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About this text

  • Title: Julius Caesar (Modern)
  • Editor: John D. Cox
  • General textual editor: Eric Rasmussen
  • Coordinating editor: Michael Best
  • 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 (Modern)

    The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
    1[1.1]
    Enter Flavius, Murellus, and certain commoners over the stage.
    Flavius
    5Hence! Home, you idle creatures! Get you home!
    Is this a holiday? What, know you not,
    Being mechanical, you ought not walk
    Upon a laboring day, without the sign
    Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou?
    10Carpenter
    Why, sir, a carpenter.
    Murellus
    Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?
    What dost thou with thy best apparel on?
    You, sir, what trade are you?
    Cobbler
    Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am 15but as you would say, a cobbler.
    Murellus
    But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.
    Cobbler
    A trade, sir, that I hope I may use, with a safe conscience, which is indeed sir, a mender of bad soles.
    Flavius
    What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty knave, 20what trade?
    Cobbler
    Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me. Yet if you be out, sir, I can mend you.
    Murellus
    What mean'st thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow?
    25Cobbler
    Why, sir, cobble you.
    Flavius
    Thou art a cobbler, art thou?
    Cobbler
    Truly sir, all that I live by is with the awl. I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's matters; but withal I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes: 30when they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neat's leather, have gone upon my handiwork.
    Flavius
    But wherefore art not in thy shop today?
    Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?
    35Cobbler
    Truly sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But indeed, sir, we make holiday to see Caesar, and to rejoice in his triumph.
    Murellus
    Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?
    40What tributaries follow him to Rome,
    To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?
    You blocks! You stones! You worse than senseless things!
    O you hard hearts! You cruel men of Rome!
    Knew you not Pompey many a time and oft?
    45Have you climbed up to walls and battlements,
    To towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops,
    Your infants in your arms, and there have sat
    The livelong day, with patient expectation,
    To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome?
    50And when you saw his chariot but appear,
    Have you not made an universal shout,
    That Tiber trembled underneath her banks
    To hear the replication of your sounds,
    Made in her concave shores?
    55And do you now put on your best attire?
    And do you now cull out a holiday?
    And do you now strew flowers in his way
    That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood?
    Begone!
    60Run to your houses! Fall upon your knees!
    Pray to the gods to intermit the plague
    That needs must light on this ingratitude!
    Flavius
    Go, go, good countrymen, and for this fault
    Assemble all the poor men of your sort;
    65Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears
    Into the channel, till the lowest stream
    Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.
    Exeunt all the Commoners.
    See whe'er their basest mettle be not moved:
    70They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.
    Go you down that way towards the Capitol;
    This way will I. Disrobe the images,
    If you do find them decked with ceremonies.
    Murellus
    May we do so?
    75You know it is the Feast of Lupercal.
    Flavius
    It is no matter. Let no images
    Be hung with Caesar's trophies. I'll about,
    And drive away the vulgar from the streets;
    So do you too, where you perceive them thick.
    80These growing feathers, plucked from Caesar's wing,
    Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,
    Who else would soar above the view of men,
    And keep us all in servile fearfulness.
    Exeunt
    [1.2]
    Enter Caesar, Antony for the course, Calpurnia, Portia, 85Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, a Soothsayer; after them Murellus and Flavius.
    Caesar
    Calpurnia.
    Casca
    Peace ho! Caesar speaks.
    Caesar
    Calpurnia!
    90Calpurnia
    Here, my Lord.
    Caesar
    Stand you directly in Antonio's way
    When he doth run his course. Antonio!
    Antony
    Caesar, my Lord?
    Caesar
    Forget not in your speed, Antonio,
    95To touch Calpurnia, for our elders say,
    The barren touchèd in this holy chase,
    Shake off their sterile curse.
    Antony
    I shall remember.
    When Caesar says, "Do this," it is performed.
    100Caesar
    Set on, and leave no ceremony out.
    [Sennet]
    Soothsayer
    Caesar!
    Caesar
    Ha? Who calls?
    Casca
    Bid every noise be still! Peace yet again!
    Caesar
    Who is it in the press that calls on me?
    105I hear a tongue shriller than all the music
    Cry "Caesar." Speak! Caesar is turned to hear.
    Soothsayer
    Beware the ides of March.
    Caesar
    What man is that?
    Brutus
    A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
    110Caesar
    Set him before me. Let me see his face.
    Cassius
    Fellow, come from the throng! Look upon Caesar.
    Caesar
    What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again.
    Soothsayer
    Beware the ides of March.
    Caesar
    He is a dreamer. Let us leave him. Pass.
    115Sennet.
    Exeunt [all but Brutus and Cassius].
    Cassius
    Will you go see the order of the course?
    Brutus
    Not I.
    Cassius
    I pray you, do.
    Brutus
    I am not gamesome. I do lack some part
    120Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
    Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires.
    I'll leave you.
    Cassius
    Brutus, I do observe you now of late.
    I have not from your eyes that gentleness
    125And show of love as I was wont to have.
    You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
    Over your friend that loves you.
    Brutus
    Cassius,
    Be not deceived. If I have veiled my look,
    130I turn the trouble of my countenance
    Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
    Of late with passions of some difference,
    Conceptions only proper to myself,
    Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviors;
    135But let not therefore my good friends be grieved,
    Among which number, Cassius, be you one,
    Nor construe any further my neglect
    Than that poor Brutus with himself at war,
    Forgets the shows of love to other men.
    140Cassius
    Then Brutus, I have much mistook your passion,
    By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried
    Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
    Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?
    Brutus
    No, Cassius, 145for the eye sees not itself
    But by reflection, by some other things.
    Cassius
    'Tis just.
    And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
    That you have no such mirrors as will turn
    150Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
    That you might see your shadow. I have heard,
    Where many of the best respect in Rome,
    Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus
    155And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
    Have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes.
    Brutus
    Into what dangers, would you lead me, Cassius,
    That you would have me seek into myself
    160For that which is not in me?
    Cassius
    Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear;
    And since you know you cannot see yourself
    So well as by reflection, I, your glass,
    Will modestly discover to yourself
    165That of yourself which you yet know not of.
    And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus.
    Were I a common laughter, or did use
    To stale with ordinary oaths my love
    To every new protester; if you know
    170That I do fawn on men and hug them hard
    And after scandal them; or if you know
    That I profess myself in banqueting
    To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.
    Flourish, and shout.
    175Brutus
    What means this shouting? I do fear the people
    Choose Caesar for their king.
    Cassius
    Ay, do you fear it?
    Then must I think you would not have it so.
    180Brutus
    I would not, Cassius, yet I love him well.
    But wherefore do you hold me here so long?
    What is it that you would impart to me?
    If it be ought toward the general good,
    Set honor in one eye and death i'th'other,
    185And I will look on both indifferently.
    For let the gods so speed me, as I love
    The name of honor more than I fear death.
    Cassius
    I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
    As well as I do know your outward favor.
    190Well, honor is the subject of my story.
    I cannot tell what you and other men
    Think of this life, but for my single self,
    I had as lief not be, as live to be
    In awe of such a thing as I myself.
    195I was born free as Caesar, so were you;
    We both have fed as well; and we can both
    Endure the winter's cold, as well as he.
    For once, upon a raw and gusty day,
    The troubled Tiber, chafing with her shores,
    200Caesar said to me, "Dar'st thou, Cassius, now
    Leap in with me into this angry flood
    And swim to yonder point?" Upon the word,
    Accoutrèd as I was, I plungèd in,
    And bade him follow. So indeed he did.
    205The torrent roared, and we did buffet it
    With lusty sinews, throwing it aside,
    And stemming it with hearts of controversy.
    But ere we could arrive the point proposed,
    Caesar cried, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink."
    210I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor,
    Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
    The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tiber
    Did I the tirèd Caesar. And this man
    Is now become a god, and Cassius is
    215A wretched creature and must bend his body
    If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.
    He had a fever when he was in Spain,
    And when the fit was on him, I did mark
    How he did shake. 'Tis true, this god did shake.
    220His coward lips did from their color fly,
    And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world,
    Did lose his luster. I did hear him groan.
    Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans
    Mark him and write his speeches in their books,
    225"Alas," it cried, "Give me some drink, Titinius,"
    As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me
    A man of such a feeble temper should
    So get the start of the majestic world
    And bear the palm alone.
    230Shout. Flourish.
    Brutus
    Another general shout?
    I do believe that these applauses are
    For some new honors that are heaped on Caesar.
    Cassius
    Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world
    235Like a colossus, and we petty men
    Walk under his huge legs, and peep about
    To find ourselves dishonorable graves.
    Men at some time are masters of their fates.
    The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
    240But in ourselves that we are underlings.
    "Brutus" and "Caesar." What should be in that "Caesar"?
    Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
    Write them together: yours is as fair a name.
    Sound them: it doth become the mouth as well.
    245Weigh them: it is as heavy. Conjure with 'em:
    "Brutus" will start a spirit as soon as "Caesar."
    Now in the names of all the gods at once,
    Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed
    That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!
    250Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
    When went there by an age since the great flood,
    But it was famed with more than with one man?
    When could they say, till now, that talked of Rome,
    That her wide walks encompassed but one man?
    255Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough
    When there is in it but one only man.
    Oh, you and I have heard our fathers say
    There was a Brutus once that would have brooked
    Th'eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
    260As easily as a king.
    Brutus
    That you do love me, I am nothing jealous.
    What you would work me to, I have some aim.
    How I have thought of this and of these times
    I shall recount hereafter. For this present,
    265I would not, so with love I might entreat you,
    Be any further moved. What you have said,
    I will consider; what you have to say,
    I will with patience hear, and find a time
    Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
    270Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:
    Brutus had rather be a villager
    Than to repute himself a son of Rome
    Under these hard conditions as this time
    Is like to lay upon us.
    275Cassius
    I am glad that my weak words
    Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.
    Enter Caesar and his train.
    Brutus
    The games are done, and Caesar is returning.
    280Cassius
    As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve,
    And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
    What hath proceeded worthy note today.
    Brutus
    I will do so. But look you, Cassius,
    285The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow,
    And all the rest look like a chidden train:
    Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero
    Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
    As we have seen him in the Capitol,
    290Being crossed in conference by some senators.
    Cassius
    Casca will tell us what the matter is.
    Caesar
    Antonio!
    Antony
    Caesar?
    Caesar
    Let me have men about me that are fat,
    295Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o'nights.
    Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
    He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.
    Antony
    Fear him not Caesar, he's not dangerous,
    He is a noble Roman, and well given.
    300Caesar
    Would he were fatter! But I fear him not.
    Yet if my name were liable to fear,
    I do not know the man I should avoid
    So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much,
    He is a great observer, and he looks
    305Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays,
    As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;
    Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
    As if he mocked himself and scorned his spirit
    That could be moved to smile at anything.
    310Such men as he be never at heart's ease
    Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
    And therefore are they very dangerous.
    I rather tell thee what is to be feared
    Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar.
    315Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
    And tell me truly, what thou think'st of him.
    Sennet.
    Exeunt Caesar and [all] his train [but Casca].
    You pulled me by the cloak. Would you speak with me?
    320Brutus
    Ay, Casca. Tell us what hath chanced today,
    That Caesar looks so sad.
    Casca
    Why, you were with him, were you not?
    Brutus
    I should not then ask Casca what had chanced.
    Why, there was a crown offered him; and being 325offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus, and then the people fell a-shouting.
