I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, You all did love him once, not without cause; What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him? O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason! - Bear with me; And I must pause till it come back to me. 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 not, masters? I fear, there will a worse come in his place. 402. 4 Cit. Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown; Therefore, 'tis certain he was not ambitious. 403. 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. 407. 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 I will not do them wrong; I rather choose But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar; Let but the commons hear this testament (Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read), And dip their napkins in his sacred blood; Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, 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; 411. 4 Cit. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony; you shall read us the will; Cæsar's will! 412. 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 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? And let me show you him that made the will. 418. 2 Cit. Descend. 421. [He comes down from the pulpit. 3 Cit. You shall have leave. 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! 425. 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, That day he overcame the Nervii. Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through: See what a rent the envious Casca made: Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabbed; As rushing out of doors, to be resolved If Brutus so unkindly knocked, or no; For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel: For, when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, Quite vanquished him: then burst his mighty heart; Even at the base of Pompey's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. 2 Cit. O noble Cæsar! 3 Cit. O woeful 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. 432. Ant. Stay, countrymen. I Cit. Peace there! - hear the noble Antony. 2 Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him. 435. 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: 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, That love my friend; and that they know full well Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech, I tell you that which you yourselves do know; Show you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths, And bid them speak for me: but, were I Brutus, And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony 1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus. 3 Cit. Away, then! come, seek the conspirators. You have forgot the will I told you of. Cit. Most true; -the will; - let's stay, and hear the will. 443. Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal. To 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! 448. Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His 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, anything. [Exeunt CITIZENS, with the body. 453. Ant. Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt! Enter a SERVANT. - How now, fellow? Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house. 458. Serv. I heard them say, Brutus and Cassius Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome. 459. Ant. Belike they had some notice of the people, How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt. 460. Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feast with Cæsar, And things unlikely charge my fantasy. I have no will to wander forth of doors, Enter CITIZENS. 1 Cit. What is your name? 2 Cit. Whither are you going? 3 Cit. Where do you dwell? 4 Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 2 Cit. Answer every man directly. I Cit. Ay, and briefly. 4 Cit. Ay, and wisely. 468. 3 Cit. Ay, and truly, you were best. 469. Cin. What is my name? Whither am I going? 470. 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. 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 funeral. |