Act III: Scene 1

ORIGINAL TEXT MODERN TEXT

Scene 1. in front of the Capitol (i.e. A crowd of people enters, among them
probably near the entrance of the ARTEMIDORUS and the SOOTHSAYER.
Capitol) A trumpet plays. CAESAR, BRUTUS,
Flourish Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS,
CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY,
METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, LEPIDUS, POPILLIUS, PUBLIUS, and
ANTONY, LEPIDUS, PUBLIUS, and others enter.
POPILLIUS LENA with a crowd of
people, including ARTEMIDORUS and
the SOOTHSAYER

CAESAR CAESAR
(to the SOOTHSAYER) The ides of (to the SOOTHSAYER) March 15th has
March are come. come.

SOOTHSAYER SOOTHSAYER
Ay, Caesar, but not gone. Yes, Caesar, but it’s not gone yet.

ARTEMIDORUS ARTEMIDORUS
(offering his letter) Hail, Caesar! Read (offering his letter) Hail, Caesar! Read
this schedule. this schedule.

DECIUS DECIUS
(offering CAESAR another paper) (offering CAESAR another paper)
5Trebonius doth desire you to Trebonius wants you to look over his
humble petition, at your leisure.
o'er-read,

At your best leisure, this his humble

suit.

ARTEMIDORUS ARTEMIDORUS
O Caesar, read mine first, for mine’s a Oh, Caesar, read mine first, for my
suit petition affects you more directly. Read
it, great Caesar.
That touches Caesar nearer. Read it,
great Caesar.

CAESAR CAESAR
What touches us ourself shall be last Whatever pertains to myself I will deal
served. with last.

ARTEMIDORUS ARTEMIDORUS
10Delay not, Caesar. Read it instantly. Don’t delay, Caesar. Read it instantly.

CAESAR CAESAR
What, is the fellow mad? What, is the man insane?

PUBLIUS PUBLIUS
(to ARTEMIDORUS) Sirrah, give (to ARTEMIDORUS) Stand aside, you.
place.

CASSIUS CASSIUS
(to ARTEMIDORUS) (to ARTEMIDORUS) What? Are you
What, urge you your petitions in the pressing your petition on the street?
street? Go to the Capitol.
15Come to the Capitol.

CAESAR’s party moves aside to the CAESAR goes up to the senate house,
senate house the rest following.

POPILLIUS POPILLIUS
(to CASSIUS) I wish your enterprise (to CASSIUS) I hope your endeavor
today may thrive. goes well today.

CASSIUS CASSIUS
What enterprise, Popillius? What endeavor, Popillius?

POPILLIUS POPILLIUS
Fare you well. Good luck.

(approaches CAESAR) POPILLIUS approaches CAESAR.

BRUTUS BRUTUS
(to CASSIUS) What said Popillius (to CASSIUS) What did Popillius Lena
Lena? say?

CASSIUS CASSIUS
(aside to BRUTUS) (speaking so that only BRUTUS can
20He wished today our enterprise hear) He wished that our endeavor
would go well today. I’m afraid we’ve
might thrive.
been found out.
I fear our purpose is discovered.

BRUTUS BRUTUS
Look how he makes to Caesar. Mark Look, he’s approaching Caesar. Keep
him. an eye on him.

CASSIUS CASSIUS
Casca, be sudden, for we fear Casca, be quick, because we’re
prevention worried we might be stopped. Brutus,
—Brutus, what shall be done? If this what will we do? If our secret’s known,
be known, either Caesar or I will die, for I’ll kill
25Cassius or Caesar never shall turn myself.

back,

For I will slay myself.

BRUTUS BRUTUS
Cassius, be constant. Cassius, stand firm. Popillius Lena
Popillius Lena speaks not of our wasn’t talking about our plot—for, look,
purposes. he’s smiling, and Caesar’s expression is
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth the same.
not change.

CASSIUS CASSIUS
Trebonius knows his time. For, look Trebonius knows his cue. See, Brutus,
you, Brutus. he’s pulling Mark Antony aside.
30He draws Mark Antony out of the

way.
Exeunt TREBONIUS and ANTONY TREBONIUS and ANTONY exit.

DECIUS DECIUS
Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him Where’s Metellus Cimber? He should
go go up and offer his petition to Caesar
And presently prefer his suit to now.
Caesar.

ORIGINAL TEXT MODERN TEXT

BRUTUS BRUTUS
He is addressed. Press near and They’re speaking to him. Go up there
second him. and second his petition.

CINNA CINNA
Casca, you are the first that rears Casca, you’ll be the first to raise your
your hand. hand.

CAESAR CAESAR
35Are we all ready? What is now Are we all ready? What problem
should I discuss with you first?
amiss

That Caesar and his senate must

redress?

METELLUS METELLUS
(kneeling) (kneeling) Most high, most mighty, and
Most high, most mighty, and most most powerful Caesar, Metellus
puissant Caesar, Cimber kneels before you with a
Metellus Cimber throws before thy humble heart—
seat
40An humble heart—

CAESAR CAESAR
I must prevent thee, Cimber. I have to stop you, Cimber. These
These couchings and these lowly kneelings and humble courtesies
courtesies might excite ordinary men, flattering
Might fire the blood of ordinary men them into turning Roman law into
children’s games. But don’t be so
And turn preordinance and first foolish as to think you can sway me
decree from what’s right by using the tactics
Into the law of children. Be not fond, that persuade fools—I mean this
45To think that Caesar bears such flattery, low bows, and puppy-like
fawning. Your brother has been
rebel blood
banished by decree. If you kneel and
That will be thawed from the true beg and flatter for him, I’ll kick you out
quality of my way like I would a dog. Know
With that which melteth fools—I that I am not unjust, and I will not grant
mean, sweet words, him a pardon without reason.
Low-crookèd curtsies, and base
spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banishèd.
50If 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 METELLUS
Is there no voice more worthy than Is there no voice worthier than my own
my own to appeal to Caesar to repeal the order
55To sound more sweetly in great that my brother be banished?

Caesar’s ear

For the repealing of my banished

brother?

BRUTUS BRUTUS
(kneeling) I kiss thy hand, but not in (kneeling) I kiss your hand, but not in
flattery, Caesar, flattery, Caesar. I ask you to repeal
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber Publius Cimber’s banishment
may immediately.
Have an immediate freedom of
repeal
CAESAR CAESAR
60What, Brutus? What, even you, Brutus?

