Cas. Brutus, a word with you.[3253]
[Aside to Bru.] You know not what you do: do not consent[3254]
That Antony speak in his funeral:
Know you how much the people may be moved 235
By that which he will utter?[3255]
Bru. By your pardon:
I will myself into the pulpit first,
And show the reason of our Cæsar's death:
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission, 240
And that we are contented Cæsar shall
Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.[3256]
It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not.[3257]
Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar's body.[3258] 245
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar;
And say you do't by our permission;
Else shall you not have any hand at all[3259]
About his funeral: and you shall speak 250
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.
Ant. Be it so;
I do desire no more.
Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.
[Exeunt all but Antony.[3260]
Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,[3261] 255
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood![3262]
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy, 260
Which like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue,
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;[3263]
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy; 265
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;[3264]
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds: 270
And Cæsar's spirit ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;[3265]
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth 275
With carrion men, groaning for burial.[3266]
Enter a Servant.
You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not?