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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

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you of.

240

Let's stay and hear

Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives,

To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

Sec. Ple. Most noble Cæsar!

death.

Third Ple. O royal Cæsar!

244

We'll revenge his

248

Ant. Hear me with patience.

All. 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?
First Ple. 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.

Sec. Ple. Go fetch fire.

Third Ple. Pluck down benches.

252

256

261

Fourth Ple. Pluck down forms, windows, anything. Exeunt Plebeians [with the body]. Ant. Now let it work: mischief, thou art afoot; 265 Take thou what course thou wilt!

Enter Servant.

247 drachmas: Greek coins; cf. n.

254 this; cf. n.

255 pleasures: pleasure-grounds (in which)

264 forms: long seats

How now, fellow!

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.

268

272

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, 275 How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius.

Exeunt.

Scene Three

[A Street]

Enter Cinna, the Poet, and after him the Plebeians. 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.

First Ple. What is your name?
Sec. Ple. Whither are you going?

Third Ple. Where do you dwell?

Fourth Ple. Are you a married man, or

bachelor?

Sec. Ple. Answer every man directly.

First Ple. Ay, and briefly.

Fourth Ple. Ay, and wisely.

Third Ple. Ay, and truly, you were best.
Cin. What is my name?

271 upon a wish: as if at my wish

Whither

2 unluckily. fantasy: weigh upon my fancy ominously 13 you were best: it would be best for you

a

am I

12

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.

Sec. Ple. 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.
First Ple. As a friend or an enemy?

Cin. As a friend.

Sec. Ple. That matter is answered directly.
Fourth Ple. For your dwelling, briefly?

Cin. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.

Third Ple. Your name, sir, truly?

Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna.

Sec. Ple. Tear him to pieces; he's a conspirator!

Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet!

Fourth Ple. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses!

Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator!

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

Third Ple. 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!

18

21

24

28

33

39

43

Exeunt all the Plebeians.

20 bear me a bang: get a blow from me

26 For: now for

ACT FOURTH

Scene One

[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.

But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house;

Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine

How to cut off some charge in legacies.

Lep. What, shall I find you here?
Oct. Or here or at the Capitol.

Exit Lepidus.

12

Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit,

The three-fold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?

Oct.
So you thought him;
And took his voice who should be prick'd to die,
In our black sentence and proscription.

Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you:

16

6 with... him: by a mark pricked' opposite his name, I condemn

him

9 cut.

charge: reduce some expenditures (by killing the legatees)

12 unmeritable: without merit

14 The... divided: if the world is to be divided into three parts 17 In the black sentence of our proscription

And though we lay these honours on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads,
He shall but bear them as the ass bears goid,
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way;
And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load, and turn him off,
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears,
And graze in commons.

Oct.

You may do your will; But he's a tried and valiant soldier.

I do appoint him store of provender.

20

24

28

Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and for that

It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,

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His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.

And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;

He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth;

A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds

36

On objects, arts, and imitations

Which, out of use and stal'd by other men,
Begin his fashion: do not talk of him
But as a property. And now, Octavius,
Listen great things: Brutus and Cassius

Are levying powers; we must straight make head;
Therefore let our alliance be combin'd,

40

Our best friends made, and our best means stretch'd

out;

26 empty: unladen, worthless

30 appoint: assign

34 taste: measure, degree

44

27 commons: public pasture 32 wind: turn 36 barren-spirited: lacking initiative

37 objects: objects of interest, in general; cf. n. arts: works of art; imitations: conventional forms, empty counterfeits

cf. n.

38 stal'd: outworn, made stale

make head: raise an army

39 Begin his fashion: are to him the height of fashion
40 property: instrument, tool
42 powers: armed forces
43 combin'd: confirmed
44 made: made sure

41 Listen: hear

stretch'd out: strained to the utmost

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