ACT I SCENE I. Rome. A street.

FLAVIUS, MARULLUS

FLAVIUS: Hence! home, you idle creatures get you home: Is this
a holiday?

Second Commoner: indeed, sir, we make holiday, to see

Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph.

MARULLUS : Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?

You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! Knew
you not Pompey? And do you now cull out a holiday? That comes
in triumph over Pompey's blood? Be gone!

FLAVIUS : Go, go, good countrymen

ACT 1 SCENE 2…(A public place.)

(Flourish. Enter CAESAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPURNIA, PORTIA,

DECIUS BRUTUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA; a great crowd
following, among them a Soothsayer)

Soothsayer: CAESAR!
CAESAR: Ha! who calls?
Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR: What man is that?
BRUTUS: A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
CAESAR: speak once again.
Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR: He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
( Sennet. Exeunt all except BRUTUS and CASSIUS)

CASSIUS: Will you go see the order of the course?

BRUTUS: I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Of that quick

spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
I'll leave you.

CASSIU:S Brutus, I do observe you now of late: 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

CASSIUS:Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?

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,

BRUTUS: Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,

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.

(Flourish, and shout)

BRUTUS: What means this shouting? I do fear, the people

Choose Caesar for their king.

CASSIUS: Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not
have it so.

BRUTUS :I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well.

CASSIUS: I know that virtue to be in you, BrutusI 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: Caesar cried
'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!'. 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.

CASSIUS: 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

BRUTUS.: What you have said I will consider; find a time Both
meet to hear and answer such high things.

CASSIUS : I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus

much show of fire from Brutus.
(Re-enter CAESAR and his Train) CAESAR : Antonius!

ANTONY: Caesar?

CAESAR: 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: 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

(Sennet. Exeunt CAESAR and all his Train, but CASCA)

BRUTUS: Casca what had chanced

CASCA: Why, there was a crown offered him:

BRUTUS :And so it is. Come home to me, and I will wait for you.

CASSIUS: I will do so: till then, think of the world. For who so firm
that cannot be seduced? Caesar doth bear me hard; but he loves
Brutus: If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius, He should not
humour me. I will this night, In several hands, in at his windows
throw, As if they came from several citizens,

(SCENE III. The same. A street.)

CICERO: Good even, Casca: brought you Caesar home? Why are
you breathless? and why stare you so?
 CASCA :Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth Shakes
like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, , and I have seen The ambitious
ocean swell and rage and foam, But never till to-night, never till
now, Did I go through a tempest dropping fire. And yesterday the
bird of night did sit Even at noon-day upon the market-place,
Hooting and shrieking

CICERO:Come Caesar to the Capitol to-morrow?

CASCA He doth; for he did bid Antonius Send word to you he

would be there to-morrow.

CICERO: Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky Is not to walk
in.

CASCA: Farewell, Cicero.

CASSIUS: Be you content: good Cinna, take this paper, And look
you lay it in the praetor's chair, Where Brutus may but find it; and
throw this In at his window;

(ACT II SCENE I. Rome. BRUTUS's orchard.)

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.
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg Which, hatch'd, would, as his
kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell.

LUCIUS:I found This paper, thus seal'd up; and, I am sure, It did
not lie there when I went to bed
BRUTUS: Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March? Look in the
calendar, and bring me word

LUCIUS: I will, sir.

(Opens the letter and reads)

BRUTUS : Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake, and see thyself. Shall
Rome, & c. Speak, strike, redress! Brutus, thou sleep'st:
awake!'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! Since Cassius first did whet me
against Caesar, I have not slept.

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

BRUTUS : Is he alone?

LUCIUS: No, sir, there are moe with him.

BRUTUS: Let 'em enter.

CASSIUS: Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you?

BRUTUS :I have been up this hour, awake all night. Know I these
men that come along with you?
 CASSIUS: Yes, every man of them, and no man here But honours
you; This is Trebonius.

BRUTUS: He is welcome hither. CASSIUS This, Decius Brutus.

BRUTUS He is welcome too.

CASSIUS :This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.

BRUTUS: They are all welcome.

(BRUTUS and CASSIUS whisper)

BRUTUS: Give me your hands all over, one by one.

CASSIUS :And let us swear our resolution.

