Third Cit.

There's not a nobler man in

Rome than Antony.

Fourth Cit. Now mark him, he begins again

to speak.1

Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world; now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence.2

O masters, if I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong; and Cassius wrong,3
Who, you all know, are honourable men:4

I will not do them wrong; I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men.
But here's a parchment with the seal of Cæsar,5
I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:

Let but the commons hear this testament
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read —
And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's
wounds

And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,7
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,

And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.

1Every hand in the crowd must go up here. 2The excitement of the crowd knows no bounds. Shout "No" here quite as one voice. It requires the gunshot effect.

Repeat "Mad"—The crowd sways.
Strong movement.

All hands up each time they call for the will. "Shouts.

Fourth Cit. We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.1

All. The will, the will! we will hear Cæsar's will.

Ant. Have patience gentle friends, I must not read it;2

It is not meet you know how Cæsar loved you.
You are not wood,3 you are not stones, but men;
And, being men, hearing the will of Cæsar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad:4
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;
For, if you should, O, what would come of it!5
Fourth Cit. Read the will; we'll hear it,
Antony;

You shall read us the will, Cæsar's will.

Ant. Will you be patient?6 will you stay awhile?

I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it:

I fear I wrong the honourable men (Murmurs.) Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar; I do fear it. Fourth Cit. They were traitors: honourable men!

All. The will!7 the testament!7

Sec. Cit. They were villains, murderers: the will! read the will.7

1They shout a big "yes" and "the will."

This inflames the crowd almost to the killing point Antony sees his advantage and plays upon it. Shouts: hands up almost regretfully as if he was afraid there might be some feeling against senators.

"Here the crowd has to be policed by the citizens; -they do make a ring, standing away so that Antony holds the stage with the body of Cæsar in front of him.

3The citizens here almost drag him out of the pulpit; he doesn't like the general smell of the crowd and shakes them off. The crowd gradually gets quiet and Antony, waiting for it, slowly proceeds to withdraw the head end (C to R) of the outer purple drapery. A big shudder goes all through the crowd. Antony leans on the coffin and speaks over it to the people. Be sure the legs of the bier are strong. It should have bars fore and aft, by which it is carried.

A point in Cæsar's favour — a victory.

"He points to imaginary holes in the robe because, of course, he doesn't know; this shows, I think, how Shakespeare means Antony to be a humbug to gain his point, his love for Cæsar compelling him to get justice for his memory.

"The crowd shudders.

Ant. You will compel me, then, to read the will?1

Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar,2 And let me show you him that made the will. Shall I descend? and will you give me leave? Several Cit. Come down. (Shouts)

Sec. Cit.

Descend.3

Third Cit. You shall have leave.

[Antony comes down

Fourth Cit. A ring; stand round.

First Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.

Sec. Cit. Room for Antony, most noble Antony.

Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.
Several Cit. Stand back; room; bear back.
Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them
now. (Lifts outer drapery.)

You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Cæsar put it on;
'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nerviì:4

Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through:5
See what a rent the envious Casca made:
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;6