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Servant:
He did receive his letters, and is coming,
And bid me say to you by word of mouth,—
(Seeing the body.) O Caesar!
Antony:
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?
Servant:
He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.
Antony:
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 awhile;
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 Caesar’s body.)
Scene Two: The same. The Forum.
Enter Brutus and goes into the pulpit, and Cassius, with a throng of Citizens.
Citizens:
We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.
Brutus:
Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.
Cassius, go you into the other street
And part the numbers.
Those that will hear me speak, let ’em stay here;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
And public reasons shall be rendered
Of Caesar’s death.
First Citizen:
I will hear Brutus speak.
Second Citizen:
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.)
Third Citizen:
The noble Brutus is ascended: silence!