EnterDECIUSBRUTUS
Here’sDeciusBrutus,heshalltellthemso。DECIUSBRUTUSCaesar,allhail!goodmorrow,worthyCaesar:
Icometofetchyoutothesenate-house。CAESARAndyouarecomeinveryhappytime,TobearmygreetingtothesenatorsAndtellthemthatIwillnotcometo-day:
Cannot,isfalse,andthatIdarenot,falser:
Iwillnotcometo-day:tellthemso,Decius。CALPURNIASayheissick。CAESARShallCaesarsendalie?
HaveIinconqueststretch’dminearmsofar,Tobeafraidtotellgraybeardsthetruth?
Decius,gotellthemCaesarwillnotcome。DECIUSBRUTUSMostmightyCaesar,letmeknowsomecause,LestIbelaugh’datwhenItellthemso。CAESARThecauseisinmywill:Iwillnotcome;
Thatisenoughtosatisfythesenate。
Butforyourprivatesatisfaction,BecauseIloveyou,Iwillletyouknow:
Calpurniahere,mywife,staysmeathome:
Shedreamtto-nightshesawmystatua,Which,likeafountainwithanhundredspouts,Didrunpureblood:andmanylustyRomansCamesmiling,anddidbathetheirhandsinit:
Andthesedoessheapplyforwarnings,andportents,Andevilsimminent;andonherkneeHathbegg’dthatIwillstayathometo-day。DECIUSBRUTUSThisdreamisallamissinterpreted;
Itwasavisionfairandfortunate:
Yourstatuespoutingbloodinmanypipes,InwhichsomanysmilingRomansbathed,SignifiesthatfromyougreatRomeshallsuckRevivingblood,andthatgreatmenshallpressFortinctures,stains,relicsandcognizance。
ThisbyCalpurnia’sdreamissignified。CAESARAndthiswayhaveyouwellexpoundedit。DECIUSBRUTUSIhave,whenyouhaveheardwhatIcansay:
Andknowitnow:thesenatehaveconcludedTogivethisdayacrowntomightyCaesar。
Ifyoushallsendthemwordyouwillnotcome,Theirmindsmaychange。Besides,itwereamockApttoberender’d,forsomeonetosay’Breakupthesenatetillanothertime,WhenCaesar’swifeshallmeetwithbetterdreams。’
IfCaesarhidehimself,shalltheynotwhisper’Lo,Caesarisafraid’?
Pardonme,Caesar;formydeardearloveToourproceedingbidsmetellyouthis;
Andreasontomyloveisliable。CAESARHowfoolishdoyourfearsseemnow,Calpurnia!
IamashamedIdidyieldtothem。
Givememyrobe,forIwillgo。
EnterPUBLIUS,BRUTUS,LIGARIUS,METELLUS,CASCA,TREBONIUS,andCINNA
AndlookwherePubliusiscometofetchme。PUBLIUSGoodmorrow,Caesar。CAESARWelcome,Publius。
What,Brutus,areyoustirr’dsoearlytoo?
Goodmorrow,Casca。CaiusLigarius,Caesarwasne’ersomuchyourenemyAsthatsameaguewhichhathmadeyoulean。
Whatis’to’clock?BRUTUSCaesar,’tisstruckeneight。CAESARIthankyouforyourpainsandcourtesy。
EnterANTONY
See!Antony,thatrevelslongo’nights,Isnotwithstandingup。Goodmorrow,Antony。ANTONYSotomostnobleCaesar。CAESARBidthempreparewithin:
Iamtoblametobethuswaitedfor。
Now,Cinna:now,Metellus:what,Trebonius!
Ihaveanhour’stalkinstoreforyou;
Rememberthatyoucallonmeto-day:
Benearme,thatImayrememberyou。TREBONIUSCaesar,Iwill:
AsideandsonearwillIbe,ThatyourbestfriendsshallwishIhadbeenfurther。CAESARGoodfriends,goin,andtastesomewinewithme;
Andwe,likefriends,willstraightwaygotogether。BRUTUS[Aside]Thateverylikeisnotthesame,OCaesar,TheheartofBrutusyearnstothinkupon!
ExeuntSCENEIII。AstreetneartheCapitol。EnterARTEMIDORUS,readingapaperARTEMIDORUS’Caesar,bewareofBrutus;takeheedofCassius;
comenotnearCasca;haveaneyetoCinna,trustnotTrebonius:markwellMetellusCimber:DeciusBrutuslovestheenot:thouhastwrongedCaiusLigarius。
Thereisbutonemindinallthesemen,anditisbentagainstCaesar。Ifthoubeestnotimmortal,lookaboutyou:securitygiveswaytoconspiracy。
Themightygodsdefendthee!Thylover,’ARTEMIDORUS。’
HerewillIstandtillCaesarpassalong,AndasasuitorwillIgivehimthis。
MyheartlamentsthatvirtuecannotliveOutoftheteethofemulation。
Ifthoureadthis,OCaesar,thoumaystlive;
Ifnot,theFateswithtraitorsdocontrive。
ExitSCENEIV。Anotherpartofthesamestreet,beforethehouseofBRUTUS。EnterPORTIAandLUCIUSPORTIAIprithee,boy,runtothesenate-house;
Staynottoanswerme,butgettheegone:
Whydostthoustay?LUCIUSToknowmyerrand,madam。PORTIAIwouldhavehadtheethere,andhereagain,EreIcantelltheewhatthoushouldstdothere。
Oconstancy,bestronguponmyside,Setahugemountain’tweenmyheartandtongue!
Ihaveaman’smind,butawoman’smight。
Howharditisforwomentokeepcounsel!
Artthouhereyet?LUCIUSMadam,whatshouldIdo?
RuntotheCapitol,andnothingelse?
