4 Cit. Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown; Therefore, 'tis certain he was not ambitious. 2 Cit. 1 Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. 3 Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome, than Antony. 4 Cit. Now mark him; he begins again to speak. Ant. But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world; now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence. O masters! if I were disposed to stir But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar; Let but the commons hear his testament, And, dying, mention it within their wills, Unto their issue. 4 Cit. We'll hear the will; read it, Mark Antony. Cit. The will, the will; we will hear Cæsar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends; I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cæsar loved you. 4 Cit. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony. You shall read us the will; Cæsar's will. Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile? I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it. I fear I wrong the honorable men, Whose daggers have stabbed Cæsar; I do fear it. 4 Cit. They were traitors. Honorable men! Cit. The will! the testament! 2 Cit. They were villains, murderers. The will! Read the will! Ant. You will compel me then to read the will? Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar, And let me show you him that made the will. Shall I descend? And will you give me leave? Cit. Come down. 2 Cit. Descend. [He comes down from the pulpit. You shall have leave. 3 Cit. 2 Cit. A ring; stand round. 1 Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. 2 Cit. Room for Antony ;-most noble Antony. Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. Cit. Stand back! room! bear back! Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle. I remember The first time ever Cæsar put it on ; 'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent; Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through; 1 i. e. his guardian angel, or the being in whom he put most trust. Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquished him. Then burst his mighty heart; Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. 2 Cit. O noble Cæsar! 3 Cit. O woful day! 4 Cit. O traitors, villains! 1 Cit. O most bloody sight! 2 Cit. We will be revenged. Revenge; about,— seek,-burn,-fire,-kill,-slay!-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, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny. They that have done this deed, are honorable; What private griefs they have, alas, I know not, That made them do it; they are wise and honorable, And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you. I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts. 1 See Act ii. Sc. 2. Beaumont, in his Mask, writes this word statua, and its plural statuaes. Even is generally used as a dissyllable by Shakspeare. 2 The image seems to be, that the blood flowing from Cæsar's wounds appeared to run from the statue; the words are from North's Plutarch:"Against the very base whereon Pompey's image stood, which ran all a gore of blood, till he was slain." 3 Dint, anciently written dent; "a stroke, and the impression which it makes on any thing." 4 Grievances. I am no orator, as Brutus is. But, as you know me all, a plain, blunt man, mouths, And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus, 1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus. 3 Cit. Away then, come, seek the conspirators. Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak. Cit. Peace, ho! hear Antony, most noble Antony. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what. Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserved your loves? Alas, you know not.-I must tell you, then; You have forgot the will I told you of. Cit. Most true;—the will ;-let's stay, and hear the will. Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.2 2 Cit. Most noble Cæsar!-we'll revenge his death. 3 Cit. O royal Cæsar! Ant. Hear me with patience. Cit. Peace, ho! Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbors, and new-planted orchards, 1 The first folio reads, "For I have neither writ." The second folio corrects it to wit, which Johnson supposed might mean "a penned and premeditated oration."-The context calls for the emendation. 2 A drachma was a Greek coin, the same as the Roman denier, of the value of four sesterces, i. e. 7d. On this side Tyber.' He hath left them you, And with the brands fire 2 the traitors' houses. Take 3 Cit. Pluck down benches. 2 Cit. Go, fetch fire. 4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. Ant. Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot; Take thou what course thou wilt!-How now, fellow? Enter a Servant. Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house. Serv. I heard him say Brutus and Cassius [Exeunt. 1 "This scene (says Theobald) lies in the Forum, near the Capitol, and in the most frequented part of the city; but Cæsar's gardens were very remote from that quarter. He would therefore read, "on that side Tyber." But Dr. Farmer has shown that Shakspeare's study lay in the old translation of Plutarch, "He bequethed unto every citizen of Rome seventy-five drachmas a man, and left his gardens and arbors unto the people, which he had on this side of the river Tyber." 2 Fire again as a dissyllable. |