Enter FLAVIUS,
MARULLUS,
and certain COMMONERS
over the stage.
Flavius.
Hence!
Home,
you idle creatures,
get you home!
Is this a holiday?
What,
know you not,
Being mechanical,
you ought not walk
Upon a laboring day
without the sign
Of your profession?
Speak,
what trade art thou?
Carpenter.
Why, sir,
a carpenter.
Marullus.
Where is thy leather apron
and thy rule?
What dost thou
with thy best apparel on?
You, sir,
what trade are you?
Cobbler.
Truly, sir,
in respect
of a fine workman,
I am but,
as you would say,
a cobbler.
Marullus.
But what trade art thou?
Answer me directly.
Cobbler.
A trade, sir,
that,
I hope,
I may use
with a safe conscience,
which is indeed, sir,
a mender of bad soles.
Flavius.
What trade,
thou knave?
Thou naughty knave,
what trade?
Cobbler.
Nay,
I beseech you, sir,
be not out with me:
yet,
if you be out, sir,
I can mend you.
Marullus.
What mean'st thou by that?
Mend me,
thou saucy fellow?
Cobbler.
Why, sir,
cobble you.
Flavius.
Thou art a cobbler,
art thou?
Cobbler.
Truly, sir,
all that I live by
is with the awl:
I meddle
with no tradesman's matters,
nor women's matters;
but withal,
I am indeed, sir,
a surgeon to old shoes:
when they
are in great danger,
I recover them.
As proper men
as ever trod upon
neat's leather
have gone upon my handiwork.
Flavius.
But wherefore art not
in thy shop today?
Why dost thou
lead these men
about the streets?
Cobbler.
Truly, sir,
to wear out their shoes,
to get myself
into more work.
But indeed, sir,
we make holiday
to see Caesar
and to rejoice
in his triumph.
Marullus.
Wherefore rejoice?
What conquest
brings he home?
What tributaries
follow him to Rome,
To grace
in captive bonds
his chariot wheels?
You blocks,
you stones,
you worse
than senseless things!
O you hard hearts,
you cruel men of Rome,
Knew you not Pompey?
Many a time
and oft Have you
climbed up
to walls and battlements,
To tow'rs and windows,
yea,
to chimney tops,
Your infants in your arms,
and there have
sat The livelong day,
with patient expectation,
To see great
Pompey pass the streets of Rome.
And when you saw
his chariot but appear,
Have you not made
an universal shout,
That Tiber
trembled underneath her banks
To hear the replication
of your sounds
Made in her concave shores?
And do you now
put on your best attire?
And do you now
cull out a holiday?
And do you now
strew flowers in his way
That comes in triumph
over Pompey's blood?
Be gone!
Run to your houses,
fall upon your knees,
Pray to the gods
to intermit the plague
That needs must light
on this ingratitude.
Flavius.
Go, go,
good countrymen,
and,
for this fault,
Assemble
all the poor men
of your sort;
Draw them
to Tiber banks
and weep your tears
Into the channel,
till the lowest stream
Do kiss the
most exalted shores of all.
[Exeunt all the COMMONERS.]
See,
whe'r their basest mettle
be not moved;
They vanish tongue-tied
in their guiltiness.
Go you down that way
towards the Capitol;
This way will I.
Disrobe the images,
If you do find them
decked with ceremonies.
Marullus.
May we do so?
You know it is
the feast of Lupercal.
Flavius.
It is no matter;
let no images Be hung
with Caesar's trophies.
I'll about
And drive away the vulgar
from the streets;
So do you too,
where you
perceive them thick.
These growing feathers
plucked from Caesar's wing
Will make him fly
an ordinary pitch,
Who else would soar
above the view of men
And keep us all
in servile fearfulness.
[Exeunt.]
Enter CAESAR,
ANTONY
(dressed for the race),
CALPHURNIA,
PORTIA,
DECIUS,
CICERO,
BRUTUS,
CASSIUS,
CASCA,
a SOOTHSAYER;
after them,
MARULLUS and FLAVIUS.
Casca.
Peace, ho!
Caesar speaks.
Calphurnia.
Here, my lord.
Caesar.
Stand you directly
in Antonius' way
When he
doth run his course.
Antonius!
Caesar.
Forget not in your speed,
Antonius,
To touch Calphurnia;
for our elders
say The barren,
touchèd in this holy chase,
Shake off their sterile curse.
Antony.
I shall remember:
When Caesar says "Do this,"
it is performed.
Caesar.
Set on,
and leave no ceremony out.
Casca.
Bid every noise be still;
peace yet again!
Caesar.
Who is it in the press
that calls on me?
I hear a tongue,
shriller than all the music,
Cry "Caesar."
Speak;
Caesar
is turned to hear.
Soothsayer.
Beware the ides of March.
Caesar.
What man is that?
Brutus.
A soothsayer bids you
beware the ides of March.
Caesar.
Set him before me;
let me see his face.
Cassius.
Fellow,
come from the throng;
look upon Caesar.
Caesar.
What say'st thou
to me now?
Speak once again.
Soothsayer.
Beware the ides of March.
Caesar.
He is a dreamer,
let us leave him.
Pass.
[Sennet.
Exeunt all except
BRUTUS and CASSIUS.]
Cassius.
Will you go see
the order of the course?
Brutus.
I am not gamesome:
I do lack some part
Of that quick spirit
that is in Antony.
Let me not hinder,
Cassius,
your desires;
I'll leave you.
Cassius.
Brutus,
I do observe you
now of late;
I have not
from your eyes
that gentleness
And show of love
as I was wont to have;
You bear too stubborn
and too strange a hand
Over your friend
that loves you.
Brutus.
Cassius,
Be not deceived:
if I have veiled my look,
I turn the trouble
of my countenance
Merely upon myself.
Vexèd
I am Of late
with passions
of some difference,
Conceptions
only proper to myself,
Which give some soil,
perhaps,
to my behaviors;
But let not therefore
my good friends
be grieved
(Among which number,
Cassius,
be you one)
Nor construe
any further my neglect
Than that poor Brutus,
with himself at war,
Forgets the shows of love
to other men.
Cassius.
Then,
Brutus,
I have much
mistook your passion,
By means whereof
this breast of mine
hath buried
Thoughts of great value,
worthy cogitations.
Tell me,
good Brutus,
can you see your face?
Brutus.
No, Cassius;
for the eye
sees not itself
But by reflection,
by some other things.
Cassius.
'Tis just:
And it is
very much lamented,
Brutus,
That you have
no such mirrors
as will turn
Your hidden worthiness
into your eye,
That you
might see your shadow.
I have heard
Where many
of the best respect in Rome
(Except immortal Caesar),
speaking of Brutus,
And groaning
underneath this age's yoke,
Have wished
that noble Brutus
had his eyes.
Brutus.
Into what dangers
would you lead me,
Cassius,
That you
would have me
seek into myself
For that
which is not in me?
Cassius.
Therefore,
good Brutus,
be prepared to hear;
And since you know
you cannot see yourself
So well as by reflection,
I, your glass
Will modestly
discover to yourself
That of yourself
which you yet
know not of.
And be not jealous on me,
gentle Brutus:
Were I a common laughter,
or did use To stale
with ordinary oaths my love
To every new protester,
if you know
That I do
fawn on men
and hug them hard,
And after scandal them;
or if you know
That I profess myself
in banqueting
To all the rout,
then hold me dangerous.
[Flourish and shout.]
Brutus.
What means this shouting?
I do fear the people
Choose Caesar
for their king.
Cassius.
Ay,
do you fear it?
Then must I think
you would not
have it so.
Brutus.
I would not, Cassius,
yet I love him well.
But wherefore
do you hold me here
so long?
What is it
that you
would impart to me?
If it be aught
toward the general good,
Set honor in one eye
and death i' th' other,
And I will look
on both indifferently;
For let the gods so speed me,
as I love
The name of honor
more than I fear death.
Cassius.
I know
that virtue
to be in you,
Brutus,
As well
as I do know
your outward favor.
Well,
honor is the subject
of my story.
I cannot tell
what you and other men
Think of this life,
but for my single self,
I had as lief not be,
as live to be In awe
of such a thing
as I myself.
I was born free
as Caesar;
so were you:
We both
have fed as well,
and we
can both Endure
the winter's cold
as well as he:
For once,
upon a raw and gusty day,
The troubled Tiber
chafing with her shores,
Caesar said to me
"Dar'st thou, Cassius,
now Leap in with me
into this angry flood,
And swim
to yonder point?"
Upon the word,
Accout'red as I was,
I plunged in
And bade him follow:
so indeed he did.
The torrent roared,
and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews,
throwing it aside
And stemming it
with hearts of controversy.
But ere
we could arrive
the point proposed,
Caesar cried
"Help me, Cassius,
or I sink!"
I,
as Aeneas,
our great ancestor,
Did from
the flames of Troy
upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear,
so from
the waves of Tiber
Did I the tired Caesar.
And this man
Is now become a god,
and Cassius
is A wretched creature,
and must bend his body
If Caesar carelessly
but nod on him.
He had a fever
when he was in Spain,
And when the fit
was on him,
I did mark
How he did shake;
'tis true,
this god did shake.
His coward lips
did from their color fly,
And that same eye
whose bend
doth awe the world
Did lose his luster;
I did hear him groan;
Ay,
and that tongue of his,
that bade
the Romans Mark him
and write his speeches
in their books,
Alas,
it cried,
"Give me some drink,
Titinius,"
As a sick girl.
Ye gods!
It doth amaze me,
A man
of such a feeble temper
should So
get the start
of the majestic world,
And bear the palm alone.
[Shout.
Flourish.]
Brutus.
Another general shout?
I do believe
that these applauses
are For some new honors
that are heaped on Caesar.
Cassius.
Why, man,
he doth bestride
the narrow world
Like a Colossus,
and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs
and peep about
To find ourselves
dishonorable graves.
Men at some time
are masters of their fates:
The fault,
dear Brutus,
is not in our stars,
But in ourselves,
that we are underlings.
Brutus and Caesar:
what should be
in that "Caesar"?
Why should that name
be sounded
more than yours?
Write them together,
yours
is as fair a name;
Sound them,
it doth become
the mouth as well;
Weigh them,
it is as heavy;
conjure with 'em,
"Brutus"
will start a spirit
as soon as "Caesar."
Now,
in the names
of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat
doth this our Caesar feed,
That he
is grown so great?
Age,
thou art shamed!
Rome,
thou hast lost the breed
of noble bloods!
When went there
by an age,
since the great flood,
But it was famed
with more
than with one man?
When could they say (till now)
that talked of Rome,
That her wide walks
encompassed
but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed,
and room enough,
When there is in it
but one only man.
O,
you and I
have heard our fathers say,
There was
a Brutus once
that would have brooked
Th' eternal devil
to keep his state
in Rome
As easily as a king.
Brutus.
That you do love me,
I am nothing jealous;
What you
would work me to,
I have some aim;
How I have thought of this,
and of these times,
I shall recount hereafter.
For this present,
I would not so
(with love
I might entreat you)
Be any further moved.
What you have said
I will consider;
what you have to say
I will with patience hear,
and find a time Both meet
to hear and answer
such high things.
Till then,
my noble friend,
chew upon this:
Brutus
had rather be a villager
Than to repute himself
a son of Rome
Under these hard conditions
as this time
Is like to lay upon us.
Cassius.
I am glad
That my weak words
have struck
but thus much
show Of fire from Brutus.
[Enter CAESAR
and his TRAIN.]
Brutus.
