Category: rated-5

Posted on by

Act 1, page 2

Table of Contents

ACT I SCENE III Setting: The same. A street.

Thunder and lightning. Enter from opposite sides, CASCA, with his sword drawn, and CICERO.

CICERO Good even, Casca: brought you Caesar home?
Why are you breathless? and why stare you so?
CASCA 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
The ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam,
To be exalted with the threatening clouds:
But never till to–night, never till now,
Did I go through a tempest dropping fire. 10
Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world, too saucy with the gods,
Incenses them to send destruction.
CICERO Why, saw you any thing more wonderful?
CASCA A common slave––you know him well by sight–– 15
Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn
Like twenty torches join'd, and yet his hand,
Not sensible of fire, remain'd unscorch'd.
Besides––I ha' not since put up my sword––
Against the Capitol I met a lion, 20
Who glared upon me, and went surly by,
Without annoying me: and there were drawn
Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women,
Transformed with their fear; who swore they saw
Men all in fire walk up and down the streets. 25
And yesterday the bird of night did sit
Even at noon–day upon the market–place,
Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies
Do so conjointly meet, let not men say
These are their reasons; they are natural;' 30
For, I believe, they are portentous things
Unto the climate that they point upon.
CICERO Indeed, it is a strange–disposed time:
But men may construe things after their fashion,
Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. 35
Come Caesar to the Capitol to–morrow?
CASCA He doth; for he did bid Antonius
Send word to you he would be there to–morrow.
CICERO Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky 39
Is not to walk in.
CASCA Farewell, Cicero.
Exit CICERO.
Enter CASSIUS.
CASSIUS Who's there?
CASCA A Roman.
CASSIUS Casca, by your voice.
CASCA Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this!
CASSIUS 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 walk'd about the streets, 46
Submitting me unto the perilous night,
And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see,
Have bared my bosom to the thunder–stone;
And when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open
The breast of heaven, I did present myself
Even 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 55
Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.
CASSIUS 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, 60
To 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 fool and children calculate, 65
Why all these things change from their ordinance
Their natures and preformed faculties
To monstrous quality,––why, you shall find
That heaven hath infused them with these spirits,
To make them instruments of fear and warning 70
Unto 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, 75
A 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?
CASSIUS Let it be who it is: for Romans now 80
Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors;
But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead,
And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits;
Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish.
CASCA Indeed, they say the senators tomorrow 85
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;
Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius: 90
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,
Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; 95
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
I 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?
Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf,
But that he sees the Romans are but sheep: 105
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,
What rubbish and what offal, when it serves
For the base matter to illuminate 110
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
My answer must be made. But I am arm'd,
And dangers are to me indifferent. 115
CASCA 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,
And I will set this foot of mine as far
As who goes farthest.
CASSIUS There's a bargain made. 120
Now know you, Casca, I have moved already
Some certain of the noblest–minded Romans
To undergo with me an enterprise
Of honourable–dangerous consequence;
And I do know, by this, they stay for me 125
In Pompey's porch: for now, this fearful night,
There is no stir or walking in the streets;
And the complexion of the element
In favour's like the work we have in hand,
Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible. 130
CASCA Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste.
CASSIUS Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait;
He is a friend.
Enter CINNA.
Cinna, where haste you so?
CINNA To find out you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?
CASSIUS No, it is Casca; one incorporate 135
To our attempts. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna?
CINNA I am glad on 't. What a fearful night is this!
There's two or three of us have seen strange sights.
CASSIUS Am I not stay'd for? tell me.
CINNA Yes, you are.
O Cassius, if you could 140
But win the noble Brutus to our party––
CASSIUS Be you content: good Cinna, take this paper,
And 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 145
Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done,
Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us.
Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?
CINNA All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone
To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, 150
And so bestow these papers as you bade me.
CASSIUS That done, repair to Pompey's theatre.
Exit 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.
CASCA O, he sits high in all the people's hearts:
And that which would appear offence 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
You have right well conceited. Let us go,
For it is after midnight; and ere day 163
We will awake him and be sure of him.
Exeunt

Posted on by

Act 2, page 0

Table of Contents

ACT II SCENE I Setting: Rome. BRUTUS's orchard.

