His time of fearing death.— ° 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!

« gods.

« being yet

66

o P. gives the remainder of this speech “ he, bids you expect consistency and to Cafra, because he thinks nothing is “ fleadiness from his behaviour : he more inconsistent with Brutus's mild and “ thought the killing of Antony, when philosophical character: and is followed “ Cæsar's aflaffipation was resolved on, by W. In answer to this, T. tells us that “ would appear too bloody and unjuftsShikespeare is fri&tly copying a fact in “ Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers: history, and that Plutarcb, in the life of “ Let's carve him as a dish file for ibe Cæfar, says, “ Brutus and his followers,

bol with ebe muriber, marched “ The hero, therefore, full of this idea “ in a body from the senate-house to the “ of facrificing Cæfar to his injured “ capirol, with obeir drawn sworils, with country, after tabbing him in the « an air of confidence and assurance." “ senate, tells the Romans to stoop, and And in the life of Prutiis, “ Brurus and " besmear their hands and their swords “ his party betook themselves to the « in the blood of the sacrifice. This « capitol, and in their way shewing ibeir was agreeable to an ancient and reli" bands all bloody, and their naked “ gious custom. So in Æfcbylus we “ swords, proclaimed liberty to the people.” “ read, that the seven captains, who But T. has offered nothing to the pur. came against Tbebes, sacrificed a buiì, pose against P,'s emendation; for the « and dipped their hands in the gore, question is not whether Brutus, with the And Xenopbon tells us, that rest of his party, bathed his hands in “ when the barbarians ratified their Cæsar's blood; but whether Sbakespeare “ treaty with the Greeks, they made a intended him the first mover to this un- “ sacrifice, and dipped their spears and feemly action (as P. seems to think it) “ swords in the blood of the victim. By by putting the controverted words into “ this Sulemn action Brutus gives the his mouih. Yet, after what Upron has '« aflaffination of Cæsar a religious ait written on this paffage no one can scru- " and turn, &c." Crit. Obf. ad edit. ple giving thefe lioes to Brutus. “ The p. 78. “philosophical character of Brutus, says

* &c.

Caje

t

u

Cas. Stoop then, and wash.—How many ages hence

,

[Dipping their swords in Cæsar's blood. Shall this our lofty scene be acted 9 over, In states unborn, and accents yet unknown !

• Bru. How many times shall Cæfar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompey's bafis lyes along,
No worthier than the dust!

Caf. So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave their country liberty.

Dec. " What, shall we forth?

Caf. Ay, every man away :
Brutus shall lead, and we will grace his heels
w With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.

Enter a Servant.
Bru. Soft, who comes here? * A friend of Antony's,
Ser. Thus, Brutus, did iny master bid me kneel;

[y Kneeling
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
And, being proftrate, thus he bad me say.
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Cæfar was a mighty, bold, royal, and loving:

There is no direction in the fo's u R. reads, Wbat, what fall we and C.

fortb? 9 So the fo's, R. and C; the rest, o'er w R. P. and H. read, Wirb tbe moj for over.

bold, and ebe beft bearis, &c. The firft f. fare for flates.

* P. and H. make the servant's speech s P. and H. have put this speech in. begin here. to Casca's mouth, without giving any y No direction in the fo's and C. eason for it.

2 P. 1. H. and W. sead, migby, royal, And this into Brutus's, without bold and loving. giving a reason.

F

Saya

Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Say, I fear’d Cæfar, honour'd him, and lov'd him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolvid
How Cæfar hath deserv'd to lye in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Cæfar 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;
I never thought him worse.
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He fhall be satisfied, and by my honour,
Depart untouch'd.
Ser. I 'll fetch him presently.

[Exis Servant. Bru. I know that we shall have him well to friend.

Caf. I wish we may; but yet a have I a mind That fears him much; and my misgiving still Falls shrewdly to the purpose.

• Enter Antony.
Bru. But here comes Antony. - Welcome, Mark Antony.

Ant. O mighty Cæfar! dost thou lye 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 muft be let blood, who else is rank:
If I myself, there is no hour so fit

a

As Cæsar'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 smoak,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die :
No place will please me so, no d mean of deathy
As here by Cæfar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.

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,
Yon 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 Cæfar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony,
Our arms no strength of malice; and our hearts,
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in,
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.

Caf. 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 The multitude, beside themselves with fear,

¢ W. and 3. ge for you.

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exempt from. F 2

And

And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Cæfar when I struck him,
I Have thus proceeded.
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 Cafius, do I take your hand;-
Now, Decius Brutus, yours;- now yours, Metellus;
Yours, Cinna ;-and, my valiant Casca, yours;
Though laft, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.
Gentleinen all, alas ! what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward, or a flatterer.-
That I did love thee, Cæfar, O 'tis true:
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death,
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! in the presence of thy corse ?
Had I as many eyes as thou haft wounds,
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
It would become me better, than to close
In terms of friendship with thine enernies.
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou-bay'd, brave " hart,
Here didst thou fall, and here thy hunters stand,

f For Have tbus proceeded P. reads cept C. Proceeded slus, followed by all after, ex- & The three laft fo's, bears for dark