Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

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.

1st Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus.
Sd Cit. Away then, come, seek the conspirators.
Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.
Cit. Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony.
Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not
what:

Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd 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,

To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

2d Cit. Most noble Cæsar!-we'll revenge his death.

3d 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?
1st 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.

2d Cit. Go, fetch fire.

3d Cit. Pluck down benches.

4th Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.

[Exeunt Citizens, with the Body.

Ant. Now let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!-How now, fellow ?

Enter a Servant.

Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
Ant. Where is he?

Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house.
Ant. 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.

Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
. Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the people,
How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The same. A Street.

Enter CINNA, the Poet.

Cin. I dream't to-night, that I did feast with Cæsar,

And things unluckily charge my fantasy :

I have no will to wander forth of doors,

Yet something leads me forth.

Enter Citizen.

1st Cit. What is your name?

2d Cit. Whither are you going ?

Sd Cit. Where do you dwell?

4th Cit. Are you a married man, or a bachelor?

2d Cit. Answer every man directly.

1st Cit. Ay, and briefly.

4th Cit. Ay, and wisely.

3d Cit. 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 bachelor? Then to answer every man directly, and briefly, wisely, and truly. Wisely I say, I am a bachelor.

2d Cit. That's as much as to say, they are fools that marry:-You'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed: directly.

Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral. 1st Cit. As a friend, or an enemy ?

Cin. As a friend.

2d Cit. The matter is answered directly.

4th Cit. For your dwelling, briefly.

Cin. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.

3d Cit. Your name, sir, truly.

Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna.

1st Cit. Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator. Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 4th Cit. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.

2d Cit. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

3d Cit. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, ho! fire-brands. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away; go. [Exeunt.

SCENE I.-The same.

ACT IV.

A Room in ANTONY'S House.

ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a Table. Ant. These many then shall die; their names are prick'd.

Oct. Your brother too must die; Consent you, Lepidus ?

Lep. I do consent.

Oct. Prick him down, Antony.

Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live,

Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.

Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.

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

Fetch the will hither, and we will determine

How to cut off some charge in legacies.

Lep. What, shall I find you here?

Oct. Or here, or at

The Capitol.

[Exit LEPIDUS.

Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man,

Meet to be sent on errands: Is it fit,

The three-fold world divided, he should stand

One of the three to share it ?

Oct. So you thought him;

And took his voice who should be prick'd to die,
In our black sentence and proscription.

-Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you:
And though we lay these honours on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads,
He shall but bear them as an ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way;
And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load, and turn him off,
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears,
And graze in commons.

Oct. You may do your will;
But he's a tried and valiant soldier.

Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and, for that,

I do appoint him store 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 spirit.
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;

He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth :
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On objects, arts, 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,
Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers: we must straight make head :
Therefore, let our alliance be combin'd,

Our best friends made, and our best means stretch'd

out;

And let us presently go sit in council,

How covert matters may be best disclos'd,

And open perils surest answered.

« AnteriorContinuar »