Julius Caesar

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Act III, Scene I
Flourish.
Enter Casar, Brutus, Cassius, Caska, Decius, Metellus,
Trebonius, Cynna, Antony, Lepidus,
Artimedorus, Publius, and the Soothsayer.

Cas.
The Ides of March are come.

Sooth.
I Casar, but not gone.

Art.
Haile Casar: Read this Scedule.

Deci.
Trebonius doth desire you to ore-read
(At your best leysure) this his humble suite.

Art.
O Casar, reade mine first: for mine's a suite
That touches Casar neerer. Read it great Casar.

Cas.
What touches vs our selfe, shall be last seru'd.

Art.
Delay not Casar, read it instantly.

Cas.
What, is the fellow mad?

Pub.
Sirra, giue place.

Cassi.
What, vrge you your Petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitoll.

Popil.
I wish your enterprize to day may thriue.

Cassi.
What enterprize Popillius?

Popil.
Fare you well.

Bru.
What said Popillius Lena?

Cassi.
He wisht to day our enterprize might thriue:
I feare our purpose is discouered.

Bru.
Looke how he makes to Casar: marke him.

Cassi.
Caska be sodaine, for we feare preuention.
Brutus what shall be done? If this be knowne,
Cassius or Casar neuer shall turne backe,
For I will slay my selfe.

Bru.
Cassius be constant:
Popillius Lena speakes not of our purposes,
For looke he smiles, and Casar doth not change.

Cassi.
Trebonius knowes his time: for look you Brutus
He drawes Mark Antony out of the way.

Deci.
Where is Metellus Cimber, let him go,
And presently preferre his suite to Casar.

Bru.
He is addrest: presse neere, and second him.

Cin.
Caska, you are the first that reares your hand.

Cas.
Are we all ready? What is now amisse,
That Casar and his Senate must redresse?

Metel.

Most high, most mighty, and most puisant Casar
Metellus Cymber throwes before thy Seate
An humble heart.

Cas.
I must preuent thee Cymber:
These couchings, and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turne pre-Ordinance, and first Decree
Into the lane of Children. Be not fond,
To thinke that Casar beares such Rebell blood
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth Fooles, I meane sweet words,
Low-crooked-curtsies, and base Spaniell fawning:
Thy Brother by decree is banished:
If thou doest bend, and pray, and fawne for him,
I spurne thee like a Curre out of my way:
Know, Casar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.

Metel.
Is there no voyce more worthy then my owne,
To sound more sweetly in great Casars eare,
For the repealing of my banish'd Brother?

Bru.
I kisse thy hand, but not in flattery Casar:
Desiring thee, that Publius Cymber may
Haue an immediate freedome of repeale.

Cas.
What Brutus?

Cassi.
Pardon Casar: Casar pardon:
As lowe as to thy foote doth Cassius fall,
To begge infranchisement for Publius Cymber.

Cas.
I could be well mou'd, if I were as you,
If I could pray to mooue, Prayers would mooue me:
But I am constant as the Northerne Starre,
Of whose true fixt, and resting quality,
There is no fellow in the Firmament.
The Skies are painted with vnnumbred sparkes,
They are all Fire, and euery one doth shine:
But, there's but one in all doth hold his place.
So, in the World; 'Tis furnish'd well with Men,
And Men are Flesh and Blood, and apprehensiue;
Yet in the number, I do know but One
That vnassayleable holds on his Ranke,
Vnshak'd of Motion: and that I am he,
Let me a little shew it, euen in this:
That I was constant Cymber should be banish'd,
And constant do remaine to keepe him so.

Cinna.
O Casar.

Cas.
Hence: Wilt thou lift vp Olympus?

Decius.
Great Casar.

Cas.
Doth not Brutus bootlesse kneele?

Cask.
Speake hands for me.
They stab Casar.

Cas.
Et Tu Brute? ---Then fall Casar.
Dyes

Cin.
Liberty, Freedome; Tyranny is dead,
Run hence, proclaime, cry it about the Streets.

Cassi.
Some to the common Pulpits, and cry out
Liberty, Freedome, and Enfranchisement.

Bru.
People and Senators, be not affrighted:
Fly not, stand still: Ambitions debt is paid.

Cask.
Go to the Pulpit Brutus.

Dec.
And Cassius too.

Bru.
Where's Publius?

Cin.
Heere, quite confounded with this mutiny.

Met.
Stand fast together, least some Friend of Casars
Should chance---

Bru.
Talke not of standing. Publius good cheere,
There is no harme intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else: so tell them Publius.

Cassi.
And leaue vs Publius, least that the people
Rushing on vs, should do your Age some mischiefe.

