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52  [Aside to Brutus.] You know not what you do; do not consent 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, 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 shall 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. 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 all 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.

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.

Exeunt all but Antony.

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 man 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 