The games are done,
and Caesar is returning.
Cassius.
As they pass by,
pluck Casca by the sleeve,
And he will
(after his sour fashion)
tell you
What hath proceeded
worthy note today.
Brutus.
I will do so.
But look you,
Cassius,
The angry spot
doth glow on Caesar's brow,
And all the rest
look like a chidden train:
Calphurnia's cheek is pale,
and Cicero Looks
with such ferret
and such fiery eyes
As we have seen him
in the Capitol,
Being crossed
in conference
by some senators.
Cassius.
Casca will tell us
what the matter is.
Caesar.
Let me
have men about me
that are fat,
Sleek-headed men,
and such as sleep a-nights.
Yond Cassius
has a lean
and hungry look;
He thinks too much:
such men are dangerous.
Antony.
Fear him not, Caesar,
he's not dangerous;
He is a noble Roman,
and well given.
Caesar.
Would he were fatter!
But I fear him not.
Yet if my name
were liable to fear,
I do not know the man
I should avoid So soon
as that spare Cassius.
He reads much,
He is a great observer,
and he looks Quite through
the deeds of men.
He loves no plays,
As thou dost, Antony;
he hears no music;
Seldom he smiles,
and smiles
in such a sort
As if he mocked himself,
and scorned his spirit
That could be moved
to smile at anything.
Such men as he
be never at heart's ease
Whiles they behold
a greater than themselves,
And therefore
are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee
what is to be feared
Than what I fear;
for always I am Caesar.
Come on my right hand,
for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly
what thou think'st of him.
[Sennet.
Exeunt CAESAR
and his TRAIN.]
Casca.
You pulled me
by the cloak;
would you speak with me?
Brutus.
Ay, Casca;
tell us
what hath chanced today,
That Caesar
looks so sad.
Casca.
Why,
you were with him,
were you not?
Brutus.
I should not
then ask Casca
what had chanced.
Casca.
Why,
there was a crown
offered him;
and being offered him,
he put it by with
the back of his hand, thus;
and then the people
fell a-shouting.
Brutus.
What was
the second noise for?
Casca.
Why,
for that too.
Cassius.
They shouted thrice;
what was the last cry for?
Casca.
Why,
for that too.
Brutus.
Was the crown
offered him thrice?
Casca.
Ay, marry, was't,
and he put it by thrice,
every time gentler than other;
and at every putting-by
mine honest neighbors
shouted.
Cassius.
Who offered him the crown?
Brutus.
Tell us the manner of it,
gentle Casca.
Casca.
I can as well be hanged
as tell the manner of it:
it was mere foolery;
I did not mark it.
I saw Mark Antony
offer him a crown
-- yet 'twas not
a crown neither,
'twas one of these
coronets --
and,
as I told you,
he put it by once;
but for all that,
to my thinking,
he would fain have had it.
Then he
offered it to him again;
then he
put it by again;
but to my thinking,
he was very loath
to lay his fingers off it.
And then he offered it
the third time.
He put it
the third time by;
and still
as he refused it,
the rabblement hooted,
and clapped
their chopt hands,
and threw up
their sweaty nightcaps,
and uttered
such a deal
of stinking breath
because Caesar
refused the crown,
that it had,
almost,
choked Caesar;
for he swounded
and fell down at it.
And for mine own part,
I durst not laugh,
for fear
of opening my lips
and receiving the bad air.
Cassius.
But, soft,
I pray you;
what,
did Caesar swound?
Casca.
He fell down
in the market place,
and foamed at mouth,
and was speechless.
Brutus.
'Tis very like he hath
the falling-sickness.
Cassius.
No,
Caesar hath it not;
but you,
and I,
And honest Casca,
we have the falling-sickness.
Casca.
I know not
what you mean by that,
but I am sure
Caesar fell down.
If the tag-rag people
did not clap him
and hiss him,
according
as he pleased
and displeased them,
as they use to do
the players in the theater,
I am no true man.
Brutus.
What said he
when he came unto himself?
Casca.
Marry,
before he fell down,
when he perceived
the common herd
was glad
he refused the crown,
he plucked me
ope his doublet
and offered them
his throat to cut.
An I had been a man
of any occupation,
if I would not
have taken him
at a word,
I would
I might go to hell
among the rogues.
And so he fell.
When he
came to himself again,
he said,
if he had done
or said anything amiss,
he desired their worships
to think
it was his infirmity.
Three or four wenches,
where I stood,
cried
"Alas, good soul!"
and forgave him
with all their hearts;
but there's no heed
to be taken of them;
if Caesar
had stabbed their mothers,
they would have done no less.
Brutus.
And after that,
he came thus sad away?
Cassius.
Did Cicero say anything?
Casca.
Ay,
he spoke Greek.
Casca.
Nay,
an I tell you that,
I'll ne'er look you
i' th' face again.
But those
that understood him
smiled at one another
and shook their heads;
but for mine own part,
it was Greek to me.
I could tell you
more news too:
Marullus and Flavius,
for pulling scarfs
off Caesar's images,
are put to silence.
Fare you well.
There was more foolery yet,
if I could remember it.
Cassius.
Will you sup with me
tonight, Casca?
Casca.
No,
I am promised forth.
Cassius.
Will you dine with me
tomorrow?
Casca.
Ay,
if I be alive,
and your mind hold,
and your dinner
worth the eating.
Cassius.
Good;
I will expect you.
Casca.
Do so.
Farewell, both.
[Exit.]
Brutus.
What a blunt fellow
is this grown to be!
He was quick mettle
when he
went to school.
Cassius.
So is he now
in execution
Of any bold
or noble enterprise,
However
he puts on
this tardy form.
This rudeness
is a sauce
to his good wit,
Which gives men stomach
to disgest his words
With better appetite.
Brutus.
And so it is.
For this time
I will leave you.
Tomorrow,
if you please
to speak with me,
I will come home to you;
or if you will,
Come home to me,
and I will wait for you.
Cassius.
I will do so.
Till then,
think of the world.
Well,
Brutus,
thou art noble;
yet I see
Thy honorable mettle
may be wrought
From that it is disposed;
therefore
it is meet
That noble minds
keep ever with their likes;
For who so firm
that cannot be seduced?
Caesar
doth bear me hard,
but he loves Brutus.
If I were Brutus now
and he were Cassius,
He should not humor me.
I will this night,
In several hands,
in at his windows throw,
As if they came
from several citizens,
Writings,
all tending
to the great opinion
That Rome holds of his name;
wherein obscurely
Caesar's ambition
shall be glancèd at.
And after this,
let Caesar seat him sure;
For we will shake him,
or worse days endure.
[Exit.]
Thunder and lightning.
Enter from opposite sides
CASCA 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
Th' ambitious ocean
swell and rage and foam,
To be exalted
with the threat'ning clouds;
But never till tonight,
never till now,
Did I go through a tempest
dropping fire.
Either there is
a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world,
too saucy with the gods,
Incenses them
to send destruction.
Cicero.
Why,
saw you anything
more wonderful?
Casca.
A common slave
-- you know him well
by sight--
Held up his left hand,
which did flame and burn
Like twenty torches joined,
and yet his hand,
Not sensible of fire,
remained unscorched.
Besides
-- I ha' not since
put up my sword--
Against the Capitol
I met a lion,
Who glazed upon me
and went surly by
Without annoying me.
And there were drawn
Upon a heap
a hundred ghastly women,
Transformèd with their fear,
who swore they saw Men,
all in fire,
walk up
and down the streets.
And yesterday
the bird of night
did sit
Even at noonday
upon the market place,
Hooting and shrieking.
When these prodigies
Do so conjointly meet,
let not men say,
"These are their reasons,
they are natural,"
For I believe
they are portentous things
Unto the climate
that they point upon.
Cicero.
Indeed,
it is a strange-disposèd time:
But men
may construe things
after their fashion,
Clean from the purpose
of the things themselves.
Comes Caesar
to the Capitol tomorrow?
Casca.
He doth;
for he did bid Antonius
Send word to you
he would be there tomorrow.
Cicero.
Good night then, Casca;
this disturbèd sky
Is not to walk in.
Casca.
Farewell, Cicero.
[Exit CICERO.]
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 walked
about the streets,
Submitting me
unto the perilous night,
And thus unbracèd,
Casca,
as you see,
Have bared my bosom
to the thunder-stone,
And when
the cross blue lightning
seemed to open
The breast of heaven,
I did present myself
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
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,
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,
fools,
and children calculate,
Why all these things change
from their ordinance,
Their natures
and performèd faculties,
To monstrous quality,
why,
you shall find
That heaven
hath infused them
with these spirits
To make them instruments
of fear and warning
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;
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 Have thews
and limbs
like to their ancestors;
But,
woe the while!
Our fathers' minds
are dead,
And we are governed
with our mothers' spirits;
Our yoke and sufferance
show us womanish.
Casca.
Indeed,
they say
the senators tomorrow
Mean to establish Caesar
as a king;
And he
shall wear his crown
by sea and land,
In every place
save here in Italy.
Cassius.
I know where I
will wear this dagger then;
Cassius from bondage
will deliver Cassius.
Therein, ye gods,
you make the weak
most strong;
Therein, ye gods,
you tyrants do defeat.
Nor stony tower,
nor walls of beaten brass,
Nor airless dungeon,
nor strong links of iron,
Can be retentive to
the strength of spirit;
But life,
being weary
of these wordly 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;
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
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 armed,
And dangers
are to me indifferent.
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.
[They clasp hands.]
Cassius.
There's a bargain made.
Now know you,
Casca,
I have moved already
Some certain
of the noblest-minded Romans
To undergo with me
an enterprise
Of honorable
dangerous consequence;
And I do know,
by this
they stay for me
In Pompey's porch,
for now,
this fearful night,
There is no stir
or walking in the streets,
And the complexion
of the element
In favor's like
the work we have in hand,
Most bloody,
fiery,
and most terrible.
Casca.
Stand close awhile,
for here comes one in haste.
Cassius.
'Tis Cinna;
I do know him
by his gait;
He is a friend.
Cinna,
where haste you so?
Cinna.
To find out you.
Who's that?
Metellus Cimber?
Cassius.
No, it is Casca,
one incorporate
To our attempts.
Am I not stayed 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 stayed for?
Tell me.
Cinna.
Yes, you are.
O Cassius,
if you could But win
the noble Brutus
to our party--
Cassius.
Be you content.
Good Cinna,
take this paper,
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
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,
And so
bestow these papers
as you bade me.
Cassius.
That done,
repair to Pompey's Theater.
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
offense in us,
His countenance,
like richest alchemy,
Will change to virtue
and to worthiness.
Cassius.
Him,
and his worth,
and our great need of him,
You have
right well conceited.
Let us go,
For it is after midnight,
and ere day
We will awake him
and be sure of him.
Enter BRUTUS in his orchard.
Brutus.
What,
Lucius, ho!
I cannot,
by the progress of the stars,
Give guess
how near to day.
Lucius, I say!
I would
it were my fault
to sleep so soundly.
When,
Lucius,
when?
Awake, I say!
What,
Lucius!
Lucius.
Called 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,
I know no personal cause
to spurn at him,
But for the general.
He would be crowned.
How that
might change his nature,
there's the question.
It is the bright day
that brings forth the adder,
And that craves
wary walking.
Crown him that,
And then I grant
we put a sting in him
That at his will
he may do danger with.
Th'abuse of greatness
is when
it disjoins Remorse
from power;
and,
to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known
when his affections swayed
More than his reason.
