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CBSE Notes 2011-2012
Julius Caesar (translation)
Submitted by mE tHe OsHeEnon Thu, 02/16/2012 - 13:42
X English HOTs
Act 2, Scene 2
Original Text Modern Text
Thunder and lightning Enter
Thunder and lightning.CAESARenters in his nightgown.
JuliusCAESARin his nightgown
CAESAR
Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace
CAESAR
tonight.
Neither the sky nor the earth have been quiet tonight. Calpurnia cried out three times
Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,
in her sleep, Help, someone! Theyre murdering Caesar! Whos there?
Help, ho! They murder Caesar!Whos
within?
Enter aSERVANT ASERVANTenters.
SERVANT SERVANT
My lord. My lord?
CAESAR CAESAR
Go bid the priests do present sacrice Go tell the priests to perform a sacrice immediately, and bring me their
5
And bring me their opinions of success. interpretation of the results.
SERVANT SERVANT
I will, my lord. I will, my lord.
TheSERVANTexits.
EnterCALPURNIA CALPURNIAenters.
CALPURNIA
CALPURNIA
What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk
What are you doing, Caesar? Are you planning to go out? Youre not leaving the
forth?
house today.
You shall not stir out of your house today.
CAESAR
Caesar shall forth. The things that
CAESAR
threatened me
I will go out. The things that threaten me have only seen my back. When they see the
10 Ne'er looked but on my back. When they
face of Caesar, they will vanish.
shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanishd.
CALPURNIA
Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
CALPURNIA
Besides the things that we have heard and
15 Caesar, I never believed in omens, but now they frighten me. A servant told me the
seen,
night-watchmen saw horrid sights too, but different ones from what we heard and
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the
saw. A lioness gave birth in the streets, and graves cracked open and thrust out their
watch.
dead.
A lioness hath whelpd in the streets,
And graves have yawned and yielded up
their dead.

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Fierce ery warriors fought upon the clouds
In ranks and squadrons and right form of
war,
Fierce, ery warriors fought in the clouds in the usual formations of warranks and
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol.
squadronsuntil the clouds drizzled blood onto the Capitol. The noise of battle lled
20 The noise of battle hurtled in the air.
the air, and horses neighed, and dying men groaned, and ghosts shrieked and
25 Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
squealed in the streets. Oh, Caesar! These things are beyond anything weve seen
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the
before, and Im afraid.
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 CAESAR
gods? How can we avoid what the gods want to happen? But I will go out, for these bad
Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these omens apply to the world in general as much as they do to me.
predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.
CALPURNIA
When beggars die there are no comets CALPURNIA
seen. When beggars die there are no comets in the sky. The heavens only announce the
30
The heavens themselves blaze forth the deaths of princes.
death of princes.
CAESAR
Cowards die many times before their
deaths.
CAESAR
The valiant never taste of death but once.
35 Cowards die many times before their deaths. The brave experience death only once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
Of all the strange things Ive ever heard, it seems most strange to me that men fear
It seems to me most strange that men
death, given that death, which cant be avoided, will come whenever it wants.
should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
EnterSERVANT TheSERVANTenters.
What say the augurers? What do the priests say?
SERVANT
SERVANT
40 They would not have you to stir forth today.
They dont want you to go out today. They pulled out the guts of the sacriced animal
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
and couldnt nd its heart.
They could not nd a heart within the beast.
CAESAR
The gods do this in shame of cowardice. CAESAR
Caesar should be a beast without a heart The gods do this to test my bravery. Theyre saying Id be an animal without a heart if
If he should stay at home today for fear. I stayed home today out of fear. So, I wont.
No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well
That Caesar is more dangerous than he.
45
We are two lions littered in one day, Danger knows that Caesar is more dangerous than he is. Were two lions born on the
And I the elder and more terrible. same day in the same litter, and Im the older and more terrible. I will go out.
And Caesar shall go forth.
CALPURNIA
Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in condence.
Do not go forth today. Call it my fear CALPURNIA
50 That keeps you in the house, and not your Alas, my lord, your condence is getting the better of your wisdom. Dont go out
own. today. Say that its my fear that keeps you inside and not your own. Well send Mark
Well send Mark Antony to the senate Antony to the senate house, and hell say that youre sick today.(she kneels)Let me,
house, on my knees, win you over to this plan.
And he shall say you are not well today.
(kneels)Let me, upon my knee, prevail in
this.
CAESAR
CAESAR
55 Mark Antony shall say I am not well, All right. Mark Antony will say Im not well, and to please you Ill stay at home.
And for thy humor I will stay at home.
CALPURNIArises CALPURNIAgets up.
EnterDECIUS DECIUSenters.
Heres Decius Brutus. He shall tell them so. Heres Decius Brutus. Hell tell them so.
DECIUS
DECIUS
Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy
Hail, Caesar! Good morning, worthy Caesar. Ive come to take you to the senate
Caesar.
house.
I come to fetch you to the senate house.
CAESAR
CAESAR
And you are come in very happy time
And youve come at a good time, so you can convey my greetings to the senators
60 To bear my greeting to the senators
and tell them I wont come today. It wouldnt be true to say that Icantcome, and even
And tell them that I will not come today.
less true to say that I dontdarecome. I simplywontcome today. Tell them so,
Cannot is false, and that I dare not, falser.
Decius.
I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius.
CALPURNIA CALPURNIA
65 Say he is sick. Say hes sick.
CAESAR
Shall Caesar send a lie? CAESAR
Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so Would I send a lie? Have I accomplished so much in battle, but now Im afraid to tell
far some old men the truth?
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?

Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come. Decius, go tell them that Caesar wont come.
DECIUS
DECIUS
70 Most mighty Caesar, let me know some Most mighty Caesar, give me some reason, so I wont be laughed at when I tell them
cause,
so.
Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so.
CAESAR
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred CAESAR
spouts, Calpurnia, my wife, is keeping me at home. Last night, she dreamed she saw a statue
75
Did run pure blood. And many lusty Romansof me with a hundred holes in it, like a fountain with pure blood owing from it, and
80 Came smiling and did bathe their hands in many happy Romans came smiling and washed their hands in it. She takes these
it. signs for warnings and predictions of terrible evils to come, and, on her knee, she
And these does she apply for warnings and begged me to stay home today.
portents
And evils imminent, and on her knee
Hath begged that I will stay at home today.
DECIUS
This dream is all amiss interpreted.
It was a vision fair and fortunate.
DECIUS
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
This dream has been interpreted all wrong. It was a good and lucky vision. Your
85 In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
statue spouting blood through many holes, in which many smiling Romans bathed,
Signies that from you great Rome shall
90 suck means that youll provide great Rome with sustaining blood, and that great men will
strive to get some token of approval from your holy blood. This is what CALPURNIAs
Reviving blood, and that great men shall
dream means.
press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
This by CALPURNIAs dream is signied.
CAESAR CAESAR

And this way have you well expounded it. Youve offered an excellent interpretation.
DECIUS
I have, when you have heard what I can say. DECIUS
And know it now: the senate have I will have when you hear the rest of what I have to say. The senate has decided to
concluded give mighty Caesar a crown today.
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.

If you shall send them word you will not come, If you send them word that you wont come, they might
95
Their minds may change. change their minds.
 CAESAR
CAESAR
How foolish do your fears seem now, CALPURNIA!
105 How foolish your fears seem now, CALPURNIA! Im ashamed
I am ashamd I did yield to them.
that I yielded to them. Give me my robe, because Im going.
Give me my robe, for I will go.

EnterBRUTUS,LIGARIUS,METELLUS,CASCA,TREBONIUS,CINNA, PUBLIUS,BRUTUS,LIGARIUS,METELLUS,CASCA,TREBONIUS,

andPUBLIUS andCINNAenter.
CAESAR CAESAR
Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me. Good friends, go in and have some wine with me. And well
And we, like friends, will straightway go together. leave together, like friends.
BRUTUS BRUTUS
130 (aside)That every like is not the same, O Caesar, (quietly to himself)That we are now only like friendsOh
The heart of Brutus earns to think upon. Caesarmakes my heart ache.
Exeunt They all exit.

Act 3, Scene 1

Original Text Modern Text

Flourish A crowd of people enters, among themARTEMIDORUSand theSOOTHSAYER. A trumpet
EnterCAESAR,BRUTUS,CASSIUS,CASCA,DECIUS,METELLUS,TREBONIUS,CINNA,ANTONY,LEPIDUS,PUBLIUS, plays.CAESAR,BRUTUS,CASSIUS,CASCA,DECIUS,METELLUS,TREBONIUS,CINNA,ANTONY,LEPIDUS,POPILLIUS
andPOPILLIUS LENAwith a crowd of people, includingARTEMIDORUSand theSOOTHSAYER and others enter.
CAESAR CAESAR
Are we all ready? What is now amiss Are we all ready? What problem should I discuss with
35
That Caesar and his senate must redress? rst?
METELLUS
METELLUS
(kneeling)
(kneeling)Most high, most mighty, and most powerfu
40 Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Caesar, Metellus Cimber kneels before you with a hu
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
heart
An humble heart
CAESAR
I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings and these lowly courtesies CAESAR
Might re the blood of ordinary men I have to stop you, Cimber. These kneelings and hum
And turn preordinance and rst decree courtesies might excite ordinary men, attering them
45 Into the law of children. Be not fond, turning Roman law into childrens games. But dont b
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood foolish as to think you can swaymefrom whats right
50 That will be thawed from the true quality using the tactics that persuade foolsI mean this at
With that which melteth foolsI mean, sweet words, low bows, and puppy-like fawning. Your brother has b

Low-crookd curtsies, and base spaniel fawning. banished by decree. If you kneel and beg and atter f
Thy brother by decree is banishd. him, Ill kick you out of my way like I would a dog. Kno
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, that I am not unjust, and I will not grant him a pardon
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. without reason.
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satised.
METELLUS
METELLUS
Is there no voice more worthy than my own
55 Is there no voice worthier than my own to appeal to C
To sound more sweetly in great Caesars ear
to repeal the order that my brother be banished?
For the repealing of my banished brother?
BRUTUS
BRUTUS
(kneeling)I kiss thy hand, but not in attery, Caesar,
(kneeling)I kiss your hand, but not in attery, Caesar.
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
you to repeal Publius Cimbers banishment immediat
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.


