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Act 2

Text of Book

Act 2, page 1

Act 2, page 2

Act 2, page 3

Act 2, page 4

Questions

1) What is this act mainly about?

2) When Brutus decides that Caesar must be killed, what does he compare him to?

3) What has Brutus had difficulty doing after speaking with Cassius?

4) Where does Brutus say that conspiracy should hide behind?

5) Which of these is NOT listed by Brutus as a type of person who feels the need to swear oaths?

6) Who does Cassius believe should die with Caesar?

7) When the conspirators leave, what does Brutus instruct them to act like?

8) How does Portia say she's demonstrated her loyalty to Brutus?

9) Who has nightmares about Caesar's death?

10) When hearing the augury's results, what does Caesar compare himself to?

11) What does Artemidorus decide to give Caesar?

12) Which of these does Portia NOT ask Lucius to report?

13) What does Brutus mean in this quote?

"To speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his affections sway'd
More than his reason."Act , Scene , Line

14) What does Portia mean in this quote?

"Dwell I but in the suburbs
Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife."Act , Scene , Line

15) What does Caesar mean in this quote?

"What can be avoided
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar."Act , Scene , Line

16) What does Decius Brutus mean in this quote?

"Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd, for some one to say
'Break up the senate till another time,
When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.'"

17) What does Artemidorus mean in this quote?

"My heart laments that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of emulation."Act , Scene , Line

18) Look where the message to Brutus reads "Speak, strike, redress!" What does "redress" mean in this context?

19) Look where Calpurnia tells Caesar, "Alas, my lord, / Your wisdom is consumed in confidence."

What does "consumed" mean in this context?

20) Look where Decius Brutus says that Calpurnia's dream "Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck / Reviving blood."

What does "signifies" mean in this context?

21) Were there any words that weren't clear to you?

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Act 3, page 0

Table of Contents

ACT III SCENE I Setting: Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.

A crowd of people; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish.Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS, METELLUS CIMBER, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others.

[CASCA first, then the other Conspirators and BRUTUS stab CAESAR]

CAESAR (To the Soothsayer)The ides of March are come
Soothsayer Ay, Caesar; but not gone.
ARTEMIDORUS Hail, Caesar! read this schedule.
DECIUS BRUTUS Trebonius doth desire you to o'erread,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit. 5
ARTEMIDORUS O Caesar, read mine first; for mine's a suit
That 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. 10
CASSIUS What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.
CAESAR goes up to the Senate–House, the rest following
POPILIUS I wish your enterprise to–day may thrive.
CASSIUS What enterprise, Popilius?
POPILIUS Fare you well.
[Advances to CAESAR.]
BRUTUS What said Popilius Lena? 15
CASSIUS He wish'd to–day our enterprise might thrive.
I fear our purpose is discovered.
BRUTUS Look, how he makes to Caesar; mark him.
CASSIUS Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, 20
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.
BRUTUS Cassius, be constant:
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
CASSIUS Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus. 25
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
[Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS.]
DECIUS BRUTUS Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
BRUTUS He is address'd: press near and second him.
CINNA Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. 30
CAESAR Are we all ready? What is now amiss
That Caesar and his senate must redress?
METELLUS CIMBER Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart,––
[Kneeling]
CAESAR I must prevent thee, Cimber. 35
These couchings and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turn pre–ordinance and first decree
Into the law of children. Be not fond,
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood 40
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words,
Low–crooked court'sies and base spaniel–fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished:
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, 45
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.
METELLUS CIMBER Is there no voice more worthy than my own
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear 50
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?
BRUTUS I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar;
Desiring 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, 56
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
CASSIUS 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–fix'd and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
They are all fire and every one doth shine,
But there's but one in all doth hold his place: 65
So in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men,
And 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, 70
Let me a little show it, even in this;
That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
CINNA O Caesar,––
CAESAR Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?
DECIUS BRUTUS Great Caesar,––
CAESAR Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
CASCA Speak, hands for me!
CAESAR Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar!
[Dies]
CINNA Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
CASSIUS Some to the common pulpits, and cry out 80
Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!'
BRUTUS People and senators, be not affrighted;
Fly not; stand stiff: ambition's debt is paid.
CASCA Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
DECIUS BRUTUS And Cassius too. 85
BRUTUS Where's Publius?
CINNA Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
METELLUS CIMBER Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's
Should chance––
BRUTUS Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer; 90
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,