Enter BRUTUS.

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.
When, Lucius, when? awake, I say! what, Lucius! 5
Enter LUCIUS.
LUCIUS Call'd you, my lord?
BRUTUS Get me a taper in my study, Lucius:
When it is lighted, come and call me here.
LUCIUS I will, my lord.
Exit
BRUTUS It must be by his death: and for my part, 10
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. He would be crown'd:
How that might change his nature, there's the question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
And that craves wary walking. Crown him?––that;–– 15
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
That at his will he may do danger with.
The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his affections sway'd 20
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber–upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round.
He then unto the ladder turns his back, 25
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
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, 30
Would run to these and these extremities:
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.
Re–enter LUCIUS.
LUCIUS The taper burneth in your closet, sir. 35
Searching the window for a flint, I found
This paper, thus seal'd up; and, I am sure,
It 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 to–morrow, boy, the ides of March? 40
LUCIUS I know not, sir.
BRUTUS Look in the calendar, 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. 45
Opens the letter and reads
Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake, and see thyself.
Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress!
Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake!'
Such instigations have been often dropp'd
Where I have took them up. 50
Shall Rome, &c.' 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 call'd a king.
Speak, strike, redress!' Am I entreated 55
To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise:
If the redress will follow, thou receivest
Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!
Re–enter LUCIUS.
LUCIUS Sir, March is wasted fourteen days.
Knocking within
BRUTUS Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks.
Exit LUCIUS.
Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, 61
I have not slept.
Between the acting of a dreadful thing
And the first motion, all the interim is
Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream: 65
The Genius and the mortal instruments
Are then in council; and the state of man,
Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
The nature of an insurrection.
Re–enter LUCIUS.
LUCIUS Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, 70
Who doth desire to see you.
BRUTUS Is he alone?
LUCIUS No, sir, there are moe with him.
BRUTUS Do you know them?
LUCIUS No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears,
And half their faces buried in their cloaks,
That by no means I may discover them 75
By any mark of favour.
BRUTUS Let 'em enter.
Exit LUCIUS.
They are the faction. O conspiracy,
Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
When evils are most free? O, then by day
Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough 80
To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy;
Hide it in smiles and affability:
For if thou path, thy native semblance on,
Not Erebus itself were dim enough
To hide thee from prevention. 85

Enter the conspirators, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS, CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS

