Please wait

The text you requested is loading.
This shouldn't take more than a minute, depending on
the speed of your Internet connection.

progress graphic

This is the third time; I hope good luck lies in odd numbersà. There is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity, chance, or death.

      — The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act V Scene 1

SEARCH TEXTS  

Plays  +  Sonnets  +  Poems  +  Concordance  +  Advanced Search  +  About OSS

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

(complete text)

print/save print/save view

Act I

1. Rome. A street.

2. A public place.

3. The same. A street.

Act II

1. Rome. BRUTUS’s orchard.

2. CAESAR’s house.

3. A street near the Capitol.

4. Another part of the same street, before the house of BRUTUS.

Act III

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

2. The Forum.

3. A street.

Act IV

1. A house in Rome.

2. Camp near Sardis. Before BRUTUS’s tent.

3. Brutus’s tent.

Act V

1. The plains of Philippi.

2. The same. The field of battle.

3. Another part of the field.

4. Another part of the field.

5. Another part of the field.

---
       

Act I, Scene 1

Rome. A street.

      next scene .
---

Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and certain Commoners

  • Flavius. Hence! home, you idle creatures get you home:
    Is this a holiday? what! know you not,
    Being mechanical, you ought not walk
    Upon a labouring day without the sign 5
    Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou?
  • Marullus. Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?
    What dost thou with thy best apparel on?
    You, sir, what trade are you? 10
  • Second Commoner. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but,
    as you would say, a cobbler.
  • Marullus. But what trade art thou? answer me directly.
  • Second Commoner. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe
    conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles. 15
  • Marullus. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade?
  • Second Commoner. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet,
    if you be out, sir, I can mend you.
  • Marullus. What meanest thou by that? mend me, thou saucy fellow!
  • Flavius. Thou art a cobbler, art thou?
  • Second Commoner. Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl: I
    meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's
    matters, but with awl. I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon
    to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I 25
    recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon
    neat's leather have gone upon my handiwork.
  • Flavius. But wherefore art not in thy shop today?
    Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?
  • Second Commoner. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself 30
    into more work. But, indeed, sir, we make holiday,
    to see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph.
  • Marullus. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?
    What tributaries follow him to Rome,
    To grace in captive bonds his chariot-wheels? 35
    You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!
    O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,
    Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft
    Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements,
    To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops, 40
    Your infants in your arms, and there have sat
    The livelong day, with patient expectation,
    To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome:
    And when you saw his chariot but appear,
    Have you not made an universal shout, 45
    That Tiber trembled underneath her banks,
    To hear the replication of your sounds
    Made in her concave shores?
    And do you now put on your best attire?
    And do you now cull out a holiday? 50
    And do you now strew flowers in his way
    That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood? Be gone!
    Run to your houses, fall upon your knees,
    Pray to the gods to intermit the plague
    That needs must light on this ingratitude. 55
  • Flavius. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault,
    Assemble all the poor men of your sort;
    Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears
    Into the channel, till the lowest stream
    Do kiss the most exalted shores of all. 60
    [Exeunt all the Commoners]
    See whether their basest metal be not moved;
    They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.
    Go you down that way towards the Capitol;
    This way will I disrobe the images, 65
    If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies.
  • Marullus. May we do so?
    You know it is the feast of Lupercal.
  • Flavius. It is no matter; let no images
    Be hung with Caesar's trophies. I'll about, 70
    And drive away the vulgar from the streets:
    So do you too, where you perceive them thick.
    These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing
    Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,
    Who else would soar above the view of men 75
    And keep us all in servile fearfulness.

Exeunt

---
. previous scene      

Act I, Scene 2

A public place.

      next scene .
---

[Flourish. Enter CAESAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS BRUTUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer]

  • Casca. Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.
  • Caesar. Stand you directly in Antonius' way,
    When he doth run his course. Antonius!
  • Caesar. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,
    To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say, 90
    The barren, touched in this holy chase,
    Shake off their sterile curse.
  • Antony. I shall remember:
    When Caesar says 'do this,' it is perform'd.
  • Caesar. Set on; and leave no ceremony out. 95

Flourish

  • Casca. Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
  • Caesar. Who is it in the press that calls on me? 100
    I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
    Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
  • Brutus. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. 105
  • Caesar. Set him before me; let me see his face.
  • Cassius. Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
  • Caesar. What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
  • Caesar. He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass. 110

Sennet. Exeunt all except BRUTUS and CASSIUS

  • Cassius. Will you go see the order of the course?
  • Brutus. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part 115
    Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
    Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
    I'll leave you.
  • Cassius. Brutus, I do observe you now of late:
    I have not from your eyes that gentleness 120
    And show of love as I was wont to have:
    You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
    Over your friend that loves you.
  • Brutus. Cassius,
    Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look, 125
    I turn the trouble of my countenance
    Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
    Of late with passions of some difference,
    Conceptions only proper to myself,
    Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors; 130
    But let not therefore my good friends be grieved—
    Among which number, Cassius, be you one—
    Nor construe any further my neglect,
    Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
    Forgets the shows of love to other men. 135
  • Cassius. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;
    By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
    Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
    Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?
  • Brutus. No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself, 140
    But by reflection, by some other things.
  • Cassius. 'Tis just:
    And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
    That you have no such mirrors as will turn
    Your hidden worthiness into your eye, 145
    That you might see your shadow. I have heard,
    Where many of the best respect in Rome,
    Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus
    And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
    Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes. 150
  • Brutus. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,
    That you would have me seek into myself
    For that which is not in me?
  • Cassius. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear:
    And since you know you cannot see yourself 155
    So well as by reflection, I, your glass,
    Will modestly discover to yourself
    That of yourself which you yet know not of.
    And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus:
    Were I a common laugher, or did use 160
    To stale with ordinary oaths my love
    To every new protester; if you know
    That I do fawn on men and hug them hard
    And after scandal them, or if you know
    That I profess myself in banqueting 165
    To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.

Flourish, and shout

  • Brutus. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people
    Choose Caesar for their king.
  • Cassius. Ay, do you fear it? 170
    Then must I think you would not have it so.
  • Brutus. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well.
    But wherefore do you hold me here so long?
    What is it that you would impart to me?
    If it be aught toward the general good, 175
    Set honour in one eye and death i' the other,
    And I will look on both indifferently,
    For let the gods so speed me as I love
    The name of honour more than I fear death.
  • Cassius. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, 180
    As well as I do know your outward favour.
    Well, honour is the subject of my story.
    I cannot tell what you and other men
    Think of this life; but, for my single self,
    I had as lief not be as live to be 185
    In awe of such a thing as I myself.
    I was born free as Caesar; so were you:
    We both have fed as well, and we can both
    Endure the winter's cold as well as he:
    For once, upon a raw and gusty day, 190
    The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,
    Caesar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now
    Leap in with me into this angry flood,
    And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word,
    Accoutred as I was, I plunged in 195
    And bade him follow; so indeed he did.
    The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
    With lusty sinews, throwing it aside
    And stemming it with hearts of controversy;
    But ere we could arrive the point proposed, 200
    Caesar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!'
    I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor,
    Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
    The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber
    Did I the tired Caesar. And this man 205
    Is now become a god, and Cassius is
    A wretched creature and must bend his body,
    If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.
    He had a fever when he was in Spain,
    And when the fit was on him, I did mark 210
    How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake;
    His coward lips did from their colour fly,
    And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
    Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan:
    Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans 215
    Mark him and write his speeches in their books,
    Alas, it cried 'Give me some drink, Tintinius,'
    As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me
    A man of such a feeble temper should
    So get the start of the majestic world 220
    And bear the palm alone.

Shout. Flourish

  • Brutus. Another general shout!
    I do believe that these applauses are
    For some new honours that are heap'd on Caesar. 225
  • Cassius. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
    Like a Colossus, and we petty men
    Walk under his huge legs and peep about
    To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
    Men at some time are masters of their fates: 230
    The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
    But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
    Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that 'Caesar'?
    Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
    Write them together, yours is as fair a name; 235
    Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;
    Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em,
    Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Caesar.
    Now, in the names of all the gods at once,
    Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed, 240
    That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!
    Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
    When went there by an age, since the great flood,
    But it was famed with more than with one man?
    When could they say till now, that talk'd of Rome, 245
    That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?
    Now is it Rome indeed and room enough,
    When there is in it but one only man.
    O, you and I have heard our fathers say,
    There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd 250
    The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
    As easily as a king.
  • Brutus. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;
    What you would work me to, I have some aim:
    How I have thought of this and of these times, 255
    I shall recount hereafter; for this present,
    I would not, so with love I might entreat you,
    Be any further moved. What you have said
    I will consider; what you have to say
    I will with patience hear, and find a time 260
    Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
    Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:
    Brutus had rather be a villager
    Than to repute himself a son of Rome
    Under these hard conditions as this time 265
    Is like to lay upon us.
  • Cassius. I am glad that my weak words
    Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.
  • Brutus. The games are done and Caesar is returning.
  • Cassius. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; 270
    And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
    What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.