Bru.
Do so, and let no man abide this deede,
But we the Doers.
Enter Trebonius.

Cassi.
Where is Antony?

Treb.
Fled to his House amaz'd:
Men, Wiues, and Children, stare, cry out, and run,
As it were Doomesday.

Bru.
Fates, we will know your pleasures:
That we shall dye we know, 'tis but the time
And drawing dayes out, that men stand vpon.

Cask.
Why he that cuts off twenty yeares of life,
Cuts off so many yeares of fearing death.

Bru.
Grant that, and then is Death a Benefit:
So are we Casars Friends, that haue abridg'd
His time of fearing death. Stoope Romans, stoope,
And let vs bathe our hands in Casars blood
Vp to the Elbowes, and besmeare our Swords:
Then walke we forth, euen to the Market place,
And wauing our red Weapons o're our heads,
Let's all cry Peace, Freedome, and Liberty.

Cassi.
Stoop then, and wash. How many Ages hence
Shall this our lofty Scene be acted ouer,
In State vnborne, and Accents yet vnknowne?

Bru.
How many times shall Casar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompeyes Basis lye along,
No worthier then the dust?

Cassi.
So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of vs be call'd,
The Men that gaue their Country liberty.

Dec.
What, shall we forth?

Cassi.
I, euery man away.
Brutus shall leade, and we will grace his heeles
With the most boldest, and best hearts of Rome.
Enter a Seruant.

Bru.
Soft, who comes heere? A friend of Antonies.

Ser.
Thus Brutus did my Master bid me kneele;
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall downe,
And being prostrate, thus he bad me say:
Brutus is Noble, Wise, Valiant, and Honest;
Casar was Mighty, Bold, Royall, and Louing:
Say, I loue Brutus, and I honour him;
Say, I fear'd Casar, honour'd him, and lou'd him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolu'd
How Casar hath deseru'd to lye in death,
Mark Antony, shall not loue Casar dead
So well as Brutus liuing; but will follow
The Fortunes and Affayres of Noble Brutus,
Thorough the hazards of this vntrod State,
With all true Faith. So sayes my Master Antony.

Bru.
Thy Master is a Wise and Valiant Romane,
I neuer thought him worse:
Tell him, so please him come vnto this place
He shall be satisfied: and by my Honor
Depart vntouch'd.

Ser.
Ile fetch him presently.
Exit Seruant.

Bru.
I know that we shall haue him well to Friend.

Cassi.
I wish we may: But yet haue I a minde
That feares him much: and my misgiuing still
Falles shrewdly to the purpose.
Enter Antony.

Bru.
But heere comes Antony: / Welcome Mark Antony.

Ant.
O mighty Casar! Dost thou lye so lowe?
Are all thy Conquests, Glories, Triumphes, Spoiles,
Shrunke to this little Measure? Fare thee well.
I know not Gentlemen what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is ranke:
If I my selfe, there is no houre so fit
As Casars deaths houre; nor no Instrument
Of halfe that worth, as those your Swords; made rich
With the most Noble blood of all this World.
I do beseech yee, if you beare me hard,
Now, whil'st your purpled hands do reeke and smoake,
Fulfill your pleasure. Liue a thousand yeeres,
I shall not finde my selfe so apt to dye.
No place will please me so, no meane of death,
As heere by Casar, and by you cut off,
The Choice and Master Spirits of this Age.

Bru.
O Antony! Begge not your death of vs:
Though now we must appeare bloody and cruell,
As by our hands, and this our present Acte
You see we do: Yet see you but our hands,
And this, the bleeding businesse they haue done:
Our hearts you see not, they are pittifull:
And pitty to the generall wrong of Rome,
As fire driues out fire, so pitty, pitty
Hath done this deed on Casar. For your part,
To you, our Swords haue leaden points Marke Antony:
Our Armes in strength of malice, and our Hearts
Of Brothers temper, do receiue you in,
With all kinde loue, good thoughts, and reuerence.

Cassi.
Your voyce shall be as strong as any mans,
In the disposing of new Dignities.

Bru.
Onely be patient, till we haue appeas'd
The Multitude, beside themselues with feare,
And then, we will deliuer you the cause,
Why I, that did loue Casar when I strooke him,
Haue thus proceeded.