CAESAR
I could be well moved if I were as you. CAESAR
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me. I could be convinced if I were like you. If I could beg o
But I am constant as the northern star, to change their minds, begging would convince me, t
Of whose true-xed and resting quality But Im as immovable as the northern star, whose sta
There is no fellow in the rmament.
65 The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks.
They are all re and every one doth shine,
70 But theres but one in all doth hold his place.
75 So in the world. 'Tis furnished well with men,
And men are esh and blood, and apprehensive,
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion. And that I am he
Let me a little show it even in this:
That I was constant Cimber should be banished,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
CASCA
Speak, hands, for me!
CASCAand the other conspirators stabCAESAR,BRUTUSlast
CAESAR
85 Et tu, Brut?Then fall, Caesar.
(dies)
CINNA
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
CASSIUS
Some to the common pulpits, and cry out,
Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!
BRUTUS
But here comes Antony.Welcome, Mark Antony.
ANTONY
O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
160
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank.
If I myself, there is no hour so t
As Caesars deaths hour, nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
165 With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
170 Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulll your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not nd myself so apt to die.
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
BRUTUS
O Antony, beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel
As by our hands and this our present act
You see we doyet see you but our hands
175 And this the bleeding business they have done.
Our hearts you see not. They are pitiful.
180
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
185 As re drives out re, 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.
and stationary quality has no equal in the sky. The sk
shows countless stars. Theyre all made of re, and e
one shines. But only one among all of them remains i
xed position. So it is on earth. The world is full of m
and men are esh and blood, and they are capable of
reason. Yet out of all of them, I know only one who is
unassailable, who never moves from his position. To
you that thats me, let me prove it a little even in this c
was rm in ordering that Cimber be banished, and I r
rm in that decision.
CASCA
Hands, speak for me!
CASCAand the other conspirators stab
CAESAR.BRUTUSstabs him last.
CAESAR
And you too, Brutus? In that case, die, Caesar.
(he dies)
CINNA
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run and proclai
the streets.
CASSIUS
Some should go to the public platforms and cry out,
Liberty, freedom, and democracy!
BRUTUS
But here comes Antony.Welcome, Mark Antony.
ANTONY
Oh, mighty Caesar! Do you lie so low? Have all your
conquests, glories, triumphs, achievements, come t
little? Farewell. Gentlemen, I dont know what you in
to do, who else you intend to kill, who else you cons
corrupt.
If its me, theres no time as good as this hour of Ca
death, and no weapon better than your swords, cov
with the noblest blood in the world. I ask you, if you
a grudge against me, to kill me now, while your stai
hands still reek of blood. I could live a thousand yea
and I wouldnt be as ready to die as I am now. There
place Id rather die than here by Caesar, and no man
death would please me more than being stabbed by
the masters of this new era.
BRUTUS
Oh, Antony, dont beg us to kill you. Though we see
bloody and cruel right now, with our bloody hands a
this deed weve done, youve only seen our hands a
their bloody business; you havent looked into our h
They are full of pity for Caesar. But a stronger pity, f
wrongs committed against Rome, drove out our pity
Caesar, as re drives out re, and so we killed him.
you, our swords have blunt edges, too dull to harm
Mark Antony. Our arms, which can be strong and cr
and our hearts, lled with brotherly love, embrace y
with kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
 CASSIUS
Your voice shall be as strong as any mans
In the disposing of new dignities.
ANTONY
I doubt not of your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody hand.
(shakes hands with the conspirators)
195 Gentlemen all, alas, what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground
200
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
20 Either a coward or a atterer
That I did love thee, Caesar, O, tis true.
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody ngers of thy foes
Most noble!in the presence of thy corse?
CASSIUS
Mark Antony
ANTONY
Pardon me, Caius Cassius.
225
The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
CASSIUS
I blame you not for praising Caesar so.
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be pricked in number of our friends?
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
ANTONY
Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed
230 Swayed from the point by looking down on Caesar.
Friends am I with you all and love you all
Upon this hope: that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
BRUTUS
Or else were this a savage spectacle!
235
Our reasons are so full of good regard
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satised.
ANTONY
Thats all I seek.
And am moreover suitor that I may
240
Produce his body to the marketplace,
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.
245 (aside toBRUTUS)You know not what you do.
Do not consent
That Antony speak in his funeral.
Know you how much the people may be moved
By that which he will utter?
BRUTUS
(aside toCASSIUS)By your pardon.
CASSIUS
Your vote will be as strong as anyones in the reorde
of the government.
ANTONY
I dont doubt your wisdom. Each of you, give me your bl
hand.(he shakes hands with the conspirators)
gentlemenalas, what can I say? Now that Ive shaken
hands, youll take me for either a coward or a atterer
either case, my credibility stands on slippery ground. It
that I loved you, Caesarnothing could be truer. If your
looking down upon us now, it must hurt you more than
your death to see your Antony making peaceshaking
bloody hands of your enemiesin front of your corpse.
CASSIUS
Mark Antony
ANTONY
Pardon me, Caius Cassius. Even Caesars enemies wo
the same. From a friend, its a cool assessmentno m
that.
CASSIUS
I dont blame you for praising Caesar like this, but w
agreement do you intend to reach with us? Will you
counted as our friend, or should we proceed withou
depending on you?
ANTONY
I took your hands in friendship, but, indeed, I was
distracted when I looked down at Caesar. I am frien
with you all and love you all, on one conditionthat
prove to me that Caesar was dangerous.
BRUTUS
Without that proof, this wouldve been a savage acti
Our reasons are so well considered that even if you,
Antony, were Caesars son, you would be satised w
them.
ANTONY
Thats all I askand that you let me carry his body t
marketplace and, as a friend ought to do, stand on t
platform and give a proper funeral oration.
BRUTUS
You may, Mark Antony.
CASSIUS
Brutus, may I have a word with you?(speaking so th
onlyBRUTUScan hear)You dont know what youre
Dont let Antony speak at his funeral. Dont you kno
much the people could be affected by what he says
 I will myself into the pulpit rst, BRUTUS
250 And show the reason of our Caesars death.
(speaking so that onlyCASSIUScan hear)With your
permission, Ill stand on the platform rst and expla
reason for Caesars death.

What Antony shall speak, I will protest,

What Antony says, Ill announce, he says only by our
He speaks by leave and by permission,
permission and by our conviction that Caesar shoul
255 And that we are contented Caesar shall
honored with all the usual and lawful ceremonies. It
Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
help us more than hurt us.
It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
CASSIUS
CASSIUS
(speaking so that onlyBRUTUScan hear)Im worrie
(aside toBRUTUS)I know not what may fall. I like it not.
about the outcome of his speech. I dont like this pl
BRUTUS
Mark Antony, here, take you Caesars body.
BRUTUS
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
Mark Antony, take Caesars body. You will not blam
260 But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,
your funeral speech, but will say all the good you w
And say you do t by our permission.
265 about Caesar and that you do it by our permission.
Else shall you not have any hand at all
Otherwise, youll have no role at all in his funeral. An
About his funeral. And you shall speak
youll speak on the same platform as I do, after Im
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.
ANTONY
ANTONY
Be it so.
So be it. I dont want anything more.
I do desire no more.
BRUTUS BRUTUS

Prepare the body then, and follow us. Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
Exeunt. ManetANTONY Everyone exceptANTONYexits.
ANTONY
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, ANTONY
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Oh, pardon me, you bleeding corpse, for speaking p
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man and acting mildly with these butchers! You are what
270
That ever livd in the tide of times. of the noblest man that ever lived. Pity the hand tha
275 Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! this valuable blood. Over your woundswhich, like
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy speechless mouths, open their red lips, as though t
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips me to speakI predict that a curse will fall upon the
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue bodies of men.
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men.
Domestic fury and erce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy.
Fierce civil war will paralyze all of Italy. Blood and
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
destruction will be so common and familiar that mo
And dreadful objects so familiar,
will merely smile when their infants are cut to piece
280 That mothers shall but smile when they behold
the hands of war. Peoples capacity for sympathy wi
Their infants quartered with the hands of war,
grow tired and weak from the sheer quantity of crue
285 All pity choked with custom of fell deeds,
deeds. And Caesars ghost, searching for revenge w
And Caesars spirit, ranging for revenge,
290 the goddessAteby his side, just up from Hell, will c
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
the voice of a king, Havoc! and unleash the dogs o
Shall in these connes with a monarchs voice
This foul deed will stink up to the sky with mens co
Cry Havoc! and let slip the dogs of war,
which will beg to be buried.
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Exeunt withCAESARs body They exit withCAESARs body.

