ACT I

SCENE I

[CUT]

1
 SCENE II
Enter Caesar, Antony for the course, Calphurnia, Portia,
Brutus, Cassius, Casca, and a Soothsayer

CAESAR
Calpurnia!

CASCA
Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.

CAESAR
Calpurnia!

CALPURNIA
Here, my lord.

CAESAR
Stand you directly in Antonius' way,
When he doth run his course. Antonius!

ANTONY
Caesar, my lord?

CAESAR
Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,
To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,
The barren, touched in this holy chase,
Shake off their sterile curse.

ANTONY
I shall remember:
When Caesar says 'do this,' it is perform'd.

CAESAR
Set on; and leave no ceremony out.

Flourish

SOOTHSAYER
Caesar!

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CAESAR
Ha! who calls?

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 turn'd 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 ideas 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?

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BRUTUS
Not I.

CASSIUS
I pray you, do.

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 veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors;
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?

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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 wish'd 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 laugher, 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.

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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 honour in one eye and death i' the other,
And I will look on both indifferently,
For let the gods so speed me as I love
The name of honour more than I fear death.

CASSIUS
I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
As well as I do know your outward favour.
Well, honour 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 'Darest thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood,
And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in
And bade him follow; so indeed he did.
The torrent roar'd, 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

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 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 colour fly,
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
Did lose his lustre: 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 honours that are heap'd 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 dishonourable 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,

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 That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!
When could they say till now, that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide walls encompass'd 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 brook'd
The 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.

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 to-day.

Re-enter CAESAR and his Train

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CASSIUS
Casca will tell us what the matter is.

CAESAR
Antonius!

ANTONY
Caesar?

CAESAR
Let me have men about me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights:
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.

ANTONY
Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous;
He is a noble Roman and well given.

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 mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit
That could be moved to smile at any thing.
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 fear'd
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 all his Train, but CASCA

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BRUTUS
Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced to-day,
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 neighbours shouted.

CASSIUS
Who offered him the crown?

CASCA
Why, Antony.

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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
chapped hands and threw up their sweaty night-caps
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 failing 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. I could tell you more
news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs

11
 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 to-night, Casca?

CASCA
No, I am promised forth.

CASSIUS
Will you dine with me to-morrow?

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
And so it is. For this time I will leave you:
To-morrow, if you please to speak with me,
I will come home to you; or, if you will,
Come home to me, and I will wait for you.

CASSIUS
I will do so: till then, think of the world.

Exit BRUTUS

Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,

Thy honourable metal 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?

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Caesar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus:
If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius,
He should not humour 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 glanced at:
And after this let Caesar seat him sure;
For we will shake him, or worse days endure.

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 SCENE III

The same. A street.

Enter CASSIUS

CASSIUS
Who's there?

CASCA
A Roman.

CASSIUS
Casca, by your voice.

CASCA
Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this!

CASSIUS
A very pleasing night to honest men.

CASCA
Who ever knew the heavens menace so?

CASSIUS
Those that have known the earth so full of faults.
For my part, I have walk'd about the streets,
Submitting me unto the perilous night,
And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see,
Have bared my bosom to the thunder-stone;
And when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open
The breast of heaven, I did present myself
Even in the aim and very flash of it.

CASCA
But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens?
It is the part of men to fear and tremble,
When the most mighty gods by tokens send
Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.

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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 fool and children calculate,
Why all these things change from their ordinance
Their natures and preformed faculties
To monstrous quality,--why, you shall find
That heaven hath infused them with these spirits,
To make them instruments of fear and warning
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 govern'd 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.

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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 worldly bars,
Never lacks power to dismiss itself.
If I know this, know all the world besides,
That part of tyranny that I do bear
I can shake off at pleasure.

Thunder still

CASCA
So can I:
So every bondman in his own hand bears
The power to cancel his captivity.
[they shake hands]
Be factious for redress of all these griefs,
And I will set this foot of mine as far
As who goes farthest.

CASSIUS
There's a bargain made.
Now know you, Casca, I have moved already
Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans
To undergo with me an enterprise
Of honourable-dangerous consequence;
And I do know, by this, they stay for me
In Pompey's porch: for now, this fearful night,
There is no stir or walking in the streets;
And the complexion of the element
In favour's like the work we have in hand,
Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.
They Exit

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 ACT II

SCENE I.

Rome. Brutus’ orchard.

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!

Enter LUCIUS

LUCIUS
Call'd you, my lord?

BRUTUS
Get me a taper in my study, Lucius:
When it is lighted, come and call me here.

