Page 2207 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Fled to his house amazed.
Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run,
As it were doomsday.

BRUTUS
Fates, we will know your pleasures.
That we shall die we know; ’tis but the time,

And drawing days out, that men stand upon. [100]

CASCA
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.

BRUTUS
Grant that, and then is death a benefit.

So are we Caesar’s friends, that have abridged
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop, [105]
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar’s blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords.
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,

And waving our red weapons o’er our heads,
Let’s all cry ‘Peace, freedom, and liberty!’ [110]

CASSIUS
Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over

In states unborn and accents yet unknown!

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

CASSIUS
So oft as that shall be,

So often shall the knot of us be called
The men that gave their country liberty.