Andsoreturntoyou,andnothingelse?PORTIAYes,bringmeword,boy,ifthylordlookwell,Forhewentsicklyforth:andtakegoodnoteWhatCaesardoth,whatsuitorspresstohim。
Hark,boy!whatnoiseisthat?LUCIUSIhearnone,madam。PORTIAPrithee,listenwell;
Iheardabustlingrumour,likeafray,AndthewindbringsitfromtheCapitol。LUCIUSSooth,madam,Ihearnothing。
EntertheSoothsayerPORTIAComehither,fellow:whichwayhastthoubeen?SoothsayerAtmineownhouse,goodlady。PORTIAWhatis’to’clock?SoothsayerAbouttheninthhour,lady。PORTIAIsCaesaryetgonetotheCapitol?SoothsayerMadam,notyet:Igototakemystand,ToseehimpassontotheCapitol。PORTIAThouhastsomesuittoCaesar,hastthounot?SoothsayerThatIhave,lady:ifitwillpleaseCaesarTobesogoodtoCaesarastohearme,Ishallbeseechhimtobefriendhimself。PORTIAWhy,know’stthouanyharm’sintendedtowardshim?SoothsayerNonethatIknowwillbe,muchthatI
fearmaychance。
Goodmorrowtoyou。Herethestreetisnarrow:
ThethrongthatfollowsCaesarattheheels,Ofsenators,ofpraetors,commonsuitors,Willcrowdafeeblemanalmosttodeath:
I’llgetmetoaplacemorevoid,andthereSpeaktogreatCaesarashecomesalong。
ExitPORTIAImustgoin。Ayme,howweakathingTheheartofwomanis!OBrutus,Theheavensspeedtheeinthineenterprise!
Sure,theboyheardme:BrutushathasuitThatCaesarwillnotgrant。O,Igrowfaint。
Run,Lucius,andcommendmetomylord;
SayIammerry:cometomeagain,Andbringmewordwhathedothsaytothee。
ExeuntseverallyACTIIISCENEI。Rome。BeforetheCapitol;theSenatesittingabove。Acrowdofpeople;amongthemARTEMIDORUSandtheSoothsayer。
Flourish。EnterCAESAR,BRUTUS,CASSIUS,CASCA,DECIUSBRUTUS,METELLUS
CIMBER,TREBONIUS,CINNA,ANTONY,LEPIDUS,POPILIUS,PUBLIUS,andothersCAESAR[TotheSoothsayer]TheidesofMarcharecome。SoothsayerAy,Caesar;butnotgone。ARTEMIDORUSHail,Caesar!readthisschedule。DECIUSBRUTUSTreboniusdothdesireyoutoo’erread,Atyourbestleisure,thishishumblesuit。ARTEMIDORUSOCaesar,readminefirst;formine’sasuitThattouchesCaesarnearer:readit,greatCaesar。CAESARWhattouchesusourselfshallbelastserved。ARTEMIDORUSDelaynot,Caesar;readitinstantly。CAESARWhat,isthefellowmad?PUBLIUSSirrah,giveplace。CASSIUSWhat,urgeyouyourpetitionsinthestreet?
CometotheCapitol。
CAESARgoesuptotheSenate-House,therestfollowingPOPILIUSIwishyourenterpriseto-daymaythrive。CASSIUSWhatenterprise,Popilius?POPILIUSFareyouwell。
AdvancestoCAESARBRUTUSWhatsaidPopiliusLena?CASSIUSHewish’dto-dayourenterprisemightthrive。
Ifearourpurposeisdiscovered。BRUTUSLook,howhemakestoCaesar;markhim。CASSIUSCasca,besudden,forwefearprevention。
Brutus,whatshallbedone?Ifthisbeknown,CassiusorCaesarnevershallturnback,ForIwillslaymyself。BRUTUSCassius,beconstant:
PopiliusLenaspeaksnotofourpurposes;
For,look,hesmiles,andCaesardothnotchange。CASSIUSTreboniusknowshistime;for,lookyou,Brutus。
HedrawsMarkAntonyoutoftheway。
ExeuntANTONYandTREBONIUSDECIUSBRUTUSWhereisMetellusCimber?Lethimgo,AndpresentlypreferhissuittoCaesar。BRUTUSHeisaddress’d:pressnearandsecondhim。CINNACasca,youarethefirstthatrearsyourhand。CAESARAreweallready?WhatisnowamissThatCaesarandhissenatemustredress?METELLUSCIMBERMosthigh,mostmighty,andmostpuissantCaesar,MetellusCimberthrowsbeforethyseatAnhumbleheart,——
KneelingCAESARImustpreventthee,Cimber。
ThesecouchingsandtheselowlycourtesiesMightfirethebloodofordinarymen,Andturnpre-ordinanceandfirstdecreeIntothelawofchildren。Benotfond,TothinkthatCaesarbearssuchrebelbloodThatwillbethaw’dfromthetruequalityWiththatwhichmeltethfools;Imean,sweetwords,Low-crookedcourt’siesandbasespaniel-fawning。
Thybrotherbydecreeisbanished:
Ifthoudostbendandprayandfawnforhim,Ispurntheelikeacuroutofmyway。
Know,Caesardothnotwrong,norwithoutcauseWillhebesatisfied。METELLUSCIMBERIstherenovoicemoreworthythanmyownTosoundmoresweetlyingreatCaesar’searFortherepealingofmybanish’dbrother?BRUTUSIkissthyhand,butnotinflattery,Caesar;
DesiringtheethatPubliusCimbermayHaveanimmediatefreedomofrepeal。CAESARWhat,Brutus!CASSIUSPardon,Caesar;Caesar,pardon:
AslowastothyfootdothCassiusfall,TobegenfranchisementforPubliusCimber。CASSIUSIcouldbewellmoved,ifIwereasyou:
IfIcouldpraytomove,prayerswouldmoveme:
ButIamconstantasthenorthernstar,Ofwhosetrue-fix’dandrestingqualityThereisnofellowinthefirmament。
Theskiesarepaintedwithunnumber’dsparks,Theyareallfireandeveryonedothshine,Butthere’sbutoneinalldothholdhisplace:
Sointheworld;’tisfurnish’dwellwithmen,Andmenarefleshandblood,andapprehensive;
YetinthenumberIdoknowbutoneThatunassailableholdsonhisrank,Unshakedofmotion:andthatIamhe,Letmealittleshowit,eveninthis;
ThatIwasconstantCimbershouldbebanish’d,Andconstantdoremaintokeephimso。CINNAOCaesar,——CAESARHence!wiltthouliftupOlympus?DECIUSBRUTUSGreatCaesar,——CAESARDothnotBrutusbootlesskneel?CASCASpeak,handsforme!
