. 1 Cit. Peace, ho! Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, Do grace to Cesar's corpse, and grace his speech I do entreat you, not a man depart, 1 Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Cit. Let him go up into the public chair; We'll hear him: Noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you. 4 Cit. What does he say of Brutus ? 3 Cit. He says for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholden to us all. [Exit. 4 Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. 1 Cit. This Cesar was a tyrant. 3 Cit. Nay, that's certain: We are bless'd, that Rome is rid of him. 2 Cit. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say. Ant. You gentle Romans, Cit. Peace, ho! let us hear him. Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Cesar, not to praise him. The evil, that men do, lives after them; He hath brought many captives home to Rome, |