But
'tis a common proof
That lowliness
is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber
upward turns his face;
But when
he once attains
the upmost round,
He then
unto the ladder
turns his back,
Looks in the clouds,
scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend.
So Caesar may;
Then lest he may,
prevent.
And,
since the quarrel
Will bear no color
for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus:
that what he is,
augmented,
Would run to these
and these extremities;
And therefore
think him
as a serpent's egg
Which hatched,
would as his kind
grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.
[Enter LUCIUS.]
Lucius.
The taper burneth
in your closet, sir.
Searching the window
for a flint,
I found This paper
thus sealed up,
and I am sure
It did not lie there
when I went to bed.
Brutus.
Get you to bed again;
it is not day.
Is not tomorrow,
boy,
the ides of March?
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.
[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 dropped
Where I have took them up.
"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 called a king.
"Speak,
strike,
redress."
Am I entreated
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!
Lucius.
Sir,
March is wasted
fifteen days.
Brutus.
'Tis good.
Go to the gate;
somebody knocks.
Since Cassius
first did whet me
against Caesar,
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.
The genius
and the mortal instruments
Are then in council,
and the state of a man,
Like to a little kingdom,
suffers then
The nature
of an insurrection.
[Enter LUCIUS.]
Lucius.
Sir,
'tis your brother
Cassius at the door,
Who doth desire
to see you.
Lucius.
No, sir,
there are moe with him.
Brutus.
Do you know them?
Lucius.
No, sir;
their hats
are plucked about their ears,
And half their faces
buried in their cloaks,
That by no means
I may discover them
By any mark of favor.
Brutus.
Let 'em enter.
[Exit LUCIUS.]
They are the faction.
O conspiracy,
Sham'st thou
to show thy dang'rous
brow by night,
When evils are most free?
O,
then by day
Where wilt thou find
a cavern dark enough
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.
[Enter the conspirators,
CASSIUS,
CASCA,
DECIUS,
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
But honors 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?
Cassius.
Shall I entreat a word?
Decius.
Here lies the east;
doth not
the day break here?
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.
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 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--
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
To kindle cowards
and to steel with valor
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,
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
That welcome wrongs;
unto bad causes
swear Such creatures
as men doubt;
but do not stain
The even virtue
of our enterprise,
Nor th'insuppressive mettle
of our spirits,
To think that
or our cause
or our performance
Did need an oath;
when every drop of blood
That every Roman bears,
and nobly bears,
Is guilty
of a several bastardy
If he do break
the smallest particle
Of any promise
that hath passed from him.
Cassius.
But what of Cicero?
Shall we sound him?
I think
he will stand
very strong with us.
Casca.
Let us not
leave him out.
Metellus.
O,
let us have him,
for his silver hairs
Will purchase us
a good opinion,
And buy men's voices
to commend our deeds.
It shall be said
his judgment
ruled our hands;
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 anything
That other men begin.
Cassius.
Then leave him out.
Casca.
Indeed,
he is not fit.
Decius.
Shall no man else
be touched
but only Caesar?
Cassius.
Decius,
well urged.
I think
it is not meet
Mark Antony,
so well beloved of Caesar,
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,
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's 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,
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,
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 called purgers,
not murderers.
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.
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,
For he will live
and laugh at this
hereafter.
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 today or no;
For he
is superstitious grown of late,
Quite from
the main opinion
he held once Of fantasy,
of dreams,
and ceremonies.
It may be
these apparent prodigies,
The unaccustomed terror
of this night,
And the persuasion
of his augurers
May hold him
from the Capitol today.
Decius.
Never fear that.
If he be so resolved,
I can o'ersway him;
for he loves to hear
That unicorns
may be betrayed with trees,
And bears with glasses,
elephants with holes,
Lions with toils,
and men with flatterers;
But when I tell him
he hates flatterers,
He says he does,
being then most flattered.
Let me work;
For I can give his humor
the true bent,
And I will bring him
to the Capitol.
Cassius.
Nay,
we will all of us
be there to fetch him.
Brutus.
By the eighth hours;
is that the uttermost?
Cinna.
Be that the uttermost,
and fail not then.
Metellus.
Caius Ligarius
doth bear Caesar hard,
Who rated him
for speaking well of Pompey.
I wonder none of you
have thought of him.
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.
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,
But bear it
as our Roman actors do,
With untired spirits
and formal constancy.
And so
good morrow
to you every one.
[Exeunt all except BRUTUS.]
Boy!
Lucius!
Fast asleep?
It is no matter;
Enjoy the honey-heavy dew
of slumber.
Thou hast no figures
nor no fantasies
Which busy care
draws in the brains of men;
Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.
Brutus.
Portia,
what mean you?
Wherefore rise you now?
It is
not for your health
thus to commit
Your weak condition
to the raw cold morning.
Portia.
Nor for yours neither.
Y'have ungently,
Brutus,
Stole from my bed;
and yesternight at supper
You suddenly arose
and walked about,
Musing and sighing,
with your arms across;
And when I asked you
what the matter was,
You stared upon me
with ungentle looks.
I urged you further;
then you
scratched your head,
And too impatiently stamped
with your foot.
Yet I insisted,
yet you answered not,
But with an angry wafter
of your hand
Gave sign for me
to leave you.
So I did,
Fearing to strengthen
that impatience
Which seemed
too much enkindled,
and withal
Hoping it was
but an effect of humor,
Which sometime
hath his hour
with every man.
It will not let you eat,
nor talk,
nor sleep,
And could it work
so much upon your shape
As it hath much prevailed
on your condition,
I should not
know you Brutus.
Dear my lord,
Make me acquainted
with your cause of grief.
Brutus.
I am not well in health,
and that is all.
Portia.
Brutus is wise and,
were he not in health,
He would
embrace the means
to come by it.
Brutus.
Why, so I do.
Good Portia,
go to bed.
Portia.
Is Brutus sick,
and is it physical
To walk unbracèd
and suck up the humors
Of the dank morning?
What,
is Brutus sick,
And will he steal
out of his wholesome bed,
To dare the vile contagion
of the night,
And tempt the rheumy
and unpurgèd air
To add unto his sickness?
No,
my Brutus;
You have some sick offense
within your mind,
Which by the right
and virtue of my place
I ought to know of;
and upon my knees
I charm you,
by my once commended beauty,
By all
your vows of love,
and that great vow
Which did incorporate
and make us one,
That you unfold to me,
your self,
your half,
Why you are heavy,
and what men tonight
Have had resort to you;
for here have been
Some six or seven,
who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.
Brutus.
Kneel not,
gentle Portia.
Portia.
I should not need,
if you were gentle Brutus.
Within the bond of marriage,
tell me, Brutus,
Is it excepted
I should know no secrets
That appertain to you?
Am I your self 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
Of your good pleasure?
If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus' harlot,
not his wife.
Brutus.
You are my true
and honorable wife,
As dear to me
as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart.
Portia.
If this were true,
then should I know
this secret.
I grant
I am a woman;
but withal A woman
that Lord Brutus
took to wife.
I grant
I am a woman;
but withal
A woman well reputed,
Cato's daughter.
Think you
I am no stronger
than my sex,
Being so fathered
and so husbanded?
Tell me your counsels,
I will not disclose 'em.
I have made strong proof
of my constancy,
Giving myself
a voluntary wound
Here in the thigh;
can I bear that
with patience,
And not my husband's secrets?
Brutus.
O ye gods,
Render me worthy
of this noble wife!
Hark, hark!
One knocks.
Portia,
go in a while,
And by and by
thy bosom shall partake
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.]
[Enter LUCIUS
and CAIUS LIGARIUS.]
Lucius,
who's that knocks?
Re-enter LUCIUS with LIGARIUS
Lucius.
Here is a sick man
that would speak with you.
Brutus.
Caius Ligarius,
that Metellus spake of.
Boy,
stand aside.
Caius Ligarius!
How?
Ligarius.
Vouchsafe good morrow
from a feeble tongue.
Brutus.
O, what a time
have you chose out,
brave Caius,
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 honor.
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,
I here discard my sickness!
Soul of Rome,
Brave son,
derived from honorable loins,
Thou,
like an exorcist,
hast conjured up
My mortifièd spirit.
Now bid me run,
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
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.
Brutus.
Follow me, then.
[Exeunt.]
Thunder and lightning.
Enter JULIUS CAESAR
in his nightgown.
Caesar.
Nor heaven nor earth
have been at peace tonight:
Thrice hath Calphurnia
in her sleep cried out,
"Help, ho!
They murder Caesar!"
Who's within?
Caesar.
Go bid the priests
do present sacrifice,
And bring me
their opinions of success.
Servant.
I will, my lord.
[Exit.]
Calphurnia.
What mean you, Caesar?
Think you
to walk forth?
You shall not stir
out of your house today.
Caesar.
Caesar shall forth.
The things
that threatened me
Ne'er looked
but on my back;
when they shall see
The face of Caesar,
they are vanishèd.
Calphurnia.
Caesar,
I never stood
on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me.
There is one within,
Besides the things
that we
have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights
seen by the watch.
A lioness
hath whelpèd in the streets,
And graves have yawned,
and yielded up their dead;
Fierce fiery warriors
fought upon the clouds
In ranks and squadrons
and right form of war,
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,
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.
Calphurnia.
When beggars die,
there are no comets seen;
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,
Seeing that death,
a necessary end,
Will come
when it will come.
Servant.
They would not
have you
to stir forth today.
Plucking the entrails
of an offering forth,
They could not
find a heart
within the beast.
Caesar.
The gods do this
in shame of cowardice:
Caesar
should be a beast
without a heart
If he should stay
at home today for fear.
No,
Caesar shall not.
Danger knows full well
That Caesar
is more dangerous than he.
We are two lions
littered in one day,
And I the elder
and more terrible.
And Caesar shall go forth.
Calphurnia.
Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom
is consumed
in confidence.
Do not go forth today.
Call it my fear
That keeps you
in the house
and not your own.
We'll send Mark Antony
to the Senate House,
And he shall say
you are not well today.
Let me,
upon my knee,
prevail in this.
Caesar.
Mark Antony shall say
I am not well,
And for thy humor,
I will stay at home.
Here's Decius Brutus,
he shall tell them so.
Decius.
Caesar, all hail!
Good morrow,
worthy Caesar;
I come
to fetch you
to the Senate House.
Caesar.
And you are come
in very happy time
To bear my greeting
to the senators,
And tell them
that I
will not come today.
Cannot,
is false;
and that I dare not,
falser:
I will not come today.
Tell them so,
Decius.
Calphurnia.
Say he is sick.
Caesar.
Shall Caesar
send a lie?
Have I in conquest
stretched mine arm so far
To be afeard
to tell graybeards the truth?
Decius,
go tell them Caesar
will not come.
Decius.
Most mighty Caesar,
let me know some cause,
Lest I be laughed at
when I tell them so.
Caesar.
The cause
is in my will:
I will not come.
That is enough
to satisfy the Senate.
But for your
private satisfaction,
Because I love you,
I will let you know.
Calphurnia here,
my wife,
stays me at home.
She dreamt tonight
she saw my statue,
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 begged
that I will stay
at home today.
Decius.
This dream
is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision
fair and fortunate:
Your statue
spouting blood
in many pipes,
In which so many
smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies
that from you great Rome
shall suck Reviving blood,
and that great men
shall press For tinctures,
stains,
relics,
and cognizance,
This by Calphurnia's dream
is signified.
Caesar.
And this way
have you well
expounded it.
Decius.
I have,
when you have heard
what I can say;
And know it now,
the Senate
have concluded
To give this day
a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you
shall send them word
you will not come,
Their minds may change.
