Censure16
me in your wisdom and awake your senses17, 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 rude29, that
would not be a Roman? If any, speak, for him have I offended.
Who is here so vile31, 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 of35 his
death is enrolled in the Capitol: his glory not extenuated36, wherein
he was worthy, nor his offences enforced37, for which
he suffered death.
Enter Mark Antony 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 commonwealth41, 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.
Comes down from the pulpit
ALL Live Brutus, live, live!
FIRST PLEBEIAN Bring him with triumph46 home unto his house.
SECOND PLEBEIAN47 Give him a statue with his ancestors.
THIRD PLEBEIAN Let him be Caesar.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN Caesar’s better parts49
Shall be crowned50 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 grace58 to Caesar’s corpse and grace his speech
Tending59 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 chair64.
We’ll hear him.— Noble Antony, go up.
ANTONY For Brutus’ sake I am beholding66 to you.
Goes into the pulpit
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.
ALL 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 interrèd80 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 answered84 it.
Here, under leave85 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 coffers93 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, masters115?
I fear there will a worse116 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 it119.
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 But123 yesterday the word of Caesar might
Have stood against124 the world: now lies he there,
And none so poor125 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.
Shows the will
I found it in his closet134: ’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 napkins138 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 issue142.
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 meet146 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 myself155 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.
SECOND PLEBEIAN Descend.
THIRD PLEBEIAN You shall have leave.
Antony comes down
FOURTH PLEBEIAN A ring. Stand round.
FIRST PLEBEIAN Stand from the hearse169, stand from the body.
SECOND PLEBEIAN Room for Antony, most noble Antony.
ANTONY Nay, press not so upon me. Stand far171 off.
ALL Stand back: room, bear back.
ANTONY If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle174. I remember
The first time ever Caesar put it on.
’Twas on a summer’s evening in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii177.
Look, in this place ran Cassius’ dagger through:
See what a rent179 the envious Casca made:
Through this, the well-belovèd Brutus stabbed,
And as he plucked his cursèd steel away,
Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it,
As183 rushing out of doors, to be resolved
If Brutus so unkindly184 knocked or no,
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel185.—
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 flourished196 over us.
O, now you weep, and I perceive you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious198 drops.
Kind souls, what weep you when you but behold
200 Our Caesar’s vesture200 wounded? Look you here,
Uncovers the body
Here is himself, marred as you see with201 traitors.
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!208 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 griefs216 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 orator220, as Brutus is;
But as you know me all a plain blunt221 man
That love my friend, and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him,
For I have neither wit224, nor words, nor worth,
Action225, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men’s blood. I only speak right on226:
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 Brutus229,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up231 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:
Wherein240 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 drachmas246.
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 orchards252,
On this side Tiber. He hath left them you
And to your heirs for ever: common pleasures254
To walk abroad and recreate255 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 fire259 the traitors’ houses.
Take up the body.
SECOND PLEBEIAN Go fetch fire.
THIRD PLEBEIAN Pluck down benches.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN Pluck down forms, windows263, anything.
Exeunt Plebeians With the body
ANTONY Now let it work. Mischief264, 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 straight269, to visit him:
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry270
And in this mood will give us anything.
SERVANT I heard him say Brutus and Cassius
Are rid273 like madmen through the gates of Rome.
ANTONY Belike they had some notice of274 the people
How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.
Exeunt
running scene 7 continues
Enter Cinna the poet, and after him the Plebeians
CINNA I dreamt tonight1 that I did feast with Caesar,
And things unluckily charge my fantasy2:
I have no will to wander forth3 of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.
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 directly9.
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 bang18 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 conspirator27.
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. Pluck32 but his
name out of his heart and turn him going33.
THIRD PLEBEIAN Tear him, tear him! Come, brands, ho!
They attack Cinna
Fire-brands! To Brutus’, to Cassius’, burn all! Some
to Decius’ house, and some to Casca’s; some to Ligarius’!
Away, go!
Exeunt all the Plebeians [dragging Cinna]
running scene 8
Enter Antony, Octavius and Lepidus
ANTONY These many, then, shall die: their names are pricked1.
Shows a list
OCTAVIUS Your brother2 too must die: consent you, Lepidus?
LEPIDUS I do consent.
OCTAVIUS Prick him down, Antony.
LEPIDUS Upon condition Publius shall not live,
Who is your sister’s son, Mark Antony.
ANTONY He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn7 him.
But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar’s house:
Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies10.
LEPIDUS What, shall I find you here?
OCTAVIUS Or12 here, or at the Capitol.
Exit Lepidus
ANTONY This is a slight13 unmeritable man,
Meet14 to be sent on errands: is it fit,
The three-fold world divided15, he should stand
One of the three to share it?
OCTAVIUS So you thought him,
And took his voice18 who should be pricked to die
In our black sentence and proscription19.
ANTONY Octavius, I have seen more days20 than you,
And though we lay these honours on this man
To ease ourselves of divers sland’rous loads22,
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat under the business24,
Either led or driven, as we point the way:
And having brought our treasure where we will26,
Then take we down his load, and turn him off27 —
Like to the empty28 ass — to shake his ears
And graze in commons29.
OCTAVIUS You may do your will:
But he’s a tried31 and valiant soldier.
ANTONY So is my horse, Octavius, and for that
I do appoint him store of provender33.
It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind35, to stop, to run directly on,
His corporal36 motion governed by my spirit,
And, in some taste37, is Lepidus but so:
He must be taught, and trained, and bid go forth —
A barren-spirited39 fellow; one that feeds
On objects, arts and imitations40
Which, out of use and staled41 by other men,
Begin his fashion42. Do not talk of him
But as a property43.
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