Complete Plays, The Read online

  Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,

  And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.

  O Caesar! these things are beyond all use,

  And I do fear them.

  Caesar

  What can be avoided

  Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?

  Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions

  Are to the world in general as to Caesar.

  Calpurnia

  When beggars die, there are no comets seen;

  The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

  Caesar

  Cowards die many times before their deaths;

  The valiant never taste of death but once.

  Of all the wonders that I yet have heard.

  It seems to me most strange that men should fear;

  Seeing that death, a necessary end,

  Will come when it will come.

  Re-enter Servant

  What say the augurers?

  Servant

  They would not have you to stir forth to-day.

  Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,

  They could not find a heart within the beast.

  Caesar

  The gods do this in shame of cowardice:

  Caesar should be a beast without a heart,

  If he should stay at home to-day for fear.

  No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well

  That Caesar is more dangerous than he:

  We are two lions litter’d in one day,

  And I the elder and more terrible:

  And Caesar shall go forth.

  Calpurnia

  Alas, my lord,

  Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.

  Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear

  That keeps you in the house, and not your own.

  We’ll send Mark Antony to the senate-house:

  And he shall say you are not well to-day:

  Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

  Caesar

  Mark Antony shall say I am not well,

  And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.

  Enter Decius Brutus

  Here’s Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.

  Decius Brutus

  Caesar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Caesar:

  I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

  Caesar

  And you are come in very happy time,

  To bear my greeting to the senators

  And tell them that I will not come to-day:

  Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser:

  I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius.

  Calpurnia

  Say he is sick.

  Caesar

  Shall Caesar send a lie?

  Have I in conquest stretch’d mine arm so far,

  To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?

  Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

  Decius Brutus

  Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,

  Lest I be laugh’d at when I tell them so.

  Caesar

  The cause is in my will: I will not come;

  That is enough to satisfy the senate.

  But for your private satisfaction,

  Because I love you, I will let you know:

  Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:

  She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,

  Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,

  Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans

  Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it:

  And these does she apply for warnings, and portents,

  And evils imminent; and on her knee

  Hath begg’d that I will stay at home to-day.

  Decius Brutus

  This dream is all amiss interpreted;

  It was a vision fair and fortunate:

  Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,

  In which so many smiling Romans bathed,

  Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck

  Reviving blood, and that great men shall press

  For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance.

  This by Calpurnia’s dream is signified.

  Caesar

  And this way have you well expounded it.

  Decius Brutus

  I have, when you have heard what I can say:

  And know it now: the senate have concluded

  To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.

  If you shall send them word you will not come,

  Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock

  Apt to be render’d, for some one to say

  ‘Break up the senate till another time,

  When Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams.’

  If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper

  ‘Lo, Caesar is afraid’?

  Pardon me, Caesar; for my dear dear love

  To our proceeding bids me tell you this;

  And reason to my love is liable.

  Caesar

  How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!

  I am ashamed I did yield to them.

  Give me my robe, for I will go.

  Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, and Cinna

  And look where Publius is come to fetch me.

  Publius

  Good morrow, Caesar.

  Caesar

  Welcome, Publius.

  What, Brutus, are you stirr’d so early too?

  Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,

  Caesar was ne’er so much your enemy

  As that same ague which hath made you lean.

  What is ’t o’clock?

  Brutus

  Caesar, ’tis strucken eight.

  Caesar

  I thank you for your pains and courtesy.

  Enter Antony

  See! Antony, that revels long o’ nights,

  Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.

  Antony

  So to most noble Caesar.

  Caesar

  Bid them prepare within:

  I am to blame to be thus waited for.

  Now, Cinna: now, Metellus: what, Trebonius!

  I have an hour’s talk in store for you;

  Remember that you call on me to-day:

  Be near me, that I may remember you.

  Trebonius

  Caesar, I will:

  Aside

  and so near will I be,

  That your best friends shall wish I had been further.

  Caesar

  Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me;

  And we, like friends, will straightway go together.

  Brutus

  [Aside] That every like is not the same, O Caesar,

  The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon!

  Exeunt

  SCENE III. A STREET NEAR THE CAPITOL.

  Enter Artemidorus, reading a paper

  Artemidorus

  ‘Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna, trust not Trebonius: mark well Metellus Cimber: Decius Brutus loves thee not: thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you: security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover, ‘Artemidorus.’

  Here will I stand till Caesar pass along,

  And as a suitor will I give him this.

  My heart laments that virtue cannot live

  Out of the teeth of emulation.

  If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayst live;

  If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.

  Exit

  SCENE IV. ANOTHER PART OF THE SAME STREET, BEFORE THE HOUSE OF BRUTUS.

  Enter Portia and Lucius

  Portia

  I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house;

  Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:

&n
bsp; Why dost thou stay?

  Lucius

  To know my errand, madam.

  Portia

  I would have had thee there, and here again,

  Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.