Besides,
it were a mock
Apt to be rendered,
for someone to say
"Break up the Senate
till another time,
When Caesar's wife shall meet
with better dreams."
If Caesar hide himself,
shall they not whisper
"Lo,
Caesar is afraid"?
Pardon me,
Caesar,
for my dear dear love
To your proceeding
bids me tell you this,
And reason
to my love is liable.
Caesar.
How foolish
do your fears seem now,
Calphurnia!
I am ashamèd
I did yield to them.
Give me my robe,
for I will go.
[Enter BRUTUS,
LIGARIUS,
METELLUS CIMBER,
CASCA,
TREBONIUS,
CINNA,
and PUBLIUS.]
And look
where Publius is come
to fetch me.
Publius.
Good morrow, Caesar.
Caesar.
Welcome, Publius.
What,
Brutus,
are you stirred
so early too?
Good morrow, Casca.
Caius Ligarius,
Caesar
was ne'er so much
your enemy
As that same ague
which hath made you lean.
What is't o'clock?
Brutus.
Caesar,
'tis strucken eight.
Caesar.
I thank you
for your pains and courtesy.
See!
Antony,
that revels long a-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,
I have an hour's talk
in store for you;
Remember that
you call on me today;
Be near me,
that I may remember you.
Trebonius.
Caesar, I will
(aside)
and so near will I be,
That your best friends
shall wish
I had been further.
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.
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.
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."
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 mayest live;
If not,
the Fates with traitors
do contrive.
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.
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?
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.
Hark, boy,
what noise is that?
Lucius.
I hear none, madam.
Portia.
Prithee,
listen well.
I hear a bustling rumor
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
Rome,
Before the Capitol.
Flourish.
Enter CAESAR,
BRUTUS,
CASSIUS,
CASCA,
DECIUS,
METELLUS CIMBER,
TREBONIUS,
CINNA,
ANTONY,
LEPIDUS,
ARTEMIDORUS,
PUBLIUS,
POPILIUS,
and the SOOTHSAYER.
Caesar.
The ides of March
are come.
Soothsayer.
Ay, Caesar,
but not gone.
Artemidorus.
Hail, Caesar!
Read this schedule.
Decius.
Trebonius
doth desire you
to o'er-read,
At your best leisure,
this his humble suit.
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.
Cassius.
What,
urge you your petitions
in the street?
Come to the Capitol.
[CAESAR
goes to the Capitol,
the rest following.]
Popilius.
I wish
your enterprise today
may thrive.
Cassius.
What enterprise,
Popilius?
Brutus.
What said Popilius Lena?
Cassius.
He wished today
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,
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,
He draws
Mark Antony
out of the way.
[Exeunt ANTONY
and TREBONIUS.]
Decius.
Where is Metellus Cimber?
Let him go
And presently
prefer his suit to Caesar.
Brutus.
He is addressed.
Press near
and second him.
Cinna.
Casca,
you are the first
that rears your hand.
Caesar.
Are we all ready?
What is now amiss
That Caesar
and his Senate
must redress?
Metellus.
Most high,
most mighty,
and most puissant Caesar,
Metellus Cimber
throws before thy seat
An humble heart.
[Kneeling.]
Caesar.
I must prevent thee,
Cimber.
These couchings
and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood
of ordinary men,
And turn preordinance
and first decree
Into the law of children.
Be not fond
To think that Caesar
bears such rebel blood
That will be thawed
from the true quality
With that which melteth fools
-- I mean sweet words,
Low-crookèd curtsies,
and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree
is banishèd.
If thou dost bend
and pray
and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur
out of my way.
Know,
Caesar doth not wrong,
nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.
Metellus.
Is there no voice
more worthy
than my own,
To sound more sweetly
in great Caesar's ear
For the repealing
of my banished brother?
Brutus.
I kiss thy hand,
but not in flattery,
Caesar,
Desiring thee
that Publius Cimber
may Have an immediate
freedom of repeal.
Cassius.
Pardon, Caesar;
Caesar, pardon!
As low
as to thy foot
doth Cassius fall
To beg enfranchisement
for Publius Cimber.
Caesar.
I could be well moved,
if I were as you;
If I could pray to move,
prayers would move me;
But I am constant
as the Northern Star,
Of whose true-fixed
and resting quality
There is no fellow
in the firmament.
The skies are painted
with unnumb'red sparks,
They are all fire
and every one doth shine;
But there's
but one in all
doth hold his place.
So in the world;
'tis furnished well with men,
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,
Let me a little show it,
even in this--
That I was constant
Cimber should be banished,
And constant
do remain
to keep him so.
Caesar.
Hence!
Wilt thou
lift up Olympus?
Caesar.
Doth not Brutus
bootless kneel?
Casca.
Speak hands for me!
[They stab CAESAR.]
Caesar.
Et tu, Brutè?
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
"Liberty,
freedom,
and enfranchisement!"
Brutus.
People,
and senators,
be not affrighted.
Fly not;
stand still;
ambition's debt is paid.
Casca.
Go to the pulpit,
Brutus.
Cinna.
Here,
quite confounded
with this mutiny.
Metellus.
Stand fast together,
lest
some friend of Caesar's
Should chance--
Brutus.
Talk not of standing.
Publius,
good cheer;
There is no harm
intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else.
So tell them,
Publius.
Cassius.
And leave us, Publius,
lest that
the people Rushing on us
should do your age
some mischief.
Brutus.
Do so;
and let no man
abide this deed
But we the doers.
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,
And drawing days out,
that men stand upon.
Casca.
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
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,
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,
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 called The men
that gave their country liberty.
Decius.
What,
shall we forth?
Cassius.
Ay, every man away.
Brutus shall lead,
and we
will grace his heels
With the most boldest
and best hearts of Rome.
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;
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 honor him;
Say I feared Caesar,
honored him,
and loved him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe
that Antony
May safely come to him
and be resolved
How Caesar
hath deserved
to lie in death,
Mark Antony
shall not love Caesar dead
So well as Brutus living;
but will follow
The fortunes and affairs
of noble Brutus
Thorough the hazards
of this untrod state
With all true faith.
So says
my master Antony.
Brutus.
Thy master is a wise
and valiant Roman;
I never
thought him worse.
Tell him,
so please him
come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied and,
by my honor,
Depart untouched.
Servant.
I'll fetch him presently.
Brutus.
I know that
we shall have him
well to friend.
Cassius.
I wish we may.
But yet have I a mind
That fears him much;
and my misgiving
still Falls shrewdly
to the purpose.
Brutus.
But here comes Antony.
Welcome,
Mark Antony.
Antony.
O mighty Caesar!
Dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests,
glories,
triumphs,
spoils,
Shrunk
to this little measure?
Fare thee well.
I know not,
gentlemen,
what you intend,
Who else
must be let blood,
who else is rank.
If I myself,
there is
no hour so fit
As Caesar's death's hour,
nor no instrument
Of half that worth
as those your swords,
made rich
With the most noble blood
of all this world.
I do beseech ye,
if you bear me hard,
Now,
whilst your purpled hands
do reek and smoke,
Fulfill your pleasure.
Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself
so apt to die;
No place
will please me so,
no mean of death,
As here by Caesar,
and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits
of this age.
Brutus.
O Antony,
beg not your death of us!
Though now
we must appear
bloody and cruel,
As by our hands
and this our present act
You see we do,
yet see you
but our hands
And this the bleeding business
they have done.
Our hearts you see not;
they are pitiful;
And pity
to the general wrong
of Rome--
As fire drives out fire,
so pity pity--
Hath done this deed
on Caesar.
For your part,
To you our swords
have leaden points,
Mark Antony:
Our arms
in strength of malice,
and our hearts
Of brothers' temper,
do receive you in
With all kind love,
good thoughts,
and reverence.
Cassius.
Your voice
shall be as strong
as any man's
In the disposing
of new dignities.
Brutus.
Only be patient
till we have appeased
The multitude,
beside themselves with fear,
And then
we will deliver you
the cause Why I,
that did love Caesar
when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.
Antony.
I doubt not
of your wisdom.
Let each man
render me
his bloody hand.
First,
Marcus Brutus,
will I shake with you;
Next,
Caius Cassius,
do I take your hand;
Now,
Decius Brutus, yours;
now yours, Metellus;
Yours, Cinna;
and,
my valiant Casca, yours;
Though last,
not least in love,
yours,
good Trebonius.
Gentlemen all
-- alas,
what shall I say?
My credit
now stands
on such slippery ground
That one
of two bad ways
you must conceit me,
Either a coward
or a flatterer.
That I did love thee,
Caesar,
O, 'tis true!
If then thy spirit
look upon us now,
Shall it
not grieve thee dearer
than thy death
To see thy Antony
making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers
of thy foes,
Most noble,
in the presence
of thy corse?
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 bayed,
brave hart;
Here didst thou fall,
and here thy hunters stand,
Signed in thy spoil
and crimsoned
in thy lethe.
O world,
thou wast the forest
to this hart;
And this indeed,
O world,
the heart of thee.
How like a deer,
stroken by many princes,
Dost thou here lie!
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;
But what compact
mean you
to have with us?
Will you be pricked
in number of our friends,
Or shall we on,
and not depend on you?
Antony.
Therefore
I took your hands,
but was indeed
Swayed from the point
by looking down on Caesar.
Friends am I
with you all,
and love you all,
Upon this hope,
that you
shall give me reasons Why,
and wherein,
Caesar was dangerous.
Brutus.
Or else were this
a savage spectacle.
Our reasons
are so full of good regard
That were you, Antony,
the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.
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,
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
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,
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
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 except ANTONY.]
Antony.
O pardon me,
thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I
am meek and gentle
with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins
of the noblest man
That ever livèd
in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand
that shed
this costly blood!
Over thy wounds
now do I prophesy
(Which like dumb mouths
do ope their ruby lips
To beg the voice
and utterance
of my tongue),
A curse
shall light upon
the limbs of men;
Domestic fury
and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber
all the parts of Italy;
Blood and destruction
shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers
shall but smile
when they behold
Their infants quartered
with the hands of war,
All pity
choked with custom
of fell deeds,
And Caesar's spirit,
ranging for revenge,
With Atè by his side
come hot from hell,
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
With carrion men,
groaning for burial.
[Enter Octavius's 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,
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,
Began to water.
Is thy master coming?
Servant.
He lies tonight 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.
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;
According to the which,
thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius
of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.
Exeunt with CAESAR's body
Enter BRUTUS
and goes into the pulpit,
and CASSIUS,
with the PLEBEIANS.
Plebeians.
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;
Those that
will follow Cassius,
go with him;
And public reasons
shall be renderèd
Of Caesar's death.
First Plebeian.
I will hear Brutus speak.
Second Plebeian.
I will hear Cassius,
and compare their reasons,
When severally
we hear them renderèd.
[Exit CASSIUS,
with some of the PLEBEIANS.]
Third Plebeian.
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 honor,
and have respect
to mine honor,
that you may believe.
Censure me
in your wisdom,
and awake your senses,
that you
may the better judge.
If there be any
in this assembly,
any dear friend of Caesar's,
to him I say
that Brutus' love to Caesar
was no less than his.
If 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 honor him;
but,
as he was ambitious,
I slew him.
There is tears,
for his love;
joy,
for his fortune;
honor,
for his valor;
and death,
for his ambition.
Who is here so base,
that would be
a bondman?
If any, speak;
for him 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.
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 offenses enforced,
for which he suffered death.
