2 Pleb. 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 give me publick leave to speak of him:
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action nor utt'rance, nor the power of speech,
To ftir mens blood; I only fpeak right on.
I tell you that which you your felves do know,
Shew you fweet Cafar's wounds, poor,poor dumb mouths!
And bid them fpeak for me. But were I Brutus,

And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony

Would ruffle up your fpirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Cafar, that fhould move
The ftones of Rome to rife and mutiny.
All. We'll mutiny-

1 Pleb. We'll burn the houfe of Brutus.

3 Pleb. Away then, come, feek the confpirators.
Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen, yet hear me fpeak.
All. Peace, ho, hear Antony, moft 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,

All. Moft true-the Will-let's ftay and hear the Will.
Ant. Here is the Will, and under Cafar's feal.

To ev'ry Roman citizen he gives,

To ev'ry feveral man, fev'nty five drachma's.

2 Pleb. Moft noble Cafar! we'll revenge his death. 3 Pleb. O royal Cafar!

Ant.

Ant. Hear me with patience.

All. Peace, ho!

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

1 Pleb. Never, never; come, away, away; We'll burn his body in the holy place,

And with the brands fire all the traitors houses.
Take up the body.

2 Pleb. Go fetch fire.

3 Pleb. Pluck down benches.

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

[Exeunt Plebeians' with the body.

Ant. Now let it work; mifchief, thou art afoot; Take thou what courfe thou wilt!-How now, fellow?

Enter a Servant.

Ser. Octavius is already come to Rome.
Ant. Where is he?

Ser. He and Lepidus are at Cafar's house.
Ant. And thither will I ftraight, to vifit him,
He comes upon a wifh. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us any thing.
Ser. I heard him fay, Brutus and Caffius

Are rid, like madmen, through the gates of Rome.
Ant. Belike they had fome notice of the people,
How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt.

Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him the Plebeians.
Cin. I dreamt to-night, that I did feaft with Cafar,
And things unluckily charge my fantasie;
I have no will to wander forth of doors;

5 this... old. edit. Theob, emend.

Yet

Yet fomething leads me forth.

1 Pleb. What is your name?
2 Pleb. Whither are you going?
3 Pleb. Where do you dwell?

4 Pleb. Are you a married man, or a batchelor?
2 Pleb. Anfwer every man directly.

1 Pleb. Ay, and briefly.

4 Pleb. Ay, and wifely.

3

Pleb. Ay, and truly, you were best.

Cin. What is my name? whither am I going? where do I dwell? am I a married man, or a batchelor? then to answer every man directly and briefly, wifely and truly; wifely, I fay-I am a batchelor.

2 Pleb. That's as much as to fay, they are fools that marry; you'll bear me a bang for that, I fear: proceed directly.

Cin. Directly, I am going to Cafar's funeral.

1 Pleb. As a friend, or an enemy?

Cin. As a friend.

2 Pleb. That matter is anfwered directly.

4 Pleb. For your dwelling; briefly.

Cin. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol. 3 Pleb. Your name, Sir, truly.

Cin. Truly my name is Cinna.

Pleb. Tear him to pieces, he's a confpirator. Cin. I am Cinna the poet, 1 am Cinna the poet.

4 Pleb. Tear him for his bad verfes, tear him for his bad verfes.

Cin. I am not Cinna the confpirator.

4 Pleb. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

3 Pleb. Tear him, tear him; come, brands, ho, firebrands: To Brutus, to Caffius, burn all. Some to Decimus's houfe, And fome to Cafca's, fome to Ligarius: away, go. [Exs.

ACT

A C T IV. SCENE I.

A Small Ifland in the little River Rhenus near Bononia.

THe

Enter Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus.

ANTONY.

Hefe many then fhall die, their names are prickt.
Oct. Your brother too muft die; confent you,
Lepidus?

Lep. I do confent.

Oct. Prick him down, Antony.

Lep. Upon condition Publius fhall not live,

Who is your fifter's fon, Mark Antony.

Ant. He fhall not live; look, with a fpot, I damn him.

But, Lepidus, go you to Cafar's house;

Fetch the Will hither, and we shall determine

How to cut off fome charge in legacies.

Lep. What? fhall I find you here?
Oft. Or here, or at the Capitol.

Ant. This is a flight unmeritable man,

Meet to be fent on errands: is it fit,

[Exit Lepidus.

The three-fold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to fhare it?

O. So you thought him,

And took his voice who fhould be prickt to die,
In our black fentence and profcription.

Ant. Octavius, I have feen more days than you;
And though we lay thefe honours on this man,
To ease our felves of divers fland'rous loads;
He shall but bear them, as the afs bears gold,
To groan and fweat under the business,
Or led or driven, as we point the way;
And having brought our treasure where we will,

Then

Then take we down his load, and turn him off
Like to the empty afs, to shake his ears,
And graze in common.

Oct. You may do your will;

But he's a try'd and valiant foldier.

Ant. So is my horse, Octavius, and for that
I do appoint him ftore of provender.
It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,
His corporal motion govern'd by my fpirit.
And in fome tafte, is Lepidus but fo;

He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth,
A barren-fpirited fellow, one that feeds

On abject orts, and imitations,

Which out of use and stal'd by other men,
Begin his fashion. Do not talk of him,

But as a property.

And now, Octavius,

Liften great things

-Brutus and Caffius

Are levying powers; we muft ftraight make head.

Therefore let our alliance be combin'd,

Our best friends made, and our beft means ftretcht out;

And let us presently go fit in council,

How covert matters may be beft disclos'd,

And open perils fureft answered.

O. Let us do fo; for we are at the ftake,

And bay'd about with many enemies;

And fome that fmile have in their hearts, I fear,
Millions of mischiefs.

SCENE

[Exeunt.

II.

Before Brutus's tent, in the Camp near Sardis. Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, and Soldiers: Titinius and Pindarus meeting them.