Act III
Scene I
Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.
A crowd of people; among them Artemidorus and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Popilius, Publius, and others. | |
Caesar | To the Soothsayer. 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,
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Artemidorus |
O Caesar, read mine first; for mine’s a suit
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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?
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Caesar goes up to the Senate-House, the rest following. | |
Popilius | I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. |
Cassius | What enterprise, Popilius? |
Popilius | Fare you well. Advances to Caesar. |
Brutus | What said Popilius Lena? |
Cassius |
He wish’d to-day our enterprise might thrive.
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Brutus | Look, how he makes to Caesar: mark him. |
Cassius |
Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
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Brutus |
Cassius, be constant:
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Cassius |
Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus,
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Decius |
Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
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Brutus | He is address’d: press near and second him. |
Cinna | Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. |
Caesar |
Are we all ready? What is now amiss
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Metellus |
Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
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Caesar |
I must prevent thee, Cimber.
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Metellus |
Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
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Brutus |
I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar;
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Caesar | What, Brutus! |
Cassius |
Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon:
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Caesar |
I could be well moved, if I were as you;
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Cinna | O Caesar— |
Caesar | Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus? |
Decius | Great Caesar— |
Caesar | Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? |
Casca | Speak, hands for me! Casca first, then the other Conspirators and Marcus Brutus stab Caesar. |
Caesar | Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar. Dies. |
Cinna |
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
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Cassius |
Some to the common pulpits, and cry out
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Brutus |
People and senators, be not affrighted;
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Casca | Go to the pulpit, Brutus. |
Decius | And Cassius too. |
Brutus | Where’s Publius? |
Cinna | Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. |
Metellus |
Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar’s
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Brutus |
Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer;
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Cassius |
And leave us, Publius; lest that the people,
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Brutus |
Do so: and let no man abide this deed,
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Reenter Trebonius. | |
Cassius | Where is Antony? |
Trebonius |
Fled to his house amazed:
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Brutus |
Fates, we will know your pleasures:
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Cassius |
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
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Brutus |
Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
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Cassius |
Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence
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Brutus |
How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
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Cassius |
So oft as that shall be,
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Decius | What, shall we forth? |
Cassius |
Ay, every man away:
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Enter a Servant. | |
Brutus | Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony’s. |
Servant |
Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;
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Brutus |
Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
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Servant | I’ll fetch him presently. Exit. |
Brutus | I know that we shall have him well to friend. |
Cassius |
I wish we may: but yet have I a mind
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Brutus | But here comes Antony. |
Reenter Antony. | |
Welcome, Mark Antony. | |
Antony |
O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?
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Brutus |
O Antony, beg not your death of us.
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Cassius |
Your voice shall be as strong as any man’s
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Brutus |
Only be patient till we have appeased
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Antony |
I doubt not of your wisdom.
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Cassius | Mark Antony— |
Antony |
Pardon me, Caius Cassius:
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Cassius |
I blame you not for praising Caesar so;
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Antony |
Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed,
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Brutus |
Or else were this a savage spectacle:
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Antony |
That’s all I seek:
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Brutus | You shall, Mark Antony. |
Cassius |
Brutus, a word with you.
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Brutus |
By your pardon;
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Cassius | I know not what may fall; I like it not. |
Brutus |
Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar’s body.
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Antony |
Be it so;
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Brutus | Prepare the body then, and follow us. Exeunt all but Antony. |
Antony |
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
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Enter a Servant. | |
You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not? | |
Servant | I do, Mark Antony. |
Antony | Caesar did write for him to come to Rome. |
Servant |
He did receive his letters, and is coming;
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Antony |
Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.
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Servant | He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. |
Antony |
Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced:
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Scene II
The Forum.
Enter Brutus and Cassius, and a throng of Citizens. | |
Citizens | We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied. |
Brutus |
Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.
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First Citizen | I will hear Brutus speak. |
Second Citizen |
I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons,
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Third Citizen | The noble Brutus is ascended: silence! |
Brutus | Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe: censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, to him I say, that Brutus’ love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:—Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his ambition. Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply. |
All | None, Brutus, none. |
Brutus | Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy, nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. |
Enter Antony and others, with Caesar’s body. | |
Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this I depart—that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death. | |
All | Live, Brutus! live, live! |
First Citizen | Bring him with triumph home unto his house. |
Second Citizen | Give him a statue with his ancestors. |
Third Citizen | Let him be Caesar. |
Fourth Citizen |
Caesar’s better parts
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First Citizen |
We’ll bring him to his house
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Brutus | My countrymen— |
Second Citizen | Peace, silence! Brutus speaks. |
First Citizen | Peace, ho! |
Brutus |
Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
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First Citizen | Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony. |
Third Citizen |
Let him go up into the public chair;
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Antony | For Brutus’ sake, I am beholding to you. Goes into the pulpit. |
Fourth Citizen | What does he say of Brutus? |
Third Citizen |
He says, for Brutus’ sake,
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Fourth Citizen | ’Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. |
First Citizen | This Caesar was a tyrant. |
Third Citizen |
Nay, that’s certain:
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Second Citizen | Peace! let us hear what Antony can say. |
Antony | You gentle Romans— |
Citizens | Peace, ho! let us hear him. |
Antony |
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
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First Citizen | Methinks there is much reason in his sayings. |
Second Citizen |
If thou consider rightly of the matter,
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Third Citizen |
Has he, masters?