LUCIUS
I will, my lord.

Exit

BRUTUS
It must be by his death: and for my part,
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. He would be crown'd:
How that might change his nature, there's the question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
And that craves wary walking. Crown him?--that;--
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
That at his will he may do danger with.
The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his affections sway'd

17
 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 colour 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, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.

Opens the letter and reads

'Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake, and see thyself.

Shall Rome, & c. Speak, strike, redress!
Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake!'
Such instigations have been often dropp'd
Where I have took them up.
'Shall Rome, & c.' Thus must I piece it out:
Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome?
'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!

Re-enter LUCIUS

LUCIUS
Sir, March is wasted fourteen days.

Knocking within

BRUTUS
'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks.

Exit LUCIUS

Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar,

18
 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 man,
Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
The nature of an insurrection.

Re-enter LUCIUS

LUCIUS
Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door,
Who doth desire to see you.

BRUTUS
Is he alone?

LUCIUS
No, sir, there are more with him.

BRUTUS
Do you know them?

LUCIUS
No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears,
And half their faces buried in their cloaks,
That by no means I may discover them
By any mark of favour.

BRUTUS
Let 'em enter.

Exit LUCIUS

Enter the conspirators, CASSIUS, CASCA, CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and

TREBONIUS

CASSIUS
I think we are too bold upon your rest:
Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you?

19
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 honours you; and every one doth wish
You had but that opinion of yourself
Which every noble Roman bears of you.
This is Trebonius.

BRUTUS
He is welcome hither.

CASSIUS
This, 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?

BRUTUS and CASSIUS whisper

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

20
 To kindle cowards and to steel with valour
The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,
What need we any spur but our own cause,
To prick us to redress? what other bond
Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word,
And will not palter? and what other oath
Than honesty to honesty engaged,
That this shall be, or we will fall for it?

CASCA
Shall no man else be touch'd but only Caesar?

CASSIUS
Casca, 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 us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar;
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,
And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,
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:
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
We shall be call'd 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.

21
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.

Clock strikes

BRUTUS
Peace! count the clock.

CASSIUS
The clock hath stricken three.

TREBONIUS
'Tis time to part.

CASSIUS
But it is doubtful yet,
Whether Caesar will come forth to-day, or no;
For he is superstitious grown of late,
Quite from the main opinion he held once
Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies:
It may be, these apparent prodigies,
The unaccustom'd terror of this night,
And the persuasion of his augurers,
May hold him from the Capitol to-day.

CASCA
Never fear that: if he be so resolved,
I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear
That unicorns may be betray'd with trees,

22
 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 humour 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 hour: is that the uttermost?

CINNA
Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.

CASSIUS
And, friends, disperse yourselves; but all remember
What you have said, and show yourselves true Romans.

BRUTUS
And so good morrow to you every one.

Exeunt all but BRUTUS

Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no matter;

Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber:
Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies,
Which busy care draws in the brains of men;
Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.

Enter PORTIA

PORTIA
Brutus, my lord!

BRUTUS
Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?
It is not for your health thus to commit
Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.

23
PORTIA
Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus,
Stole from my bed: and yesternight, at supper,
You suddenly arose, and walk'd about,
Musing and sighing, with your arms across,
And when I ask'd you what the matter was,
You stared upon me with ungentle looks;
I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head,
And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot;
Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not,
But, with an angry wafture of your hand,
Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did;
Fearing to strengthen that impatience
Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal
Hoping it was but an effect of humour,
Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep,
And could it work so much upon your shape
As it hath much prevail'd on your condition,
I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,
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 unbraced and suck up the humours
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,
To dare the vile contagion of the night
And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;

24
 You have some sick offence within your mind,
Which, by the right and virtue of my place,
I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,
I charm you, by my once-commended beauty,
By all your vows of love and that great vow
Which did incorporate and make us one,
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
Why you are heavy, and what men to-night
Have had to resort to you: for here have been
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.

BRUTUS
Kneel not, gentle Portia.

PORTIA
I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,
Is it excepted I should know no secrets
That appertain to you? Am I yourself
But, as it were, in sort or limitation,
To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,
And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs
Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.

BRUTUS
You are my true and honourable wife,
As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart

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 father'd and so husbanded?
Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:

25
 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 awhile;
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:

They exit

26
 SCENE II.

CAESAR's house.

Thunder and lightning. Enter CAESAR

CAESAR
Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night:
Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,
'Help, ho! they murder Caesar!' Who's within?

Enter Lepidus

LEPIDUS
My lord?

CAESAR
Go bid the priests do present sacrifice
And bring me their opinions of success.

