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Scene

II.

And dreadful objects so familiar,

JULIUS CESAR.

That mothers shall but smile, when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
All pity chok'd with custom of fell deeds:
And Cesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Até 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 ; +
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Enter a SERVANT.

You serve Octavius Cesar, do you not?
Serv. I do, Mark Antony.

41

offended. Who is here so vile that would not love his country? If any, speak; for him bave I offended. I pause for a reply.

Cit. None, Brutus, none.

[Several speaking at once. I have Bru. Then none have I offended. done no more to Cesar, than you should do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol his glory not extenuated wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death.

Enter ANTONY and others with CESAR'S Body.

Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony:
who, though he had no hand in his death, shall

Ant. Cesar did write for him to come to Rome.
Serv. He did receive his letters, and is com-receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the

ing:

And bid me say to you by word of mouth.-
O Cesar!--

[Seeing the Body
Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.
Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes,
Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,
Began to water. Is thy master coming?
Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of
Rome.

Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what
hath chanc'd:

Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;

Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay a while;
Thou shalt not back, till I have borne this corse
Into the market-place: there shall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men;
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.

[Exeunt with CESAR's Body.

SCENE II.-The same.-The Forum. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of CITIZENS.

Cit. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.
Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience,
friends.-

Cassius, go you into the other street,
And part the numbers.-

[here;

Those that will hear me speak, let them stay
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him ;
And public reasons shall be rendered

Of Cesar's death.

1 Cit. I will hear Brutus speak.

2 Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons,

When severally we hear them rendered.

[Exit CASSIUS, with some of the CITIZENS.
BRUTUS goes into the Rostrum.

commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this I depart; That, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need

iny death.

Cit. Live, Brutus, live! live!

1 Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his

house.

2 Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors. 3 Cit. Let him be Cesar.

4 Cit. Cesar's better parts Shall now be crown'd in Brutus.

1 Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.

Bru. My countrymen,

2 Cit. Peace! silence! Brutus speaks.
1 Cit. Peace, ho!

Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:
Do grace to Cesar's corse, and grace his speech
Tending to Cesar's glories; which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow'd to make.

I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

[Exit.

1 Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. 3 Cit. Let him go up into the public chair; We'll hear him :-Noble Antony, go up.

Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you. 4 Cit. What does he say of Brutus ? 3 Cit. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholden to us all.

4 Cit. "Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.

1 Cit. This Cesar was a tyrant.

3 Cit. Nay, that's certain:

We are bless'd, that Rome is rid of him.

2 Cit. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say.
Ant. You gentle Romans,-~~
Cit. Peace, ho! let us hear him.
Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend mé

your ears;

I come to bury Cesar, not to praise him. 3 Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended: Silence! The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones. Bru. Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for So let it be with Cesar. The noble Brutus my cause, and be silent, that you may hear: be- Hath told you Cesar was ambitious: lieve me for mine honour, and have respect to If it were so, it was a grievous fault, mine honour, that you may believe: censure me And grievously hath Cesar answer'd it. in your wisdom, and awake your senses, that you Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest, may the better judge. If there be any in this (For Brutus is an honourable man; assembly, any dear friend of Cesar's, to him I So are they all, all honourable men ;) say, That Brutus' love to Cesar was no less than Come I to speak in Cesar's funeral. his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus He was my friend, faithful and just to me: rose against Cesar, this is my answer :-Not that But Brutus says he was ambitious; I loved Cesar less, but that I loved Rome more. And Brutus is an honourable man. Had you rather Cesar were living, and die all He hath brought many captives home to Rome, slaves, than that Cesar were dead, to live all free-Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: men? As Cesar loved me, I weep for him; As Did this in Cesar seem ambitious? he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was va- When that the poor have cried, Cesar hath wept : liant, I honour him; but, as he was ambitious, Ambition should be made of sterner stuff': I slew him: There are tears for his love; joy Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; for his fortune; honour for his valour; and death And Brutus is an honourable man. for his ambition. Who is here so base, that You all did see that, on the Lupercal, would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Was this ambition have I offended. Who is here so rude, that would which he did thrice refus not be a Roman ? If any, speak; for him have I Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;

The signal for giving no quarter. + Fire, sword, and famine.

• Friend

G

And sure he is an honourable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause;
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?
O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason!-Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Cesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.

Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his
sayings.

Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cesar has had great wrong.

3 Cit. Has he, masters?

I fear there will a worse come in his place. 4 Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown;

Therefore, 'tis certain he was not ambitious. 1 Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it. 2 Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.

3 Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than Antony.

4 Cit. Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
Ant. But yesterday, the word of Cesar might
Have stood against the world: now lies he there,
And none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters! if I were dispos'd to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself, and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men.

But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cesar;
I found it in his closset; 'tis his will:
Let but the commons hear this testament,
(Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,)

Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them

now.