CASSIUS CASSIUS
(kneeling) Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, (kneeling) Pardon him, Caesar, pardon
pardon. him. I fall to your feet to beg you to
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall restore Publius Cimber to citizenship.
To beg enfranchisement for Publius
Cimber.

CAESAR CAESAR
I could be well moved if I were as I could be convinced if I were like you.
you. If I could beg others to change their
If I could pray to move, prayers minds, begging would convince me,
would move me. too. But I’m as immovable as the
65But I am constant as the northern northern star, whose stable and
stationary quality has no equal in the
star,
sky. The sky shows countless stars.
Of whose true-fixed and resting They’re all made of fire, and each one
quality shines. But only one among all of them
There is no fellow in the firmament. remains in a fixed position. So it is on
The skies are painted with earth. The world is full of men, and
unnumbered sparks. men are flesh and blood, and they are
They are all fire and every one doth capable of reason. Yet out of all of
shine, them, I know only one who is
70But there’s but one in all doth hold unassailable, who never moves from
his position. To show you that that’s
his place.
me, let me prove it a little even in this
So in the world. 'Tis furnished well case. I was firm in ordering that Cimber
with men, be banished, and I remain firm in that
And men are flesh and blood, and decision.
apprehensive,
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
75Unshaked 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 CINNA
(kneeling) O Caesar— (kneeling) Oh, Caesar—

CAESAR CAESAR
80Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? Enough! Would you try to lift Mount
Olympus?

DECIUS DECIUS
(kneeling) Great Caesar— (kneeling) Great Caesar—

CAESAR CAESAR
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Haven’t I resisted even Brutus, begging
from his knees?

CASCA CASCA
Speak, hands, for me! Hands, speak for me!

CAESAR CAESAR
Et tu, Bruté?—Then fall, Caesar. And you too, Brutus? In that case, die,
85(dies) {The Senators and People Caesar.
(he dies)
retire in confusion}

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

CASSIUS CASSIUS
Some to the common pulpits, and Some should go to the public
cry out, platforms and cry out, “Liberty,
“Liberty, freedom, and freedom, and democracy!”
enfranchisement!”
Confusion. Exeunt some plebians and Confusion. Some citizens and senators
senators exit.

BRUTUS BRUTUS
90People and senators, be not People and senators, don’t be afraid.
Don’t run away—stay where you are.
affrighted.
Only Caesar had to die for his ambition.
Fly not. Stand still. Ambition’s debt is
paid.

CASCA CASCA
Go to the pulpit, Brutus. Go to the platform, Brutus.

DECIUS DECIUS
And Cassius too. And Cassius too.

BRUTUS BRUTUS
Where’s Publius? Where’s Publius?
​
CINNA CINNA
95Here, quite confounded with this Here. He’s completely stunned by this
mutiny. mutiny.

METELLUS METELLUS
Stand fast together, lest some friend Stand close together, in case someone
of Caesar’s loyal to Caesar tries to—
Should chance—

BRUTUS BRUTUS
Talk not of standing.—Publius, good Don’t talk about standing
cheer. together.—Publius, cheer up. We don’t
There is no harm intended to your intend any harm to you, nor to anyone
person, else. Tell them this, Publius.
100Nor to no Roman else. So tell

them, Publius.

METELLUS METELLUS
Stand fast together, lest some friend Stand close together, in case someone
of Caesar’s loyal to Caesar tries to—
Should chance—

CASSIUS CASSIUS
And leave us, Publius, lest that the And leave us, Publius, in case the
people, people storming us should harm you.
Rushing on us, should do your age
some mischief.

BRUTUS BRUTUS
Do so. And let no man abide this Do so. And let no one suffer for this
deed deed except us, the perpetrators.
But we the doers.

Exit PUBLIUS PUBLIUS exits.

Enter TREBONIUS TREBONIUS enters.

CASSIUS CASSIUS
105Where is Antony? Where’s Antony?

TREBONIUS TREBONIUS
Fled to his house amazed. He ran to his house, stunned. Men,
Men, wives, and children stare, cry wives, and children stare, cry out, and
out, and run run in the streets as though it were
As it were doomsday. doomsday.

BRUTUS BRUTUS
Fates, we will know your We’ll soon find out what fate has in
pleasures. store for us. All we know is that we’ll
That we shall die, we know. 'Tis but die sometime, which is all anyone ever
the time, knows, though we try to draw out our
110And drawing days out, that men days for as long as possible.

stand upon.

CASSIUS CASSIUS
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of Why, the man who shortens his life by
life twenty years cuts off twenty years of
Cuts off so many years of fearing worrying about death.
death.

BRUTUS BRUTUS
Grant that, and then is death a So, then, death is a gift, and we are
benefit. Caesar’s friends, for we’ve done him a
So are we Caesar’s friends, that have service by shortening his time spent
abridged fearing death. Kneel, Romans, kneel,
115His time of fearing death. Stoop, and let’s wash our hands, up to the
elbows, in Caesar’s blood and smear it
Romans, stoop,
on our swords. Then we’ll go out, even
And let us bathe our hands in to the marketplace, and, waving our
Caesar’s blood bloody swords over our heads, let’s
Up to the elbows, and besmear our cry, “Peace, freedom, and liberty!”
swords.
Then walk we forth, even to the
marketplace,
And waving our red weapons o'er our
heads
120Let’s all cry, “Peace, freedom, and

liberty!”

CASSIUS CASSIUS
Stoop, then, and wash. Kneel then, and wash.
{The conspirators smear their hands The conspirators smear their hands and
and swords with CAESAR’s blood] swords with CAESAR’s blood. How
How many ages hence many years from now will this heroic
Shall this our lofty scene be acted scene be reenacted in countries that
over don’t even exist yet and in languages
In states unborn and accents yet not yet known!
unknown!

BRUTUS BRUTUS
How many times shall Caesar bleed How many times will Caesar bleed
in sport, again in show, though he now lies at
125That now on Pompey’s basis lies the base of Pompey’s statue, as
worthless as dust!
along

No worthier than the dust!

