1At mention of Antony all go around.

"Conspirators are differently disposed toward Antony, but more of them disliked him as vacillating. He was undoubtedly a politician to the backbone. Shakespeare in this play only makes Antony serious on one point; he did love Cæsar genuinely; on almost all other points he was a humbug.

This is a pretty good summing up of Antony's character all through his career.

Mark Antony,1 so well belov'd of Cæsar,
Should outlive Cæsar: we shall find of him
A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means,
If he improve them, may well stretch so far
As to annoy us all: which to prevent,

Let Antony and Cæsar fall together.

Bru. (L C). Our course will seem too bloody,
Caius Cassius, 2

To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
Like wrath in death and envy afterward;
For Antony is but a limb of Cæsar:

Let's be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
We áll stand ùp agaìnst the spìrit of Cæsar;
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
O, that we then could come by Cæsar's spirit,
And not dismember Cæsar! But, alas,
Cæsar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds:
And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,
Stir up their servants to an act of rage,
And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make
Our purpose necessary and not envious:
Which so appearing to the common eyes,

1This clock strike is important; they should be low, slow beats on a well-toned tube; no one must speak or move till the third beat is well over.

2Cassius and the others all go up to R, some crossing stage, putting their togas over heads.

We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.
And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
For he can do no more than Cæsar's arm
When Cæsar's head is off.

For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cæsar Bru. (L C). Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him:

If he love Cæsar, all that he can do

Is to himself, take thought and die for Cæsar: And that were much he should; for he is given To sports, to wildness and much company.

Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die; For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter.

Bru. Peace! count the clock.
Cas.

Treb. 'Tis time to part.

Cas.2

[Clock strikes1

The clock hath stricken three.

But it is doubtful yet,

Whether Cæsar will come forth to-day, or no;

For he is superstitious grown of late,

Quite from the main opinion he held once
Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies:

Dec.

Never fear that: if he be so resolved,
I can o'ersway him;

1Brutus is moving up, to see them off his premises.

2Metellus Cimber-young and sinister lookingstops and calls attention to the omission of Caius Ligarius; all stop and listen as he passes his remark around.