Stockdale's edition of Shakespeare, with explanatory notes

I here difcard my ficknefs. Soul of Rome!
Brave fon, deriv'd from honourable loins!
Thou, like an exorcift, haft conjur'd up
My mortified fpirit. Now bid me run,
And I will ftrive with things impoffible;
Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?
Bru. A piece of work, that will make fick men
[make fick
Lig. But are not foine whole, that we must
Bru. That must we alfo. What it is, my Caius,
I fhall unfold to thee, as we are going
To whom it must be done.

whole.

It feems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a neceffary end,
Will come, when it will come.
Re-enter a Servant.

What fay the augurers?

[day.

Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.

Cf. The gods do this in fhame of cowardice:
Cæfar fhould be a beaft without a heart,
If he fhould ftay at home to-day for fear.
No, Cæfar fhall not: danger knows full well,
That Cæfar is more dangerous than he.
We were two lions litter'd in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible;
And Cæfar thall go forth.

Cal. Alas, my lord,

Your wifdom is confum'd in confidence.
Do not go forth to-day call it my fear,
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We'll fend Mark Antony to the fenate-house ;
And he fhall fay, you are not well to-day:
Let mc, upon my knee, prevail in this.

Cef. Mark Antony fhall fay, I am not well;
And, for thy humour, I will ftay at home.
Enter Decius.

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them fo. [Cæfar:
Dec. Cæfar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy
I come to fetch you to the fenate-house.

Cf. And you are come in very happy time,
To bear my greeting to the fenators,
And tell them, that I will not come to-day:

Cal. What mean you, Cæfar? Think you to walk
You shall not ftir out of your houfe to-day.[forth?
Cf. Cæfar fhall forth: the things that threat-Cannot, is falfe; and that I dare not, falíer;

en'd me,
Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they fhall fee
The face of Cæfar, they are vanithed.

Cal. Cæfar, I never ftood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
Befides the things that we have heard and feen,
Recounts moft horrid fights feen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead:
Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds,
In ranks, and fquadrons, and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol :
The noife of battle hurtled 2 in the air,
Horfes did neigh, and dying men did groan;
And ghosts did shriek, and squeal about the streets.
O Cæfar! these things are beyond all ute,
And I do fear them.

I will not come to-day: Tell them fo, Decius.
Cal. Say, he is fick.

Cf. Shall Cæfar fend a lye?

Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afeard to tell grey-beards the truth?—
Decius, go tell them, Cafar will not come. [caufe,
Dec. Moft mighty Cæfar, let me know fome
Left I be laugh'd at, when I tell them fo.

Caf. The caufe is in my will, I will not come; That is enough to fatisfy the fenate. But, for your private fatisfaction, Because I love you, I will let you know. Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home: She dreamt to-night the faw my ftatue, Which, like a fountain, with a hundred spouts, Did run pure blood; and many lufty Romans Came fmiling, and did bathe their hands in it. And thefe does the apply for warnings, and parAnd evils imminent; and on her knee [tents, Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to-day. Dec. This dream is all amifs interpreted; comets It was a vifion, fair and fortunate: [princes. Your ftatue fpouting blood in many pipes, The heavens themfelves blaze forth the death of In which fo many (miling Romans bath'd,

Geef. What can be avoided,
Whofe end is purpos'd by the mighty gods?
Yet Cæfar fhall go forth; for thefe predictions
Are to the world in general, as to Caefar.
Cal. When beggars die, there are no
feen;

Cf. Cowards die many times before their The valiant never tafte of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,

deaths;

Signifies, that from you great Rome fhall fuck
Reviving blood; and that great men fhall prets
For tinctures, stains, relicks, and cognisance 3.

1 i. e. I never paid a ceremonious or fuperftitious regard to prodigies or omens. To hurtle is, perhaps, to clafh, or move with violence and noise. 3 There are two allufions in this fpeech; one to coats armorial, to which princes make additions, or give new tinctures, and new marks of cegr= fance; the other to martyrs, whofe reliques are prefetved with veneration. The Romans, lays Decius, all come to you as to a faint, for reliques, as to a prince, for honours.