CASSIUS CASSIUS
So oft as that shall be, As often as it’s replayed, our group will
So often shall the knot of us be be hailed as the men who gave their
called country liberty.
“The men that gave their country
liberty.”
DECIUS
DECIUS Well, should we go out?
What, shall we forth?
CASSIUS
CASSIUS Yes, every man forward. Brutus will
Ay, every man away. lead, and we’ll follow him with the
130Brutus shall lead, and we will boldest and best hearts of Rome.

grace his heels

With the most boldest and best

hearts of Rome.
ANTONY'S SERVANT enters.
Enter ANTONY'S SERVANT
BRUTUS
BRUTUS Wait a minute. Who’s that coming? It’s
Soft! Who comes here? A friend of a friend of Antony’s.
Antony’s.
ANTONY'S SERVANT
ANTONY'S SERVANT (kneeling) Brutus, my master ordered
(kneeling) Thus, Brutus, did my me to kneel like this. (he kneels, head
master bid me kneel. bowed low) He ordered me to kneel
(falls prostrate) Thus did Mark Antony low, and, from the ground, like this, he
bid me fall down, ordered me to say: “Brutus is noble,
135And, being prostrate, thus he bade wise, brave, and honest. Caesar was
mighty, bold, royal, and loving. Antony
me say:
loves Brutus and honors him. Antony
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and feared Caesar, honored him, and loved
honest. him. If Brutus will swear that Antony
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and may come to him safely and be
loving. convinced that Caesar deserved to be
Say I love Brutus, and I honor him. killed, Mark Antony will love dead
Say I feared Caesar, honored him, Caesar not nearly as much as living
and loved him. Brutus, and with true faith he’ll follow
140If Brutus will vouchsafe that the destiny and affairs of noble Brutus
through the difficulties of this
Antony
unprecedented state of affairs.” That’s
May safely come to him and be what my master, Antony, says.
resolved
How Caesar hath deserved to lie in
death,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar
dead
So well as Brutus living, but will
follow
145The fortunes and affairs of noble

Brutus

Thorough the hazards of this untrod

state
With all true faith. So says my master
Antony.
BRUTUS
BRUTUS Your master is a wise and honorable
Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman. I never thought any less of
Roman. him. Tell him, if he comes here, I’ll
I never thought him worse. explain everything to him and, on my
150Tell him, so please him come unto word, he’ll leave unharmed.

this place,

He shall be satisfied and, by my

honor,
Depart untouched.
ANTONY'S SERVANT
ANTONY'S SERVANT (getting up) I’ll get him now
(rising) I’ll fetch him presently.
ANTONY'S SERVANT exits.
Exit ANTONY'S SERVANT
BRUTUS
BRUTUS I know that he’ll be on our side.
I know that we shall have him well to
friend.
CASSIUS
CASSIUS I hope we can count on him, but I still
I wish we may. But yet have I a mind fear him, and my hunches are usually
155That fears him much, and my accurate.

misgiving still

Falls shrewdly to the purpose.

Enter ANTONY
ANTONY enters.
BRUTUS
But here comes Antony.—Welcome, BRUTUS
Mark Antony. But here comes Antony.—Welcome,
Mark Antony.
ANTONY
O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so ANTONY
low? Oh, mighty Caesar! Do you lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, Have all your conquests, glories,
triumphs, spoils, triumphs, achievements, come to so
160Shrunk to this little measure? Fare little? Farewell. Gentlemen, I don’t
know what you intend to do, who else
thee well.
you intend to kill, who else you
—I know not, gentlemen, what you consider corrupt. If it’s me, there’s no
intend, time as good as this hour of Caesar’s
Who else must be let blood, who death, and no weapon better than your
else is rank. If I myself, there is no swords, covered with the noblest
hour so fit blood in the world. I ask you, if you
As Caesar’s death’s hour, nor no have a grudge against me, to kill me
instrument now, while your stained hands still
reek of blood. I could live a thousand
years and I wouldn’t be as ready to die
165Of half that worth as those your as I am now. There’s no place I’d rather
die than here by Caesar, and no
swords, made rich
manner of death would please me
With the most noble blood of all this more than being stabbed by you, the
world. masters of this new era.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do
reek and smoke,
Fulfill your pleasure. Live a thousand
years,
170I 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.
175Though now we must appear
BRUTUS
bloody and cruel— Oh, Antony, don’t beg us to kill you.
Though we seem bloody and cruel
As by our hands and this our present
right now, with our bloody hands and
act
this deed we’ve done, you’ve only seen
You see we do—yet see you but our
our hands and their bloody business;
hands
you haven’t looked into our hearts.
And this the bleeding business they
They are full of pity for Caesar. But a
have done.
stronger pity, for the wrongs
Our hearts you see not. They are
committed against Rome, drove out
pitiful.
our pity for Caesar, as fire drives out
180And pity to the general wrong of
fire, and so we killed him. For you, our
Rome— swords have blunt edges, too dull to
harm you, Mark Antony. Our arms,
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—
which can be strong and cruel, and our
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For
hearts, filled with brotherly love,
your part,
embrace you with kind love, good
To you our swords have leaden
thoughts, and reverence.
points, Mark Antony.
Our arms in strength of malice and
our hearts
185Of 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. CASSIUS
BRUTUS Your vote will be as strong as anyone’s
Only be patient till we have in the reordering of the government.
appeased
190The multitude, beside themselves BRUTUS
But just be patient until we’ve calmed
with fear,
the masses, who are beside
And then we will deliver you the themselves with fear. Then we’ll
cause, explain to you why I, who loved Caesar
Why I, that did love Caesar when I even while I stabbed him, have taken
struck him, this course of action.
Have thus proceeded.

ANTONY
I doubt not of your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody
hand. ANTONY
195(shakes hands with the I don’t doubt your wisdom. Each of
you, give me your bloody hand. (he
conspirators)
shakes hands with the conspirators)
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with First, Marcus Brutus, I shake your hand.
you. Next, Caius Cassius, I take your hand.
—Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your Now, Decius Brutus, yours. Now yours,
hand. Metellus. Yours, Cinna. And yours, my
—Now, Decius Brutus, yours.—Now brave Casca. Last but not least, yours,
yours, Metellus. good Trebonius. You are all
gentlemen—alas, what can I say? Now
—Yours, Cinna.—And, my valiant that I’ve shaken your hands, you’ll take
Casca, yours. me for either a coward or a flatterer—in
200—Though last, not last in love, either case, my credibility stands on
slippery ground. It’s true that I loved
yours, good Trebonius.
you, Caesar—nothing could be truer. If
—Gentlemen all, alas, what shall I your spirit is looking down upon us
say? now, it must hurt you more than even
My credit now stands on such your death to see your Antony making
slippery ground peace—shaking the bloody hands of
That one of two bad ways you must your enemies—in front of your corpse.
conceit me, If I had as many eyes as you have
Either a coward or a flatterer wounds, and they wept as fast as your
205—That I did love thee, Caesar, O, wounds stream blood—even that
would be more becoming than joining
’tis true.
your enemies in friendship. Forgive
If then thy spirit look upon us now, me, Julius! On this very spot you were
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than hunted down, like a brave deer. And
thy death here you fell, where your hunters are
To see thy Antony making his peace, now standing. The spot is marked by
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy your death and stained by your blood.
foes— Oh world, you were the forest to this
210Most noble!—in the presence of deer, and this deer, oh world, was your
dear. Now you lie here, stabbed by
thy corse?
many princes!
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.
215Pardon 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.
220How like a deer, strucken by many

princes,

Dost thou here lie!