Re-enter CAESAR and his Train

  • Brutus. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius,
    The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow, 275
    And all the rest look like a chidden train:
    Calpurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero
    Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
    As we have seen him in the Capitol,
    Being cross'd in conference by some senators. 280
  • Cassius. Casca will tell us what the matter is.
  • Caesar. Let me have men about me that are fat;
    Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights: 285
    Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
    He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
  • Antony. Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous;
    He is a noble Roman and well given.
  • Caesar. Would he were fatter! But I fear him not: 290
    Yet if my name were liable to fear,
    I do not know the man I should avoid
    So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much;
    He is a great observer and he looks
    Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, 295
    As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;
    Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
    As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit
    That could be moved to smile at any thing.
    Such men as he be never at heart's ease 300
    Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
    And therefore are they very dangerous.
    I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd
    Than what I fear; for always I am Caesar.
    Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, 305
    And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.

Sennet. Exeunt CAESAR and all his Train, but CASCA

  • Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me?
  • Brutus. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced to-day,
    That Caesar looks so sad. 310
  • Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not?
  • Brutus. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced.
  • Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him: and being
    offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand,
    thus; and then the people fell a-shouting. 315
  • Brutus. What was the second noise for?
  • Casca. Why, for that too.
  • Cassius. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for?
  • Casca. Why, for that too.
  • Brutus. Was the crown offered him thrice? 320
  • Casca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every
    time gentler than other, and at every putting-by
    mine honest neighbours shouted.
  • Cassius. Who offered him the crown?
  • Brutus. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.
  • Casca. I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it:
    it was mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark
    Antony offer him a crown;—yet 'twas not a crown
    neither, 'twas one of these coronets;—and, as I told 330
    you, he put it by once: but, for all that, to my
    thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he
    offered it to him again; then he put it by again:
    but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his
    fingers off it. And then he offered it the third 335
    time; he put it the third time by: and still as he
    refused it, the rabblement hooted and clapped their
    chapped hands and threw up their sweaty night-caps
    and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because
    Caesar refused the crown that it had almost choked 340
    Caesar; for he swounded and fell down at it: and
    for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of
    opening my lips and receiving the bad air.
  • Cassius. But, soft, I pray you: what, did Caesar swound?
  • Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at 345
    mouth, and was speechless.
  • Brutus. 'Tis very like: he hath the failing sickness.
  • Cassius. No, Caesar hath it not; but you and I,
    And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness.
  • Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure, 350
    Caesar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not
    clap him and hiss him, according as he pleased and
    displeased them, as they use to do the players in
    the theatre, I am no true man.
  • Brutus. What said he when he came unto himself? 355
  • Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the
    common herd was glad he refused the crown, he
    plucked me ope his doublet and offered them his
    throat to cut. An I had been a man of any
    occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, 360
    I would I might go to hell among the rogues. And so
    he fell. When he came to himself again, he said,
    If he had done or said any thing amiss, he desired
    their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three
    or four wenches, where I stood, cried 'Alas, good 365
    soul!' and forgave him with all their hearts: but
    there's no heed to be taken of them; if Caesar had
    stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less.
  • Brutus. And after that, he came, thus sad, away?
  • Cassius. Did Cicero say any thing?
  • Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek.
  • Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, Ill ne'er look you i' the
    face again: but those that understood him smiled at 375
    one another and shook their heads; but, for mine own
    part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more
    news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs
    off Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you
    well. There was more foolery yet, if I could 380
    remember it.
  • Cassius. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca?
  • Casca. No, I am promised forth.
  • Cassius. Will you dine with me to-morrow?
  • Casca. Ay, if I be alive and your mind hold and your dinner 385
    worth the eating.
  • Casca. Do so. Farewell, both.

Exit

  • Brutus. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be! 390
    He was quick mettle when he went to school.
  • Cassius. So is he now in execution
    Of any bold or noble enterprise,
    However he puts on this tardy form.
    This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, 395
    Which gives men stomach to digest his words
    With better appetite.
  • Brutus. And so it is. For this time I will leave you:
    To-morrow, if you please to speak with me,
    I will come home to you; or, if you will, 400
    Come home to me, and I will wait for you.
  • Cassius. I will do so: till then, think of the world.
    [Exit BRUTUS]
    Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,
    Thy honourable metal may be wrought 405
    From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet
    That noble minds keep ever with their likes;
    For who so firm that cannot be seduced?
    Caesar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus:
    If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius, 410
    He should not humour me. I will this night,
    In several hands, in at his windows throw,
    As if they came from several citizens,
    Writings all tending to the great opinion
    That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely 415
    Caesar's ambition shall be glanced at:
    And after this let Caesar seat him sure;
    For we will shake him, or worse days endure.

Exit

---
. previous scene      

Act I, Scene 3

The same. A street.

      next scene .
---

[Thunder and lightning. Enter from opposite sides, CASCA, with his sword drawn, and CICERO]

  • Cicero. Good even, Casca: brought you Caesar home?
    Why are you breathless? and why stare you so?
  • Casca. Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth
    Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, 425
    I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds
    Have rived the knotty oaks, and I have seen
    The ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam,
    To be exalted with the threatening clouds:
    But never till to-night, never till now, 430
    Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.
    Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
    Or else the world, too saucy with the gods,
    Incenses them to send destruction.
  • Cicero. Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? 435
  • Casca. A common slave—you know him well by sight—
    Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn
    Like twenty torches join'd, and yet his hand,
    Not sensible of fire, remain'd unscorch'd.
    Besides—I ha' not since put up my sword— 440
    Against the Capitol I met a lion,
    Who glared upon me, and went surly by,
    Without annoying me: and there were drawn
    Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women,
    Transformed with their fear; who swore they saw 445
    Men all in fire walk up and down the streets.
    And yesterday the bird of night did sit
    Even at noon-day upon the market-place,
    Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies
    Do so conjointly meet, let not men say 450
    'These are their reasons; they are natural;'
    For, I believe, they are portentous things
    Unto the climate that they point upon.
  • Cicero. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time:
    But men may construe things after their fashion, 455
    Clean from the purpose of the things themselves.
    Come Caesar to the Capitol to-morrow?
  • Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius
    Send word to you he would be there to-morrow.
  • Cicero. Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky 460
    Is not to walk in.
  • Casca. Farewell, Cicero.

Exit CICERO

Enter CASSIUS

  • Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this!
  • Cassius. A very pleasing night to honest men.
  • Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so? 470
  • Cassius. Those that have known the earth so full of faults.
    For my part, I have walk'd about the streets,
    Submitting me unto the perilous night,
    And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see,
    Have bared my bosom to the thunder-stone; 475
    And when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open
    The breast of heaven, I did present myself
    Even in the aim and very flash of it.
  • Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens?
    It is the part of men to fear and tremble, 480
    When the most mighty gods by tokens send
    Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.
  • Cassius. You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life
    That should be in a Roman you do want,
    Or else you use not. You look pale and gaze 485
    And put on fear and cast yourself in wonder,
    To see the strange impatience of the heavens:
    But if you would consider the true cause
    Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts,
    Why birds and beasts from quality and kind, 490
    Why old men fool and children calculate,
    Why all these things change from their ordinance
    Their natures and preformed faculties
    To monstrous quality,—why, you shall find
    That heaven hath infused them with these spirits, 495
    To make them instruments of fear and warning
    Unto some monstrous state.
    Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man
    Most like this dreadful night,
    That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars 500
    As doth the lion in the Capitol,
    A man no mightier than thyself or me
    In personal action, yet prodigious grown
    And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.
  • Casca. 'Tis Caesar that you mean; is it not, Cassius? 505
  • Cassius. Let it be who it is: for Romans now
    Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors;
    But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead,
    And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits;
    Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish. 510
  • Casca. Indeed, they say the senators tomorrow
    Mean to establish Caesar as a king;
    And he shall wear his crown by sea and land,
    In every place, save here in Italy.
  • Cassius. I know where I will wear this dagger then; 515
    Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius:
    Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong;
    Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat:
    Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass,
    Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, 520
    Can be retentive to the strength of spirit;
    But life, being weary of these worldly bars,
    Never lacks power to dismiss itself.
    If I know this, know all the world besides,
    That part of tyranny that I do bear 525
    I can shake off at pleasure.