    Brutus
    What was the second noise for?
    Why, for that too.
    Cassius
    They shouted thrice. What was the last cry for?
    Why, for that too.
    Brutus
    Was the crown offered him thrice?
    Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine honest neighbors shouted.
    335Cassius
    Who offered him the crown?
    Why, Antony.
    Brutus
    Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.
    I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it. It was mere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw 340Mark Antony offered him a crown; yet 'twas not a crown, neither; 'twas one of these coronets. And as I told you, he put it by once; but for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again. But to my 345thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by. And still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chapped hands, and threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath, 350because Caesar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Caesar, for he swooned, and fell down at it. And for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air.
    355Cassius
    But soft, I pray you: what, did Caesar swoon?
    He fell down in the marketplace and foamed at mouth, and was speechless.
    Brutus
    'Tis very like. He hath the falling sickness.
    Cassius
    No, Caesar hath it not, but you and I,
    360And honest Casca: we have the falling sickness.
    I know not what you mean by that, but I am sure Caesar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him, and hiss him, according as he pleased, and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the 365theater, I am no true man.
    Brutus
    What said he, when he came unto himself?
    Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet, and offered them his throat 370to cut. And I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues, and so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, if he had done or said anything amiss, he desired their worships to think 375it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches where I stood, cried, "Alas, good soul," and forgave him with all their hearts. But there's no heed to be taken of them. If Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less.
    380Brutus
    And after that, he came thus sad away.
    Ay.
    Cassius
    Did Cicero say anything?
    Ay, he spoke Greek.
    Cassius
    To what effect?
    Nay, and I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i'th'face again. But those that understood him, smiled at one another and shook their heads. But for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Murellus and Flavius, for pulling scarves 390off Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it.
    Cassius
    Will you sup with me tonight, Casca?
    No, I am promised forth.
    395Cassius
    Will you dine with me tomorrow?
    Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating.
    Cassius
    Good, I will expect you.
    Do so. Farewell both.
    Exit.
    400Brutus
    What a blunt fellow is this grown to be?
    He was quick mettle when he went to school.
    Cassius
    So is he now, in execution
    Of any bold, or noble enterprise,
    However he puts on this tardy form.
    405This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,
    Which gives men stomach to digest his words
    With better appetite.
    Brutus
    And so it is.
    For this time I will leave you:
    410Tomorrow, if you please to speak with me,
    I will come home to you, or if you will,
    Come home to me, and I will wait for you.
    Cassius
    I will do so. Till then, think of the world.
    Exit Brutus.
    415Well, Brutus, thou art noble, yet I see
    Thy honorable mettle may be wrought
    From that it is disposed. Therefore it is meet
    That noble minds keep ever with their likes,
    For who so firm that cannot be seduced?
    420Caesar doth bear me hard, but he loves Brutus.
    If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius,
    He should not humor me. I will this night
    In several hands in at his windows throw,
    As if they came from several citizens,
    425Writings, all tending to the great opinion
    That Rome holds of his name, wherein obscurely
    Caesar's ambition shall be glancèd at.
    And after this, let Caesar seat him sure,
    For we will shake him, or worse days endure.
    [1.3]
    Thunder and lightning. Enter Casca and Cicero.
    Cicero
    Good even, Casca. Brought you Caesar home?
    Why are you breathless, and why stare you so?
    435Casca
    Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth
    Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero,
    I have seen tempests when the scolding winds
    Have rived the knotty oaks, and I have seen
    Th'ambitious ocean swell, and rage, and foam,
    440To be exalted with the threatening clouds,
    But never till tonight, never till now,
    Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.
    Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
    Or else the world, too saucy with the gods,
    445Incenses them to send destruction.
    Cicero
    Why, saw you any thing more wonderful?
    Casca
    A common slave, you know him well by sight,
    Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn
    Like twenty torches joined; and yet his hand,
    450Not sensible of fire, remained unscorched.
    Besides--I ha'not since put up my sword--
    Against the Capitol I met a lion,
    Who glazed upon me and went surly by,
    Without annoying me. And there were drawn
    455Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women,
    Transformèd with their fear, who swore they saw
    Men all in fire walk up and down the streets.
    And yesterday, the bird of night did sit
    Even at noonday upon the marketplace,
    460Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies
    Do so conjointly meet, let not men say,
    "These are their reasons, they are natural,"
    For I believe they are portentous things
    Unto the climate that they point upon.
    465Cicero
    Indeed, it is a strange disposèd time.
    But men may construe things after their fashion
    Clean from the purpose of the things themselves.
    Comes Caesar to the Capitol tomorrow?
    Casca
    He doth, for he did bid Antonio
    470Send word to you he would be there tomorrow.
    Cicero
    Good night then, Casca. This disturbèd sky
    Is not to walk in.
    Casca
    Farewell Cicero.
    Exit Cicero.
    Enter Cassius.
    475Cassius
    Who's there?
    Casca
    A Roman.
    Cassius
    Casca, by your voice.
    Casca
    Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this?
    480Cassius
    A very pleasing night to honest men.
    Casca
    Who ever knew the heavens menace so?
    Cassius
    Those that have known the earth so full of faults.
    For my part, I have walked about the streets,
    485Submitting me unto the perilous night,
    And thus unbracèd, Casca, as you see,
    Have bared my bosom to the thunder-stone,
    And when the cross blue lightning seemed to open
    The breast of heaven, I did present myself
    490Even in the aim and very flash of it.
    Casca
    But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens?
    It is the part of men to fear and tremble,
    When the most mighty gods by tokens send
    Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.
    495Cassius
    You are dull, Casca, And those sparks of life
    That should be in a Roman you do want,
    Or else you use not. You look pale, and gaze,
    And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder,
    500To see the strange impatience of the heavens.
    But if you would consider the true cause
    Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts,
    Why birds and beasts from quality and kind,
    Why old men, fools, and children calculate,
    505Why all these things change from their ordinance,
    Their natures and preformèd faculties
    To monstrous quality--why, you shall find
    That heaven hath infused them with these spirits
    To make them instruments of fear and warning
    510Unto some monstrous state.
    Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man,
    Most like this dreadful night,
    That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars,
    As doth the lion in the Capitol,
    515A man no mightier than thyself or me
    In personal action, yet prodigious grown
    And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.
    Casca
    'Tis Caesar that you mean. Is it not, Cassius?
    520Cassius
    Let it be who it is, for Romans now
    Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors.
    But woe the while, our fathers' minds are dead,
    And we are governed with our mothers' spirits.
    Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish.
    525Casca
    Indeed, they say, the senators tomorrow
    Mean to establish Caesar as a king,
    And he shall wear his crown by sea and land
    In every place, save here in Italy.
    Cassius
    I know where I will wear this dagger then:
    530Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius.
    Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong,
    Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat.
    Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass,
    Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron
    535Can be retentive to the strength of spirit,
    But life, being weary of these worldly bars,
    Never lacks power to dismiss itself.
    If I know this, know all the world besides,
    That part of tyranny that I do bear
    540I can shake off at pleasure.
    Thunder still.
    Casca
    So can I:
    So every bondman in his own hand bears
    The power to cancel his captivity.
    Cassius
    And why should Caesar be a tyrant then?
    545Poor man, I know he would not be a wolf,
    But that he sees the Romans are but sheep;
    He were no lion, were not Romans hinds.
    Those that with haste will make a mighty fire
    Begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome,
    550What rubbish and what offal, when it serves
    For the base matter to illuminate
    So vile a thing as Caesar! But, O grief,
    Where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this
    Before a willing bondman; then I know
    555My answer must be made. But I am armed,
    And dangers are to me indifferent.
    You speak to Casca, and to such a man
    That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand.
    Be factious for redress of all these griefs,
    560And I will set this foot of mine as far
    As who goes farthest.
    Cassius
    There's a bargain made.
    Now know you, Casca, I have moved already
    Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans
    565To undergo with me an enterprise
    Of honorable dangerous consequence,
    And I do know by this, they stay for me
    In Pompey's porch. For now, this fearful night,
    There is no stir or walking in the streets,
    570And the complexion of the element
    In favor's like the work we have in hand:
    Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.
    Enter Cinna.
    Stand close awhile, for here comes one in 575haste.
    Cassius
    'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait;
    He is a friend. Cinna, where haste you so?
    To find out you. Who's that, Metellus Cimber?
    580Cassius
    No, it is Casca, one incorporate
    To our attempts. Am I not stayed for, Cinna?
    I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this?
    There's two or three of us have seen strange sights.
    585Cassius
    Am I not stayed for? Tell me.
    Yes, you are. O Cassius, if you could
    But win the noble Brutus to our party--
    Cassius
    Be you content. Good Cinna, take this paper,
    590And look you lay it in the praetor's chair,
    Where Brutus may but find it. And throw this
    In at his window. Set this up with wax
    Upon old Brutus' statue. All this done,
    Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us.
    595Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?
    All but Metellus Cimber, and he's gone
    To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie,
    And so bestow these papers as you bade me.
    Cassius
    That done, repair to Pompey's theater.
    600Exit Cinna.
    Come, Casca, you and I will yet, ere day,
    See Brutus at his house. Three parts of him
    Is ours already, and the man entire
    Upon the next encounter yields him ours.
    Oh, he sits high in all the people's hearts,
    And that which would appear offense in us,
    His countenance, like richest alchemy,
    Will change to virtue and to worthiness.
    Cassius
    Him and his worth and our great need of him
    610You have right well conceited. Let us go,
    For it is after midnight, and ere day,
    We will awake him and be sure of him.
    Exeunt.
    2.1
    615Enter Brutus in his orchard.
    Brutus
    What, Lucius, ho!
    I cannot, by the progress of the stars,
    Give guess how near to day-- Lucius, I say!
    I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.
    620When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say! What, Lucius!
    Enter Lucius.
    Lucius
    Called you, my lord?
    Brutus
    Get me a taper in my study, Lucius.
    When it is lighted, come and call me here.
    625Lucius
    I will, my Lord.
    Exit.
    Brutus
    It must be by his death, and for my part,
    I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
    But for the general. He would be crowned.
    How that might change his nature, there's the question.
    630It is the bright day that brings forth the adder,
    And that craves wary walking. Crown him that,
    And then I grant we put a sting in him
    That at his will he may do danger with.
    Th'abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
    635Remorse from power, and to speak truth of Caesar,
    I have not known when his affections swayed
    More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof
    That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
    Whereto the climber upward turns his face,
    640But when he once attains the upmost round,
    He then unto the ladder turns his back,
    Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
    By which he did ascend. So Caesar may.
    Then lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel
    645Will bear no color for the thing he is,
    Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented,
    Would run to these and these extremities;
    And therefore think him as a serpent's egg,
    Which hatched would, as his kind, grow mischievous,
    650And kill him in the shell.
    Enter Lucius.
    Lucius
    The taper burneth in your closet, sir.
    Searching the window for a flint, I found
    This paper, thus sealed up, and I am sure
    655It did not lie there when I went to bed.
    Gives him the letter.
    Brutus
    Get you to bed again; it is not day.
    Is not tomorrow, boy, the first of March?
    Lucius
    I know not, sir.
    660Brutus
    Look in the calender, and bring me word.
    Lucius
    I will, sir.
    Exit.
    Brutus
    The exhalations, whizzing in the air,
    Give so much light that I may read by them.
    Opens the letter and reads.
    "Brutus, thou sleep'st. Awake, and see thyself.