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Fourth Citizen |
Mark’d ye his words? He would not take the crown;
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First Citizen | If it be found so, some will dear abide it. |
Second Citizen | Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping. |
Third Citizen | There’s not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. |
Fourth Citizen | Now mark him, he begins again to speak. |
Antony |
But yesterday the word of Caesar might
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Fourth Citizen | We’ll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony. |
All | The will, the will! we will hear Caesar’s will. |
Antony |
Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;
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Fourth Citizen |
Read the will; we’ll hear it, Antony;
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Antony |
Will you be patient? will you stay awhile?
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Fourth Citizen | They were traitors: honourable men! |
All | The will! the testament! |
Second Citizen | They were villains, murderers: the will! read the will. |
Antony |
You will compel me, then, to read the will?
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Several Citizens | Come down. |
Second Citizen | Descend. |
Third Citizen | You shall have leave. Antony comes down. |
Fourth Citizen | A ring; stand round. |
First Citizen | Stand from the hearse, stand from the body. |
Second Citizen | Room for Antony, most noble Antony. |
Antony | Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off. |
Several Citizens | Stand back; room; bear back. |
Antony |
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
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First Citizen | O piteous spectacle! |
Second Citizen | O noble Caesar! |
Third Citizen | O woeful day! |
Fourth Citizen | O traitors, villains! |
First Citizen | O most bloody sight! |
Second Citizen | We will be revenged. |
All | Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay! Let not a traitor live! |
Antony | Stay, countrymen. |
First Citizen | Peace there! hear the noble Antony. |
Second Citizen | We’ll hear him, we’ll follow him, we’ll die with him. |
Antony |
Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
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All | We’ll mutiny. |
First Citizen | We’ll burn the house of Brutus. |
Third Citizen | Away, then! come, seek the conspirators. |
Antony | Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak. |
All | Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony! |
Antony |
Why, friends, you go to do you know not what:
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All | Most true. The will! Let’s stay and hear the will. |
Antony |
Here is the will, and under Caesar’s seal.
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Second Citizen | Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge his death. |
Third Citizen | O royal Caesar! |
Antony | Hear me with patience. |
All | Peace, ho! |
Antony |
Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
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First Citizen |
Never, never. Come, away, away!
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Second Citizen | Go fetch fire. |
Third Citizen | Pluck down benches. |
Fourth Citizen | Pluck down forms, windows, anything. Exeunt Citizens with the body. |
Antony |
Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,
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Enter a Servant. | |
How now, fellow! | |
Servant | Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. |
Antony | Where is he? |
Servant | He and Lepidus are at Caesar’s house. |
Antony |
And thither will I straight to visit him:
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Servant |
I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
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Antony |
Belike they had some notice of the people,
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Scene III
A street.
Enter Cinna the poet. | |
Cinna |
I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Caesar,
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Enter Citizens. | |
First Citizen | What is your name? |
Second Citizen | Whither are you going? |
Third Citizen | Where do you dwell? |
Fourth Citizen | Are you a married man or a bachelor? |
Second Citizen | Answer every man directly. |
First Citizen | Ay, and briefly. |
Fourth Citizen | Ay, and wisely. |
Third Citizen | 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 Citizen | That’s as much as to say, they are fools that marry: you’ll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly. |
Cinna | Directly, I am going to Caesar’s funeral. |
First Citizen | As a friend or an enemy? |
Cinna | As a friend. |
Second Citizen | That matter is answered directly. |
Fourth Citizen | For your dwelling—briefly. |
Cinna | Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol. |
Third Citizen | Your name, sir, truly. |
Cinna | Truly, my name is Cinna. |
First Citizen | Tear him to pieces; he’s a conspirator. |
Cinna | I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. |
Fourth Citizen | Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses. |
Cinna | I am not Cinna the conspirator. |
Fourth Citizen | It is no matter, his name’s Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. |
Third Citizen | Tear him, tear him! Come, brands ho! fire-brands: to Brutus’, to Cassius’; burn all: some to Decius’ house, and some to Casca’s; some to Ligarius’: away, go! Exeunt. |