Julius Caesar (Modern)

 1528[3.2]
 Enter Brutus and goes into the pulpit, and 1529Cassius with the plebians.
2.11530Plebians
 We will be satisfied! Let us be satisfied!
2.21531Brutus
 Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.
2.31532Cassius, go you into the other street,
2.41533And part the numbers.
2.51534Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here;
2.61535Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
2.71536And public reasons shall be rendered
2.81537Of Caesar's death.
Plebian
 Of Caesar's death.  I will hear Brutus speak.
2.915392 Plebian
 I will hear Cassius and compare their reasons,
2.101540When severally we hear them renderèd.
2.10.1[Exit Cassius, with some of the Plebians.]
2.1115413 Plebian
 The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence!
2.121542Brutus
 Be patient till the last.
2.131543Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my 1544cause, and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for 1545mine honor, and have respect to mine honor that you 1546may believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and awake 1547your senses that you may the better judge. If there be 1548any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to him 1549I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If 1550then that friend demand why Brutus rose against 1551Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but 1552that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were 1553living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead to 1554live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; 1555as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I 1556honor him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him. 1557There is tears for his love; joy, for his fortune; honor, for 1558his valor; and death, for his ambition. Who is here 1559so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak, for him 1560have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not 1561be a Roman? If any, speak, for him have I offended. 1562Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, 1563speak, for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.
2.141564All
 None, Brutus, none.
2.151565Brutus
 Then none have I offended. I have done no 1566more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. 1567The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not 1568extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offenses 1569enforced, for which he suffered death.
2.15.11570Enter Mark Antony, with Caesar's body.
2.161571Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who, 1572though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the 1573benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth, as which 1574of you shall not? With this, I depart, that as I slew my 1575best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same 1576dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need 1577my death.
2.171578All
 Live Brutus! Live! Live!
2.1815791 Plebian
 Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
2.1915802 Plebian
 Give him a statue with his ancestors.
2.2015813 Plebian
 Let him be Caesar.
Plebian
 Let him be Caesar.  Caesar's better parts,
2.211583Shall be crowned in Brutus.
2.2215841 Plebian
 We'll bring him to his house 1585with shouts and clamors.
2.231586Brutus
 My countrymen!
2.2415872 Plebian
 Peace! Silence! Brutus speaks.
2.2515881 Plebian
 Peace, ho!
2.261589Brutus
 Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
2.271590And for my sake, stay here with Antony.
2.281591Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech
2.291592Tending to Caesar's glories, which Mark Antony
2.301593By our permission is allowed to make.
2.311594I do entreat you, not a man depart,
2.321595Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
2.32.1Exit
2.3315961 Plebian
 Stay, ho! And let us hear Mark Antony.
2.3415973 Plebian
 Let him go up into the public chair.
2.351598We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.
2.361599Antony
 For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.
2.3716004 Plebian
 What does he say of Brutus?
2.3816013 Plebian
 He says, for Brutus' sake
2.391602He finds himself beholding to us all.
2.4016034 Plebian
 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here!
2.4116041 Plebian
 This Caesar was a tyrant.
Plebian
 This Caesar was a tyrant.  Nay, that's certain:
2.421606We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
2.4316072 Plebian
 Peace! Let us hear what Antony can say.
2.441608Antony
 You gentle Romans--
 1609All
 You gentle Romans--  Peace, ho! Let us hear him.
2.451610Antony
 Friends! Romans! Countrymen! Lend me your ears.
2.461611I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
2.471612The evil that men do lives after them;
2.481613The good is oft interrèd with their bones:
2.491614So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
2.501615Hath told you Caesar was ambitious.
2.511616If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
2.521617And grievously hath Caesar answered it.
2.531618Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest--
2.541619For Brutus is an honorable man,
2.551620So are they all, all honorable men--
2.561621Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
2.571622He was my friend: faithful and just to me.
2.581623But Brutus says he was ambitious,
2.591624And Brutus is an honorable man.