Act 3, Scene 2

Original Text Modern Text

 EnterBRUTUSandCASSIUSwith BRUTUSandCASSIUSenter with a throng of CITIZENS.
theCITIZENS
CITIZENS CITIZENS

We will be satised! Let us be satised! We want answers. Give us answers.

BRUTUS
BRUTUS
Then follow me and give me audience,
Then follow me and listen to my speech, friends.
friends.

FIRST CITIZEN FIRST CITIZEN

I will hear Brutus speak. Ill listen to Brutus.

ExitCASSIUSwith some of
CASSIUSexits with some of theCITIZENS.BRUTUSgets up on the platform.
theCITIZENSBRUTUSgoes into the pulpit
THIRD CITIZENS THIRD CITIZENS

The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence! Quiet! Noble Brutus has mounted the platform.
BRUTUS
Be patient till the last. Romans,
countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my
cause, and be silent that you may hear.
BRUTUS
Believe me for mine honor, and have
Be patient until I nish. Romans, countrymen, and friends! Listen to my
respect to mine honor that you may
reasons and be silent so you can hear. Believe me on my honor and keep my
believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and
honor in mind, so you may believe me. Be wise when you criticize me and keep
awake your senses that you may the better
your minds alert so you can judge me fairly. If theres anyone in this assembly,
judge. If there be any in this assembly, any
any dear friend of Caesars, I say to him that my love for Caesar was no less
dear friend of Caesars, to him I say that
than his. If, then, that friend demands to know why I rose up against Caesar,
Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than
this is my answer: its not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.
his. If then that friend demand why Brutus
rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not
that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more.
Had you rather Caesar were living and die
all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to
live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I
Would you rather that Caesar were living and we would all go to our graves as
weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice
slaves, or that Caesar were dead and we all lived as free men? I weep for
at it. As he was valiant, I honor him. But, as
Caesar in that he was good to me. I rejoice in his good fortune. I honor him for
he was ambitious, I slew him. There is
being brave. But his ambitionfor that, I killed him. There are tears for his love,
tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor
joy for his fortune, honor for his bravery, and death for his ambition. Who here
for his valor, and death for his ambition.
is so low that he wants to be a slave? If there are any, speak, for it is he whom
Who is here so base that would be a
Ive offended. Who here is so barbarous that he doesnt want to be a Roman? If
bondman? If any, speakfor him have I
there are any, speak, for it is he whom Ive offended. Who here is so vile that he
offended. Who is here so rude that would
doesnt love his country? If there are any, speak, for it is he whom I have
not be a Roman? If any, speakfor him
offended. I will pause for a reply.
have I offended. Who is here so vile that
will not love his country? If any, speakfor
him have I offended. I pause for a reply.
ALL ALL

None, Brutus, none. No one, Brutus, no one.

BRUTUS
Then none have I offended. I have done no BRUTUS
more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus.Then I have offended no one. Ive done no more to Caesar than you will do to
The question of his death is enrolled in the me. The reasons for his death are recorded in the Capitol. His glory has not
Capitol. His glory not extenuated wherein been diminished where he earned it, nor have those offenses for which he was
he was worthy, nor his offenses enforced killed been exaggerated.
for which he suffered death.
Enter MarkANTONYwithCAESARs body ANTONYenters withCAESARs body.
Here comes his body, mourned by Mark
Antony, who, though he had no hand in his
death, shall receive the benet of his dying Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who, though he had no part in
a place in the commonwealthas which the killing, will benet from his deathreceiving a share in the commonwealth,

of you shall not? With this I depart: that, as as you all will. With these words I leave. Just as I killed my best friend for the
I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, Igood of Rome, so will I kill myself when my country requires my death.
 have the same dagger for myself when it
shall please my country to need my death.
ALL ALL
45 Live, Brutus! Live, live! Live, Brutus! Live, live!
FIRST CITIZENS
FIRST CITIZENS
Bring him with triumph home unto his
Lets carry him in triumph to his house!
house!

SECOND CITIZENS SECOND CITIZENS

Give him a statue with his ancestors! Lets build a statue of him, near those of his ancestors!
THIRD CITIZENS THIRD CITIZENS

Let him be Caesar! Let him become Caesar!

FOURTH CITIZENS
FOURTH CITIZENS
Caesars better parts
Caesars better qualities exist in Brutus, and we will crown him.
Shall be crowned in Brutus!
FIRST CITIZENS
FIRST CITIZENS
Well bring him to his house with shouts
50 Well bring him to his house with shouts and celebration!
and clamors.
BRUTUS BRUTUS

My countrymen My countrymen
SECOND CITIZENS SECOND CITIZENS

Peace, silence! Brutus speaks. Silence! Brutus speaks.

FIRST CITIZENS FIRST CITIZENS

Peace, ho! Quiet there!

