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If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;

For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel:
Judge, O 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 statua,

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 1).
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.

O piteous spectacle!

1 CITIZEN.

2 CITIZEN.

O noble Cæsar!

3 CITIZEN.

O woful day!

4 CITIZEN.

O traitors! villains!

1 CITIZEN.

O most bloody sight!

CITIZEN.

We will be revenged: revenge! about, seek, — burn,

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let not a traitor live 2).

1) d. i. zich pralend over ons verhief.

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2) Deze woorden worden door een aantal burgers door elkander uit

ANTONY.

Stay, countrymen.

1 CITIZEN.

Peace there! hear the noble Antony.

CITIZEN.

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

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 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 1) your spirits, and put a tongue

In every wound of Cæsar, that should move

The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.

We'll mutiny.

ALL.

geroepen. Hetzelfde geldt van hetgeen eenige regels later volgt: We'll hear him etc.

1) d. i. in opschudding brengen.

1 CITIZEN.

We'll burn the house of Brutus.

3 CITIZEN.

Away then! come, seek the conspirators.

ANTONY.

Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.

ALL.

Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony.

Why, friends, you go to

ANTONY.

do you know not what. Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd your loves?

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Alas! you know not: I must 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.

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ANTONY.

Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours, and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tiber: he hath left them you,

And to your heirs for ever, common pleasures,

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To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.

Here was a Cæsar! when comes such another?

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We'll burn his body in the holy place,

And with the brands fire 1) the traitors' houses.
Take up the body.

Go, fetch fire.

2 CITIZEN.

3 CITIZEN.

Pluck down benches.

4 CITIZEN.

Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.

[Exeunt Citizens with the body.

ANTONY.

Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,

Take thou what course thou wilt!

Enter a Servant.

SERVANT.

How now, fellow!

Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.

1) Reeds de tweede folio las fire all, om het metrum. Maar die verandering is onnoodig, omdat fire vaak in twee sylben fier werd uitgesproken, soms zelfs zoo geschreven. Reeds vroeger (III. 1) hadden we den regel:

As fire drives out fire, so pity pity, waarin fire eerst van twee sylben is en dan van ééne.

Where is he?

ANTONY.

SERVANT.

He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house 1).

ANTONY.

And thither will I straight to visit him:
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us any thing.

SERVANT.

I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius

Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.

ANTONY.

Belike, they had some notice of the people.

How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt.

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I dreamt to-night, that I did feast with Cæsar,
And things unlucky charge my fantasy 2).

I have no will to wander forth of doors,

Yet something leads me forth.

1) Deze regel is proza. Meende Walker er een vers van te maken door Lord Lepidus te gissen?

2) Men denke hierbij slechts aan Warburton's opmerking: to dream of being at banquets betokeneth misfortune."

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