Ant.
I doubt not of your Wisedome:
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 Caska, yours;
Though last, not least in loue, yours good Trebonius.
Gentlemen all: Alas, what shall I say,
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad wayes you must conceit me,
Either a Coward, or a Flatterer.
That I did loue thee Casar, O 'tis true:
If then thy Spirit looke vpon vs now,
Shall it not greeue thee deerer then thy death,
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy Foes?
Most Noble, in the presence of thy Coarse,
Had I as many eyes, as thou hast wounds,
Weeping as fast as they streame forth thy blood,
It would become me better, then to close
In tearmes of Friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me Iulius, heere was't thou bay'd braue Hart,
Heere did'st thou fall, and heere thy Hunters stand
Sign'd in thy Spoyle, and Crimson'd in thy Lethee.
O World! thou wast the Forrest to this Hart,
And this indeed, O World, the Hart of thee.
How like a Deere, stroken by many Princes,
Dost thou heere lye?

Cassi.
Mark Antony.

Ant.
Pardon me Caius Cassius:
The Enemies of Casar, shall say this:
Then, in a Friend, it is cold Modestie.

Cassi.
I blame you not for praising Casar so,
But what compact meane you to haue with vs?
Will you be prick'd in number of our Friends,
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

Ant.
Therefore I tooke your hands, but was indeed
Sway'd from the point, by looking downe on Casar.
Friends am I with you all, and loue you all,
Vpon this hope, that you shall giue me Reasons,
Why, and wherein, Casar was dangerous.

Bru.
Or else were this a sauage Spectacle:
Our Reasons are so full of good regard,
That were you Antony, the Sonne of Casar,
You should be satisfied.

Ant.
That's all I seeke,
And am moreouer sutor, that I may
Produce his body to the Market-place,
And in the Pulpit as becomes a Friend,
Speake in the Order of his Funerall.

Bru.
You shall Marke Antony.

Cassi.
Brutus, a word with you:
You know not what you do; Do not consent
That Antony speake in his Funerall:
Know you how much the people may be mou'd
By that which he will vtter.

Bru.
By your pardon:
I will my selfe into the Pulpit first,
And shew the reason of our Casars death.
What Antony shall speake, I will protest
He speakes by leaue, and by permission:
And that we are contented Casar shall
Haue all true Rites, and lawfull Ceremonies,
It shall aduantage more, then do vs wrong.

Cassi.

I know not what may fall, I like it not.

Bru.
Mark Antony, heere take you Casars body:
You shall not in your Funerall speech blame vs,
But speake all good you can deuise of Casar,
And say you doo't by our permission:
Else shall you not haue any hand at all
About his Funerall. And you shall speake
In the same Pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.

Ant.
Be it so:
I do desire no more.

Bru.
Prepare the body then, and follow vs.
Exeunt.
Manet Antony.
O pardon me, thou bleeding peece of Earth:
That I am meeke and gentle with these Butchers.
Thou art the Ruines of the Noblest man
That euer liued in the Tide of Times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly Blood.
Ouer thy wounds, now do I Prophesie,
(Which like dumbe mouthes do ope their Ruby lips,
To begge the voyce and vtterance of my Tongue)
A Curse shall light vpon the limbes of men;
Domesticke Fury, and fierce Ciuill strife,
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy:
Blood and destruction shall be so in vse,
And dreadfull Obiects so familiar,
That Mothers shall but smile, when they behold
Their Infants quartered with the hands of Warre:
All pitty choak'd with custome of fell deeds,
And Casars Spirit ranging for Reuenge,
With Ate by his side, come hot from Hell,
Shall in these Confines, with a Monarkes voyce,
Cry hauocke, and let slip the Dogges of Warre,
That this foule deede, shall smell aboue the earth
With Carrion men, groaning for Buriall.
Enter Octauio's Seruant.
You serue Octauius Casar, do you not?

Ser.
I do Marke Antony.

Ant.
Casar did write for him to come to Rome.

Ser.
He did receiue his Letters, and is comming,
And bid me say to you by word of mouth---
O Casar!

Ant.
Thy heart is bigge: get thee a-part and weepe:
Passion I see is catching from mine eyes,
Seeing those Beads of sorrow stand in thine,
Began to water. Is thy Master comming?

Ser.
He lies to night within seuen Leagues of Rome.

Ant.
Post backe with speede, / And tell him what hath chanc'd:
Heere is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octauius yet,
Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay a-while,
Thou shalt not backe, till I haue borne this course
Into the Market place: There shall I try
In my Oration, how the People take
The cruell issue of these bloody men,
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To yong Octauius, of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.
Exeunt
Original text
Act III, Scene II
Enter Brutus and goes into the Pulpit, and
Cassius, with the Plebeians.

Ple.
We will be satisfied: let vs be satisfied.