CASCAfirst,thentheotherConspiratorsandBRUTUSstabCAESARCAESAREttu,Brute!Thenfall,Caesar。
DiesCINNALiberty!Freedom!Tyrannyisdead!
Runhence,proclaim,cryitaboutthestreets。CASSIUSSometothecommonpulpits,andcryout’Liberty,freedom,andenfranchisement!’BRUTUSPeopleandsenators,benotaffrighted;
Flynot;standstiff:ambition’sdebtispaid。CASCAGotothepulpit,Brutus。DECIUSBRUTUSAndCassiustoo。BRUTUSWhere’sPublius?CINNAHere,quiteconfoundedwiththismutiny。METELLUSCIMBERStandfasttogether,lestsomefriendofCaesar’sShouldchance——BRUTUSTalknotofstanding。Publius,goodcheer;
Thereisnoharmintendedtoyourperson,NortonoRomanelse:sotellthem,Publius。CASSIUSAndleaveus,Publius;lestthatthepeople,Rushingonus,shoulddoyouragesomemischief。BRUTUSDoso:andletnomanabidethisdeed,Butwethedoers。
Re-enterTREBONIUSCASSIUSWhereisAntony?TREBONIUSFledtohishouseamazed:
Men,wivesandchildrenstare,cryoutandrunAsitweredoomsday。BRUTUSFates,wewillknowyourpleasures:
Thatweshalldie,weknow;’tisbutthetimeAnddrawingdaysout,thatmenstandupon。CASSIUSWhy,hethatcutsofftwentyyearsoflifeCutsoffsomanyyearsoffearingdeath。BRUTUSGrantthat,andthenisdeathabenefit:
SoareweCaesar’sfriends,thathaveabridgedHistimeoffearingdeath。Stoop,Romans,stoop,AndletusbatheourhandsinCaesar’sbloodUptotheelbows,andbesmearourswords:
Thenwalkweforth,eventothemarket-place,And,wavingourredweaponso’erourheads,Let’sallcry’Peace,freedomandliberty!’CASSIUSStoop,then,andwash。HowmanyageshenceShallthisourloftyscenebeactedoverInstatesunbornandaccentsyetunknown!BRUTUSHowmanytimesshallCaesarbleedinsport,ThatnowonPompey’sbasisliesalongNoworthierthanthedust!CASSIUSSooftasthatshallbe,Sooftenshalltheknotofusbecall’dThementhatgavetheircountryliberty。DECIUSBRUTUSWhat,shallweforth?CASSIUSAy,everymanaway:
Brutusshalllead;andwewillgracehisheelsWiththemostboldestandbestheartsofRome。
EnteraServantBRUTUSSoft!whocomeshere?AfriendofAntony’s。ServantThus,Brutus,didmymasterbidmekneel:
ThusdidMarkAntonybidmefalldown;
And,beingprostrate,thushebademesay:
Brutusisnoble,wise,valiant,andhonest;
Caesarwasmighty,bold,royal,andloving:
SayIloveBrutus,andIhonourhim;
SayIfear’dCaesar,honour’dhimandlovedhim。
IfBrutuswillvouchsafethatAntonyMaysafelycometohim,andberesolvedHowCaesarhathdeservedtolieindeath,MarkAntonyshallnotloveCaesardeadSowellasBrutusliving;butwillfollowThefortunesandaffairsofnobleBrutusThoroughthehazardsofthisuntrodstateWithalltruefaith。SosaysmymasterAntony。BRUTUSThymasterisawiseandvaliantRoman;
Ineverthoughthimworse。
Tellhim,sopleasehimcomeuntothisplace,Heshallbesatisfied;and,bymyhonour,Departuntouch’d。ServantI’llfetchhimpresently。
ExitBRUTUSIknowthatweshallhavehimwelltofriend。CASSIUSIwishwemay:butyethaveIamindThatfearshimmuch;andmymisgivingstillFallsshrewdlytothepurpose。BRUTUSButherecomesAntony。
Re-enterANTONY
Welcome,MarkAntony。ANTONYOmightyCaesar!dostthouliesolow?