BRUTUS
Good countrymen, let me depart alone.
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony.
BRUTUS
Do grace to Caesars corpse, and grace his
55 Good countrymen, let me leave alone. I want you to stay here with Antony to
speech
pay respects to Caesars corpse and listen to Antonys speech about Caesars
Tending to Caesars glories, which Mark
glories, which he gives with our permission. I ask that none of you leave,
Antony
except myself, until Antony has nished.
By our permission is allowed to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
ExitBRUTUS BRUTUSexits.
FIRST CITIZENS FIRST CITIZENS
60 Stay, ho! And let us hear Mark Antony. Lets stay and hear Mark Antony.
THIRD CITIZENS
THIRD CITIZENS
Let him go up into the public chair.
Let him mount the pulpit. Well listen to him. Noble Antony, mount the podium.
Well hear him.Noble Antony, go up.
ANTONY ANTONY
For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you. For Brutuss sake, I am indebted to you.
(ascends the pulpit) (he steps up into the pulpit)
FOURTH CITIZENS FOURTH CITIZENS
65 What does he say of Brutus? What does he say about Brutus?
THIRD CITIZENS
THIRD CITIZENS
He says for Brutus' sake
He says that for Brutuss sake he nds himself indebted to us all.
He nds himself beholding to us all.
FOURTH CITIZENS
FOURTH CITIZENS
'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus
Hed better not speak badly of Brutus here.
here.
FIRST CITIZENS FIRST CITIZENS

This Caesar was a tyrant. Caesar was a tyrant.

THIRD CITIZENS
THIRD CITIZENS
Nay, thats certain.
Thats for sure. Were lucky that Rome is rid of him.
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
FOURTH CITIZENS SECOND CITIZENS
70 Peace! Let us hear what Antony can say. Quiet! Lets hear what Antony has to say.
ANTONY ANTONY

You gentle Romans You gentle Romans

ALL ALL

Peace, ho! Let us hear him. Quiet there! Let us hear him.
 ANTONY
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me
your ears.
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interrd with their bones. ANTONY
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Friends, Romans, countrymen, give me your attention. I have come here to bury
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious. Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do is remembered after their
75 deaths, but the good is often buried with them. It might as well be the same
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
80 And grievously hath Caesar answered it. with Caesar. The noble Brutus told you that Caesar was ambitious. If thats
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest true, its a serious fault, and Caesar has paid seriously for it. With the
85 For Brutus is an honorable man; permission of Brutus and the othersfor Brutus is an honorable man; they are
So are they all, all honorable men all honorable menI have come here to speak at Caesars funeral. He was my
friend, he was faithful and just to me. But Brutus says he was ambitious, and
Come I to speak in Caesars funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me. Brutus is an honorable man. He brought many captives home to Rome whose
But Brutus says he was ambitious, ransoms brought wealth to the city.
And Brutus is an honorable man.
He hath brought many captives home to
Rome
Whose ransoms did the general coffers ll.

Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?

When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept.
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
90 I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
95 Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
100 And, sure, he is an honorable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
105 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 ed to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me.
My heart is in the cofn there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.(weeps)
FIRST CITIZENS
Is this the work of an ambitious man? When the poor
cried, Caesar cried too. Ambition shouldnt be so soft. Yet
Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an
honorable man. You all saw that on the Lupercal feast
day I offered him a kings crown three times, and he
refused it three times. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus
says he was ambitious. And, no question, Brutus is an
honorable man. I am not here to disprove what Brutus
has said, but to say whatIknow. You all loved him once,
and not without reason. Then what reason holds you
back from mourning him now? Men have become brutish
beasts and lost their reason! Bear with me. My heart is in
the cofn there with Caesar, and I must pause until it
returns to me.(he weeps)
FIRST CITIZENS

Methinks there is much reason in his sayings. I think theres a lot of sense in what he says.
SECOND CITIZENS SECOND CITIZENS
If thou consider rightly of the matter, If you think about it correctly, Caesar has suffered a great
Caesar has had great wrong. wrong.
THIRD CITIZENS THIRD CITIZENS
110 Has he, masters? Has he, sirs? Im worried there will be someone worse to
I fear there will a worse come in his place. replace him.
FOURTH CITIZENS FOURTH CITIZENS
Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown. Did you hear Antony? Caesar wouldnt take the crown.
Therefore tis certain he was not ambitious. Therefore its certain that he wasnt ambitious.
FIRST CITIZENS FIRST CITIZENS

If it be found so, some will dear abide it. If it turns out he wasnt, certain people are going to get it.
SECOND CITIZENS SECOND CITIZENS

Poor soul! His eyes are red as re with weeping. Poor man! Antonys eyes are ery red from crying.
THIRD CITIZENS THIRD CITIZENS
115 Theres not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. There isnt a nobler man than Antony in all of Rome.
FOURTH CITIZENS FOURTH CITIZENS

Now mark him. He begins again to speak. Now listen, hes going to speak again.
ANTONY
But yesterday the word of Caesar might
Have stood against the world. Now lies he there,
 And none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters, if I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong
120 Who, you all know, are honorable men.
I will not do them wrong. I rather choose
125 To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honorable men.
130
But heres a parchment with the seal of Caesar.
135 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 Caesars wounds
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.
FOURTH CITIZENS
Well hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony!
ALL
The will, the will! We will hear Caesars will.
ANTONY
Have patience, gentle friends. I must not read it.
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
140
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men.
145 And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar,
It will iname you, it will make you mad.
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs.
For, if you shouldOh, what would come of it!
FOURTH CITIZENS
Read the will. Well hear it, Antony.
You shall read us the will, Caesars will.
ANTONY
Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile?
150 I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it.
I fear I wrong the honorable men
Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar. I do fear it.
FOURTH CITIZENS
They were traitors! Honorable men!
ALL
The will! The testament!
SECOND CITIZENS
They were villains, murderers. The will! Read the will!
ANTONY
You will compel me, then, to read the will?
155
Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?
ALL
Come down.
SECOND CITIZENS
Descend.
THIRD CITIZENS
You shall have leave.
ANTONYdescends from the pulpit
FOURTH CITIZENS
160 A ring!
Stand round.
FIRST CITIZENS
ANTONY
Only yesterday the word of Caesar might have stood
against the world. Now he lies there worth nothing, and
no one is so humble as to show him respect. Oh, sirs, if I
stirred your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I would
offend Brutus and Cassius, who, you all know, are
honorable men. I will not do them wrong. I would rather
wrong the dead, and wrong myself and you, than wrong
such honorable men. But heres a paper with Caesars
seal on it. I found it in his roomits his will. If you could
only hear this testamentwhich, excuse me, I dont
intend to read aloudyou would kiss dead Caesars
wounds and dip your handkerchiefs in his sacred blood,
and beg for a lock of hair to remember him by. And when
you died, you would mention the handkerchief or the hair
in your will, bequeathing it to your heirs like a rich legacy.
FOURTH CITIZENS
We want to hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony.
ALL
The will, the will! We want to hear Caesars will.
ANTONY
Be patient, gentle friends, I must not read it. It isnt proper
for you to know how much Caesar loved you. You arent
wood, you arent stonesyoure men. And, being men, the
contents of Caesars will would enrage you. Its better
that you dont know youre his heirs, for if you knew, just
imagine what would come of it!
FOURTH CITIZENS
Read the will. We want to hear it, Antony. You have to
read us the will, Caesars will.
ANTONY
Will you be patient? Will you wait awhile? Ive said too
much in telling you of it. Im afraid that I wrong the
honorable men whose daggers have stabbed Caesar.
FOURTH CITIZENS
They were traitors. Honorable men!
ALL
The will! The testament!
SECOND CITIZENS
They were villains, murderers. The will! Read the will!
ANTONY
You force me to read the will, then? Then make a circle
around Caesars corpse, and let me show you the man
who made this will. Shall I come down? Will you let me?
ALL
Come down.
SECOND CITIZENS
Descend.
THIRD CITIZENS
Well let you.
ANTONYdescends from the pulpit.
FOURTH CITIZENS
Make a circle; stand around him.
FIRST CITIZENS

