But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar,

130

I found it in his closet; 'tis his will: [Half-shows it.
Let but the commons hear this testament
(Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read), [Hides it.
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar'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.

135

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

All. The will, the will! we will hear Caesar's will. Antony [interrupted by cries of 'The will']. Have

patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you. You are not wood, you are not stones, but men; And, being men, hearing the will of Caesar, It will inflame you, it will make you mad : 'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs ; For if you should, oh, what would come of it!

140

145

[The crowd get beyond control. Fourth Citizen. Read the will; we'll hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will, Caesar's will.

Antony. 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,

150

Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar; I do fear it. Fourth Citizen. They were traitors: honourable men! All. The will! the testament !

155

Second Citizen. They were villains, murderers: the will read the will. Antony. You will compel me, then, to read the will? [A great shout from the crowd. Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar, And let me show you him that made the will. Shall I descend? and will you give me leave? All. Come down.

Second Citizen. Descend.

160

[Antony comes down.

Third Citizen. You shall have leave.

Fourth Citizen. A ring; stand round.

First Citizen. Stand from the hearse, stand from the

body.

164

Second Citizen. Room for Antony, most noble Antony ! Antony. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. Citizens. Stand back. Room! Bear back. Antony. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. [He takes away the pall, and shows the body wrapped in the military cloak. You all do know this mantle: I remember The first time ever Caesar put it on; 'Twas on a summer's evening in his tent That day he overcame the Nervii :

170

Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through :
[Murmurs from the crowd as he points out the rents.
See what a rent the envious Casca made:

Through this, the well-belovèd Brutus stabbed;
And, as he plucked his cursèd steel away,
Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved

175

If Brutus so unkindly knocked, or no;

For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel :

180

Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!

This was the most unkindest cut of all;

For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,

Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,

184

Quite vanquished him: then burst his mighty heart;
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statuë,

Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
Oh, what a fall was there, my countrymen !
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourished over us.
Oh, 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 Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,

190

195

[He uncovers the face and breast. Here is himself, marred, as you see, with traitors. First Citizen. O piteous spectacle ! Second Citizen. O noble Caesar! Third Citizen. O woful day!

Fourth Citizen. O traitors, villains!

First Citizen. O most bloody sight!

200

Second Citizen. We will be revenged.

All. Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill!

[Some rush off for torches and weapons.

Slay! Let not a traitor live!

Antony. Stay, countrymen. 205 First Citizen. Peace there! hear the noble Antony. Second Citizen. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him. [Wild cheers. Antony. 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;

210

[Uproar.

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. [Jeers.
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts :
I am no orator, as Brutus is;

215

220

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;
[A murmur of assent.
Show you sweet Caesar'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 Caesar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
All. We'll mutiny.
[General uproar. 230
First Citizen. We'll burn the house of Brutus.
Third Citizen. Away, then! come, seek the conspira-
tors. [As they rush off, Antony recalls them with
difficulty.

225

Antony. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak. All. Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony. Antony. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what : Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves? Alas, you know not; I must tell you then : You have forgot the will I told you of.

236

Citizens. Most true; the will! Let's stay and hear

the will

239

Antony. Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal : [He reads very deliberately.

To every Roman citizen he gives,

To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

Second Citizen. Most noble Caesar! we'll revenge his death.

Third Citizen. O royal Caesar !

Antony [making himself heard with difficulty]. Hear me with patience.

Citizens. Peace, ho!

245

Antony [speaking with constant interruptions]. 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- 250
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.—

Here was a Caesar! when comes such another?

First Citizen. 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.

Second Citizen. Go fetch fire.

255

Third Citizen. Pluck down benches. Fourth Citizen. Pluck down forms, windows, anything. [The Citizens seize the body, break up the benches, and rush off. Antony. Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!

SCENE V. A QUARREL.

261

Brutus and Cassius are forced by Antony's speech to fly from Rome. They gather an army in the East, where they are met by Octavius Caesar, the heir of Julius Caesar, and by Antony. The powerful scene here given shows a momentary change in the relations between the two chief conspirators. The place is Brutus' tent. Brutus remains quietly seated, while Cassius in his passion walks up and down the tent.

Enter Brutus and Cassius.

Cassius. That you have wronged me doth appear in this:

You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians :
Wherein my letters, praying on his side
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.

5

Brutus. You wronged yourself to write in such a case. Cassius. In such a time as this it is not meet That every nice offence should bear his comment. Brutus. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemned to have an itching palm; To sell and mart your offices for gold To undeservers.

ΙΟ

Cassius [half-drawing his sword]. I an itching palm !
You know that you are Brutus that speak this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
Brutus. The name of Cassius honours this corrup-
tion,

And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
Cassius. Chastisement !

15

20

Brutus. Remember March, the ides of March remember:
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touched his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honours
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman.

Cassius.
Brutus, bait not me,
I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in; I am a soldier, aye,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.

Brutus.

Cassius. I am.

Go to; you are not, Cassius.

Brutus. I say, you are not.

25

30

Cassius. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; 35 Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further. Brutus. Away, slight man!

Cassius. Is 't possible?

Brutus.

[Advances to Brutus,

Hear me, for I will speak.

Must I give way and room to your rash choler?