Then make a ring about the corps of Cæfar, 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 ;- ; For when the noble Cæfar faw him stab, (Which all the while ran blood,) great Cæsar fell. 1 Pleb. १ 1 Pleb. O piteous spectacle ! 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. 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, mouths ! And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus, Would ruffle up your fpirits, and put a tongue 1 Pleb. We'll burn the house of Brutus. 3 Pleb. Away then, come, feek the confpirators. Ant. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what. You have forgot the Will, I told you of. 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; And with the brands fire all the traitors' houses. 2 Pleb. Go, fetch fire. 3 Pleb. Pluck down benches. 4 Pleb. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. (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, fellow ? Enter a Servant. Ser. Octavius is already come to Rome. 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. Ser. I heard him fay, Brutus and Caffius [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 : 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.. 1 Pleb. Tear him to pieces, he's a confpirator. 4 Pleb. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verfes. 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. [Exeunts SCENE, a Small Island near Mutina. (14); Enter Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus.. THE ΑΝΤΟΝΥ. HESE many then fhall die, their names are prickt.. 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, |