 Stand from the hearse. Stand from the body.
SECOND CITIZENS
Room for Antony, most noble Antony!
ANTONY
Nay, press not so upon me. Stand far off.
ALL
Stand back. Room! Bear back.
ANTONY
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle. I remember
The rst time ever Caesar put it on.
'Twas on a summers 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-belovd Brutus stabbed.
And as he plucked his cursd steel away,
165 Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
170
If Brutus so unkindly knocked, or no.
175 For Brutus, as you know, was Caesars angel.
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
180 This was the most unkindest cut of all.
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
185
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
190 Quite vanquished him. Then burst his mighty heart,
And, in his mantle mufing up his face,
Even at the base of Pompeys 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 ourished over us.
Oh, 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 Caesars vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marred, as you see, with traitors.
(lifts upCAESAR's mantle)
FIRST CITIZENS
O piteous spectacle!
SECOND CITIZENS
O noble Caesar!
THIRD CITIZENS
195 O woeful day!
FOURTH CITIZENS
O traitors, villains!
FIRST CITIZENS
O most bloody sight!
SECOND CITIZENS
We will be revenged.
ALL
Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!
Let not a traitor live!
ANTONY
Stay, countrymen.
FIRST CITIZENS
200 Peace there! Hear the noble Antony.
SECOND CITIZENS
Well hear him. Well follow him. Well die with him.
ANTONY
Good friends, sweet friends! Let me not stir you up
Stand away from the hearse. Stand away from the body.
SECOND CITIZENS
Make room for Antony, most noble Antony!
ANTONY
No, dont press up against me. Stand further away.
ALL
Stand back. Give him room.
ANTONY
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all know
this cloak. I remember the rst time Caesar ever put it on.
It was a summers evening; he was in his tent. It was the
day he overcame the Nervii warriors. Look, heres where
Cassiuss dagger pierced it. See the wound that Casca
made. Through this hole beloved Brutus stabbed. And
when he pulled out his cursed dagger, see how Caesars
blood came with it, as if rushing out a door to see if it
was really Brutus who was knocking so rudely. For
Brutus, as you know, was Caesars angel. The gods know
how dearly Caesar loved him! This was the most unkind
cut of all. For when the noble Caesar saw him stab, he
understood his beloved Brutuss ingratitude; it was
stronger than the violence of traitors, and it defeated him,
bursting his mighty heart. And at the base of Pompeys
statue, with his cloak covering his face, which was
dripping with blood the whole time, great Caesar fell. Oh,
what a fall it was, my countrymen! Then you and I and all
of us fell down, while bloody treason triumphed. Oh, now
you weep, and I sense that you feel pity. These are
gracious tears. But if it overwhelms you to look at
Caesars wounded cloak, how will you feel, kind men,
now? Look at this, here is the manscarred, as you can
see, by traitors.(he lifts upCAESAR's cloak)
FIRST CITIZENS
Oh, what a sad sight!
SECOND CITIZENS
Oh, noble Caesar!
THIRD CITIZENS
Oh, sad day!
FOURTH CITIZENS
Oh, traitors, villains!
FIRST CITIZENS
Oh, most bloody sight!
SECOND CITIZENS
We will get revenge.
ALL
Revenge! Lets go after them! Seek! Burn! Set re! Kill!
Slay! Leave no traitors alive!
ANTONY
Wait, countrymen.
FIRST CITIZENS
Quiet there! Listen to the noble Antony.
SECOND CITIZENS
Well listen to him, well follow him, well die with him.
 To such a sudden ood of mutiny.
They that have done this deed are honorable.
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it. They are wise and honorable,
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts.
205 I am no orator, as Brutus is,
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man
210 That love my friend. And that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him.
215
For I have neither wit nor words nor worth,
220 Action nor utterance nor the power of speech,
To stir mens blood. I only speak right on.
I tell you that which you yourselves do know,
Show you sweet Caesars wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,
And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would rufe up your spirits and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
ALL
Well mutiny.
FIRST CITIZENS
Well burn the house of Brutus.
THIRD CITIZENS
Away, then! Come, seek the conspirators.
ANTONY
225 Yet hear me, countrymen. Yet hear me speak.
ALL
Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony!
ANTONY
Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.
230 Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?
Alas, you know not. I must tell you then.
You have forgot the will I told you of.
ALL
Most true. The will! Lets stay and hear the will.
ANTONY
Here is the will, and under Caesars seal
To every Roman citizen he gives
To every several manseventy-ve drachmas.
SECOND CITIZENS
235 Most noble Caesar! Well revenge his death.
THIRD CITIZENS
O royal Caesar!
ANTONY
Hear me with patience.
ALL
Peace, ho!
ANTONY
Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbors and new-planted orchards,
240 On this side Tiber. He hath left them you
And to your heirs forevercommon pleasures,
To walk abroad and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?
FIRST CITIZENS
Never, never.Come, away, away!
245 Well burn his body in the holy place,
ANTONY
Good friends, sweet friends, dont let me stir you up to
such a sudden mutiny. Those who have done this deed
are honorable. I dont know what private grudges they
had that made them do it. Theyre wise and honorable,
and will no doubt give you reasons for it. I havent come
to steal your loyalty, friends. Im no orator, as Brutus is.
Im only, as you know, a plain, blunt man who loved his
friend, and the men who let me speak know this well. I
have neither cleverness nor rhetorical skill nor the
authority nor gesture nor eloquence nor the power of
speech to stir men up. I just speak directly. I tell you what
you already know. I show you sweet Caesars wounds
poor, speechless mouths!and make them speak for me.
But if I were Brutus and Brutus were me, then Id stir you
up, and install in each of Caesars wounds the kind of
voice that could convince even stones to rise up and
mutiny.
ALL
Well mutiny.
FIRST CITIZENS
Well burn Brutuss house.
THIRD CITIZENS
Lets go, then! Come, nd the conspirators!
ANTONY
Wait, and listen to me, countrymen.
ALL
Quiet! Wait! Listen to Antony. Most noble Antony!
ANTONY
Why, friends, you dont even know what youre doing yet.
What has Caesar done to deserve your love? Alas, you
dont know. I must tell you then. Youve forgotten the will I
told you about.
ALL
Yes! The will! Lets stay and hear the will!
ANTONY
Heres the will, written under Caesars seal. To every
Roman citizen he givesto every individual man
seventy-ve drachmas.
SECOND CITIZENS
Most noble Caesar! Well revenge his death.
THIRD CITIZENS
Oh, royal Caesar!
ANTONY
Listen to me patiently.
ALL
Quiet, there!
ANTONY
Also, hes left you all his walkwaysin his private gardens
and newly planted orchardson this side of the Tiber
River. Hes left them to you and to your heirs forever
public pleasures in which you will be able to stroll and
relax. Here was a Caesar! When will there be another like
him?
FIRST CITIZENS
Never, never. Lets go! Well burn his body in the holy
place and use the brands to set the traitors' houses on
re. Take up the body.
 And with the brands re the traitors' houses.
Take up the body.
SECOND CITIZENS SECOND CITIZENS

