96

Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious ?
When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept;
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.

100
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;

104 And, sure, he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love him once, not without cause: 108 What cause withholds you then to mourn for him? O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason. Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar,

112 And I must pause till it come back to me. First Ple. Methinks there is much reason in his

sayings. Sec. Ple. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Cæsar has had great wrong. Third Ple.

Has he, masters? I fear there will a worse come in his place. Fourth Ple. Mark'd ye his words? He would not

take the crown; Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious. First Ple. If it be found so, some will dear abide it.

120 Sec. Ple. Poor soul, his eyes are red as fire with

weeping. Third Ple. There's not a nobler man in Rome than

Antony.

116

Fourth Ple. Now mark him; he begins again to

speak. Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæsar might 124 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, 128 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, 132 Than I will wrong such honourable men. But here's a parchment with the seal of Cæsar; I found it in his closet; 'tis his will. Let but the commons hear this testament

136 Which, pardon me, I do not mean to readAnd 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,

140 And, dying, mention it within their wills, Bequeathing it as a rich legacy Unto their issue. Fourth Ple. We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.

144 All. 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,

1

160

'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;
For if you should, O what would come of it?
Fourth Ple. Read the will! we'll hear it, An-
tony;

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

Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile? I have o'ershot myself to telloyou of it.

156
I fear I wrong the honourable men
Whose daggers have stabb’d Cæsar; I do fear it.

Fourth Ple. They were traitors: honourable men!
All. The will! the testament!
Sec. Ple. 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. 164
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?

All. Come down.
Sec. Ple. Descend.
Third Ple. You shall have leave.

168
Fourth Ple. A ring; stand round.
First Ple. Stand from the hearse; stand from the
body.

[Antony comes down.]
Sec. Ple. Room for Antony, most noble Antony.
Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. 172
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 Cæsar put it on;

176
'Twas 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:

180

184

188

192

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,
Ingrawitude, more strong than traitors' 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,

196
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 200
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.

First Ple. O piteous spectacle!
Sec. Ple. O noble Cæsar!

204
Third Ple. C woeful day!
Fourth Ple. O traitors! villains !
First Ple. O most bloody sight!
Sec. Ple. We will be revenged.

208 [All.] Revenge ! - About !-Seek!-Burn! Fire !-Kill !Slay! Let not a traitor live!

Ant. Stay, countrymen,-
First Ple. Peace there! Hear the noble Antony.

221

Sec. Ple. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him!

213 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, 217 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, 225 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

229
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.

All. We'll mutiny.
First Ple. We'll burn the house of Brutus.
Third Ple. Away, then! Come, seek the con-

spirators. Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak. All. Peace, ho!-Hear Antony, most noble An

mouths,

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237