    Shall Rome, etc. Speak, strike, redress!"
    "Brutus, thou sleep'st. Awake."
    Such instigations have been often dropped
    Where I have took them up.
    "Shall Rome, etc."
    Thus must I piece it out:
    Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What Rome?
    My ancestors did from the streets of Rome
    The Tarquin drive, when he was called a king.
    "Speak, strike, redress!"
    Am I entreated
    675To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise,
    If the redress will follow, thou receivest
    Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus.
    Enter Lucius.
    Lucius
    Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.
    680Knock within.
    Brutus
    'Tis good. Go to the gate, somebody knocks:
    [Exit Lucius.]
    Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar,
    I have not slept.
    Between the acting of a dreadful thing
    685And the first motion, all the interim is
    Like a phantasma or a hideous dream:
    The genius and the mortal instruments
    Are then in council, and the state of man,
    Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
    690The nature of an insurrection.
    Enter Lucius.
    Lucius
    Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door,
    Who doth desire to see you.
    Brutus
    Is he alone?
    695Lucius
    No, sir. There are more with him.
    Brutus
    Do you know them?
    Lucius
    No, sir. Their hats are plucked about their ears,
    And half their faces buried in their cloaks,
    That by no means I may discover them
    700By any mark of favor.
    Brutus
    Let 'em enter.
    [Exit Lucius.]
    They are the faction. O conspiracy,
    Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
    When evils are most free? O then, by day
    705Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough
    To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy!
    Hide it in smiles and affability!
    For if thou put thy native semblance on,
    Not Erebus itself were dim enough
    710To hide thee from prevention.
    Enter the Conspirators, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus, and Trebonius.
    Cassius
    I think we are too bold upon your rest.
    Good morrow, Brutus. Do we trouble you?
    715Brutus
    I have been up this hour, awake all night.
    Know I these men that come along with you?
    Cassius
    Yes, every man of them, and no man here
    But honors you, and every one doth wish
    You had but that opinion of yourself
    720Which every noble Roman bears of you.
    This is Trebonius.
    Brutus
    He is welcome hither.
    Cassius
    This, Decius Brutus.
    Brutus
    He is welcome too.
    725Cassius
    This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.
    Brutus
    They are all welcome.
    What watchful cares do interpose themselves
    Betwixt your eyes and night?
    730Cassius
    Shall I entreat a word?
    They whisper.
    Decius
    Here lies the east. Doth not the day break here?
    No.
    O pardon, sir, it doth; and yon gray lines
    735That fret the clouds are messengers of day.
    You shall confess that you are both deceived.
    Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises,
    Which is a great way growing on the south,
    Weighing the youthful season of the year.
    740Some two months hence, up higher toward the north
    He first presents his fire, and the high east
    Stands as the Capitol, directly here.
    Brutus
    Give me your hands all over, one by one.
    Cassius
    And let us swear our resolution.
    745Brutus
    No, not an oath. If not the face of men,
    The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse--
    If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
    And every man hence, to his idle bed.
    So let high-sighted tyranny range on,
    750Till each man drop by lottery. But if these,
    As I am sure they do, bear fire enough
    To kindle cowards and to steel with valor
    The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,
    What need we any spur but our own cause
    755To prick us to redress? What other bond
    Than secret Romans that have spoke the word
    And will not palter? And what other oath,
    Than honesty to honesty engaged,
    That this shall be, or we will fall for it.
    760Swear priests and cowards, and men cautelous,
    Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls
    That welcome wrongs. Unto bad causes swear
    Such creatures as men doubt, but do not stain
    The even virtue of our enterprise,
    765Nor th'insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
    To think that or our cause or our performance
    Did need an oath, when every drop of blood
    That every Roman bears--and nobly bears--
    Is guilty of a several bastardy,
    770If he do break the smallest particle
    Of any promise that hath passed from him.
    Cassius
    But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him?
    I think he will stand very strong with us.
    Let us not leave him out.
    775Cinna
    No, by no means.
    Metellus
    O let us have him, for his silver hairs
    Will purchase us a good opinion
    And buy men's voices to commend our deeds.
    It shall be said his judgment ruled our hands.
    780Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear,
    But all be buried in his gravity.
    Brutus
    Oh, name him not; let us not break with him,
    For he will never follow anything
    That other men begin.
    785Cassius
    Then leave him out.
    Casca
    Indeed, he is not fit.
    Decius
    Shall no man else be touched but only Caesar?
    Cassius
    Decius well urged. I think it is not meet
    Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar,
    790Should outlive Caesar. We shall find of him
    A shrewd contriver. And you know, his means,
    If he improve them, may well stretch so far
    As to annoy us all: which to prevent,
    Let Antony and Caesar fall together.
    795Brutus
    Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
    To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
    Like wrath in death, and envy afterwards;
    For Antony is but a limb of Caesar.
    Let's be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
    800We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar,
    And in the spirit of men there is no blood.
    Oh, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,
    And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,
    Caesar must bleed for it. And, gentle friends,
    805Let's kill him boldly but not wrathfully;
    Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
    Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.
    And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,
    Stir up their servants to an act of rage
    810And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make
    Our purpose necessary and not envious;
    Which so appearing to the common eyes,
    We shall be called purgers, not murderers.
    And for Mark Antony, think not of him,
    815For he can do no more than Caesar's arm,
    When Caesar's head is off.
    Cassius
    Yet I fear him,
    For in the engrafted love he bears to Caesar--
    Brutus
    Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him.
    820If he love Caesar, all that he can do
    Is to himself: take thought, and die for Caesar.
    And that were much he should, for he is given
    To sports, to wildness, and much company.
    Trebonius
    There is no fear in him. Let him not die,
    825For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter.
    Clock strikes.
    Brutus
    Peace! Count the clock.
    Cassius
    The clock hath stricken three.
    Trebonius
    'Tis time to part.
    830Cassius
    But it is doubtful yet
    Whether Caesar will come forth today or no.
    For he is superstitious grown of late,
    Quite from the main opinion he held once
    Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies.
    835It may be these apparent prodigies,
    The unaccustomed terror of this night,
    And the persuasion of his augurers
    May hold him from the Capitol today.
    Decius
    Never fear that. If he be so resolved
    840I can o'ersway him. For he loves to hear
    That unicorns may be betrayed with trees,
    And bears with glasses; elephants, with holes;
    Lions, with toils; and men, with flatterers.
    But when I tell him he hates flatterers,
    845He says he does, being then most flatterèd.
    Let me work.
    For I can give his humor the true bent,
    And I will bring him to the Capitol.
    Cassius
    Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.
    850Brutus
    By the eighth hour. Is that the uttermost?
    Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.
    Metellus
    Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard,
    Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey.
    I wonder none of you have thought of him.
    855Brutus
    Now, good Metellus, go along by him.
    He loves me well, and I have given him reasons.
    Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him.
    Cassius
    The morning comes upon's. We'll leave you, Brutus.
    860And friends, disperse yourselves, but all remember
    What you have said, and show yourselves true Romans.
    Brutus
    Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily.
    Let not our looks put on our purposes,
    But bear it as our Roman actors do,
    865With untired spirits and formal constancy.
    And so good morrow to you every one.
    Exeunt [all but] Brutus.
    Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no matter.
    Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber.
    870Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies,
    Which busy care draws in the brains of men.
    Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.
    Enter Portia.
    Portia
    Brutus, my Lord.
    875Brutus
    Portia! What mean you? Wherefore rise you now?
    It is not for your health thus to commit
    Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.
    Portia
    Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus,
    Stole from my bed, and yesternight at supper
    880You suddenly arose and walked about,
    Musing and sighing, with your arms across,
    And when I asked you what the matter was,
    You stared upon me, with ungentle looks.
    I urged you further; then you scratched your head
    885And too impatiently stamped with your foot.
    Yet I insisted; yet you answered not,
    But with an angry wafture of your hand
    Gave sign for me to leave you. So I did,
    Fearing to strengthen that impatience
    890Which seemed too much enkindled, and withal
    Hoping it was but an effect of humor,
    Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
    It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep;
    And could it work so much upon your shape
    895As it hath much prevailed on your condition,
    I should not know you Brutus. Dear my Lord,
    Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
    Brutus
    I am not well in health, and that is all.
    Portia
    Brutus is wise, and were he not in health,
    900He would embrace the means to come by it.
    Brutus
    Why so I do. Good Portia, go to bed.
    Portia
    Is Brutus sick? And is it physical
    To walk unbracèd and suck up the humors
    Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,
    905And will he steal out of his wholesome bed
    To dare the vile contagion of the night,
    And tempt the rheumy and unpurgèd air
    To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus.
    You have some sick offense within your mind,
    910Which by the right and virtue of my place
    I ought to know of. And upon my knees,
    I charm you, by my once-commended beauty,
    By all your vows of love, and that great vow
    Which did incorporate and make us one,
    915That you unfold to me, your self, your half,
    Why you are heavy, and what men tonight
    Have had resort to you. For here have been
    Some six or seven who did hide their faces
    Even from darkness.
    920Brutus
    Kneel not, gentle Portia.
    Portia
    I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
    Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,
    Is it excepted, I should know no secrets
    That appertain to you? Am I your self,
    925But as it were in sort, or limitation,
    To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,
    And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs
    Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
    Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.
    930Brutus
    You are my true and honorable wife,
    As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
    That visit my sad heart.
    Portia
    If this were true, then should I know this secret.
    I grant I am a woman, but withal
    935A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife.
    I grant I am a woman, but withal
    A woman well reputed, Cato's daughter.
    Think you I am no stronger than my sex
    Being so fathered, and so husbanded?
    940Tell me your counsels; I will not disclose 'em.
    I have made strong proof of my constancy,
    Giving myself a voluntary wound
    Here, in the thigh. Can I bear that with patience
    And not my husband's secrets?
    945Brutus
    O ye gods!
    Render me worthy of this noble wife.
    Knock.
    Hark, hark, one knocks! Portia go in awhile,
    And by and by thy bosom shall partake
    The secrets of my heart.
    950All my engagements I will construe to thee,
    All the charactery of my sad brows.
    Leave me with haste.
    Exit Portia.
    Enter Lucius and Ligarius.
    Lucius, who's that knocks.
    955Lucius
    Here is a sick man that would speak with you.
    Brutus
    Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.
    Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius, how?
    Ligarius
    Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue.
    Brutus
    O what a time have you chose out, brave Caius,
    960To wear a kerchief. Would you were not sick!.
    Ligarius
    I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
    Any exploit worthy the name of honor.
    Brutus
    Such an exploit have I in hand Ligarius,
    Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.
    965Ligarius
    By all the gods that Romans bow before,
    I here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome,
    Brave son, derived from honorable loins,
    Thou like an exorcist hast conjured up
    My mortifièd spirit. Now bid me run,
    970And I will strive with things impossible,
    Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?
    Brutus
    A piece of work that will make sick men whole.
    Ligarius
    But are not some whole, that we must make sick?
    975Brutus
    That must we also. What it is my Caius,
    I shall unfold to thee as we are going
    To whom it must be done.
    Ligarius
    Set on your foot,
    And with a heart new-fired, I follow you
    980To do I know not what, but it sufficeth
    That Brutus leads me on.
    Thunder
    Brutus
    Follow me, then.
    Exeunt
    [2.2]
    Thunder and lightning. Enter Julius Caesar in his nightgown.
    985Caesar
    Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight.
    Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,
    "Help, ho, they murder Caesar!" Who's within?