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
BRUTUS Do so: and let no man abide this deed, 95
But we the doers.
Re–enter TREBONIUS.
CASSIUS Where is Antony?
TREBONIUS 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 100
And drawing days out, that men stand upon.
CASSIUS Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
BRUTUS Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridged 105
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Then walk we forth, even to the market–place,
And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads, 110
Let's all cry 'Peace, freedom and liberty!'
CASSIUS Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
BRUTUS How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport, 115
That 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 call'd
The men that gave their country liberty.
DECIUS BRUTUS What, shall we forth?
CASSIUS Ay, every man away: 120
Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
Enter a Servant.
BRUTUS 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; 125
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Say I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him and loved him. 130
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolved
How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead
So well as Brutus living; but will follow 135
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
BRUTUS Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
I never thought him worse. 140
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour,
Depart untouch'd.
Servant I'll fetch him presently.
Exit
BRUTUS I know that we shall have him well to friend.
CASSIUS I wish we may: but yet have I a mind 145
That fears him much; and my misgiving still
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
BRUTUS But here comes Antony.
Re–enter ANTONY.
Welcome, Mark Antony.
ANTONY O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, 150
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
As Caesar's death hour, nor no instrument 155
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,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years, 160
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.
BRUTUS O Antony, beg not your death of us. 165
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:
Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; 170
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:
Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts 175
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.
BRUTUS Only be patient till we have appeased 180
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.
ANTONY I doubt not of your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody hand: 185
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
Now, Decius Brutus, yours: now yours, Metellus;
Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;
Though last, not last in love, yours, good Trebonius. 190
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,
Either a coward or a flatterer.
That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true: 195
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,
To see thy thy Anthony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! in the presence of thy corse? 200
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
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart; 205
Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe.
O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
How like a deer, strucken by many princes, 210
Dost thou here lie!
CASSIUS Mark Antony,––
ANTONY Pardon me, Caius Cassius:
The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
CASSIUS I blame you not for praising Caesar so; 215
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends;
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
ANTONY Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed,
Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Caesar. 220
Friends am I with you all and love you all,
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
BRUTUS Or else were this a savage spectacle:
Our reasons are so full of good regard 225
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.
ANTONY That's all I seek:
And am moreover suitor that I may
Produce his body to the market–place;
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend, 230
Speak in the order of his funeral.
BRUTUS You shall, Mark Antony.
CASSIUS Brutus, a word with you.
Aside to BRUTUS.
You know not what you do: do not consent
That Antony speak in his funeral:
Know you how much the people may be moved 235
By 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
He speaks by leave and by permission, 240
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.
BRUTUS 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
About his funeral: and you shall speak 250
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.
ANTONY Be it so.
I do desire no more.
BRUTUS Prepare the body then, and follow us.
[Exeunt all but ANTONY.]
ANTONY O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, 255
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,–– 260
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue––
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy; 265
Blood and destruction shall be so in use
And dreadful objects so familiar
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds: 270
And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall 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 275
With carrion men, groaning for burial.
Enter a Servant.
You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?
Servant I do, Mark Antony.
ANTONY Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.
Servant He did receive his letters, and is coming; 280
And bid me say to you by word of mouth––
O Caesar!––
[Seeing the body.]
ANTONY 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, 285
Began to water. Is thy master coming?
Servant He lies to–night within seven leagues of Rome.
ANTONY 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; 290
Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile;
Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse
Into the market–place: there shall I try
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men; 295
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.
Exeunt with CAESAR's body.