Thunder still

  • Casca. So can I:
    So every bondman in his own hand bears
    The power to cancel his captivity. 530
  • Cassius. And why should Caesar be a tyrant then?
    Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf,
    But that he sees the Romans are but sheep:
    He were no lion, were not Romans hinds.
    Those that with haste will make a mighty fire 535
    Begin it with weak straws: what trash is Rome,
    What rubbish and what offal, when it serves
    For the base matter to illuminate
    So vile a thing as Caesar! But, O grief,
    Where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this 540
    Before a willing bondman; then I know
    My answer must be made. But I am arm'd,
    And dangers are to me indifferent.
  • Casca. You speak to Casca, and to such a man
    That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand: 545
    Be factious for redress of all these griefs,
    And I will set this foot of mine as far
    As who goes farthest.
  • Cassius. There's a bargain made.
    Now know you, Casca, I have moved already 550
    Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans
    To undergo with me an enterprise
    Of honourable-dangerous consequence;
    And I do know, by this, they stay for me
    In Pompey's porch: for now, this fearful night, 555
    There is no stir or walking in the streets;
    And the complexion of the element
    In favour's like the work we have in hand,
    Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.
  • Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. 560
  • Cassius. 'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait;
    He is a friend.
    [Enter CINNA]
    Cinna, where haste you so?
  • Cinna. To find out you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber? 565
  • Cassius. No, it is Casca; one incorporate
    To our attempts. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna?
  • Cinna. I am glad on 't. What a fearful night is this!
    There's two or three of us have seen strange sights.
  • Cassius. Am I not stay'd for? tell me. 570
  • Cinna. Yes, you are.
    O Cassius, if you could
    But win the noble Brutus to our party—
  • Cassius. Be you content: good Cinna, take this paper,
    And look you lay it in the praetor's chair, 575
    Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this
    In at his window; set this up with wax
    Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done,
    Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us.
    Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there? 580
  • Cinna. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone
    To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie,
    And so bestow these papers as you bade me.
  • Cassius. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre.
    [Exit CINNA] 585
    Come, Casca, you and I will yet ere day
    See Brutus at his house: three parts of him
    Is ours already, and the man entire
    Upon the next encounter yields him ours.
  • Casca. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts: 590
    And that which would appear offence in us,
    His countenance, like richest alchemy,
    Will change to virtue and to worthiness.
  • Cassius. Him and his worth and our great need of him
    You have right well conceited. Let us go, 595
    For it is after midnight; and ere day
    We will awake him and be sure of him.

Exeunt

---
. previous scene      

Act II, Scene 1

Rome. BRUTUS’s orchard.

      next scene .
---

Enter BRUTUS

  • Brutus. What, Lucius, ho! 600
    I cannot, by the progress of the stars,
    Give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say!
    I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.
    When, Lucius, when? awake, I say! what, Lucius!

Enter LUCIUS

  • Brutus. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius:
    When it is lighted, come and call me here.

Exit

  • Brutus. It must be by his death: and for my part,
    I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
    But for the general. He would be crown'd:
    How that might change his nature, there's the question.
    It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; 615
    And that craves wary walking. Crown him?—that;—
    And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
    That at his will he may do danger with.
    The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins
    Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Caesar, 620
    I have not known when his affections sway'd
    More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof,
    That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
    Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
    But when he once attains the upmost round. 625
    He then unto the ladder turns his back,
    Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
    By which he did ascend. So Caesar may.
    Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel
    Will bear no colour for the thing he is, 630
    Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented,
    Would run to these and these extremities:
    And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
    Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous,
    And kill him in the shell. 635

Re-enter LUCIUS

  • Lucius. The taper burneth in your closet, sir.
    Searching the window for a flint, I found
    This paper, thus seal'd up; and, I am sure,
    It did not lie there when I went to bed. 640

Gives him the letter

  • Brutus. Get you to bed again; it is not day.
    Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March?
  • Brutus. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. 645

Exit

  • Brutus. The exhalations whizzing in the air
    Give so much light that I may read by them.
    [Opens the letter and reads] 650
    'Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake, and see thyself.
    Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress!
    Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake!'
    Such instigations have been often dropp'd
    Where I have took them up. 655
    'Shall Rome, &c.' Thus must I piece it out:
    Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome?
    My ancestors did from the streets of Rome
    The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king.
    'Speak, strike, redress!' Am I entreated 660
    To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise:
    If the redress will follow, thou receivest
    Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!

Re-enter LUCIUS

  • Lucius. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. 665

Knocking within

  • Brutus. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks.
    [Exit LUCIUS]
    Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar,
    I have not slept. 670
    Between the acting of a dreadful thing
    And the first motion, all the interim is
    Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream:
    The Genius and the mortal instruments
    Are then in council; and the state of man, 675
    Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
    The nature of an insurrection.

Re-enter LUCIUS

  • Lucius. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door,
    Who doth desire to see you. 680
  • Lucius. No, sir, there are moe with him.
  • Lucius. No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears,
    And half their faces buried in their cloaks, 685
    That by no means I may discover them
    By any mark of favour.
  • Brutus. Let 'em enter.
    [Exit LUCIUS]
    They are the faction. O conspiracy, 690
    Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
    When evils are most free? O, then by day
    Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough
    To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy;
    Hide it in smiles and affability: 695
    For if thou path, thy native semblance on,
    Not Erebus itself were dim enough
    To hide thee from prevention.
    [Enter the conspirators, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS
    BRUTUS, CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS]
    700
  • Cassius. I think we are too bold upon your rest:
    Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you?
  • Brutus. I have been up this hour, awake all night.
    Know I these men that come along with you?
  • Cassius. Yes, every man of them, and no man here 705
    But honours you; and every one doth wish
    You had but that opinion of yourself
    Which every noble Roman bears of you.
    This is Trebonius.
  • Brutus. He is welcome hither. 710
  • Cassius. This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.
  • Brutus. They are all welcome.
    What watchful cares do interpose themselves 715
    Betwixt your eyes and night?

BRUTUS and CASSIUS whisper

  • Cinna. O, pardon, sir, it doth; and yon gray lines
    That fret the clouds are messengers of day.
  • Casca. You shall confess that you are both deceived.
    Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises,
    Which is a great way growing on the south, 725
    Weighing the youthful season of the year.
    Some two months hence up higher toward the north
    He first presents his fire; and the high east
    Stands, as the Capitol, directly here.
  • Brutus. Give me your hands all over, one by one. 730
  • Cassius. And let us swear our resolution.
  • Brutus. No, not an oath: if not the face of men,
    The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,—
    If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
    And every man hence to his idle bed; 735
    So let high-sighted tyranny range on,
    Till each man drop by lottery. But if these,
    As I am sure they do, bear fire enough
    To kindle cowards and to steel with valour
    The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, 740
    What need we any spur but our own cause,
    To prick us to redress? what other bond
    Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word,
    And will not palter? and what other oath
    Than honesty to honesty engaged, 745
    That this shall be, or we will fall for it?
    Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous,
    Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls
    That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear
    Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain 750
    The even virtue of our enterprise,
    Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
    To think that or our cause or our performance
    Did need an oath; when every drop of blood
    That every Roman bears, and nobly bears, 755
    Is guilty of a several bastardy,
    If he do break the smallest particle
    Of any promise that hath pass'd from him.
  • Cassius. But what of Cicero? shall we sound him?
    I think he will stand very strong with us. 760
  • Casca. Let us not leave him out.
  • Metellus Cimber. O, let us have him, for his silver hairs
    Will purchase us a good opinion
    And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: 765
    It shall be said, his judgment ruled our hands;
    Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear,
    But all be buried in his gravity.
  • Brutus. O, name him not: let us not break with him;
    For he will never follow any thing 770
    That other men begin.
  • Casca. Indeed he is not fit.
  • Cassius. Decius, well urged: I think it is not meet, 775
    Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar,
    Should outlive Caesar: 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, 780
    Let Antony and Caesar fall together.
  • Brutus. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
    To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
    Like wrath in death and envy afterwards;
    For Antony is but a limb of Caesar: 785
    Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
    We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar;
    And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
    O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,
    And not dismember Caesar! But, alas, 790
    Caesar 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, 795
    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,
    We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers. 800
    And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
    For he can do no more than Caesar's arm
    When Caesar's head is off.
  • Cassius. Yet I fear him;
    For in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar— 805
  • Brutus. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him:
    If he love Caesar, all that he can do
    Is to himself, take thought and die for Caesar:
    And that were much he should; for he is given
    To sports, to wildness and much company. 810
  • Trebonius. There is no fear in him; let him not die;
    For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter.