DECIUS BRUTUS :Shall no man else be touch'd but only Caesar?

CASSIUS: Decius, well urged: I think it is not meet, Mark Antony,

so well beloved of Caesar, Should outlive Caesar

BRUTUS :Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, Caesar
must bleed for it! And, gentle friends, Let's kill him boldly, but not
wrathfully; Our purpose necessary and not envious:

CASSIUS :Yet I fear him;

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
DECIUS BRUTUS : Let me work; For I can give his humour the true
bent, And I will bring him to the Capitol.

Enter PORTIA
PORTIA :Brutus, my lord!
BRUTUS: Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?

PORTIAI :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

BRUTUS: Good Portia, go to bed

PORTIA: No, my Brutus; 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

(, SCENE II. CAESAR's house.)

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

Enter a Servant

Servant :My lord?

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

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:

CALPURNIA.: 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; And graves have
yawn'd, and yielded up their dead; drizzled blood upon the
CapitolHorses 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 avoidedYet Caesar shall go forth.

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.

Re-enter Servant
What say the augurers?

Servant :They would not have you to stir forth to-day. f an

offering forth, They could not find a heart within the beast.

CAESAR : Caesar should be a beast without a heart, If he should

stay at home to-day for fear. No, Caesar shall not: danger knows
full well That Caesar is more dangerous than he: 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, 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 DECIUS BRUTUS

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

DECIUS BRUTUS : Caesar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Caesar: I

come to fetch you to the senate-house.

CAESAR: tell them that I will not come to-day:

CALPURNIA: Say he is sick. CAESAR :Shall Caesar send a lie?

DECIUS BRUTUS : 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; 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 on her knee Hath
begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.

DECIUS BRUTUS : This dream is all amiss interpreted; Signifies

that from you great Rome shall suck Reviving blood:

DECIUS BRUTUS: 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. If Caesar hide himself, shall they
not whisper Lo, Caesar is afraid'? Pardon me, Caesar; for my dear
dear love

CAESAR : How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! Give

me my robe, for I will go.

Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CASCA,

TREBONIUS, and CINNA And look where Publius is come
to fetch me.
Enter ANTONY

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

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

CAESAR : [To the Soothsayer] The ides of March are come.

Soothsayer Ay, Caesar; but not gone.

CASCA first, then the other Conspirators and BRUTUS stab

CAESAR

CAESAR : Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar. Dies

CINNA : Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!

BRUTUS : People and senators, be not affrighted; Fly not; stand

stiff: ambition's debt is paid.

CASCA : Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

DECIUS BRUTUS : And Cassius too.

CASSIUS Where is Antony?

TREBONIUS : Fled to his house amazed:

BRUTUS : Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's.

BRUTUS : Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman; I never

thought him worse. Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour, Depart untouch'd.
Servant I'll fetch him presently

CASSIUSN : I wish we may: but yet have I a mind That fears him
much; aRe-enter

ANTONY : Welcome, Mark Antony.

ANTONY : O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low? Are all thy
conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure?

BRUTUS : O Antony, beg not your death of us. Though now we

must appear bloody and cruel,

BRUTUS : Only be patient till we have appeased The multitude,

beside themselves with fear, And then we will deliver you the
cause, Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him, Have thus
proceeded.
ANTONY :I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me
his bloody hand: First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you; Next,
Caius Cassius, do I take your hand; Now, Decius Brutus, yours:
now yours, Metellus; Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart;

CASSIUS : Mark Antony,-- t you shall give me reasons Why and

wherein Caesar was dangerous. 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:

SCENE II. The Forum. Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a

throng of Citizens
Citizens : We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.
First Citizen : I will hear Brutus speak.
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. --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? 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;

All : Live, Brutus! live, live!

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 judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have
lost their reason. Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there
with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me.

ANTONY :And, dying, mention it within their wills ANTONY : If

you have tears, prepare to shed them nowThe first time ever
Caesar put it on; Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent, Look,
in this place ran Cassius' dagger through: See what a rent the
envious Casca made: If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no; For
Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel: Judge, O you gods, how
dearly Caesar loved himWhich all the while ran blood, great
Caesar fell. O, what a fall was there, my countrymen! O, now you
weep;

Fourth Citizen :O traitors, villains

! All : Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay! Let not a traitor
live!