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Act 3, page 1

Table of Contents

ACT III SCENE II Setting: The Forum.

Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens.

Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Citizens. BRUTUS goes into the pulpit.

Citizens 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; 5
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
And public reasons shall be rendered
Of Caesar's death.
First Citizen I will hear Brutus speak.
Second Citizen I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons,
When severally we hear them rendered. 10
Third Citizen 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 mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, 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 then that friend demand
why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:
––Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;
as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was
valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I
slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his
fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his
ambition. Who is here so base that would be a
bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended.
Who is here so 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. 33
All None, Brutus, none.
BRUTUS Then none have I offended. I have done no more to
Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of
his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not
extenuated, wherein he was worthy, nor his offences
enforced, for which he suffered death. 39
Enter ANTONY and others, 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 best lover for the
good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself,
when it shall please my country to need my death. 46
All Live, Brutus! live, live!
First Citizen Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
Second Citizen Give him a statue with his ancestors.
Third Citizen Let him be Caesar.
Fourth Citizen Caesar's better parts 50
Shall be crown'd in Brutus.
First Citizen We'll bring him to his house
With shouts and clamours.
BRUTUS My countrymen,––
Second Citizen Peace, silence! Brutus speaks.
First Citizen Peace, ho!
BRUTUS Good countrymen, let me depart alone, 55
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:
Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Caesar's glories; which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow'd to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart, 60
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
Exit
First Citizen Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.
Third Citizen 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. 65
Goes into the pulpit
Fourth Citizen What does he say of Brutus?
Third Citizen He says, for Brutus' sake,
He finds himself beholding to us all.
Fourth Citizen Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.
First Citizen This Caesar was a tyrant.
Third Citizen Nay, that's certain:
We are blest that Rome is rid of him. 70
Second Citizen Peace! let us hear what Antony can say.
ANTONY You gentle Romans,––
Citizens Peace, ho! let us hear him.
ANTONY Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them; 75
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it. 80
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest––
For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men––
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me: 85
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? 90
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal 95
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, 100
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me; 105
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.
First Citizen Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.
Second Citizen If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Caesar has had great wrong.
Third Citizen Has he, masters? 110
I fear there will a worse come in his place.
Fourth Citizen Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown;
Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.
First Citizen If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
Second Citizen Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
Third Citizen There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. 116
Fourth Citizen Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
ANTONY But yesterday the word of Caesar might
Have stood against the world; now lies he there.
And none so poor to do him reverence. 120
O masters, if I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men:
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose 125
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men.
But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar;
I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:
Let but the commons hear this testament–– 130
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read––
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills, 135
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.
Fourth Citizen We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.
All The will, the will! we will hear Caesar's will.
ANTONY Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you. 141
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad:
Tis good you know not that you are his heirs; 145
For, if you should, O, what would come of it!
Fourth Citizen Read the will; we'll hear it, Antony;
You shall read us the will, Caesar's will.
ANTONY Will you be patient? will you stay awhile?
I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it: 150
I fear I wrong the honourable men
Whose daggers have stabb'd Caesar; I do fear it.
Fourth Citizen They were traitors: honourable men!
All The will! the testament!
Second Citizen They were villains, murderers: the will! read the will. 155
ANTONY You will compel me, then, to read the will?
Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? and will you give me leave? 160
Several Citizens Come down.
Second Citizen Descend.
Third Citizen You shall have leave.
ANTONY comes down.
Fourth Citizen A ring; stand round.
First Citizen Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.
Second Citizen Room for Antony, most noble Antony. 166
ANTONY Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.
Several Citizens Stand back; room; bear back.
ANTONY If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle: I remember 170
The first time ever Caesar put it on;
Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii:
Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through:
See what a rent the envious Casca made: 175
Through this the well–beloved Brutus stabb'd;
And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Caesar follow'd it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no; 180
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel:
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all;
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, 185
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statua,
Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen! 190
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold 195
Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
First Citizen O piteous spectacle!
Second Citizen O noble Caesar!
Third Citizen O woful day! 200
Fourth Citizen O traitors, villains!
First Citizen O most bloody sight!
Second Citizen We will be revenged.
All Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!
Let not a traitor live!
ANTONY Stay, countrymen. 205
First Citizen Peace there! hear the noble Antony.
Second Citizen We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him.
ANTONY Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
They that have done this deed are honourable: 210
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it: they are wise and honourable,
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you. 215
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:
I am no orator, as Brutus is;
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend; and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him: 220
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,
And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus, 226
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny. 230
All We'll mutiny.
First Citizen We'll burn the house of Brutus.
Third Citizen Away, then! come, seek the conspirators.
ANTONY Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.
All Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony!
ANTONY Why, friends, you go to do you know not what:
Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?
Alas, you know not: I must tell you then:
You have forgot the will I told you of.
All Most true. The will! Let's stay and hear the will. 240
ANTONY Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal.
To every Roman citizen he gives,
To every several man, seventy–five drachmas.
Second Citizen Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death.
Third Citizen O royal Caesar!
ANTONY Hear me with patience.
All Peace, ho!
ANTONY Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours and new–planted orchards,
On this side Tiber; he hath left them you, 250
And to your heirs for ever, common pleasures,
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Caesar! when comes such another?
First Citizen Never, never. Come, away, away!
We'll burn his body in the holy place, 255
And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.
Take up the body.
Second Citizen Go fetch fire.
Third Citizen Pluck down benches.
Fourth Citizen Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.
Exeunt Citizens with the body.
ANTONY Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot, 261
Take thou what course thou wilt!
Enter a Servant
How now, fellow!
Servant Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
ANTONY Where is he?
Servant He and Lepidus are at Caesar's house.
ANTONY And thither will I straight to visit him:
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us any thing.
Servant I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius 269
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
ANTONY Belike they had some notice of the people,
How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.
Exeunt

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Act 3, page 2

Table of Contents

ACT III SCENE III Setting: A street.

Enter CINNA the poet.

CINNA THE POET I dreamt to–night that I did feast with Caesar,
And things unlucky charge my fantasy:
I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.
Enter Citizens.
First Citizen What is your name? 5
Second Citizen Whither are you going?
Third Citizen Where do you dwell?
Fourth Citizen Are you a married man or a bachelor?
Second Citizen Answer every man directly.
First Citizen Ay, and briefly. 10
Fourth Citizen Ay, and wisely.
Third Citizen Ay, and truly, you were best.
CINNA THE POET 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.
Second Citizen That's as much as to say, they are fools that marry:
you'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly.
CINNA THE POET Directly, I am going to Caesar's funeral. 20
First Citizen As a friend or an enemy?
CINNA THE POET As a friend.
Second Citizen That matter is answered directly.
Fourth Citizen For your dwelling,––briefly.
CINNA THE POET Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol. 25
Third Citizen Your name, sir, truly.
CINNA THE POET Truly, my name is Cinna.
First Citizen Tear him to pieces; he's a conspirator.
CINNA THE POET I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 29
Fourth Citizen Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.
CINNA THE POET I am not Cinna the conspirator.
Fourth Citizen It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his
name out of his heart, and turn him going. 34
Third Citizen Tear him, tear him! Come, brands ho! fire–brands:
to Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all: some to Decius'
house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away, go!
Exeunt