Clock strikes

  • Brutus. Peace! count the clock.
  • Cassius. The clock hath stricken three. 815
  • Cassius. But it is doubtful yet,
    Whether Caesar will come forth to-day, or no;
    For he is superstitious grown of late,
    Quite from the main opinion he held once 820
    Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies:
    It may be, these apparent prodigies,
    The unaccustom'd terror of this night,
    And the persuasion of his augurers,
    May hold him from the Capitol to-day. 825
  • Decius Brutus. Never fear that: if he be so resolved,
    I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear
    That unicorns may be betray'd with trees,
    And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,
    Lions with toils and men with flatterers; 830
    But when I tell him he hates flatterers,
    He says he does, being then most flattered.
    Let me work;
    For I can give his humour the true bent,
    And I will bring him to the Capitol. 835
  • Cassius. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.
  • Brutus. By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost?
  • Cinna. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.
  • Metellus Cimber. Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard,
    Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey: 840
    I wonder none of you have thought of him.
  • Brutus. Now, good Metellus, go along by him:
    He loves me well, and I have given him reasons;
    Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him.
  • Cassius. The morning comes upon 's: we'll leave you, Brutus. 845
    And, friends, disperse yourselves; but all remember
    What you have said, and show yourselves true Romans.
  • Brutus. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily;
    Let not our looks put on our purposes,
    But bear it as our Roman actors do, 850
    With untired spirits and formal constancy:
    And so good morrow to you every one.
    [Exeunt all but BRUTUS]
    Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no matter;
    Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber: 855
    Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies,
    Which busy care draws in the brains of men;
    Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.

Enter PORTIA

  • Brutus. Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?
    It is not for your health thus to commit
    Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.
  • Portia. Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus,
    Stole from my bed: and yesternight, at supper, 865
    You suddenly arose, and walk'd about,
    Musing and sighing, with your arms across,
    And when I ask'd you what the matter was,
    You stared upon me with ungentle looks;
    I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head, 870
    And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot;
    Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not,
    But, with an angry wafture of your hand,
    Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did;
    Fearing to strengthen that impatience 875
    Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal
    Hoping it was but an effect of humour,
    Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
    It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep,
    And could it work so much upon your shape 880
    As it hath much prevail'd on your condition,
    I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,
    Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
  • Brutus. I am not well in health, and that is all.
  • Portia. Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health, 885
    He would embrace the means to come by it.
  • Brutus. Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed.
  • Portia. Is Brutus sick? and is it physical
    To walk unbraced and suck up the humours
    Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick, 890
    And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,
    To dare the vile contagion of the night
    And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
    To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;
    You have some sick offence within your mind, 895
    Which, by the right and virtue of my place,
    I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,
    I charm you, by my once-commended beauty,
    By all your vows of love and that great vow
    Which did incorporate and make us one, 900
    That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
    Why you are heavy, and what men to-night
    Have had to resort to you: for here have been
    Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
    Even from darkness. 905
  • Brutus. Kneel not, gentle Portia.
  • Portia. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
    Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,
    Is it excepted I should know no secrets
    That appertain to you? Am I yourself 910
    But, as it were, in sort or limitation,
    To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,
    And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs
    Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
    Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife. 915
  • Brutus. You are my true and honourable wife,
    As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
    That visit my sad heart
  • Portia. If this were true, then should I know this secret.
    I grant I am a woman; but withal 920
    A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife:
    I grant I am a woman; but withal
    A woman well-reputed, Cato's daughter.
    Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
    Being so father'd and so husbanded? 925
    Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:
    I have made strong proof of my constancy,
    Giving myself a voluntary wound
    Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience.
    And not my husband's secrets? 930
  • Brutus. O ye gods,
    Render me worthy of this noble wife!
    [Knocking within]
    Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile;
    And by and by thy bosom shall partake 935
    The secrets of my heart.
    All my engagements I will construe to thee,
    All the charactery of my sad brows:
    Leave me with haste.
    [Exit PORTIA] 940
    Lucius, who's that knocks?

Re-enter LUCIUS with LIGARIUS

  • Lucius. He is a sick man that would speak with you.
  • Brutus. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.
    Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius! how? 945
  • Ligarius. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue.
  • Brutus. O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius,
    To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick!
  • Ligarius. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
    Any exploit worthy the name of honour. 950
  • Brutus. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius,
    Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.
  • Ligarius. By all the gods that Romans bow before,
    I here discard my sickness! Soul of Rome!
    Brave son, derived from honourable loins! 955
    Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up
    My mortified spirit. Now bid me run,
    And I will strive with things impossible;
    Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?
  • Brutus. A piece of work that will make sick men whole. 960
  • Ligarius. But are not some whole that we must make sick?
  • Brutus. That must we also. What it is, my Caius,
    I shall unfold to thee, as we are going
    To whom it must be done.
  • Ligarius. Set on your foot, 965
    And with a heart new-fired I follow you,
    To do I know not what: but it sufficeth
    That Brutus leads me on.

Exeunt

---
. previous scene      

Act II, Scene 2

CAESAR’s house.

      next scene .
---

[Thunder and lightning. Enter CAESAR, in his night-gown]

  • Caesar. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night:
    Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,
    'Help, ho! they murder Caesar!' Who's within? 975

Enter a Servant

  • Caesar. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice
    And bring me their opinions of success.

Exit

Enter CALPURNIA

  • Calpurnia. What mean you, Caesar? think you to walk forth?
    You shall not stir out of your house to-day.
  • Caesar. Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me 985
    Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see
    The face of Caesar, they are vanished.
  • Calpurnia. Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
    Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
    Besides the things that we have heard and seen, 990
    Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
    A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
    And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead;
    Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,
    In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, 995
    Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;
    The noise of battle hurtled in the air,
    Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
    And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.
    O Caesar! these things are beyond all use, 1000
    And I do fear them.
  • Caesar. What can be avoided
    Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
    Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions
    Are to the world in general as to Caesar. 1005
  • Calpurnia. When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
    The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
  • Caesar. Cowards die many times before their deaths;
    The valiant never taste of death but once.
    Of all the wonders that I yet have heard. 1010
    It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
    Seeing that death, a necessary end,
    Will come when it will come.
    [Re-enter Servant]
    What say the augurers? 1015
  • Servant. They would not have you to stir forth to-day.
    Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
    They could not find a heart within the beast.
  • Caesar. The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
    Caesar should be a beast without a heart, 1020
    If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
    No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well
    That Caesar is more dangerous than he:
    We are two lions litter'd in one day,
    And I the elder and more terrible: 1025
    And Caesar shall go forth.
  • Calpurnia. Alas, my lord,
    Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
    Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear
    That keeps you in the house, and not your own. 1030
    We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house:
    And he shall say you are not well to-day:
    Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
  • Caesar. Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
    And, for thy humour, I will stay at home. 1035
    [Enter DECIUS BRUTUS]
    Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.
  • Decius Brutus. Caesar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Caesar:
    I come to fetch you to the senate-house.
  • Caesar. And you are come in very happy time, 1040
    To bear my greeting to the senators
    And tell them that I will not come to-day:
    Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser:
    I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius.
  • Caesar. Shall Caesar send a lie?
    Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
    To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?
    Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.
  • Decius Brutus. Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause, 1050
    Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.
  • Caesar. The cause is in my will: I will not come;
    That is enough to satisfy the senate.
    But for your private satisfaction,
    Because I love you, I will let you know: 1055
    Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
    She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,
    Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
    Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans
    Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it: 1060
    And these does she apply for warnings, and portents,
    And evils imminent; and on her knee
    Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.
  • Decius Brutus. This dream is all amiss interpreted;
    It was a vision fair and fortunate: 1065
    Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
    In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
    Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
    Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
    For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance. 1070
    This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.
  • Caesar. And this way have you well expounded it.
  • Decius Brutus. I have, when you have heard what I can say:
    And know it now: the senate have concluded
    To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. 1075
    If you shall send them word you will not come,
    Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
    Apt to be render'd, for some one to say
    'Break up the senate till another time,
    When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.' 1080
    If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper
    'Lo, Caesar is afraid'?
    Pardon me, Caesar; for my dear dear love
    To our proceeding bids me tell you this;
    And reason to my love is liable. 1085
  • Caesar. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
    I am ashamed I did yield to them.
    Give me my robe, for I will go.
    [Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CASCA,
    TREBONIUS, and CINNA]
    1090
    And look where Publius is come to fetch me.
  • Caesar. Welcome, Publius.
    What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?
    Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius, 1095
    Caesar was ne'er so much your enemy
    As that same ague which hath made you lean.
    What is 't o'clock?
  • Brutus. Caesar, 'tis strucken eight.
  • Caesar. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. 1100
    [Enter ANTONY]
    See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,
    Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.
  • Antony. So to most noble Caesar.
  • Caesar. Bid them prepare within: 1105
    I am to blame to be thus waited for.
    Now, Cinna: now, Metellus: what, Trebonius!
    I have an hour's talk in store for you;
    Remember that you call on me to-day:
    Be near me, that I may remember you. 1110
  • Trebonius. Caesar, I will:
    [Aside]
    and so near will I be,
    That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
  • Caesar. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; 1115
    And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
  • Brutus. [Aside] That every like is not the same, O Caesar,
    The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon!

