Page:Julius Caesar (1919) Yale.djvu/72

60  'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs; For if you should, O what would come of it?

Fourth Ple. Read the will! we'll hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will, Cæsar's will.

Ant. Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile? 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.

Fourth Ple. They were traitors: honourable men!

All. The will! the testament!

Sec. Ple. 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?

All. Come down.

Sec. Ple. Descend.

Third Ple. You shall have leave.

Fourth Ple. A ring; stand round.

First Ple. Stand from the hearse; stand from the body.

[Antony comes down.]

Sec. Ple. Room for Antony, most noble Antony.

Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.

All. 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:  178 That day: on the day on which; cf. n. 