[Enter MARK ANTONY,
with Caesar's body.]
Here comes his body,
mourned by Mark Antony,
who,
though he
had no hand in his death,
shall receive
the benefit of his dying,
a place
in the commonwealth,
as which of you
shall not?
With this I depart,
that,
as I slew my best lover
for the good of Rome,
I have
the same dagger for myself,
when it
shall please my country
to need my death.
All.
Live, Brutus!
Live, live!
First Plebeian.
Bring him
with triumph home
unto his house.
Second Plebeian.
Give him a statue
with his ancestors.
Third Plebeian.
Let him be Caesar.
Fourth Plebeian.
Caesar's better parts
Shall be crowned in Brutus.
First Plebeian.
We'll bring him
to his house
with shouts and clamors.
Second Plebeian.
Peace!
Silence!
Brutus speaks.
First Plebeian.
Peace, ho!
Brutus.
Good countrymen,
let me depart alone,
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 allowed to make.
I do entreat you,
not a man depart,
Save I alone,
till Antony have spoke.
[Exit.]
First Plebeian.
Stay, ho!
And let us
hear Mark Antony.
Third Plebeian.
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.
Goes into the pulpit
Fourth Plebeian.
What does he say
of Brutus?
Third Plebeian.
He says,
for Brutus' sake,
He finds himself
beholding to us all.
Fourth Plebeian.
'Twere best
he speak no harm
of Brutus here!
First Plebeian.
This Caesar was a tyrant.
Third Plebeian.
Nay,
that's certain.
We are blest that
Rome is rid of him.
Second Plebeian.
Peace!
Let us hear
what Antony can say.
Antony.
You gentle Romans--
All.
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,
The good
is oft interrèd
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 answered it.
Here,
under leave of Brutus
and the rest
(For Brutus
is an honorable man,
So are they all,
all honorable men),
Come I to speak
in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend,
faithful and just to me;
But Brutus says
he was ambitious,
And Brutus
is an honorable man.
He hath brought
many captives home to Rome,
Whose ransoms
did the general coffers fill;
Did this in Caesar
seem ambitious?
When that the poor
have cried,
Caesar hath wept;
Ambition
should be made
of sterner stuff.
Yet Brutus says
he was ambitious;
And Brutus
is an honorable man.
You all did see
that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him
a kingly crown,
Which he
did thrice refuse.
Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says
he was ambitious;
And sure
he is an honorable man.
I speak not
to disprove
what Brutus spoke,
But here I am
to speak
what I do know.
You all
did love him once,
not without cause;
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;
My heart
is in the coffin there
with Caesar,
And I must pause
till it come back to me.
First Plebeian.
Methinks
there is much reason
in his sayings.
Second Plebeian.
If thou consider
rightly of the matter,
Caesar
has had great wrong.
Third Plebeian.
Has he, masters?
I fear
there will a worse
come in his place.
Fourth Plebeian.
Marked ye his words?
He would not
take the crown,
Therefore
'tis certain
he was not ambitious.
First Plebeian.
If it be found so,
some will dear abide it.
Second Plebeian.
Poor soul,
his eyes
are red as fire
with weeping.
Third Plebeian.
There's not
a nobler man in Rome
than Antony.
Fourth Plebeian.
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.
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 honorable men.
I will not
do them wrong;
I rather choose
To wrong the dead,
to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong
such honorable men.
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,
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,
Bequeathing it
as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.
Fourth Plebeian.
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.
You are not wood,
you are not stones,
but men;
And being men,
hearing the will of Caesar,
It will inflame you,
it will make you mad.
'Tis good
you know not
that you are his heirs;
For if you should,
O, what would come of it?
Fourth Plebeian.
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.
I fear
I wrong
the honorable men
Whose daggers
have stabbed Caesar;
I do fear it.
Fourth Plebeian.
They were traitors.
Honorable men!
All.
The will!
The testament!
Second Plebeian.
They were villains,
murderers!
The will!
Read the will!
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?
Second Plebeian.
Descend.
Third Plebeian.
You shall have leave.
Fourth Plebeian.
A ring!
Stand round.
First Plebeian.
Stand from the hearse,
stand from the body!
Second Plebeian.
Room for Antony,
most noble Antony!
Antony.
Nay,
press not so upon me;
stand far off.
All.
Stand back!
Room!
Bear back.
Antony.
If you have tears,
prepare to shed them now.
You all
do know this mantle;
I remember
The first time ever
Caesar put it on:
'Twas on a summer's evening,
in his tent,
That day
he overcame the Nervii.
Look,
in this place
ran Cassius' dagger through;
See what a rent
the envious Casca made;
Through this
the well-belovèd Brutus stabbed,
And as he plucked
his cursèd steel away,
Mark how
the blood of Caesar
followed it,
As rushing out of doors,
to be resolved
If Brutus
so unkindly knocked, or no;
For Brutus,
as you know,
was Caesar's angel.
Judge,
O you gods,
how dearly
Caesar loved him!
This was the most
unkindest cut of all;
For when
the noble Caesar
saw him stab,
Ingratitude,
more strong
than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquished him.
Then burst his mighty heart;
And,
in his mantle
muffling up his face,
Even at the base
of Pompey's statue
(Which all the while
ran blood)
great Caesar fell.
O,
what a fall was there,
my countrymen!
Then I,
and you,
and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason
flourished 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
Our Caesar's vesture wounded?
Look you here,
Here is himself,
marred as you see
with traitors.
First Plebeian.
O piteous spectacle!
Second Plebeian.
O noble Caesar!
Third Plebeian.
O woeful day!
Fourth Plebeian.
O traitors, villains!
First Plebeian.
O most bloody sight!
Second Plebeian.
We will be revenged.
All.
Revenge!
About!
Seek!
Burn!
Fire!
Kill!
Slay!
Let not a traitor live!
Antony.
Stay,
countrymen.
First Plebeian.
Peace there!
Hear the noble Antony.
Second Plebeian.
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 honorable.
What private griefs they have,
alas,
I know not,
That made them do it.
They are wise and honorable,
And will,
no doubt,
with reasons answer you.
I come not,
friends,
to steal away your hearts;
I am no orator,
as Brutus is;
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.
For I have neither writ,
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,
And Brutus Antony,
there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits,
and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar
that would move
The stones of Rome
to rise and mutiny.
First Plebeian.
We'll burn
the house of Brutus.
Third Plebeian.
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.
Antony.
Here is the will,
and under Caesar's seal.
To every Roman citizen
he gives,
To every several man,
seventy-five drachmas.
Second Plebeian.
Most noble Caesar!
We'll revenge his death!
Third Plebeian.
O royal Caesar!
Antony.
Hear me with patience.
Antony.
Moreover,
he hath left you
all his walks,
His private arbors,
and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tiber;
he hath left them you,
And to your heirs forever:
common pleasures,
To walk abroad
and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Caesar!
When comes such another?
First Plebeian.
Never, never!
Come,
away,
away!
Well burn his body
in the holy place,
And with the brands
fire the traitors' houses.
Take up the body.
Second Plebeian.
Go fetch fire.
Third Plebeian.
Pluck down benches.
Fourth Plebeian.
Pluck down forms,
windows,
anything!
[Exeunt PLEBEIANS
with the body.]
Antony.
Now let it work:
Mischief,
thou art afoot,
Take thou
what course thou wilt.
Servant.
Sir,
Octavius
is already come to Rome.
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 anything.
Servant.
I heard him say,
Brutus and Cassius
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.]
Enter CINNA the poet,
and after him the PLEBEIANS.
Cinna.
I dreamt tonight
that I did feast
with Caesar,
And things
unluckily charge
my fantasy.
I have no will
to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.
Enter Citizens
First Plebeian.
What is your name?
Second Plebeian.
Whither are you going?
Third Plebeian.
Where do you dwell?
Fourth Plebeian.
Are you a married man
or a bachelor?
Second Plebeian.
Answer every man directly.
First Plebeian.
Ay, and briefly.
Fourth Plebeian.
Ay, and wisely.
Third Plebeian.
Ay, and truly,
you were best.
Cinna.
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 Plebeian.
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.
Directly,
I am going
to Caesar's funeral.
First Plebeian.
As a friend
or an enemy?
Second Plebeian.
That matter
is answered directly.
Fourth Plebeian.
For your dwelling,
briefly.
Cinna.
Briefly,
I dwell by the Capitol.
Third Plebeian.
Your name, sir,
truly.
Cinna.
Truly,
my name is Cinna.
First Plebeian.
Tear him to pieces!
He's a conspirator.
Cinna.
I am Cinna the poet!
I am Cinna the poet!
Fourth Plebeian.
Tear him
for his bad verses!
Tear him
for his bad verses!
Cinna.
I am not
Cinna the conspirator.
Fourth Plebeian.
It is no matter,
his name's Cinna;
pluck but his name
out of his heart,
and turn him going.
Third Plebeian.
Tear him,
tear him!
Come,
brands, ho!
Firebrands!
To Brutus',
to Cassius'!
Burn all!
Some to Decius' house,
and some to Casca's;
some to Ligarius'!
Away, go!
[Exeunt all the PLEBEIANS
with CINNA.]
Enter ANTONY,
OCTAVIUS,
and LEPIDUS.
Antony.
These many then shall die;
their names
are pricked.
Octavius.
Your brother too must die;
consent you,
Lepidus?
Octavius.
Prick him down,
Antony.
Lepidus.
Upon condition
Publius shall not live,
Who is
your sister's son,
Mark Antony.
Antony.
He shall not live;
look,
with a spot
I damn him.
But,
Lepidus,
go you to Caesar's house;
Fetch the will hither,
and we
shall determine
How to cut off
some charge in legacies.
Lepidus.
What,
shall I find you here?
Octavius.
Or here or at the Capitol.
[Exit LEPIDUS.]
Antony.
This is a slight
unmeritable man,
Meet to be
sent on errands;
is it fit,
The threefold world
divided,
he should stand
One of the three
to share it?
Octavius.
So you thought him,
And took his voice
who should be
pricked to die
In our black sentence
and proscription.
Antony.
Octavius,
I have seen
more days than you;
And though
we lay these honors
on this man,
To ease ourselves
of divers sland'rous loads,
He shall
but bear them
as the ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat
under the business,
Either led or driven,
as we point the way;
And having
brought our treasure
where we will,
Then take we
down his load,
and turn him off,
(Like to the empty ass)
to shake his ears
And graze in commons.
Octavius.
You may do your will;
But he's a tried
and valiant soldier.
Antony.
So is my horse,
Octavius,
and for that
I do appoint him
store of provender.
It is a creature
that I teach to fight,
To wind,
to stop,
to run directly on,
His corporal motion
governed by my spirit.
And,
in some taste,
is Lepidus but so.
He must be taught,
and trained,
and bid go forth.
A barren-spirited fellow;
one that feeds On objects,
arts,
and imitations,
Which,
out of use
and staled by other men,
Begin his fashion.
Do not talk of him
But as a property.
And now,
Octavius,
Listen great things.
Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers;
we must straight make head.
Therefore let our alliance
be combined,
Our best friends made,
our means stretched;
And let us presently
go sit in council
How covert matters
may be best disclosed,
And open perils
surest answerèd.
Octavius.
Let us do so;
for we
are at the stake,
And bayed about
with many enemies;
And some that smile
have in their hearts,
I fear,
Millions of mischiefs.
[Exeunt.]
Drum.
Enter BRUTUS,
LUCILIUS,
LUCIUS,
and the ARMY.
TITINIUS and PINDARUS
meet them.
Lucilius.
