Open Source Shakespeare

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

Act III

Scene 1. Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.

Scene 2. The Forum.

Scene 3. A street.

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Act III, Scene 1

Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.

       

A crowd of people; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS, METELLUS CIMBER, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others.

  • Caesar. [To the Soothsayer] The ides of March are come.
  • Soothsayer. Ay, Caesar; but not gone.
  • Artemidorus. Hail, Caesar! read this schedule.
  • Decius Brutus. Trebonius doth desire you to o'erread,
    At your best leisure, this his humble suit. 1200
  • Artemidorus. O Caesar, read mine first; for mine's a suit
    That touches Caesar nearer: read it, great Caesar.
  • Caesar. What touches us ourself shall be last served.
  • Artemidorus. Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly.
  • Caesar. What, is the fellow mad? 1205
  • Publius. Sirrah, give place.
  • Cassius. What, urge you your petitions in the street?
    Come to the Capitol.
    [CAESAR goes up to the Senate-House, the rest
    following]
    1210
  • Popilius. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive.
  • Cassius. What enterprise, Popilius?
  • Popilius. Fare you well.

Advances to CAESAR

  • Brutus. What said Popilius Lena? 1215
  • Cassius. He wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive.
    I fear our purpose is discovered.
  • Brutus. Look, how he makes to Caesar; mark him.
  • Cassius. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
    Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, 1220
    Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
    For I will slay myself.
  • Brutus. Cassius, be constant:
    Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
    For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change. 1225
  • Cassius. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus.
    He draws Mark Antony out of the way.

Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS

  • Decius Brutus. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
    And presently prefer his suit to Caesar. 1230
  • Brutus. He is address'd: press near and second him.
  • Cinna. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
  • Caesar. Are we all ready? What is now amiss
    That Caesar and his senate must redress?
  • Metellus Cimber. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar, 1235
    Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
    An humble heart,—

Kneeling

  • Caesar. I must prevent thee, Cimber.
    These couchings and these lowly courtesies 1240
    Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
    And turn pre-ordinance and first decree
    Into the law of children. Be not fond,
    To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
    That will be thaw'd from the true quality 1245
    With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words,
    Low-crooked court'sies and base spaniel-fawning.
    Thy brother by decree is banished:
    If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
    I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. 1250
    Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
    Will he be satisfied.
  • Metellus Cimber. Is there no voice more worthy than my own
    To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear
    For the repealing of my banish'd brother? 1255
  • Brutus. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar;
    Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
    Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
  • Caesar. What, Brutus!
  • Cassius. Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon: 1260
    As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
    To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
  • Cassius. I could be well moved, if I were as you:
    If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
    But I am constant as the northern star, 1265
    Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
    There is no fellow in the firmament.
    The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
    They are all fire and every one doth shine,
    But there's but one in all doth hold his place: 1270
    So in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men,
    And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
    Yet in the number I do know but one
    That unassailable holds on his rank,
    Unshaked of motion: and that I am he, 1275
    Let me a little show it, even in this;
    That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
    And constant do remain to keep him so.
  • Cinna. O Caesar,—
  • Caesar. Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus? 1280
  • Decius Brutus. Great Caesar,—
  • Caesar. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
  • Casca. Speak, hands for me!
    [CASCA first, then the other Conspirators and
    BRUTUS stab CAESAR]
    1285
  • Caesar. Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar.

Dies

  • Cinna. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
    Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
  • Cassius. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out 1290
    'Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!'
  • Brutus. People and senators, be not affrighted;
    Fly not; stand stiff: ambition's debt is paid.
  • Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
  • Decius Brutus. And Cassius too. 1295
  • Brutus. Where's Publius?
  • Cinna. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
  • Metellus Cimber. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's
    Should chance—
  • Brutus. Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer; 1300
    There is no harm intended to your person,
    Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius.
  • Cassius. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people,
    Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
  • Brutus. Do so: and let no man abide this deed, 1305
    But we the doers.