LEPIDUS
I will, my lord.

Exit

Enter CALPURNIA

CALPURNIA
What mean you, Caesar? think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house to-day.

CAESAR
Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me
Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanished.

CALPURNIA
Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelped in the streets;

27
 And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead;
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
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.

CALPURNIA
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.

Re-enter LEPIDUS

What say the augurers?

LEPIDUS
They would not have you to stir forth to-day.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.

CAESAR
The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Caesar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.

28
 No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well
That Caesar is more dangerous than he:
We are two lions litter'd in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible:
And Caesar shall go forth.

CALPURNIA
Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house:
And he shall say you are not well to-day:
Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

CAESAR
Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.

Enter CASCA

Here's Casca, he shall tell them so.

CASCA
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 to-day:
Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser:
I will not come to-day: tell them so, Casca.

CALPURNIA
Say he is sick.

CAESAR
Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?

29
 Casca, go tell them Caesar will not come.

CASCA
Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh'd 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:
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it:
And these does she apply for warnings, and portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.

CASCA
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 Calpurnia's dream is signified.

CAESAR
And this way have you well expounded it.

CASCA
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 render'd, for some one to say

30
 '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 our proceeding bids me tell you this;
And reason to my love is liable.

CAESAR
How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.

Enter CASSIUS, BRUTUS, METELLUS, CASCA, and TREBONIUS

And look where Cassius is come to fetch me.

CASSIUS
Good morrow, Caesar.

CAESAR
Welcome, Cassius.
What, Brutus, are you stirr'd 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.

Enter ANTONY

See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,

Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.

ANTONY
So to most noble Caesar.

31
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 to-day:
Be near me, that I may remember you.

TREBONIUS
Caesar, I will:

Aside

and so near will I be,

That your best friends shall wish I had been further.

CAESAR
Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me;
And we, like friends, will straightway go together.

BRUTUS
[Aside] That every like is not the same, O Caesar,
The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon!

Exeunt

32
 SCENE III.

A street near the Capitol.

Enter SOOTHSAYER, reading a paper

SOOTHSAYER
'Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius;
come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna, trust not
Trebonius: mark well Metellus Cimber: CASCA 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 mayst live;
If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.

Exit

33
 SCENE IV.

Another part of the same street, before the house of BRUTUS.

Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS

PORTIA
I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house;
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:
Why dost thou stay?

LUCIUS
To know my errand, madam.

PORTIA
I would have had thee there, and here again,
Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.
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 heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.

34
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:

35
 I'll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.

Exit

PORTIA
I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing
The heart of woman is! O Brutus,
The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!
Sure, the boy heard me: Brutus hath a suit
That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint.
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
Say I am merry: come to me again,
And bring me word what he doth say to thee.
Exeunt severally

36
 ACT III

SCENE I
Enter CAESAR, SOOTHSAYER, CASCA, CASSIUS, CINNA, BRUTUS, METELLUS CIMBER,
ANTONY, and TREBONIUS
CAESAR​
​ The Ides of March are come.

SOOTHSAYER​
​ Ay, Caesar; but not gone. Read this schedule.

CASCA​
​ Trebonius doth desire you to o’er-read,​
​ At your best leisure, this his humble suit.

SOOTHSAYER​
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 serv’d.

SOOTHSAYER​
Delay not, Caesar. Read it instantly.

CAESAR​
What, is the fellow mad?

CASSIUS​
What, urge you your petitions in the street?​
Come to the Capitol.

Caesar enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise.

CINNA​
I wish your enterprise today may thrive.

CASSIUS​
What enterprise, Cinna?

CINNA​
Fare you well.

37
[Advances to CAESAR]

BRUTUS​
What said Cinna Volumus?

CASSIUS​
He wish’d 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:​
Cinna Volumus 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. Caesar and the Senators take their seats.]

CASCA​
Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,​
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.

BRUTUS​
He is address’d; press near and second him.

CASSIUS​
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?

38
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 pre-ordinance and first decree​
Into the law of children. Be not fond,​
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood​
That will be thaw’d from the true quality​
With that which melteth fools; I mean sweet words,​
Low-crooked curtsies, and base spaniel fawning.​
Thy brother by decree is banished:​
If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him,​
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.​
Know, Caesar dost 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 banish’d brother?

BRUTUS​
I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar;​
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may​
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.

CAESAR​
What, Brutus?

