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  • Title: Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: John D. Cox

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-366-3

    Copyright John D. Cox. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: John D. Cox
    Peer Reviewed

    Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)

    Enter Brutus and goes into the Pulpit, and Cassi-
    us, with the Plebeians.
    1530Ple. We will be satisfied: let vs be satisfied.
    Bru. Then follow me, and giue me Audience friends.
    Cassius go you into the other streete,
    And part the Numbers:
    Those that will heare me speake, let 'em stay heere;
    1535Those that will follow Cassius, go with him,
    And publike Reasons shall be rendred
    Of Caesars death.
    1. Ple. I will heare Brutus speake.
    2. I will heare Cassius, and compare their Reasons,
    1540When seuerally we heare them rendred.
    3. The Noble Brutus is ascended: Silence.
    Bru. Be patient till the last.
    Romans, Countrey-men, and Louers, heare mee for my
    cause, and be silent, that you may heare. Beleeue me for
    1545mine Honor, and haue respect to mine Honor, that you
    may beleeue. Censure me in your Wisedom, and awake
    your Senses, that you may the better Iudge. If there bee
    any in this Assembly, any deere Friend of Caesars, to him
    I say, that Brutus loue to Caesar, was no lesse then his. If
    1550then, that Friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cae-
    sar, this is my answer: Not that I lou'd Caesar lesse, but
    that I lou'd Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were li-
    uing, and dye all Slaues; then that Caesar were dead, to
    liue all Free-men? As Caesar lou'd mee, I weepe for him;
    1555as he was Fortunate, I reioyce at it; as he was Valiant, I
    honour him: But, as he was Ambitious, I slew him. There
    is Teares, for his Loue: Ioy, for his Fortune: Honor, for
    his Valour: and Death, for his Ambition. Who is heere
    so base, that would be a Bondman? If any, speak, for him
    1560haue I offended. Who is heere so rude, that would not
    be a Roman? If any, speak, for him haue I offended. Who
    is heere so vile, that will not loue his Countrey? If any,
    speake, for him haue I offended. I pause for a Reply.
    All. None Brutus, none.
    1565Brutus. Then none haue I offended. I haue done no
    more to Caesar, then you shall do to Brutus. The Questi-
    on of his death, is inroll'd in the Capitoll: his Glory not
    extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences en-
    forc'd, for which he suffered death.
    1570Enter Mark Antony, with Caesars body.
    Heere comes his Body, mourn'd by Marke Antony, who
    though he had no hand in his death, shall receiue the be-
    nefit of his dying, a place in the Cõmonwealth, as which
    of you shall not. With this I depart, that as I slewe my
    1575best Louer for the good of Rome, I haue the same Dag-
    ger for my selfe, when it shall please my Country to need
    my death.
    All. Liue Brutus, liue, liue.
    1. Bring him with Triumph home vnto his house.
    15802. Giue him a Statue with his Ancestors.
    3. Let him be Caesar.
    4. Caesars better parts,
    Shall be Crown'd in Brutus.
    1. Wee'l bring him to his House,
    1585With Showts and Clamors.
    Bru. My Country-men.
    2. Peace, silence, Brutus speakes.
    1. Peace ho.
    Bru. Good Countrymen, let me depart alone,
    1590And (for my sake) stay heere with Antony:
    Do grace to Caesars Corpes, and grace his Speech
    Tending to Caesars Glories, which Marke Antony
    (By our permission) is allow'd to make.
    I do intreat you, not a man depart,
    1595Saue I alone, till Antony haue spoke. Exit
    1 Stay ho, and let vs heare Mark Antony.
    3 Let him go vp into the publike Chaire,
    Wee'l heare him: Noble Antony go vp.
    Ant. For Brutus sake, I am beholding to you.
    16004 What does he say of Brutus?
    3 He sayes, for Brutus sake
    He findes himselfe beholding to vs all.
    4 'Twere best he speake no harme of Brutus heere?
    1 This Caesar was a Tyrant.
    16053 Nay that's certaine:
    We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
    2 Peace, let vs heare what Antony can say.
    Ant. You gentle Romans.
    All. Peace hoe, let vs heare him.
    1610An. Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears:
    I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him:
    The euill that men do, liues after them,
    The good is oft enterred with their bones,
    So let it be with Caesar. The Noble Brutus,
    1615Hath told you Caesar was Ambitious:
    If it were so, it was a greeuous Fault,
    And greeuously hath Caesar answer'd it.
