Bru. Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's.[3222]
Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;[3223]
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down; 125
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:[3224]
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant and honest;
Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal and loving:[3225]
Say I love Brutus and I honour him;
Say I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him and loved him. 130
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him and be resolved
How Cæsar hath deserved to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Cæsar dead
So well as Brutus living, but will follow 135
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.[3226]
Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
I never thought him worse.[3227] 140
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied and, by my honour,
Depart untouch'd.
Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit.[3228]
Bru. I know that we shall have him well to friend.
Cas. I wish we may: but yet have I a mind[3229] 145
That fears him much, and my misgiving still
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.[3230]
Re-enter Antony.
Bru. But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.[3231]
Ant. O mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low?[3232]
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, 150
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Cæsar's death's hour, nor no instrument[3233] 155
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,[3234]
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years, 160
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
No place will please me so, no mean of death,[3235]
As here by Cæsar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
Bru. O Antony, beg not your death of us. 165
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands and this our present act,
You see we do; yet see you but our hands
And this the bleeding business they have done:
Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; 170
And pity to the general wrong of Rome—
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—
Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part,[3236]
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:[3236]
Our arms in strength of malice, and our hearts[3237] 175
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in[3238]
With all kind love, good thoughts and reverence.