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 loves his friend: and that they know full weli
That gave me public leave to speak of him:
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
That Cæsar lov'd you; that you are his heirs ;
—Yes,―he hath given to every Roman citizen,
To every several man, seventy-five drachmas ;
Moreover, he hath left you all his walks
On that side Tiber,—he hath left them to you,
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.

My countrymen, I have no power to move you:

I show you Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor, dumb mouths,
And bid them speak. 'Tis true, if I were Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Cæsar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
Why, friends, you go to do you know not what!
If, in the holy place, you burn the body,
And fire the traitors' houses with the brands,
'Tis not my counsel: but you are not wood,
You are not stones; and mischief, once afoot,
Must take what course it will.

THE VARIOUS CHARACTER AND SIMILAR FATE OF THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN CESAR'S DEATH INDICATED BY SCENES SUPPOSED TO OCCUR IN THE CAMP OF BRUTUS AT SARDIS; AND ON THE PLAINS OF PHILIPPI.

HISTORICAL MEMORANDA.

The death of Cæsar was almost immediately followed by the flight of the conspirators from the city, in order to avoid the dangers which menaced them through the excited indignation of the people.

Brutus and Cassius hastened to take the command of provinces to which the senate, before Cæsar's death, had appointed them. But while Antony, remaining in the city, was raising himself, by every means of art and force, to the high station from which Cæsar had been precipitated, he met with a rival in the young Octavius, nephew and adopted son of the late Cæsar. Rendered enemies by their common ambition, these two men, after various efforts to circumvent and overthrow each other, were at length reconciled by the mediation of Lepidus; and with him, forming the second triumvirate, agreed to make common cause against Brutus and Cassius, who were at the head of powerful armies in Syria, and preparing to march into Europe. These events occupied the space of about two years; and a few months more saw the tragedy concluded "which the ides of March began," the fate which befel the principal conspirators, with some little variation of circumstances, following all, as far as history has traced their lives, who had taken part in the transaction of that memorable day. The only exception seems to have been Messala, who, although included in one of the proscriptions, contrived to escape.

We are to imagine the camp of Brutus at Sardis in Asia Minor: Brutus is in conversation with Titinius, who has just returned from Cassius, and brought with him the bondman of the latter. The two camps had hitherto

been at some distance apart.

[Brutus.] Now say, Titinius, is Cassius near?

[Titinius.] He is at hand; and here is Pindarus you salutation from his master.

To do

[Brutus.] Your master, Pindarus, hath given me cause
To wish some things undone, that have been done:
But if he be at hand, I shall be satisfied.

A word, Titinius;-let me be resolv'd
How he receiv'd you

[Titinius.] With courtesy and with respect enough;
But not with such familiar importunity,

Nor with such free and friendly conference,
As he hath us'd of old.

[Brutus.] Thou hast describ’d

A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Titinius,
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?

[Titinius.] Yes; this night at Sardis will they quarter
The greater part; the horse, in general,

Are come with Cassius: hark, those are his trumpets :
He is arriv'd: and see, what hasty steps

Bear him this way.

[Brutus.] I'll wait till he shall speak.

[a pause.]

[Cassius.] Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. [Brutus.] Judge me, ye gods!-wrong I mine enemies? And if not so, how should I wrong a brother?

[Cassius.] Brutus, that sober form of yours hides wrongs, And when you do them,

[Brutus.] Cassius, be patient:

Speak your griefs softly,-I do know you well:
Before the eyes of both our armies here

Let us not wrangle: bid them move away;
Then, in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.

[Cassius.] Pindarus,

Bid our commander's lead their charges off
A little from the ground.

[Brutus.] Titinius, do the like; and let no man

Come to my tent till we have done our conference.

Cassius follows Brutus to the interior of the tent:

[Cassius.] That you have wrong'd me, doth appear in this; You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella,

For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein my letters praying on his side,

Because I knew the man, were slighted off.

[Brutus.] You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case.

[Cassius.] In such a time as this, it is not meet

That every nice offence should bear its comment.
[Brutus.] But let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm
To sell and mart your offices for gold

To undeservers.

[Cassius.] I an itching palm!

You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last! [Brutus.] The name of Cassius honours this corruption, And chastisement doth therefore hide its head.

[Cassius.] Chastisement!

[Brutus.] Remember March,-the ides of March remember: Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?

What, shall one of us

That struck the foremost man of all the world,
But for supporting robbers,―shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty meed of our large honours
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?-
I ha'd rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman!

[Cassius.] Brutus, bay not me;

I'll not endure it: I a'm a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.

[Brutus.] Go to! you are not Cassius.

[Cassius.] I am.

[Brutus.] I say you are not.

[Cassius.] Urge me no more; I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health; tempt me no further.

[Brutus.] Away, slight man!

[Cassius.] Is 't possible?

[Brutus.] Hear me, for I will speak.

Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?

[Cassius.] Ye gods! ye gods!-must I endure all this?

[Brutus.] All this ?-ay, more: fret till your proud heart
Go, show your slaves how choleric you are, [break;
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humour? Never, Cassius:
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,
I'll use you for my mirth,-yea, for my laughter,-
When you are waspish.

[Cassius.] Is it come to this?

[Brutus.] You say, you are a better soldier:

Let it appear so ;-make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well: for mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.

[Cass.] You wrong me every way, you wrong me,
I said an elder soldier, not a better:

Did I say better?

[Brutus.] If you did, I care not.

Brutus ;

[Cass.] When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd me.

[Brutus.] Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him. [Cassius.] I durst not?

[Brutus.] No.

[Cassius.] What! durst not tempt him?

[Brutus.] For your life, you durst not.

[Cassius.] Do not presume too much upon my love: I may do what I shall be sorry for.

[Brutus.] You have done what you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;