Areallthyconquests,glories,triumphs,spoils,Shrunktothislittlemeasure?Faretheewell。
Iknownot,gentlemen,whatyouintend,Whoelsemustbeletblood,whoelseisrank:
IfImyself,thereisnohoursofitAsCaesar’sdeathhour,nornoinstrumentOfhalfthatworthasthoseyourswords,maderichWiththemostnoblebloodofallthisworld。
Idobeseechye,ifyoubearmehard,Now,whilstyourpurpledhandsdoreekandsmoke,Fulfilyourpleasure。Liveathousandyears,Ishallnotfindmyselfsoapttodie:
Noplacewillpleasemeso,nomeanofdeath,AsherebyCaesar,andbyyoucutoff,Thechoiceandmasterspiritsofthisage。BRUTUSOAntony,begnotyourdeathofus。
Thoughnowwemustappearbloodyandcruel,As,byourhandsandthisourpresentact,Youseewedo,yetseeyoubutourhandsAndthisthebleedingbusinesstheyhavedone:
Ourheartsyouseenot;theyarepitiful;
AndpitytothegeneralwrongofRome——
Asfiredrivesoutfire,sopitypity——
HathdonethisdeedonCaesar。Foryourpart,Toyouourswordshaveleadenpoints,MarkAntony:
Ourarms,instrengthofmalice,andourheartsOfbrothers’temper,doreceiveyouinWithallkindlove,goodthoughts,andreverence。CASSIUSYourvoiceshallbeasstrongasanyman’sInthedisposingofnewdignities。BRUTUSOnlybepatienttillwehaveappeasedThemultitude,besidethemselveswithfear,Andthenwewilldeliveryouthecause,WhyI,thatdidloveCaesarwhenIstruckhim,Havethusproceeded。ANTONYIdoubtnotofyourwisdom。
Leteachmanrendermehisbloodyhand:
First,MarcusBrutus,willIshakewithyou;
Next,CaiusCassius,doItakeyourhand;
Now,DeciusBrutus,yours:nowyours,Metellus;
Yours,Cinna;and,myvaliantCasca,yours;
Thoughlast,notlastinlove,yours,goodTrebonius。
Gentlemenall,——alas,whatshallIsay?
Mycreditnowstandsonsuchslipperyground,Thatoneoftwobadwaysyoumustconceitme,Eitheracowardoraflatterer。
ThatIdidlovethee,Caesar,O,’tistrue:
Ifthenthyspiritlookuponusnow,Shallitnotgrievetheedearerthanthydeath,ToseethythyAnthonymakinghispeace,Shakingthebloodyfingersofthyfoes,Mostnoble!inthepresenceofthycorse?
HadIasmanyeyesasthouhastwounds,Weepingasfastastheystreamforththyblood,ItwouldbecomemebetterthantocloseIntermsoffriendshipwiththineenemies。
Pardonme,Julius!Herewastthoubay’d,bravehart;
Heredidstthoufall;andherethyhuntersstand,Sign’dinthyspoil,andcrimson’dinthylethe。
Oworld,thouwasttheforesttothishart;
Andthis,indeed,Oworld,theheartofthee。
Howlikeadeer,struckenbymanyprinces,Dostthouherelie!CASSIUSMarkAntony,——ANTONYPardonme,CaiusCassius:
TheenemiesofCaesarshallsaythis;
Then,inafriend,itiscoldmodesty。CASSIUSIblameyounotforpraisingCaesarso;
Butwhatcompactmeanyoutohavewithus?
Willyoubeprick’dinnumberofourfriends;
Orshallweon,andnotdependonyou?ANTONYThereforeItookyourhands,butwas,indeed,Sway’dfromthepoint,bylookingdownonCaesar。
FriendsamIwithyouallandloveyouall,Uponthishope,thatyoushallgivemereasonsWhyandwhereinCaesarwasdangerous。BRUTUSOrelsewerethisasavagespectacle:
OurreasonsaresofullofgoodregardThatwereyou,Antony,thesonofCaesar,Youshouldbesatisfied。ANTONYThat’sallIseek:
AndammoreoversuitorthatImayProducehisbodytothemarket-place;
Andinthepulpit,asbecomesafriend,Speakintheorderofhisfuneral。BRUTUSYoushall,MarkAntony。CASSIUSBrutus,awordwithyou。
AsidetoBRUTUS
Youknownotwhatyoudo:donotconsentThatAntonyspeakinhisfuneral:
KnowyouhowmuchthepeoplemaybemovedBythatwhichhewillutter?BRUTUSByyourpardon;
Iwillmyselfintothepulpitfirst,AndshowthereasonofourCaesar’sdeath:
WhatAntonyshallspeak,IwillprotestHespeaksbyleaveandbypermission,AndthatwearecontentedCaesarshallHavealltrueritesandlawfulceremonies。
Itshalladvantagemorethandouswrong。CASSIUSIknownotwhatmayfall;Ilikeitnot。BRUTUSMarkAntony,here,takeyouCaesar’sbody。
Youshallnotinyourfuneralspeechblameus,ButspeakallgoodyoucandeviseofCaesar,Andsayyoudo’tbyourpermission;
ElseshallyounothaveanyhandatallAbouthisfuneral:andyoushallspeakInthesamepulpitwheretoIamgoing,Aftermyspeechisended。ANTONYBeitso。
Idodesirenomore。BRUTUSPreparethebodythen,andfollowus。
ExeuntallbutANTONYANTONYO,pardonme,thoubleedingpieceofearth,ThatIammeekandgentlewiththesebutchers!
ThouarttheruinsofthenoblestmanThateverlivedinthetideoftimes。
Woetothehandthatshedthiscostlyblood!