    Heere, vnder leaue of Brutus, and the rest
    (For Brutus is an Honourable man,
    1620So are they all; all Honourable men)
    Come I to speake in Caesars Funerall.
    He was my Friend, faithfull, and iust to me;
    But Brutus sayes, he was Ambitious,
    And Brutus is an Honourable man.
    1625He hath brought many Captiues home to Rome,
    Whose Ransomes, did the generall Coffers fill:
    Did this in Caesar seeme Ambitious?
    When that the poore haue cry'de, Caesar hath wept:
    Ambition should be made of sterner stuffe,
    1630Yet Brutus sayes, he was Ambitious:
    And Brutus is an Honourable man.
    You all did see, that on the Lupercall,
    I thrice presented him a Kingly Crowne,
    Which he did thrice refuse. Was this Ambition?
    1635Yet Brutus sayes, he was Ambitious:
    And sure he is an Honourable man.
    I speake not to disprooue what Brutus spoke,
    But heere I am, to speake what I do know;
    You all did loue him once, not without cause,
    1640What cause with-holds you then, to mourne for him?
    O Iudgement! thou are fled to brutish Beasts,
    And Men haue lost their Reason. Beare with me,
    My heart is in the Coffin there with Caesar,
    And I must pawse, till it come backe to me.
    16451 Me thinkes there is much reason in his sayings.
    2 If thou consider rightly of the matter,
    Caesar ha's had great wrong.
    3 Ha's hee Masters? I feare there will a worse come in (his place.
    llv 4 Marke
    122The Tragedie of Julius Caesar
    4. Mark'd ye his words? he would not take ye Crown,
    1650Therefore 'tis certaine, he was not Ambitious.
    1. If it be found so, some will deere abide it.
    2. Poore soule, his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
    3. There's not a Nobler man in Rome then Antony.
    4. Now marke him, he begins againe to speake.
    1655Ant. But yesterday, the word of Caesar might
    Haue stood against the World: Now lies he there,
    And none so poore to do him reuerence.
    O Maisters! If I were dispos'd to stirre
    Your hearts and mindes to Mutiny and Rage,
    1660I 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 my selfe and you,
    Then I will wrong such Honourable men.
    1665But heere's a Parchment, with the Seale of Caesar,
    I found it in his Closset, 'tis his Will:
    Let but the Commons heare this Testament:
    (Which pardon me) I do not meane to reade,
    And they would go and kisse dead Caesars wounds,
    1670And dip their Napkins in his Sacred Blood;
    Yea, begge a haire of him for Memory,
    And dying, mention it within their Willes,
    Bequeathing it as a rich Legacie
    Vnto their issue.
    16754 Wee'l heare the Will, reade it Marke Antony.
    All. The Will, the Will; we will heare Caesars Will.
    Ant. Haue patience gentle Friends, I must not read it.
    It is not meete you know how Caesar lou'd you:
    You are not Wood, you are not Stones, but men:
    1680And 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 Heires,
    For if you should, O what would come of it?
    4 Read the Will, wee'l heare it Antony:
    1685You shall reade vs the Will, Caesars Will.
    Ant. Will you be Patient? Will you stay a-while?
    I haue o're-shot my selfe to tell you of it,
    I feare I wrong the Honourable men,
    Whose Daggers haue stabb'd Caesar: I do feare it.
    16904 They were Traitors: Honourable men?
    All. The Will, the Testament.
    2 They were Villaines, Murderers: the Will, read the
    Will.
    Ant. You will compell me then to read the Will:
    1695Then make a Ring about the Corpes of Caesar,
    And let me shew you him that made the Will:
    Shall I descend? And will you giue me leaue?
    All. Come downe.
    2 Descend.
    17003 You shall haue leaue.
    4 A Ring, stand round.
    1 Stand from the Hearse, stand from the Body.
    2 Roome for Antony, most Noble Antony.
    Ant. Nay presse not so vpon me, stand farre off.
    1705All. Stand backe: roome, beare backe.
    Ant. If you haue teares, prepare to shed them now.
    You all do know this Mantle, I remember
    The first time euer Caesar put it on,
    'Twas on a Summers Euening in his Tent,
    1710That day he ouercame the Neruij.
    Looke, in this place ran Cassius Dagger through:
    See what a rent the enuious Caska made:
    Through this, the wel-beloued Brutus stabb'd,
    And as he pluck'd his cursed Steele away:
    1715Marke how the blood of Caesar followed it,
    As rushing out of doores, to be resolu'd
    If Brutus so vnkindely knock'd, or no:
    For Brutus, as you know, was Caesars Angel.