CASSIUS
Mark Antony— CASSIUS
Mark Antony—
ANTONY
Pardon me, Caius Cassius. ANTONY
The enemies of Caesar shall say this; Pardon me, Caius Cassius. Even
225Then, in a friend, it is cold Caesar’s enemies would say the same.
From a friend, it’s a cool
modesty.
assessment—no more than that.

CASSIUS
I blame you not for praising Caesar CASSIUS
so. I don’t blame you for praising Caesar
But what compact mean you to have like this, but what agreement do you
with us? intend to reach with us? Will you be
Will you be pricked in number of our counted as our friend, or should we
friends? proceed without depending on you?
Or shall we on, and not depend on
you?

ANTONY
230Therefore I took your hands, but ANTONY
I took your hands in friendship, but,
was indeed
indeed, I was distracted when I looked
Swayed from the point by looking down at Caesar. I am friends with you
down on Caesar. all and love you all, on one
Friends am I with you all and love condition—that you prove to me that
you all Caesar was dangerous.
Upon this hope: that you shall give
me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was
dangerous.

BRUTUS
235Or else were this a savage BRUTUS
Without that proof, this would’ve been
spectacle!
a savage action! Our reasons are so
Our reasons are so full of good well considered that even if you,
regard Antony, were Caesar’s son, you would
That were you, Antony, the son of be satisfied with them.
Caesar,
You should be satisfied.

ANTONY
That’s all I seek. ANTONY
And am moreover suitor that I may That’s all I ask—and that you let me
240Produce his body to the carry his body to the marketplace and,
as a friend ought to do, stand on the
marketplace,
platform and give a proper funeral
And in the pulpit, as becomes a oration.
friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.

BRUTUS
You shall, Mark Antony. BRUTUS
You may, Mark Antony.
CASSIUS
Brutus, a word with you. CASSIUS
(aside to BRUTUS) You know not Brutus, may I have a word with you?
what you do. (speaking so that only BRUTUS can
245Do not consent hear) You don’t know what you’re
doing. Don’t let Antony speak at his
That Antony speak in his funeral.
funeral. Don’t you know how much the
Know you how much the people may
be moved
By that which he will utter? people could be affected by what he
says?
BRUTUS
(aside to CASSIUS) By your
pardon.
250I will myself into the pulpit first, BRUTUS
(speaking so that only CASSIUS can
And show the reason of our Caesar’s
hear) With your permission, I’ll stand on
death.
the platform first and explain the
What Antony shall speak, I will
reason for Caesar’s death.
protest,
What Antony says, I’ll announce, he
He speaks by leave and by
says only by our permission and by our
permission,
conviction that Caesar should be
And that we are contented Caesar
honored with all the usual and lawful
shall
ceremonies. It’ll help us more than hurt
255Have all true rites and lawful
us.
ceremonies.

It shall advantage more than do us

wrong.

CASSIUS
(aside to BRUTUS) I know not what
may fall. I like it not.
CASSIUS
(speaking so that only BRUTUS can
hear) I’m worried about the outcome of
BRUTUS
his speech. I don’t like this plan.
Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar’s
body.
BRUTUS
You shall not in your funeral speech
Mark Antony, take Caesar’s body. You
blame us,
will not blame us in your funeral
260But speak all good you can devise
speech, but will say all the good you
of Caesar, want to about Caesar and that you do
it by our permission. Otherwise, you’ll
And say you do ’t by our permission.
have no role at all in his funeral. And
Else shall you not have any hand at
you’ll speak on the same platform as I
all
do, after I’m done.
About his funeral. And you shall
speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am
going,
265After my speech is ended.

ANTONY
Be it so.
I do desire no more.
ANTONY
BRUTUS So be it. I don’t want anything more.
Prepare the body then, and follow us.
Exeunt. Manet ANTONY
BRUTUS
Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
ANTONY
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of
Everyone except ANTONY exits.
earth,
270That I am meek and gentle with

these butchers! ANTONY

Oh, pardon me, you bleeding corpse,
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
for speaking politely and acting mildly
That ever livèd in the tide of times.
with these butchers! You are what’s left
Woe to the hand that shed this costly
of the noblest man that ever lived. Pity
blood!
the hand that shed this valuable blood.
Over thy wounds now do I
Over your wounds—which, like
prophesy—
speechless mouths, open their red
275Which, like dumb mouths, do ope
lips, as though to beg me to speak—I
their ruby lips predict that a curse will fall upon the
bodies of men.
To beg the voice and utterance of my
Fierce civil war will paralyze all of Italy.
tongue—
Blood and destruction will be so
A curse shall light upon the limbs of
common and familiar that mothers will
men.
merely smile when their infants are cut
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
to pieces by the hands of war. People’s
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy.
capacity for sympathy will grow tired
280Blood and destruction shall be so
and weak from the sheer quantity of
in use, cruel deeds. And Caesar’s ghost,
searching for revenge with the
And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile when goddess Ate by his side, just up from
they behold Hell, will cry in the voice of a king,
Their infants quartered with the “Havoc!” and unleash the dogs of war.
hands of war, This foul deed will stink up to the sky
All pity choked with custom of fell with men’s corpses, which will beg to
deeds, be buried.
285And 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
290With carrion men, groaning for

burial.

Enter OCTAVIUS' SERVANT

You serve Octavius Caesar, do you

not?

OCTAVIUS' SERVANT
I do, Mark Antony. OCTAVIUS'S SERVANT enters
You serve Octavius Caesar, right?
ANTONY
Caesar did write for him to come to
Rome.

OCTAVIUS' SERVANT OCTAVIUS'S SERVANT

He did receive his letters and is I do, Mark Antony.
coming.
ANTONY
Caesar wrote for him to come to
Rome.
295And bid me say to you by word of
OCTAVIUS'S SERVANT
mouth—
He received Caesar’s letters, and he is
(sees CAESAR’s body) O Caesar!— coming. He told me to say to
you—(seeing CAESAR's body) Oh,
ANTONY Caesar!—
Thy heart is big. Get thee apart and
weep.
Passion, I see, is catching, for mine
eyes,
Seeing those beads of sorrow stand ANTONY
in thine, Your heart is big; go ahead and weep.
300Began to water. Is thy master Grief seems to be contagious, for my
eyes, seeing the tears in yours, began
coming?
to fill. Is your master coming?