CASSIUS​
Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon:​
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,​
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

39
CAESAR​
I could be well mov’d, if I were as you;​
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:​
But I am constant as the northern star,​
Of whose true-fix’d and resting quality​
There is no fellow in the firmament.​
The skies are painted with unnumber’d sparks,​
They are all fire, and every one doth shine;​
But there’s but one in all doth hold his place.​
So in the world; ’tis furnish’d well with men,​
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;​
Yet in the number I do know but one​
That unassailable holds on his rank,​
Unshak’d of motion: and that I am he,​
Let me a little show it, even in this,​
That I was constant Cimber should be banish’d,​
And constant do remain to keep him so.

CINNA​
O Caesar,—

CAESAR​
Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?

TREBONIUS​
Great Caesar,—

CAESAR​
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?

CASCA​
Speak, hands, for me!

[Casca stabs Caesar in the neck. Caesar catches hold of his arm. He is then stabbed by several
other Conspirators, and at last by Marcus Brutus.]

CAESAR​
Et tu, Brute?—Then fall, Caesar!

[Dies. The Senators and People retire in confusion.]

40
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.​
And Cassius too.

Enter Trebonius.

CASSIUS​
Where’s Antony?

TREBONIUS​
Fled to his house amaz’d.​
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 abridg’d​
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,​

41
 And waving our red weapons o’er our heads,​
Let’s all cry, “Peace, freedom, and liberty!”

CASSIUS​
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 call’d​
The men that gave their country liberty.

CASCA​
What, shall we forth?

CASSIUS​
Ay, every man away.​
Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels​
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.

Enter Antony.

BRUTUS​
But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.

ANTONY​
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.​

42
 No place will please me so, no means 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 appeas’d​
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 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,​

43
 That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,​
Either a coward or a flatterer.

CASSIUS​
What compact mean you to have with us?​
Will you be prick’d in number of our friends​
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

ANTONY​
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 mov’d​
By that which he will utter?

BRUTUS​
[Aside to Cassius.] 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​

44
 He speaks by leave and by permission;​
It shall advantage more than do us wrong.

CASSIUS​
[Aside to Brutus.] 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 but 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 lived 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 chok’d with custom of fell deeds:​

45
 And Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge,​
With Ate by his side come hot from Hell,​
Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice​
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war,​
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth​
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Enter Lepidus.

You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?

LEPIDUS​
I do, Mark Antony.

ANTONY​
Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.

LEPIDUS​
He did receive his letters, and is coming,​
And bid me say to you by word of mouth,—​
[Seeing the body.] O Caesar!

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?

LEPIDUS​
He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.

ANTONY​
Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc’d.​
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​

46
 To young Octavius of the state of things.​
Lend me your hand.

[Exeunt with Caesar’s body.]

47
 SCENE II

Enter Brutus and Cassius with the Plebians.

BRUTUS​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
And public reasons shall be rendered​
Of Caesar’s death.

FIRST CITIZEN​
I will hear Brutus speak.

SECOND CITIZEN​
I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons,​
When severally we hear them rendered.

[Exit Cassius, with some of the Citizens. Brutus goes into the rostrum.]

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​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
freemen? 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​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

48
 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.

CITIZENS​
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 enroll’d in the Capitol, his​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
his offences enforc’d, 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.

CITIZENS​
Live, Brutus! live, live!

BRUTUS​
My countrymen,—

SECOND CITIZEN​
Peace! Silence! Brutus speaks.

FIRST CITIZEN​
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 allow’d to make.​

49
 I do entreat you, not a man depart,​
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

[Exit.]

FIRST CITIZEN​
Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.

THIRD CITIZEN​
Let him go up into the public chair.​
We’ll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.

ANTONY​
For Brutus’ sake, I am beholding to you.

[Goes up.]

FOURTH CITIZEN​
What does he say of Brutus?

THIRD CITIZEN​
He says, for Brutus’ sake​
He finds himself beholding to us all.

FOURTH CITIZEN​
’Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here!

FIRST CITIZEN​
This Caesar was a tyrant.

THIRD CITIZEN​
Nay, that’s certain.​
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.

SECOND CITIZEN​
Peace! let us hear what Antony can say.

ANTONY​
You gentle Romans,—

CITIZENS​
Peace, ho! let us hear him.

50
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 interred with their bones;​
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus​
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious.​
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,​
And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.​
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest,​
For Brutus is an honourable man,​
So are they all, all honourable men,​
Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral.​
He was my friend, faithful and just to me;​
But Brutus says he was ambitious,​
And Brutus is an honourable man.​
He hath brought many captives home to Rome,​
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:​
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?​
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept;​
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:​
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;​
And Brutus is an honourable man.​
You all did see that on the Lupercal​
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,​
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?​
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;​
And sure he is an honourable man.​
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,​
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 judgement, 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 CITIZEN​
Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.