You all do know this mantle : I remember
The first time ever Cesar put it on:
'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,
That day he overcaine the Nervii :-
Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through :
See, what a rent the envious Casca made:
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabu'd,
Aud, as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Cesar follow'd it;
As rushing out of doors, to be resolv'd
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd or no;
(For Brutus, as you know, was Cesar's angel)
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cesar lov'd him!
This was the mos enkindest cut of all:
For, when the noble Cesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong thau traitor's arms,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his nighty
heart;

And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statua
Which all the while ran blood, + great Cesar fell.
Oh! what a fall was there, my countrymen !
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
Oh! now you weep and I perceive you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what, weep you, when you but beho'd
Our Cesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd as you see, with trai-

tors.

:

1 Cit. O piteous spectacle !
2 Cit. O noble Cesar!
3 Cit. O woeful day!

4 Cit. O traitors, villains!
1 Cit. O most bloody sight!

2 Cit. We will be revenged revenge; about,

And they would go and kiss dead Cesar's wounds. -seek,-burn,-tire,-kill,-slay !-let not a trai

And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,

Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,

And, dying, mention it within their wills, Bequeathing it as a rich legacy

Unto their issue.

4 Cit. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Antony.

Cit. The will! the will! we will hear Cesar's will.

Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not

read it;

It is not meet you know how Cesar lov'd you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men ;
And, being men, bearing the will of Cesar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad :
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs ;
For, if you should, oh! what would come of it?
4 Cit. Read the will: we will hear it, Antony;
You shall read us the will; Cesar's will.

Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay a
I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it. [while ?
I fear I wrong the honourable men,
Whose daggers have stabb'd Cesar: I do fear it.
4 Cit. They were traitors: Honourable men!
Cit. The will! the testament !

2 Cit. They were villains, murderers: The will! read the will!

Ant. You will compel me then to read the will?

Then make a ring about the corse of Cesar, And let me show you him that made the will. Shall I descend? And will you give me leave? Cit. Come down.

2 Cit. Descend.

[He comes down from the Pulpit. 3 Cit. You shall have leave. 4 Cit. A ring; stand round.

1 Cit. Stand from the herse, stand from the body.

2 Cit. Room for Antony ;-most noble Antony. Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far

off.

Cit. Stand back! room! bear back!

All are too proud to shew him any respect. Said more than I intended.

tor live.

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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,
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;
Show you sweet Cesar's wounds, poor, poor
dumb mouths,

And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Cesar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
Cit. We'll mutiny.

1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus.
3 Cit. Away then, come, seek the conspirators.
Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me

speak.

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Cit. Most true ;--the will hear the will.

let's stay, and / pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

Ant. Here is the will, and under Cesar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives,

To every several man, seventy-five drachmas. ⚫ 2 Cit. Most noble Cesar !-we'll revenge his

death.

3 Cit. O royal Cesar!

Ant. Hear me with patience.

Cit. Peace, ho!

3 Cit. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, ho! fire-brands. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Cas[Exeunt. ca's; some to Ligarius': away; go.

ACT IV.

Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, SCENE 1.-The same. A room in ANTONY'S His private arbours, and new-planted orchards,

On this side Tyber; he hath left them you,

House.

And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures, † ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.

Here was a Cesar: When comes such another?

1 Cit. Never, never :-Come, away, away: We'll burn his body in the holy place,

And with the brands fire the traitor's houses.
Take up the body.

2 Cit. Go, fetch fire.

3 Cit. Pluck down benches.

4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. [Exeunt CITIZENS, with the Body. Ant. Now let it work : Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!-How now, fellow ?

Enter a SERVANT.

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

Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cesar's house. Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him: He comes upon a wish. 1 Fortune is merry, And in this mood will give us any thing.

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 inov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt.

SCENE 111.-The same.-A street.
Enter CINNA, the Poet.

Cin. I dreamt to night, that I did feast with
Cesar,

And things unluckily 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?

Tuble.

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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 Cesar's house;
Fetch the will hither, and we will determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
Lep. What, shall I find you here?
Oct. Or here, or at

The Capitol.

[Exit LEPIDUs. 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?

Oct. So you thought him;

And took his voice who should be prick'd to die, In our black sentence and proscription.

Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you; And though we lay these honours 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. You may do your will;

But he's a tried and valiant soldier.

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;

4 Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.

2 (it. Answer every man directly.

1 Cit. Ay, and briefly.

4 Cit. Ay, and wisely.

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

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. Wisely I say, ama bachelor.

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 Cesar'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. 1 am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the

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And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth;
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On objects, arts, and imitations;
Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men,
Begin his fashion: Do not talk of him,
But as a property. And now, Octavius,
Listen great things.-Brutus and Cassius,
Are levying powers: we must straight inake head :
Therefore, let our alliance be combin'd,
Our best friends made, and our best means
stretch'd out;

And let us presently go sit in council,
How covert matters may be best disclos'd,
And open perils surest answered.