OCTAVIUS' SERVANT
He lies tonight within seven leagues
of Rome.

ANTONY
Post back with speed, and tell him OCTAVIUS'S SERVANT
what hath chanced. He rests tonight within twenty-one
Here is a mourning Rome, a miles of Rome.
dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet. ANTONY
305Hie hence, and tell him so.—Yet, Report back to him fast and tell him
what has happened. This is now a
stay awhile.
Rome in mourning, a dangerous Rome.
Thou shalt not back till I have borne It’s not safe enough for Octavius yet.
this corse Hurry away and tell him so. No, wait,
Into the marketplace. There shall I stay a minute. Don’t go back until I’ve
try, carried the corpse into the
In my oration, how the people take marketplace. There I’ll use my speech
The cruèl issue of these bloody men. to test what the people think of these
310According to the which, thou shalt bloody men’s cruel action. You’ll report
back to young Octavius how they
discourse
respond. Help me here.
To young Octavius of the state of
things.
Lend me your hand.

Exeunt with CAESAR’s body

They exit with CAESAR’s body.

ACT III: Scene 2

ORIGINAL TEXT MODERN TEXT

Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS with the BRUTUS and CASSIUS enter with a
PLEBEIANS throng of PLEBEIANS . (plebeians refer
to the common people of Rome)

PLEBEIANS PLEBEIANS
We will be satisfied! Let us be We want answers. Give us answers.
satisfied!

BRUTUS BRUTUS
Then follow me and give me Then follow me and listen to my
audience, friends. speech, friends. Cassius, go to the next
—Cassius, go you into the other street and divide the crowd. Let those
street who will hear me speak stay. Lead
And part the numbers. those away who will follow you, and
5—Those that will hear me speak, let we’ll explain publicly the reasons for
Caesar’s death.
'em stay here.

Those that will follow Cassius, go

with him,
And public reasons shall be
renderèd
Of Caesar’s death.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
I will hear Brutus speak. FIRST PLEBEIAN
I’ll listen to Brutus.
ANOTHER PLEBEIAN
I will hear Cassius and compare their SECOND PLEBEIAN
reasons I’ll listen to Cassius, and we will
10When severally we hear them compare their reasons.

renderèd.

Exit CASSIUS with some of the

PLEBEIANS BRUTUS goes into the CASSIUS exits with some of the
PLEBEIANS. BRUTUS gets up on the
pulpit
platform.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
The noble Brutus is ascended.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
Silence!
Quiet! Noble Brutus has mounted the
platform.
BRUTUS
Be patient till the last. Romans,
BRUTUS
countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for
Be patient until I finish. Romans,
my cause, and be silent that you may
countrymen, and friends! Listen to my
hear. Believe me for mine honor, and
reasons and be silent so you can hear.
have respect to mine honor that you
Believe me on my honor and keep my
may believe. Censure me in your
honor in mind, so you may believe me.
wisdom, and awake your senses that
Be wise when you criticize me and
you may the better judge. If there be
keep your minds alert so you can
any in this assembly, any dear friend
judge me fairly. If there’s anyone in this
of Caesar’s, to him I say that Brutus'
assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, I
love to Caesar was no less than his. If
say to him that my love for Caesar was
then that friend demand why Brutus
no less than his. If, then, that friend
rose against Caesar, this is my
answer: not that I loved Caesar less, demands to know why I rose up
but that I loved Rome more. Had you against Caesar, this is my answer: it’s
rather Caesar were living and die all not that I loved Caesar less, but that I
slaves, than that Caesar were dead, loved Rome more. Would you rather
to live all free men? As Caesar loved that Caesar were living and we would
me, I weep for him. As he was all go to our graves as slaves, or that
fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was Caesar were dead and we all lived as
valiant, I honor him. But, as he was free men? I weep for Caesar in that he
ambitious, I slew him. There is tears was good to me. I rejoice in his good
for his love, joy for his fortune, honor fortune. I honor him for being brave.
for his valor, and death for his But his ambition—for that, I killed him.
ambition. Who is here so base that There are tears for his love, joy for his
would be a bondman? If any, fortune, honor for his bravery, and
speak—for him have I offended. Who death for his ambition. Who here is so
is here so rude that would not be a low that he wants to be a slave? If
Roman? If any, speak—for him have I there are any, speak, for it is he whom
offended. Who is here so vile that will I’ve offended. Who here is so
not love his country? If any, barbarous that he doesn’t want to be a
speak—for him have I offended. I Roman? If there are any, speak, for it is
pause for a reply. he whom I’ve offended. Who here is so
vile that he doesn’t love his country? If
there are any, speak, for it is he whom I
ALL have offended. I will pause for a reply.
None, Brutus, none.
ALL
BRUTUS No one, Brutus, no one.
Then none have I offended. I have
done no more to Caesar than you BRUTUS
shall do to Brutus. The question of Then I have offended no one. I’ve done
his death is enrolled in the Capitol. no more to Caesar than you will do to
His glory not extenuated wherein he me. The reasons for his death are
was worthy, nor his offenses recorded in the Capitol. His glory has
enforced for which he suffered death. not been diminished where he earned
it, nor have those offenses for which he
Enter Mark ANTONY with CAESAR’s was killed been exaggerated.
body
Here comes his body, mourned by ANTONY enters with CAESAR’s body.

Mark Antony, who, though he had no

Here comes his body, mourned by
hand in his death, shall receive the Mark Antony, who, though he had no
part in the killing, will benefit from his
benefit of his dying—a place in the
death—receiving a share in the
commonwealth—as which of you commonwealth, as you all will. With
these words I leave. Just as I killed my
shall not? With this I depart: that, as I
best friend for the good of Rome, so
slew my best lover for the good of will I kill myself when my country
requires my death.
Rome, I have the same dagger for

myself when it shall please my

country to need my death.

ALL
45Live, Brutus! Live, live!
ALL
Live, Brutus! Live, live!
FIRST PLEBEIAN
Bring him with triumph home unto
his house! FIRST PLEBEIAN
Let’s carry him in triumph to his house!

