ANTONY

You will compel me then to read the will?

Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,

And let me show you him that made the will.

Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?

ALL THE PLEBEIANS

Come down.

⌈FOURTH⌉ PLEBEIAN Descend.

THIRD PLEBEIAN

You shall have leave.

Antony descends from the pulpit

⌈FIFTH⌉ PLEBEIAN A ring.

Stand round.

FIRST PLEBEIAN

Stand from the hearse. Stand from the body.

⌈FOURTH⌉ PLEBEIAN

Room for Antony, most noble Antony!

⌈Enter Antony below⌉

ANTONY

Nay, press not so upon me. Stand farre off.

ALL THE PLEBEIANS Stand back! Room! Bear back!

ANTONY

If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.

You all do know this mantle. I remember

The first time ever Caesar 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 stabbed;

And as he plucked his cursèd steel away,

Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it,

As rushing out of doors to be resolved

If Brutus so unkindly knocked or no—

For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel.

Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!

This was the most unkindest cut of all.

For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,

Ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms,

Quite vanquished 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 Caesar fell.

O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!

Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,

Whilst bloody treason flourished 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 Caesar’s vesture wounded? Look you here.

Here is himself, marred, as you see, with traitors.

He uncovers Caesar’s body

FIRST PLEBEIAN

O piteous spectacle!

⌈FOURTH⌉ PLEBEIAN O noble Caesar!

THIRD PLEBEIAN O woeful day!

⌈FIFTH⌉ PLEBEIAN

O traitors, villains!

FIRST PLEBEIAN O most bloody sight!

⌈FOURTH⌉ PLEBEIAN We will be revenged.

⌈ALL THE PLEBEIANS⌉

Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!

Let not a traitor live !

ANTONY Stay, countrymen.

FIRST PLEBEIAN Peace there, hear the noble Antony.

⌈FOURTH⌉ PLEBEIAN 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 Caesar’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 Caesar that should move

The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.

ALL THE PLEBEIANS

We’ll mutiny.

FIRST PLEBEIAN We’ll burn the house of Brutus.

THIRD PLEBEIAN

Away then! Come, seek the conspirators.

ANTONY

Yet hear me, countrymen, yet hear me speak.

ALL THE PLEBEIANS

Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony.

ANTONY

Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.

Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?

Alas, you know not. I must tell you’ then.

You have forgot the will I told you of.

ALL THE PLEBEIANS

Most true. The will. Let’s stay and hear the will.

ANTONY

Here is the will, and under Caesar’s seal.

To every Roman citizen he gives—

To every several man—seventy-five drachmas.

⌈FOURTH⌉ PLEBEIAN

Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge his death.

THIRD PLEBEIAN

O royal Caesar!

ANTONY Hear me with patience.

ALL THE PLEBEIANS Peace, ho!

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

To walk abroad and recreate yourselves.

Here was a Caesar. When comes such another?

FIRST PLEBEIAN

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.

⌈FOURTH⌉ PLEBEIAN Go, fetch fire!

THIRD PLEBEIAN Pluck down benches!

⌈FIFTH⌉ PLEBEIAN Pluck down forms, windows, anything!

Exeunt Plebeians ⌈with Caesar’s body⌉

ANTONY

Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot.

Take thou what course thou wilt.

Enter ⌈Octavius’⌉ Servant

How now, fellow?

SERVANT

Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.