II, ii, 196. See Abbott, Sect.
193.]
[Note 272: Ate was the Greek goddess of vengeance, discord,
and mischief. Shakespeare refers to her in _King John_, II, i,
63, as "stirring to blood and strife." In _Love's Labour's
Lost_, V, ii, 694, and _Much Ado about Nothing_, II, i, 263,
the references to her are humorous.]
[Note 274: 'Havoc' was anciently the word of signal for giving
no quarter in a battle. It was a high crime for any one to
give the signal without authority from the general in chief;
hence the peculiar force of 'monarch's voice.'--To 'let slip'
a dog was a term of the chase, for releasing the hounds from
the 'slip' or leash of leather whereby they were held in hand
till it was time to let them pursue the animal.--The 'dogs of
war' are fire, sword, and famine. So in _King Henry V_, First
Chorus, 6-8:
at his heels,
Leash'd in like hounds, should famine, sword, and fire,
Crouch for employment.]
[Page 98]
_Enter a_ 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; 280
And bid me say to you by word of mouth--
O Caesar! [_Seeing the body_]
ANTONY. Thy heart is big; get thee apart and weep.
Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes,
[Note 277: _Enter_ ... | Enter Octavio's Servant Ff.]
[Note 282: [_Seeing the body_] Rowe | Ff omit.]
[Note 284: /catching/; for F2 F3 F4 | catching from F1.]
[Page 99]
Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, 285
Began to water. Is thy master coming?
SERVANT. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome.
ANTONY. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd.
Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet; 290
Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay awhile;
Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse
Into the market-place: there shall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men; 295
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand. [_Exeunt with_ CAESAR'S _body_]
SCENE II. _The Forum_
_Enter_ BRUTUS _and_ CASSIUS, _and a throng of_ Citizens
CITIZENS.
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