2.601625He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
2.611626Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill.
2.621627Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
2.631628When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept;
2.641629Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
2.651630Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
2.661631And Brutus is an honorable man.
2.671632You all did see that on the Lupercal
2.681633I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
2.691634Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
2.701635Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
2.711636And sure he is an honorable man.
2.721637I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
2.731638But here I am, to speak what I do know.
2.741639You all did love him once, not without cause.
2.751640What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him?
2.761641O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
2.771642And men have lost their reason! Bear with me;
2.781643My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
2.791644And I must pause till it come back to me.
2.8016451 Plebian
 Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.
2.8116462 Plebian
 If thou consider rightly of the matter,
2.821647Caesar has had great wrong.
Plebian
 Caesar has had great wrong.  Has he, masters?
2.83I fear there will a worse come in his place.
2.8416494 Plebian
 Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown;
2.851650Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.
2.8616511 Plebian
 If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
2.8716522 Plebian
 Poor soul, his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
2.8816533 Plebian
 There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
2.8916544 Plebian
 Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
2.901655Antony
 But yesterday, the word of Caesar might
2.911656Have stood against the world. Now lies he there,
2.921657And none so poor to do him reverence.
2.931658O masters! If I were disposed to stir
2.941659Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
2.951660I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
2.961661Who you all know are honorable men.
2.971662I will not do them wrong; I rather choose
2.981663To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
2.991664Than I will wrong such honorable men.
2.1001665But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar;
2.1011666I found it in his closet. 'Tis his will.
2.1021667Let but the commons hear this testament,
2.1031668Which pardon me, I do not mean to read,
2.1041669And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds,
2.1051670And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
2.1061671Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
2.1071672And dying, mention it within their wills,
2.1081673Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
2.1091674Unto their issue.
2.11016754 Plebian
 We'll hear the will! Read it, Mark Antony!
2.1111676All
 The will! The will! We will hear Caesar's will!
2.1121677Antony
 Have patience, gentle friends. I must not read it.
2.1131678It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
2.1141679You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
2.1151680And being men, hearing the will of Caesar,
2.1161681It will inflame you; it will make you mad.
2.1171682'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs,
2.1181683For if you should, oh, what would come of it?
2.11916844 Plebian
 Read the will! We'll hear it, Antony!
2.1201685You shall read us the will! Caesar's will!
2.1211686Antony
 Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile?
2.1221687I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it,
2.1231688I fear I wrong the honorable men
2.1241689Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar. I do fear it.
2.12516904 Plebian
 They were traitors! "Honorable men"?
2.1261691All
 The will! The testament!
2.12716922 Plebian
 They were villains, murderers! The will! Read the 1693will!
2.1281694Antony
 You will compel me then to read the will?
2.1291695Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,
2.1301696And let me show you him that made the will.
2.1311697Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?
2.1321698All
 Come down!
Plebian
 Come down!  Descend!
Plebian
 Come down! Descend!  You shall have leave.
Plebian
 Come down! Descend! You shall have leave.  A ring!
2.133Stand round!
Plebian
 Stand round!  Stand from the hearse! Stand from the body!
2.13417032 Plebian
 Room for Antony! Most noble Antony!
2.1351704Antony
 Nay, press not so upon me! Stand far'er off.
2.1361705All
 Stand back! Room! Bear back!
2.1371706Antony
 If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
2.1381707You all do know this mantle; I remember
2.1391708The first time ever Caesar put it on.
2.1401709'Twas on a summer's evening in his tent,
2.1411710That day he overcame the Nervii.
2.1421711Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through.
2.1431712See what a rent the envious Casca made.
2.1441713Through this, the well-belovèd Brutus stabbed,
2.1451714And as he plucked his cursèd steel away,
2.1461715Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it,
2.1471716As rushing out of doors to be resolved
2.1481717If Brutus so unkindly knocked or no;
2.1491718For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel.
