ANTONY.

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 to dispos'd to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men.
I will not do them wrong: I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable 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 PLEBEIAN.

We'll hear the will; read it, Mark Antony.

ALL.

The will the will.

We will hear Cæsar's will.

ANTONY.

Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;

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 ;
For if you should, O what would come of it?
4 PLEBEIAN.

Read the will, we will hear it, Antony, &c.

Will

ANTONY.

you be patient? will you stay a while?

I have o'ershot myself, to tell you of it.

I fear, I wrong the honourable men,

Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar. I do fear it. 4 PLEBEIAN.

They were traitors, &c.

ANTONY.

You will compel me then to read the will?
Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar,
And let me shew you him, that made the will.
Shall I descend? and will you give me leave?
ALL.

Come down.

3 PLEBEIAN.

You shall have leave.

ANTONY.

If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.

You

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 resolv'd,
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no:

For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel,

Judge, oh you gods! how dearly Cæsar lov'd 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

Our Cæsar's vesture wounded! look you here! Here is himself, marr'd as you see by traitors. 1 PLEBEIAN.

O piteous spectacle!

ANTONY.

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.
What private griefs they have, alas! I know not,
That made them do it; they are wise 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 give me public leave to speak of him ;
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action nor utt'rance, nor the power of speech,
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

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.

ALL.

ALL.

We'll mutiny..

ANTONY.

Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.
Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves?
Alas! you know not. I must not tell you then.
You have forgot the will I told you of.

ALL.

Most true, the will.-Let's stay, and hear the will.

--

ANTONY.

Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal.

To every Roman citizen he gives,

To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

Most noble Cæsar!

2 PLEBEIAN.

ANTONY.

Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,

His private arbours, and new-planted orchards,
On that 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 !

Is there any oration extant, in which the topics are more skilfully selected for the minds and temper of the persons, to whom it is spoken? Does it not by the most gentle gradations