By that which he will utter? I will myself into the pulpit first, And fhew the reason of our Cæfar's death: Caf. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Ant. Be it fo; I do defire no more. 1 Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. [Exeunt all but Antony. Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Thou art the ruins of the nobleft man, That ever lived in the tide of times". Woe to the hand that shed this coftly blood! Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, Domeftick - in the tide of times.] That is, in the courfe of times. JoHNSON. • Over thy wounds now do I propbefy, Which, like dumb mouths, &c.] So, in A Warning for faire Women, a tragedy, 1599: I gave him fifteen wounds, "Which now be fifteen mouths that do accufe me: "In every wound there is a bloody tongue, "Which will all speak, although he hold his peace." MALONE. 7 A curse shall light upon the limbs of men ;] He means not mankind ia Domeftick fury, and fierce civil ftrife, That mothers fhall but fmile, when they behold That in general, but thofe Romans whofe attachment to the cause of the confpirators, or wish to revenge Cæfar's death, would expose them to wounds in the civil wars which Antony fuppofes that event would give rife to. The generality of the curfe here predicted, is limited by the fubfequent words," the parts of Italy," and " in thefe confines". MALONE. Antony means that a future curfe fhall commence in diftempera feizing on the limbs of men, and be fucceeded by commotion, crueltie, and defolation all over Italy. So, in Phaer's Verfion of the third Æneid: "The skies corrupted were, that trees and corne destroyed to nought, And limmes of men confuming rottes," &c. Sign. E. 1. And Cafar's fpirit, ranging for revenge, &c.] Fatalem populis ultro pofcentibus horam "Admovet atra dies; Stygiifque emiffa tenebris Stat. Theb. VIII. Furiæ rapuerunt licia Parcis." Ibid. STEEVENS. 9 Cry Havock, &c.] A learned correfpondent has informed me, that, in the military operations of old times, bawock was the word by which declaration was made, that no quarter fhould be given. In a tract intitled, The Office of the Conftable and Marefcball in the Tyme of Werre, contained in the Black Book of the Admiralty, there is the following chapter: "The peyne of hym that crieth bavock and of them that followeth hym, etit. v." Item Si quis inventus fuerit qui clamorem inceperit qui vocatur Havok." "Also that no man be fo hardy as to crye Havok upon peyne that he that is begynner thal be deede therefore: & the remanent that doo the That this foul deed fhall fmell above the earth You ferve Octavius Cæfar, do you not? Ant. Cæfar did write for him, to come to Rome. O Cæfar! [Seeing the body. Ant. Thy heart is big; get thee apart and weep. Paffion, I fee, is catching; for mine eyes', Seeing those beads of forrow stand in thine, Began to water. Is thy mafter coming? Serv. He lies to-night within feven leagues of Rome. Ant. Poft back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd: Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, the fame or folow, fhall lofe their horfe & harneis: and the perfones of fuch as foloweth & efcrien fhal be under arreft of the Coneftable and Marefchall warde unto tyme that they have made fyn; and founde furetie no morr to offende; and his body in prison at the Kyng wyll.—” JOHNSON. See p. 382, n. 1. To let flip a dog at a deer, &c. was the technical phrafe of Shakspeare's time. So, in Coriolanus: "Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash, "To let him flip at will." By the dogs of war, as Mr. Tollet has elsewhere observed, Shakspeare probably meant fire, fword, and famine. So, in K. Henry V. Then fhould the warlike Harry, like nimfelf, "Affume the part of Mars; and, at his heels, "Leafb'd in like bounds, fhould famine, fword, and fire, The fame obfervation, is made by Steele in the TATLER, No. 137. MALONE. for mine eyes,] Old Copy-from mine eyes. Corrected by the editor of the fecond folio. MALONE. 2 No Rome of fafety, &c.] If Shakspeare meant to quibble on the words Rome and room, in this and a former paffage, he is at least countenanced in it by other authors. So, in Heywood's Rape of Lucrece, 1638: "You shall have my room, "My Rome indeed, for what I seem to be, "Brutus is not, but born great Rome to free." STEZVENS. Vol. VII. B b Hie Hie hence, and tell him fo. Yet, ftay a while; Lend me your hand. [Exeunt, with Cæfar's bod Enter BRUTUS, and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens. Cit. We will be fatisfied; let us be fatisfied. Bru. Then follow friends. me, and give me audience, Caffius, go you into the other street, And part the numbers. Those that will hear me speak, let them ftay here; And publick reafons fhall be rendered Of Cæfar's death. 1. Cit. I will hear Brutus fpeak. 2. Cit. I will hear Caffius; and compare their reafons, When severally we hear them rendered. [Exit CASSIUS, with fome of the Citizens. BRUT US goes into the roftrum. 3. Cit. The noble Brutus is afcended: Silence! Bru. Be patient till the laft. Romans, countrymen, and lovers 3! hear me for my caufe; 3- countrymen, and lovers! &c.] There is no where, in all Shakfpeare's works, a stronger proof of his not being what we call a fcholar than this; or of his not knowing any thing of the genius of learned antiquity. This fpeech of Brutus is wrote in imitation of his famed laconic brevity, and is very fine in its kind; but no more like that brevity, than his times were like Brutus's. The ancient laconic brevity was fimple, natural, and eafy this is quaint, artificial, gingling, and abounding with forced antitheíes. In a word, a brevity, that for its falfe eloquence would have fuited any character, and for its good fense would caufe; and be filent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honour; and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe cenfure me in your wisdom; and awake your fenfes, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this affembly, any dear friend of Cæfar's, to him I fay, that Brutus' love to Cæfar was no less than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rofe against Cæfar, this is my answer,-Not that I loved Cæfar lefs, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæfar were living, and die all flaves; than that Cæfar were dead, to live all free men? As Cæfar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I flew him: There is tears, for his love; joy, for his fortune; honour, for his valour; and death, for his ambition. Who is here fo base, that would be a bond-man? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo vile, that will not love his country? If any, fpeak; for him have I offended. I paufe for a reply. Cit. None, Brutus, none. [Several Speaking at once. Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cæfar, than you should do to Brutus. The queftion of his death is enroll'd in the Capitol: his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he fuffer'd death. Enter ANTONY, ana Others, with Cæfar's body. Here comes his body, mourn'd by Mark Antony: who, though he had no hand in his death, fhall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; As would have become the greatest of our author's time; but yet, in a ftile of declaiming, that fits as ill upon Brutus as our author's trowfers or collar-band would have done. WARBURTON. This artificial gingle of fhort fentences was affected by most of the orators in Shakspeare's time, whether in the pulpit or at the bar. The fpeech of Brutus may therefore be regarded rather as an imitation of the falfe eloquence then in vogue, than as a specimen of laconic brevity. |