Go fetch re. Well start a re.

THIRD CITIZENS THIRD CITIZENS

Pluck down benches. Well use benches for wood

FOURTH CITIZENS FOURTH CITIZENS

Pluck down forms, windows, anything. And windowsills, anything.

ExeuntCITIZENSwithCAESARs body Citizens exit withCAESARs body.
ANTONY ANTONY
250 Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot. Now, let it work. Trouble, you have beguntake whatever
Take thou what course thou wilt! course you choose!
Exeunt They exit.

Act 2, Scene 2

Original Text Modern Text

Thunder and lightning Enter
Thunder and lightning.CAESARenters in his nightgown.
JuliusCAESARin his nightgown
CAESAR
Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace
CAESAR
tonight.
Neither the sky nor the earth have been quiet tonight. Calpurnia cried out three times
Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,
in her sleep, Help, someone! Theyre murdering Caesar! Whos there?
Help, ho! They murder Caesar!Whos
within?
Enter aSERVANT ASERVANTenters.
SERVANT SERVANT

My lord. My lord?
CAESAR CAESAR
Go bid the priests do present sacrice Go tell the priests to perform a sacrice immediately, and bring me their
5
And bring me their opinions of success. interpretation of the results.
SERVANT SERVANT

I will, my lord. I will, my lord.

ExitSERVANT TheSERVANTexits.
EnterCALPURNIA CALPURNIAenters.
CALPURNIA
CALPURNIA
What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk
What are you doing, Caesar? Are you planning to go out? Youre not leaving the
forth?
house today.
You shall not stir out of your house today.
CAESAR
Caesar shall forth. The things that
CAESAR
threatened me
I will go out. The things that threaten me have only seen my back. When they see the
10 Ne'er looked but on my back. When they
face of Caesar, they will vanish.
shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanishd.
CALPURNIA
Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
CALPURNIA
Besides the things that we have heard and
15 Caesar, I never believed in omens, but now they frighten me. A servant told me the
seen,
night-watchmen saw horrid sights too, but different ones from what we heard and
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the
saw. A lioness gave birth in the streets, and graves cracked open and thrust out their
watch.
dead.
A lioness hath whelpd in the streets,
 And graves have yawned and yielded up
their dead.

Fierce ery warriors fought upon the clouds
In ranks and squadrons and right form of
war, Fierce, ery warriors fought in the clouds in the usual formations of warranks and
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol. squadronsuntil the clouds drizzled blood onto the Capitol. The noise of battle lled
The noise of battle hurtled in the air. the air, and horses neighed, and dying men groaned, and ghosts shrieked and
20
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan, squealed in the streets. Oh, Caesar! These things are beyond anything weve seen
25
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the before, and Im afraid.
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 CAESAR
gods? How can we avoid what the gods want to happen? But I will go out, for these bad
Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these omens apply to the world in general as much as they do to me.
predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.
CALPURNIA
When beggars die there are no comets CALPURNIA
seen. When beggars die there are no comets in the sky. The heavens only announce the
30
The heavens themselves blaze forth the deaths of princes.
death of princes.
CAESAR
Cowards die many times before their
deaths.
CAESAR
The valiant never taste of death but once.
35 Cowards die many times before their deaths. The brave experience death only once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
Of all the strange things Ive ever heard, it seems most strange to me that men fear
It seems to me most strange that men
death, given that death, which cant be avoided, will come whenever it wants.
should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
EnterSERVANT TheSERVANTenters.
What say the augurers? What do the priests say?
SERVANT
SERVANT
40 They would not have you to stir forth today.
They dont want you to go out today. They pulled out the guts of the sacriced animal
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
and couldnt nd its heart.
They could not nd a heart within the beast.
CAESAR
The gods do this in shame of cowardice. CAESAR
Caesar should be a beast without a heart The gods do this to test my bravery. Theyre saying Id be an animal without a heart if
If he should stay at home today for fear. I stayed home today out of fear. So, I wont.
No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well