This by Calphurnia's dream is fignify'd.

Cef. And this way have you well expounded it.
Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can
And know it now; the fenate have concluded [fay:
To give, this day, a crown to mighty Cæfar.
If you fhall fend them word, you will not come,
Their minds may change. Befides, it were a mock,
Apt to be render'd, for fome one to fay,
"Break up the fenate 'till another time,
"When Cæfar's wife thall meet with better dreams."|
If Cefar hide himself, fhall they not whisper,
"Lo, Cæfar is afraid ""

Pardon me, Cefar; for my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this;
And reafon to my love is liable 1.

[phurnia

Here will I ftand, 'till Cæfar paf, elong,
And as a fuitor will I give him this.
My heart laments, that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of emulation.

If thou read this, O Cefar, thou may'ft live;
If not, the fates with traitors do contrive 2. [Exit.
SCENE IV.

Another part of the fame Street.

Enter Portia, and Lucius.

Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the fenate-houfe;
Stay not to anfwer me, but get thee gone:
Why dost thou stay?

[gain,

Luc. To know my errand, madan.
Por. I would have had thee there, and here a-
Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there.

Cef. How foolish do your fears feem now, Cal-O conftancy, be ftrong upon my fide!
Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue!
I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.

I am athamed I did yield to them.

Give me my robe, for I will go :

Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Cafea, How hard it is for women to keep counfel!

Trebonius, and Cinna,

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.
Pub. Good morrow, Cæfar.
Cef. Welcome, Publius.-

What, Brutus, are you ftirr'd fo early too?-
Good-morrow, Cafca.-Caius Ligarius,
Cæfar was ne'er fo much your enemy,

Art thou here yet?

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look
For he went fickly forth: And take good note,
What Cæfar doth, what fuitors prefs to him.

As that fame ague which hath made you lean. Hark, boy! what noife is that?
What is't o'clock ?

And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
Bru. That every like is not the fame, O Cæfar,
The heart of Brutus yerns to think upon! [Excunt.

SCENE III,

A Street near the Capitol.

Enter Artemidorus, reading a Paper.

Luc. I hear none, madam.

Por. Pr'ythee, liften well:

1 heard a buttling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
Enter Soothsayer.

Por. Come hither, fellow: Which way haft

thou been?

Sooth. At mine own houfe, good lady.
Por. What is 't o'clock ?

Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady.

Por. Is Cæfar yet gone to the Capitol ?
Sooth. Madam, not yet; I go to take my ftand,
To fee him pafs on to the Capitol.

[not ?
Por. Thou haft fome fuit to Caefar, haft thou
Sooth. That I have, lady, if it will please Cæfar
To be fo good to Cæfar, as to hear me :
I shall befeech him to befriend himself.
Por. Why, know'ft thou any harm's intended

towards him? [fear may chance.
Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I
Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:
The throng that follows Cæfar at the heels,
Of fenators, of prætors, common fuitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almoft to death:

[Exit.

"Cæfar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Caf-I'll get me to a place more void, and there "fius; come not near Cafca; have an eye to Speak to great Cæfar as he comes along. ❝ Cinna; truft not Trebonius; mark well Me- Por. I must go in.-Ay me! how weak a thing "tellus Cimber: Decius Brutus loves thee not; The heart of woman is! O Brutus ! "thou haft wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize! but one mind in all these men, and it is bent Sure, the boy heard me :-Brutus hath a fuit, "againft Cæfar. If thou be'ft not immortal, look That Cæfar will not grant.-0, I grow faint :"about you: fecurity gives way to confpiracy. Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord; The mighty gods defend thee! Say, I am inerry: come to me again, And bring me word what he doth say to thee.

"Thy lover,

ARTEMIDORUS."

i, c. fubordinate.

2. e. the fates join with traitors in contriving thy deftruction.

[Exeunt.

ACT

ACT III.

SCENE I.

The Street, and then

The Capitol: the Senate fitting.