Re-enter TREBONIUS

  • Cassius. Where is Antony?
  • Trebonius. Fled to his house amazed:
    Men, wives and children stare, cry out and run 1310
    As it were doomsday.
  • Brutus. Fates, we will know your pleasures:
    That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time
    And drawing days out, that men stand upon.
  • Cassius. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life 1315
    Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
  • Brutus. Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
    So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridged
    His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
    And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood 1320
    Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
    Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,
    And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
    Let's all cry 'Peace, freedom and liberty!'
  • Cassius. Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence 1325
    Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
    In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
  • Brutus. How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
    That now on Pompey's basis lies along
    No worthier than the dust! 1330
  • Cassius. So oft as that shall be,
    So often shall the knot of us be call'd
    The men that gave their country liberty.
  • Decius Brutus. What, shall we forth?
  • Cassius. Ay, every man away: 1335
    Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
    With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.

Enter a Servant

  • Brutus. Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's.
  • Servant. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel: 1340
    Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
    And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
    Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
    Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
    Say I love Brutus, and I honour him; 1345
    Say I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him and loved him.
    If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
    May safely come to him, and be resolved
    How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
    Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead 1350
    So well as Brutus living; but will follow
    The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
    Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
    With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
  • Brutus. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman; 1355
    I never thought him worse.
    Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
    He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour,
    Depart untouch'd.
  • Servant. I'll fetch him presently. 1360

Exit

  • Brutus. I know that we shall have him well to friend.
  • Cassius. I wish we may: but yet have I a mind
    That fears him much; and my misgiving still
    Falls shrewdly to the purpose. 1365
  • Brutus. But here comes Antony.
    [Re-enter ANTONY]
    Welcome, Mark Antony.
  • Antony. O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?
    Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, 1370
    Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
    I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
    Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
    If I myself, there is no hour so fit
    As Caesar's death hour, nor no instrument 1375
    Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
    With the most noble blood of all this world.
    I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
    Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
    Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years, 1380
    I shall not find myself so apt to die:
    No place will please me so, no mean of death,
    As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
    The choice and master spirits of this age.
  • Brutus. O Antony, beg not your death of us. 1385
    Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
    As, by our hands and this our present act,
    You see we do, yet see you but our hands
    And this the bleeding business they have done:
    Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; 1390
    And pity to the general wrong of Rome—
    As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—
    Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
    To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:
    Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts 1395
    Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
    With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
  • Cassius. Your voice shall be as strong as any man's
    In the disposing of new dignities.
  • Brutus. Only be patient till we have appeased 1400
    The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
    And then we will deliver you the cause,
    Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,
    Have thus proceeded.
  • Antony. I doubt not of your wisdom. 1405
    Let each man render me his bloody hand:
    First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;
    Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
    Now, Decius Brutus, yours: now yours, Metellus;
    Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours; 1410
    Though last, not last in love, yours, good Trebonius.
    Gentlemen all,—alas, what shall I say?
    My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
    That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
    Either a coward or a flatterer. 1415
    That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true:
    If then thy spirit look upon us now,
    Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,
    To see thy thy Anthony making his peace,
    Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes, 1420
    Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?
    Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
    Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
    It would become me better than to close
    In terms of friendship with thine enemies. 1425
    Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart;
    Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
    Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe.
    O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;
    And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee. 1430
    How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
    Dost thou here lie!
  • Cassius. Mark Antony,—
  • Antony. Pardon me, Caius Cassius:
    The enemies of Caesar shall say this; 1435
    Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
  • Cassius. I blame you not for praising Caesar so;
    But what compact mean you to have with us?
    Will you be prick'd in number of our friends;
    Or shall we on, and not depend on you? 1440
  • Antony. Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed,
    Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Caesar.
    Friends am I with you all and love you all,
    Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
    Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous. 1445
  • Brutus. Or else were this a savage spectacle:
    Our reasons are so full of good regard
    That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
    You should be satisfied.
  • Antony. That's all I seek: 1450
    And am moreover suitor that I may
    Produce his body to the market-place;
    And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
    Speak in the order of his funeral.
  • Brutus. You shall, Mark Antony. 1455
  • Cassius. Brutus, a word with you.
    [Aside to BRUTUS]
    You know not what you do: do not consent
    That Antony speak in his funeral:
    Know you how much the people may be moved 1460
    By that which he will utter?
  • Brutus. By your pardon;
    I will myself into the pulpit first,
    And show the reason of our Caesar's death:
    What Antony shall speak, I will protest 1465
    He speaks by leave and by permission,
    And that we are contented Caesar shall
    Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
    It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
  • Cassius. I know not what may fall; I like it not. 1470
  • Brutus. Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body.
    You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
    But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,
    And say you do't by our permission;
    Else shall you not have any hand at all 1475
    About his funeral: and you shall speak
    In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
    After my speech is ended.
  • Antony. Be it so.
    I do desire no more. 1480
  • Brutus. Prepare the body then, and follow us.

