60 Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. [Exit. First Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. Third Cit. Let him go up into the public chair; We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you. [Goes into the pulpit. 65 Fourth Cit. What does he say of Brutus? 70 Third Cit. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholding to us all. Fourth Cit. "Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. Third Cit. Nay, that's certain: We are blest that Rome is rid of him. · All. Peace, ho! let us hear him. Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; So are they all, all honourable men, He was my friend, faithful and just to me: 85 But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious? 90 When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, 100 But here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love him once, not without cause: First Cit. Methinks there is much reason in his sayings. Cæsar has had great wrong. Third Cit. Has he, masters? 110 I fear there will a worse come in his place. 115 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. Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæsar might. Have stood against the world: now lies he there, 120 O masters, if I were dispos'd to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I will not do them wrong; I rather choose But here's a parchment with the seal of Cæsar; Let but the commons hear this testament 130 Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read 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, 135 Bequeathing it as a rich legacy Unto their issue. Fourth Cit. We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony. All. The will, the will! we will hear Cæsar's will. Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; 140 It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd 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; 145 For if you should, O, what would come of it? Fourth 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: 150 I fear I wrong the honourable men 155 Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar; I do fear it. Fourth Cit. They were traitors. Honourable men! 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, And let me show you him that made the will. Shall I descend? and will you give me leave? All. Come down. 160 Sec. Cit. Descend. 165 [He comes down from the pulpit. Third Cit. You shall have leave. Fourth Cit. A ring; stand round. 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 ; 170 'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent, Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through: For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel: 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; 185 And, in his mantle muffling up his face, Even at the base of Pompey's statuë, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. |