Page 2214 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Enter Octavius’ Servant.
You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?

SERVANT
I do, Mark Antony.

ANTONY
Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.

SERVANT
He did receive his letters and is coming,
And bid me say to you by word of mouth − [280]

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? [285]

SERVANT
He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.

ANTONY
Post back with speed and tell him what hath chanced.
Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet.

Hie hence and tell him so. Yet stay awhile − [290]
Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corpse
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 [295]
To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.

Exeunt with Caesar’s body.