  O constancy, be strong upon my side,

  Set a huge mountain ’tween my heart and tongue!

  I have a man’s mind, but a woman’s might.

  How hard it is for women to keep counsel!

  Art thou here yet?

  Lucius

  Madam, what should I do?

  Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?

  And so return to you, and nothing else?

  Portia

  Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,

  For he went sickly forth: and take good note

  What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.

  Hark, boy! what noise is that?

  Lucius

  I hear none, madam.

  Portia

  Prithee, listen well;

  I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,

  And the wind brings it from the Capitol.

  Lucius

  Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.

  Enter the Soothsayer

  Portia

  Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou been?

  Soothsayer

  At mine own house, good lady.

  Portia

  What is’t o’clock?

  Soothsayer

  About the ninth hour, lady.

  Portia

  Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol?

  Soothsayer

  Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand,

  To see him pass on to the Capitol.

  Portia

  Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?

  Soothsayer

  That I have, lady: if it will please Caesar

  To be so good to Caesar as to hear me,

  I shall beseech him to befriend himself.

  Portia

  Why, know’st thou any harm’s intended towards him?

  Soothsayer

  None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.

  Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:

  The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,

  Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,

  Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:

  I’ll get me to a place more void, and there

  Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.

  Exit

  Portia

  I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing

  The heart of woman is! O Brutus,

  The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!

  Sure, the boy heard me: Brutus hath a suit

  That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint.

  Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;

  Say I am merry: come to me again,

  And bring me word what he doth say to thee.

  Exeunt severally

  ACT III

  SCENE I. ROME. BEFORE THE CAPITOL; THE SENATE SITTING ABOVE.

  A crowd of people; among them Artemidorus and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius Brutus, Metellus Cimber, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Popilius, Publius, and others

  Caesar

  [To the Soothsayer] The ides of March are come.

  Soothsayer

  Ay, Caesar; but not gone.

  Artemidorus

  Hail, Caesar! read this schedule.

  Decius Brutus

  Trebonius doth desire you to o’erread,

  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.

  Caesar

  What touches us ourself shall be last served.

  Artemidorus

  Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly.

  Caesar

  What, is the fellow mad?

  Publius

  Sirrah, give place.

  Cassius

  What, urge you your petitions in the street?

  Come to the Capitol.

  Caesar goes up to the Senate-House, the rest following

  Popilius

  I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive.

  Cassius

  What enterprise, Popilius?

  Popilius

  Fare you well.

  Advances to Caesar

  Brutus

  What said Popilius Lena?

  Cassius

  He wish’d to-day our enterprise might thrive.

  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

  Cassius, be constant:

  Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;

  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.

  Exeunt Antony and Trebonius

  Decius Brutus

  Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,

  And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.

  Brutus

  He is address’d: press near and second him.

  Cinna

  Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.

  Caesar

  Are we all ready? What is now amiss

  That Caesar and his senate must redress?

  Metellus Cimber

  Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,

  Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat

  An humble heart,—

  Kneeling

  Caesar

  I must prevent thee, Cimber.

  These couchings and these lowly courtesies

  Might fire the blood of ordinary men,

  And turn pre-ordinance and first decree

  Into the law of children. Be not fond,

  To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood

  That will be thaw’d from the true quality

  With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words,

  Low-crooked court’sies 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, nor without cause

  Will he be satisfied.

  Metellus Cimber

  Is there no voice more worthy than my own

  To sound more sweetly in great Caesar’s ear

  For the repealing of my banish’d brother?

  Brutus

  I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar;

  Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may

  Have an immediate freedom of repeal.

  Caesar

  What, Brutus!

  Cassius

  Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon:

  As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,

  To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

  Cassius

  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-fix’d and resting quality

  There is no fellow in the firmament.

  The skies are painted with unnumber’d 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 furnish’d 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 banish’d,

  And constant do remain to keep him so.

  Cinna

  O Caesar,—

  Caesar

  Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?

  Decius Brutus

  Great Caesar,—

  Caesar

  Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?

  Casca

  Speak, hands for me!

  Casca first, then the other Conspirators and Brutus stab Caesar

  Caesar

  Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar.

  Dies

  Cinna

  Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!

  Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.

  Cassius

  Some to the common pulpits, and cry out

  ‘Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!’

  Brutus

  People and senators, be not affrighted;

  Fly not; stand stiff: ambition’s debt is paid.

  Casca

  Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

  Decius Brutus

  And Cassius too.

  Brutus

  Where’s Publius?

  Cinna

  Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.

  Metellus Cimber

  Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar’s

  Should chance —

  Brutus

  Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer;

  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.

  Brutus

  Do so: and let no man abide this deed,

  But we the doers.

  Re-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.

  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.

  Cassius

  Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life

  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!’

  Cassius

  Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence

  Shall this our lofty scene be acted over

  In states unborn and accents yet unknown!