Have stood against the world: now lies he there,
And none so poor to do him reverence.

O masters! if I were dispos'd to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men:

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,
I found it in his closet, 't is 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;

Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,

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

Unto their issue.

4 CIT. We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Antony. CIT. The will, the will! we will hear Cæsar's will. ANT. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd you. You are not wood, you are not stones, but men; And, being men, hearing the will of Cæsar, It will inflame you, it will make you mad: "T is good you know not that you are his heirs ; For if you should, O, what would come of it!

4 CIT. Read the will; we 'll hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will; Cæsar's will.

ANT. Will you be patient? Will you stay a while? I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it.

I fear I wrong the honourable men

Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar: I do fear it.

4 CIT. They were traitors: Honourable men! CIT. The will! the testament!

2 CIT. They were villains, murderers: The will! read the will!

ANT. You will compel me then to read the will?

Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar,

And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?
CIT. Come down.

2 CIT. Descend.

[He comes down from the pulpit.

3 CIT. You shall have leave.

4 CIT. A ring; stand round.

1 CÍ. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.
2 CIT. Room for Antony;—most noble Antony.
ANT. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.
CIT. 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 Cæsar put it on;

'T was on a summer's evening, in his tent;
That day he overcame the Nervii:-

Look! in this place ran Cassius' dagger through:
See, what a rent the envious Casca made:
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;
And, as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Cæsar follow'd it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolv'd
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;
For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel:
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar lov'd him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all:

For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitor's arms,

Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart:
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,

Even at the base of Pompey's statue,

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,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what weep you, when you but behold
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
1 CIT. O piteous spectacle!

2 CIT. O noble Cæsar!

3 CIT. O woful day!

4 CIT. O traitors, villains!

1 CIT. O most bloody sight!

2 CIT. We will be revenged: revenge; about,-seek,— burn.—fire,—kill,—slay!—let not a traitor live.

ANT. Stay, countrymen.

1 CIT. Peace there:-Hear the noble Antony.

2 CIT. We'll hear him, we 'll follow him, we'll die with him.

ANT. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To such a sudden 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 wise and honourable;
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.

I come not, friends, to steal 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 gave me public leave to speak of him.
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
I tell you that which you yourselves do know;

Show you sweet Cæsar'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 spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Cæsar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny
CIT. We'll mutiny!

1 CIT. We'll burn the house of Brutus!

3 CIT. Away then; come, seek the conspirators! ANT. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak. CIT. Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony. ANT. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what: Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves? Alas, you know not-I must tell you then :You have forgot the will I told you of.

CIT. Most true; the will:-let's stay, and hear the will.
ANT. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal.

To every Roman citizen he gives,

To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

2 CIT. Most noble Cæsar!-we 'll revenge his death.
3 CIT. O royal Cæsar!

ANT. Hear me with patience.

CIT. Peace, ho!

ANT. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours, and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tiber; he hath left them you,
And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures,
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Cæsar!

When comes such another?

1 CIT. Never, never!-Come, away, away!

We'll burn his body in the holy place,
And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.
Take up the body.

2 CIT. Go, fetch fire.

3 IT. Pluck down benches.

4 CIT. Pluck down forms, windows, anything.

[Exeunt Citizens, with the body. ANT. Now let it work! Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!-How now, fellow?

Enter a Servant.

SERV. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
ANT. Where is he?

SERV. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house.
ANT. And thither will I straight to visit him:
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us anything.

SERV. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
ANT. Belike they had some notice of the people,
How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.The same. A Street.

Enter CINNA, the Poet.

CIN. I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Cæsar, And things unluckily charge my fantasy:

I have no will to wander forth of doors,

Yet something leads me forth.

Enter Citizens.

1 CIT. What is your name?

2 CIT. Whither are you going? 3 CIT. Where do you dwell?

4 CIT. Are you a married man, or a bachelor? 2 CIT. Answer every man directly.

1 CIT. Ay, and briefly.

4 CIT. Ay, and wisely.

3 CIT. 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 bachelor? Then, to answer every man directly, and briefly, wisely, and truly; wisely I say, I am a bachelor.

2 CIT. That's as much as to say they are fools that marry: You'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly CIN. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral.

1 CIT. As a friend, or an enemy?

CIN. As a friend.

2 CIT. That matter is answered directly.

4 CIT. For your dwelling,-briefly.

CIN. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol 3 CIT. Your name, sir, truly.

CIN. Truly, my name is Cinna.

1 CIT. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator.

CIN. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.

4 CIT. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad

verses.

CIN. I am not Cinna the conspirator.

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