51
SECOND CITIZEN​
If thou consider rightly of the matter,​
Caesar has had great wrong.

THIRD CITIZEN​
Has he, masters?​
I fear there will a worse come in his place.

FOURTH CITIZEN​
Mark’d ye his words? He would not take the crown;​
Therefore ’tis certain he was not ambitious.

FIRST CITIZEN​
If it be found so, some will dear abide it.

SECOND CITIZEN​
Poor soul, his eyes are red as fire with weeping.

THIRD CITIZEN​
There’s not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.

FOURTH CITIZEN​
Now mark him; he begins again to speak.

ANTONY​
O masters! If I were dispos’d to stir​
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,​
I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong,​
Who, you all know, are honourable men.​
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose​
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,​
Than I will wrong such honourable men.​
But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar,​
I found it in his closet; ’tis his will:​
Let but the commons hear this testament,​
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.

52
FOURTH CITIZEN​
We’ll hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony.

CITIZENS​
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 CITIZEN​
Read the will! We’ll hear it, Antony;​
You shall read us the will, Caesar’s will!

ANTONY​
Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile?​
I have o’ershot myself to tell you of it.​
I fear I wrong the honourable men​
Whose daggers have stabb’d Caesar; I do fear it.

FOURTH CITIZEN​
They were traitors. Honourable men!

CITIZENS​
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?​
Shall I descend? and will you give me leave?

CITIZENS​
Come down.

SECOND CITIZEN​
Descend.

53
[He comes down.]

THIRD CITIZEN​
You shall have leave.

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-beloved Brutus stabb’d;​
And as he pluck’d his cursed steel away,​
Mark how the blood of Caesar follow’d it,​
As rushing out of doors, to be resolv’d​
If Brutus so unkindly knock’d, or no;​
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel.​
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar lov’d him.​
This was the most unkindest cut of all;​
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,​
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms,​
Quite vanquish’d 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 flourish’d over us.​
O, now you weep; and I perceive you feel​
The dint of pity. These are gracious drops.​
Kind souls, what weep you when you but behold​
Our Caesar’s vesture wounded? Look you here,​
Here is himself, marr’d, as you see, with traitors.

FIRST CITIZEN​
O piteous spectacle!

SECOND CITIZEN​
O noble Caesar!

54
THIRD CITIZEN​
O woeful day!

FOURTH CITIZEN​
O traitors, villains!

FIRST CITIZEN​
O most bloody sight!

SECOND CITIZEN​
We will be revenged.

CITIZENS​
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​
To such a sudden flood of mutiny.​
They that have done this deed are honourable.​
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,​
That made them do it. They’re wise and honourable,​
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 wit, nor words, nor worth,​
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,​
To stir men’s blood. I only speak right on.​
I tell you that which you yourselves do know,​
Show you sweet Caesar’s wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,​
And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus,​

55
 And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony​
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue​
In every wound of Caesar, that should move​
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.

CITIZENS​
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.

CITIZENS​
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.

CITIZENS​
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 CITIZEN​
Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge his death.

THIRD CITIZEN​
O, royal Caesar!

ANTONY​
Hear me with patience.

56
CITIZENS​
Peace, ho!

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 CITIZEN​
Never, never. Come, away, away!

SECOND CITIZEN​
Go, fetch fire.

THIRD CITIZEN​
Pluck down benches.

[Exeunt Citizens, with the body.]

ANTONY​
Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,​
Take thou what course thou wilt!

Enter a Servant.

How now, fellow?

SERVANT​
Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.

ANTONY​
Where is he?

SERVANT​
He and Lepidus are at Caesar’s house.

ANTONY​
And thither will I straight to visit him.​
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,​
And in this mood will give us anything.

57
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.]

58
 SCENE III.

The same. A street.

Enter Cinna, the poet, and after him the citizens.

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.

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.

59
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.​
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! firebrands. To Brutus’, to Cassius’; burn all.
Some to Decius’ house, and some to Casca’s, some to Ligarius’. Away, go!

[Exeunt.]

60
 ACT IV

SCENE I. Rome.

A room in Antony’s house.

Enter Antony, Octavius and Lepidus, seated at a table.

ANTONY​
These many then shall die; their names are prick’d.

OCTAVIUS​
Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus?

LEPIDUS​
I do consent,—

OCTAVIUS​
Prick him down, Antony.

LEPIDUS​
Upon condition Publius shall not live,​
Who is your sister’s son, Mark Antony.

