Think of this life; but, for my sin

gle self

I had as lief not be, as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
I was born free as Cæsar; so were
you:

We both have fed as well; and we can both

Endure the winter's cold, as well as he.

For once upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,

Cæsar said to me," Dar'st thou, Cassius, now

Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point?" Upon the word,

Accoutred as I was, I plunged in, And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did.

The torrent roared, and we did buffet it

With lusty sinews; throwing it aside, And stemming it with hearts of controversy.

But ere we could arrive the point proposed,

As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth

amaze me,

A man of such a feeble temper should

So get the start of the majestic world,
And bear the palm alone.
Why, man, he doth bestride the
narrow world,

Like a Colossus; and we petty men Walk under his huge legs, and peep about

To find ourselves dishonorable graves. Men at some time are masters of their fates;

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our

stars

But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

Brutus and Cæsar: What should be in that Cæsar?

Why should that name be sounded more than yours?

Write them together, yours is as fair

a name;

Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;

Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with them,

Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.

Now in the names of all the gods at once,

Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed,

That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed:

Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!

When went there by an age, since the great flood,

But it was famed with more than with one man? When could they say, till now, that talked of Rome,

That her wide walls encompassed but one man?

Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,

When there is in it but one only

ANTONY OVER THE DEAD

BODY OF CÆSAR.

Antony. - FRIENDS, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears:

I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him.

The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones;

So let it be with Cæsar. The noble Brutus

Hath told you Cæsar was ambitious; If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answered it.

Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest,

(For Brutus is an honorable man;
So are they all, all honorable men ;)
Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just

Citizen. We'll hear the will;
Read it. Mark Antony.
Citizen. The will, the will; we
will hear Cæsar's will.
Antony. Have patience, gentle

friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cæsar loved you.

You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;

And being men, hearing the will of Cæsar,

It will inflame you, it will make you mad:

'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs,

For if you should, O, what would come of it!

Cit.

Read the will; we will hear it, Antony,

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,

That made them do it; they are wise and honorable,

And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.

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

That gave me public leave to speak. of him.

For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,

nor the

Action, nor utterance, power of speech, To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;

I tell you that which you yourselves do know;

Show you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths, And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus,

Dauphin. -Your grace shall pardon me, I will not back; I am too high-born to be propertied, To be a secondary at control, Or useful serving-man and instrument,

To any sovereign state throughout the world.

Your breath first kindled the dead coal of wars,

Between this chástised kingdom and myself,

And brought in matter that should feed this fire;

And now 'tis far too huge to be blown out

With that same weak wind which enkindled it.

You taught me how to know the face of right,

Acquainted me with interest to this land,

Yea, thrust this enterprise into my

heart;

Have I not heard these islanders shout out,

Vive le roy! as I have banked their towns?

Have I not here the best cards for the game,

To win this easy match played for a crown?

And shall I now give o'er the yielded set?

No, on my soul, it never shall be said.

Outside or inside, I will not return

Till my attempt so much be glorified

As to my ample hope was promisèd Before I drew this gallant head of

war,

To sue his livery, and beg his peace; With tears of innocency, and terms

of zeal,