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Give him a statue with his ancestors! SECOND PLEBEIAN
Let’s build a statue of him, near those
of his ancestors!
THIRD PLEBEIAN
Let him be Caesar! THIRD PLEBEIAN
Let him become Caesar!
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Caesar’s better parts FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Shall be crowned in Brutus! Caesar’s better qualities exist in Brutus,
FIRST PLEBEIAN and we will crown him.
50We’ll bring him to his house with
FIRST PLEBEIAN
shouts and clamors.
 We’ll bring him to his house with
shouts and celebration!
BRUTUS
My countrymen—

SECOND PLEBEIAN BRUTUS

Peace, silence! Brutus speaks. My countrymen—

FIRST PLEBEIAN SECOND PLEBEIAN

Peace, ho! Silence! Brutus speaks.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
BRUTUS
Quiet there!
Good countrymen, let me depart
alone.
And, for my sake, stay here with
BRUTUS
Antony.
Good countrymen, let me leave alone.
55Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and
I want you to stay here with Antony to
grace his speech pay respects to Caesar’s corpse and
listen to Antony’s speech about
Tending to Caesar’s glories, which
Caesar’s glories, which he gives with
Mark Antony
our permission. I ask that none of you
By our permission is allowed to
leave, except myself, until Antony has
make.
finished.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

Exit BRUTUS

FIRST PLEBEIAN
60Stay, ho! And let us hear Mark BRUTUS exits.

Antony.
FIRST PLEBEIAN
Let’s stay and hear Mark Antony.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
Let him go up into the public chair.
We’ll hear him.—Noble Antony, go up.
 THIRD PLEBEIAN
Let him mount the pulpit. We’ll listen to
ANTONY
him. Noble Antony, mount the podium.
For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to
you.
ANTONY
(ascends the pulpit)
For Brutus’s sake, I am indebted to you.
(he steps up into the pulpit)
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
65What does he say of Brutus?

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
What does he say about Brutus?
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
What does he say about Brutus?
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
What does he say about Brutus?
THIRD PLEBEIAN
He says for Brutus' sake
He finds himself beholding to us all. THIRD PLEBEIAN
He says that for Brutus’s sake he finds
FOURTH PLEBEIAN himself indebted to us all.
'Twere best he speak no harm of
Brutus here. FOURTH PLEBEIAN
He’d better not speak badly of Brutus
FIRST PLEBEIAN here.
This Caesar was a tyrant.
FIRST PLEBEIAN
THIRD PLEBEIAN Caesar was a tyrant.
Nay, that’s certain.
We are blest that Rome is rid of him. THIRD PLEBEIAN
That’s for sure. We’re lucky that Rome
FOURTH PLEBEIAN is rid of him.
70Peace! Let us hear what Antony
SECOND PLEBEIAN
can say.
Quiet! Let’s hear what Antony has to
say.
ANTONY
You gentle Romans—
ANTONY
ALL You gentle Romans—
 Peace, ho! Let us hear him.
ALL
ANTONY Quiet there! Let us hear him.
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend
me your ears. ANTONY
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise Friends, Romans, countrymen, give me
him. your attention. I have come here to
The evil that men do lives after them; bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil
75The good is oft interrèd with their that men do is remembered after their
deaths, but the good is often buried
bones.
with them. It might as well be the
So let it be with Caesar. The noble same with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Brutus told you that Caesar was ambitious. If
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious. that’s true, it’s a serious fault, and
If it were so, it was a grievous fault, Caesar has paid seriously for it. With
And grievously hath Caesar the permission of Brutus and the
answered it. others—for Brutus is an honorable
80Here, under leave of Brutus and man; they are all honorable men—I
have come here to speak at Caesar’s
the rest—
funeral. He was my friend, he was
For Brutus is an honorable man; faithful and just to me. But Brutus says
So are they all, all honorable men— he was ambitious, and Brutus is an
Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral. honorable man. He brought many
He was my friend, faithful and just to captives home to Rome whose
me. ransoms brought wealth to the city.
85But Brutus says he was ambitious, Is this the work of an ambitious man?
When the poor cried, Caesar cried too.
And Brutus is an honorable man.
Ambition shouldn’t be so soft. Yet
He hath brought many captives
Brutus says he was ambitious, and
home to Rome
Brutus is an honorable man. You all
Whose ransoms did the general
saw that on the Lupercal feast day I
coffers fill.
offered him a king’s crown three times,
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
and he refused it three times. Was this
90When that the poor have cried,
ambition? Yet Brutus says he was
Caesar hath wept. ambitious. And, no question, Brutus is
an honorable man. I am not here to
Ambition should be made of sterner
disprove what Brutus has said, but to
stuff.
say what I know. You all loved him
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man. once, and not without reason. Then
You all did see that on the Lupercal what reason holds you back from
95I thrice presented him a kingly mourning him now? Men have
become brutish beasts and lost their
crown,
reason! Bear with me. My heart is in
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this the coffin there with Caesar, and I must
ambition? pause until it returns to me. (he weeps)
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And, sure, he is an honorable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus
spoke,
100But 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 judgment! Thou art fled to brutish
beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear
with me.
105My heart is in the coffin there with

Caesar,

And I must pause till it come back to

me. (weeps)

FIRST PLEBEIAN
Methinks there is much reason in his
sayings.
FIRST PLEBEIAN
SECOND PLEBEIAN I think there’s a lot of sense in what he
If thou consider rightly of the matter, says.
Caesar has had great wrong.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
THIRD PLEBEIAN If you think about it correctly, Caesar
Has he, masters? has suffered a great wrong.
110I fear there will a worse come in
THIRD PLEBEIAN
his place.
Has he, sirs? I’m worried there will be
someone worse to replace him.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Marked ye his words? He would not
take the crown.
Therefore ’tis certain he was not
ambitious FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Did you hear Antony? Caesar wouldn’t
FIRST PLEBEIAN take the crown. Therefore it’s certain
If it be found so, some will dear abide that he wasn’t ambitious.
it.

SECOND PLEBEIAN FIRST PLEBEIAN

Poor soul! His eyes are red as fire If it turns out he wasn’t, certain people
with weeping. are going to get it.

