e text of the Folios. In the light of
Casca's sentiments expressed in I, iii, 100-102, this speech
is more characteristic of him than of Cassius. Pope also gave
Casca ll. 106-111.]

[Page 89]

BRUTUS. How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport, 115
That now on Pompey's basis lies along
No worthier than the dust!

CASSIUS. So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave their country liberty.

DECIUS. What, shall we forth?

CASSIUS. Ay, every man away: 120
Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.

_Enter a_ Servant

BRUTUS. Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's.

[Note 115: BRUTUS | Casc. Pope.]

[Note 116: /lies/ F3 F4 | lye F1.]

[Note 117: /CASSIUS/ | Bru. Pope.]

[Note 116: "Caesar ... was driven ... by the counsel of the
conspirators, against the base whereupon Pompey's image stood,
which ran all of a gore-blood till he was slain."--Plutarch,
_Julius Caesar_.]

[Note 117-119: This speech and the two preceding,
vaingloriously anticipating the stage celebrity of the deed,
are very strange; and, unless there be a shrewd irony lurking
in them, it is hard to understand the purpose of them. Their
effect is to give a very ambitious air to the work of these
professional patriots, and to cast a highly theatrical color
on their alleged virtue, as if they had sought to immortalize
themselves by "striking the foremost man of all this world."]

[Note 122: /most boldest./ See Abbott, Sect. 11. So in III, ii,
182.]

[Note 123: /_Enter a_ Servant./ "This simple stage direction
is the ... turning-round of the whole action; the arch has
reached its apex and the Re-action has begun."--Moulton.]

[Page 90]

SERVANT. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down; 125
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say I love Brutus and I honour him;
Say I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him, and lov'd him. 130
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolv'd
How Caesar hath deserv'd to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead
So well as Brutus living; but will follow 135
The fortunes and affairs of nob