Exeunt all but ANTONY

  • Antony. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
    That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
    Thou art the ruins of the noblest man 1485
    That ever lived in the tide of times.
    Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
    Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,—
    Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
    To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue— 1490
    A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
    Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
    Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
    Blood and destruction shall be so in use
    And dreadful objects so familiar 1495
    That mothers shall but smile when they behold
    Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
    All pity choked with custom of fell deeds:
    And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
    With Ate by his side come hot from hell, 1500
    Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
    Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;
    That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
    With carrion men, groaning for burial.
    [Enter a Servant] 1505
    You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?
  • Servant. I do, Mark Antony.
  • Antony. Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.
  • Servant. He did receive his letters, and is coming;
    And bid me say to you by word of mouth— 1510
    O Caesar!—

Seeing the body

  • Antony. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.
    Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes,
    Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, 1515
    Began to water. Is thy master coming?
  • Servant. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome.
  • Antony. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced:
    Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
    No Rome of safety for Octavius yet; 1520
    Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile;
    Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse
    Into the market-place: there shall I try
    In my oration, how the people take
    The cruel issue of these bloody men; 1525
    According to the which, thou shalt discourse
    To young Octavius of the state of things.
    Lend me your hand.

Exeunt with CAESAR's body


       

Act III, Scene 2

The Forum.

       

Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens

  • Citizens. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.
  • Brutus. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.
    Cassius, go you into the other street,
    And part the numbers.
    Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here; 1535
    Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
    And public reasons shall be rendered
    Of Caesar's death.
  • First Citizen. I will hear Brutus speak.
  • Second Citizen. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, 1540
    When severally we hear them rendered.
    [Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Citizens. BRUTUS
    goes into the pulpit]
  • Third Citizen. The noble Brutus is ascended: silence!
  • Brutus. Be patient till the last. 1545
    Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my
    cause, and be silent, that you may hear: believe me
    for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that
    you may believe: censure me in your wisdom, and
    awake your senses, that you may the better judge. 1550
    If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of
    Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar
    was no less than his. If then that friend demand
    why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:
    —Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved 1555
    Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and
    die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
    all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;
    as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was
    valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I 1560
    slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his
    fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his
    ambition. Who is here so base that would be a
    bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended.
    Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If 1565
    any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so
    vile that will not love his country? If any, speak;
    for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.
  • All. None, Brutus, none.
  • Brutus. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to 1570
    Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of
    his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not
    extenuated, wherein he was worthy, nor his offences
    enforced, for which he suffered death.
    [Enter ANTONY and others, with CAESAR's body] 1575
    Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who,
    though he had no hand in his death, shall receive
    the benefit of his dying, a place in the
    commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this
    I depart,—that, as I slew my best lover for the 1580
    good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself,
    when it shall please my country to need my death.
  • All. Live, Brutus! live, live!
  • First Citizen. Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
  • Second Citizen. Give him a statue with his ancestors. 1585
  • Third Citizen. Let him be Caesar.
  • Fourth Citizen. Caesar's better parts
    Shall be crown'd in Brutus.
  • First Citizen. We'll bring him to his house
    With shouts and clamours. 1590
  • Brutus. My countrymen,—
  • Second Citizen. Peace, silence! Brutus speaks.
  • First Citizen. Peace, ho!
  • Brutus. Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
    And, for my sake, stay here with Antony: 1595
    Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech
    Tending to Caesar's glories; which Mark Antony,
    By our permission, is allow'd to make.
    I do entreat you, not a man depart,
    Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. 1600