Flourish. Enter Cefar, Brutus, Caffius, Cafea,
Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Le-
pidus, Artemidorus, Popilius, Publius, and the
Soothsayer.

Caf. HE ides of March are come.
THE
Sooth. Ay, Cæfar, but not gone.
Art. Hail, Cafar! Read this schedule.
Dec. Trebonius doth defire you to o'er-read,
At your beft leifure, this his humble fuit. [fuit
Art. O, Cæfar, read mine firit; for mine's a
That touches Cæfar nearer: Read it, great Cæfar.
Cf. What touches us ourfelf, fhall be laft
ferv'd.

Art. Delay not, Cæfar; read it inftantly.
Caf. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place.

Into the lane 3 of children. Be not fond,
To think that Cæfar bears fuch rebel blood,
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools; I mean, fweet
words,

Low-crooked curt'fies, and bafe fpaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished;

If thou doft bend, and pray, and fawn, for him,
I fpurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Cæfar doth not wrong; nor without caufe
Will he be fatisfied.

Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my

own,

To found more fweetly in great Cæfar's ear,
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

Bru. I kifs thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæfar;
Defiring thee, that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
Caf. What, Brutus !

Caf. Pardon, Cæfar; Cæfar, pardon :

Caf. What, urge you your petitions in the fireet? As low as to thy foot doth Caffius fall,
Come to the Capitol.

[Cæfar enters the Capitol, the ref following.]
Top. I with, your enterprize to-day may thrive.
Caf. What enterprize, Popilius ?
Pop. Fare you well.

[thrive.

Bru. What faid Popilius Lena? Caf. He wifh'd, to-day our enterprize might I fear, our purpole is discovered. [him. Bu. Look, how he makes to Cæfar: Mark Caf. Cafca, be fudden, for we fear prevention. Brutus, what fhall be done? If this be known, Caffius, or Cæfar, never fhall turn back, For I will flay myself.

Bra. Caflius, be conftant:
Popilius Lena fpeaks not of our purposes;
Fer, look, he fmiles, and Cæfar doth not change.
Caf. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you,
Brutus,

He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
[Exeunt Ant. and Treb.
Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
And prefently prefer his fuit to Cæfar.

[him.

Bra. He is addreft: prefs near, and fecond Cin. Cafca, you are the firit that rear your hand. Caef. Are we all ready? What is now amifs, That Cæfar, and his fenate, muft redress?

Met. Moft high, most mighty, and most puiffant Cafar,

To beg enfranchifement for Publius Cimber.

Geef. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you ; If I could pray to move, prayers would move me : But I am conftant as the northern star, Of whofe true-fixt, and refting quality, There is no fellow in the firmament. The fkies are painted with unnumbred fparks, 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 furnith'd well with men, And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive *; Yet, in the number, I do know but one That unaffailable holds on his rank, Unthak'd of motion: and, that I am he, Let me a little fhew it, even in this; And conftant do remain to keep him so. That I was conftant Cimber should be banish'd,

Cin. O Cæfar,-

Caf. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus ?
Dec. Great Cæfar,-

Cf. Doth not Brutus bootlefs kneel?
Cafea. Speak, hands, for me.

[They flab Cofar. Caf. Et tu, Brute?Then fall, Cæfar!

[Diti

Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Caf. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement !" Bru. People, and fenators! be not affrighted; Fly not; ftand ftill:-ambition's debt is paid. Cafea. Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

Metellus Cimber throws before thy feat [Anceling."

An humble heart :-

Gef. I mult prevent thee, Cimber. Thefe couchings, and thefe lowly courtefies, Might fire the blood of ordinary men ; And turn pre-ordinance 2, and first decree,

Dec. And Caffius too. Bru. Where's Publius?

i. e. he is ready. 2 Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already eftablifhed. 3 Dr. Johnfon proposes to read, the law of children. That is, change pre-ordinance and decree into the law of children; into fuch flight determinations as every ftart of will would alter." 4 i. c. fufceptible of fear, or other paffions.