OverthywoundsnowdoIprophesy,——
Which,likedumbmouths,doopetheirrubylips,Tobegthevoiceandutteranceofmytongue——
Acurseshalllightuponthelimbsofmen;
DomesticfuryandfiercecivilstrifeShallcumberallthepartsofItaly;
BloodanddestructionshallbesoinuseAnddreadfulobjectssofamiliarThatmothersshallbutsmilewhentheybeholdTheirinfantsquarter’dwiththehandsofwar;
Allpitychokedwithcustomoffelldeeds:
AndCaesar’sspirit,rangingforrevenge,WithAtebyhissidecomehotfromhell,Shallintheseconfineswithamonarch’svoiceCry’Havoc,’andletslipthedogsofwar;
ThatthisfouldeedshallsmellabovetheearthWithcarrionmen,groaningforburial。
EnteraServantYouserveOctaviusCaesar,doyounot?ServantIdo,MarkAntony。ANTONYCaesardidwriteforhimtocometoRome。ServantHedidreceivehisletters,andiscoming;
Andbidmesaytoyoubywordofmouth——
OCaesar!——
SeeingthebodyANTONYThyheartisbig,gettheeapartandweep。
Passion,Isee,iscatching;formineeyes,Seeingthosebeadsofsorrowstandinthine,Begantowater。Isthymastercoming?ServantHeliesto-nightwithinsevenleaguesofRome。ANTONYPostbackwithspeed,andtellhimwhathathchanced:
HereisamourningRome,adangerousRome,NoRomeofsafetyforOctaviusyet;
Hiehence,andtellhimso。Yet,stayawhile;
ThoushaltnotbacktillIhavebornethiscorseIntothemarket-place:thereshallItryInmyoration,howthepeopletakeThecruelissueofthesebloodymen;
Accordingtothewhich,thoushaltdiscourseToyoungOctaviusofthestateofthings。
Lendmeyourhand。
ExeuntwithCAESAR’sbodySCENEII。TheForum。EnterBRUTUSandCASSIUS,andathrongofCitizensCitizensWewillbesatisfied;letusbesatisfied。BRUTUSThenfollowme,andgivemeaudience,friends。
Cassius,goyouintotheotherstreet,Andpartthenumbers。
Thosethatwillhearmespeak,let’emstayhere;
ThosethatwillfollowCassius,gowithhim;
AndpublicreasonsshallberenderedOfCaesar’sdeath。FirstCitizenIwillhearBrutusspeak。SecondCitizenIwillhearCassius;andcomparetheirreasons,Whenseverallywehearthemrendered。
ExitCASSIUS,withsomeoftheCitizens。BRUTUSgoesintothepulpitThirdCitizenThenobleBrutusisascended:silence!BRUTUSBepatienttillthelast。
Romans,countrymen,andlovers!hearmeformycause,andbesilent,thatyoumayhear:believemeforminehonour,andhaverespecttominehonour,thatyoumaybelieve:censuremeinyourwisdom,andawakeyoursenses,thatyoumaythebetterjudge。
Iftherebeanyinthisassembly,anydearfriendofCaesar’s,tohimIsay,thatBrutus’lovetoCaesarwasnolessthanhis。IfthenthatfrienddemandwhyBrutusroseagainstCaesar,thisismyanswer:
——NotthatIlovedCaesarless,butthatIlovedRomemore。HadyouratherCaesarwerelivinganddieallslaves,thanthatCaesarweredead,toliveallfreemen?AsCaesarlovedme,Iweepforhim;
ashewasfortunate,Irejoiceatit;ashewasvaliant,Ihonourhim:but,ashewasambitious,I
slewhim。Thereistearsforhislove;joyforhisfortune;honourforhisvalour;anddeathforhisambition。Whoisheresobasethatwouldbeabondman?Ifany,speak;forhimhaveIoffended。
WhoisheresorudethatwouldnotbeaRoman?
Ifany,speak;forhimhaveIoffended。Whoisheresovilethatwillnotlovehiscountry?Ifany,speak;
forhimhaveIoffended。Ipauseforareply。AllNone,Brutus,none。BRUTUSThennonehaveIoffended。IhavedonenomoretoCaesarthanyoushalldotoBrutus。ThequestionofhisdeathisenrolledintheCapitol;hisglorynotextenuated,whereinhewasworthy,norhisoffencesenforced,forwhichhesuffereddeath。
EnterANTONYandothers,withCAESAR’sbodyHerecomeshisbody,mournedbyMarkAntony:who,thoughhehadnohandinhisdeath,shallreceivethebenefitofhisdying,aplaceinthecommonwealth;aswhichofyoushallnot?WiththisIdepart,——that,asIslewmybestloverforthegoodofRome,Ihavethesamedaggerformyself,whenitshallpleasemycountrytoneedmydeath。AllLive,Brutus!live,live!FirstCitizenBringhimwithtriumphhomeuntohishouse。SecondCitizenGivehimastatuewithhisancestors。ThirdCitizenLethimbeCaesar。FourthCitizenCaesar’sbetterpartsShallbecrown’dinBrutus。FirstCitizenWe’llbringhimtohishouseWithshoutsandclamours。BRUTUSMycountrymen,——SecondCitizenPeace,silence!Brutusspeaks。FirstCitizenPeace,ho!BRUTUSGoodcountrymen,letmedepartalone,And,formysake,stayherewithAntony:
DogracetoCaesar’scorpse,andgracehisspeechTendingtoCaesar’sglories;whichMarkAntony,Byourpermission,isallow’dtomake。
Idoentreatyou,notamandepart,SaveIalone,tillAntonyhavespoke。
ExitFirstCitizenStay,ho!andletushearMarkAntony。ThirdCitizenLethimgoupintothepublicchair;
We’llhearhim。NobleAntony,goup。ANTONYForBrutus’sake,Iambeholdingtoyou。
GoesintothepulpitFourthCitizenWhatdoeshesayofBrutus?ThirdCitizenHesays,forBrutus’sake,Hefindshimselfbeholdingtousall。FourthCitizen’TwerebesthespeaknoharmofBrutushere。FirstCitizenThisCaesarwasatyrant。ThirdCitizenNay,that’scertain:
WeareblestthatRomeisridofhim。SecondCitizenPeace!letushearwhatAntonycansay。ANTONYYougentleRomans,——CitizensPeace,ho!letushearhim。ANTONYFriends,Romans,countrymen,lendmeyourears;
IcometoburyCaesar,nottopraisehim。
Theevilthatmendolivesafterthem;
Thegoodisoftinterredwiththeirbones;
SoletitbewithCaesar。ThenobleBrutusHathtoldyouCaesarwasambitious:
Ifitwereso,itwasagrievousfault,AndgrievouslyhathCaesaranswer’dit。
Here,underleaveofBrutusandtherest——
ForBrutusisanhonourableman;
Soaretheyall,allhonourablemen——
ComeItospeakinCaesar’sfuneral。
Hewasmyfriend,faithfulandjusttome:
ButBrutussayshewasambitious;
AndBrutusisanhonourableman。
HehathbroughtmanycaptiveshometoRomeWhoseransomsdidthegeneralcoffersfill:
DidthisinCaesarseemambitious?