Give the word, ho!
and stand.
Brutus.
What now, Lucilius,
is Cassius near?
Lucilius.
He is at hand,
and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation
from his master.
Brutus.
He greets me well.
Your master,
Pindarus,
In his own change,
or by ill officers,
Hath given me
some worthy cause
to wish Things done
undone;
but if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.
Pindarus.
I do not doubt
But that my noble master
will appear
Such as he is,
full of regard and honor.
Brutus.
He is not doubted.
A word,
Lucilius,
How he received you;
let me be resolved.
Lucilius.
With courtesy
and with respect enough,
But not with such
familiar instances,
Nor with such free
and friendly conference
As he hath used of old.
Brutus.
Thou hast described
A hot friend cooling.
Ever note,
Lucilius,
When love begins
to sicken and decay
It useth
an enforcèd ceremony.
There are no tricks
in plain and simple faith;
But hollow men,
like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show
and promise
of their mettle;
But when
they should endure
the bloody spur,
They fall their crests,
and like deceitful jades
Sink in the trial.
Comes his army on?
Lucilius.
They mean this night
in Sardis
to be quartered;
The greater part,
the horse in general,
Are come with Cassius.
[Enter CASSIUS
and his POWERS.]
Brutus.
Hark!
He is arrived.
March gently on
to meet him.
Brutus.
Stand, ho!
Speak the word along.
Cassius.
Most noble brother,
you have done me wrong.
Brutus.
Judge me,
you gods!
Wrong I mine enemies?
And if not so,
how should I
wrong a brother?
Cassius.
Brutus,
this sober form of yours
hides wrongs;
And when you do them--
Brutus.
Cassius,
be content.
Speak your griefs softly;
I do know you well.
Before the eyes
of both our armies here
(Which should perceive
nothing but love from us)
Let us not wrangle.
Bid them move away;
Then in my tent,
Cassius,
enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.
Cassius.
Pindarus,
Bid our commanders
lead their charges
off A little
from this ground.
Brutus.
Lucilius,
do you the like,
and let no man
Come to our tent
till we have done
our conference.
Let Lucius and Titinius
guard our door.
[Exeunt all except
BRUTUS and CASSIUS.]
Cassius.
That you have wronged me
doth appear in this:
You have condemned
and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here
of the Sardians;
Wherein my letters,
praying on his side,
Because I knew the man,
was slighted off.
Brutus.
You wronged yourself
to write
in such a case.
Cassius.
In such a time as this
it is not meet
That every nice offense
should bear his comment.
Brutus.
Let me tell you,
Cassius,
you yourself
Are much condemned
to have
an itching palm,
To sell
and mart your offices
for gold To undeservers.
Cassius.
I an itching palm?
You know
that you are Brutus
that speaks this,
Or,
by the gods,
this speech
were else your last.
Brutus.
The name of Cassius
honors this corruption,
And chastisement
doth therefore
hide his head.
Brutus.
Remember March,
the ides of March remember.
Did not great Julius
bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touched his body,
that did stab,
And not for justice?
What,
shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man
of all this world
But for supporting robbers,
shall we now
Contaminate our fingers
with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space
of our large honors
For so much trash
as may be graspèd thus?
I had rather be a dog,
and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman.
Cassius.
Brutus,
bait not me;
I'll not endure it.
You forget yourself
To hedge me in.
I am a soldier,
I,
Older in practice,
abler than yourself
To make conditions.
Brutus.
Go to!
You are not,
Cassius.
Brutus.
I say you are not.
Cassius.
Urge me no more,
I shall forget myself;
Have mind upon your health,
tempt me no farther.
Brutus.
Away,
slight man!
Brutus.
Hear me,
for I will speak.
Must I give way
and room
to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted
when a madman stares?
Cassius.
O ye gods,
ye gods!
Must I endure all this?
Brutus.
All this?
Ay, more:
fret till your
proud heart break.
Go show your slaves
how choleric you are,
And make
your bondmen tremble.
Must I budge?
Must I observe you?
Must I stand
and crouch
Under your testy humor?
By the gods,
You shall digest the venom
of your spleen,
Though it do split you;
for,
from this day forth,
I'll use you
for my mirth,
yea,
for my laughter,
When you are waspish.
Cassius.
Is it come to this?
Brutus.
You say
you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so;
make your vaunting true,
And it
shall please me well.
For mine own part,
I shall be glad
to learn of noble men.
Cassius.
You wrong me every way;
you wrong me, Brutus;
I said,
an elder soldier,
not a better.
Did I say,
better?
Brutus.
If you did,
I care not.
Cassius.
When Caesar lived,
he durst not
thus have moved me.
Brutus.
Peace, peace,
you durst not
so have tempted him.
Cassius.
What?
Durst not tempt him?
Brutus.
For your life
you durst not.
Cassius.
Do not presume
too much upon my love;
I may do that
I shall be sorry for.
Brutus.
You have done
that you
should be sorry for.
There is no terror,
Cassius,
in your threats;
For I am armed
so strong in honesty
That they
pass by me
as the idle wind,
Which I respect not.
I did send to you
For certain sums of gold,
which you denied me;
For I can raise
no money by vile means.
By heaven,
I had rather
coin my heart
And drop my blood
for drachmas
than to wring
From the hard hands
of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection.
I did send
To you for gold
to pay my legions,
Which you denied me.
Was that done like Cassius?
Should I
have answered
Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus
grows so covetous
To lock such rascal counters
from his friends,
Be ready, gods,
with all your thunderbolts,
Dash him to pieces!
Cassius.
I denied you not.
Cassius.
I did not.
He was but a fool
That brought my answer back.
Brutus hath rived my heart.
A friend
should bear
his friend's infirmities;
But Brutus
makes mine greater
than they are.
Brutus.
I do not,
till you
practice them on me.
Cassius.
You love me not.
Brutus.
I do not like your faults.
Cassius.
A friendly eye
could never see
such faults.
Brutus.
A flatterer's would not,
though they do appear
As huge
as high Olympus.
Cassius.
Come, Antony,
and young Octavius,
come,
Revenge yourselves alone
on Cassius,
For Cassius
is aweary of the world:
Hated by one he loves;
braved by his brother;
Checked like a bondman;
all his faults observed,
Set in a notebook,
learned and conned by rote
To cast into my teeth.
O,
I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes!
There is my dagger,
And here
my naked breast;
within,
a heart
Dearer than Pluto's mine,
richer than gold;
If that
thou be'st a Roman,
take it forth.
I,
that denied thee gold,
will give my heart.
Strike as thou didst at Caesar;
for I know,
When thou
didst hate him worst,
thou lovedst him better
Than ever
thou lovedst Cassius.
Brutus.
Sheathe your dagger.
Be angry when you will,
it shall have scope.
Do what you will,
dishonor
shall be humor.
O Cassius,
you are yokèd
with a lamb
That carries anger
as the flint bears fire,
Who,
much enforcèd,
shows a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.
Cassius.
Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth
and laughter to his Brutus
When grief
and blood ill-tempered
vexeth him?
Brutus.
When I spoke that,
I was ill-tempered too.
Cassius.
Do you confess so much?
Give me your hand.
Brutus.
And my heart too.
Brutus.
What's the matter?
Cassius.
Have not you
love enough
to bear with me
When that rash humor
which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?
Brutus.
Yes, Cassius,
and from henceforth,
When you
are over-earnest
with your Brutus,
He'll think
your mother chides,
and leave you so.
[Enter a POET,
followed by LUCILIUS,
TITINIUS,
and LUCIUS.]
Poet.
Let me go in
to see the generals;
There is
some grudge between 'em;
'tis not meet
They be alone.
Lucilius.
You shall not
come to them.
Poet.
Nothing but death
shall stay me.
Cassius.
How now.
What's the matter?
Poet.
For shame,
you generals!
What do you mean?
Love,
and be friends,
as two such men
should be;
For I have seen more years,
I'm sure,
than ye.
Cassius.
Ha, ha!
How vilely
doth this cynic rhyme!
Brutus.
Get you hence,
sirrah!
Saucy fellow,
hence!
Cassius.
Bear with him,
Brutus,
'tis his fashion.
Brutus.
I'll know his humor
when he knows his time.
What should the wars do
with these jigging fools?
Companion,
hence!
Cassius.
Away, away,
be gone!
Brutus.
Lucilius and Titinius,
bid the commanders
Prepare to lodge
their companies tonight.
Cassius.
And come yourselves,
and bring
Messala with you
Immediately to us.
[Exeunt LUCILIUS and TITINIUS.]
Brutus.
Lucius,
a bowl of wine.
Cassius.
I did not think
you could have been
so angry.
Brutus.
O Cassius,
I am sick
of many griefs.
Cassius.
Of your philosophy
you make no use,
If you give place
to accidental evils.
Brutus.
No man
bears sorrow better.
Portia is dead.
Cassius.
How scaped I killing
when I crossed you so?
O insupportable
and touching loss!
Upon what sickness?
Brutus.
Impatient of my absence,
And grief
that young Octavius
with Mark Antony
Have made themselves
so strong
-- for with her death
That tidings came --
with this
she fell distract,
And
(her attendants absent)
swallowed fire.
Cassius.
O ye immortal gods!
[Enter LUCIUS,
with wine and tapers.]
Brutus.
Speak no more of her.
Give me a bowl of wine.
In this
I bury all unkindness,
Cassius.
Cassius.
My heart is thirsty
for that noble pledge.
Fill,
Lucius,
till the wine o'erswell the cup;
I cannot drink
too much of Brutus' love.
[Enter TITINIUS and MESSALA.]
Brutus.
Come in,
Titinius!
Welcome,
good Messala.
Now sit
we close about
this taper here,
And call in question
our necessities.
Cassius.
Portia,
art thou gone?
Brutus.
No more,
I pray you.
Messala,
I have here receivèd letters
That young Octavius
and Mark Antony
Come down upon us
with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition
toward Philippi.
Messala.
Myself have letters
of the selfsame tenure.
Brutus.
With what addition?
Messala.
That by proscription
and bills of outlawry
Octavius,
Antony,
and Lepidus
Have put to death
an hundred senators.
Brutus.
Therein our letters
do not well agree.
Mine speak
of seventy senators
that died
By their proscriptions,
Cicero being one.
Messala.
Cicero is dead,
And by that order
of proscription.
Had you your letters
from your wife,
my lord?
Messala.
Nor nothing
in your letters
writ of her?
Brutus.
Nothing, Messala.
Messala.
That methinks is strange.
Brutus.
Why ask you?
Hear you aught of her
in yours?
Brutus.
Now as you
are a Roman,
tell me true.
Messala.
Then like a Roman bear
the truth I tell,
For certain she is dead,
and by strange manner.
Brutus.
Why,
farewell, Portia.
We must die,
Messala.
With meditating
that she must die once,
I have the patience
to endure it now.
Messala.
Even so
great men
great losses should endure.
Cassius.
I have as much
of this in art
as you,
But yet my nature
could not bear it so.
Brutus.
Well,
to our work alive.
What do you think
Of marching
to Philippi presently?
Cassius.
I do not
think it good.
Cassius.
This it is:
'Tis better
that the enemy seek us;
So shall he
waste his means,
weary his soldiers,
Doing himself offense,
whilst we,
lying still,
Are full of rest,
defense,
and nimbleness.
Brutus.
Good reasons
must of force
give place to better.
The people
'twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in
a forced affection;
For they
have grudged us contribution.
