'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs; For, if you should, O, what would come of it! 4 Cit. Read the will; we will hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will: Cæsar's will. Ant. Will 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 Cit. They were traitors: Honourable men! Cit. The will! the testament! 2 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? Cit. Come down. 2 Cit. Descend. [He comes down from the Pulpit. Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them You all do know this mantle: I remember [now. The first time ever Cæsar put it on; 'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent; Look! in this place, ran Cassius' dagger through. For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, * 2 Cit. We will be revenged: revenge; about,seek,-burn,-fire,-kill,-slay!-let not a traitor live. Ant. 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; But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, * Statua, for statue, is common among the old writers. 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 your spirits, and put a tongue In every wound of Cæsar, that should move The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny. ACT IV. CEREMONY INSINCERE. Ever note, Lucilius, When love begins to sicken and decay, There are no tricks in plain and simple faith: THE TENT SCENE BETWEEN BRUTUS AND CASSIUS. Cas. That you have wrong'd me, doth in this : appear You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella, Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a case. Cas. In such a time as this, it is not meet That nice* offence should bear his comment. every Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself * Trifling. Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm; To undeservers. Cas. I an itching palm? You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last. Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corrupAnd chastisement doth therefore hide his head. [tion, Cas. Chastisement! Bru. Remember March, the ides of March re- Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? Cas. Bru. Cas. I am. Go to; you're not, Cassius. Bru. I say you are not. Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further. Bru. Away, slight man! Cas. Is't possible? *Bait, bark at. + Limit my authority. Terms, fit to confer the offices at my disposal. Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? Cas. O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this? Bru. All this? ay, more: Fret, till your proud heart break; Go, show your slaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge? Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch Uunder your testy humour? By the gods, Cas. Is it come to this? Cas. You wrong me every way, you wrong me, I said, an elder soldier, not a better: Did I Bru. say, better? If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd me. Bru. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempt ed him. Cas. I durst not? Bru. No.. Cas. What? durst not tempt him? Bru. For your life you durst not. I may do that I shall be sorry for. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love, 1 |