several man, seventy-five drachmas.

[Note 239: "For first of all, when Caesar's testament was
openly read among them, whereby it appeared that he bequeathed
unto every citizen of Rome seventy-five drachmas a man; and
that he left his gardens and arbors unto the people, which he
had on this side of the river Tiber, in the place where now
the temple of Fortune is built: the people then loved him, and
were marvellous sorry for him."--Plutarch, _Marcus Brutus_.]

[Note 241: The drachma (lit. 'what can be grasped in the
hand') was the principal silver coin of the ancient Greeks,
and while the nominal value of it was about that of the
modern drachma (by law of the same value as the French franc)
its purchasing power was much greater. Caesar left to each
citizen three hundred sesterces; Plutarch gives seventy-five
drachmas as the Greek equivalent.]

[Page 112]

2 CITIZEN. Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death.

3 CITIZEN. O royal Caesar!

ANTONY. Hear me with patience.

ALL. Peace, ho! 245

ANTONY. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tiber; he hath left them you,
And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures,
To walk abroad and recreate yourselves. 250
Here was a Caesar! when comes such another?

1 CITIZEN. 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. 255

[Note 254: /the/ F1 | all the F2 F3 F4.]

[Note 248: As this scene lies in the Forum, near the Capitol,
Caesar's gardens are, in fact, on the other side of the Tiber.
But Shakespeare wrote as he read in Plutarch. See quotation,
p. 111, l. 239.]

[Note 252: "Therewithal the people fell presently into such a
rage and mutiny, that there was no more order kept amongst the
common people. For some of them cried out 'Kill the
murderers'; others plucked up forms, tables, and stalls about
the market-place, as they had done before at the funerals of
Clodius, and having laid them all on a heap together, they set
them on fire, and thereupon did put the body of Caesar, and
burnt it in the midst of the most holy places. When the fire
was throughly kindled, some took burning firebrands, and ran
with them to the murderers' houses that killed him, to set
them on fire."--Pl