Whenthatthepoorhavecried,Caesarhathwept:
Ambitionshouldbemadeofsternerstuff:
YetBrutussayshewasambitious;
AndBrutusisanhonourableman。
YoualldidseethatontheLupercalIthricepresentedhimakinglycrown,Whichhedidthricerefuse:wasthisambition?
YetBrutussayshewasambitious;
And,sure,heisanhonourableman。
IspeaknottodisprovewhatBrutusspoke,ButhereIamtospeakwhatIdoknow。
Youalldidlovehimonce,notwithoutcause:
Whatcausewithholdsyouthen,tomournforhim?
Ojudgment!thouartfledtobrutishbeasts,Andmenhavelosttheirreason。Bearwithme;
MyheartisinthecoffintherewithCaesar,AndImustpausetillitcomebacktome。FirstCitizenMethinksthereismuchreasoninhissayings。SecondCitizenIfthouconsiderrightlyofthematter,Caesarhashadgreatwrong。ThirdCitizenHashe,masters?
Ifeartherewillaworsecomeinhisplace。FourthCitizenMark’dyehiswords?Hewouldnottakethecrown;
Therefore’tiscertainhewasnotambitious。FirstCitizenIfitbefoundso,somewilldearabideit。SecondCitizenPoorsoul!hiseyesareredasfirewithweeping。ThirdCitizenThere’snotanoblermaninRomethanAntony。FourthCitizenNowmarkhim,hebeginsagaintospeak。ANTONYButyesterdaythewordofCaesarmightHavestoodagainsttheworld;nowlieshethere。
Andnonesopoortodohimreverence。
Omasters,ifIweredisposedtostirYourheartsandmindstomutinyandrage,IshoulddoBrutuswrong,andCassiuswrong,Who,youallknow,arehonourablemen:
Iwillnotdothemwrong;IratherchooseTowrongthedead,towrongmyselfandyou,ThanIwillwrongsuchhonourablemen。
Buthere’saparchmentwiththesealofCaesar;
Ifounditinhiscloset,’tishiswill:
Letbutthecommonshearthistestament——
Which,pardonme,Idonotmeantoread——
AndtheywouldgoandkissdeadCaesar’swoundsAnddiptheirnapkinsinhissacredblood,Yea,begahairofhimformemory,And,dying,mentionitwithintheirwills,BequeathingitasarichlegacyUntotheirissue。FourthCitizenWe’llhearthewill:readit,MarkAntony。AllThewill,thewill!wewillhearCaesar’swill。ANTONYHavepatience,gentlefriends,Imustnotreadit;
ItisnotmeetyouknowhowCaesarlovedyou。
Youarenotwood,youarenotstones,butmen;
And,beingmen,bearingthewillofCaesar,Itwillinflameyou,itwillmakeyoumad:
’Tisgoodyouknownotthatyouarehisheirs;
For,ifyoushould,O,whatwouldcomeofit!FourthCitizenReadthewill;we’llhearit,Antony;
Youshallreadusthewill,Caesar’swill。ANTONYWillyoubepatient?willyoustayawhile?
Ihaveo’ershotmyselftotellyouofit:
IfearIwrongthehonourablemenWhosedaggershavestabb’dCaesar;Idofearit。FourthCitizenTheyweretraitors:honourablemen!AllThewill!thetestament!SecondCitizenTheywerevillains,murderers:thewill!
readthewill。ANTONYYouwillcompelme,then,toreadthewill?
ThenmakearingaboutthecorpseofCaesar,Andletmeshowyouhimthatmadethewill。
ShallIdescend?andwillyougivemeleave?SeveralCitizensComedown。SecondCitizenDescend。ThirdCitizenYoushallhaveleave。
ANTONYcomesdownFourthCitizenAring;standround。FirstCitizenStandfromthehearse,standfromthebody。SecondCitizenRoomforAntony,mostnobleAntony。ANTONYNay,pressnotsouponme;standfaroff。SeveralCitizensStandback;room;bearback。ANTONYIfyouhavetears,preparetoshedthemnow。
Youalldoknowthismantle:IrememberThefirsttimeeverCaesarputiton;
’Twasonasummer’sevening,inhistent,ThatdayheovercametheNervii:
Look,inthisplaceranCassius’daggerthrough:
SeewhatarenttheenviousCascamade:
Throughthisthewell-belovedBrutusstabb’d;
Andashepluck’dhiscursedsteelaway,MarkhowthebloodofCaesarfollow’dit,Asrushingoutofdoors,toberesolvedIfBrutussounkindlyknock’d,orno;
ForBrutus,asyouknow,wasCaesar’sangel:
Judge,Oyougods,howdearlyCaesarlovedhim!
Thiswasthemostunkindestcutofall;
ForwhenthenobleCaesarsawhimstab,Ingratitude,morestrongthantraitors’arms,Quitevanquish’dhim:thenbursthismightyheart;
And,inhismantlemufflinguphisface,EvenatthebaseofPompey’sstatua,Whichallthewhileranblood,greatCaesarfell。
O,whatafallwasthere,mycountrymen!
ThenI,andyou,andallofusfelldown,Whilstbloodytreasonflourish’doverus。
O,nowyouweep;and,Iperceive,youfeelThedintofpity:thesearegraciousdrops。
Kindsouls,what,weepyouwhenyoubutbeholdOurCaesar’svesturewounded?Lookyouhere,Hereishimself,marr’d,asyousee,withtraitors。FirstCitizenOpiteousspectacle!SecondCitizenOnobleCaesar!ThirdCitizenOwofulday!FourthCitizenOtraitors,villains!FirstCitizenOmostbloodysight!SecondCitizenWewillberevenged。AllRevenge!About!Seek!Burn!Fire!Kill!
Slay!