THIRD PLEBEIAN SECOND PLEBEIAN

115There’s not a nobler man in Rome Poor man! Antony’s eyes are fiery red
from crying.
than Antony.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN THIRD PLEBEIAN

Now mark him. He begins again to There isn’t a nobler man than Antony in
speak. all of Rome.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
ANTONY
Now listen, he’s going to speak again.
But yesterday the word of Caesar
might
Have stood against the world. Now
lies he there,
ANTONY
And none so poor to do him
Only yesterday the word of Caesar
reverence.
might have stood against the world.
120O masters, if I were disposed to
Now he lies there worth nothing, and
stir no one is so humble as to show him
respect. Oh, sirs, if I stirred your hearts
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and
and minds to mutiny and rage, I would
rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and offend Brutus and Cassius, who, you all
Cassius wrong— know, are honorable men. I will not do
Who, you all know, are honorable them wrong. I would rather wrong the
men. dead, and wrong myself and you, than
I will not do them wrong. I rather wrong such honorable men. But here’s
choose a paper with Caesar’s seal on it. I found
125To wrong the dead, to wrong it in his room—it’s his will. If you could
only hear this testament—which,
myself and you,
excuse me, I don’t intend to read
Than I will wrong such honorable aloud—you would kiss dead Caesar’s
men. wounds and dip your handkerchiefs in
But here’s a parchment with the seal his sacred blood, and beg for a lock of
of Caesar. hair to remember him by. And when
I found it in his closet. 'Tis his will. you died, you would mention the
Let but the commons hear this handkerchief or the hair in your will,
testament— bequeathing it to your heirs like a rich
130Which, pardon me, I do not mean legacy.

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,
135Bequeathing 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. FOURTH PLEBEIAN
ANTONY We want to hear the will. Read it, Mark
Have patience, gentle friends. I must Antony.
not read it.
140It is not meet you know how ALL
The will, the will! We want to hear
Caesar loved you.
Caesar’s will.
You are not wood, you are not
stones, but men. ANTONY
And, being men, bearing the will of Be patient, gentle friends, I must not
Caesar, read it. It isn’t proper for you to know
It will inflame you, it will make you how much Caesar loved you. You
mad. aren’t wood, you aren’t stones—you’re
'Tis good you know not that you are men. And, being men, the contents of
his heirs. Caesar’s will would enrage you. It’s
145For, if you should—Oh, what would better that you don’t know you’re his
heirs, for if you knew, just imagine
come of it!
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?
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it.
Read the will. We want to hear it,
150I fear I wrong the honorable men
Antony. You have to read us the will,
Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar’s will.
Caesar. I do fear it.
ANTONY
FOURTH PLEBEIAN Will you be patient? Will you wait
They were traitors! “Honorable men”! awhile? I’ve said too much in telling
you of it. I’m afraid that I wrong the
ALL honorable men whose daggers have
The will! The testament! stabbed Caesar.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
They were villains, murderers. The
will! Read the will! FOURTH PLEBEIAN
They were traitors. “Honorable men!”
ANTONY
155You will compel me, then, to read
ALL
the will?
The will! The testament!
Then make a ring about the corpse
of Caesar, SECOND PLEBEIAN
And let me show you him that made They were villains, murderers. The will!
the will. Read the will!
Shall I descend? And will you give
me leave? ANTONY
You force me to read the will, then?
ALL Then make a circle around Caesar’s
Come down. corpse, and let me show you the man
who made this will. Shall I come
SECOND PLEBEIAN down? Will you let me?
Descend.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
You shall have leave.

ANTONY descends from the pulpit ALL

Come down.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
A ring! SECOND PLEBEIAN
160Stand round. Descend.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
FIRST PLEBEIAN We’ll let you.
Stand from the hearse. Stand
from the body. ANTONY descends from the pulpit.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
SECOND PLEBEIAN
Make a circle; stand around him.
Room for Antony, most noble Antony!
ANTONY
Nay, press not so upon me. Stand far
off. FIRST PLEBEIAN
Stand away from the hearse. Stand
ALL away from the body.
Stand back. Room! Bear back.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
ANTONY Make room for Antony, most noble
If you have tears, prepare to shed Antony!
them now.
165You all do know this mantle. I
ANTONY
remember
No, don’t press up against me. Stand
The first time ever Caesar put it on. further away.
'Twas on a summer’s evening in his
tent, ALL
That day he overcame the Nervii. Stand back. Give him room.
Look, in this place ran Cassius'
dagger through. ANTONY
170See what a rent the envious Casca If you have tears, prepare to shed
them now. You all know this cloak. I
made.
remember the first time Caesar ever
Through this the well-belovèd Brutus put it on. It was a summer’s evening; he
stabbed. was in his tent. It was the day he
And as he plucked his cursèd steel overcame the Nervii warriors. Look,
away, here’s where Cassius’s dagger pierced
Mark how the blood of Caesar it. See the wound that Casca made.
followed it, Through this hole beloved Brutus
As rushing out of doors, to be stabbed. And when he pulled out his
resolved cursed dagger, see how Caesar’s
175If Brutus so unkindly knocked, or blood came with it, as if rushing out a
door to see if it was really Brutus who
no.
was knocking so rudely. For Brutus, as
For Brutus, as you know, was you know, was Caesar’s angel. The
Caesar’s angel. gods know how dearly Caesar loved
Judge, O you gods, how dearly him! This was the most unkind cut of
Caesar loved him! all. For when the noble Caesar saw
him stab, he understood his beloved
This was the most unkindest cut of Brutus’s ingratitude; it was stronger
all. than the violence of traitors, and it
For when the noble Caesar saw him defeated him, bursting his mighty
stab, heart. And at the base of Pompey’s
180Ingratitude, more strong than statue, with his cloak covering his face,
which was dripping with blood the
traitors' arms,
whole time, great Caesar fell. Oh, what
Quite vanquished him. Then burst his a fall it was, my countrymen! Then you
mighty heart, and I and all of us fell down, while
And, in his mantle muffling up his bloody treason triumphed. Oh, now
face, you weep, and I sense that you feel
Even at the base of Pompey’s statue, pity. These are gracious tears. But if it
Which all the while ran blood, great overwhelms you to look at Caesar’s
Caesar fell. wounded cloak, how will you feel, kind
185O, what a fall was there, my men, now? Look at this, here is the
man—scarred, as you can see, by
countrymen!
traitors. (he lifts up CAESAR's cloak)
Then I, and you, and all of us fell
down,
Whilst bloody treason flourished
over us.
Oh, now you weep, and, I perceive,
you feel
The dint of pity. These are gracious
drops.
190Kind 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.
(lifts up CAESAR's mantle)

FIRST PLEBEIAN
O piteous spectacle!

SECOND PLEBEIAN
 O noble Caesar!

THIRD PLEBEIAN
195O woeful day!

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
O traitors, villains!

FIRST PLEBEIAN
FIRST PLEBEIAN
Oh, what a sad sight!
O most bloody sight!

SECOND PLEBEIAN
SECOND PLEBEIAN
Oh, noble Caesar!
We will be revenged.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
ALL
Oh, sad day!
Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire!
Kill! Slay!
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Let not a traitor live!
Oh, traitors, villains!

