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; 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 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 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. "Neither writ," &c.-MALOne. 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, And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. 2 Cit. Go, fetch fire. 3 Cit. Pluck down benches. 4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. [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. Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius [Exeunt. 5 seventy-five drachmas.] A drachma was a Greek coin, the same as the Roman denier, of the value of four sesterces, 7d. ob. 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 a 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. 6 things unluckily charge my fantasy:] i. e. circumstances oppress my fancy with an ill-omened weight. 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. 2 Cit. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. 3 Cit. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, ho! firebrands. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's: some to Ligarius': away; go. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.-The same. A Room in Antony's House. ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a Table. Ant. These many then shall die; their names are prick'd. Oct. Your brother too must die; Consent you, Lepidus? Lep. I do consent. Oct. Prick him down, Antony. Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live", Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony. Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him 3. But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house; Fetch the will hither, and we will determine 7 Upon condition Publius shall not live,] Mr. Upton has sufficiently proved that the poet made a mistake as to this character mentioned by Lepidus; Lucius, not Publius, was the person meant, who was uncle by the mother's side to Mark Antony and in consequence of this, he concludes that Shakspeare wrote; : You are his sister's son, Mark Antony. The mistake, however, is more like the mistake of the author, than of his transcriber or printer. STEEVENS. 8 damn him.] i. e. condemn him. Lep. What, shall I find you here? Oct. The Capitol. Or here, or at [Exit LEPIDUS. Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man, The three-fold world divided, he should stand Oct. Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you: And graze in commons. Oct. You may do your will; But he's a tried and valiant soldier. Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and, for that, I do appoint him store of provender. It is a creature that I teach to fight, Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men, But as a property. And now, Octavius, 9 - a property.] i. e. as a thing quite at our disposal, and to be treated as we please. |