English piece a monstrous fpectacle, and takes not the leaft notice of a speech which may be confidered as one of the finest pieces of rhetoric that is extant, I am defirous to fet it before the reader. It is presumed that he will hardly find any thing monstrous in its form, or abfurd in its matter, but quite the reverfe. I fuppofe a popular addrefs and manner, in an oration defigned for the populace, would be deemed the most proper by the best critics in the art of rhetoric. ANTONY. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. He He was my friend, faithful and just to me; And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor have cry'd, Cæfar hath wept; Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honourable man, Was this ambition! Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious; And, fure, he is an honourable man. I speak not, to disprove what Brutus fpoke, You all did love him once, not without caufe; And men have loft their reason. Bear with me. My heart is in the coffin there with Cæfar, And I must pause till it come back to me, I PLEBEIAN. Methinks, there is much reafon in his fayings, &c. ANTONY. ANTONY. But yesterday the word of Cæfar might Have ftood against the world; now lies he there, And none fo poor to do him reverence. O mafters! if I were difpos'd to ftir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I will not do them wrong: I rather chufe But here's a parchment, with the feal of Cæfar, I found it in his clofet, 'tis his will; Let but the commons hear this teftament, Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read, And they would go and kifs dead Cæfar's wounds, And dip their napkins in his facred blood; Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, And dying, mention it within their wills, Bequeathing it as a rich legacy Unto their iffue. 4 PLEBEIAN. We'll hear the will; read it, Mark Antony. ALL. The will, the will. We will hear Cæfar's will. ANTONY. ANTONY. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; Read the will, we will hear it, Antony, &c. Will ANTONY. you be patient? will you stay a while? I have o'erfhot myfelf, to tell you of it. I fear, I wrong the honourable men, Whofe daggers have stabb'd Cæfar. I do fear it. 4 PLEBEIAN. They were traitors, &c. ANTONY. You will compel me then to read the will? Come down. 3 PLE. 3 PLEBEIAN. You fhall have leave. ANTONY. If you have tears, prepare to fhed them now. You all do know this mantle; I remember 'Twas on a fummer's evening in his tent, Look! in this place, ran Caffius' dagger through; See, what a rent the envious Casca made; Through this, the well-beloved Brutus ftabb'd; And as he pluck'd his curfed steel away, Mark, how the blood of Cæfar follow'd it! As rushing out of doors, to be refolv'd, For Brutus, as you know, was Cæfar's angel, For when the noble Cæfar faw him ftab, 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 ftatue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæfar fell. O what |