The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny. 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 An tony.. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what: Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves? Alas, you know not:-I must tell you then:You have forgot the will I told you of. To Cit. Most true;-the will;-let's stay, and hear the will. Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal. every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man, seventy-five drachmas." 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, And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. 2 Cit. Go, fetch fire. seventy-five drachmas.] A drachma was a Greek coin, the same as the Roman denier, of the value of four sesterces, 7d. ob. 3 Cit. Pluck down benches. 4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. [Exeunt Citizens, with the Body. 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 Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome. Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the people, How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A Street. Enter CINNA, the Poet. Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feast with And things unluckily charge my fantasy:" things unluckily charge my fantasy:] i. e. circumstances oppress my fancy with an ill-omened weight. 2 Cit. Whither are you going? 3 Cit. Where do you dwell? 4 Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 1 Cit. Ay, and briefly. 4 Cit. Ay, and wisely. 3 Cit. Ay, and truly, you were best. Cin. What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married man, or a bachelor? Then to answer every man directly, and briefly, wisely, and truly. Wisely I say, I am a bachelor. 2 Cit. That's as much as to say, they are fools that marry: You'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly. Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funerál. Cin. As a friend. 2 Cit. That matter is answered directly. Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna. 1 Cit. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator. Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 4 Cit. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses. 2 Cit. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. 3 Cit. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, ho! fire-brands. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away; go. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. The same. A Room in Antony's House. f ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a Table. Ant. These many then shall die; their names are prick'd. Oct. Your brother too must die; Consent you, Lepidus? Lep. I do consent. Oct. Prick him down, Antony. Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live,7 Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony. Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.8 But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house; Oct. The Capitol. Or here, or at [Exit LEPIDUS. Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man, The three-fold world divided, he should stand 7 Upon condition Publius shall not live,] Mr. Upton has sufficicntly proved that the poet made a mistake as to this character mentioned by Lepidus; Lucius, not Publius, was the person meant, who was uncle by the mother's side to Mark Antony: and in consequence of this, he concludes that Shakspeare wrote; You are his sister's son, Mark Antony. The mistake, however, is more like the mistake of the author, than of his transcriber or printer. STEEVENS. 8 damn him.] i. e. condemn him. Oct. So you thought him; And took his voice who should be prick'd to die, In our black sentence and proscription. Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you: And though we lay these honours on this man, To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads, He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold, To groan and sweat under the business, Either led or driven, as we point the way; And having brought our treasure where we will, Then take we down his load, and turn him off, Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears, And graze in commons. Oct. You may do your will; But he's a tried and valiant soldier. Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and, for that, go forth Are levying powers: we must straight make head: Therefore, let our alliance be combin❜d, Our best friends made, and our best means stretch'd out; And let us presently go sit in council, How covert matters may be best disclos'd, 9 a property.] i. e. as a thing quite at our disposal, and to be treated as we please. |