Julius Caesar Read online

  Else shall you not have any hand at all

  About267 his funeral. And you shall speak

  In the same pulpit whereto I am going,

  After my speech is ended.

  ANTONY Be it so:

  I do desire no more.

  BRUTUS Prepare the body then, and follow us.

  Exeunt. Antony remains

  To Caesar’s body

  ANTONY O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of

  earth,

  That I am meek and gentle with these butchers.

  Thou art the ruins of the noblest man

  That ever livèd in the tide of times276.

  Woe to the hand that shed this costly277 blood.

  Over thy wounds now do I prophesy —

  Which like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips

  To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue —

  A curse shall light upon the limbs of men:

  Domestic fury and fierce civil strife

  Shall cumber283 all the parts of Italy:

  Blood and destruction shall be so in use284,

  And dreadful objects285 so familiar,

  That mothers shall but smile when they behold

  Their infants quartered with287 the hands of war:

  All pity choked with custom of fell288 deeds,

  And Caesar’s spirit ranging289 for revenge,

  With Ate290 by his side, come hot from hell,

  Shall in these confines291, with a monarch’s voice

  Cry havoc and let slip292 the dogs of war,

  That this foul293 deed shall smell above the earth

  With carrion men, groaning294 for burial.—

  Enter Octavius’ Servant

  You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?

  SERVANT I do, Mark Antony.

  ANTONY Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.

  SERVANT He did receive his letters and is coming,

  And bid me say to you by word of mouth—

  O Caesar!

  Sees the body

  ANTONY Thy heart is big301: get thee apart and weep.

  Passion302, I see, is catching, for mine eyes,

  Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,

  Began to water. Is thy master coming?

  SERVANT He lies tonight within seven leagues305 of Rome.

  ANTONY Post306 back with speed and tell him what hath chanced:

  Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,

  No Rome of safety for Octavius yet.

  Hie hence309, and tell him so. Yet stay awhile.

  Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corpse

  Into the market-place: there shall I try311

  In my oration how the people take

  The cruel issue313 of these bloody men,

  According to the which thou shalt discourse314

  To young Octavius of the state of things.

  Lend me your hand.

  Exeunt With the body

  [Act 3 Scene 2]

  running scene 7

  Enter Brutus and goes into the pulpit, and Cassius with the Plebeians

  PLEBEIANS We will be satisfied: let us be satisfied.

  BRUTUS Then follow me, and give me audience2, friends.

  Cassius, go you into the other street

  And part the numbers4:

  Those that will hear me speak, let ’em stay here;

  Those that will follow Cassius, go with him

  And public reasons shall be renderèd7

  Of Caesar’s death.

  FIRST PLEBEIAN I will hear Brutus speak.

  SECOND PLEBEIAN I will hear Cassius, and compare their reasons

  When severally11 we hear them renderèd.

  [Exit Cassius, with some of the Plebeians]

  THIRD PLEBEIAN The noble Brutus is ascended: silence!

  BRUTUS Be patient till the last13.

  Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause14 and

  be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for15 mine honour and

  have respect to mine honour, that you may believe. 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.
<
br />   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?