O! you and I have heard our fathers say, There was a Brutus once, that would have brooked As easily as a king. Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous: Be any I will consider; what you have to say, I will with patience hear, and find a time Both meet to hear, and answer, such high things. Than to repute himself a son of Rome, Cas. I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. LESSON CLII.` Address of Brutus to the Romans, justifying his Assassination IBID. of Cæsar. ROMANS, Countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause; and be silent that you may hear. Believe me for mine honor; and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe. Censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him, I say, that Brutus' love to Cæsar was no less than his. If, then, that friend demând why Brutus rose against Cæsar. this is my answer : that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. Not Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves; than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæsar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him. There are tears, for his love; joy, for his fortune; honor, for his valor; and death, for his ambition. - Who 's here so base that would be a bondman? if any, speak; for him have I offended. Who's here so rude, that would not be a Roman? if any, speak; for him have I offended. Who's here so vile, that will not love his country? if any, speak; for him have I offended. -I pause for a reply. None! Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæsar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony; who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive — the benefit of his dying-a place in the com'monwealth; as which of you shall not? With this I depart; that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. LESSON CLIII. Antony's Address to the Romans, exciting them to Revenge the Death of Cæsar.— IBID. FRIENDS, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears: I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. And grievously hath Cæsar answered it. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; You all did see, that, on the Lupercal, I thrice presented him a kingly crown; Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And sure he is an honorable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke; My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar; But yesterday the word of Cresar might Have stood against the world now lies he there, O Masters! If I were disposed to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, wrong, and Cassius wrong, Who, you all know, are honorable men. I will not do them wrong. I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar; I found it in his closet: 't is his will. Let but the commons hear this testament Unto their issue. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. The first time ever Cæsar put it on ; 'Twas on a summer's evening in his tent : That day he overcame the Nerviï: Look! In this place ran Cassius' dagger through:- Even at the base of Pompey's statua,t Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. O what a fall was there, my countrymen! *This double superlative, like "the most straitest sect of our religion " (Acts xxvi. 5), was tolerated by the best English writers, two or three centuries ago. Statua, for statue, is common among the old writers. Then I and you, and all of us, fell down; Kind souls! What, weep you when you but behold here! Good friends! sweet friends! Let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny! They that have done this deed are honorable! What private griefs they have, alas, I know not, I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts! I am no orator, as Brutus is; But, as you know me all, a plain, blunt man, That love my friend- and that they know full well, LESSON CLIV. The Tent-scene between BRUTUS and CASSIUS. Cassius. THAT you have wronged me. doth You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella, appear in this. |