ANTONY'S ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE ON THE DEATH OF CESAR WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE NOTE. Every student of Shakespeare is familiar with the ringing words of Mark Antony's famous speech. They are as fine an example of the rhetorical figure of irony as English literature furnishes. Antony has been permitted to speak by those whom he hates and distrusts. It is in his heart to inflame the people against these men, but he must be careful 5 to utter no word of protest or rebellion, lest his opportunity be taken from him. So, under the mask of simple grief for Cæsar's death, Antony contrives to fill the minds of his hearers with "mutiny and rage," without uttering a single charge against the conspirators. In reading this selection orally the effect is heightened by giving no 10 ironical inflection to the words "For Brutus is an honorable man," until they are reiterated. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; So let it be with Cæsar. The noble Brutus For Brutus is an honorable man; So are they all, all honorable men — He was my friend, faithful and just to me: 15 20 125 But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man. 10 15 20 20 You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? And, sure, he is an honorable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar, But yesterday the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world; now lies he there, 25 And none so poor to do him reverence. O masters, if I were disposed to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong, I will not do them wrong; I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, But here's a parchment with the seal of Cæsar; Let but the commons hear this testament 5 10 Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, 5 All. The will! the testament! Sec. Cit. They were villains, murderers: the will! read the will! Antony. You will compel me, then, to read the will? Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar, 10 And let me show you him that made the will. Shall I descend? and will you give me leave? Several Cit. Come down. 15 20 Sec. Cit. Third Cit. Fourth Cit. Descend. You shall have leave. [ANTONY comes down.] First Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. 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; 'T was on a summer's evening, in his tent, That day he overcame the Nervii: 25 Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through: See what a rent the envious Casca made: Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabbed; And as he plucked his cursèd steel away, 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; Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. Sec. Cit. O noble Cæsar! |