2.1501719Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him.
2.1511720This was the most unkindest cut of all,
2.1521721For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
2.1531722Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
2.1541723Quite vanquished him; then burst his mighty heart,
2.1551724And in his mantle muffling up his face,
2.1561725Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
2.1571726Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
2.1581727Oh, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
2.1591728Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
2.1601729Whilst bloody treason flourished over us.
2.1611730Oh, now you weep, and I perceive you feel
2.1621731The dint of pity. These are gracious drops.
2.1631732Kind souls, what weep you when you but behold
2.1641733Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here!
2.1651734Here is himself, marred as you see with traitors.
2.16617351 Plebian
 Oh, piteous spectacle!
Plebian
 Oh, piteous spectacle!  O noble Caesar!
2.16717373 Plebian
 Oh, woeful day!
Plebian
 Oh, woeful day!  Oh, traitors! Villains!
2.16817391 Plebian
 Oh, most bloody sight!
Plebian
 Oh, most bloody sight!  We will be revenged!
2.169All
 Revenge! 1741About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!
2.1701742Let not a traitor live!
 1743Antony
 Let not a traitor live!  Stay, countrymen!
2.17117441 Plebian
 Peace there! Hear the noble Antony!
2.17217452 Plebian
 We'll hear him! We'll follow him! We'll die with 1746him.
2.1731747Antony
 Good friends! Sweet friends! Let me not stir you up
2.1741748To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
2.1751749They that have done this deed are honorable.
2.1761750What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
2.1771751That made them do it. They are wise and honorable,
2.1781752And will no doubt with reasons answer you.
2.1791753I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts.
2.1801754I am no orator, as Brutus is,
2.1811755But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man
2.1821756That love my friend, and that they know full well
2.1831757That gave me public leave to speak of him:
2.1841758For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
2.1851759Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech
2.1861760To stir men's blood. I only speak right on.
2.1871761I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
2.1881762Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,
2.1891763And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus,
2.1901764And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
2.1911765Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
2.1921766In every wound of Caesar that should move
2.1931767The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
2.1941768All
 We'll mutiny!
Plebian
 We'll mutiny!  We'll burn the house of Brutus!
2.19517703 Plebian
 Away then! Come, seek the conspirators!
2.1961771Antony
 Yet hear me countrymen! Yet hear me speak!
2.1971772All
 Peace, ho! Hear Antony! Most noble Antony!
2.1981773Antony
 Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.
2.1991774Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?
2.2001775Alas you know not. I must tell you then:
2.2011776You have forgot the will I told you of.
2.2021777All
 Most true! The will! Let's stay and hear the will!
2.2031778Antony
 Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal.
2.2041779To every Roman citizen he gives,
2.2051780To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.
2.20617812 Plebian
 Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death!
2.20717823 Plebian
 O royal Caesar!
 1783Antony
 O royal Caesar!  Hear me with patience.
 1784All
 O royal Caesar! Hear me with patience.  Peace ho!
2.2081785Antony
 Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
2.2091786His private arbors, and new-planted orchards
2.2101787On this side Tiber. He hath left them you
2.2111788And to your heirs forever--common pleasures
2.2121789To walk abroad and recreate yourselves.
2.2131790Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?
2.21417911 Plebian
 Never, never! Come! Away! Away!
2.2151792We'll burn his body in the holy place,
2.2161793And with the brands fire the traitors' houses!
2.2171794Take up the body!
2.21817952 Plebian
 Go! Fetch fire!
2.21917963 Plebian
 Pluck down benches!
2.22017974 Plebian
 Pluck down forms, windows, anything!
2.220.11798Exit Plebians [with the body]. 
2.2211799Antony
 Now let it work! Mischief, thou art a-foot:
 Now let it work! Mischief, thou art a-foot:  3.2.2221800Take thou what course thou wilt.
 Now let it work! Mischief, thou art a-foot: Take thou what course thou wilt.  1801How now, fellow?
2.222.11802Enter servant.
2.2231803Servant
 Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
2.2241804Antony
 Where is he?
2.2251805Servant
 He and Lepidus are at Caesar's house.
2.2261806Antony
 And thither will I straight to visit him.
2.2271807He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
2.2281808And in this mood will give us anything.
2.2291809Servant
 I heard him say Brutus and Cassius
2.2301810Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
2.2311811Antony
 Belike they had some notice of the people
2.2321812How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.
2.232.1Exeunt
Internet Shakespeare Editions

Reading Room

Toolbox

About this text

Julius Caesar (Modern)