    Enter a servant.
    990Servant
    My Lord.
    Caesar
    Go bid the priests do present sacrifice,
    And bring me their opinions of success.
    Servant
    I will, my lord.
    Exit
    Enter Calpurnia.
    995Calpurnia
    What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth?
    You shall not stir out of your house today.
    Caesar
    Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me
    Ne'er looked but on my back. When they shall see
    The face of Caesar, they are vanishèd.
    1000Calpurnia
    Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
    Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
    Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
    Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
    A lionness hath whelpèd in the streets,
    1005And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead;
    Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds
    In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war,
    Which drizzeled blood upon the Capitol.
    The noise of battle hurtled in the air:
    1010Horses do neigh, and dying men did groan,
    And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.
    O Caesar, these things are beyond all use,
    And I do fear them.
    Caesar
    What can be avoided
    1015Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
    Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these predictions
    Are to the world in general as to Caesar.
    Calpurnia
    When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
    The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes
    1020Caesar
    Cowards die many times before their deaths;
    The valiant never taste of death but once.
    Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
    It seems to me most strange that men should fear,
    Seeing that death, a necessary end,
    1025Will come when it will come.
    Enter a servant.
    Caesar
    What say the augurers?
    Servant
    They would not have you to stir forth today.
    Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
    1030They could not find a heart within the beast.
    Caesar
    The gods do this in shame of cowardice.
    Caesar should be a beast without a heart,
    If he should stay at home today for fear.
    No Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well
    1035That Caesar is more dangerous than he.
    We are two lions littered in one day,
    And I the elder and more terrible;
    And Caesar shall go forth.
    Calpurnia
    Alas, my Lord,
    1040Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
    Do not go forth today. Call it my fear
    That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
    We'll send Mark Antony to the Senate House,
    And he shall say you are not well today.
    1045Let me upon my knee prevail in this.
    Caesar
    Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
    And for thy humor, I will stay at home.
    Enter Decius.
    Here's Decius Brutus. He shall tell them so.
    1050Decius
    Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar,
    I come to fetch you to the Senate House.
    Caesar
    And you are come in very happy time
    To bear my greeting to the senators,
    And tell them that I will not come today--
    1055Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, falser:
    I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius.
    Calpurnia
    Say he is sick.
    Caesar
    Shall Caesar send a lie?
    Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far
    1060To be afeard to tell gray-beards the truth?
    Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.
    Decius
    Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
    Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so.
    Caesar
    The cause is in my will; I will not come.
    1065That is enough to satisfy the Senate.
    But for your private satisfaction,
    Because I love you, I will let you know.
    Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
    She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
    1070Which like a fountain with an hundred spouts
    Did run pure blood, and many lusty Romans
    Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.
    And these does she apply for warnings, and portents,
    And evils imminent; and on her knee
    1075Hath begged that I will stay at home today.
    Decius
    This dream is all amiss interpreted:
    It was a vision fair and fortunate.
    Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
    In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
    1080Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
    Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
    For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
    This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.
    Caesar
    And this way have you well expounded it.
    1085Decius
    I have, when you have heard what I can say,
    And know it now: the Senate have concluded
    To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
    If you shall send them word you will not come,
    Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
    1090Apt to be rendered for someone to say,
    "Break up the Senate till another time,
    When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams."
    If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper
    "Lo, Caesar is afraid"?
    1095Pardon me, Caesar, for my dear dear love
    To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
    And reason to my love is liable.
    How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia?
    I am ashamèd I did yield to them.
    1100Give me my robe, for I will go.
    Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, Cinna, and Publius.
    And look where Publius is come to fetch me.
    Publius
    Good morrow, Caesar.
    1105Caesar
    Welcome, Publius.
    What, Brutus, are you stirred so early too?
    Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,
    Caesar was ne'er so much your enemy
    As that same ague which hath made you lean.
    1110What is't o'clock?
    Brutus
    Caesar, 'tis strucken eight.
    I thank you for your pains and courtesy.
    Enter Antony.
    See, Antony, that revels long o' nights,
    1115Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.
    So to most noble Caesar.
    Caesar
    Bid them prepare within.
    I am to blame to be thus waited for.
    Now, Cinna. Now, Metellus. What, Trebonius,
    1120I have an hour's talk in store for you.
    Remember that you call on me today.
    Be near me, that I may remember you.
    Trebonius
    Caesar I will, [aside] and so near will I be,
    That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
    Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me.
    And we, like friends, will straight way go together.
    [aside] That every like is not the same, O Caesar,
    The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon.
    Exeunt
    [2.3]
    Enter Artemidorus [reading a paper].
    1130Artemidorus
    "Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber. Decius Brutus loves thee not. Thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Caesar. If thou be'est not 1135immortal, look about you. Security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee.
    Thy lover, Artemidorus."
    Here will I stand, till Caesar pass along,
    And as a suitor will I give him this.
    1140My heart laments that virtue cannot live
    Out of the teeth of emulation.
    If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayst live;
    If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.
    Exit.
    [2.4]
    Enter Portia and Lucius.
    1145Portia
    I prithee, boy, run to the Senate House.
    Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.
    Why dost thou stay?
    Lucius
    To know my errand, madam.
    Portia
    I would have had thee there and here again
    1150Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.
    O constancy, be strong upon my side!
    Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue.
    I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.
    How hard it is for women to keep counsel.
    1155Art thou here yet?
    Lucius
    Madam, what should I do?
    Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
    And so return to you, and nothing else?
    Portia
    Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,
    1160For he went sickly forth, and take good note
    What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.
    Hark, boy, what noise is that?
    Lucius
    I hear none, madam.
    Portia
    Prithee, listen well:
    1165I heard a bustling rumor, like a fray,
    And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
    Lucius
    Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
    Enter the Soothsayer.
    Portia
    Come hither, fellow. Which way hast thou been?
    1170Soothsayer
    At mine own house, good lady.
    Portia
    What is't o'clock?
    Soothsayer
    About the ninth hour, lady.
    Portia
    Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol?
    Soothsayer
    Madam, not yet. I go to take my stand
    1175To see him pass on to the Capitol.
    Portia
    Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?
    Soothsayer
    That I have, lady, if it will please Caesar
    To be so good to Caesar as to hear me:
    I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
    1180Portia
    Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?
    Soothsayer
    None that I know will be; much that I fear may chance.
    Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow.
    1185The throng that follows Caesar at the heels
    Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,
    Will crowd a feeble man almost to death.
    I'll get me to a place more void, and there
    Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.
    1190Portia
    I must go in. Ay me! How weak a thing
    The heart of woman is! O Brutus,
    The Heavens speed thee in thine enterprise.
    Sure the boy heard me. Brutus hath a suit
    1195That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint!
    Run Lucius, and commend me to my lord!
    Say I am merry. Come to me again,
    And bring me word what he doth say to thee.
    Exeunt
    [3.1]
    1200Flourish.
    Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Artemidorus, Publius, [Popilius Lena,] and the Soothsayer.
    Caesar
    The ides of March are come.
    1205Soothsayer
    Ay, Caesar, but not gone.
    Artemidorus
    Hail, Caesar! Read this schedule.
    Decius
    Trebonius doth desire you to o'erread,
    At your best leisure, this his humble suit.
    Artemidorus
    O Caesar, read mine first, for mine's a suit
    1210That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.
    Caesar
    What touches us ourself shall be last served.
    Artemidorus
    Delay not Caesar, read it instantly!
    Caesar
    What, is the fellow mad?
    Publius
    Sirrah, give place.
    1215Cassius
    What, urge you your petitions in the street?
    Come to the Capitol.
    [Caesar and his train move away.]
    Popilius
    I wish your enterprise today may thrive.
    Cassius
    What enterprise, Popilius?
    Popilius
    Fare you well.
    [moves toward Caesar]
    1220Brutus
    What said Popilius Lena?
    Cassius
    He wished today our enterprise might thrive:
    I fear our purpose is discoverèd.
    Brutus
    Look how he makes to Caesar: mark him.
    Cassius
    Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
    1225Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
    Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
    For I will slay myself.
    Brutus
    Cassius, be constant.
    Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes,
    1230For look he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
    Cassius
    Trebonius knows his time, for look you, Brutus,
    He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
    [Exeunt Antony and Trebonius.]
    Decius
    Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
    And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
    1235Brutus
    He is addressed. Press near, and second him.
    Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
    Caesar
    Are we all ready? What is now amiss,
    That Caesar and his senate must redress?
    Metellus
    Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar!
    1240Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
    An humble heart.
    Caesar
    I must prevent thee, Cimber.
    These couchings and these lowly courtesies
    Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
    1245And turn preordinance and first decree
    Into the lane of children. Be not fond
    To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
    That will be thawed from the true quality
    With that which melteth fools--I mean sweet words,
    1250Low-crookèd curtsies, and base spaniel fawning.
    Thy brother by decree is banishèd.
    If thou doest bend, and pray, and fawn for him,
    I spurn thee like a cur out of my way!
    Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
    1255Will he be satisfied.
    Metellus
    Is there no voice more worthy than my own
    To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear
    For the repealing of my banished brother?
    Brutus
    I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar,
    1260Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may
    Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
    Caesar
    What, Brutus?
    Cassius
    Pardon, Caesar! Caesar, pardon!
    As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall
    1265To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
    Caesar
    I could be well moved, if I were as you.
    If I could pray to move, prayers would move me.
    But I am constant as the northern star,
    Of whose true fixed and resting quality,
    1270There is no fellow in the firmament.
    The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks;
    They are all fire, and every one doth shine;
    But there's but one in all doth hold his place.
    So in the world: 'tis furnished well with men,
    1275And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
    Yet in the number I do know but one
    That unassailable holds on his rank
    Unshaked of motion, and that I am he,
    Let me a little show it, even in this:
    1280That I was constant Cimber should be banished,
    And constant do remain to keep him so.
    O Caesar--
    Caesar
    Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
    Decius
    Great Caesar--
    1285Caesar
    Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
    Speak, hands, for me!
    They stab Caesar.
    Caesar
    Et tu Brutè? --Then fall, Caesar!
    Dies
    Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
    1290Run hence! Proclaim! Cry it about the streets!
    Cassius
    Some to the common pulpits and cry out!
    Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!
    Brutus
    People and senators, be not affrighted.
    Fly not! Stand still! Ambition's debt is paid.
    Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
    Decius
    And Cassius too.
    Brutus
    Where's Publius?
    Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
    Metellus
    Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's
    1300Should chance--
    Brutus
    Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer.
    There is no harm intended to your person,
    Nor to no Roman else. So tell them, Publius.
    Cassius
    And leave us, Publius, lest that the people
    1305Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
    Brutus
    Do so, and let no man abide this deed
    But we the doers.
    Enter Trebonius.
    Cassius
    Where is Antony?
    1310Trebonius
    Fled to his house amazed.
    Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run
    As it were doomsday.
    Brutus
    Fates, we will know your pleasures.
    That we shall die, we know. 'Tis but the time
    1315And drawing days out that men stand upon.
    Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
    Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
    Grant that, and then is death a benefit.
    So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridged
    1320His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
    And let us bathe our hands in Caesars blood
    Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords.
    Then walk we forth, even to the marketplace,
    And waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
    1325Let's all cry, "Peace, freedom, and liberty!"
    Cassius
    Stoop then, and wash. How many ages hence
    Shall this our lofty scene be acted o'er,
    In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
    How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
    1330That now on Pompey's basis lies along,
    No worthier than the dust!