Exeunt

---
. previous scene      

Act II, Scene 3

A street near the Capitol.

      next scene .
---

Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper

  • Artemidorus. 'Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius;
    come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna, trust not
    Trebonius: mark well Metellus Cimber: Decius Brutus
    loves thee not: thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius.
    There is but one mind in all these men, and it is 1125
    bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal,
    look about you: security gives way to conspiracy.
    The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover,
    'ARTEMIDORUS.'
    Here will I stand till Caesar pass along, 1130
    And as a suitor will I give him this.
    My heart laments that virtue cannot live
    Out of the teeth of emulation.
    If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayst live;
    If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive. 1135

Exit

---
. previous scene      

Act II, Scene 4

Another part of the same street, before the house of BRUTUS.

      next scene .
---

Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS

  • Portia. I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house;
    Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:
    Why dost thou stay? 1140
  • Lucius. To know my errand, madam.
  • Portia. I would have had thee there, and here again,
    Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.
    O constancy, be strong upon my side,
    Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! 1145
    I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.
    How hard it is for women to keep counsel!
    Art thou here yet?
  • Lucius. Madam, what should I do?
    Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? 1150
    And so return to you, and nothing else?
  • Portia. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,
    For he went sickly forth: and take good note
    What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.
    Hark, boy! what noise is that? 1155
  • Portia. Prithee, listen well;
    I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
    And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
  • Lucius. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing. 1160

Enter the Soothsayer

  • Portia. Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou been?
  • Portia. Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol?
  • Soothsayer. Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand,
    To see him pass on to the Capitol.
  • Portia. Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?
  • Soothsayer. That I have, lady: if it will please Caesar 1170
    To be so good to Caesar as to hear me,
    I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
  • Portia. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?
  • Soothsayer. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.
    Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: 1175
    The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,
    Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,
    Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
    I'll get me to a place more void, and there
    Speak to great Caesar as he comes along. 1180

Exit

  • Portia. I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing
    The heart of woman is! O Brutus,
    The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!
    Sure, the boy heard me: Brutus hath a suit 1185
    That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint.
    Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
    Say I am merry: come to me again,
    And bring me word what he doth say to thee.

Exeunt severally

---
. previous scene      

Act III, Scene 1

Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.

      next scene .
---

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.
  • 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.
  • Caesar. What, is the fellow mad? 1205
  • 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?

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.
  • 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.
  • Caesar. Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus? 1280
  • 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.
  • 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

  • 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.
  • 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!
  • 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?
  • 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

---
. previous scene      

Act III, Scene 2

The Forum.

      next scene .
---

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.
  • 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]
  • 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. We'll bring him to his house
    With shouts and clamours. 1590
  • 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

  • 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

  • Third Citizen. He says, for Brutus' sake,
    He finds himself beholding to us all.
  • Third Citizen. Nay, that's certain:
    We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
  • Antony. You gentle Romans,— 1615
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Second Citizen. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. 1660
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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?

ANTONY comes down

  • Antony. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.
  • 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.
  • All. Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!
    Let not a traitor live! 1750
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.

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
  • 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

---
. previous scene      

Act III, Scene 3

A street.

      next scene .
---

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

  • 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
  • Fourth Citizen. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.
  • 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

---
. previous scene      

Act IV, Scene 1

A house in Rome.

      next scene .
---

ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS, seated at a table

  • Antony. These many, then, shall die; their names are prick'd. 1860
  • Octavius. Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus?
  • Lepidus. Upon condition Publius shall not live,
    Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony. 1865
  • Antony. He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.
    But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar's house;
    Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine
    How to cut off some charge in legacies.
  • Lepidus. What, shall I find you here? 1870

Exit LEPIDUS

  • Antony. This is a slight unmeritable man,
    Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit,
    The three-fold world divided, he should stand 1875
    One of the three to share it?
  • Octavius. So you thought him;
    And took his voice who should be prick'd to die,
    In our black sentence and proscription.
  • Antony. Octavius, I have seen more days than you: 1880
    And though we lay these honours on this man,
    To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads,
    He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,
    To groan and sweat under the business,
    Either led or driven, as we point the way; 1885
    And having brought our treasure where we will,
    Then take we down his load, and turn him off,
    Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears,
    And graze in commons.
  • Octavius. You may do your will; 1890
    But he's a tried and valiant soldier.
  • Antony. So is my horse, Octavius; and for that
    I do appoint him store of provender:
    It is a creature that I teach to fight,
    To wind, to stop, to run directly on, 1895
    His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.
    And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;
    He must be taught and train'd and bid go forth;
    A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
    On abjects, orts and imitations, 1900
    Which, out of use and staled by other men,
    Begin his fashion: do not talk of him,
    But as a property. And now, Octavius,
    Listen great things:—Brutus and Cassius
    Are levying powers: we must straight make head: 1905
    Therefore let our alliance be combined,
    Our best friends made, our means stretch'd
    And let us presently go sit in council,
    How covert matters may be best disclosed,
    And open perils surest answered. 1910
  • Octavius. Let us do so: for we are at the stake,
    And bay'd about with many enemies;
    And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,
    Millions of mischiefs.

Exeunt

---
. previous scene      

Act IV, Scene 2

Camp near Sardis. Before BRUTUS’s tent.

      next scene .
---

Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers; Tintinius and PINDARUS meeting them

  • Lucilius. Give the word, ho! and stand.
  • Brutus. What now, Lucilius! is Cassius near? 1920
  • Lucilius. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come
    To do you salutation from his master.
  • Brutus. He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,
    In his own change, or by ill officers,
    Hath given me some worthy cause to wish 1925
    Things done, undone: but, if he be at hand,
    I shall be satisfied.
  • Pindarus. I do not doubt
    But that my noble master will appear
    Such as he is, full of regard and honour. 1930
  • Brutus. He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius;
    How he received you, let me be resolved.
  • Lucilius. With courtesy and with respect enough;
    But not with such familiar instances,
    Nor with such free and friendly conference, 1935
    As he hath used of old.
  • Brutus. Thou hast described
    A hot friend cooling: ever note, Lucilius,
    When love begins to sicken and decay,
    It useth an enforced ceremony. 1940
    There are no tricks in plain and simple faith;
    But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
    Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
    But when they should endure the bloody spur,
    They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades, 1945
    Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?
  • Lucilius. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd;
    The greater part, the horse in general,
    Are come with Cassius.
  • Brutus. Hark! he is arrived. 1950
    [Low march within]
    March gently on to meet him.

Enter CASSIUS and his powers

  • Brutus. Stand, ho! Speak the word along. 1955
  • Cassius. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.
  • Brutus. Judge me, you gods! wrong I mine enemies? 1960
    And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?
  • Cassius. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs;
    And when you do them—
  • Brutus. Cassius, be content.
    Speak your griefs softly: I do know you well. 1965
    Before the eyes of both our armies here,
    Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
    Let us not wrangle: bid them move away;
    Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
    And I will give you audience. 1970
  • Cassius. Pindarus,
    Bid our commanders lead their charges off
    A little from this ground.
  • Brutus. Lucilius, do you the like; and let no man
    Come to our tent till we have done our conference. 1975
    Let Lucius and Tintinius guard our door.

