4 Cit. Now mark him, he begins again to speak. 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, Unto their issue. 4 Cit. We'll hear the will: read it, Mark An tony. Cit. The will, the will: we will hear Cæsar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends; I must not read it; 1 i. e. the meanest man is now too high to show him any respect, 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 stabb'd 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. 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! Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle: I remember 'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent; Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through: For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel: For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart And, in his mantle muffling up his face, Even at the base of Pompey's statua,1 Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. 1 Statua, for statue, is common among the writers of our author's time. 2 Impression. Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors. 1 Cit. O piteous spectacle! 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 : 1 What private griefs 1 they have, alas, I know not, I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts : But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, That love my friend; and that they know full well 1 For grievances. 2 1. e. no penned or premeditated oration. To stir men's blood: I only speak right on; I tell you that, which you yourselves do know; 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 An tony. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what. Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserved your loves? 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.1 2 Cit. Most noble Cæsar!-We'll revenge his death. 1 A drachma was of the value of 7d. sterling. |