Cie. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. With all true faith. So fays my mafter Antony. Met. Stand fat together, left fome friend of Bru. Thy muter is a wife and valiant Roman; Should chanceI never thought him worse.

[Cæfar's

Bru. Talk not of ftanding :-- -Publius, good cheer;

There is no harm intended to your perfon,
Nor to no Roman elfe: fo tell them, Publius.
Caf. And leave us, Publius; left that the people,
Ruthing on us, fhould do your age fome mifchief.
Bru. Do fo;-and let no man abide this deed,
But we the doers.

Re-enter Trebonius.

Caf. Where is Antony?

Tre. Fled to his houfe amaz’d:

Men, wives, and children, ftare, cry out, and run, As it were dooms-day.

Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures: That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, And drawing days out, that men itand upon.

Caf. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life, Cuts off fo many years of fearing death.

Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
So are we Cæfar's friends, that have abridg'd
His time of fearing death.-Stoop, Romans, floop,
And let us bathe our hands in Cæfar's blood
Up to the elbows, and befiear our fwords:
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!
Guf. Stoop then, and wash.-How many ages
hence,

Shall this our lofty fcene be acted over,
In ftates unborn, and accents yet unknown?
B. How many times fhall Cæfar bleed in fport,
That now on Pompey's bafis lies along,
No worthier than the duft?

Cal. So oft as that thall be,

So often fhall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave their country liberty.
Dec. What, fhall we forth?
Caf. Ay, every man away :

Brutus fhall lead; and we will grace his heels
With the moft boldeft and helt hearts of Rome.
Enter a Servant.

Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. [knee]; Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my mafter bid me Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down; And, being proftrate, thus he bade me fay. Brutus is noble, wife, valiant, and honeft; Cæfar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving: Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him;

Bru. I know, that we fhall have him well to friend.

Caf. I with we may : but yet have I a mind, That fears him much; and my mitgiving till Falls fhrew diy to the purpoie. Re-enter Antony. Bru. But here comes Antony.Mark Antony.

-Welcome,

Art. O mighty Cæfar! Doit thou lie fo low? Are all thy conquefts, glories, triumphs, fpoils, Shrunk to this little meafure?-Fare thee well.I know not, gentlemen, what you intend, Who elfe must be let blood, who elfe is rank 2: If I myfelf, there is no hour fo fit

As Cæfar's death's hour; nor no inftrument
Of half that worth, as thofe your fwords, made
rich

With the moit noble blood of all this world.
I do befeech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilit your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleafure. Live a thousand years,
I thall not find myfelf fo apt to die:
No place will pleafe me fo, no mean of death,
As here by Cæfar, and by you cut off,
The choice and matter fpirits of this age.

Bra. O Antony! beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands, and this our prefent act,
You fee we do; yet fee you but our hands,
And this the bleeding bufinefs they have done;
Our hearts you fee not, they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
(As fire drives out fire, fo pity, pity)
Hath done this deed on Cæfar. For your part,
To you our fwords have leaden points, Mark
Antony !"

Our arms, in ftrength of malice, and our hearts,
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in,
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence 3.
Caf. Your voice thall be as ftrong as any man's,
In the difpofing of new dignities.

Bru. Only be patient, 'till we have appeas'd
The multitude, befide themfelves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Cæfar when I struck him,

Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom.

Say, I fear'd Cæfar, honour'd him, and lov'd him. Have thus proceeded.
If Brutus will vouchfafe, that Antony
May fafely come to him, and be refolv'd
How Cefar hath deferv'd to lie in death,
Mark Antony fhall 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 ftate,

Let each man render me his bloody hand:
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you ;—
Next, Calus Caffius, do I take your hand;--
Now, Decius Brutus, yours ;- -now yours, Me-
tellus ;-

Yours, Cinna;-and, my valiant Casca, yours ;

I This ufe of two negatives, not to make au affirmative, but to deny more ftrongly, is common to our ancient writers. 2 i. e. who clfe is grown too high for the public fafety. 3 Brutus' meaning is, Antony, our arms, ftrong in the deed of malice they have juit perforin'd, and our hearts, united like thofe of brothers in the action, are yet open to receive you with all possible affection.

