That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Cas. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me, And we, like friends, will straightway go together. ACT THE THIRD. [Exeunt. SCENE I. A Street, near the Capitol. Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS. Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-house; Stay not to answer me, but get thee Why dost thou stay? gone Luc. To know my errand, madam. Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there O, constancy, be strong upon my side, Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue; Art thou here yet? Luc. Madam, what shall I do? Run to the capitol, and nothing else? And so return to you, and nothing else? Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, For he went sickly forth; and take good note, What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. Hark! boy, what noise is that? Luc. I hear none, Madam. I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray; And the wind brings it from the capitol. Enter ARTEMIDORUS. Por. Come hither, fellow; which way hast thou been? Art. At mine own house, good lady. Por. What is't o'clock? Art. About the ninth hour, lady. Art. Madam, not yet;-I go to take my stand, Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? Art. That I have, lady, if it will please Cæsar To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself. Por. Why, know'st thou any harm intended tow'rds him? Art. None that I know will be, much that I fear. Good morrow to you. [Exit. Por. I must go in- -Ah me! how weak a thing [Exeunt. SCENE II. The Capitol.-SENATORS seated. Flourish.-CESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, and ANTONY, discovered. Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Bru-. tus, He draws Mark Antony out of his way. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is address'd; press near, and second him. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cas. Are we all ready? what is now amiss, That Cæsar and his senate must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat [Kneeling. Caes. I must prevent thee, Cimber; With that, which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words; 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, To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear, For the repealing of my banish'd brother? Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Cæs. What, Brutus ! Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon; As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, Cas. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you; But I am constant as the northern star, They are all fire, and every one doth shine; That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd, Cin. O Cæsar- Cas. Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus ? Dec. Great Cæsar Caes. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Casca. Speak, hands, for me. [They stab CESAR. Caes. Then fall, Cæsar! Bru. Liberty! freedom!· [Dies. -tyranny is dead Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets- Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement! Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted; Fly not, stand still. Ambition's debt is paid. Enter TREBONIUS. Cas. Where is Antony? Tre. 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, Cuts off so many years of fearing death. Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit. Now walk we forth, e'en to the market-place, 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. Tell him, so please him come unto this place, Depart untouch'd. Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit SERVANT. 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. Enter ANTONY. Bru. But here he comes. Welcome, Mark Antony ! 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; If I myself, there is no hour so fit, |