And I muft paufe 'till it come back to me. I Pleb. Methinks there is much reafon in his fayings. If thou confider rightly of the matter, Cafar has had great wrong. * 3 Pleb. Has he, masters? I fear there will a worse come in his place. 4 Pleb. Mark'd ye his words? he would not take the crown; Therefore 'tis certain, he was not ambitious. 1 Pleb. If it be found fo, fome will dear abide it. 2 Pleb. Poor foul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. 3 Pleb. There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. 4 Pleb. Now mark him, he begins again to speak. Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæfar might Have ftood against the world; now lyes he there, And none fo poor to do him reverence. O mafters! if I were difpos'd to ftir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, has had great wrong. 3 Pleb. Cafar had never wrong, but with juft caufe. If ever there was fuch a line written by Shakespear, I should fancy it might have its place here, and very humorously in the character of a Plebeian. One might believe Ben Johnson's remark was made upon no better credit than Jome blunder of an actor in speaking that verfe near the beginning of the third alt, Know Cafar doth not wrong, nor without cause Will he be fatisfy'd But the verle as cited by Ben Johnfon does not connect with --- Will he be fatisfy'd. Perhaps this play was never printed in Ben Johnson's time, and fo be had nothing to judge by, but as the actor pleas'd to Speak it. Be. Bequeathing it as a rich legacy Unto their iffue. 4 Pleb. We'll hear the Will; read it, Mark Antony. All. The Will, the Will: we will hear Cafar's Will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it, It is not meet you know how Cæfar lov'd you. You are not wood, you are not ftones, but men: And being men, hearing the Will of Cafar, It will inflame you, it will make you mad. 'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs, For if you should O what would come of it? 4 Pleb. Read the Will, we'll hear it, Antony: You fhall read us the Will, Cafar's Will. Ant. Will you be patient? will you stay a while? Whofe daggers have ftabb'd Cæfar- - I do fear it. honourable men! 2 Pleb. They were villains, murderers; the Will! read the Will! Ant. You will compel me then to read the Will? 2 Pleb. Defcend. [He comes down from the pulpit. 3 Pleb. You fhall have leave. 4 Pleb. A ring; ftand round. i Pleb. Stand from the hearfe, ftand from the body. 2 Pleb. Room for Antony· most noble Antony! Ant. Nay, prefs not fo upon me, ftand far off. Ant. If you have tears, prepare to fhed them now. You all do know this mantle; I remember The first time ever Cæfar put it on, 'Twas on a fummer's evening in his tent, Look! in this place, ran Caffius' dagger through Through Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd; 2 Pleb. O noble Cæfar! 4 Pleb. O traitors, villains! 2 Pleb. We will be reveng'd: revenge: about-feekburn-fire-kill-flay! let not a traitor live. Ant. Stay, Countrymen 1 Pleb. Peace there, hear the noble Antony. 2 Pleb. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him Ant. Good friends, fweet friends, let me not ftir you up To fuch a fudden flood of mutiny: 'They that have done this deed, are honourable. I come not, friends, to fteal away your hearts; I am no Orator, as Brutus is: But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, Shew you fweet Cafar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths! I Pleb. We'll burn the houfe of Brutus. 3 Pleb. Away then, come, feek the confpirators. Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen, yet hear me fpeak. All. Peace, ho, hear Antony, moft noble Antony. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what. Wherein hath Caefar thus deferv'd your loves? Alas, you know not; I must tell you then: You have forgot the Will I told you of. All. Moft true-the Will-let's ftay and hear the Will. Ant. Here is the Will, and under Cæfar's feal. To ev'ry, Roman citizen he gives, To ev'ry feveral man, fev'nty five drachma's. 2 Pleb. Moft noble Cæfar! we'll revenge his death. 3 Pleb. O royal Cæfar! Ant. Hear me with patience. All. Peace, ho! Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbors, and new-planted orchards 1 Pleb. Never, never; come, away, away; T Take Take up the body. 2 Pleb. Go fetch fire. 3 Pleb, Pluck down benches. 4 Pleb. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. [Exeunt Plebeians with the body. Ant. Now let it work; mifchief, thou art afoot; Ser. Octavius is already come to Rome. Ser. He and Lepidus are at Cafar's houfe. Ser. I heard him fay, Brutus and Caffius Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him the Plebeians. Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feaft with Cæfar, And things unluckily charge my fantafie; I have no will to wander forth of doors: Yet fomething leads me forth. 1 Pleb. What is your name? 2 Pleb. Whither are you going? Pleb. Where do you dwell? Pleb. Are you a married man, or a batchelor? 2 Pleb. Anfwer every man directly. 1 Pleb. Ay, and briefly. 4 Pleb. Ay, and wifely. 3 Pleb. 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 batchelor? then to answer every man directly and briefly, wifely and truly; wifely, I fay I am a batchelor. 2 Pleb. That's as much as to fay, they are fools that marry; you'll bear me a bang for that, I fear: proceed directly. Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæfar's funeral. |