And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy,

Unto their issue.

4 Cit. We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.

Citizens. The will, the will!

Ant. Will you be patient?

we will hear Cæsar's will.

Will you stay awhile?

s 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!

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.)

3 Cit. You shall have leave.

4 Cit. A ring; stand round.

1 Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. 2 Cit. Room for Antony; most noble Antony.

Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.
Cit. Stand back! room! bear back!

Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
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 10 resolved

If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no ;

For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel :
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar loved him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all;

For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitor's 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 12 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.
1 Cit. O piteous spectacle !

2 Cit. O noble Cæsar!

3 Cit. O woful day!

4 Cit. O traitors, villains!

2 Cit. We will be revenged; revenge; about,--seek,— burn,-fire,-kill,-slay !-let not a traitor live.

Ant. Stay, countrymen.

1 Cit. Peace there : hear the noble Antony.

2 Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him. 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 :

What private 13 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,

15

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.

Cit. We'll mutiny.

1 Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus.

3 Cit. Away then, come, seek the conspirators. Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak. Cit. Peace, oh! hear Antony, most noble Antony. Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what; Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserved your loves? Alas! you know not: I must tell you then :

You have forgot the will I told you of.

Cit. Most true: the will; let's stay, and hear the will. Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives,

16

To every several man, seventy-five " drachmas.

2 Cit. Most noble Cæsar! we'll revenge his death. 3 Cit. O royal Cæsar !

Ant. Hear me with patience.

Cit. Peace, ho!

Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours, and new-planted orchards,
On this side "Tyber; he hath left them you,
And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures,
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Cæsar: when comes such another?
1 Cit. 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.

2 Cit. Go, fetch fire,

3 Cit. Pluck down benches.

4 Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, anything.

[Exeunt citizens with the body.

Ant. Now let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!

9

10

1 ambitious, possessing, or controlled by, ambition. Ambition is an eager, and sometimes an inordinate (excessive, immoderate) desire of preferment, honour, or power. 2 Brutus is an honourable man, throughout the piece this is said in derision or mockery. 3 Lupercal, a place in Rome where, on the 15th of February in every year, a feast was held in honour of Lupercus, the god of fertility. I speak not to disprove. Antony does not say plainly Brutus is wrong, but insinuates the fact. To insinuate is to creep or wind in, hence to introduce artfully, to hint, to suggest by remote allusion. 5 will dear abide it, will have to bear the serious consequences of it. "commons, the common people. "napkins, handkerchiefs. I have o'ershot myself, etc., I have told you more than I intended. Nervii, a brave Gallic tribe inhabiting a part of Belgium. When Cæsar invaded Belgium, they offered a very obstinate resistance, and were nearly annihilated by him. resolved, made certain, informed. 11 Pompey's statue, in the Senate House at Rome. Pompey was a great Roman general, contemporary with Cæsar. Pompey extended the Roman Empire in the south, while Cæsar extended it in the north and west. Towards the close of their lives they became great rivals, and led their armies against each other. At the battle of Pharsalia, Pompey's forces were defeated, and as he was escaping he was assassinated. 12 dint, impression. 13 griefs, grievances, causes of complaint. 14 Show you, etc. He calls Cæsar's wounds mouths, because each gave evidence of the wrong done to him. 15 Were I Brutus. Antony insinuates that if he had the powers of eloquence possessed by Brutus, he would stir up the very stones to revenge Cæsar's death. 16 drachma, a silver coin of uncertain value. 17 Tyber or Tiber, river on which Rome is built. 18 Exeunt, Latin for '(they) go out."

66

Note.-For Cæsar and Brutus, see App.

SCENE FROM KING JOHN.

[King John had cast his nephew Arthur, who was considered by many to be the rightful heir to the throne, into prison. He engages Hubert to put out Arthur's eyes with red-hot irons.] SCENE: Northampton. A Room in the Castle.

Enter HUBERT and two Attendants.

Hub. Heat me these irons hot; and, look thou stand
Within the 'arras: when I strike my foot

Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth:
And bind the boy, which you shall find with me,
Fast to the chair: be heedful: hence, and watch.

1 Attend. I hope your warrant will bear out the deed.
Hub. Uncleanly scruples! Fear not you look to't.
[Exeunt Attendants.

Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you.

Enter ARTHUR.

Arth. Good morrow, Hubert.

Hub. Good morrow, little prince.

Arth. As little prince (having so great a title
To be more prince) as may be.-You are sad.
Hub. indeed, I have been merrier.
Arth. Mercy on me!

Methinks, nobody should be sad but I ;
Yet, I remember, when I was in France,
Young gentlemen would be as sad as night,
Only for 3 wantonness. By my 'Christendom,
So I were out of prison and kept sheep,
I should be as merry as the day is long :
And so I would be here, but that I doubt
My uncle practises more harm to me;
He is afraid of me, and I of him :

Is it my fault, that I was 'Geffrey's son ?
No, indeed, is't not; and I would to Heaven
I were your son, so you would love me, Hubert.