Bru.
Then follow me, and giue me Audience friends.
Cassius go you into the other streete,
And part the Numbers:
Those that will heare me speake, let 'em stay heere;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him,
And publike Reasons shall be rendred
Of Casars death.

1. Ple.
I will heare Brutus speake.

2.
I will heare Cassius, and compare their Reasons,
When seuerally we heare them rendred.

3.
The Noble Brutus is ascended: Silence.

Bru.
Be patient till the last.
Romans, Countrey-men, and Louers, heare mee for my cause,
and be silent, that you may heare. Beleeue me for mine
Honor, and haue respect to mine Honor, that you may
beleeue. Censure me in your Wisedom, and awake your
Senses, that you may the better Iudge. If there bee any in
this Assembly, any deere Friend of Casars, to him I say,
that Brutus loue to Casar, was no lesse then his. If then,
that Friend demand, why Brutus rose against Casar, this
is my answer: Not that I lou'd Casar lesse, but that I
lou'd Rome more. Had you rather Casar were liuing,
and dye all Slaues; then that Casar were dead, to liue
all Free-men? As Casar lou'd mee, I weepe for him; as
he was Fortunate, I reioyce at it; as he was Valiant, I
honour him: But, as he was Ambitious, I slew him.
There is Teares, for his Loue: Ioy, for his Fortune: Honor,
for his Valour: and Death, for his Ambition. Who is heere
so base, that would be a Bondman? If any, speak, for
him haue I offended. Who is heere so rude, that would
not be a Roman? If any, speak, for him haue I offended.
Who is heere so vile, that will not loue his Countrey?
If any, speake, for him haue I offended. I pause for a
Reply.

All.
None Brutus, none.

Brutus.
Then none haue I offended. I haue done no more
to Casar, then you shall do to Brutus. The Question of
his death, is inroll'd in the Capitoll: his Glory not extenuated,
wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforc'd,
for which he suffered death.
Enter Mark Antony, with Casars body.
Heere comes his Body, mourn'd by Marke Antony, who
though he had no hand in his death, shall receiue the
benefit of his dying, a place in the Cōmonwealth, as
which of you shall not. With this I depart, that as I
slewe my best Louer for the good of Rome, I haue the
same Dagger for my selfe, when it shall please my Country
to need my death.

All.
Liue Brutus, liue, liue.

1.
Bring him with Triumph home vnto his house.

2.
Giue him a Statue with his Ancestors.

3.
Let him be Casar.

4.
Casars better parts,
Shall be Crown'd in Brutus.

1.
Wee'l bring him to his House, / With Showts and Clamors.

Bru.
My Country-men.

2.
Peace, silence, Brutus speakes.

1.
Peace ho.

Bru.
Good Countrymen, let me depart alone,
And (for my sake) stay heere with Antony:
Do grace to Casars Corpes, and grace his Speech
Tending to Casars Glories, which Marke Antony
(By our permission) is allow'd to make.
I do intreat you, not a man depart,
Saue I alone, till Antony haue spoke.
Exit

1
Stay ho, and let vs heare Mark Antony.

3
Let him go vp into the publike Chaire,
Wee'l heare him: Noble Antony go vp.

Ant.
For Brutus sake, I am beholding to you.

4
What does he say of Brutus?

3
He sayes, for Brutus sake
He findes himselfe beholding to vs all.

4
'Twere best he speake no harme of Brutus heere?

1
This Casar was a Tyrant.

3
Nay that's certaine:
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.

2
Peace, let vs heare what Antony can say.

Ant.
You gentle Romans.

All.
Peace hoe, let vs heare him.

An.
Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears:
I come to bury Casar, not to praise him:
The euill that men do, liues after them,
The good is oft enterred with their bones,
So let it be with Casar. The Noble Brutus,
Hath told you Casar was Ambitious:
If it were so, it was a greeuous Fault,
And greeuously hath Casar answer'd it.
Heere, vnder leaue of Brutus, and the rest
(For Brutus is an Honourable man,
So are they all; all Honourable men)
Come I to speake in Casars Funerall.
He was my Friend, faithfull, and iust to me;
But Brutus sayes, he was Ambitious,
And Brutus is an Honourable man.
He hath brought many Captiues home to Rome,
Whose Ransomes, did the generall Coffers fill:
Did this in Casar seeme Ambitious?
When that the poore haue cry'de, Casar hath wept:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuffe,
Yet Brutus sayes, he was Ambitious:
And Brutus is an Honourable man.
You all did see, that on the Lupercall,
I thrice presented him a Kingly Crowne,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this Ambition?
Yet Brutus sayes, he was Ambitious:
And sure he is an Honourable man.
I speake not to disprooue what Brutus spoke,
But heere I am, to speake what I do know;
You all did loue him once, not without cause,
What cause with-holds you then, to mourne for him?
O Iudgement! thou are fled to brutish Beasts,
And Men haue lost their Reason. Beare with me,
My heart is in the Coffin there with Casar,
And I must pawse, till it come backe to me.

