SCENE II.
The Forum.
Enter Brutus, and Cassius, with the Plebeians.
Pleb.
We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.
Bru.
Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.—
-- 70 --
Cassius, go you into the other street,
And part the numbers.—
Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
And publick reasons shall be rendered
Of Cæsar's death.
1 Pleb.
I will hear Brutus speak.
2 Pleb.
I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons,
When severally we hear them rendered.
[Exit Cassius, with some of the Plebeians: Brutus goes into the rostrum.
3 Pleb.
The noble Brutus is ascended: Silence!
Bru.
Be patient 'till the last.
Romans, 7 note
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 Cæsar's, to him I say, that Brutus'
love to Cæsar was no less than his. If then that
friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cæsar, this
-- 71 --
is my answer,—Not that I lov'd Cæsar less, but that
I lov'd Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were
living, and dye all slaves; than that Cæsar were
dead, to live all free men? As Cæsar lov'd 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 are 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 bond-man? 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.
Bru.
Then none have I offended. I have done
no more to Cæsar, than you shall do to Brutus. The
question of his death is enroll'd in the Capitol: his
glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor
his offences enforc'd, for which he suffered death.
Enter Mark Antony, &c. with Cæsar's body.
Here comes his body, mourn'd 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!
1 Pleb.
Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
2 Pleb.
Give him a statue with his ancestors.
3 Pleb.
Let him be Cæsar.
4 Pleb.
Cæsar's better parts
Shall be crowned in Brutus.
-- 72 --
1 Pleb.
We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.
Bru.
My countrymen,—
2 Pleb.
Peace; silence! Brutus speaks.
1 Pleb.
Peace, ho!
Bru.
Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:
Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Cæsar's glories; which Mark Antony
By our permission is allow'd to make.
I do intreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, 'till Antony have spoke.
[Exit.
1 Pleb.
Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.
3 Pleb.
Let him go up into the public chair;
We'll hear him:—Noble Antony, go up.
Ant.
For Brutus' sake, I am beholden to you.
4 Pleb.
What does he say of Brutus?
3 Pleb.
He says, for Brutus' sake,
He finds himself beholden to us all2 note.
4 Pleb.
'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.
1 Pleb.
This Cæsar was a tyrant.
3 Pleb.
Nay, that's certain:
We are blest, that Rome is rid of him.
2 Pleb.
Peace; let us hear what Antony can say.
Ant.
You gentle Romans,—
All.
Peace, ho! let us hear him.
Ant.
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Cæsar, 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 Cæsar! The noble Brutus
Hath told you, Cæsar was ambitious:
-- 73 --
If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously hath Cæsar answer'd 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 Cæsar'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 Cæsar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cry'd, Cæsar 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 with-holds you then to mourn for him?—
O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason!—Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar,
And I must pause 'till it come back to me. 9Q0930
1 Pleb.
Methinks, there is much reason in his sayings,
2 Pleb.
If thou consider rightly of the matter,
3 note
Cæsar has had great wrong.
-- 74 --
3 Pleb.
Has he, masters?
I fear, there will a worse come in his place.
4 Pleb.
Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown;
Therefore, 'tis certain, he was not ambitious.
1 Pleb.
If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
2 Pleb.
Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
3 Pleb.
There's not a nobler man in Rome, than Antony.
4 Pleb.
Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
Ant.
But yesterday the word of Cæsar might
Have stood against the world: now lies he there,
4 noteAnd none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters! if I were dispos'd 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 Cæsar,
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)
-- 75 --
And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds,
And dip their napkins5 note 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.
4 Pleb.
We'll hear the will: Read it, Mark Antony.
All.
The will, the will; we will hear Cæsar's will.
Ant.
Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;
It is not meet you know how Cæsar lov'd you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
And, being men, hearing the will of Cæsar,
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!
4 Pleb.
Read the will; we will hear it, Antony;
You shall read us the will; Cæsar's will.
Ant.
Will you be patient? Will you stay a while?
I have o'er-shot myself, to tell you of it.
I fear, I wrong the honourable men,
Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar: I do fear it.
4 Pleb.
They were traitors: Honourable men!
All.
The will! the testament!
