3 Cit. Nay, that's certain: We are bless'd, that Rome is rid of him. 2 Cit. Peace; let us hear what Antony can say. Ant. You gentle Romans, Cit. Peace, ho! let us hear him. Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts, 1 Cit. Methinks, there is much reason in his sayings. 2 Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar 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 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. Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar, Let but the commons hear this testament, • And none so poor-] The meanest man is now too high to do reyerence to Cæsar. And dip their napkins' in his sacred blood; 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 lov'd you. Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay a while? I have o'ershot myself, to tell you of it. I fear, I wrong the honourable men, Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar: I do fear it. .4 Cit. They were traitors: Honourable 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. 3 Cit. You shall have leave. their napkins-] i. e. their handkerchiefs. Napkin is the Northern term for handkerchief, and is used in this sense at this day in Scotland. 4 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; Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through: Even at the base of Pompey's statua, Which all the while ran blood,3 great Cæsar fell. 2 For Brutus, as you know, was Cesar's angel:] This title of endearment is more than once introduced in Sidney's Arcadia. 3 Which all the while ran blood,] The image seems to be, that the blood of Cæsar flew upon the statue, and trickled down it. 4 The dint of pity:] is the impression of pity. Kind souls, what, weep you, when you but behold 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 honourable; But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, And bid them speak for me: But were I Brutus, |