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 Cæfar's wounds,
And dip their napkins in his facred 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. Cit. The will, the will; we will hear Cæfar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Cæfar lov'd you. You are not wood, you are not ftones, but men ; And, being men, hearing the will of Cæfar, 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 will hear it, Antony; You fhall read us the will; Cæfar's will.

Ant. Will you be patient? will you stay a while? I have o'er-fhot myself, to tell you of it.

I fear, I wrong the honourable men,

Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar: I do fear it. 4 Cit. They were traitors: Honourable men! Cit. The will! the teftament!

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 corpfe of Cæfar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I defcend? And will you give me leave?
Cit. Come down.
2 Cit. Defcend.

[He comes down from the pulpit.

17

3 Cit. You fhall have leave.

4 Cit. A ring; ftand round.

■ Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.
2 Cit. Room for Antony ;-molt noble Antony.
Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.
Cit. 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 Cæfar put it on ;

'Twas on a fummer's evening, in his tent;
That day he overcame the Nervii :—

Look! in this place, ran Caffius' dagger through:
See, what a rent the envious Casca made:
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus ftabb'd;
And, as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Cæfar follow'd it;
As rushing out of doors, to be refolv'd
If Brutus fo.unkindly knock'd, or no;
For Brutus, as you know, was Cæfar's angel :
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæfar lov'd him!
This was the most unkindeft cut of all:

For when the noble Cæfar faw him ftab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitor's 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 ftatua,

Which all the while ran blood, great Cæfar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen !
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilft bloody treason flourish'd over us.
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind fouls, what, weep you, when you but behold

Our Cæfar's vefture wounded? Look you here,

Here is himself, marr'd, as you fee, with traitors.

1 Cit. O piteous fpectacle!

2 Cit. O noble Cæfar!

2 Cit. We will be reveng'd: revenge; about,-seek,— burn,—fire,—kill,-flay !-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, fweet friends, let me not ftir you up To fuch a fudden flood of mutiny.

They, that have done this deed, are honourable;

What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it; they are wife, 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 publick leave to speak of him.
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To ftir men's blood: I only speak right on;
I tell you that, which you yourselves do know;
Show you fweet Cæfar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths,
And bid them fspeak 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 Cæfar, that should move
The ftones of Rome to rife and mutiny.

Cit. We'll mutiny.

1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus.

3 Cit. Away, then, come, feek the confpirators.
Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.
Cit. Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony.
Ant. Why friends, you go to do you know not what:
Wherein hath Cæfar thus deferv'd your loves?

Alas, you know not :-I must tell you then :—
You have forgot the will I told you of.

Cit. Moft true;-the will;- t's ftay, and hear the will,
Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæfar's feal.

To every Roman citizen he gives,

To every feveral man, seventy five drachmas.

2 Cit. Most noble Cæfar!-We'll revenge his death. 3 Cit. O royal Cæfar!

Ant. Hear me with patience.

Cit. Peace, ho!

Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours, and new planted orchards,
On this fide Tiber; he hath left them you,
And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures,
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Cæfar: When comes fuch another?

1 Cit. 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.

2 Cit. Go, fetch fire.

3 Cit. Pluck down benches.

4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.

[Exeunt Citizens, with the body. Ant. Now let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what courfe thou wilt!-How now, fellow?

6

Enter

Enter a Servant.

Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
Ant. Where is he?

Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæfar's house.
Ant. And thither will I ftraight to visit him:
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us any thing.

Serv. I heard him fay, Brutus and Caffius
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the people,
How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The fame. A Street.

Enter CINNA the Poet.

Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feast with Cæfar, And things unluckily charge my fantafy:

I have no will to wander forth of doors,

Yet fomething leads me forth.

Enter Citizens.

1 Cit. What is your name?
2 Cit. Whither are you going?

3 Cit. Where do you dwell?

4 Cit. Are you a married inan, or a bachelor? 2 Cit. Anfwer every man directly.

1 Cit. Ay, and briefly.