    Cassius
    So oft as that shall be,
    So often shall the knot of us be called
    The men that gave their country liberty.
    What, shall we forth?
    Cassius
    Ay, every man away.
    Brutus shall lead, and we will grace his heels
    With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
    Enter a servant.
    Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's.
    Servant
    Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel.
    Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down,
    And being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
    "Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
    1345Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving.
    Say I love Brutus, and I honor him;
    Say I feared Caesar, honored him, and loved him.
    If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
    May safely come to him, and be resolved
    1350How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
    Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead
    So well as Brutus living, but will follow
    The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
    Thorough the hazards of this untrod state,
    1355With all true faith."
    So says my master Antony.
    Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
    I never thought him worse.
    Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
    He shall be satisfied, and by my honor
    1360Depart untouched.
    Servant
    I'll fetch him presently.
    Exit servant.
    I know that we shall have him well to friend.
    Cassius
    I wish we may, but yet have I a mind
    That fears him much, and my misgiving still
    1365Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
    Enter Antony.
    But here comes Antony: Welcome, Mark Antony.
    O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low?
    1370Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
    Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
    I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
    Who else must be let blood, who else is rank;
    If I myself, there is no hour so fit
    1375As Caesar's death's hour, nor no instrument
    Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
    With the most noble blood of all this world.
    I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
    Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
    1380Fulfill your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
    I shall not find myself so apt to die;
    No place will please me so, no mean of death,
    As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
    The choice and master spirits of this age.
    O Antony! Beg not your death of us.
    Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
    As by our hands and this our present act
    You see we do. Yet see you but our hands
    And this, the bleeding business they have done.
    1390Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful,
    And pity to the general wrong of Rome--
    As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity--
    Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
    To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony.
    1395Our arms in strength of malice, and our hearts
    Of brothers' temper, do receive you in,
    With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
    Cassius
    Your voice shall be as strong as any man's,
    In the disposing of new dignities.
    Only be patient, till we have appeased
    The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
    And then we will deliver you the cause
    Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,
    Have thus proceeded.
    1405Antony
    I doubt not of your wisdom.
    Let each man render me his bloody hand.
    First, Marcus Brutus. will I shake with you;
    Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
    Now, Decius Brutus yours; now yours, Metellus;
    1410Yours, Cinna; and my valiant Casca, yours;
    Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.
    Gentlemen all. Alas, what shall I say?
    My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
    That one of two bad ways you must conceit me:
    1415Either a coward, or a flatterer.
    That I did love thee, Caesar, oh, 'tis true!
    If then thy spirit look upon us now,
    Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death
    To see thy Antony making his peace,
    1420Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes--
    Most noble -- in the presence of thy corpse?
    Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
    Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
    It would become me better, than to close
    1425In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
    Pardon me Julius! Here was't thou bayed, brave hart,
    Here did'st thou fall, and here thy hunters stand
    Signed in thy spoil and crimsoned in thy Lethe.
    O world! Thou wast the forest to this hart,
    1430And this indeed, O world, the heart of thee!
    How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
    Dost thou here lie!
    Cassius
    Mark Antony--
    Antony
    Pardon me, Caius Cassius.
    1435The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
    Then in a friend it is cold modesty.
    Cassius
    I blame you not for praising Caesar so,
    But what compact mean you to have with us?
    Will you be pricked in number of our friends,
    1440Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
    Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed
    Swayed from the point by looking down on Caesar.
    Friends am I with you all, and love you all,
    Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons,
    1445Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
    Or else were this a savage spectacle.
    Our reasons are so full of good regard
    That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
    You should be satisfied.
    1450Antony
    That's all I seek,
    And am moreover suitor that I may
    Produce his body to the marketplace,
    And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
    Speak in the order of his funeral.
    You shall, Mark Antony.
    Cassius
    Brutus, a word with you:
    You know not what you do! Do not consent
    That Antony speak in his funeral.
    Know you how much the people may be moved
    1460By that which he will utter?
    Brutus
    By your pardon:
    I will myself into the pulpit first,
    And show the reason of our Caesar's death.
    What Antony shall speak, I will protest
    1465He speaks by leave and by permission,
    And that we are contented Caesar shall
    Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
    It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
    Cassius
    I know not what may fall. I like it not.
    Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body.
    You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
    But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,
    And say you do't by our permission.
    Else shall you not have any hand at all
    1475About 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.
    Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
    [Exeunt all but] 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
    1485That ever livèd in the tide of times.
    Woe to the hand that shed this costly 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:
    1490A curse shall light upon the limbs of men,
    Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
    Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
    Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
    And dreadful objects so familiar,
    1495That mothers shall but smile when they behold
    Their infants quartered with the hands of war,
    All pity choked with custom of fell deeds;
    And Caesar's spirit ranging for revenge,
    With Atè by his side come hot from hell,
    1500Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice,
    Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war,
    That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
    With carrion men, groaning for burial.
    Enter Octavius' servant.
    1505You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?
    Servant
    I do, Mark 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--
    1510O Caesar!
    Thy heart is big. Get thee apart and weep.
    Passion I see is catching, for mine eyes,
    Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,
    Begin to water. Is thy master coming?
    1515Servant
    He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.
    Post back with speed, And tell him what hath chanced.
    Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
    No Rome of safety for Octavius yet.
    1520Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay awhile;
    Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corpse
    Into the marketplace. There shall I try
    In my oration how the people take
    The cruel issue of these bloody men,
    1525According to the which, thou shalt discourse
    To young Octavius of the state of things.
    Lend me your hand.
    Exeunt
    [3.2]
    Enter Brutus and goes into the pulpit, and Cassius with the plebians.
    1530Plebians
    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.
    Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here;
    1535Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
    And public reasons shall be rendered
    Of Caesar's death.
    1 Plebian
    I will hear Brutus speak.
    2 Plebian
    I will hear Cassius and compare their reasons,
    1540When severally we hear them renderèd.
    [Exit Cassius, with some of the Plebians.]
    3 Plebian
    The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence!
    Brutus
    Be patient till the last.
    Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for 1545mine 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 dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If 1550then 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; 1555as 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; honor, for his valor; and death, for his ambition. Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak, for him 1560have 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.
    None, Brutus, none.
    1565Brutus
    Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The 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.
    1570Enter 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 commonwealth, as which of you shall not? With this, I depart, that as I slew my 1575best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death.
    Live Brutus! Live! Live!
    1 Plebian
    Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
    15802 Plebian
    Give him a statue with his ancestors.
    3 Plebian
    Let him be Caesar.
    4 Plebian
    Caesar's better parts,
    Shall be crowned in Brutus.
    1 Plebian
    We'll bring him to his house 1585with shouts and clamors.
    Brutus
    My countrymen!
    2 Plebian
    Peace! Silence! Brutus speaks.
    1 Plebian
    Peace, ho!
    Brutus
    Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
    1590And for my sake, stay here with Antony.
    Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech
    Tending to Caesar's glories, which Mark Antony
    By our permission is allowed to make.
    I do entreat you, not a man depart,
    1595Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
    1 Plebian
    Stay, ho! And let us hear Mark Antony.
    3 Plebian
    Let him go up into the public chair.
    We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.
    Antony
    For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.
    16004 Plebian
    What does he say of Brutus?
    3 Plebian
    He says, for Brutus' sake
    He finds himself beholding to us all.
    4 Plebian
    'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here!
    1 Plebian
    This Caesar was a tyrant.
    16053 Plebian
    Nay, that's certain:
    We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
    2 Plebian
    Peace! Let us hear what Antony can say.
    Antony
    You gentle Romans--
    All
    Peace, ho! Let us hear him.
    1610Antony
    Friends! Romans! Countrymen! Lend me your ears.
    I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
    The evil that men do lives after them;
    The good is oft interrèd 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 grievous fault,
    And grievously hath Caesar answered it.
    Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest--
    For Brutus is an honorable man,
    1620So are they all, all honorable 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 honorable man.
    1625He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
    Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill.
    Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
    When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept;
    Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
    1630Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
    And Brutus is an honorable man.
    You all did see that on the Lupercal
    I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
    Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
    1635Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
    And sure he is an honorable 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.
    1640What cause withholds 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 Caesar,
    And I must pause till it come back to me.
    16451 Plebian
    Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.
    2 Plebian
    If thou consider rightly of the matter,
    Caesar has had great wrong.
    3 Plebian
    Has he, masters?
    I fear there will a worse come in his place.
    4 Plebian
    Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown;
    1650Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.
    1 Plebian
    If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
    2 Plebian
    Poor soul, his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
    3 Plebian
    There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
    4 Plebian
    Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
    1655Antony
    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,
    1660I 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.
    1665But 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 wounds,
    1670And 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.
    16754 Plebian
    We'll hear the will! Read it, Mark Antony!
    The will! The will! We will hear Caesar's will!
    Have patience, gentle friends. I must not read it.
    It is not meet you know how Caesar loved 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 heirs,
    For if you should, oh, what would come of it?
    4 Plebian
    Read the will! We'll hear it, Antony!
    1685You shall read us the will! Caesar's will!
    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.
    16904 Plebian
    They were traitors! "Honorable men"?
    The will! The testament!
    2 Plebian
    They were villains, murderers! The will! Read the will!
    You will compel me then to read the will?
    1695Then 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?
    Come down!
    2 Plebian
    Descend!
    17003 Plebian
    You shall have leave.
    4 Plebian
    A ring!
    Stand round!
    1 Plebian
    Stand from the hearse! Stand from the body!
    2 Plebian
    Room for Antony! Most noble Antony!
    Nay, press not so upon me! Stand far'er off.
    Stand back! Room! Bear back!
    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,
    1710That 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,
    1715Mark 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.
    1720This 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,
    1725Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
    Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
    Oh, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
    Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
    Whilst bloody treason flourished over us.
    1730Oh, 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!
    Here is himself, marred as you see with traitors.
    17351 Plebian
    Oh, piteous spectacle!
    2 Plebian
    O noble Caesar!
    3 Plebian
    Oh, woeful day!
    4 Plebian
    Oh, traitors! Villains!
    1 Plebian
    Oh, most bloody sight!
    17402 Plebian
    We will be revenged!
    Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!
    Let not a traitor live!
    Antony
    Stay, countrymen!
    1 Plebian
    Peace there! Hear the noble Antony!
    17452 Plebian
    We'll hear him! We'll follow him! We'll die with him.
    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.
    1750What 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,
    1755But, 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 speech
    1760To 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,
    And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
    1765Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
    In every wound of Caesar that should move
    The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
    We'll mutiny!
    1 Plebian
    We'll burn the house of Brutus!
    17703 Plebian
    Away then! Come, seek the conspirators!
    Yet hear me countrymen! Yet hear me speak!
    Peace, ho! Hear Antony! Most noble Antony!
    Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.
    Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?
    1775Alas you know not. I must tell you then:
    You have forgot the will I told you of.
    Most true! The will! Let's stay and hear the will!
    Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal.
    To every Roman citizen he gives,
    1780To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.
    2 Plebian
    Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death!
    3 Plebian
    O royal Caesar!
    Antony
    Hear me with patience.
    All
    Peace ho!
    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 pleasures
    To walk abroad and recreate yourselves.
    1790Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?
    1 Plebian
    Never, never! Come! Away! Away!
    We'll burn his body in the holy place,
    And with the brands fire the traitors' houses!
    Take up the body!
    17952 Plebian
    Go! Fetch fire!
    3 Plebian
    Pluck down benches!
    4 Plebian
    Pluck down forms, windows, anything!
    Exit Plebians [with the body].
