But here's a parchment, with the seal of Cæsar: Unto their issue. 4th Cit. We'll hear the will. Read it, Marc 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. 4th 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 honourable men Whose daggers have stabbed Cæsar: I do fear it. 4th Cit. They were traitors. Honourable men! Cit. The will! the testament! 2nd 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 shew you him that made the will. Shall I descend; and will you give me leave? Cit. Come down. 2nd Cit. Descend. [He comes from the pulpit. 3rd Cit. You shall have leave. 4th Cit. A ring: stand round! 1st Cit. Stand from the hearse; stand from the body! 2nd 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 If Brutus so unkindly knocked or no: For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, And, in his mantle muffling up his face, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. 2nd Cit. We will be revenged. Revenge! about, seek,-burn,-fire,-kill,-slay! Let not a traitor live! Ant. Stay, countrymen. 1st Cit. Peace there! hear the noble Antony. 2nd 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 : What private griefs they have, alas, I know not, That made them do it: they are wise and honourable, And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you. But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, dumb mouths!) And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus 1st Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus! 2 2 1 3rd Cit. Away, then come, seek the con spirators! 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, Το every several man, seventy-five drachmas. 2nd Cit. Most noble Cæsar! we'll revenge his death. 3rd Cit. O royal Cæsar! Ant. Hear me with patience. Cit. Peace, ho! Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours and new-planted orchards, 1st Cit. Never, never!-Come, away, away! We'll burn his body in the holy place, And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. 2nd Cit. Go, fetch fire! 3rd Cit. Pluck down benches ! 4th Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, anything! [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. Ant. Where is he? Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house. Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him: He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry, And in this mood will give us anything. 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 moved 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. Enter Citizens. 1st Cit. What is your name? 4th Cit. Are you a married man or a bachelor? 4th Cit. Ay, and wisely. 3rd 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. 2nd 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. 1st Cit. As a friend or an enemy? Cin. As a friend. 2nd Cit. That matter is answered directly. 1st Cit. Tear him to pieces! he's a conspirator. Cin. I am Cinna the poet; I am Cinna the poet. 4th Cit. Tear him for his bad verses; tear him for his bad verses! Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator. 2nd Cit. It is no matter: his name 's Cinna: pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going! 3rd Cit. Tear him: tear him!-Come, brands, ho! firebrands. To Brutus', to Cassius': burn all! Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius'. Away, go! SCENE I.-Rome. A Room in ANTONY'S House. And having brought our treasure where we will, Oct. You may do your will; Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and for that He must be taught, and trained, and bid go forth. And let us presently go sit in council Oct. Let us do so: for we are at the stake, Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers: TITINIUS and PINDARUS meeting them. Bru. Stand, ho! Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand. Bru. What now, Lucilius: is Cassius near? Luc. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master. [PINDARUS gives a letter to BRUTUS. Bru. He greets me well.-Your master, Pindarus, In his own change or by ill officers, Hath given me some worthy cause to wish Bru. Judge me, you gods! wrong I mine enemies? And if not so, how should I wrong a brother? Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs: And when you do them Bru. Cassius, be content: Speak your griefs softly:-I do know you well:Before the eyes of both our armies here, Which should perceive nothing but love from us, Let us not wrangle. Bid them move away: Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs, And I will give you audience. |