CASSIUS I think we are too bold upon your rest:
Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you?
BRUTUS 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 90
But honours you; and every one doth wish
You had but that opinion of yourself
Which every noble Roman bears of you.
This is Trebonius.
BRUTUS He is welcome hither.
CASSIUS This, Decius Brutus.
BRUTUS He is welcome too.
CASSIUS This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.
BRUTUS They are all welcome.
What watchful cares do interpose themselves
Betwixt your eyes and night? 99
CASSIUS Shall I entreat a word?
BRUTUS and CASSIUS whisper.
DECIUS BRUTUS Here lies the east: doth not the day break here?
CASCA No.
CINNA O, pardon, sir, it doth; and yon gray lines
That fret the clouds are messengers of day.
CASCA You shall confess that you are both deceived. 105
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.
Some two months hence up higher toward the north
He first presents his fire; and the high east 110
Stands, as the Capitol, directly here.
BRUTUS Give me your hands all over, one by one.
CASSIUS And let us swear our resolution.
BRUTUS No, not an oath: if not the face of men,
The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,–– 115
If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
And every man hence to his idle bed;
So let high–sighted tyranny range on,
Till each man drop by lottery. But if these,
As I am sure they do, bear fire enough 120
To kindle cowards and to steel with valour
The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,
What need we any spur but our own cause,
To prick us to redress? what other bond
Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word, 125
And will not palter? and what other oath
Than honesty to honesty engaged,
That this shall be, or we will fall for it?
Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous,
Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls 130
That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear
Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain
The even virtue of our enterprise,
Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
To think that or our cause or our performance 135
Did need an oath; when every drop of blood
That every Roman bears, and nobly bears,
Is guilty of a several bastardy,
If he do break the smallest particle
Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. 140
CASSIUS But what of Cicero? shall we sound him?
I think he will stand very strong with us.
CASCA Let us not leave him out.
CINNA No, by no means.
METELLUS CIMBER O, let us have him, for his silver hairs
Will purchase us a good opinion 145
And buy men's voices to commend our deeds:
It shall be said, his judgment ruled our hands;
Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear,
But all be buried in his gravity.
BRUTUS O, name him not: let us not break with him;
For he will never follow any thing 151
That other men begin.
CASSIUS Then leave him out.
CASCA Indeed he is not fit.
DECIUS BRUTUS Shall no man else be touch'd but only Caesar?
CASSIUS Decius, well urged: I think it is not meet,
Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar,
Should 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, 160
Let Antony and Caesar fall together.
BRUTUS 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 us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar;
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,
And not dismember Caesar! But, alas, 170
Caesar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
Let'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, 175
Stir up their servants to an act of rage,
And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make
Our purpose necessary and not envious:
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers. 180
And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
For he can do no more than Caesar's arm
When Caesar's head is off.
CASSIUS Yet I fear him;
For in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar––
BRUTUS Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him: 185
If 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; 190
For 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.
CASSIUS But it is doubtful yet,
Whether Caesar will come forth to–day, or no;
For he is superstitious grown of late, 195
Quite from the main opinion he held once
Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies:
It may be, these apparent prodigies,
The unaccustom'd terror of this night,
And the persuasion of his augurers, 200
May hold him from the Capitol to–day.
DECIUS BRUTUS Never fear that: if he be so resolved,
I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear
That unicorns may be betray'd with trees,
And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, 205
Lions with toils and men with flatterers;
But when I tell him he hates flatterers,
He says he does, being then most flattered.
Let me work;
For I can give his humour the true bent, 210
And I will bring him to the Capitol.
CASSIUS Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.
BRUTUS By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost?
CINNA Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.
METELLUS CIMBER Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard, 215
Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey:
I wonder none of you have thought of him.
BRUTUS 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. 220
CASSIUS The morning comes upon's: we'll leave you, Brutus.
And, 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, 225
But bear it as our Roman actors do,
With 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: 230
Thou 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!
BRUTUS Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?
It is not for your health thus to commit 235
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,
You suddenly arose, and walk'd about,
Musing and sighing, with your arms across, 240
And when I ask'd you what the matter was,
You stared upon me with ungentle looks;
I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head,
And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot;
Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, 245
But, with an angry wafture of your hand,
Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did;
Fearing to strengthen that impatience
Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal
Hoping it was but an effect of humour, 250
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
As it hath much prevail'd on your condition,
I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord, 255
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,
He would embrace the means to come by it.
BRUTUS Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed. 260
PORTIA Is Brutus sick? and is it physical
To walk unbraced and suck up the humours
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,
To dare the vile contagion of the night 265
And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;
You have some sick offence within your mind,
Which, by the right and virtue of my place,
I ought to know of: and, upon my knees, 270
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,
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
Why you are heavy, and what men to–night 275
Have had to resort to you: for here have been
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.
BRUTUS Kneel not, gentle Portia.
PORTIA I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, 280
Is it excepted I should know no secrets
That appertain to you? Am I yourself
But, 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 285
Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.
BRUTUS You are my true and honourable wife,
As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart 290
PORTIA If this were true, then should I know this secret.
I grant I am a woman; but withal
A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife:
I grant I am a woman; but withal
A woman well–reputed, Cato's daughter. 295
Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so father'd and so husbanded?
Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:
I have made strong proof of my constancy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound 300
Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience.
And not my husband's secrets?
BRUTUS O ye gods,
Render me worthy of this noble wife!
Knocking within.
Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile;
And by and by thy bosom shall partake 305
The secrets of my heart.
All my engagements I will construe to thee,
All the charactery of my sad brows:
Leave me with haste.
Exit PORTIA.
Lucius, who's that knocks? 309
Re–enter LUCIUS with LIGARIUS.
LUCIUS He 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,
To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick!
LIGARIUS I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
Any exploit worthy the name of honour.
BRUTUS Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius,
Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.
LIGARIUS By all the gods that Romans bow before, 320
I here discard my sickness! Soul of Rome!
Brave son, derived from honourable loins!
Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up
My mortified spirit. Now bid me run,
And 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?
BRUTUS That must we also. What it is, my Caius,
I shall unfold to thee, as we are going 330
To whom it must be done.
LIGARIUS Set on your foot,
And with a heart new–fired I follow you,
To do I know not what: but it sufficeth
That Brutus leads me on. 335
BRUTUS Follow me, then.
Exeunt