1
Me thinkes there is much reason in his sayings.

2
If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Casar ha's had great wrong.

3
Ha's hee Masters?
I feare there will a worse come in his place.

4.
Mark'd ye his words? he would not take ye Crown,
Therefore 'tis certaine, he was not Ambitious.

1.
If it be found so, some will deere abide it.

2.
Poore soule, his eyes are red as fire with weeping.

3.
There's not a Nobler man in Rome then Antony.

4.
Now marke him, he begins againe to speake.

Ant.
But yesterday, the word of Casar might
Haue stood against the World: Now lies he there,
And none so poore to do him reuerence.
O Maisters! If I were dispos'd to stirre
Your hearts and mindes 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
To wrong the dead, to wrong my selfe and you,
Then I will wrong such Honourable men.
But heere's a Parchment, with the Seale of Casar,
I found it in his Closset, 'tis his Will:
Let but the Commons heare this Testament:
(Which pardon me) I do not meane to reade,
And they would go and kisse dead Casars wounds,
And dip their Napkins in his Sacred Blood;
Yea, begge a haire of him for Memory,
And dying, mention it within their Willes,
Bequeathing it as a rich Legacie
Vnto their issue.

4
Wee'l heare the Will, reade it Marke Antony.

All.
The Will, the Will; we will heare Casars Will.

Ant.
Haue patience gentle Friends, I must not read it.
It is not meete you know how Casar lou'd you:
You are not Wood, you are not Stones, but men:
And being men, hearing the Will of Casar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad:
'Tis good you know not that you are his Heires,
For if you should, O what would come of it?

4
Read the Will, wee'l heare it Antony:
You shall reade vs the Will, Casars Will.

Ant.
Will you be Patient? Will you stay a-while?
I haue o're-shot my selfe to tell you of it,
I feare I wrong the Honourable men,
Whose Daggers haue stabb'd Casar: I do feare it.

4
They were Traitors: Honourable men?

All.
The Will, the Testament.

2
They were Villaines, Murderers: the
Will, read the Will.

Ant.
You will compell me then to read the Will:
Then make a Ring about the Corpes of Casar,
And let me shew you him that made the Will:
Shall I descend? And will you giue me leaue?

All.
Come downe.

2
Descend.

3
You shall haue leaue.

4
A Ring, stand round.

1
Stand from the Hearse, stand from the Body.

2
Roome for Antony, most Noble Antony.

Ant.
Nay presse not so vpon me, stand farre off.

All.
Stand backe: roome, beare backe.

Ant.
If you haue teares, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this Mantle, I remember
The first time euer Casar put it on,
'Twas on a Summers Euening in his Tent,
That day he ouercame the Neruij.
Looke, in this place ran Cassius Dagger through:
See what a rent the enuious Caska made:
Through this, the wel-beloued Brutus stabb'd,
And as he pluck'd his cursed Steele away:
Marke how the blood of Casar followed it,
As rushing out of doores, to be resolu'd
If Brutus so vnkindely knock'd, or no:
For Brutus, as you know, was Casars Angel.
Iudge, O you Gods, how deerely Casar lou'd him:
This was the most vnkindest cut of all.
For when the Noble Casar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong then Traitors armes,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his Mighty heart,
And in his Mantle, muffling vp his face,
Euen at the Base of Pompeyes Statue
(Which all the while ran blood) great Casar fell.
O what a fall was there, my Countrymen?
Then I, and you, and all of vs fell downe,
Whil'st bloody Treason flourish'd ouer vs.
O now you weepe, and I perceiue you feele
The dint of pitty: These are gracious droppes.
Kinde Soules, what weepe you, when you but behold
Our Casars Vesture wounded? Looke you heere,
Heere is Himselfe, marr'd as you see with Traitors.

1.
O pitteous spectacle!

2.
O Noble Casar!

3.
O wofull day!

4.
O Traitors, Villaines!

1.
O most bloody sight!

2.
We will be reueng'd:
Reuenge / About, seeke, burne, fire, kill, slay, / Let
not a Traitor liue.

Ant.
Stay Country-men.