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 three-fold world divided, he should stand​
One of the three to share it?

61
OCTAVIUS​
So you thought him,​
And took his voice who should be prick’d to die​
In our black sentence and proscription.

ANTONY​
Octavius, I have seen more days than you;​
And though we lay these honours 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 business 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;​
It is a creature that I teach to fight,​
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,​
His corporal motion govern’d by my spirit.​
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 combin’d,​
Our best friends made, our means stretch’d;​
And let us presently go sit in council,​
How covert matters may be best disclos’d,​
And open perils surest answered.

OCTAVIUS​
Let us do so: for we are at the stake,​
And bay’d about with many enemies;​
And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,​
Millions of mischiefs.

62
[Exeunt.]

SCENE II.

Before Brutus’ tent, in the camp near Sardis.

Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucius, and Soldiers; Pindarus meeting them; Lucius at some distance.

BRUTUS​
Stand, ho!

LUCIUS​
Give the word, ho! and stand.

BRUTUS​
What now, Lucius! is Cassius near?

LUCIUS​
He is at hand, and Pindarus is come​
To do you salutation from his master.

[Pindarus gives a letter to Brutus.]

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 honour.

BRUTUS​
He is not doubted. A word, Lucius;​
How he received you, let me be resolv’d.

LUCIUS​
With courtesy and with respect enough,​
But not with such familiar instances,​

63
 Nor with such free and friendly conference,​
As he hath us’d of old.

BRUTUS​
Thou hast describ’d​
A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Lucius,​
When love begins to sicken and decay​
It useth an enforced 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;

[Low march within.]

But when they should endure the bloody spur,​

They fall their crests, and like deceitful jades​
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?

LUCIUS​
They meant this night in Sardis to be quarter’d;​
The greater part, the horse in general,​
Are come with Cassius.

Enter Cassius and Soldiers.

BRUTUS​
Hark! he is arriv’d.

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,​

64
 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​
Lucius, do you the like; and let no man​
Come to our tent till we have done our conference.​
[Exeunt.]

65
 SCENE III.

Within the tent of Brutus.

Enter Brutus and Cassius.

CASSIUS​
That you have wrong’d me doth appear in this:​
You have condemn’d and noted Lucius Pella​
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;​
Wherein my letters, praying on his side​
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.

BRUTUS​
You wrong’d yourself to write in such a case.

CASSIUS​
In such a time as this it is not meet​
That every nice offence should bear his comment.

BRUTUS​
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself​
Are much condemn’d 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 speak this,​
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.

BRUTUS​
Remember March, the Ides of March remember:​
Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake?​
What villain touch’d 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 honours​
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?​

66
 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.

CASSIUS​
I am.

BRUTUS​
I say you are not.

CASSIUS​
Urge me no more, I shall forget myself;

BRUTUS​
Away, slight man!

CASSIUS​
Is’t possible?

BRUTUS​
Hear me, for I will speak.​
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?​
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?

CASSIUS​
O ye gods, ye gods! Must I endure all this?

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 humour? By the gods,​
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,​

67
 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 liv’d, he durst not thus have mov’d me.

BRUTUS​
Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him.

CASSIUS​
I durst not?

BRUTUS​
No.

CASSIUS​
What? durst not tempt him?

BRUTUS​
For your life you durst not.

CASSIUS​
Do not presume too much upon my love.​
I may do that I shall be sorry for.

68
BRUTUS​
You have done that you should be sorry for.​
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats,​
For I am arm’d 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 answer’d 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.

BRUTUS​
You did.

CASSIUS​
I did not. He was but a fool​
That brought my answer back. Brutus hath riv’d my heart.​
A friend should bear his friend’s infirmities;​
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.

BRUTUS​
I do not, till you practise them on me.

CASSIUS​
You love me not.

BRUTUS​
I do not like your faults.

69
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 a-weary of the world:​
Hated by one he loves; brav’d by his brother;​
Check’d like a bondman; all his faults observ’d,​
Set in a note-book, learn’d and conn’d 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 Plutus’ 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, dishonour shall be humour.​
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb​
That carries anger as the flint bears fire,​
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,​
And straight is cold again.

CASSIUS​
Hath Cassius liv’d​
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,​
When grief and blood ill-temper’d vexeth him?

BRUTUS​
When I spoke that, I was ill-temper’d too.

70
CASSIUS​
Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.

BRUTUS​
And my heart too.​
Lucius, a bowl of wine.

[Exit Lucius.]

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​
Ha? Portia?

BRUTUS​
She is dead.

CASSIUS​
How ’scap’d I killing, when I cross’d 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, swallow’d fire.