    Now let it work! Mischief, thou art a-foot:
    1800Take thou what course thou wilt.
    How now, fellow?
    Enter servant.
    Servant
    Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
    Where is he?
    1805Servant
    He and Lepidus are at Caesar's house.
    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 Cassius
    1810Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
    Belike they had some notice of the people
    How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.
    Exeunt
    [3.3]
    Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him the Plebians.
    Cinna
    I dreamt tonight, that I did feast with Caesar,
    1815And things unluckily charge my fantasy.
    I have no will to wander forth of doors,
    Yet something leads me forth.
    1 Plebian
    What is your name?
    2 Plebian
    Whither are you going?
    18203 Plebian
    Where do you dwell?
    4 Plebian
    Are you a married man or a bachelor?
    2 Plebian
    Answer every man directly.
    1 Plebian
    Ay, and briefly.
    4 Plebian
    Ay, and wisely.
    18253 Plebian
    Ay, and truly, you were best.
    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.
    18302 Plebian
    That's as much as to say, they are fools that marry. You'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed directly!
    Directly I am going to Caesar's funeral.
    1 Plebian
    As a friend or an enemy?
    As a friend.
    2 Plebian
    That matter is answered directly.
    4 Plebian
    For your dwelling--briefly.
    Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.
    3 Plebian
    Your name sir, truly.
    Truly, my name is Cinna.
    1 Plebian
    Tear him to pieces! He's a conspirator!
    I am Cinna the poet! I am Cinna the poet!
    4 Plebian
    Tear him for his bad verses! Tear him for his bad verses!
    I am not Cinna the conspirator.
    4 Plebian
    It is no matter; his name's Cinna. Pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.
    3 Plebian
    Tear him! Tear him! Come! Brands ho! Firebrands to Brutus! To Cassius! Burn all! Some to Decius' house, 1850and some to Casca's! Some to Ligarius'! Away, go!
    Exeunt all the plebians.
    [4.1]
    Enter Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus.
    Antony
    These many then shall die; their names are pricked.
    1855Octavius
    Your brother too must die. Consent you, Lepidus?
    Lepidus
    I do consent.
    Octavius
    Prick him down, Antony.
    Lepidus
    Upon condition Publius shall not live,
    Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.
    1860Antony
    He shall not live. Look, with a spot I damn him.
    But Lepidus, go you to Caesar's house,
    Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine
    How to cut off some charge in legacies.
    Lepidus
    What, shall I find you here?
    1865Octavius
    Or here, or at the Capitol.
    Exit Lepidus
    Antony
    This is a slight, unmeritable man,
    Meet to be sent on errands. Is it fit,
    The three-fold world divided, he should stand
    One of the three to share it?
    1870Octavius
    So you thought him,
    And took his voice who should be pricked to die
    In our black sentence and proscription.
    Antony
    Octavius, I have seen more days than you,
    And though we lay these honors on this man
    1875To ease ourselves of divers sland'rous loads,
    He shall but bear them, as the ass bears gold,
    To groan and sweat under the business,
    Either led or driven, as we point the way;
    And having brought our treasure where we will,
    1880Then take we down his load and turn him off,
    Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears
    And graze in commons.
    Octavius
    You may do your will,
    But he's a tried and valiant soldier.
    1885Antony
    So is my horse, Octavius, and for that
    I do appoint him store of provender.
    It is a creature that I teach to fight,
    To wind, to stop, to run directly on,
    His corporal motion governed by my spirit.
    1890And in some taste is Lepidus but so:
    He must be taught, and trained, and bid go forth--
    A barren-spirited fellow, one that feeds
    On objects, arts, and imitations,
    Which out of use, and staled by other men,
    1895Begin his fashion. Do not talk of him
    But as a property. And now, Octavius,
    Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius
    Are levying powers; we must straight make head.
    Therefore let our alliance be combined,
    1900Our best friends made, our means stretched,
    And let us presently go sit in council
    How covert matters may be best disclosed,
    And open perils surest answerèd.
    Octavius
    Let us do so, for we are at the stake
    1905And bayed about with many enemies,
    And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,
    Millions of mischiefs.
    Exeunt
    [4.2]
    Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, and the army. Titinius and Pindarus meet them.
    1910Brutus
    Stand, ho!
    Lucilius
    Give the word, ho, and stand!
    Brutus
    What now, Lucilius, is Cassius near?
    Lucilius
    He is at hand, and Pindarus is come
    To do you salutation from his master.
    1915Brutus
    He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,
    In his own change or by ill officers,
    Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
    Things done, undone; but if he be at hand
    I shall be satisfied.
    1920Pindarus
    I do not doubt
    But that my noble master will appear
    Such as he is, full of regard and honor.
    Brutus
    He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius,
    How he received you. Let me be resolved.
    1925Lucilius
    With courtesy and with respect enough,
    But not with such familiar instances,
    Nor with such free and friendly conference
    As he hath used of old.
    Brutus
    Thou hast described
    1930A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Lucilius,
    When love begins to sicken and decay,
    It useth an enforcèd ceremony.
    There are no tricks in plain and simple faith,
    But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
    1935Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
    Low march within.
    But when they should endure the bloody spur,
    They fall their crests, and like deceitful jades
    Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?
    1940Lucilius
    They mean this night in Sardis to be quartered.
    The greater part, the horse in general,
    Are come with Cassius.
    Enter Cassius and his powers.
    Brutus
    Hark! he is arrived.
    1945March gently on to meet him.
    Cassius
    Stand, ho!
    Brutus
    Stand, ho! Speak the word along!
    1 Soldier
    Stand!
    2 Soldier
    Stand!
    19503 Soldier
    Stand!
    Cassius
    Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.
    Brutus
    Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies?
    And if not so, how should I wrong a brother?
    Cassius
    Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs,
    1955And when you do them--
    Brutus
    Cassius, be content.
    Speak your griefs softly. I do know you well.
    Before the eyes of both our armies here,
    Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
    1960Let us not wrangle. Bid them move away;
    Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
    And I will give you audience.
    Cassius
    Pindarus,
    Bid our commanders lead their charges off
    1965A little from this ground.
    Brutus
    Lucilius, do you the like, and let no man
    Come to our tent, till we have done our conference.
    Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door.
    Exeunt [all but] Brutus and Cassius.
    1970[4.3]
    Cassius
    That you have wronged me doth appear in this:
    You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella
    For taking bribes here of the Sardians,
    Wherein my letters, praying on his side,
    Because I knew the man, was slighted off
    1975Brutus
    You wronged yourself to write in such a case.
    Cassius
    In such a time as this, it is not meet
    That every nice offense should bear his comment.
    Brutus
    Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
    Are much condemned to have an itching palm,
    1980To sell and mart your offices for gold
    To undeservers.
    Cassius
    I, an itching palm?
    You know that you are Brutus that speaks this,
    Or by the gods, this speech were else your last!
    1985Brutus
    The name of Cassius honors this corruption,
    And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
    Cassius
    Chastisement!
    Brutus
    Remember March, the ides of March remember.
    Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
    1990What villain touched his body that did stab
    And not for justice? What, shall one of us
    That struck the foremost man of all this world
    But for supporting robbers, shall we now
    Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
    1995And sell the mighty space of our large honors
    For so much trash as may be graspèd thus?
    I had rather be a dog and bay the moon
    Than such a Roman.
    Cassius
    Brutus, bait not me!
    2000I'll not endure it. You forget yourself
    To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I,
    Older in practice, abler than yourself
    To make conditions.
    Brutus
    Go to. You are not Cassius.
    2005Cassius
    I am.
    Brutus
    I say, you are not.
    Cassius
    Urge me no more! I shall forget myself.
    Have mind upon your health. Tempt me no farther.
    Brutus
    Away, slight man.
    2010Cassius
    Is't possible?
    Brutus
    Hear me, for I will speak.
    Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
    Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
    Cassius
    O ye gods! Ye gods! Must I endure all this?
    2015Brutus
    All this? Ay, more. Fret till your proud heart break.
    Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
    And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
    Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
    Under your testy humor? By the gods,
    2020You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
    Though it do split you. For from this day forth,
    I'll use you for my mirth, yea for my laughter,
    When you are waspish.
    Cassius
    Is it come to this?
    2025Brutus
    You say you are a better soldier.
    Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
    And it shall please me well. For mine own part,
    I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
    Cassius
    You wrong me every way. 2030You wrong me, Brutus.
    I said an elder soldier, not a better.
    Did I say "better"?
    Brutus
    If you did, I care not.
    Cassius
    When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.
    2035Brutus
    Peace, peace! You durst not so have tempted him.
    Cassius
    I durst not?
    Brutus
    No.
    Cassius
    What? durst not tempt him?
    Brutus
    For your life you durst not.
    2040Cassius
    Do not presume too much upon my love;
    I may do that I shall be sorry for.
    Brutus
    You have done that you should be sorry for.
    There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats,
    For I am armed so strong in honesty
    2045That they pass by me as the idle wind,
    Which I respect not. I did send to you
    For certain sums of gold, which you denied me,
    For I can raise no money by vile means.
    By heaven, I had rather coin my heart
    2050And drop my blood for drachmas than to wring
    From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
    By any indirection. I did send
    To you for gold to pay my legions,
    Which you denied me. Was that done like Cassius?
    2055Should I have answered Caius Cassius so?
    When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
    To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
    Be ready, gods: with all your thunderbolts
    Dash him to pieces.
    2060Cassius
    I denied you not.
    Brutus
    You did.
    Cassius
    I did not. He was but a fool
    That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived my hart.
    A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
    2065But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
    Brutus
    I do not, till you practice them on me.
    Cassius
    You love me not.
    Brutus
    I do not like your faults.
    Cassius
    A friendly eye could never see such faults.
    2070Brutus
    A flatterer's would not, though they do appear
    As huge as high Olympus.
    Cassius
    Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
    Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
    For Cassius is aweary of the world,
    2075Hated by one he loves, braved by his brother,
    Checked like a bondman, all his faults observed,
    Set in a notebook, learned, and conned by rote
    To cast into my teeth. Oh, I could weep
    My spirit from mine eyes. There is my dagger,
    2080And here my naked breast; within, a heart
    Dearer than Pluto's mine, richer than gold.
    If that thou be'est a Roman, take it forth.
    I that denied the gold will give my heart.
    Strike as thou did'st at Caesar, for I know,
    2085When thou did'st hate him worst, thou loved'st him better
    Than ever thou loved'st Cassius.
    Brutus
    Sheath your dagger.
    Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
    Do what you will, dishonor shall be humor.
    2090O Cassius, you are yokèd with a lamb
    That carries anger as the flint bears fire,
    Who much enforcèd, shows a hasty spark,
    And straight is cold again.
    Cassius
    Hath Cassius lived
    2095To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
    When grief and blood ill-tempered vexeth him?
    When I spoke that, I was ill-tempered too.
    Cassius
    Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
    And my heart too.
    2100Cassius
    O Brutus!
    Brutus
    What's the matter?
    Cassius
    Have not you love enough to bear with me,
    When that rash humor which my mother gave me
    Makes me forgetful?
    2105Brutus
    Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth,
    When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
    He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
    Enter a Poet, [Lucilius, and Titinius].
    Let me go in to see the generals!
    2110There is some grudge between 'em. 'Tis not meet
    They be alone.
    Lucilius
    You shall not come to them!
    Nothing but death shall stay me.
    Cassius
    How now? What's the matter?
    For shame, you generals! What do you mean?