Posted on by

Act 2, page 1

Table of Contents

ACT II SCENE II Setting: CAESAR's house.

Thunder and lightning. Enter CAESAR, in his night–gown.

CAESAR Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to–night:

Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,

Help, ho! they murder Caesar!' Who's within?

Enter a Servant.

Servant My lord?

CAESAR Go bid the priests do present sacrifice

5
And bring me their opinions of success.

Servant I will, my lord.

Exit

Enter CALPURNIA.

CALPURNIA What mean you, Caesar? think you to walk forth?

You shall not stir out of your house to–day.

9
CAESAR Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me

Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see

The face of Caesar, they are vanished.

CALPURNIA Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,

Yet now they fright me. There is one within,

Besides the things that we have heard and seen,

15
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.

A lioness hath whelped in the streets;

And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead;

Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,

In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,

20
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;

The noise of battle hurtled in the air,

Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,

And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.

O Caesar! these things are beyond all use,

25
And I do fear them.

CAESAR 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.

CALPURNIA When beggars die, there are no comets seen;

30
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

CAESAR 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;

35
Seeing that death, a necessary end,

Will come when it will come.

Re–enter Servant.

What say the augurers?

Servant They would not have you to stir forth to–day.

Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,

They could not find a heart within the beast.

40
CAESAR The gods do this in shame of cowardice:

Caesar should be a beast without a heart,

If he should stay at home to–day for fear.

No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well

That Caesar is more dangerous than he:

45
We are two lions litter'd in one day,

And I the elder and more terrible:

And Caesar shall go forth.

CALPURNIA Alas, my lord,

Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.

Do not go forth to–day: call it my fear

50
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 to–day:

Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

CAESAR Mark Antony shall say I am not well,

55
And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.

Enter DECIUS BRUTUS.

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.

DECIUS BRUTUS 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,

60
To bear my greeting to the senators

And tell them that I will not come to–day:

Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser:

I will not come to–day: tell them so, Decius.

CALPURNIA Say he is sick.

CAESAR Shall Caesar send a lie?

65
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,

To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?

Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

DECIUS BRUTUS Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,

Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.

70
CAESAR The cause is in my will: I will not come;

That 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:

75
She dreamt to–night she saw my statua,

Which, 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

Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to–day.

DECIUS BRUTUS This dream is all amiss interpreted;

It was a vision fair and fortunate:

Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,

85
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,

Signifies 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.

90
CAESAR And this way have you well expounded it.

DECIUS BRUTUS 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,

95
Their minds may change. 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.'

If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper

100
Lo, Caesar is afraid'?

Pardon me, Caesar; for my dear dear love

To our proceeding bids me tell you this;

And reason to my love is liable.

104
CAESAR How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!

I am ashamed I did yield to them.

Give me my robe, for I will go.

Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS, and CINNA.

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.

PUBLIUS Good morrow, Caesar.

CAESAR Welcome, Publius.

What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?

110
Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,

Caesar was ne'er so much your enemy

As that same ague which hath made you lean.

What is 't o'clock?

BRUTUS Caesar, 'tis strucken eight.

CAESAR I thank you for your pains and courtesy.

Enter ANTONY.

See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,

Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.

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!

120
I have an hour's talk in store for you;

Remember that you call on me to–day:

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.

125
CAESAR Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me;

And we, like friends, will straightway go together.

BRUTUS Aside. That every like is not the same, O Caesar,

The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon!

