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424

Ant. Now let it work. - Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt! - How now,

Enter a Servant

Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
Ant. Where is he?

Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house.
Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him.
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us any thing.

fellow?

Serv. I heard him say Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
Ant. Belike they had some notice of the people,
How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.

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Enter CINNA, the Poet

Cin. I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Cæsar,

And things unlucky charge my fantasy.

I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.

Enter Citizens

1 Cit. What is your name?

2 Cit. Whither are you going?

3. Cit. Where do

you

dwell?

4 Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor?

2 Cit. Answer every man directly.

1 Lit Ay and briefly.

[Exeunt.

4 Cit. Ay, and wisely.

3 Cit. Ay, and truly, you were best.

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Cin. 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.

I am a bachelor.

Wisely, I say,

2 Cit. That's as much as to say, they are fools that marry; you'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly.

Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral.

1 Cit. As a friend, or an enemy?

Cin. As a friend.

2 Cit. That matter is answered directly.

4 Cit. For your dwelling, briefly.

Cin. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol. 3 Cit. Your name, sir, truly.

Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna.

1 Cit. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator.

Cin. I am Cinna the poet; I am Cinna the poet.

4 Cit. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses. Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator.

2 Cit. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

3 Cit. Tear him, tear him! Come, brands, ho! Firebrands! To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away! Go!

[Exeunt.

SCENE I.

ACT IV

Rome. A Room in ANTONY'S House.

ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a table

Ant. These many, then, shall die; their names are pricked.
Oct. Your brother too must die. Consent you, Lepidus?
Lep. I do consent.

Oct.

Prick him down, Antony.

Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live,

Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.

Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.

But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house;

Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine

How to cut off some charge in legacies.

Lep. What, shall I find you here?

Oct. Or here or at the Capitol.

Ant. 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?

[Exit LEPIDUS.

So you thought him,
Oct.
And took his voice who should be pricked to die
In our black sentence and proscription.

Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you;
And though we lay these honors on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers 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.

Oct.

But he's a tried and valiant soldier:

You may do your will;

Ant. 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 governed by my spirit.
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;

He must be taught, and trained, and bid go forth
A barren-spirited fellow, one that feeds

On objects, arts, 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,

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Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius

Are levying powers: we must straight make head.

Therefore let our alliance be combined,

Our best friends made, and our best means stretched out;

And let us presently go sit in council,

How covert matters may be best disclosed,

And open perils surest answered.

Oct. Let us do so, for we are at the stake,

And bayed about with many enemies;

And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,
Millions of mischiefs.

427

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. Before BRUTUS's Tent, in the Camp near Sardis

Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers;
PINDARUS meets them; LUCIUS at a distance

Bru. Stand, ho!

Lucil. Give the word, ho! And stand.

Bru. What now, Lucilius? Is Cassius near? Lucil. He is at hand, and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master.

[PINDARUS gives a letter to Brutus.

Bru. 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.

Pin.

I do not doubt

But that my noble master will appear

Such as he is, full of regard and honor.

Bru. He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius:

How he received you, let me be resolved.

Lucil. 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.

Bru.

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,

B

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