Imatges de pàgina
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Then make a ring about the corps of Cæfar,
And let me fhew you him, that made the Will.
Shall I defcend? and will you give me leave?
All. Come down.

2 Pleb. Defcend.

3

[He comes down from the pulpit.

Pleb. You fhall have leave.

4 Pleb. A ring; ftand round.

i Pleb. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. 2 Pleb. Room for Antony-most noble Antony.

Ant. Nay, prefs not fo upon me, stand far off.

All. Stand back-room

-bear back

Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle; I remember,

The first time ever Cafar put it on,

'Twas on a fummer's evening in his tent,

That day he overcame the Nervii.

Look! in this place, ran Caffius' dagger through ;-
See, what a Rent the envious Casca made.
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd ;
And as he pluck'd his curfed steel away,
Mark, how the blood of Cæfar follow'd it!
As rushing out of doors, to be refolv'd,
If Brutus fo unkindly knock'd, or no?
For Brutus, as you know, was Cafar's angel.
Judge, oh you Gods! how dearly Cafar lov'd him.
This, this, was the unkindeft cut of all

;

For when the noble Cæfar faw him stab,
Ingratitude, more ftrong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquish'd him; then burft his mighty heart:
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the Base of Pompey's ftatue,

(Which all the while ran blood,) great Cæsar fell.
O what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down:
Whilft bloody treafon flourish'd over us.
O, now you weep; and I perceive you feel
The dint of pity; these are gracious drops.
Kind fouls! what, weep you when you but behold
Our Cafar's vefture wounded? look you here!
Here is himself, marr'd, as you fee, by traitors.

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1 Pleb.

1 Pleb. O piteous spectacle !
2 Pleb. O noble Cæfar!

3 Pleb. O woful day!

4

Pleb. O traitors, villains!

i Pleb. O moft bloody fight!

2 Pleb. We will be reveng'd: revenge: about feek- -burn- -fire.

a traitor live.

Ant. Stay, Countrymen.

-kill

flay! let not

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 flir you

up

To fuch a fudden 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 wife and honourable;
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.

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,
That love my friend; and that they know full well,
That give me publick leave to speak of him:
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action nor utt'rance, nor the power of speech,
To ftir men's blood; I only speak right on.
I tell you that, which you yourselves do know;
Shew you fweet Cafar's wounds, poor, poor, dumb

mouths !

And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony

Would ruffle up your fpirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Cafar, that fhould move
The ftones of Rome to rife and mutiny.
All. We'll mutiny -

1 Pleb. We'll burn the house of Brutus.

3 Pleb. Away then, come, feek the confpirators.
Ant. Yet hear me, Countrymen; yet hear me speak.
All. Peace, ho, hear Antony, most noble Antony.

Ant.

Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.
Wherein hath Cæfar thus deferv'd your loves?
Alas, you know not; I must tell you then:

You have forgot the Will, I told you of.
All. Molt true- -the Will-

Will.

-let's stay and hear the

Ant. Here is the Will, and under Cafar's feal. To ev'ry Roman citizen he gives,

To ev'ry fev'ral man, fev'nty five drachma's.

2 Pleb. Moft noble Cafar! 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 arbours, and new-planted orchards, On that fide Tiber; he hath left them you, (13) And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures, To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.

Here was a Cæfar, when comes fuch another?

I Pleb. Never, never; come, away, away;
We'll burn his body in the holy place,

And with the brands fire all the traitors' houses.
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.

(13) On this fide Tiber:] The Scene is here in the Forum near the Capitol, and in the most frequented Part of the City; but Cafar's Gardens were very remote from that Quarter.

Trans Tiberim longè cubat is, prope Cæfaris hortos. fays Horace: And both the Naumachia and Gardens of Cæfar were separated from the main City by the River; and lay out wide, on a Line with Mount Janiculum. Our Author therefore certainly wrote;

On that fide Tiber;

And Plutarch, whom Shakespeare very diligently studied, in the Life of Marcus Brutus, fpeaking of Cafar's Will, expreflý fays, That he left to the Publick his Gardens, and Walks beyond the Tiber.

Now let it work; Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what courfe thou wilt!

fellow ?

Enter a Servant.

Ser. Octavius is already come to Rome.
Ant. Where is he?

How now,

Ser. He and Lepidus are at Cafar's houfe. Ant. And thither will I ftraight, to visit him He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry, And in this mood will give us any thing.

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Ser. I heard him fay, Brutus and Caffius
Are rid, like madmen, through the gates of Rome.
Ant. Belike, they had fome notice of the people,
How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius.

[Exeunt.

Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him the Plebeians. Cin. I dreamt to night, that I did feast with Cæfar, And things unluckily charge my fantafie;

I have no will to wander forth of doors :
Yet fomething leads me forth.

i Pleb. What is your name?

2 Pleb. Whither are you going?

3 Pleb. Where do you dwell?

4 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 anfwer 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 Cafar's funeral.

1 Pleb. As a friend, or an enemy?

Cin. As a friend.

2 Pleb. That matter is answer'd directly..
4 Pleb. For your dwelling; briefly.
Cin. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.
3 Pleb. Your name, Sir, truly.
Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna:

1 Pleb. Tear him to pieces, he's a confpirator.
Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.

4 Pleb. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verfes.

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Cin. I am not Cinna the confpirator:

4 Pleb. It is no matter; his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

3 Pleb. Tear him, tear him; come, brands, ho, firebrands;

To Brutus, to Caffius, burn all. Some to Decius's

house,

And fome to Cafca's, fome to Ligarius: away, go.

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[Exeunts

SCENE, a Small Island near Mutina. (14); Enter Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus..

THE

ΑΝΤΟΝΥ.

HESE many then fhall die, their names are prickt..
O. Your brother too muft die; consent you,”
Lepidus ?

Lep. I do confent.

(14) SCENE, a fmall Island] Mr. Rowe, and Mr. Pope after him, have mark'd the Scene here to be at Rome. The Old Copies fay Nothing of the place.. Shakespeare, I dare fay, knew from Plutarch, that thefe Triumvirs met, upon the Profcription, in a little Ifland: which Appian, who is more particular, fays, lay near Mutina upon the River Lavinius,

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