CASSIUS​
And died so?

71
BRUTUS​
Even so.

CASSIUS​
O ye immortal gods!

Enter Lucius, with wine and a taper.

BRUTUS​
Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine.​
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.

[Drinks.]

CASSIUS​
My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.​
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o’erswell the cup.​
I cannot drink too much of Brutus’ love.

[Drinks.]

[Exit Lucius.]

Enter Trebonius and Casca.

BRUTUS​
Come in, Trebonius!​
Welcome, good Casca.​
Now sit we close about this taper here,​
And call in question our necessities.​
No more, I pray you.​
Casca, I have here received letters,​
That Octavius and Mark Antony​
Come down upon us with a mighty power.

CASCA​
Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.

BRUTUS​
With what addition?

72
CASCA​
Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus​
Have put to death an hundred Senators.

BRUTUS​
Mine speak of seventy Senators that died.

CASCA​
Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?

BRUTUS​
No, Casca.

CASCA​
Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?

BRUTUS​
Nothing, Casca.

CASCA​
That, methinks, is strange.

BRUTUS​
Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in yours?

CASCA​
No, my lord.

BRUTUS​
Now as you are a Roman, tell me true.

CASCA​
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.

CASCA​
Even so great men great losses should endure.

73
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.

BRUTUS​
Your reason?

CASSIUS​
This it is:​
’Tis better that the enemy seek us;​
So shall he waste his means, weary his men,​
Doing himself offence, whilst we, lying still,​
Are full of rest, defence, and nimbleness.

BRUTUS​
Good reasons must of force give place to better.​
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​
There is no more to say?

CASSIUS​
No more. Good night:​

74
 Early tomorrow will we rise, and hence..​
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.

TREBONIUS and CASCA​

Good night, Lord Brutus.

BRUTUS​
Farewell, everyone.

[Exeunt Cassius, Trebonius and Casca.]

Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?

LUCIUS​
Here, my lord

BRUTUS​
What, thou speak’st drowsily?​
Poor knave, I blame thee not, thou art o’er-watch’d.​
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?

75
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.

[Lucius plays and sings till he falls asleep.]

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 turn’d 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.

76
GHOST​
Thy evil spirit, Brutus.

BRUTUS​
Why com’st thou?

GHOST​
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.

BRUTUS​
Well; then I shall see thee again?

GHOST​
Ay, at Philippi.

BRUTUS​
Why, I will see thee at Philippi then.

[Ghost vanishes.]

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!

LUCIUS​
My lord?

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?

77
LUCIUS​
Nothing, my lord.

BRUTUS​
Ay. Saw you anything?

LUCIUS​
No, my lord, I saw nothing.

BRUTUS​
Go and commend me to my brother Cassius;​
Bid him set on his powers betimes before,​
And we will follow.

LUCIUS​
It shall be done, my lord.

[Exeunt.]

78
 ACT V

SCENE I.

The plains of Philippi.

Enter Octavius, Antony and their Army.

OCTAVIUS​
Now, Antony, our hopes are answered.​
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 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.

Enter a Messenger.

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?

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OCTAVIUS​
I do not cross you; but I will do so.

[March.]

Drum. Enter Brutus, Cassius and their Army; Lucius, Trebonius, Casca, and others.

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​
Hack’d one another in the sides of Caesar:​
You show’d your teeth like apes, and fawn’d like hounds,​
And bow’d like bondmen, kissing Caesar’s feet;​
Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind​
Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!

80
CASSIUS​
Flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank yourself.​
This tongue had not offended so today,​
If Cassius might have rul’d.

OCTAVIUS​
Come, come, the cause. If arguing makes us sweat,​
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.​
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 aveng’d; 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 honourable.

CASSIUS​
A peevish school-boy, worthless of such honour,​
Join’d with a masker and a reveller.

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 their Army.]

81
CASSIUS​
Why now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark!​
The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.

CASSIUS​
Casca.

CASCA​
What says my General?

CASSIUS​
Casca,​
This is my birth-day; as this very day​
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Casca:​
Be thou my witness that against my will​
As Pompey was, am I compell’d to set​
Upon one battle all our liberties.​
Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign​
Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perch’d,​
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.

CASCA​
Believe not so.

CASSIUS​
I but believe it partly,​
For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv’d​
To meet all perils very constantly.​
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 rest still incertain,​
Let’s reason with the worst that may befall.​
If we do lose this battle, then is this​

82
 The very last time we shall speak together:​
What are you then determined to do?

BRUTUS​
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.​
For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius.​
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;​
If not, why then this parting was well made.