1.
Peace there, heare the Noble Antony.

2.
Wee'l heare him, wee'l follow him,
wee'l dy with him.

Ant.
Good Friends, sweet Friends, let me not stirre you vp.
To such a sodaine Flood of Mutiny:
They that haue done this Deede, are honourable.
What priuate greefes they haue, 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 steale away your hearts,
I am no Orator, as Brutus is;
But (as you know me all) a plaine blunt man
That loue my Friend, and that they know full well,
That gaue me publike leaue to speake of him:
For I haue neyther writ nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor Vtterance, nor the power of Speech,
To stirre mens Blood. I onely speake right on:
I tell you that, which you your selues do know,
Shew you sweet Casars wounds, poor poor dum mouths
And bid them speake for me: But were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle vp your Spirits, and put a Tongue
In euery Wound of Casar, that should moue
The stones of Rome, to rise and Mutiny.

All.
Wee'l Mutiny.

1
Wee'l burne the house of Brutus.

3
Away then, come, seeke the Conspirators.

Ant.
Yet heare me Countrymen, yet heare me speake

All.
Peace hoe, heare Antony, most Noble Antony.

Ant.
Why Friends, you go to do you know not what:
Wherein hath Casar thus deseru'd your loues?
Alas you know not, I must tell you then:
You haue forgot the Will I told you of.

All.
Most true, the Will, let's stay and heare the Wil.

Ant.
Heere is the Will, and vnder Casars Seale:
To euery Roman Citizen he giues,
To euery seuerall man, seuenty fiue Drachmaes.

2 Ple.
Most Noble Casar, wee'l reuenge his death.

3 Ple.
O Royall Casar.

Ant.
Heare me with patience.

All.
Peace hoe

Ant.
Moreouer, he hath left you all his Walkes,
His priuate Arbors, and new-planted Orchards,
On this side Tyber, he hath left them you,
And to your heyres for euer: common pleasures
To walke abroad, and recreate your selues.
Heere was a Casar: when comes such another?

1. Ple.
Neuer, neuer: come, away, away:
Wee'l burne his body in the holy place,
And with the Brands fire the Traitors houses.
Take vp the body.

2. Ple.
Go fetch fire.

3. Ple.
Plucke downe Benches.

4. Ple.
Plucke downe Formes, Windowes,
any thing.
Exit Plebeians.

Ant.
Now let it worke: Mischeefe thou art a-foot,
Take thou what course thou wilt.
Enter Seruant.
How now Fellow?

Ser.
Sir, Octauius is already come to Rome.

Ant.
Where is hee?

Ser.
He and Lepidus are at Casars house.

Ant.
And thither will I straight, to visit him:
He comes vpon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will giue vs any thing.

Ser.
I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like Madmen through the Gates of Rome.

Ant.
Belike they had some notice of the people
How I had moued them. Bring me to Octauius.
Exeunt
Original text
Act III, Scene III
Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him the Plebeians.

Cinna.
I dreamt to night, that I did feast with Casar,
And things vnluckily charge my Fantasie:
I haue no will to wander foorth of doores,
Yet something leads me foorth.

1.
What is your name?

2.
Whether are you going?

3.
Where do you dwell?

4.
Are you a married man, or a Batchellor?

2.
Answer euery man directly.

1.
I, and breefely.

4.
I, and wisely.

3.
I, and truly, you were best.

Cin.
What is my name? Whether am I going? Where
do I dwell? Am I a married man, or a Batchellour? Then to
answer euery man, directly and breefely, wisely and truly:
wisely I say, I am a Batchellor.

2
That's as much as to say, they are
fooles that marrie: you'l beare me a bang for that I feare:
proceede directly.

Cinna.
Directly I am going to Casars Funerall.

1.
As a Friend, or an Enemy?

Cinna.
As a friend.

2.
That matter is answered directly.

4.
For your dwelling: breefely.

Cinna.
Breefely, I dwell by the Capitoll.

3.
Your name sir, truly.

Cinna.
Truly, my name is Cinna.

1.
Teare him to peeces, hee's a Conspirator.

Cinna.
I am Cinna the Poet, I am Cinna the Poet.

4.
Teare him for his bad verses, teare him
for his bad Verses.

Cin.
I am not Cinna the Conspirator.

4.
It is no matter, his name's Cinna,
plucke but his name out of his heart, and turne him going.

3.
Teare him, tear him;
Come Brands hoe, Firebrands: to Brutus, to Cassius,
burne all. Some to Decius House, and some to Caska's;
some to Ligarius: Away, go.
Exeunt all the Plebeians.
Modern text
Act III, Scene I
Flourish
Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus,
Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Popilius,
Artemidorus, Publius, and the Soothsayer

CAESAR
(to the Soothsayer) The ides of March are come.

SOOTHSAYER
Ay, Caesar, but not gone.