Exeunt

Posted on by

Act 2, page 2

Table of Contents

ACT II SCENE III Setting: A street near the Capitol.

Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper.

ARTEMIDORUS 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.

5
There is but one mind in all these men, and it is

bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal,

look about you: security gives way to conspiracy.

The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover,

ARTEMIDORUS.'

10
Here will I stand till Caesar pass along,

And as a suitor will I give him this.

My heart laments that virtue cannot live

Out of the teeth of emulation.

If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayst live;

15
If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.

Exit

Posted on by

Act 2, page 3

Table of Contents

ACT II SCENE IV Setting: Another part of the same street, before the house of BRUTUS.

Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS.

PORTIA 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,

Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.

5
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!

Art thou here yet?

LUCIUS Madam, what should I do?

10
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,

For he went sickly forth: and take good note

What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.

15
Hark, boy! what noise is that?

LUCIUS I hear none, madam.

PORTIA Prithee, listen well;

I heard a bustling rumour, 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?

20
Soothsayer 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,

To see him pass on to the Capitol.

25
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.

PORTIA Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?

30
Soothsayer None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.

Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:

The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,

Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,

Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:

35
I'll get me to a place more void, and there

Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.

Exit

PORTIA 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

That 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.

45
Exeunt severally.

Posted on by

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.

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

Act 4, page 0

Table of Contents

ACT 4 SCENE 1 Setting: The same. LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS, HELENA, and HERMIA lying asleep.

Enter TITANIA and BOTTOM; PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARDSEED, and other Fairies attending; OBERON behind them unseen.

TITANIA Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed,
While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,
And stick musk–roses in thy sleek smooth head,
And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.
BOTTOM Where's Peaseblossom?
PEASEBLOSSOM Ready.
BOTTOM Scratch my head Peaseblossom. Where's Mounsieur Cobweb?
COBWEB Ready. 10
BOTTOM Mounsieur Cobweb, good mounsieur, get you your
weapons in your hand, and kill me a red–hipped
humble–bee on the top of a thistle; and, good
mounsieur, bring me the honey–bag. Do not fret
yourself too much in the action, mounsieur; and,
good mounsieur, have a care the honey–bag break not;
I would be loath to have you overflown with a
honey–bag, signior. Where's Mounsieur Mustardseed?
MUSTARDSEED Ready.
BOTTOM Give me your neaf, Mounsieur Mustardseed. Pray you,
leave your courtesy, good mounsieur.
MUSTARDSEED What's your Will? 20
BOTTOM Nothing, good mounsieur, but to help Cavalery Cobweb
to scratch. I must to the barber's, monsieur; for
methinks I am marvellous hairy about the face; and I
am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me,
I must scratch.
TITANIA What, wilt thou hear some music,
my sweet love?
BOTTOM I have a reasonable good ear in music. Let's have
the tongs and the bones.
TITANIA Or say, sweet love, what thou desirest to eat.
BOTTOM Truly, a peck of provender: I could munch your good
dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle
of hay: good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow. 31
TITANIA I have a venturous fairy that shall seek
The squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee new nuts.
BOTTOM I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas.
But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me: I
have an exposition of sleep come upon me.
TITANIA Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
Fairies, begone, and be all ways away.
Exeunt fairies.
So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle
Gently entwist; the female ivy so 40
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.
O, how I love thee! how I dote on thee!
They sleep.
Enter PUCK
OBERON Advancing.
See'st thou this sweet sight?
Her dotage now I do begin to pity:
For, meeting her of late behind the wood,
Seeking sweet favours from this hateful fool,
I did upbraid her and fall out with her;
For she his hairy temples then had rounded
With a coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers;
And that same dew, which sometime on the buds 50
Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls,
Stood now within the pretty flowerets' eyes
Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.
When I had at my pleasure taunted her
And she in mild terms begg'd my patience,
I then did ask of her her changeling child;
Which straight she gave me, and her fairy sent
To bear him to my bower in fairy land.
And now I have the boy, I will undo
This hateful imperfection of her eyes: 60
And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalp
From off the head of this Athenian swain;
That, he awaking when the other do,
May all to Athens back again repair
And think no more of this night's accidents
But as the fierce vexation of a dream.
But first I will release the fairy queen.
Touching her eyes with an herb..
Be as thou wast wont to be;
See as thou wast wont to see:
Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower 70
Hath such force and blessed power.
Now, my Titania; wake you, my sweet queen.
TITANIA My Oberon! what visions have I seen!
Methought I was enamour'd of an ass.
OBERON There lies your love.
TITANIA How came these things to pass?
O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!
OBERON Silence awhile. Robin, take off this head.
Titania, music call; and strike more dead
Than common sleep of all these five the sense.
TITANIA Music, ho! music, such as charmeth sleep! 80
Music, still
PUCK Now, when thou wakest, with thine
own fool's eyes peep.
OBERON Sound, music! Come, my queen, take hands with me,
And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.
Now thou and I are new in amity,
And will to–morrow midnight solemnly
Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly,
And bless it to all fair prosperity:
There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be
Wedded, with Theseus, all in jollity.
PUCK Fairy king, attend, and mark: 90
I do hear the morning lark.
OBERON Then, my queen, in silence sad,
Trip we after the night's shade:
We the globe can compass soon,
Swifter than the wandering moon.
TITANIA Come, my lord, and in our flight
Tell me how it came this night
That I sleeping here was found
With these mortals on the ground.
Sleepers lie still. Exeunt [fairies].
Horns winded within

Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS, and train.

THESEUS Go, one of you, find out the forester; 100
For now our observation is perform'd;
And since we have the vaward of the day,
My love shall hear the music of my hounds.
Uncouple in the western valley; let them go:
Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.
Exit an Attendant
We will, fair queen, up to the mountain's top,
And mark the musical confusion
Of hounds and echo in conjunction.
HIPPOLYTA I was with Hercules and Cadmus once,
When in a wood of Crete they bay'd the bear 110
With hounds of Sparta: never did I hear
Such gallant chiding: for, besides the groves,
The skies, the fountains, every region near
Seem'd all one mutual cry: I never heard
So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.
THESEUS My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind,
So flew'd, so sanded, and their heads are hung
With ears that sweep away the morning dew;
Crook–knee'd, and dew–lapp'd like Thessalian bulls;
Slow in pursuit, but match'd in mouth like bells, 120
Each under each. A cry more tuneable
Was never holla'd to, nor cheer'd with horn,
In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly:
Judge when you hear. But, soft! what nymphs are these?
EGEUS My lord, this is my daughter here asleep;
And this, Lysander; this Demetrius is;
This Helena, old Nedar's Helena:
I wonder of their being here together.
THESEUS No doubt they rose up early to observe
The rite of May, and hearing our intent, 130
Came here in grace our solemnity.
But speak, Egeus; is not this the day
That Hermia should give answer of her choice?
EGEUS It is, my lord.
THESEUS Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.

Horns and shout within. LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS,HELENA, and HERMIA wake and start up.

Good morrow, friends. Saint Valentine is past:
Begin these wood–birds but to couple now?
LYSANDER Pardon, my lord.
THESEUS I pray you all, stand up.
I know you two are rival enemies:
How comes this gentle concord in the world, 140
That hatred is so far from jealousy,
To sleep by hate, and fear no enmity?
LYSANDER My lord, I shall reply amazedly,
Half sleep, half waking: but as yet, I swear,
I cannot truly say how I came here;
But, as I think,––for truly would I speak,
And now do I bethink me, so it is,––
I came with Hermia hither: our intent
Was to be gone from Athens, where we might,
Without the peril of the Athenian law. 150
EGEUS Enough, enough, my lord; you have enough:
I beg the law, the law, upon his head.
They would have stolen away; they would, Demetrius,
Thereby to have defeated you and me,
You of your wife and me of my consent,
Of my consent that she should be your wife.
DEMETRIUS My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth,
Of this their purpose hither to this wood;
And I in fury hither follow'd them,
Fair Helena in fancy following me. 160
But, my good lord, I wot not by what power,––
But by some power it is,––my love to Hermia,
Melted as the snow, seems to me now
As the remembrance of an idle gaud
Which in my childhood I did dote upon;
And all the faith, the virtue of my heart,
The object and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betroth'd ere I saw Hermia:
But, like in sickness, did I loathe this food; 170
But, as in health, come to my natural taste,
Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will for evermore be true to it.
THESEUS Fair lovers, you are fortunately met:
Of this discourse we more will hear anon.
Egeus, I will overbear your will;
For in the temple by and by with us
These couples shall eternally be knit:
And, for the morning now is something worn,
Our purposed hunting shall be set aside. 180
Away with us to Athens; three and three,
We'll hold a feast in great solemnity.
Come, Hippolyta.