Exit

  • First Citizen. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.
  • Third Citizen. Let him go up into the public chair;
    We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.
  • Antony. For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you. 1605

Goes into the pulpit

  • Fourth Citizen. What does he say of Brutus?
  • Third Citizen. He says, for Brutus' sake,
    He finds himself beholding to us all.
  • Fourth Citizen. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. 1610
  • First Citizen. This Caesar was a tyrant.
  • Third Citizen. Nay, that's certain:
    We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
  • Second Citizen. Peace! let us hear what Antony can say.
  • Antony. You gentle Romans,— 1615
  • Citizens. Peace, ho! let us hear him.
  • Antony. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
    I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
    The evil that men do lives after them;
    The good is oft interred with their bones; 1620
    So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
    Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
    If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
    And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
    Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest— 1625
    For Brutus is an honourable man;
    So are they all, all honourable men—
    Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
    He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
    But Brutus says he was ambitious; 1630
    And Brutus is an honourable man.
    He hath brought many captives home to Rome
    Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
    Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
    When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: 1635
    Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
    Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
    And Brutus is an honourable man.
    You all did see that on the Lupercal
    I thrice presented him a kingly crown, 1640
    Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
    Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
    And, sure, he is an honourable man.
    I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
    But here I am to speak what I do know. 1645
    You all did love him once, not without cause:
    What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?
    O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
    And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;
    My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, 1650
    And I must pause till it come back to me.
  • First Citizen. Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.
  • Second Citizen. If thou consider rightly of the matter,
    Caesar has had great wrong.
  • Third Citizen. Has he, masters? 1655
    I fear there will a worse come in his place.
  • Fourth Citizen. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown;
    Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.
  • First Citizen. If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
  • Second Citizen. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. 1660
  • Third Citizen. There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
  • Fourth Citizen. Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
  • Antony. But yesterday the word of Caesar might
    Have stood against the world; now lies he there.
    And none so poor to do him reverence. 1665
    O masters, if I were disposed to stir
    Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
    I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
    Who, you all know, are honourable men:
    I will not do them wrong; I rather choose 1670
    To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
    Than I will wrong such honourable men.
    But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar;
    I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:
    Let but the commons hear this testament— 1675
    Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read—
    And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds
    And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
    Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
    And, dying, mention it within their wills, 1680
    Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
    Unto their issue.
  • Fourth Citizen. We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.
  • All. The will, the will! we will hear Caesar's will.
  • Antony. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; 1685
    It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
    You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
    And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar,
    It will inflame you, it will make you mad:
    'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs; 1690
    For, if you should, O, what would come of it!
  • Fourth Citizen. Read the will; we'll hear it, Antony;
    You shall read us the will, Caesar's will.
  • Antony. Will you be patient? will you stay awhile?
    I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it: 1695
    I fear I wrong the honourable men
    Whose daggers have stabb'd Caesar; I do fear it.
  • Fourth Citizen. They were traitors: honourable men!
  • All. The will! the testament!
  • Second Citizen. They were villains, murderers: the will! read the will. 1700
  • Antony. You will compel me, then, to read the will?
    Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,
    And let me show you him that made the will.
    Shall I descend? and will you give me leave?
  • Several Citizens. Come down. 1705
  • Second Citizen. Descend.
  • Third Citizen. You shall have leave.