The enemy,
marching along by them,
By them
shall make
a fuller number up,
Come on refreshed,
new-added and encouraged;
From which advantage
shall we cut him off
If at Philippi
we do face him there,
These people at our back.
Cassius.
Hear me,
good brother.
Brutus.
Under your pardon.
You must note beside
That we
have tried the utmost
of our friends,
Our legions are brimful,
our cause is ripe.
The enemy
increaseth every day;
We,
at the height,
are ready to decline.
There is a tide
in the affairs of men
Which,
taken at the flood,
leads on to fortune;
Omitted,
all the voyage
of their life
Is bound in shallows
and in miseries.
On such a full sea
are we now afloat,
And we
must take the current
when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.
Cassius.
Then,
with your will,
go on;
We'll along ourselves
and meet them at Philippi.
Brutus.
The deep of night
is crept upon our talk,
And nature must obey necessity,
Which we
will niggard
with a little rest.
There is
no more to say?
Cassius.
No more.
Good night.
Early tomorrow
will we rise and hence.
Brutus.
Lucius,
my gown.
[Exit LUCIUS.]
Farewell, good Messala.
Good night,
Titinius.
Noble,
noble Cassius,
Good night,
and good repose.
Cassius.
O my dear brother,
This was
an ill beginning
of the night.
Never come such division
'tween our souls!
Let it not,
Brutus.
[Enter LUCIUS,
with the gown.]
Brutus.
Everything is well.
Cassius.
Good night,
my lord.
Brutus.
Good night,
good brother.
Titinius, Messala.
Good night,
Lord Brutus.
Brutus.
Farewell,
every one.
Give me the gown.
Where is thy instrument?
Lucius.
Here in the tent.
Brutus.
What,
thou speak'st drowsily?
Poor knave,
I blame thee not;
thou art o'erwatched.
Call Claudius and
some other of my men;
I'll have them
sleep on cushions
in my tent.
Lucius.
Varro and Claudius!
[Enter VARRO and CLAUDIUS.]
Brutus.
I pray you, sirs,
lie in my tent
and sleep.
It may be
I shall raise you
by and by
On business
to my brother Cassius.
Varro.
So please you,
we will stand
and watch your pleasure.
Brutus.
I will not have it so;
lie down, good sirs;
It may be
I shall otherwise bethink me.
[VARRO and CLAUDIUS lie down.].
Look,
Lucius,
here's the book
I sought for so;
I put it
in the pocket
of my gown.
Lucius.
I was sure your lordship
did not give it me.
Brutus.
Bear with me,
good boy,
I am much forgetful.
Canst thou
hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,
And touch thy instrument
a strain or two?
Lucius.
Ay, my lord,
an't please you.
Brutus.
It does,
my boy.
I trouble thee too much,
but thou art willing.
Lucius.
It is my duty, sir.
Brutus.
I should not
urge thy duty
past thy might;
I know young bloods
look for a time of rest.
Lucius.
I have slept,
my lord,
already.
Brutus.
It was well done,
and thou shalt sleep again;
I will not
hold thee long.
If I do live,
I will be good to thee.
This is a sleepy tune.
O murd'rous slumber!
Layest thou
thy leaden mace
upon my boy,
That plays thee music?
Gentle knave,
good night;
I will not
do thee so much wrong
to wake thee.
If thou dost nod,
thou break'st thy instrument;
I'll take it from thee;
and,
good boy,
good night.
Let me see,
let me see;
is not the leaf
turned down
Where I left reading?
Here it is,
I think.
[Enter the GHOST of Caesar.]
How ill this taper burns.
Ha!
Who comes here?
I think it is
the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes
this monstrous apparition.
It comes upon me.
Art thou anything?
Art thou some god,
some angel,
or some devil,
That mak'st my blood cold,
and my hair to stare?
Speak to me
what thou art.
Ghost.
Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
Ghost.
To tell thee
thou shalt see me at Philippi.
Brutus.
Well;
then I
shall see thee again?
Brutus.
Why,
I will see thee
at Philippi then.
Now I have taken heart
thou vanishest.
Ill spirit,
I would hold more talk
with thee.
Boy!
Lucius!
Varro!
Claudius!
Sirs,
awake!
Claudius!
Lucius.
The strings,
my lord,
are false.
Brutus.
He thinks
he still is
at his instrument.
Lucius awake!
Brutus.
Didst thou dream,
Lucius,
that thou so criedst out?
Lucius.
My lord,
I do not know
that I did cry.
Brutus.
Yes,
that thou didst.
Didst thou see anything?
Lucius.
Nothing, my lord.
Brutus.
Sleep again, Lucius.
Sirrah Claudius!
(To VARRO.)
Fellow thou, awake!
Brutus.
Why did you so cry out,
sirs,
in your sleep?
Brutus.
Ay.
Saw you anything?
Varro.
No, my lord,
I saw nothing.
Claudius.
Nor I, my lord.
Brutus.
Go and commend me
to my brother Cassius;
Bid him
set on his pow'rs
betimes before,
And we will follow.
Both.
It shall be done,
my lord.
Enter OCTAVIUS,
ANTONY,
and their ARMY.
Octavius.
Now,
Antony,
our hopes
are answerèd;
You said the enemy
would not come down,
But keep the hills
and upper regions.
It proves not so;
their battles
are at hand;
They mean
to warn us at Philippi here,
Answering before
we do demand of them.
Antony.
Tut,
I am in their bosoms,
and I know
Wherefore they do it.
They could be content
To visit other places,
and come down
With fearful bravery,
thinking by this face
To fasten in our thoughts
that they have courage;
But 'tis not so.
Messenger.
Prepare you,
generals,
The enemy
comes on in gallant show;
Their bloody sign of battle
is hung out,
And something
to be done immediately.
Antony.
Octavius,
lead your battle softly on
Upon the left hand
of the even field.
Octavius.
Upon the right hand I;
keep thou the left.
Antony.
Why do you cross me
in this exigent?
Octavius.
I do not cross you;
but I will do so.
[March. Drum.
Enter BRUTUS,
CASSIUS,
and their ARMY;
LUCILIUS,
TITINIUS,
MESSALA,
and others.]
Brutus.
They stand,
and would have parley.
Cassius.
Stand fast,
Titinius,
we must out and talk.
Octavius.
Mark Antony,
shall we give
sign of battle?
Antony.
No, Caesar,
we will answer
on their charge.
Make forth,
the generals
would have some words.
Octavius.
Stir not
until the signal.
Brutus.
Words before blows;
is it so,
countrymen?
Octavius.
Not that we
love words better,
as you do.
Brutus.
Good words
are better than bad strokes,
Octavius.
Antony.
In your bad strokes,
Brutus,
you give good words;
Witness the hole
you made in Caesar's heart,
Crying
"Long live!
Hail, Caesar!"
Cassius.
Antony,
The posture of your blows
are yet unknown;
But for your words,
they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless.
Antony.
Not stingless too.
Brutus.
O, yes,
and soundless too;
For you
have stol'n their buzzing,
Antony,
And very wisely
threat before you sting.
Antony.
Villains!
You did not so,
when your vile daggers
Hacked one another
in the sides of Caesar.
You showed your teeth
like apes,
and fawned like hounds,
And bowed like bondmen,
kissing Caesar's feet;
Whilst damnèd Casca,
like a cur,
behind
Struck Caesar on the neck.
O you flatterers!
Cassius.
Flatterers!
Now,
Brutus,
thank yourself;
This tongue
had not offended so today,
If Cassius
might have ruled.
Octavius.
Come, come,
the cause.
If arguing make us sweat,
The proof of it
will turn
to redder drops.
Look,
I draw a sword
against conspirators.
When think you
that the sword
goes up again?
Never,
till Caesar's three
and thirty wounds
Be well avenged;
or till another Caesar
Have added slaughter
to the sword of traitors.
Brutus.
Caesar,
thou canst not die
by traitors' hands,
Unless thou
bring'st them with thee.
Octavius.
So I hope.
I was not born
to die on Brutus' sword.
Brutus.
O, if thou wert
the noblest of thy strain,
Young man,
thou couldst not die
more honorable.
Cassius.
A peevish schoolboy,
worthless of such honor,
Joined with a masker
and a reveler.
Antony.
Old Cassius still!
Octavius.
Come, Antony;
away!
Defiance,
traitors,
hurl we in your teeth.
If you dare fight today,
come to the field;
If not,
when you have stomachs.
[Exeunt OCTAVIUS,
ANTONY,
and ARMY.]
Cassius.
Why,
now blow wind,
swell billow,
and swim bark!
The storm is up,
and all
is on the hazard.
Brutus.
Ho, Lucilius,
hark,
a word with you.
[LUCILIUS and
MESSALA stand forth.]
[BRUTUS and
LUCILIUS converse apart.]
Messala.
What says my general?
Cassius.
Messala,
This is my birthday;
as this very day
Was Cassius born.
Give me thy hand,
Messala:
Be thou my witness
that against my will
(As Pompey was)
am I compelled
to set Upon one battle
all our liberties.
You know
that I held Epicurus strong,
And his opinion;
now I change my mind,
And partly credit things
that do presage.
Coming from Sardis,
on our former ensign
Two mighty eagles fell,
and there they perched,
Gorging and feeding
from our soldiers' hands,
Who to Philippi here
consorted us.
This morning
are they fled away
and gone,
And in their steads
do ravens,
crows,
and kites
Fly o'er our heads
and downward look on us
As we were sickly prey;
their shadows
seem A canopy most fatal,
under which Our army lies,
ready to give up the ghost.
Cassius.
I but believe it partly,
For I am fresh of spirit
and resolved To meet
all perils very constantly.
Brutus.
Even so,
Lucilius.
Cassius.
Now,
most noble Brutus,
The gods
today stand friendly,
that we may,
Lovers in peace,
lead on our days to age!
But since the affairs of men
rests still incertain,
Let's reason with the worst
that may befall.
If we do
lose this battle,
then is this
The very last time
we shall speak together.
What are you then
determinèd to do?
Brutus.
Even by the rule
of that philosophy
By which
I did blame Cato
for the death
Which he did give himself;
I know not how,
But I do find it
cowardly and vile,
For fear
of what might fall,
so to prevent
The time of life,
arming myself with patience
To stay the providence
of some high powers
That govern us below.
Cassius.
Then,
if we lose this battle,
You are contented
to be led in triumph
Thorough the streets of Rome?
Brutus.
No, Cassius, no;
think not,
thou noble Roman,
That ever Brutus
will go bound to Rome;
He bears
too great a mind.
But this same day
Must end that work
the ides of March begun;
And whether
we shall meet again
I know not.
Therefore
our everlasting farewell
take.
Forever,
and forever,
farewell, Cassius!
If we do meet again,
why,
we shall smile;
If not,
why then this parting
was well made.
Cassius.
Forever,
and forever,
farewell, Brutus!
If we do meet again,
we'll smile indeed;
If not,
'tis true this parting
was well made.
Brutus.
Why then,
lead on.
O,
that a man might know
The end
of this day's business
ere it come!
But it sufficeth
that the day will end,
And then
the end is known.
Come, ho!
Away!
Alarum.
Enter BRUTUS and MESSALA.
Brutus.
Ride,
ride,
Messala,
ride,
and give these bills
Unto the legions
on the other side.
Let them set on at once;
for I perceive
But cold demeanor
in Octavius' wing,
And sudden push
gives them the overthrow.
Ride,
ride,
Messala!
Let them all come down.
Alarums.
Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS.
Cassius.
O, look,
Titinius,
look,
the villains fly!
Myself have
to mine own
turned enemy.
This ensign here of mine
was turning back;
I slew the coward,
and did take it from him.