    Love, and be friends, as two such men should be,
    For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye.
    Cassius
    Ha, ha! How vilely doth this cynic rhyme!
    Get you hence, sirrah! Saucy fellow, hence!
    2120Cassius
    Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion.
    I'll know his humor, when he knows his time.
    What should the wars do with these jigging fools?
    Companion, hence.
    Cassius
    Away, away be gone.
    Exit Poet
    Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders
    Prepare to lodge their companies tonight.
    Cassius
    And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you
    Immediately to us.
    [Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius]
    Brutus
    Lucius, a bowl of wine.
    2130Cassius
    I did not think you could have been so angry.
    O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
    Cassius
    Of your philosophy you make no use,
    If you give place to accidental evils.
    No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.
    2135Cassius
    Ha? Portia?
    She is dead.
    Cassius
    How scaped I killing, when I crossed you so?
    O insupportable and touching loss!
    Upon what sickness?
    2140Brutus
    Impatient of my absence,
    And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
    Have made themselves so strong--for with her death
    That tidings came--with this she fell distract,
    And, her attendants absent, swallowed fire.
    2145Cassius
    And died so?
    Brutus
    Even so.
    Cassius
    O ye immortal gods!
    Enter Boy with wine and tapers.
    Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine.
    2150In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.
    Drinks
    Cassius
    My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.
    Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup.
    I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love.
    [Drinks. Exit Lucius.]
    Enter Titinius and Messala.
    Come in, Titinius. Welcome, good Messala.
    Now sit we close about this taper here,
    And call in question our necessities.
    Cassius
    Portia, art thou gone?
    2160Brutus
    No more I pray you.
    Messala, I have here received letters
    That young Octavius and Mark Antony
    Come down upon us with a mighty power,
    Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
    2165Messala
    Myself have letters of the self-same tenor.
    With what addition?
    Messala
    That by proscription and bills of outlawry
    Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus
    Have put to death an hundred senators.
    Therein our letters do not well agree:
    Mine speak of seventy senators that died
    By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
    Cassius
    Cicero one?
    Messala
    Cicero is dead,
    And by that order of proscription.
    2175Had you your letters from your wife, my Lord?
    No, Messala.
    Messala
    Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?
    Nothing, Messala.
    Messala
    That methinks is strange.
    Why ask you? Hear you ought of her in yours?
    Messala
    No, my lord.
    Now as you are a Roman, tell me true.
    Messala
    Then like a Roman, bear the truth I tell.
    2185For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
    Why farewell Portia. We must die, Messala.
    With meditating that she must die once,
    I have the patience to endure it now.
    Messala
    Even so great men great losses should endure.
    2190Cassius
    I have as much of this in art as you,
    But yet my nature could not bear it so.
    Well, to our work alive. What do you think
    Of marching to Philippi presently?
    Cassius
    I do not think it good.
    2195Brutus
    Your reason?
    Cassius
    This it is:
    'Tis better that the enemy seek us,
    So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,
    Doing himself offense, whilst we, lying still,
    2200Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness.
    Good reasons must of force give place to better.
    The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground
    Do stand but in a forced affection,
    For they have grudged us contribution.
    2205The enemy, marching along by them,
    By them shall make a fuller number up,
    Come on refreshed, new-added, and encouraged,
    From which advantage shall we cut him off,
    If at Philippi we do face him there,
    2210These people at our back.
    Cassius
    Hear me, good brother--
    Under your pardon. You must note, beside,
    That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
    Our legions are brim full, our cause is ripe.
    2215The enemy increaseth every day;
    We, at the height, are ready to decline.
    There is a tide in the affairs of men,
    Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune;
    Omitted, all the voyage of their life
    2220Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
    On such a full sea are we now afloat,
    And we must take the current when it serves,
    Or lose our ventures.
    Cassius
    Then with your will go on.
    We'll along 2225ourselves and meet them at Philippi.
    The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
    And nature must obey necessity,
    Which we will niggard with a little rest.
    There is no more to say.
    2230Cassius
    No more, good night,
    Early tomorrow will we rise, and hence.
    Lucius!
    Enter Lucius.
    My gown.
    [Exit Lucius.]
    Farewell, good Messala.
    Good night Titinius. Noble, noble Cassius,
    2235Good night, and good repose.
    Cassius
    O my dear brother!
    This was an ill beginning of the night.
    Never come such division 'tween our souls;
    Let it not, Brutus.
    2240Enter Lucius with the gown.
    Brutus
    Everything is well.
    Cassius
    Good night, my lord.
    Brutus
    Good night, good brother.
    Titinius, Messala
    Good night, Lord Brutus.
    2245Brutus
    Farewell, everyone.
    Exeunt [Cassius, Titinius, Messala].
    Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
    Here in the tent.
    Brutus
    What? Thou speak'st drowsily!
    Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'er-watched.
    2250Call Claudio and some other of my men.
    I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.
    Varrus and Claudio!
    Enter Varrus and Claudio.
    Varrus
    Calls my Lord?
    I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep.
    It may be I shall raise you by and by
    On business to my brother Cassius.
    So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.
    I will not have it so. Lie down, good sirs.
    It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.
    Look, Lucius, here's the book I sought for so:
    I put it in the pocket of my gown.
    I was sure your lordship did not give it me.
    Bear with me, good boy. I am much forgetful.
    Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,
    And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
    Ay, my lord, an't please you.
    Brutus
    It does, my boy:
    2270I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
    It is my duty, sir.
    I should not urge thy duty past thy might;
    I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
    I have slept, my lord, already.
    It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again.
    I will not hold thee long. If I do live,
    I will be good to thee.
    Music and a song.
    This is a sleepy tune. O murd'rous slumber,
    2280Layest thou thy leaden mace upon my boy
    That plays the music? Gentle knave, good night.
    I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee.
    If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument.
    I'll take it from thee, and, good boy, good night.
    2285Let me see, let me see. Is not the leaf turned down
    Where I left reading? Here it is I think.
    Enter the Ghost of Caesar.
    How ill this taper burns. Ha! Who comes here?
    I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
    2290That shapes this monstrous apparition.
    It comes upon me! Art thou anything?
    Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil
    That mak'st my blood cold and my hair to stare?
    Speak to me what thou art!
    Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
    Brutus
    Why com'st thou?
    To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
    Well; then I shall see thee again?
    Ay, at Philippi.
    Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then.
    Now I have taken heart, thou vanishest.
    [Exit Ghost.]
    Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.
    Boy! Lucius! Varrus! Claudio! Sirs! Awake!
    Claudio!
    The strings, my lord, are false.
    He thinks he still is at his instrument.
    Lucius, awake!
    My lord?
    Did'st thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst 2310out?
    My Lord, I do not know that I did cry.
    Yes that thou did'st. Did'st thou see anything?
    Nothing my Lord.
    Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudio!
    Fellow! 2315Thou! Awake!
    Varrus
    My lord?
    Claudio
    My lord?
    Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
    Varrus; Claudio
    Did we my Lord?
    2320Brutus
    Ay. Saw you anything?
    No, my lord. I saw nothing.
    Claudio
    Nor I my Lord.
    Go, and commend me to my brother Cassius.
    Bid him set on his powers betimes before,
    2325And we will follow.
    Varrus; Claudio
    It shall be done, my lord.
    Exeunt
    [5.1]
    Enter Octavius, Antony, and their army.
    Octavius
    Now, Antony, our hopes are answerèd.
    2330You said the enemy would not come down
    But keep the hills and upper regions.
    It proves not so: their battles are at hand.
    They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
    Answering before we do demand of them.
    2335Antony
    Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know
    Wherefore they do it. They could be content
    To visit other places, and come down
    With fearful bravery, thinking by this face
    To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage.
    2340But 'tis not so.
    Enter a Messenger.
    Messala
    Prepare you, generals!
    The enemy comes on in gallant show.
    Their bloody sign of battle is hung out,
    2345And something to be done immediately.
    Antony
    Octavius, lead your battle softly on
    Upon the left hand of the even field.
    Octavius
    Upon the right hand, I; keep thou the left.
    Antony
    Why do you cross me in this exigent?
    2350Octavius
    I do not cross you, but I will do so.
    March. Drum. Enter Brutus, Cassius, and their army[: Lucilius, Titinnius, Messala, and others].
    Brutus
    They stand and would have parley.
    Cassius
    Stand fast, Titinius, we must out and talk.
    Octavius
    Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?
    2355Antony
    No, Caesar, we will answer on their charge.
    Make forth! The generals would have some words.
    Octavius
    Stir not until the signal.
    Brutus
    Words before blows. Is it so, countrymen?
    Octavius
    Not that we love words better, as you do.
    2360Brutus
    Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.
    Antony
    In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words.
    Witness the hole you made in Caesar's heart,
    Crying,
    Cassius
    Antony,
    2365The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
    But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
    And leave them honeyless.
    Antony
    Not stingless too?
    Brutus
    Oh yes, and soundless too.
    2370For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony,
    And very wisely threat before you sting.
    Antony
    Villains! You did not so, when your vile daggers
    Hacked one another in the sides of Caesar.
    You showed your teeth like apes, 2375and fawned like hounds,
    And bowed like bondmen, kissing Caesar's feet,
    Whilst damnèd Casca, like a cur, behind
    Struck Caesar on the neck. Oh, you flatterers!
    Cassius
    Flatterers? Now, Brutus, thank yourself!
    2380This tongue had not offended so today,
    If Cassius might have ruled.
    Octavius
    Come, come, the cause. If arguing make us sweat,
    The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
    Look, I draw a sword against conspirators!
    2385When think you that the sword goes up again?
    Never till Caesar's three-and-thirty wounds
    Be well avenged, or till another Caesar
    Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.
    Brutus
    Caesar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands,
    2390Unless thou bring'st them with thee.
    Octavius
    So I hope.
    I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.
    Brutus
    Oh, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,
    Young man, thou couldst not die more honorable.
    2395Cassius
    A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honor,
    Joined with a masker and a reveler.
    Antony
    Old Cassius still.
    Octavius
    Come, Antony! Away!
    Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth!
    2400If you dare fight today, come to the field;
    If not, when you have stomachs!
    Exeunt Octavius, Antony, and army.
    Cassius
    Why, now blow wind! Swell billow! And swim bark!
    2405The storm is up, and all is on the hazard!
    Brutus
    Ho, Lucilius! Hark, a word with you.
    Lucilius stands forth.
    Lucilius
    My lord?
    [Brutus speaks apart with Lucilius.]
    Cassius
    Messala.
    [Messala stands forth.]
    2410Messala
    What says my general?
    Cassius
    Messala,
    This is my birthday, as this very day
    Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala,
    Be thou my witness, that against my will,
    As Pompey was, am I compelled to set
    2415Upon one battle all our liberties.
    You know that I held Epicurus strong
    And his opinion; now I change my mind,
    And partly credit things that do presage.
    Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign
    2420Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perched,
    Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands,
    Who to Philippi here consorted us.
    This morning are they fled away and gone,
    And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites
    2425Fly o'er our heads and downward look on us
    As we were sickly prey. Their shadows seem
    A canopy most fatal, under which
    Our army lies ready to give up the ghost.
    Messala
    Believe not so.
    2430Cassius
    I but believe it partly,
    For I am fresh of spirit and resolved
    To meet all perils very constantly.
    Brutus
    Even so, Lucilius.
    Cassius
    Now, most noble Brutus,
    2435The gods today stand friendly, that we may,
    Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age.