ANTONY comes down

  • Fourth Citizen. A ring; stand round.
  • First Citizen. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. 1710
  • Second Citizen. Room for Antony, most noble Antony.
  • Antony. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.
  • Several Citizens. Stand back; room; bear back.
  • Antony. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
    You all do know this mantle: I remember 1715
    The first time ever Caesar 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: 1720
    Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;
    And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
    Mark how the blood of Caesar follow'd it,
    As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
    If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no; 1725
    For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel:
    Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
    This was the most unkindest cut of all;
    For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
    Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, 1730
    Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;
    And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
    Even at the base of Pompey's statua,
    Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
    O, what a fall was there, my countrymen! 1735
    Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
    Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
    O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
    The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
    Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold 1740
    Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
    Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
  • First Citizen. O piteous spectacle!
  • Second Citizen. O noble Caesar!
  • Third Citizen. O woful day! 1745
  • Fourth Citizen. O traitors, villains!
  • First Citizen. O most bloody sight!
  • Second Citizen. We will be revenged.
  • All. Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!
    Let not a traitor live! 1750
  • Antony. Stay, countrymen.
  • First Citizen. Peace there! hear the noble Antony.
  • Second Citizen. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him.
  • Antony. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
    To such a sudden flood of mutiny. 1755
    They that have done this deed are honourable:
    What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
    That made them do it: they are wise and honourable,
    And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
    I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts: 1760
    I am no orator, as Brutus is;
    But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
    That love my friend; and that they know full well
    That gave me public leave to speak of him:
    For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth, 1765
    Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
    To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
    I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
    Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,
    And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus, 1770
    And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
    Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
    In every wound of Caesar that should move
    The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
  • All. We'll mutiny. 1775
  • First Citizen. We'll burn the house of Brutus.
  • Third Citizen. Away, then! come, seek the conspirators.
  • Antony. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.
  • All. Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony!
  • Antony. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what: 1780
    Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?
    Alas, you know not: I must tell you then:
    You have forgot the will I told you of.
  • All. Most true. The will! Let's stay and hear the will.
  • Antony. Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal. 1785
    To every Roman citizen he gives,
    To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.
  • Second Citizen. Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death.
  • Third Citizen. O royal Caesar!
  • Antony. Hear me with patience. 1790
  • All. Peace, ho!
  • 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, 1795
    To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
    Here was a Caesar! when comes such another?
  • First Citizen. Never, never. Come, away, away!
    We'll burn his body in the holy place,
    And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. 1800
    Take up the body.
  • Second Citizen. Go fetch fire.
  • Third Citizen. Pluck down benches.
  • Fourth Citizen. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.

Exeunt Citizens with the body

  • Antony. Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,
    Take thou what course thou wilt!
    [Enter a Servant]
    How now, fellow!
  • Servant. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. 1810
  • Antony. Where is he?
  • Servant. He and Lepidus are at Caesar's house.
  • Antony. And thither will I straight to visit him:
    He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
    And in this mood will give us any thing. 1815
  • Servant. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
    Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
  • Antony. Belike they had some notice of the people,
    How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.

Exeunt


       

Act III, Scene 3

A street.

       

Enter CINNA the poet

  • Cinna the Poet. I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Caesar,
    And things unlucky charge my fantasy:
    I have no will to wander forth of doors,
    Yet something leads me forth. 1825

Enter Citizens

  • First Citizen. What is your name?
  • Second Citizen. Whither are you going?
  • Third Citizen. Where do you dwell?
  • Fourth Citizen. Are you a married man or a bachelor? 1830
  • Second Citizen. Answer every man directly.
  • First Citizen. Ay, and briefly.
  • Fourth Citizen. Ay, and wisely.
  • Third Citizen. Ay, and truly, you were best.
  • Cinna the Poet. What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I 1835
    dwell? Am I a married man or a bachelor? Then, to
    answer every man directly and briefly, wisely and
    truly: wisely I say, I am a bachelor.
  • Second Citizen. That's as much as to say, they are fools that marry:
    you'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly. 1840
  • Cinna the Poet. Directly, I am going to Caesar's funeral.
  • First Citizen. As a friend or an enemy?
  • Cinna the Poet. As a friend.
  • Second Citizen. That matter is answered directly.
  • Fourth Citizen. For your dwelling,—briefly. 1845
  • Cinna the Poet. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.
  • Third Citizen. Your name, sir, truly.
  • Cinna the Poet. Truly, my name is Cinna.
  • First Citizen. Tear him to pieces; he's a conspirator.
  • Cinna the Poet. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 1850
  • Fourth Citizen. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.
  • Cinna the Poet. I am not Cinna the conspirator.
  • Fourth Citizen. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his
    name out of his heart, and turn him going.
  • Third Citizen. Tear him, tear him! Come, brands ho! fire-brands: 1855
    to Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all: some to Decius'
    house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away, go!

Exeunt