CASSIUS​
For ever and for ever 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!

[Exeunt.]

83
 SCENE II.

The same. The field of battle.

Alarum. Enter Brutus and Lucius.

BRUTUS​
Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills​
Unto the legions on the other side.

[Loud alarum.]

Let them set on at once; for I perceive​

But cold demeanor in Octavius’ wing,​
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.​
Ride, ride, Messala; let them all come down.

[Exeunt.]

84
 SCENE III.

Another part of the field.

Alarum. Enter Cassius and Trebonius.

CASSIUS​
O, look, Trebonius, look, the villains fly!​
Myself have to mine own turn’d enemy:​
This ensign here of mine was turning back;​
I slew the coward, and did take it from him.

TREBONIUS​
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 enclos’d.

Enter Pindarus.

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?

TREBONIUS​
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 assur’d​
Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.

TREBONIUS​
I will be here again, even with a thought.

[Exit.]

85
CASSIUS​
Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill,​
My sight was ever thick. Regard Titinius,​
And tell me what thou notest about the field.

[Pindarus goes up.]

This day I breathed 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!

CASSIUS​
What news?

PINDARUS​
[Above.] Titinius is enclosed round about​
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur,​
Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.​
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!

[Pindarus descends.]

Come hither, sirrah.​

In Parthia I swore thee, saving of thy life,​
That whatsoever I did bid thee do,​
Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath.​
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 cover’d, as ’tis now,​

86
 Guide thou the sword.—Caesar, thou art reveng’d,​
Even with the sword that kill’d thee.

[Dies.]

[Exit.]

Enter Trebonius with Casca.

CASCA​
Octavius is overthrown by noble Brutus’ power,​
As Cassius’ legions are by Antony.

TREBONIUS​
These tidings would well comfort Cassius.​
He lies not like the living. O my heart!

CASCA​
Is not that he?

TREBONIUS​
Hie you, Casca,​
And I will seek for Pindarus the while.

Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, Volumnius and Lucius.

BRUTUS​
Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?

MESSALA​
Lo, yonder, and Titinius mourning it.

BRUTUS​
O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet!​
Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords​
In our own proper entrails.

[Low alarums.]

CASCA​
Brave Titinius!​
Look whether he have not crown’d dead Cassius!

87
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 more tears​
To this dead man than you shall see me pay.​
I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.​
’Tis three o’clock; and Romans, yet ere night​
We shall try fortune in a second fight..​
Yet, countrymen, O, yet hold up your heads!

Enter Antony.

ANTONY​
Where is he?

LUCIUS​
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 whether Brutus be alive or dead;​
And bring us word unto Octavius’ tent​
How everything is chanc’d.

[Exeunt.]

88
 SCENE IV/V.

Another part of the field.

Enter Brutus, Cimber, Clitus, Strato and Volumnius.

BRUTUS​
Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.

CLITUS​
Statilius show’d the torch-light; 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.

[Whispering.]

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.

[Whispers him.]

CIMBER​
Shall I do such a deed?

CLITUS​
O Dardanius!

DARDANIUS​
O Clitus!

CLITUS​
What ill request did Brutus make to thee?

89
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 appear’d to me​
Two several times by night; at Sardis once,​
And this last night 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.

[Low alarums.]

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 pr’ythee​
Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.

VOLUMNIUS​
That’s not an office for a friend, my lord.

[Alarums still.]

CLITUS​
Fly, fly, my lord! there is no tarrying here.

90
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 labour’d to attain this hour.

[Alarums. Cry within, “Fly, fly, fly!”.]

CLITUS​
Fly, my lord, fly!

BRUTUS​
Hence! I will follow.

[Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius and Volumnius.]

I pr’ythee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord.​

Thou art a fellow of a good respect;​
Thy life hath had some smatch of honour 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 kill’d not thee with half so good a will.

[He runs on his sword, and dies.]

Alarum. Retreat. Enter Antony, Octavius, Messala, Lucius and the Army.

OCTAVIUS​
What man is that?

91
LUCIUS​
Strato, where is Brutus?

STRATO​
Free from the bondage you are in, Lucius.​
The conquerors can but make a fire of him;​
For Brutus only overcame himself,​
And no man else hath honour by his death.

LUCIUS​
So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,​
That thou hast prov’d Lucius’ saying true.​
How died my master, Strato?

STRATO​
I held the sword, and he did run on it.

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 mix’d 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, order’d honourably.​
So call the field to rest, and let’s away,​
To part the glories of this happy day.

[Exeunt.]

92