    But since the affairs of men rest still uncertain,
    Let's reason with the worst that may befall.
    If we do lose this battle, then is this
    2440The very last time we shall speak together.
    What are you then determinèd to do?
    Even by the rule of that philosophy
    By which I did blame Cato for the death
    Which he did give himself, I know not how,
    2445But I do find it cowardly and vile,
    For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
    The time of life, arming myself with patience
    To stay the providence of some high powers
    That govern us below.
    2450Cassius
    Then, if we lose this battle,
    You are contented to be led in triumph
    Thorough the streets of Rome?
    No Cassius, no. Think not, thou noble Roman,
    2455That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;
    He bears too great a mind. But this same day
    Must end that work the ides of March begun,
    And whether we shall meet again I know not.
    Therefore our everlasting farewell take.
    2460Forever and forever, farewell Cassius!
    If we do meet again, why we shall smile;
    If not, why then this parting was well made.
    Cassius
    Forever and forever, farewell Brutus!
    If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed;
    2465If not, 'tis true, this parting was well made.
    Why then, lead on. Oh, that a man might know
    The end of this day's business ere it come!
    But it sufficeth that the day will end,
    And then the end is known. Come ho, away!
    Exeunt.
    2470[5.2]
    Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala.
    Brutus
    Ride, ride, Messala! Ride, and give these bills
    Unto the legions, on the other side.
    Loud alarum.
    Let them set on at once, for I perceive
    2475But cold demeanor in Octavio's wing,
    And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
    Ride, ride, Messala! Let them all come down.
    Exeunt.
    [5.3]
    Alarums. Enter Cassius and Titinius.
    Cassius
    O look, Titinius! Look! The villains fly!
    2480Myself have to mine own turned enemy!
    This ensign here of mine was turning back;
    I slew the coward and did take it from him.
    Titinius
    O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early,
    Who having some advantage on Octavius,
    2485Took it too eagerly. His soldiers fell to spoil,
    Whilst we by Antony are all enclosed.
    Enter Pindarus.
    Pindarus
    Fly further off, my Lord! Fly further off!
    Mark Antony is in your tents, my Lord!
    2490Fly, therefore, noble Cassius! Fly far off!
    Cassius
    This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius!
    Are those my tents, where I perceive the fire?
    Titinius
    They are, my Lord.
    Cassius
    Titinius, if thou lovest me,
    2495Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in him
    Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops
    And here again, that I may rest assured
    Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.
    Titinius
    I will be here again even with a thought.
    Exit.
    2500Cassius
    Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill!
    My sight was ever thick. Regard Titinius,
    And tell me what thou not'st about the field.
    [Pindarus goes up.]
    This day I breathèd first. Time is come round,
    And where I did begin, there shall I end.
    2505My life is run his compass. Sirrah, what news?
    Pindarus
    (Above.) O my Lord!
    Cassius
    What news?
    Pindarus
    Titinius is enclosèd round about
    With horsemen that make to him on the spur,
    2510Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him!
    Now, Titinius! Now some light. Oh, he lights too.
    He's ta'en!
    Shout.
    And hark! They shout for joy.
    Cassius
    Come down. Behold no more.
    2515Oh, coward that I am to live so long,
    To see my best friend ta'en before my face.
    Enter Pindarus [from above].
    Come hither, sirrah.
    In Parthia did I take thee prisoner,
    And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,
    2520That whatsoever I did bid thee do,
    Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath,
    Now be a free man, and with this good sword
    That ran through Caesar's bowels, search this bosom.
    Stand not to answer. Here, take thou the hilts,
    2525And when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,
    Guide thou the sword--
    [Pindarus kills him.]
    Caesar, thou art revenged,
    Even with the sword that killed thee.
    Pindarus
    So, I am free, yet would not so have been
    2530Durst I have done my will. O Cassius,
    Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
    Where never Roman shall take note of him.
    [Exit.]
    Enter Titinius and Messala.
    Messala
    It is but change, Titinius, for Octavius
    2535Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,
    As Cassius' legions are by Antony.
    Titinius
    These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
    Messala
    Where did you leave him?
    Titinius
    All disconsolate,
    2540With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
    Messala
    Is not that he that lies upon the ground?
    Titinius
    He lies not like the living. Oh, my heart!
    Messala
    Is not that he?
    Titinius
    No, this was he, Messala,
    2545But Cassius is no more. O setting sun,
    As in thy red rays thou doest sink tonight,
    So in his red blood Cassius' day is set.
    The sun of Rome is set. Our day is gone;
    Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done.
    2550Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.
    Messala
    Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.
    O hateful Error, Melancholy's child,
    Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men
    The things that are not? O Error, soon conceived,
    2555Thou never comst unto a happy birth,
    But kill'st the mother that engendered thee.
    Titinius
    What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pindarus?
    Messala
    Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meet
    The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
    2560Into his ears. I may say "thrusting" it,
    For piercing steel and darts envenomed
    Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
    As tidings of this sight.
    Titinius
    Hie you, Messala,
    2565And I will seek for Pindarus the while.
    [Exit Messala.]
    Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?
    Did I not meet thy friends, and did not they
    Put on my brows this wreath of victory,
    And bid me give it thee? Did'st thou not hear their shouts?
    2570Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything.
    But hold thee, take this garland on thy brow.
    Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
    Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace,
    And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.
    2575By your leave, gods. This is a Roman's part.
    Come Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart.
    Dies.
    Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, young Cato, Strato, Volumnius, and Lucilius.
    Brutus
    Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?
    2580Messala
    Lo yonder, and Titinius mourning it.
    Brutus
    Titinius' face is upward.
    Cato
    He is slain.
    Brutus
    O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet!
    Thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swords
    2585In our own proper entrails.
    Low Alarums.
    Cato
    Brave Titinius!
    Look, whe'er he have not crowned dead Cassius.
    Brutus
    Are yet two Romans living such as these?
    The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!
    2590It is impossible that ever Rome
    Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe more tears
    To this dead man than you shall see me pay.
    I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.
    Come therefore, and to Thasos send his body.
    2595His funerals shall not be in our camp,
    Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come,
    And come young Cato. Let us to the field.
    Labio and Flavio set our battles on.
    'Tis three o'clock, and Romans, yet ere night,
    2600We shall try fortune in a second fight.
    Exeunt.
    [5.4]
    Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, young Cato, Lucilius, and Flavius.
    Brutus
    Yet, countrymen, oh yet, hold up your heads!
    [Exit fighting, followed by Messala and Flavius.]
    What bastard doth not? Who will go with me?
    2605I will proclaim my name about the field.
    I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
    A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend.
    I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
    Enter soldiers and fight.
    Lucilius
    2610And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I!
    Brutus, my country's friend! Know me for Brutus!
    [Young Cato is killed.]
    O young and noble Cato, art thou down?
    Why now thou diest as bravely as Titinius
    And mayst be honor'd, being Cato's son.
    26151 Soldier
    Yield, or thou diest!
    Lucilius
    Only I yield to die.
    There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight.
    Kill Brutus, and be honored in his death.
    1 Soldier
    We must not. A noble prisoner!
    2620Enter Antony.
    2 Soldier
    Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en.
    1 Soldier
    I'll tell the news. Here comes the general.
    Brutus is ta'en! Brutus is ta'en, my lord!
    Antony
    Where is he?
    2625Lucilius
    Safe, Antony. Brutus is safe enough.
    I dare assure thee that no enemy
    Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus.
    The gods defend him from so great a shame!
    When you do find him, or alive or dead,
    2630He will be found like Brutus, like himself.
    Antony
    This is not Brutus, friend, but I assure you,
    A prize no less in worth. Keep this man safe;
    Give him all kindness. I had rather have
    Such men my friends than enemies. Go on,
    2635And see whe'er Brutus be alive or dead,
    And bring us word unto Octavius' tent
    How everything is chanced.
    Exeunt.
    [5.5]
    Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius.
    2640Brutus
    Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.
    Clitus
    Statilius showed the torchlight, but, my lord,
    He came not back. He is or ta'en or slain.
    Brutus
    Sit thee down, Clitus. Slaying is the word;
    2645It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.
    Clitus
    What I, my Lord? No, not for all the world!
    Brutus
    Peace then, no words.
    Clitus
    I'll rather kill myself.
    Brutus
    Hark thee, Dardanius.
    2650Dardanius
    Shall I do such a deed?
    Clitus
    O Dardanius!
    Dardanius
    O Clitus!
    Clitus
    What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
    Dardanius
    To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.
    2655Clitus
    Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
    That it runs over even at his eyes.
    Brutus
    Come hither, good Volumnius. List a word.
    Volumnius
    What says my lord?
    Brutus
    Why this, Volumnius.
    2660The ghost of Caesar hath appeared to me
    Two several times by night: at Sardis once,
    And this last night here in Philippi fields.
    I know my hour is come.
    Volumnius
    Not so, my lord.
    2665Brutus
    Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
    Thou see'st the World, Volumnius, how it goes.
    Our enemies have beat us to the pit.
    Low alarums.
    It is more worthy to leap in ourselves
    Then tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,
    2670Thou know'st that we two went to school together.
    Even for that, our love of old, I prithee,
    Hold thou my sword hilts whilst I run on it.
    Volumnius
    That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
    Alarum still.
    2675Clitus
    Fly! Fly, my Lord! There is no tarrying here!
    Brutus
    Farewell to you, and you, and you, Volumnius.
    Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep.
    Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen,
    My heart doth joy that yet in all my life
    2680I found no man but he was true to me.
    I shall have glory by this losing day
    More then Octavius and Mark Antony
    By this vile conquest shall attain unto.
    So fare you well at once, for Brutus' tongue
    2685Hath almost ended his life's history.
    Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest,
    That have but laboured to attain this hour.
    Alarum. Cry within, "Fly! Fly! Fly!"
    Clitus
    Fly, my Lord! Fly!.
    2690Brutus
    Hence, I will follow.
    [Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius.]
    I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord.
    Thou art a fellow of a good respect;
    Thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it.
    Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
    2695While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
    Strato
    Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord.
    Brutus
    Farewell, good Strato.
    [Runs on his sword.]
    --Caesar, now be still.
    I killed not thee with half so good a will.
    Dies.
    Alarum. Retreat. Enter Antony, Octavius, Messala, 2700Lucilius, and the army.
    Octavius
    What man is that?
    Messala
    My master's man. Strato, where is thy master?
    Strato
    Free from the bondage you are in, Messala.
    The conquerors can but make a fire of him,
    2705For Brutus only overcame himself,
    And no man else hath honor by his death.
    Lucilius
    So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,
    That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true.
    Octavius
    All that served Brutus, I will entertain them.
    2710Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
    Strato
    Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
    Octavius
    Do so, good Messala.
    Messala
    How died my master, Strato?
    Strato
    I held the sword, and he did run on it.
    2715Messala
    Octavius, then take him to follow thee,
    That did the latest service to my master.
    Antony
    This was the noblest Roman of them all.
    All the conspirators save only he
    Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
    2720He only in a general honest thought
    And common good to all made one of them.
    His life was gentle, and the elements
    So mixed in him that nature might stand up,
    And say to all the world, "This was a man!"
    2725Octavius
    According to his virtue, let us use him,
    With all respect and rites of burial.
    Within my tent his bones tonight shall lie,
    Most like a soldier, ordered honorably:
    So call the field to rest, and let's away,
    2730To part the glories of this happy day.
    Exeunt omnes.