ARTEMIDORUS
Hail, Caesar! Read this schedule.

DECIUS
Trebonius doth desire you to o'erread,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.

ARTEMIDORUS
O Caesar, read mine first; for mine's a suit
That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.

CAESAR
What touches us ourself shall be last served.

ARTEMIDORUS
Delay not, Caesar. Read it instantly.

CAESAR
What, is the fellow mad?

PUBLIUS
Sirrah, give place.

CASSIUS
What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.
Caesar enters the Capitol, the rest following

POPILIUS
I wish your enterprise today may thrive.

CASSIUS
What enterprise, Popilius?

POPILIUS
Fare you well.
He goes to speak to Caesar

BRUTUS
What said Popilius Lena?

CASSIUS
He wished today 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,
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.

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.

BRUTUS
He is addressed. 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
(kneeling)
Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart –

CAESAR
I must prevent thee, Cimber;
These couchings, and these lowly courtesies
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 thawed from the true quality
With that which melteth fools – I mean sweet words,
Low-crooked curtsies 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.
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.

METELLUS
Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear
For the repealing of my banished brother?

BRUTUS
I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar,
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.

CAESAR
What, Brutus?

CASSIUS
(kneeling)
Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon;
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

CAESAR
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,
Of whose true-fixed and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks,
They are all fire, and every one doth shine;
But there's but one in all doth hold his place.
So in the world: 'tis furnished 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,
Let me a little show it, even in this:
That I was constant Cimber should be banished,
And constant do remain to keep him so.

CINNA
O Caesar –

CAESAR
Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?

DECIUS
Great Caesar –

CAESAR
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?

CASCA
Speak hands for me!
They stab Caesar

CAESAR
Et tu, Brute? – Then fall Caesar!
He dies

CINNA
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.

CASSIUS
Some to the common pulpits, and cry out,
‘ Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!’

BRUTUS
People and senators, be not affrighted.
Fly not; stand still; ambition's debt is paid.

CASCA
Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

DECIUS
And Cassius too.

BRUTUS
Where's Publius?

CINNA
Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.

METELLUS
Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's
Should chance –

BRUTUS
Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer;
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
But we the doers.
Enter Trebonius

CASSIUS
Where is Antony?

TREBONIUS
Fled to his house amazed.
Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run,
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
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
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
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!

CASSIUS
So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be called
The men that gave their country liberty.

DECIUS
What, shall we forth?

CASSIUS
Ay, every man away.
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
(kneeling)
Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;
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;
Say I feared Caesar, honoured 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
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;
I never thought him worse.
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour,
Depart untouched.

SERVANT
I'll fetch him presently.
Exit Servant

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.
Enter Antony

BRUTUS
But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.

ANTONY
O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils
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's hour; nor no instrument
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,
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.
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;
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
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
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.
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;
Though last, not least 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.
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 Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
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.
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bayed, brave hart;
Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Signed in thy spoil, and crimsoned in thy lethe.
O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;
And this indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
Dost thou here lie!

CASSIUS
Mark Antony –

ANTONY
Pardon me, Caius Cassius;
The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
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 pricked in number of our friends,
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

ANTONY
Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed
Swayed 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.

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,
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.

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
By that which he will utter?

BRUTUS
(aside to Cassius)
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
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
(aside to Brutus)
I know not what may fall; I like it not.

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
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.

BRUTUS
Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
Exeunt
Antony remains

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
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 –
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,
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quartered 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,
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 Octavius's Servant
You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?

SERVANT
I do, Mark Antony.

ANTONY
Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.

SERVANT
He did receive his letters, and is coming,
And bid me say to you by word of mouth –
O Caesar!

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,
Began to water. Is thy master coming?

SERVANT
He lies tonight 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.
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;
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act III, Scene II
Enter Brutus and later goes into the pulpit, and
Cassius, with the Plebeians

PLEBEIANS
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;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
And public reasons shall be rendered
Of Caesar's death.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
I will hear Brutus speak.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
I will hear Cassius, and compare their reasons,
When severally we hear them rendered.
Exit Cassius, with some of the Plebeians

THIRD PLEBEIAN
The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence!

BRUTUS
Be patient till the last.
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. 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 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 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 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 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 Mark Antony and others, with Caesar's body
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 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 PLEBEIAN
Bring him with triumph home unto his house.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Give him a statue with his ancestors.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
Let him be Caesar.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Caesar's better parts
Shall be crowned in Brutus.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.

BRUTUS
My countrymen –

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Peace! Silence! Brutus speaks.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
Peace, ho!

