Enter Brutus 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.—5 Those that will hear me speak, let ’em stay here; Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
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And public reasons shall be renderèd Of Caesar’s death.FIRST PLEBEIAN I will hear Brutus speak.SECOND PLEBEIAN 10 I will hear Cassius, and compare their reasons When severally we hear them renderèd.⌜Cassius exits with some of the Plebeians.
Brutus goes into the pulpit.⌝THIRD PLEBEIAN The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence.BRUTUS Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my15 cause, and be silent that you may hear. Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor 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 dear20 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, and25 die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was valiant, I honor him. But, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor30 for his valor, 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 not35 love his country? If any, speak, for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.PLEBEIANS None, Brutus, none.BRUTUS Then none have I offended. I have done no
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more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The40 question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol, his glory not extenuated wherein he was worthy, nor his offenses 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, shall45 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.PLEBEIANS 50Live, 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 parts55 Shall be crowned in Brutus.FIRST PLEBEIAN We’ll bring him to his house with shouts and clamors.BRUTUS My countrymen—SECOND PLEBEIAN Peace, silence! Brutus speaks.FIRST PLEBEIAN 60Peace, 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 Antony65 (By our permission) is allowed to make.
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I do entreat you, not a man depart, Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.He ⌜descends and⌝ exits.FIRST PLEBEIAN Stay, ho, and let us hear Mark Antony!THIRD PLEBEIAN Let him go up into the public chair.⌜PLEBEIANS⌝ 70 We’ll hear him.—Noble Antony, go up.ANTONY For Brutus’ sake, I am beholding to you.⌜He 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 75 ’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 80 You gentle Romans—PLEBEIANS 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;85 The good is oft interrèd 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.90 Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest (For Brutus is an honorable man;
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So are they all, all honorable men), Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me,95 But Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill. Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?100 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 honorable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal105 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 honorable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,110 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 judgment, thou ⌜art⌝ fled to brutish beasts,115 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.⌜He weeps.⌝FIRST PLEBEIAN Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.SECOND PLEBEIAN If thou consider rightly of the matter,120 Caesar has had great wrong.THIRD PLEBEIAN Has he, masters? I fear there will a worse come in his place.FOURTH PLEBEIAN Marked you his words? He would not take the crown;125 Therefore ’tis certain he was not ambitious.
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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 130 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,135 I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong, Who, you all know, are honorable men. I will not do them wrong. I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, Than I will wrong such honorable men.140 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 wounds145 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 150 We’ll hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony.PLEBEIANS The will, the will! We will hear Caesar’s will.ANTONY Have patience, gentle friends. I must not read it.
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It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you. You are not wood, you are not stones, but men.155 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.⌜PLEBEIANS⌝ 160 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 honorable men Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar. I do fear it.FOURTH PLEBEIAN 165They were traitors. Honorable men?PLEBEIANS 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?170 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?PLEBEIANS Come down.SECOND PLEBEIAN Descend.THIRD PLEBEIAN 175You shall have leave.⌜Antony descends.⌝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.
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PLEBEIANS 180Stand 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,185 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-belovèd Brutus stabbed, And, as he plucked his cursèd steel away,190 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!195 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,200 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.205 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,⌜Antony lifts Caesar’s cloak.⌝ Here is himself, marred as you see with traitors.FIRST PLEBEIAN 210O piteous spectacle!SECOND PLEBEIAN O noble Caesar!THIRD PLEBEIAN O woeful day!
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FOURTH PLEBEIAN O traitors, villains!FIRST PLEBEIAN O most bloody sight!SECOND PLEBEIAN 215We will be revenged.⌜PLEBEIANS⌝ 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 220We’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 honorable.225 What private griefs they have, alas, I know not, That made them do it. They are wise and honorable And will no doubt with reasons answer you. I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts. I am no orator, as Brutus is,230 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 speech235 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,240 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.PLEBEIANS We’ll mutiny.FIRST PLEBEIAN 245 We’ll burn the house of Brutus.
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THIRD PLEBEIAN Away then. Come, seek the conspirators.ANTONY Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.PLEBEIANS Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony!ANTONY Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.250 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.PLEBEIANS Most true. The will! Let’s stay and hear the will.ANTONY Here is the will, and under Caesar’s seal:255 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.PLEBEIANS 260Peace, ho!ANTONY Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbors, and new-planted orchards, On this side Tiber. He hath left them you, And to your heirs forever—common pleasures265 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.270 Take up the body.SECOND PLEBEIAN Go fetch fire.THIRD PLEBEIAN Pluck down benches.
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FOURTH PLEBEIAN Pluck down forms, windows, anything.Plebeians exit ⌜with Caesar’s body.⌝ANTONY 275 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 280 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 Cassius285 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.They exit.