Letnotatraitorlive!ANTONYStay,countrymen。FirstCitizenPeacethere!hearthenobleAntony。SecondCitizenWe’llhearhim,we’llfollowhim,we’lldiewithhim。ANTONYGoodfriends,sweetfriends,letmenotstiryouupTosuchasuddenfloodofmutiny。
Theythathavedonethisdeedarehonourable:
Whatprivategriefstheyhave,alas,Iknownot,Thatmadethemdoit:theyarewiseandhonourable,Andwill,nodoubt,withreasonsansweryou。
Icomenot,friends,tostealawayyourhearts:
Iamnoorator,asBrutusis;
But,asyouknowmeall,aplainbluntman,Thatlovemyfriend;andthattheyknowfullwellThatgavemepublicleavetospeakofhim:
ForIhaveneitherwit,norwords,norworth,Action,norutterance,northepowerofspeech,Tostirmen’sblood:Ionlyspeakrighton;
Itellyouthatwhichyouyourselvesdoknow;
ShowyousweetCaesar’swounds,poorpoordumbmouths,Andbidthemspeakforme:butwereIBrutus,AndBrutusAntony,therewereanAntonyWouldruffleupyourspiritsandputatongueIneverywoundofCaesarthatshouldmoveThestonesofRometoriseandmutiny。AllWe’llmutiny。FirstCitizenWe’llburnthehouseofBrutus。ThirdCitizenAway,then!come,seektheconspirators。ANTONYYethearme,countrymen;yethearmespeak。AllPeace,ho!HearAntony。MostnobleAntony!ANTONYWhy,friends,yougotodoyouknownotwhat:
WhereinhathCaesarthusdeservedyourloves?
Alas,youknownot:Imusttellyouthen:
YouhaveforgotthewillItoldyouof。AllMosttrue。Thewill!Let’sstayandhearthewill。ANTONYHereisthewill,andunderCaesar’sseal。
ToeveryRomancitizenhegives,Toeveryseveralman,seventy-fivedrachmas。SecondCitizenMostnobleCaesar!We’llrevengehisdeath。ThirdCitizenOroyalCaesar!ANTONYHearmewithpatience。AllPeace,ho!ANTONYMoreover,hehathleftyouallhiswalks,Hisprivatearboursandnew-plantedorchards,OnthissideTiber;hehathleftthemyou,Andtoyourheirsforever,commonpleasures,Towalkabroad,andrecreateyourselves。
HerewasaCaesar!whencomessuchanother?FirstCitizenNever,never。Come,away,away!
We’llburnhisbodyintheholyplace,Andwiththebrandsfirethetraitors’houses。
Takeupthebody。SecondCitizenGofetchfire。ThirdCitizenPluckdownbenches。FourthCitizenPluckdownforms,windows,anything。
ExeuntCitizenswiththebodyANTONYNowletitwork。Mischief,thouartafoot,Takethouwhatcoursethouwilt!
EnteraServantHownow,fellow!ServantSir,OctaviusisalreadycometoRome。ANTONYWhereishe?ServantHeandLepidusareatCaesar’shouse。ANTONYAndthitherwillIstraighttovisithim:
Hecomesuponawish。Fortuneismerry,Andinthismoodwillgiveusanything。ServantIheardhimsay,BrutusandCassiusAreridlikemadmenthroughthegatesofRome。ANTONYBeliketheyhadsomenoticeofthepeople,HowIhadmovedthem。BringmetoOctavius。
ExeuntSCENEIII。Astreet。EnterCINNAthepoetCINNATHEPOETIdreamtto-nightthatIdidfeastwithCaesar,Andthingsunluckychargemyfantasy:
Ihavenowilltowanderforthofdoors,Yetsomethingleadsmeforth。
EnterCitizensFirstCitizenWhatisyourname?SecondCitizenWhitherareyougoing?ThirdCitizenWheredoyoudwell?FourthCitizenAreyouamarriedmanorabachelor?SecondCitizenAnswereverymandirectly。FirstCitizenAy,andbriefly。FourthCitizenAy,andwisely。ThirdCitizenAy,andtruly,youwerebest。CINNATHEPOETWhatismyname?WhitheramIgoing?WheredoI
dwell?AmIamarriedmanorabachelor?Then,toanswereverymandirectlyandbriefly,wiselyandtruly:wiselyIsay,Iamabachelor。SecondCitizenThat’sasmuchastosay,theyarefoolsthatmarry:
you’llbearmeabangforthat,Ifear。Proceed;
directly。CINNATHEPOETDirectly,IamgoingtoCaesar’sfuneral。FirstCitizenAsafriendoranenemy?CINNATHEPOETAsafriend。SecondCitizenThatmatterisanswereddirectly。FourthCitizenForyourdwelling,——briefly。CINNATHEPOETBriefly,IdwellbytheCapitol。ThirdCitizenYourname,sir,truly。CINNATHEPOETTruly,mynameisCinna。FirstCitizenTearhimtopieces;he’saconspirator。CINNATHEPOETIamCinnathepoet,IamCinnathepoet。FourthCitizenTearhimforhisbadverses,tearhimforhisbadverses。CINNATHEPOETIamnotCinnatheconspirator。FourthCitizenItisnomatter,hisname’sCinna;pluckbuthisnameoutofhisheart,andturnhimgoing。ThirdCitizenTearhim,tearhim!Come,brandsho!fire-brands:
toBrutus’,toCassius’;burnall:sometoDecius’
house,andsometoCasca’s;sometoLigarius’:
away,go!