Though

Though laft, not leaft in love, yours, good Tre- | You fhall not in your funeral speech blame us,

bonius.

Gentlemen, all,-alas! what shall I say?

My credit now ftands on fuch flippery 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 fpirit look upon us now,

Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death,
To fee thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Moft noble! in the prefence of thy corfe?
Had I as many eyes as thou haft wounds,
Weeping as fast as they ftream forth thy blood,
It would become me better, than to close
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius !-Here waft thou bay'd, brave

hart;

Here didft thou fall; and here thy hunters ftand,Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
Sign'd in thy fpoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe 1.
O world! thou waft the foreft to this hart;
And, this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.-
How like a deer, ftrucken by many princes,
Doft thou here lie?

Caf. Mark Antony,

Ant. Pardon me, Caius Caffius: The enemies of Cæfar fhall fay this; Then, in a friend, it is cold modefty.

Caf. I blame you not for praifing Cæfar fo;
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends;
Or fhall we on, and not depend on you? [indeed,
Ant. Therefore I took your hands; but was,
Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæfar.
Friends am I with you all, and love you all;
Upon this hope, that you thall give me reasons,
Why, and wherein, Cæfar was dangerous.

Bru. Or elfe were this a favage spectacle:
Our reafons are fo full of good regard,
That were you, Antony, the fon of Cæfar,
You fhould be fatisfied.

Ant. That's all I feek:

-And am morcover fuitor, that I may
Produce his body to the market-place;
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.

Bru. You fhall, Merk Antony.
Caf. Brutus, a word with you.-

You know not what you'do; Do not confent,[fide
That Antony speak in his funeral :

Know you how much the people may be mov'd By that which he will utter ?

Bru. By your pardon ;-

I will myfelf into the pulpit first,

And fhew the reafon of our Cæfar's death:
What Antony fhall speak, I will protest
He fpeaks by leave and by permiftion;
And that we are contented, Cæfar fhall
Have all true rites, and lawful ceremonies.
It thall advantage mare, than do us wrong.

Caf. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæfar's body.

To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue;—
A curfe fhall light upon the limbs 3 of men ;
Domeftick fury, and fierce civil ftrife,
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy:
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects fo familiar,

That mothers fhall but fmile, when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
All pity choak'd with custom of fell deeds:
And Cæfar's fpirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his fide, come hot from hell,
Shall in thefe confines, with a monarch's voice,
Cry, Havock 4, and let flip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed fhall fmell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.
Enter a Servant.
You ferve Octavius Cæfar, do you not?
Serv. I do, Mark Antony.

Ant. Cæfar did write for him, to come to Rome.
Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming:
And bid me fay to you by word of mouth,—
O Cæfar!-
[Seeing the body.
Ant. Thy heart is big; get thee apart and weep.
Paffion, I fee, is catching; for mine eyes,
Seeing thote beads of forrow stand in thine,
Began to water. Is thy mafter coming?

Serv. He lies to-night within feven leagues of
Rome.
[hath chanc'd:
Ant. Poft back with speed, and tell him what
Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of fatety for Octavius yet;

Hie hence, and tell him fo. Yet, ftay a while;
Thou shalt not back, 'till I have borne this corfe
Into the market-place: there fhall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel iffue of thefe bloody men;
According to the which, thou shalt difcourfe
To young Octavius of the ftate of things.
Lend me your hand. [Exeunt, with Gajar's body.
SCENE
The Forum.

1 Lethe was a common French word, fignifying death that fenfe by many of the old tranfl tors of novels. propofes to read,` thefe ly mms of men;" that is, thefe

11.

Enter Brutus, and Caffius, with the Plebeians. Pub. We will be tatisfied; let us be fatisfied.

or deftruction, from the Latin letham, and used in 21. e. the courfe of times. 3 Dr. Johnn bloodhounds of men. 4 See note, p. 732Bre

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