    Iudge, O you Gods, how deerely Caesar lou'd him:
    1720This was the most vnkindest cut of all.
    For when the Noble Caesar saw him stab,
    Ingratitude, more strong then Traitors armes,
    Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his Mighty heart,
    And in his Mantle, muffling vp his face,
    1725Euen at the Base of Pompeyes 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 vs fell downe,
    Whil'st bloody Treason flourish'd ouer vs.
    1730O now you weepe, and I perceiue you feele
    The dint of pitty: These are gracious droppes.
    Kinde Soules, what weepe you, when you but behold
    Our Caesars Vesture wounded? Looke you heere,
    Heere is Himselfe, marr'd as you see with Traitors.
    17351. O pitteous spectacle!
    2. O Noble Caesar!
    3. O wofull day!
    4. O Traitors, Villaines!
    1. O most bloody sight!
    17402. We will be reueng'd: Reuenge
    About, seeke, burne, fire, kill, slay,
    Let not a Traitor liue.
    Ant. Stay Country-men.
    1. Peace there, heare the Noble Antony.
    17452. Wee'l heare him, wee'l follow him, wee'l dy with
    him.
    Ant. Good Friends, sweet Friends, let me not stirre (you vp.
    To such a sodaine Flood of Mutiny:
    They that haue done this Deede, are honourable.
    1750What priuate greefes they haue, 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 steale away your hearts,
    I am no Orator, as Brutus is;
    1755But (as you know me all) a plaine blunt man
    That loue my Friend, and that they know full well,
    That gaue me publike leaue to speake of him:
    For I haue neyther writ nor words, nor worth,
    Action, nor Vtterance, nor the power of Speech,
    1760To stirre mens Blood. I onely speake right on:
    I tell you that, which you your selues do know,
    Shew you sweet Caesars wounds, poor poor dum mouths
    And bid them speake for me: But were I Brutus,
    And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
    1765Would ruffle vp your Spirits, and put a Tongue
    In euery Wound of Caesar, that should moue
    The stones of Rome, to rise and Mutiny.
    All. Wee'l Mutiny.
    1 Wee'l burne the house of Brutus.
    17703 Away then, come, seeke the Conspirators.
    Ant. Yet heare me Countrymen, yet heare me speake
    All. Peace hoe, heare Antony, most Noble Antony.
    Ant. Why Friends, you go to do you know not what:
    Wherein hath Caesar thus deseru'd your loues?
    1775Alas you know not, I must tell you then:
    You haue forgot the Will I told you of.
    All. Most true, the Will, let's stay and heare the Wil.
    Ant. Heere is the Will, and vnder Caesars Seale:
    To euery Roman Citizen he giues,
    1780To euery seuerall man, seuenty fiue Drachmaes.
    2 Ple.
    The Tragedie of Julius Caesar 123
    2 Ple. Most Noble Caesar, wee'l reuenge his death.
    3 Ple. O Royall Caesar.
    Ant. Heare me with patience.
    All. Peace hoe
    1785Ant. Moreouer, he hath left you all his Walkes,
    His priuate Arbors, and new-planted Orchards,
    On this side Tyber, he hath left them you,
    And to your heyres for euer: common pleasures
    To walke abroad, and recreate your selues.
    1790Heere was a Caesar: when comes such another?
    1. Ple. Neuer, neuer: come, away, away:
    Wee'l burne his body in the holy place,
    And with the Brands fire the Traitors houses.
    Take vp the body.
    17952. Ple. Go fetch fire.
    3. Ple. Plucke downe Benches.
    4. Ple. Plucke downe Formes, Windowes, any thing.
    Exit Plebeians.
    Ant. Now let it worke: Mischeefe thou art a-foot,
    1800Take thou what course thou wilt.
    How now Fellow?
    Enter Seruant.
    Ser. Sir, Octauius is already come to Rome.
    Ant. Where is hee?
    1805Ser. He and Lepidus are at Caesars house.
    Ant. And thither will I straight, to visit him:
    He comes vpon a wish. Fortune is merry,
    And in this mood will giue vs any thing.
    Ser. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
    1810Are rid like Madmen through the Gates of Rome.
    Ant. Belike they had some notice of the people
    How I had moued them. Bring me to Octauius. Exeunt
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