Exeunt

---
. previous scene      

Act IV, Scene 3

Brutus’s tent.

      next scene .
---

Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS

  • Cassius. That you have wrong'd me doth appear in this:
    You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella 1980
    For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
    Wherein my letters, praying on his side,
    Because I knew the man, were slighted off.
  • Brutus. You wronged yourself to write in such a case.
  • Cassius. In such a time as this it is not meet 1985
    That every nice offence should bear his comment.
  • Brutus. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
    Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm;
    To sell and mart your offices for gold
    To undeservers. 1990
  • Cassius. I an itching palm!
    You know that you are Brutus that speak this,
    Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
  • Brutus. The name of Cassius honours this corruption,
    And chastisement doth therefore hide his head. 1995
  • Brutus. Remember March, the ides of March remember:
    Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
    What villain touch'd his body, that did stab,
    And not for justice? What, shall one of us 2000
    That struck the foremost man of all this world
    But for supporting robbers, shall we now
    Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
    And sell the mighty space of our large honours
    For so much trash as may be grasped thus? 2005
    I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
    Than such a Roman.
  • Cassius. Brutus, bay not me;
    I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
    To hedge me in; I am a soldier, I, 2010
    Older in practise, abler than yourself
    To make conditions.
  • Brutus. Go to; you are not, Cassius.
  • Brutus. I say you are not. 2015
  • Cassius. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself;
    Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further.
  • Brutus. Hear me, for I will speak. 2020
    Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
    Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
  • Cassius. O ye gods, ye gods! must I endure all this?
  • Brutus. All this! ay, more: fret till your proud heart break;
    Go show your slaves how choleric you are, 2025
    And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
    Must I observe you? must I stand and crouch
    Under your testy humour? By the gods
    You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
    Though it do split you; for, from this day forth, 2030
    I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
    When you are waspish.
  • Brutus. You say you are a better soldier:
    Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, 2035
    And it shall please me well: for mine own part,
    I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
  • Cassius. You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus;
    I said, an elder soldier, not a better:
    Did I say 'better'? 2040
  • Brutus. If you did, I care not.
  • Cassius. When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.
  • Brutus. Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him.
  • Cassius. What, durst not tempt him!
  • Brutus. For your life you durst not!
  • Cassius. Do not presume too much upon my love;
    I may do that I shall be sorry for.
  • Brutus. You have done that you should be sorry for. 2050
    There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats,
    For I am arm'd so strong in honesty
    That they pass by me as the idle wind,
    Which I respect not. I did send to you
    For certain sums of gold, which you denied me: 2055
    For I can raise no money by vile means:
    By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
    And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
    From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
    By any indirection: I did send 2060
    To you for gold to pay my legions,
    Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius?
    Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so?
    When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
    To lock such rascal counters from his friends, 2065
    Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts;
    Dash him to pieces!
  • Cassius. I did not: he was but a fool that brought 2070
    My answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart:
    A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
    But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
  • Brutus. I do not, till you practise them on me.
  • Brutus. I do not like your faults.
  • Cassius. A friendly eye could never see such faults.
  • Brutus. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear
    As huge as high Olympus.
  • Cassius. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, 2080
    Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
    For Cassius is aweary of the world;
    Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother;
    Cheque'd like a bondman; all his faults observed,
    Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote, 2085
    To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
    My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
    And here my naked breast; within, a heart
    Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:
    If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth; 2090
    I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
    Strike, as thou didst at Caesar; for, I know,
    When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better
    Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
  • Brutus. Sheathe your dagger: 2095
    Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
    Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
    O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
    That carries anger as the flint bears fire;
    Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark, 2100
    And straight is cold again.
  • Cassius. Hath Cassius lived
    To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
    When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him?
  • Brutus. When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too. 2105
  • Cassius. Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
  • Cassius. Have not you love enough to bear with me, 2110
    When that rash humour which my mother gave me
    Makes me forgetful?
  • Brutus. Yes, Cassius; and, from henceforth,
    When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
    He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so. 2115
  • Poet. [Within] Let me go in to see the generals;
    There is some grudge between 'em, 'tis not meet
    They be alone.
  • Lucilius. [Within] You shall not come to them.
  • Poet. [Within] Nothing but death shall stay me. 2120

Enter Poet, followed by LUCILIUS, Tintinius, and LUCIUS

  • Cassius. How now! what's the matter?
  • Poet. For shame, you generals! what do you mean?
    Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;
    For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye. 2125
  • Cassius. Ha, ha! how vilely doth this cynic rhyme!
  • Brutus. Get you hence, sirrah; saucy fellow, hence!
  • Cassius. Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion.
  • Brutus. I'll know his humour, when he knows his time:
    What should the wars do with these jigging fools? 2130
    Companion, hence!

Exit Poet

  • Brutus. Lucilius and Tintinius, bid the commanders
    Prepare to lodge their companies to-night. 2135
  • Cassius. And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you
    Immediately to us.

Exeunt LUCILIUS and Tintinius

  • Brutus. Lucius, a bowl of wine!

Exit LUCIUS

  • Cassius. I did not think you could have been so angry.
  • Brutus. O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
  • Cassius. Of your philosophy you make no use,
    If you give place to accidental evils.
  • Brutus. No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead. 2145
  • Cassius. How 'scaped I killing when I cross'd you so?
    O insupportable and touching loss!
    Upon what sickness? 2150
  • Brutus. Impatient of my absence,
    And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
    Have made themselves so strong:—for with her death
    That tidings came;—with this she fell distract,
    And, her attendants absent, swallow'd fire. 2155

Re-enter LUCIUS, with wine and taper

  • Brutus. Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine. 2160
    In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.
  • Cassius. My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.
    Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup;
    I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love.
  • Brutus. Come in, Tintinius! 2165
    [Exit LUCIUS]
    [Re-enter Tintinius, with MESSALA]
    Welcome, good Messala.
    Now sit we close about this taper here,
    And call in question our necessities. 2170
  • Brutus. No more, I pray you.
    Messala, I have here received letters,
    That young Octavius and Mark Antony
    Come down upon us with a mighty power, 2175
    Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
  • Messala. Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.
  • Messala. That by proscription and bills of outlawry,
    Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus, 2180
    Have put to death an hundred senators.
  • Brutus. Therein our letters do not well agree;
    Mine speak of seventy senators that died
    By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
  • Messala. Cicero is dead,
    And by that order of proscription.
    Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
  • Messala. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her? 2190
  • Messala. That, methinks, is strange.
  • Brutus. Why ask you? hear you aught of her in yours?
  • Brutus. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. 2195
  • Messala. Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell:
    For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
  • Brutus. Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala:
    With meditating that she must die once,
    I have the patience to endure it now. 2200
  • Messala. Even so great men great losses should endure.
  • Cassius. I have as much of this in art as you,
    But yet my nature could not bear it so.
  • Brutus. Well, to our work alive. What do you think
    Of marching to Philippi presently? 2205
  • Cassius. This it is:
    'Tis better that the enemy seek us:
    So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, 2210
    Doing himself offence; whilst we, lying still,
    Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness.
  • Brutus. Good reasons must, of force, give place to better.
    The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground
    Do stand but in a forced affection; 2215
    For they have grudged us contribution:
    The enemy, marching along by them,
    By them shall make a fuller number up,
    Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encouraged;
    From which advantage shall we cut him off, 2220
    If at Philippi we do face him there,
    These people at our back.
  • Brutus. Under your pardon. You must note beside,
    That we have tried the utmost of our friends, 2225
    Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe:
    The enemy increaseth every day;
    We, at the height, are ready to decline.
    There is a tide in the affairs of men,
    Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; 2230
    Omitted, all the voyage of their life
    Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
    On such a full sea are we now afloat;
    And we must take the current when it serves,
    Or lose our ventures. 2235
  • Cassius. Then, with your will, go on;
    We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.
  • Brutus. The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
    And nature must obey necessity;
    Which we will niggard with a little rest. 2240
    There is no more to say?
  • Cassius. No more. Good night:
    Early to-morrow will we rise, and hence.
  • Brutus. Lucius!
    [Enter LUCIUS] 2245
    My gown.
    [Exit LUCIUS]
    Farewell, good Messala:
    Good night, Tintinius. Noble, noble Cassius,
    Good night, and good repose. 2250
  • Cassius. O my dear brother!
    This was an ill beginning of the night:
    Never come such division 'tween our souls!
    Let it not, Brutus.
  • Brutus. Every thing is well. 2255
  • Brutus. Good night, good brother.
  • Tintinius. [with MESSALA] Good night, Lord Brutus.
  • Brutus. Farewell, every one.
    [Exeunt all but BRUTUS] 2260
    [Re-enter LUCIUS, with the gown]
    Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
  • Brutus. What, thou speak'st drowsily?
    Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'er-watch'd. 2265
    Call Claudius and some other of my men:
    I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.

