You all did love him once, not without cause; 1. Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his fayings. 2. Cit. If thou confider rightly of the matter, Cæfar has had great wrong. 3. Cit. Has he, masters? I fear, there will a worse come in his place. 4. Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown; Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious. 1. Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it. 2. Cit. Poor foul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than Antony. 4. Cit. Now mark him, he begins again to speak. 3. Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæfar might Have ftood against the world: now lies he there, And none fo poor to do him reverence. 6 O mafters! if I were difpos'd to fir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, And, The meaneft man is now too high to do reverence to Cæfar. 7 i. e. their handkerchiefs. Napery was the ancient term for all kinds of linen. Napkin is the northern term for bandkerchief, and is ufed in this fenfe at this day in Scotland. Our authour frequently uses the word. And, dying, mention it within their wills, Unto their iffue. 4. Cit. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Antony. Cit. The will, the will; we will hear Cæfar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cæfar lov'd you. You are not wood, you are not ftones, but men; And, being men, hearing the will of Cæfar, It will inflame you, it will make you mad: 'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs ; For if you should, O, what would come of it! 4. Cit. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony; You fhall read us the will; Cæfar's will. Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay a while? I have o'er-fhot myself, to tell you of it. I fear, I wrong the honourable men, Whofe daggers have stabb'd Cæfar: I do fear it. 4. Cit. They were traitors: Honourable men! Cit. The will! the teftament! 2. Cit. They were villains, murderers: The will! read the will! Ant. You will compel me then to read the will? 2. Cit. Defcend. [He comes down from the pulpit. 4. Cit. A ring; ftand round. 1. Cit. Stand from the hearfe, ftand from the body. Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. The first time ever Cæfar put it on; 'Twas on a fummer's evening, in his tent; Look! in this place, ran Caffius' dagger through: D See See, what a rent the envious Cafca made: For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, Even at the base of Pompey's ftatue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæfar fell. 2. Cit. O noble Cæfar! 3. Cit. O woeful day! 4. Cit. O traitors, villains! 1. Cit. O most bloody fight! 2. Cit. We will be reveng'd: revenge; about,-feek, -burn,-fire,-kill,-flay!-let not a traitor live. Ant. Stay, countrymen. 1. Cit. Peace there:-Hear the noble Antony. 2. Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him. Ant. Good friends, fweet friends, let me not ftir you up To fuch a fudden flood of mutiny. They, that have done this deed, are honourable; What 8 The image feems to be, that the blood of Cæfar few upon the ftatue, and trickled down it. 9 The dint of pity :] is the impression of pity. What private griefs they have, alas, I know not, I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts; I am no orator, as Brutus is: But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, i. Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus. 3. Cit. Away then, come, feek the confpirators. Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me fpeak. Cit. Peace, ho! Hear Antony, moft noble Antony. Ant. Why friends, you go to do you know not what; Wherein hath Cæfar thus deferv'd your loves? Alas, you know not:-I must tell you You have forgot the will I told you of. then : Cit. Molt true;-the will;-let's stay, and hear the will. Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæfar's feal. To every Roman citizen he gives, To every feveral man, feventy five drachmas 2. 2. Cit. Most noble Cæfar!-We'll revenge his death. 3. Cit. O royal Cæfar! Ant. Hear me with patience, Cit. Peace, ho! Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, ·D 2 I I have no penned and premeditated oration. His 2 A drachma was a Greek coin, the fame as the Roman denier, of the value of four fefterces, 74, ob. is private arbours, and new-planted orchards, And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. 2. Cit. Go, fetch fire. 3. Cit. Pluck down benches. 4. Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. [Exeunt Citizens, with the body. Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæfar's house. Serv. I heard him fay, Brutus and Caffius Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome. Ant. Belike, they had fome notice of the people, How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The fame. A Street. Enter CINNA the Poet. Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feaft with Cæfar, And things unluckily charge my fantasy : I have no will to wander forth of doors, Yet fomething leads me forth. Enter Citizens. 1. Cit. What is your name? |