I fear there will a worse come in his place.

4 Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the

crown;

Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.

1 Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it.

2 Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. 3 Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. 4 Cit. Now mark him; he begins again to speak.

Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world: now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence.

O masters, if I were disposed to stir

Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honorable men.

I will not do them wrong: I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself, and you,
Than I will wrong such honorable 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,
(Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,)

And 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,

And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy

Unto their issue.

4 Cit. We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony. Citizens. 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 loved you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men ;
And, being men, hearing the will of Cæsar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad.
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;
For, if you should, O, what would come of it!
4 Cit. Read the will! we'll hear it, Antony;
You shall read us the will, - Cæsar's will!

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

I fear I wrong the honorable men

Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar; I do fear it. 4 Cit. They were traitors: honorable men! Citizens. The will! the testament!

2 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,
And let me show you him that made the will.

Shall I descend? and will you give me leave?
Citizens. Come down.

2 Cit. Descend.

3 Cit. You shall have leave.

4 Cit. A ring! stand round.

[He comes down.

1 Cit. Stand from the hearse; stand from the body. 2 Cit. Room for Antony! —most noble Antony! Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. Citizens. 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;

'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 :
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 resolved
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no ;
For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel:
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar loved him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all;

For, when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, 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,
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
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
1 Cit. O piteous spectacle!

2 Cit. O noble Cæsar!

3 Cit. O woful day!

4 Cit. O traitors, villains!

1 Cit. O most bloody sight!

2 Cit. We will be reveng❜d.

Citizens. Revenge, - about,-seek,- burn,-fire,— kill, — slay, — let not a traitor live!

Ant. Stay, countrymen.

1 Cit. Peace there! hear the noble Antony.

2 Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him.

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 honorable:
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do't; they're wise and honorable,
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,
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

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
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
Citizens. 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. Citizens. Peace, ho! hear Antony; most noble Antony. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what. Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserved your loves? Alas, you know not; I must tell you, then: You have forgot the will I told you of.

Citizens. 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.

2 Cit. Most noble Cæsar! - we'll revenge his death. 3 Cit. O, royal Cæsar!

Ant. Hear me with patience.

Citizens. Peace, ho!

Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbors, 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?
1 Cit. Never, never. - Come, away, away!
We'll burn his body in the holy place,