Exeunt THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EGEUS, and train.

DEMETRIUS These things seem small and undistinguishable,
HERMIA Methinks I see these things with parted eye,
When every thing seems double.
HELENA So methinks:
And I have found Demetrius like a jewel,
Mine own, and not mine own.
DEMETRIUS Are you sure
That we are awake? It seems to me 190
That yet we sleep, we dream. Do not you think
The duke was here, and bid us follow him?
HERMIA Yea; and my father.
HELENA And Hippolyta.
LYSANDER And he did bid us follow to the temple.
DEMETRIUS Why, then, we are awake: let's follow him
And by the way let us recount our dreams.
Exeunt
BOTTOM Awaking
When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer: my next is, 'Most fair Pyramus.' Heigh–ho!
Peter Quince! Flute, the bellows–mender! Snout,
the tinker! Starveling! God's my life, stolen
hence, and left me asleep! I have had a most rare
vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to
say what dream it was: man is but an ass, if he go
about to expound this dream. Methought I was––there
is no man can tell what. Methought I was,––and
methought I had,––but man is but a patched fool, if
he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye 206
of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not
seen, man's hand is not able to taste, his tongue
to conceive, nor his heart to report, what my dream
was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of
this dream: it shall be called Bottom's Dream,
because it hath no bottom; and I will sing it in the
latter end of a play, before the duke:
peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall
sing it at her death.
Exit

Posted on by

Act 4, page 1

Table of Contents

ACT 4 SCENE 2 Setting: Athens. A room in QUINCE'S house.

Enter QUINCE, FLUTE, SNOUT, and STARVELING

QUINCE Have you sent to Bottom's house? is he come home yet?
STARVELING He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he is
transported.
FLUTE If he come not, then the play is marred: it goes
not forward, doth it?
QUINCE It is not possible: you have not a man in all
Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he.
FLUTE No, he hath simply the best wit of any handicraft
man in Athens. 10
QUINCE Yea and the best person too; and he is a very
paramour for a sweet voice.
FLUTE You must say 'paragon:' a paramour is, God bless us,
a thing of naught.
Enter SNUG
SNUG Masters, the duke is coming from the temple, and
there is two or three lords and ladies more married:
if our sport had gone forward, we had all been made
men.
FLUTE O sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence a
day during his life; he could not have 'scaped
sixpence a day: an the duke had not given him
sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I'll be hanged;
he would have deserved it: sixpence a day in
Pyramus, or nothing.
Enter BOTTOM
BOTTOM Where are these lads? where are these hearts?
QUINCE Bottom! O most courageous day! O most happy hour!
BOTTOM Masters, I am to discourse wonders: but ask me not
what; for if I tell you, I am no true Athenian. I
will tell you every thing, right as it fell out.
QUINCE Let us hear, sweet Bottom. 29
BOTTOM Not a word of me. All that I will tell you is, that
the duke hath dined. Get your apparel together,
good strings to your beards, new ribbons to your
pumps; meet presently at the palace; every man look
o'er his part; for the short and the long is, our
play is preferred. In any case, let Thisby have
clean linen; and let not him that plays the lion
pair his nails, for they shall hang out for the
lion's claws. And, most dear actors, eat no onions
nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath; and I
do not doubt but to hear them say, it is a sweet
comedy. No more words: away! go, away! 40
Exeunt