Enter VARRO and CLAUDIUS

  • Varro. Calls my lord? 2270
  • Brutus. I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep;
    It may be I shall raise you by and by
    On business to my brother Cassius.
  • Varro. So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.
  • Brutus. I will not have it so: lie down, good sirs; 2275
    It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.
    Look, Lucius, here's the book I sought for so;
    I put it in the pocket of my gown.

VARRO and CLAUDIUS lie down

  • Lucius. I was sure your lordship did not give it me. 2280
  • Brutus. Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful.
    Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,
    And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
  • Lucius. Ay, my lord, an't please you.
  • Brutus. It does, my boy: 2285
    I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
  • Brutus. I should not urge thy duty past thy might;
    I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
  • Lucius. I have slept, my lord, already. 2290
  • Brutus. It was well done; and thou shalt sleep again;
    I will not hold thee long: if I do live,
    I will be good to thee.
    [Music, and a song]
    This is a sleepy tune. O murderous slumber, 2295
    Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy,
    That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good night;
    I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee:
    If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument;
    I'll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night. 2300
    Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turn'd down
    Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
    [Enter the Ghost of CAESAR]
    How ill this taper burns! Ha! who comes here?
    I think it is the weakness of mine eyes 2305
    That shapes this monstrous apparition.
    It comes upon me. Art thou any thing?
    Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
    That makest my blood cold and my hair to stare?
    Speak to me what thou art. 2310
  • Caesar. Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
  • Caesar. To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
  • Brutus. Well; then I shall see thee again?
  • Brutus. Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then.
    [Exit Ghost]
    Now I have taken heart thou vanishest:
    Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.
    Boy, Lucius! Varro! Claudius! Sirs, awake! Claudius! 2320
  • Lucius. The strings, my lord, are false.
  • Brutus. He thinks he still is at his instrument.
    Lucius, awake!
  • Brutus. Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out? 2325
  • Lucius. My lord, I do not know that I did cry.
  • Brutus. Yes, that thou didst: didst thou see any thing?
  • Brutus. Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudius!
    [To VARRO] 2330
    Fellow thou, awake!
  • Brutus. Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
  • Varro. [with Claudius] Did we, my lord? 2335
  • Brutus. Ay: saw you any thing?
  • Varro. No, my lord, I saw nothing.
  • Brutus. Go and commend me to my brother Cassius;
    Bid him set on his powers betimes before, 2340
    And we will follow.
  • Varro. [with Claudius] It shall be done, my lord.

[Exeunt]

---
. previous scene      

Act V, Scene 1

The plains of Philippi.

      next scene .
---

Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their army

  • Octavius. Now, Antony, our hopes are answered: 2345
    You said the enemy would not come down,
    But keep the hills and upper regions;
    It proves not so: their battles are at hand;
    They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
    Answering before we do demand of them. 2350
  • Antony. Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know
    Wherefore they do it: they could be content
    To visit other places; and come down
    With fearful bravery, thinking by this face
    To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage; 2355
    But 'tis not so.

Enter a Messenger

  • Messenger. Prepare you, generals:
    The enemy comes on in gallant show;
    Their bloody sign of battle is hung out, 2360
    And something to be done immediately.
  • Antony. Octavius, lead your battle softly on,
    Upon the left hand of the even field.
  • Octavius. Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left.
  • Antony. Why do you cross me in this exigent? 2365
  • Octavius. I do not cross you; but I will do so.
    [March]
    [Drum. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their Army;
    LUCILIUS, Tintinius, MESSALA, and others]
  • Brutus. They stand, and would have parley. 2370
  • Cassius. Stand fast, Tintinius: we must out and talk.
  • Octavius. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?
  • Antony. No, Caesar, we will answer on their charge.
    Make forth; the generals would have some words.
  • Octavius. Stir not until the signal. 2375
  • Brutus. Words before blows: is it so, countrymen?
  • Octavius. Not that we love words better, as you do.
  • Brutus. Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.
  • Antony. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words:
    Witness the hole you made in Caesar's heart, 2380
    Crying 'Long live! hail, Caesar!'
  • Cassius. Antony,
    The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
    But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
    And leave them honeyless. 2385
  • Brutus. O, yes, and soundless too;
    For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony,
    And very wisely threat before you sting.
  • Antony. Villains, you did not so, when your vile daggers 2390
    Hack'd one another in the sides of Caesar:
    You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds,
    And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Caesar's feet;
    Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind
    Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers! 2395
  • Cassius. Flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank yourself:
    This tongue had not offended so to-day,
    If Cassius might have ruled.
  • Octavius. Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat,
    The proof of it will turn to redder drops. Look; 2400
    I draw a sword against conspirators;
    When think you that the sword goes up again?
    Never, till Caesar's three and thirty wounds
    Be well avenged; or till another Caesar
    Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors. 2405
  • Brutus. Caesar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands,
    Unless thou bring'st them with thee.
  • Octavius. So I hope;
    I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.
  • Brutus. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, 2410
    Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable.
  • Cassius. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour,
    Join'd with a masker and a reveller!
  • Octavius. Come, Antony, away! 2415
    Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth:
    If you dare fight to-day, come to the field;
    If not, when you have stomachs.

Exeunt OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their army

  • Cassius. Why, now, blow wind, swell billow and swim bark! 2420
    The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.
  • Brutus. Ho, Lucilius! hark, a word with you.

BRUTUS and LUCILIUS converse apart

  • Messala. [Standing forth.] What says my general?
  • Cassius. Messala,
    This is my birth-day; as this very day
    Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala:
    Be thou my witness that against my will, 2430
    As Pompey was, am I compell'd to set
    Upon one battle all our liberties.
    You know that I held Epicurus strong
    And his opinion: now I change my mind,
    And partly credit things that do presage. 2435
    Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign
    Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perch'd,
    Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands;
    Who to Philippi here consorted us:
    This morning are they fled away and gone; 2440
    And in their steads do ravens, crows and kites,
    Fly o'er our heads and downward look on us,
    As we were sickly prey: their shadows seem
    A canopy most fatal, under which
    Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost. 2445
  • Cassius. I but believe it partly;
    For I am fresh of spirit and resolved
    To meet all perils very constantly.
  • Brutus. Even so, Lucilius. 2450
  • Cassius. Now, most noble Brutus,
    The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may,
    Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!
    But since the affairs of men rest still incertain,
    Let's reason with the worst that may befall. 2455
    If we do lose this battle, then is this
    The very last time we shall speak together:
    What are you then determined to do?
  • Brutus. Even by the rule of that philosophy
    By which I did blame Cato for the death 2460
    Which he did give himself, I know not how,
    But I do find it cowardly and vile,
    For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
    The time of life: arming myself with patience
    To stay the providence of some high powers 2465
    That govern us below.
  • Cassius. Then, if we lose this battle,
    You are contented to be led in triumph
    Thorough the streets of Rome?
  • Brutus. No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman, 2470
    That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;
    He bears too great a mind. But this same day
    Must end that work the ides of March begun;
    And whether we shall meet again I know not.
    Therefore our everlasting farewell take: 2475
    For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius!
    If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;
    If not, why then, this parting was well made.
  • Cassius. For ever, and for ever, farewell, Brutus!
    If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed; 2480
    If not, 'tis true this parting was well made.
  • Brutus. Why, then, lead on. O, that a man might know
    The end of this day's business ere it come!
    But it sufficeth that the day will end,
    And then the end is known. Come, ho! away! 2485

Exeunt

---
. previous scene      

Act V, Scene 2

The same. The field of battle.

      next scene .
---

Alarum. Enter BRUTUS and MESSALA

  • Brutus. Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills
    Unto the legions on the other side.
    [Loud alarum] 2490
    Let them set on at once; for I perceive
    But cold demeanor in Octavius' wing,
    And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
    Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down.

Exeunt

---
. previous scene      

Act V, Scene 3

Another part of the field.

      next scene .
---

Alarums. Enter CASSIUS and Tintinius

  • Cassius. O, look, Tintinius, look, the villains fly!
    Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy:
    This ensign here of mine was turning back;
    I slew the coward, and did take it from him. 2500
  • Tintinius. O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early;
    Who, having some advantage on Octavius,
    Took it too eagerly: his soldiers fell to spoil,
    Whilst we by Antony are all enclosed.

Enter PINDARUS

  • Pindarus. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off;
    Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord
    Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off.
  • Cassius. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Tintinius;
    Are those my tents where I perceive the fire? 2510
  • Cassius. Tintinius, if thou lovest me,
    Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in him,
    Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops,
    And here again; that I may rest assured 2515
    Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.
  • Tintinius. I will be here again, even with a thought.