Oct. Let us do so: for we are at the stake,
And bay'd about with many enemies;
And sorae, that smile, have in their hearts, I fear
Millions of mischief.
[Exeunt.

SCENE 11-Before BRUTUS' Tent, in the Camp near Sardis.

Drum.-Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers : TITINIUS and PINDARUS meeting them. Bru. Stand here.

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,My mind is oppressed with ill-omens و

Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand. Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near? Luc. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master.

Are much condemn'd to have an itching pala
To sell and mart your oflices for gold,
To undeservers.

Cas. I an itching palm ?

You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Pin-Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last. [darus, Bra. The name of Cassius honours this corruption,

[PINDARUS gives a letter to BRUTUS. Bru. He greets me well.-Your master, 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 honour.

Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius:
How he received you, let me be resolv'd.
Luc. 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 describ'd

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,
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?
Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be
quarter'd ;

The greater part, the horse in general,
Are come with Cassius.

Bru. Hark, he is arriv'd :March gently on to meet him.

[March within.

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And chastisement doth therefore hide his head. Cas. Chastisement !

Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember!

Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world,
But for supporting robbers-shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honours,
For so much trash as may be grasped thus 7-
I'd rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman.

Cas. Brutus, bay not me,

I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in; I am a soldier, I
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions. +

Bru. Go to; you're not, Cassius.
Cas. I am.

Bru. I say, you are not.

Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health, tempt me no fur

ther.

Bru. Away, slight man!

Cas. Is't possible?

Bru. Hear me, for I will speak.

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

Cas. O gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this ?

Bru. All this! ay, more: Fret till your proud heart break;

Go, show your slaves how choleric you are,
And make your bondinen tremble. Must I budge ↑
Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humour? By the gods,
You shail 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.

Cas. Is it come to this?

Bru. You say, you are a better soldier: Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, And it shall please ine well: For mine own part I shall be glad to learn of nobler men.

Cas. You wrong me every way, you wrong me,
Brutus ;

I said an elder soldier not a better:
Did I say, better?

Bru. If you did, I care not.

Cas. When Cesar liv'd he durst not thus have

mov'd me.

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Cas. What? durst not tempt him?
Bru. For your life you durst not.

Cus. Do not presume too much upon my love,

I may do that I shall be sorry for.
Bru. You have done that you should be sorry
for.

There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats:
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty,
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you

For 1 can raise no money by vile means;
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me ;-

By heaven I had rather coin my heart,
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
By any indirection. I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions,

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A friend should bear his friend's infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not, till you practise them on me. Cas. You love me not.

Bru. I do not like your faults.

Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults,

Bru. A flatterer's would not though they do appear

As huge as high Olympus.

Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius! For Cassius is aweary of the world: Hated by one he loves; bray'd by his brother; Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observ'd, Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote, To cast into my teeth. Oh! I could weep My spirit from mine eyes!-There is my dagger, And here my naked breast; within, a heart Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold: If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth; I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart : Strike, as thou didst at Cesar; for I know, When thou didst hate him worse, thou lovd'st him better.

Than ever thon lov'st Cassius.

Bru. Sheath your dagger:

Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
That carries anger, as the flint bears fire;
Which, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.

Cas. Hath Cassius liv'd

To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him?

Bru. When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd

too.

Cas. Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.

Bru. And my heart too.

Cas. O Brutus !

Bru. What's the matter?

Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with

me,

[me, When that rash humour which my mother gave Makes me forgetful?

Bru. Yes, Cassius! and, henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so. [Noise within.

Poet. Within.] Let me go in to see the generals;

There is some grudge between them, 'tis not meet They be alone.

Luc. [Within.] You shall not come to them. Poet. [Within.] Nothing but death shall stay me.

Enter POET.

Cas. How now? What's the matter?

Poet. For shame, you generals: What do you mean?

Love, and be friends, as two such men should be; For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye. Cas. Ha, ha; how vilely doth this cynic rhyme !

Bru. Get you hence, Sirrah: saucy fellow, hence.

Cas. Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion.

• Rent.

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Bru. With what addition? Mess. That by proscription, and bills of outOctavius, Antony, and Lepidus, [lawry, Have put to death a hundred senators.

Bru. Therein our letters do not well agree; Mine speak of seventy senators, that died By their proscriptions, Cicero being one. Cas. Cicero one?

Mess. Ay, Cicero is dead,

And by that order of proscription,-
Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
Bru. No, Messala.

Mes. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her ?

Bru. Nothing, Messala.

Mess. That, methinks, is strange.
Bru. Why ask you? Hear you aught of her
in yours?
Mess. No, my lord.

Jig, signified a metrical composition.
1 A term of reproach.

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