Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare [top ten books of all time txt] 📗

fellow! Servant Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Antony Where is he? Servant He and Lepidus are at Caesar’s house. Antony

And thither will I straight to visit him:
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us anything.

Servant

I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.

Antony

Belike they had some notice of the people,
How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius. Exeunt.

Scene III

A street.

Enter Cinna the poet. Cinna

I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Caesar,
And things unluckily charge my fantasy:
I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.

Enter Citizens. First Citizen What is your name? Second Citizen Whither are you going? Third Citizen Where do you dwell? Fourth Citizen Are you a married man or a bachelor? Second Citizen Answer every man directly. First Citizen Ay, and briefly. Fourth Citizen Ay, and wisely. Third Citizen Ay, and truly, you were best. Cinna What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married man or a bachelor? Then, to answer every man directly and briefly, wisely and truly: wisely I say, I am a bachelor. Second Citizen That’s as much as to say, they are fools that marry: you’ll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly. Cinna Directly, I am going to Caesar’s funeral. First Citizen As a friend or an enemy? Cinna As a friend. Second Citizen That matter is answered directly. Fourth Citizen For your dwelling⁠—briefly. Cinna Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol. Third Citizen Your name, sir, truly. Cinna Truly, my name is Cinna. First Citizen Tear him to pieces; he’s a conspirator. Cinna I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. Fourth Citizen Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses. Cinna I am not Cinna the conspirator. Fourth Citizen It is no matter, his name’s Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. Third Citizen Tear him, tear him! Come, brands ho! fire-brands: to Brutus’, to Cassius’; burn all: some to Decius’ house, and some to Casca’s; some to Ligarius’: away, go! Exeunt. Act IV Scene I

A house in Rome.

Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, seated at a table. Antony These many, then, shall die; their names are prick’d. Octavius Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus? Lepidus I do consent⁠— Octavius Prick him down, Antony. Lepidus

Upon condition Publius shall not live,
Who is your sister’s son, Mark Antony.

Antony

He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.
But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar’s house;
Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.

Lepidus What, shall I find you here? Octavius Or here, or at the Capitol. Exit Lepidus. Antony

This is a slight unmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit,
The three-fold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?

Octavius

So you thought him;
And took his voice who should be prick’d to die,
In our black sentence and proscription.

Antony

Octavius, I have seen more days than you:
And though we lay these honours on this man,
To ease ourselves of diverse slanderous loads,
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way;
And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load, and turn him off,
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears,
And graze in commons.

Octavius

You may do your will;
But he’s a tried and valiant soldier.

Antony

So is my horse, Octavius; and for that
I do appoint him store of provender:
It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,
His corporal motion govern’d by my spirit.
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;
He must be taught and train’d and bid go forth;
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On abjects, orts and imitations,
Which, out of use and staled by other men,
Begin his fashion: do not talk of him,
But as a property. And now, Octavius,
Listen great things:⁠—Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers: we must straight make head:
Therefore let our alliance be combined,
Our best friends made, our means stretch’d;
And let us presently go sit in council,
How covert matters may be best disclosed,
And open perils surest answered.

Octavius

Let us do so: for we are at the stake,
And bay’d about with many enemies;
And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,
Millions of mischiefs. Exeunt.

Scene II

Camp near Sardis. Before Brutus’s tent.

Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, Lucius, and Soldiers; Titinius and Pindarus meeting them. Brutus Stand, ho! Lucilius Give the word, ho! and stand. Brutus What now, Lucilius! is Cassius near? Lucilius

He is at hand; and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation from his master.

Brutus

He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,
In his own change, or by ill officers,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done, undone: but, if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.

Pindarus

I do not doubt
But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.

Brutus

He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius;
How he received you, let me be resolved.

Lucilius

With courtesy and with respect enough;
But not with such familiar instances,
Nor with such free and friendly conference,
As he hath used of old.

Brutus

Thou hast described
A hot friend cooling: ever note, Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
It useth an enforced ceremony.
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith;
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades,
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?

Lucilius

They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter’d;
The greater part, the horse in general,
Are come with Cassius.

Brutus

Hark! he is arrived. Low march within.
March gently on to meet him.

Enter Cassius and his powers. Cassius Stand, ho! Brutus Stand, ho!