THIRD CIT. Nay, that's certain: ACT III We are blest that Rome is rid of him. Peace, ho! let us hear him. ANT. Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears: The good is oft interred with their bones: So are they all, all honourable men) Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? And, sure, he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, You all did love him once, not without cause: 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, And I must pause till it come back to me. 80 90 100 ACT III FIRST CIT. Methinks there is much reason in his sayings. SEC. CIT. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Sc. II Cæsar has had great wrong. THIRD CIT. Ay, has he, Masters. I fear there will a worse come in his place. 110 FOURTH CIT. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown; Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious. FIRST CIT. If it be found so, some will dear abide it. SEC. CIT. Poor Soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. THIRD CIT. There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. FOURTH CIT. Now mark him; he begins again to speak. Have stood against the world: now lies he there, 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 I will not do them wrong; I rather choose Let but the Commons hear this testament And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds, Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, And, dying, mention it within their wills, Unto their issue. 120 130 140 FOURTH CIT. We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony. It will inflame you, it will make you mad. I fear I wrong the honourable men Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar; I do fear it. FOURTH CIT. They were traitors: honourable men! ALL. The will! the testament! 150 SEC. 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, ACT III And let me shew you him that made the will. 160 Shall I descend? and will you give me leave? SEVERAL CIT. Come down. SEC. CIT. Descend. THIRD CIT. You shall have leave. [ANTONY comes down. FIRST CIT. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. ANT. Nay; press not so upon me; stand far off. ANT. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. The first time ever Cæsar put it on; "Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent, Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through: 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: 170 180 ACT III For, when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, 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, SEC. CIT. O noble Cæsar! THIRD CIT. O woeful day! FOURTH CIT. O traitors, villains! FIRST CIT. O most bloody sight! SEC. CIT. We will be reveng'd. 190 200 ALL. Revenge! About! Sack! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay! Let not a traitor live! ANT. Stay, Countrymen. FIRST CIT. Peace there! hear the noble Antony. SEC. CIT. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him. 210 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 : 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: 220 To stir men's blood: I only speak right on; I tell you that which you yourselves do know; Shew you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor poor dumb And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus, 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 CIT. We'll burn the house of Brutus. 230 THIRD CIT. Away, then! come, seek the conspirators. 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. 240 ALL. 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. SEC. CIT. Most noble Cæsar! We'll revenge his death. THIRD CIT. O royal Cæsar! ANT. Hear me with patience. ALL. Peace, ho! ANT. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours, and new-planted orchards, And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. SEC. CIT. Go fetch fire. THIRD CIT. Pluck down benches. 250 260 ACT III VIII: G 1 pleasaunces. 49 |