ANTONY
FIRST PLEBEIAN
Stay, countrymen.
Oh, most bloody sight!

FIRST PLEBEIAN
SECOND PLEBEIAN
200Peace there! Hear the noble
We will get revenge.
Antony.
ALL
Revenge! Let’s go after them! Seek!
SECOND PLEBEIAN Burn! Set fire! Kill! Slay! Leave no
We’ll hear him. We’ll follow him. We’ll traitors alive!
die with him.
ANTONY
ANTONY Wait, countrymen.
Good friends, sweet friends! Let me
not stir you up FIRST PLEBEIAN
To such a sudden flood of mutiny. Quiet there! Listen to the noble Antony.
They that have done this deed are
honorable.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
205What private griefs they have, We’ll listen to him, we’ll follow him,
we’ll die with him.
alas, I know not,

That made them do it. They are wise

and honorable, ANTONY
And will, no doubt, with reasons Good friends, sweet friends, don’t let
answer you. me stir you up to such a sudden
I come not, friends, to steal away mutiny. Those who have done this
your hearts. deed are honorable. I don’t know what
I am no orator, as Brutus is, private grudges they had that made
210But, as you know me all, a plain them do it. They’re wise and
honorable, and will no doubt give you
blunt man
reasons for it. I haven’t come to steal
That love my friend. And that they your loyalty, friends. I’m no orator, as
know full well Brutus is. I’m only, as you know, a plain,
That gave me public leave to speak blunt man who loved his friend, and
of him. the men who let me speak know this
For I have neither wit nor words nor well. I have neither cleverness nor
worth, rhetorical skill nor the authority nor
Action nor utterance nor the power gesture nor eloquence nor the power
of speech, of speech to stir men up. I just speak
215To stir men’s blood. I only speak directly. I tell you what you already
know. I show you sweet Caesar’s
right on.
wounds—poor, speechless
I tell you that which you yourselves mouths!—and make them speak for
do know, me. But if I were Brutus and Brutus
Show you sweet Caesar’s wounds, were me, then I’d stir you up, and
poor poor dumb mouths, install in each of Caesar’s wounds the
And bid them speak for me. But were kind of voice that could convince even
I Brutus, stones to rise up and mutiny.
And Brutus Antony, there were an
Antony
220Would 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.
ALL
ANTONY We’ll mutiny.
225Yet hear me, countrymen. Yet hear
FIRST PLEBEIAN
me speak.
We’ll burn Brutus’s house.

ALL
THIRD PLEBEIAN
Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble
Let’s go, then! Come, find the
Antony!
conspirators!

ANTONY ANTONY
Why, friends, you go to do you know Wait, and listen to me, countrymen.
not what.
Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved
your loves?
Alas, you know not. I must tell you
then. ALL
230You have forgot the will I told you Quiet! Wait! Listen to Antony. Most
noble Antony!
of.

ALL ANTONY
Most true. The will! Let’s stay and Why, friends, you don’t even know
hear the will. what you’re doing yet. What has
Caesar done to deserve your love?
Alas, you don’t know. I must tell you
ANTONY
Here is the will, and under Caesar’s then. You’ve forgotten the will I told
seal you about.
To every Roman citizen he gives—
To every several man—seventy-five
drachmas.
ALL
Yes! The will! Let’s stay and hear the
SECOND PLEBEIAN
will!
235Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge

his death.
ANTONY
THIRD PLEBEIAN
Here’s the will, written under Caesar’s
O royal Caesar!
seal. To every Roman citizen he
gives—to every individual
ANTONY
man—seventy-five drachmas.
Hear me with patience.

ALL
SECOND PLEBEIAN
Peace, ho!
Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge his
death.
ANTONY
Moreover, he hath left you all his
THIRD PLEBEIAN
walks,
Oh, royal Caesar!
His private arbors and new-planted
orchards,
ANTONY
On this side Tiber. He hath left them
Listen to me patiently.
you
240And to your heirs
ALL
forever—common pleasures, Quiet, there!

To walk abroad and recreate

ANTONY
yourselves.
Also, he’s left you all his walkways—in
Here was a Caesar! When comes
his private gardens and newly planted
such another?
orchards—on this side of the Tiber
River. He’s left them to you and to your
FIRST PLEBEIAN
heirs forever—public pleasures in
Never, never.—Come, away, away!
which you will be able to stroll and
We’ll burn his body in the holy place,
245And with the brands fire the relax. Here was a Caesar! When will
there be another like him?
traitors' houses.

Take up the body.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Go fetch fire.

THIRD PLEBEIAN FIRST PLEBEIAN

Pluck down benches. Never, never. Let’s go! We’ll burn his
body in the holy place and use the
FOURTH PLEBEIAN brands to set the traitors' houses on
Pluck down forms, windows, fire. Take up the body.
anything.

Exeunt PLEBEIANS with CAESAR’s

body
SECOND PLEBEIAN
ANTONY We’ll start a fire.
Now let it work. Mischief, thou art
afoot. THIRD PLEBEIAN
250Take thou what course thou wilt! We’ll use benches for wood—

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Enter OCTAVIUS' SERVANT
And windowsills, anything.

How now, fellow?

Citizens exit with CAESAR’s body.
OCTAVIUS' SERVANT
Sir, Octavius is already come to
Rome.
ANTONY
Now, let it work. Trouble, you have
ANTONY
begun—take whatever course you
Where is he?
choose!

OCTAVIUS' SERVANT
OCTAVIUS'S SERVANT enters.
He and Lepidus are at Caesar’s
house.
 What’s up, my man?
ANTONY
And thither will I straight to visit him. OCTAVIUS'S SERVANT
255He comes upon a wish. Fortune is Sir, Octavius has already arrived in
Rome.
merry,

And in this mood will give us ANTONY

anything. Where is he?

OCTAVIUS' SERVANT OCTAVIUS'S SERVANT

I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius He and Lepidus are at Caesar’s house.
Are rid like madmen through the
gates of Rome.
ANTONY
Belike they had some notice of the ANTONY
people I will go straight to visit him. I ask for
260How I had moved them. Bring me him, and he comes. Fortune is happy
today and, in this mood, will give us
to Octavius.
anything we want.

Exeunt
OCTAVIUS'S SERVANT
I heard Octavius say that Brutus and
Cassius have ridden like madmen
through the gates of Rome.

ANTONY
They probably received warning about
how much I stirred up the people. Take
me to Octavius.

They exit.