2 Pleb.
They were villains, murderers: The will!
read the will!
Ant.
You will compel me then to read the will?—
Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar,
And let me shew you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?
All.
Come down.
2 Pleb.
Descend.
[He comes down from the pulpit.
3 Pleb.
You shall have leave.
4 Pleb.
A ring; stand round.
-- 76 --
1 Pleb.
Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.
2 Pleb.
Room for Antony;—most noble Antony.
Ant.
Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.
All.
Stand back! room! bear back!
Ant.
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Cæsar 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 stabb'd;
And, as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Cæsar follow'd it;
As rushing out of doors, to be resolv'd
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;
For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel6 note:
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar lov'd him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all:
For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;
7 note
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
-- 77 --
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity8 note
: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what, weep you, when you but behold
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here!
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors. 9Q0931
1 Pleb.
O piteous spectacle!
2 Pleb.
O noble Cæsar!
3 Pleb.
O woeful day!
4 Pleb.
O traitors, villains!
1 Pleb.
O most bloody sight!
2 Pleb.
We will be reveng'd: Revenge: About,—
Seek,—burn,—fire,—kill,—slay!—let not a traitor live.
Ant.
Stay, countrymen.
-- 78 --
1 Pleb.
Peace there:—Hear the noble Antony.
2 Pleb.
We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll
die with him.
Ant.
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 publick leave to speak of him.
4 note
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;
Shew you sweet Cæsar'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 Cæsar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
All.
We'll mutiny.
1 Pleb.
We'll burn the house of Brutus.
3 Pleb.
Away then, come, seek the conspirators.
Ant.
Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.
All.
Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony.
-- 79 --
Ant.
Why, friends, you go to do you know not what:
Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserv'd 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.
Ant.
Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal.
To every Roman citizen he gives,
To every several man, seventy five drachmas1 note.
2 Pleb.
Most noble Cæsar!—We'll revenge his death.
3 Pleb.
O royal Cæsar!
Ant.
Hear me with patience.
All.
Peace, ho!
Ant.
Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours, and new-planted orchards,
2 note
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 Cæsar: When comes such another?
-- 80 --
1 Pleb.
Never, never:—Come, away, away:
We'll burn his body in the holy place,
And with the brands fire the traitors' houses3 note
.
Take up the body.
2 Pleb.
Go, fetch fire.
3 Pleb.
Pluck down benches.
4 Pleb.
Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.
[Exeunt Plebeians, with the body.
Ant.
Now let it work: Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what course thou wilt!—How now, fellow?
Enter a Servant.
Serv.
Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
Ant.
Where is he?
Serv.
He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house.
Ant.
And thither will I straight to visit him:
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us any thing.
Serv.
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 mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius.
[Exeunt.
4 noteSCENE III.
A Street.
Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him, the Plebeians.
Cin.
I dreamt to-night, that I did feast with Cæsar,
And things unluckily charge my fantasy:
-- 81 --
I have no will note to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.
1 Pleb.
What is your name?
2 Pleb.
Whither are you going?
3 Pleb.
Where do you dwell?
4 Pleb.
Are you a married man, or a bachelor?
2 Pleb.
Answer every man directly.
1 Pleb.
Ay, and briefly.
4 Pleb.
Ay, and wisely.
3 Pleb.
Ay, and truly, you were best.
Cin.
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.
2 Pleb.
That's as much as to say, they are fools
that marry:—You'll bear me a bang for that, I fear.
Proceed; directly.
Cin.
Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral.
1 Pleb.
As a friend, or an enemy?
Cin.
As a friend.
2 Pleb.
That matter is answer'd directly.
4 Pleb.
For your dwelling,—briefly.
Cin.
Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.
3 Pleb.
Your name, sir, truly.
Cin.
Truly, my name is Cinna.
1 Pleb.
Tear him to pieces, he's a conspirator.
Cin.
I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.
4 Pleb.
Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for
his bad verses.
Cin.
I am not Cinna the conspirator.
4 Pleb.
It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck
but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.
3 Pleb.
Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, ho!
firebrands. To Brutus' and to Cassius', burn all.
Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's, some
to Ligarius': away; go.
[Exeunt.
-- 82 --
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