Exit

  • Cassius. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill;
    My sight was ever thick; regard Tintinius, 2520
    And tell me what thou notest about the field.
    [PINDARUS ascends the hill]
    This day I breathed first: time is come round,
    And where I did begin, there shall I end;
    My life is run his compass. Sirrah, what news? 2525
  • Pindarus. [Above] Tintinius is enclosed round about
    With horsemen, that make to him on the spur;
    Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him. 2530
    Now, Tintinius! Now some light. O, he lights too.
    He's ta'en.
    [Shout]
    And, hark! they shout for joy.
  • Cassius. Come down, behold no more. 2535
    O, coward that I am, to live so long,
    To see my best friend ta'en before my face!
    [PINDARUS descends]
    Come hither, sirrah:
    In Parthia did I take thee prisoner; 2540
    And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,
    That whatsoever I did bid thee do,
    Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath;
    Now be a freeman: and with this good sword,
    That ran through Caesar's bowels, search this bosom. 2545
    Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts;
    And, when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,
    Guide thou the sword.
    [PINDARUS stabs him]
    Caesar, thou art revenged, 2550
    Even with the sword that kill'd thee.

Dies

  • Pindarus. So, I am free; yet would not so have been,
    Durst I have done my will. O Cassius,
    Far from this country Pindarus shall run, 2555
    Where never Roman shall take note of him.

Exit

Re-enter Tintinius with MESSALA

  • Messala. It is but change, Tintinius; for Octavius
    Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power, 2560
    As Cassius' legions are by Antony.
  • Tintinius. These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
  • Tintinius. All disconsolate,
    With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill. 2565
  • Messala. Is not that he that lies upon the ground?
  • Tintinius. He lies not like the living. O my heart!
  • Tintinius. No, this was he, Messala,
    But Cassius is no more. O setting sun, 2570
    As in thy red rays thou dost sink to-night,
    So in his red blood Cassius' day is set;
    The sun of Rome is set! Our day is gone;
    Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done!
    Mistrust of my success hath done this deed. 2575
  • Messala. Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.
    O hateful error, melancholy's child,
    Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men
    The things that are not? O error, soon conceived,
    Thou never comest unto a happy birth, 2580
    But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee!
  • Tintinius. What, Pindarus! where art thou, Pindarus?
  • Messala. Seek him, Tintinius, whilst I go to meet
    The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
    Into his ears; I may say, thrusting it; 2585
    For piercing steel and darts envenomed
    Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
    As tidings of this sight.
  • Tintinius. Hie you, Messala,
    And I will seek for Pindarus the while. 2590
    [Exit MESSALA]
    Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?
    Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they
    Put on my brows this wreath of victory,
    And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts? 2595
    Alas, thou hast misconstrued every thing!
    But, hold thee, take this garland on thy brow;
    Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
    Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace,
    And see how I regarded Caius Cassius. 2600
    By your leave, gods:—this is a Roman's part
    Come, Cassius' sword, and find Tintinius' heart.
    [Kills himself]
    [Alarum. Re-enter MESSALA, with BRUTUS, CATO,
    STRATO, VOLUMNIUS, and LUCILIUS]
    2605
  • Brutus. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?
  • Messala. Lo, yonder, and Tintinius mourning it.
  • Brutus. Tintinius' face is upward.
  • Brutus. O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet! 2610
    Thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swords
    In our own proper entrails.

Low alarums

  • Young Cato. Brave Tintinius!
    Look, whether he have not crown'd dead Cassius! 2615
  • Brutus. Are yet two Romans living such as these?
    The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!
    It is impossible that ever Rome
    Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe more tears
    To this dead man than you shall see me pay. 2620
    I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.
    Come, therefore, and to Thasos send his body:
    His funerals shall not be in our camp,
    Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come;
    And come, young Cato; let us to the field. 2625
    Labeo and Flavius, set our battles on:
    'Tis three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night
    We shall try fortune in a second fight.

Exeunt

---
. previous scene      

Act V, Scene 4

Another part of the field.

      next scene .
---

[Alarum. Enter fighting, Soldiers of both armies; then BRUTUS, CATO, LUCILIUS, and others]

  • Brutus. Yet, countrymen, O, yet hold up your heads!
  • Young Cato. What bastard doth not? Who will go with me?
    I will proclaim my name about the field:
    I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho! 2635
    A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend;
    I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
  • Brutus. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I;
    Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus!

Exit

  • Lucilius. O young and noble Cato, art thou down?
    Why, now thou diest as bravely as Tintinius;
    And mayst be honour'd, being Cato's son.
  • Lucilius. Only I yield to die: 2645
    There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight;
    [Offering money]
    Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death.
  • First Soldier. I'll tell the news. Here comes the general.
    [Enter ANTONY]
    Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord.
  • Lucilius. Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough: 2655
    I dare assure thee that no enemy
    Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus:
    The gods defend him from so great a shame!
    When you do find him, or alive or dead,
    He will be found like Brutus, like himself. 2660
  • Antony. This is not Brutus, friend; but, I assure you,
    A prize no less in worth: keep this man safe;
    Give him all kindness: I had rather have
    Such men my friends than enemies. Go on,
    And see whether Brutus be alive or dead; 2665
    And bring us word unto Octavius' tent
    How every thing is chanced.

Exeunt

---
. previous scene      

Act V, Scene 5

Another part of the field.

       
---

[Enter BRUTUS, DARDANIUS, CLITUS, STRATO, and VOLUMNIUS]

  • Brutus. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.
  • Clitus. Statilius show'd the torch-light, but, my lord,
    He came not back: he is or ta'en or slain.
  • Brutus. Sit thee down, Clitus: slaying is the word;
    It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus. 2675

Whispers

  • Clitus. What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world.
  • Brutus. Peace then! no words.
  • Clitus. I'll rather kill myself.
  • Brutus. Hark thee, Dardanius. 2680

Whispers

  • Clitus. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? 2685
  • Dardanius. To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.
  • Clitus. Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
    That it runs over even at his eyes.
  • Brutus. Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word.
  • Brutus. Why, this, Volumnius:
    The ghost of Caesar hath appear'd to me
    Two several times by night; at Sardis once,
    And, this last night, here in Philippi fields:
    I know my hour is come. 2695
  • Brutus. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
    Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes;
    Our enemies have beat us to the pit:
    [Low alarums] 2700
    It is more worthy to leap in ourselves,
    Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,
    Thou know'st that we two went to school together:
    Even for that our love of old, I prithee,
    Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it. 2705
  • Volumnius. That's not an office for a friend, my lord.

Alarum still

  • Clitus. Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here.
  • Brutus. Farewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius.
    Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep; 2710
    Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen,
    My heart doth joy that yet in all my life
    I found no man but he was true to me.
    I shall have glory by this losing day
    More than Octavius and Mark Antony 2715
    By this vile conquest shall attain unto.
    So fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
    Hath almost ended his life's history:
    Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest,
    That have but labour'd to attain this hour. 2720

Alarum. Cry within, 'Fly, fly, fly!'

  • Brutus. Hence! I will follow.
    [Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and VOLUMNIUS]
    I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord: 2725
    Thou art a fellow of a good respect;
    Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it:
    Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
    While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
  • Strato. Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord. 2730
  • Brutus. Farewell, good Strato.
    [Runs on his sword]
    Caesar, now be still:
    I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.
    [Dies] 2735
    [Alarum. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, MESSALA,
    LUCILIUS, and the army]
  • Messala. My master's man. Strato, where is thy master?
  • Strato. Free from the bondage you are in, Messala: 2740
    The conquerors can but make a fire of him;
    For Brutus only overcame himself,
    And no man else hath honour by his death.
  • Lucilius. So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,
    That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true. 2745
  • Octavius. All that served Brutus, I will entertain them.
    Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
  • Strato. Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
  • Messala. How died my master, Strato? 2750
  • Strato. I held the sword, and he did run on it.
  • Messala. Octavius, then take him to follow thee,
    That did the latest service to my master.
  • Antony. This was the noblest Roman of them all:
    All the conspirators save only he 2755
    Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
    He only, in a general honest thought
    And common good to all, made one of them.
    His life was gentle, and the elements
    So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up 2760
    And say to all the world 'This was a man!'
  • Octavius. According to his virtue let us use him,
    With all respect and rites of burial.
    Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,
    Most like a soldier, order'd honourably. 2765
    So call the field to rest; and let's away,
    To part the glories of this happy day.

Exeunt