ExeuntACTIVSCENEI。AhouseinRome。ANTONY,OCTAVIUS,andLEPIDUS,seatedatatableANTONYThesemany,then,shalldie;theirnamesareprick’d。OCTAVIUSYourbrothertoomustdie;consentyou,Lepidus?LEPIDUSIdoconsent——OCTAVIUSPrickhimdown,Antony。LEPIDUSUponconditionPubliusshallnotlive,Whoisyoursister’sson,MarkAntony。ANTONYHeshallnotlive;look,withaspotI
damnhim。
But,Lepidus,goyoutoCaesar’shouse;
Fetchthewillhither,andweshalldetermineHowtocutoffsomechargeinlegacies。LEPIDUSWhat,shallIfindyouhere?OCTAVIUSOrhere,orattheCapitol。
ExitLEPIDUSANTONYThisisaslightunmeritableman,Meettobesentonerrands:isitfit,Thethree-foldworlddivided,heshouldstandOneofthethreetoshareit?OCTAVIUSSoyouthoughthim;
Andtookhisvoicewhoshouldbeprick’dtodie,Inourblacksentenceandproscription。ANTONYOctavius,Ihaveseenmoredaysthanyou:
Andthoughwelaythesehonoursonthisman,Toeaseourselvesofdiversslanderousloads,Heshallbutbearthemastheassbearsgold,Togroanandsweatunderthebusiness,Eitherledordriven,aswepointtheway;
Andhavingbroughtourtreasurewherewewill,Thentakewedownhisload,andturnhimoff,Liketotheemptyass,toshakehisears,Andgrazeincommons。OCTAVIUSYoumaydoyourwill;
Buthe’satriedandvaliantsoldier。ANTONYSoismyhorse,Octavius;andforthatIdoappointhimstoreofprovender:
ItisacreaturethatIteachtofight,Towind,tostop,torundirectlyon,Hiscorporalmotiongovern’dbymyspirit。
And,insometaste,isLepidusbutso;
Hemustbetaughtandtrain’dandbidgoforth;
Abarren-spiritedfellow;onethatfeedsOnabjects,ortsandimitations,Which,outofuseandstaledbyothermen,Beginhisfashion:donottalkofhim,Butasaproperty。Andnow,Octavius,Listengreatthings:——BrutusandCassiusArelevyingpowers:wemuststraightmakehead:
Thereforeletouralliancebecombined,Ourbestfriendsmade,ourmeansstretch’dAndletuspresentlygositincouncil,Howcovertmattersmaybebestdisclosed,Andopenperilssurestanswered。OCTAVIUSLetusdoso:forweareatthestake,Andbay’daboutwithmanyenemies;
Andsomethatsmilehaveintheirhearts,Ifear,Millionsofmischiefs。
ExeuntSCENEII。CampnearSardis。BeforeBRUTUS’stent。Drum。EnterBRUTUS,LUCILIUS,LUCIUS,andSoldiers;TITINIUS
andPINDARUSmeetingthemBRUTUSStand,ho!LUCILIUSGivetheword,ho!andstand。BRUTUSWhatnow,Lucilius!isCassiusnear?LUCILIUSHeisathand;andPindarusiscomeTodoyousalutationfromhismaster。BRUTUSHegreetsmewell。Yourmaster,Pindarus,Inhisownchange,orbyillofficers,HathgivenmesomeworthycausetowishThingsdone,undone:but,ifhebeathand,Ishallbesatisfied。PINDARUSIdonotdoubtButthatmynoblemasterwillappearSuchasheis,fullofregardandhonour。BRUTUSHeisnotdoubted。Aword,Lucilius;
Howhereceivedyou,letmeberesolved。LUCILIUSWithcourtesyandwithrespectenough;
Butnotwithsuchfamiliarinstances,Norwithsuchfreeandfriendlyconference,Ashehathusedofold。BRUTUSThouhastdescribedAhotfriendcooling:evernote,Lucilius,Whenlovebeginstosickenanddecay,Itusethanenforcedceremony。
Therearenotricksinplainandsimplefaith;
Buthollowmen,likehorseshotathand,Makegallantshowandpromiseoftheirmettle;
Butwhentheyshouldendurethebloodyspur,Theyfalltheircrests,and,likedeceitfuljades,Sinkinthetrial。Comeshisarmyon?LUCILIUSTheymeanthisnightinSardistobequarter’d;
Thegreaterpart,thehorseingeneral,ArecomewithCassius。BRUTUSHark!heisarrived。
LowmarchwithinMarchgentlyontomeethim。
EnterCASSIUSandhispowersCASSIUSStand,ho!BRUTUSStand,ho!Speakthewordalong。FirstSoldierStand!SecondSoldierStand!ThirdSoldierStand!CASSIUSMostnoblebrother,youhavedonemewrong。BRUTUSJudgeme,yougods!wrongImineenemies?
And,ifnotso,howshouldIwrongabrother?CASSIUSBrutus,thissoberformofyourshideswrongs;
Andwhenyoudothem——BRUTUSCassius,becontent。
Speakyourgriefssoftly:Idoknowyouwell。
Beforetheeyesofbothourarmieshere,Whichshouldperceivenothingbutlovefromus,Letusnotwrangle:bidthemmoveaway;
Theninmytent,Cassius,enlargeyourgriefs,AndIwillgiveyouaudience。CASSIUSPindarus,BidourcommandersleadtheirchargesoffAlittlefromthisground。BRUTUSLucilius,doyouthelike;andletnomanCometoourtenttillwehavedoneourconference。
LetLuciusandTitiniusguardourdoor。
ExeuntSCENEIII。Brutus’stent。EnterBRUTUSandCASSIUSCASSIUSThatyouhavewrong’dmedothappearinthis:
Youhavecondemn’dandnotedLuciusPellaFortakingbribeshereoftheSardians;
Whereinmyletters,prayingonhisside,BecauseIknewtheman,wereslightedoff。BRUTUSYouwrongedyourselftowriteinsuchacase。CASSIUSInsuchatimeasthisitisnotmeetThateveryniceoffenceshouldbearhiscomment。BRUTUSLetmetellyou,Cassius,youyourselfAremuchcondemn’dtohaveanitchingpalm;
TosellandmartyourofficesforgoldToundeservers。CASSIUSIanitchingpalm!