dear friend of Cafar's, to him I fay, that Brutus's
love to Cæfar was no lefs than his. If then that friend
demand, why Brutus rofe against Cæfar, this is my
Answer: Not that I lov'd Cafar lefs, but that I lov'd
Rome more. Had you rather Cafar were living, and
dye all flaves; than that Cæfar were dead, to live all
free men? As Cafar lov'd me, I weep for him; as he
was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I ho-
nour him;
but as he was ambitious, I flew him.
There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, ho-
nour for his valour, and death for his ambition.
Who is here fo bafe, that would be a bond-man?
If any, fpeak; for him have I offended.

Who is here fo rude, that would not be a Roman?
If any, fpeak; for him have I offended.

Who is here fo vile, that will not love his Country ?
If any, fpeak; for him have I offended.
I paufe for a Reply.

All. None, Brutus, none.

Bru. Then none have I offended.

I have done no more to Cefar, than you fhall do to Brutus. The queftion of his death is inroll'd in the Capitol ; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforc'd, for which he fuffered death.

Enter Mark Antony with Cæfar's body.

Here comes his body, mourn'd by Mark Antony; who, though he had no hand in his death, fhall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the Commonwealth; as which of you fhall not? With this I depart, that as I flew my best lover for the good of Rome; I have the fame dagger for myfelf, when it fhall please my Country to need my death.

All. Live, Brutus, live! live!

1 Pleb. Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
2 Pleb. Give him a ftatue with his ancestors.
Ple

3 Let him be Cæfar.

4 Pleb. Cafar's better Parts Shall be crown'd in Brutus.

1 Pleb. We'll bring him to his houfe

And Brutus is an honourable man.

He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whofe ranfoms did the general coffers fill;
Did this in Cafar feem ambitious?

When that the poor have cry'd, Cafar hath wept;
Ambition fhould be made of fterner ftuff,
Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did fee, that, on the Lupercal,
I thrice prefented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refufe.
Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious;
And, fure, he is an honourable man.

Was this ambition?

I fpeak not, to difprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.

You all did love him once, not without caufe ;
What caufe with-holds you then to mourn for him?
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beafts,
And men have loft their reafon. Bear with me,
My heart is in the coffin there with Cefar,
And I must paufe 'till it come back to me.

1 Pleb. Methinks, there is much reafon in his fayings. If thou confider rightly of the matter,

(1) Cefar has had great wrong.

3 Pleb. Has he, Mafters? I fear there will a worfe come in his place.

(1) Cæfar has had great wrong.] 3 Pleb. Cæfar had never wrong but with just caufe. If ever there was fuch a line written by Shakespeare, I could fancy it might have its place here, and very humourously in the character of a Plebeian. One might be lieve Ben Johnson's remark was made upon no better credit than fome blunder of an actor in fpeaking that verfe near the begining of the third act.

Know, Cæfar doth not wrong; nor without caufe
Will be be fatisfied.-

But the verfe, as cited by Ben Johnson, does not connect with,
Will he be fatisfied. Perhaps this play was never printed in Ben
Johnfon's time, and fo he had nothing to judge by but as the ac-
tor pleafed to speak it.

POPE.

I have inferted this note, because it is Pope's, for it is other wife of no value. It is ftrange that he should fo much forget the date of the copy before him, as to think it not printed in Johnson's time.

C-5

Pleb.

4 Pleb. Mark'd ye his words? he would not take

the crown;

Therefore, 'tis certain he was not ambitious.

1 Pleb. If it be found fo, fome will dear abide it. 2 Pleb. Poor foul! his eyes are red as fire with'

3

weeping.

Pleb There's not a nobler man in Rome than

Antony.

4 Pleb. Now, mark him, he begins to speak.
Ant. But yesterday the word of Cafar might
Have ftood against the world; now lies he there,
(2) And none fo poor to do him reverence.
O mafters! if I were difpos'd to ftir

Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Caffius wrong,
Who, you all know are honourable men.
I will not do them wrong; I rather chufe
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you;
Than I will wrong fuch honourable men.
But here's a parchment, with the feal of Cæfar,
I found it in his clofet, 'tis his Will;

Let but the Commons hear this Teftament,
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,
And they would go and kifs dead Cæfar's wounds,
And dip their napkins in his facred blood;
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,

And dying, mention it within their Wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy

Unto their iffue.

4 Pleb. We'll hear the Will, read it, Mark Antony. All. The Will, the Will. We will hear Cafar's Will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;

It is not meet you know how Cæfar lov'd you.
You are not wood, you are not ftones, but men,
And, being men, hearing the will of Cafar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad.
"Tis good you know not, that you are his heirs;
For if you fhould, O what would come of it?

4 Pleb. Read the Will, we will hear it, Antony; You fhall read us the Will, Cefar's Will.

(2) And none fo poor] The meanest man is now too high do reverence to Cafar.

Ant.

Ant. Will you be patient? will you ftay a-while? I have o'erfhot myfelf, to tell you of it.

I fear, I wrong the honourable men,

Whofe daggers have ftabb'd Cafar. I do fear it. 4 Pleb. They were traitors. Honourable men! All. The Will! the Teftament!

2 Pleb. They were villains, murderers. The Will! read the Will!

Ant. You will compel me then to read the Will.
Then make a ring about the corps of Cafar,
And let me fhew you him, that made the Will.
Shall I defcend? and will you give me leave?
All. Come down.

2 Pleb. Defcend. [He comes down from the pulpit. 3 Pleb. You fhall have leave.

4 Pleb. A ring; ftand round.

1 Pleb. Stand from the hearfe, ftand from the body. 2 Pleb. Room for Antonymoft noble Antony. Ant. Nay, prefs not fo upon me, ftand far off. All. Stand back! room! bear back!!

Ant. If you have tears, prepare to fhed them now. You all do know this mantle; I remember,

The first time ever Cafar put it on,

'Twas on a fummer's evening in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii.

Look! in this place, ran Caffius dagger through;
See, what a rent the envious Casca made;
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus ftabb'd;
And as he pluck'd his curfed fteel away,
Mark, how the blood of Cæfar follow'd it!
As rufhing out of doors, to be refolv'd,
If Brutus fo unkindly knock'd, or no.
For Brutus, as you know, was Cafar's angel,
Judge, oh you Gods! how dearly Cafar lov'd him;
This was the most unkindeft cut of all;
For when the noble Cafar faw him stab,
Ingratitude, more ftrong than traitors' arms,

Quite vanquifh'd him; then burft his mighty heart: (3) And, in his mantle muffling up his face,

(3) And, in his manne, &c.] Read the fines thus, And, in his mantle muffling up his face,

Even