Titinius.
O Cassius,
Brutus
gave the word too early,
Who,
having some advantage
on Octavius,
Took it too eagerly;
his soldiers
fell to spoil,
Whilst we by Antony
are all enclosed.
Pindarus.
Fly further off,
my lord,
fly further off!
Mark Antony
is in your tents,
my lord.
Fly,
therefore,
noble Cassius,
fly far off!
Cassius.
This hill is far enough.
Look,
look,
Titinius!
Are those my tents
where I
perceive the fire?
Titinius.
They are, my lord.
Cassius.
Titinius,
if thou lovest me,
Mount thou my horse
and hide thy spurs in him
Till he
have brought thee up
to yonder troops
And here again,
that I may rest assured
Whether yond troops
are friend or enemy.
Titinius.
I will be here again
even with a thought.
[Exit.]
Cassius.
Go, Pindarus,
get higher on that hill;
My sight
was ever thick.
Regard Titinius,
And tell me
what thou not'st
about the field.
This day I breathèd first.
Time is come round,
And where I did begin,
there shall I end.
My life
is run his compass.
Sirrah,
what news?
Pindarus
(above.)
O my lord!
Pindarus
(above.)
Titinius
is enclosèd
round about With horsemen
that make to him
on the spur;
Yet he spurs on.
Now they
are almost on him.
Now,
Titinius!
Now some light.
O,
he lights too!
He's ta'en!
(Shout.)
And, hark!
They shout for joy.
Cassius.
Come down;
behold no more.
O,
coward that I am,
to live so long,
To see my best friend
ta'en before my face!
Come hither,
sirrah.
In Parthia
did I take thee prisoner;
And then I swore thee,
saving of thy life,
That whatsoever
I did bid thee do,
Thou shouldst attempt it.
Come now,
keep thine oath.
Now be a freeman,
and with this good sword,
That ran through Caesar's bowels,
search this bosom.
Stand not
to answer.
Here,
take thou the hilts,
And when my face
is covered,
as 'tis now,
Guide thou the sword
-- Caesar,
thou art revenged,
Even with the sword
that killed thee.
[Dies.]
Pindarus.
So,
I am free;
yet would not
so have been,
Durst I have done my will.
O Cassius!
Far from this country
Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman
shall take note of him.
[Exit.]
[Enter TITINIUS and MESSALA.]
Messala.
It is but change,
Titinius;
for Octavius
Is overthrown
by noble Brutus' power,
As Cassius' legions
are by Antony.
Titinius.
These tidings
will well comfort Cassius.
Messala.
Where did you leave him?
Titinius.
All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondman,
on this hill.
Messala.
Is not that he
that lies upon the ground?
Titinius.
He lies not like the living.
O my heart!
Titinius.
No,
this was he,
Messala,
But Cassius is no more.
O setting sun,
As in thy red rays
thou dost sink to night,
So in his red blood
Cassius' day is set.
The sun of Rome is set.
Our day is gone;
Clouds,
dews,
and dangers come;
our deeds are done!
Mistrust of my success
hath done this deed.
Messala.
Mistrust of good success
hath done this deed.
O hateful Error,
Melancholy's child,
Why dost thou show
to the apt thoughts of men
The things that are not?
O Error,
soon conceived,
Thou never com'st
unto a happy birth,
But kill'st the mother
that engend'red thee!
Titinius.
What,
Pindarus!
Where art thou,
Pindarus?
Messala.
Seek him,
Titinius,
whilst I go
to meet The noble Brutus,
thrusting this report
Into his ears.
I may say
"thrusting" it;
For piercing steel
and darts envenomèd
Shall be as welcome
to the ears of Brutus
As tidings of this sight.
Titinius.
Hie you, Messala,
And I will seek
for Pindarus the while.
Why didst
thou send me forth,
brave Cassius?
Did I not meet thy friends,
and did not they
Put on my brows
this wreath of victory,
And bid me
give it thee?
Didst thou
not hear their shouts?
Alas,
thou hast
misconstrued everything!
But hold thee,
take this garland
on thy brow;
Thy Brutus bid me
give it thee,
and I
Will do his bidding.
Brutus,
come apace,
And see how
I regarded Caius Cassius.
By your leave,
gods.
This is a Roman's part:
Come,
Cassius' sword,
and find Titinius' heart.
[Alarum.
Enter BRUTUS,
MESSALA,
YOUNG CATO,
STRATO,
VOLUMNIUS,
and LUCILIUS.]
Brutus.
Where, where,
Messala,
doth his body lie?
Messala.
Lo, yonder,
and Titinius mourning it.
Brutus.
Titinius' face is upward.
Brutus.
O Julius Caesar,
thou art mighty yet!
Thy spirit walks abroad,
and turns our swords
In our own proper entrails.
[Low alarums.]
Cato.
Brave Titinius!
Look,
whe'r he
have not crowned
dead Cassius.
Brutus.
Are yet two Romans
living such as these?
The last
of all the Romans,
fare thee well!
It is impossible
that ever Rome
Should breed thy fellow.
Friends,
I owe moe tears
To this dead man
than you
shall see me pay.
I shall find time,
Cassius;
I shall find time.
Come,
therefore,
and to Thasos
send his body;
His funerals
shall not be
in our camp,
Lest it discomfort us.
Lucilius,
come,
And come,
young Cato;
let us to the field.
Labeo and Flavius
set our battles on.
'Tis three o'clock;
and,
Romans,
yet ere night
We shall try fortune
in a second fight.
[Exeunt.]
Alarum.
Enter BRUTUS,
MESSALA,
YOUNG CATO,
LUCILIUS,
and FLAVIUS.
Brutus.
Yet,
countrymen, O,
yet hold up your heads!
Cato.
What bastard doth not?
Who will go with me?
I will proclaim my name
about the field.
I am the son
of Marcus Cato, ho!
A foe to tyrants,
and my country's friend.
I am the son
of Marcus Cato, ho!
[Enter SOLDIERS and fight.]
Lucilius.
And I am Brutus,
Marcus Brutus, I;
Brutus,
my country's friend,
know me for Brutus!
O young and noble Cato,
art thou down?
Why,
now thou diest
as bravely as Titinius,
And mayst be honored,
being Cato's son.
First Soldier.
Yield,
or thou diest.
Lucilius.
Only I yield to die.
There is so much
that thou
wilt kill me straight;
Kill Brutus,
and be honored
in his death.
First Soldier.
We must not.
A noble prisoner!
Second Soldier.
Room, ho!
Tell Antony,
Brutus is ta'en.
First Soldier.
I'll tell the news.
Here comes the general.
Brutus is ta'en,
Brutus is ta'en,
my lord.
Lucilius.
Safe, Antony;
Brutus is safe enough.
I dare assure thee
that no enemy
Shall ever take alive
the noble Brutus.
The gods
defend him
from so great a shame!
When you do find him,
or alive or dead,
He will be found like Brutus,
like himself.
Antony.
This is not Brutus,
friend,
but,
I assure you,
A prize no less in worth.
Keep this man safe;
Give him all kindness.
I had rather
have Such men my friends
than enemies.
Go on,
And see whe'r Brutus
be alive or dead,
And bring us word
unto Octavius' tent
How everything is chanced.
[Exeunt.]
Enter BRUTUS,
DARDANIUS,
CLITUS,
STRATO,
and VOLUMNIUS.
Brutus.
Come,
poor remains of friends,
rest on this rock.
Clitus.
Statilius
showed the torchlight,
but,
my lord,
He came not back;
he is or ta'en or slain.
Brutus.
Sit thee down, Clitus.
Slaying is the word;
It is a deed in fashion.
Hark thee, Clitus.
Clitus.
What, I,
my lord?
No,
not for all the world!
Brutus.
Peace then,
no words.
Clitus.
I'll rather kill myself.
Brutus.
Hark thee,
Dardanius.
Dardanius.
Shall I do such a deed?
Clitus.
What ill request
did Brutus make to thee?
Dardanius.
To kill him, Clitus.
Look,
he meditates.
Clitus.
Now is that noble vessel
full of grief,
That it runs over
even at his eyes.
Brutus.
Come hither,
good Volumnius;
list a word.
Volumnius.
What says my lord?
Brutus.
Why, this,
Volumnius:
The ghost of Caesar
hath appeared to me
Two several times by night;
at Sardis once,
And this last night
here in Philippi fields.
I know my hour
is come.
Volumnius.
Not so, my lord.
Brutus.
Nay,
I am sure it is,
Volumnius.
Thou seest the world,
Volumnius,
how it goes;
Our enemies
have beat us
to the pit.
It is more worthy
to leap in ourselves
Than tarry
till they push us.
Good Volumnius,
Thou know'st
that we two
went to school together;
Even for that
our love of old,
I prithee
Hold thou my sword-hilts
whilst I run on it.
Volumnius.
That's not an office
for a friend,
my lord.
Clitus.
Fly, fly, my lord,
there is no tarrying here.
Brutus.
Farewell to you;
and you;
and you,
Volumnius.
Strato,
thou hast been
all this while asleep;
Farewell to thee too,
Strato.
Countrymen,
My heart doth joy
that yet
in all my life
I found no man
but he was true to me.
I shall have glory
by this losing day
More than Octavius
and Mark Antony
By this vile conquest
shall attain unto.
So fare you well at once,
for Brutus' tongue
Hath almost ended
his life's history.
Night hangs upon mine eyes;
my bones would rest,
That have but labored
to attain this hour.
[Alarum.
Cry within,
"Fly, fly, fly!"]
Clitus.
Fly, my lord, fly!
Brutus.
Hence!
I will follow.
[Exeunt CLITUS,
DARDANIUS,
and VOLUMNIUS.]
I prithee,
Strato,
stay thou by thy lord,
Thou art a fellow
of a good respect.
Thy life
hath had some smatch
of honor in it;
Hold then my sword,
and turn away thy face,
While I do run upon it.
Wilt thou, Strato?
Strato.
Give me your hand first.
Fare you well,
my lord.
Brutus.
Farewell,
good Strato
-- Caesar,
now be still;
I killed not thee
with half so good a will.
[Dies.]
[Alarum. Retreat.
Enter ANTONY,
OCTAVIUS,
MESSALA,
LUCILIUS,
and the ARMY.]
Octavius.
What man is that?
Messala.
My master's man.
Strato,
where is thy master?
Strato.
Free from the bondage
you are in, Messala;
The conquerors can
but make a fire of him.
For Brutus
only overcame himself,
And no man else
hath honor by his death.
Lucilius.
So Brutus
should be found.
I thank thee,
Brutus,
That thou hast proved
Lucilius' saying true.
Octavius.
All that served Brutus,
I will entertain them.
Fellow,
wilt thou bestow
thy time with me?
Strato.
Ay, if Messala
will prefer me to you.
Octavius.
Do so,
good Messala.
Messala.
How died my master,
Strato?
Strato.
I held the sword,
and he did run on it.
Messala.
Octavius,
then take him
to follow thee,
That did the latest service
to my master.
Antony.
This was the noblest
Roman of them all.
All the conspirators
save only he
Did that they did
in envy of great Caesar;
He,
only in
a general honest thought
And common good to all,
made one of them.
His life was gentle,
and the elements
So mixed in him
that Nature
might stand up
And say to all the world,
"This was a man!"
Octavius.
According to his virtue,
let us use him
With all respect
and rites of burial.
Within my tent
his bones tonight shall lie,
Most like a soldier
ordered honorably.
So call the field to rest,
and let's away
To part the glories
of this happy day.