[Aside to Brutus.] You know not what you do; do not consent232
That Antony speak in his funeral:
Know you how much the people may be mov'd
By that which he will utter?
Bru.By your pardon;
I will myself into the pulpit first,236
And show the reason of our Cæsar's death:
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission,
And that we are contented Cæsar shall240
Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not.
Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar's body.244
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar,
And say you do 't by our permission;
Else shall you not have any hand at all248
About his funeral; and you shall speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am going.
After my speech is ended.
Ant.Be it so;
I do desire no more.252
Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.
Ant. O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers;
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man256
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
235 By . . . pardon: pardon me a moment, and I'll explain
238 protest: announce
257 tide of times: ebb and flow of human existence