BRUTUS
Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony.
Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Caesar's glories, which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allowed to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
Exit

FIRST PLEBEIAN
Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
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.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
What does he say of Brutus?

THIRD PLEBEIAN
He says, for Brutus' sake
He finds himself beholding to us all.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here!

FIRST PLEBEIAN
This Caesar was a tyrant.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
Nay, that's certain.
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Peace! let us hear what Antony can say.

ANTONY
You gentle Romans –

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Peace, ho! let us hear him.

ANTONY
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones;
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 answered it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest –
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,
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;
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,
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.
You all did love him once, not without cause;
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?
O judgement! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Caesar has had great wrong.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
Has he, masters?
I fear there will a worse come in his place.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown;
Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
If it be found so, some will dear abide it.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Poor soul! His eyes are red as fire with weeping.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Now mark him; he begins again to speak.

ANTONY
But yesterday the word of Caesar might
Have stood against the world; now lies he there,
And none so poor to do him reverence.
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
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,
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,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
We'll hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony.

ALL
The will, the will! We will hear Caesar's will!

ANTONY
Have patience, gentle friends; I must not read it.
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
And being men, Hearing the will of Caesar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad.
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;
For if you should, O, what would come of it?

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
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.
I fear I wrong the honourable men
Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar; I do fear it.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
They were traitors. Honourable men!

ALL
The will! The testament!

SECOND PLEBEIAN
They were villains, murderers! The
will! Read the will!

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?

ALL
Come down.
Antony comes down from the pulpit

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Descend.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
You shall have leave.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
A ring! Stand round.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
Stand from the hearse! Stand from the body!

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Room for Antony, most noble Antony!

ANTONY
Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.

ALL
Stand back! Room! Bear back!

ANTONY
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle. I remember
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;
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabbed,
And as he plucked his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
If Brutus so unkindly knocked or no;
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,
Quite vanquished him: then burst his mighty heart;
And in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourished 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
Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marred, as you see, with traitors.
Antony plucks off the mantle

FIRST PLEBEIAN
O piteous spectacle!

SECOND PLEBEIAN
O noble Caesar!

THIRD PLEBEIAN
O woeful day!

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
O traitors! villains!

FIRST PLEBEIAN
O most bloody sight!

SECOND PLEBEIAN
We will be revenged.

ALL
Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay! Let
not a traitor live.

ANTONY
Stay, countrymen.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
Peace there! Hear the noble Antony!

SECOND PLEBEIAN
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.
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;
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,
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,
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.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
We'll burn the house of Brutus.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
Away then! Come, seek the conspirators.

ANTONY
Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.

ALL
Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony!

ANTONY
Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.
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.
To every Roman citizen he gives,
To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
O royal Caesar!

ANTONY
Hear me with patience.

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,
To walk abroad and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?

FIRST PLEBEIAN
Never, never! Come, away, away!
We'll burn his body in the holy place,
And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.
Take up the body.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Go fetch fire.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
Pluck down benches.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Pluck down forms, windows,
anything.
Exeunt Plebeians with the body

ANTONY
Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what course thou wilt.
Enter Servant
How now, fellow?

SERVANT
Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.

ANTONY
Where is he?

SERVANT
He and Lepidus are at Caesar's house.

ANTONY
And thither will I straight to visit him.
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us anything.

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
Modern text
Act III, Scene III
Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him the Plebeians

CINNA
I dreamt tonight that I did feast with Caesar,
And things unluckily charge my fantasy;
I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.
The Plebeians surround him

FIRST PLEBEIAN
What is your name?

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Whither are you going?

THIRD PLEBEIAN
Where do you dwell?

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Are you a married man or a bachelor?

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Answer every man directly.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
Ay, and briefly.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Ay, and wisely.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
Ay, and truly, you were best.

CINNA
What is my name? Whither am I going? Where
do I 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 PLEBEIAN
That's as much as to say they are
fools that marry. You'll bear me a bang for that, I fear.
Proceed, directly.

CINNA
Directly, I am going to Caesar's funeral.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
As a friend or an enemy?

CINNA
As a friend.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
That matter is answered directly.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
For your dwelling, briefly.

CINNA
Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
Your name, sir, truly.

CINNA
Truly, my name is Cinna.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
Tear him to pieces! He's a conspirator.

CINNA
I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Tear him for his bad verses, tear him
for his bad verses!

CINNA
I am not Cinna the conspirator.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
It is no matter, his name's Cinna;
pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
Tear him, tear him!
They attack Cinna
Come, brands ho, firebrands! To Brutus', to Cassius';
burn all! Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's;
some to Ligarius'. Away, go!
Exeunt all the Plebeians with Cinna's body
x

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