That Caesar is more dangerous than he.
45
We are two lions littered in one day, Danger knows that Caesar is more dangerous than he is. Were two lions born on the
And I the elder and more terrible. same day in the same litter, and Im the older and more terrible. I will go out.
And Caesar shall go forth.
CALPURNIA
Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in condence.
Do not go forth today. Call it my fear CALPURNIA
50 That keeps you in the house, and not your Alas, my lord, your condence is getting the better of your wisdom. Dont go out
own. today. Say that its my fear that keeps you inside and not your own. Well send Mark
Well send Mark Antony to the senate Antony to the senate house, and hell say that youre sick today.(she kneels)Let me,
house, on my knees, win you over to this plan.
And he shall say you are not well today.
(kneels)Let me, upon my knee, prevail in
this.
 CAESAR
CAESAR
Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
55 All right. Mark Antony will say Im not well, and to please you Ill stay at home.
And for thy humor I will stay at home.
CALPURNIArises CALPURNIAgets up.
EnterDECIUS DECIUSenters.
Heres Decius Brutus. He shall tell them so. Heres Decius Brutus. Hell tell them so.
DECIUS
Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy

Caesar.
DECIUS
I come to fetch you to the senate house.
Hail, Caesar! Good morning, worthy Caesar. Ive come to take you to the senate
house.

CAESAR CAESAR
And you are come in very happy time And youve come at a good time, so you can convey my greetings to the senators
60 To bear my greeting to the senators and tell them I wont come today. It wouldnt be true to say that Icantcome, and even
And tell them that I will not come today. less true to say that I dontdarecome. I simplywontcome today. Tell them so,

Cannot is false, and that I dare not, falser. Decius.

I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius.

CALPURNIA CALPURNIA
65 Say he is sick. Say hes sick.
CAESAR
Shall Caesar send a lie? CAESAR
Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so Would I send a lie? Have I accomplished so much in battle, but now Im afraid to tell
far some old men the truth?
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?

Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come. Decius, go tell them that Caesar wont come.
DECIUS
DECIUS
70 Most mighty Caesar, let me know some
Most mighty Caesar, give me some reason, so I wont be laughed at when I tell them
cause,
so.
Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so.
CAESAR
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred CAESAR
spouts, Calpurnia, my wife, is keeping me at home. Last night, she dreamed she saw a statue
75
Did run pure blood. And many lusty Romansof me with a hundred holes in it, like a fountain with pure blood owing from it, and
80 Came smiling and did bathe their hands in many happy Romans came smiling and washed their hands in it. She takes these
it. signs for warnings and predictions of terrible evils to come, and, on her knee, she
And these does she apply for warnings and begged me to stay home today.
portents
And evils imminent, and on her knee
Hath begged that I will stay at home today.
DECIUS
This dream is all amiss interpreted.
It was a vision fair and fortunate.
DECIUS
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
This dream has been interpreted all wrong. It was a good and lucky vision. Your
85 In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
statue spouting blood through many holes, in which many smiling Romans bathed,
Signies that from you great Rome shall
90 means that youll provide great Rome with sustaining blood, and that great men will
suck
strive to get some token of approval from your holy blood. This is what CALPURNIAs
Reviving blood, and that great men shall
dream means.
press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
This by CALPURNIAs dream is signied.
CAESAR CAESAR

And this way have you well expounded it. Youve offered an excellent interpretation.
DECIUS
I have, when you have heard what I can say. DECIUS
And know it now: the senate have I will have when you hear the rest of what I have to say. The senate has decided to
 concluded give mighty Caesar a crown today.
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.

If you shall send them word you will not come, If you send them word that you wont come, they might
95
Their minds may change. change their minds.

CAESAR
CAESAR
How foolish do your fears seem now, CALPURNIA!
How foolish your fears seem now, CALPURNIA! Im ashamed
105 I am ashamd I did yield to them.
that I yielded to them. Give me my robe, because Im going.
Give me my robe, for I will go.

EnterBRUTUS,LIGARIUS,METELLUS,CASCA,TREBONIUS,CINNA, PUBLIUS,BRUTUS,LIGARIUS,METELLUS,CASCA,TREBONIUS,

andPUBLIUS andCINNAenter.
CAESAR CAESAR
Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me. Good friends, go in and have some wine with me. And well
And we, like friends, will straightway go together. leave together, like friends.
BRUTUS BRUTUS
130 (aside)That every like is not the same, O Caesar, (quietly to himself)That we are now only like friendsOh
The heart of Brutus earns to think upon. Caesarmakes my heart ache.
Exeunt They all exit.

Act 3, Scene 1

Original Text Modern Text

Flourish A crowd of people enters, among themARTEMIDORUSand theSOOTHSAYER. A trumpet
EnterCAESAR,BRUTUS,CASSIUS,CASCA,DECIUS,METELLUS,TREBONIUS,CINNA,ANTONY,LEPIDUS,PUBLIUS, plays.CAESAR,BRUTUS,CASSIUS,CASCA,DECIUS,METELLUS,TREBONIUS,CINNA,ANTONY,LEPIDUS,POPILLIUS
andPOPILLIUS LENAwith a crowd of people, includingARTEMIDORUSand theSOOTHSAYER and others enter.
CAESAR CAESAR
Are we all ready? What is now amiss Are we all ready? What problem should I discuss with
35
That Caesar and his senate must redress? rst?
METELLUS
METELLUS
(kneeling)
(kneeling)Most high, most mighty, and most powerfu
40 Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Caesar, Metellus Cimber kneels before you with a hu
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
heart
An humble heart
CAESAR
I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings and these lowly courtesies CAESAR
Might re the blood of ordinary men I have to stop you, Cimber. These kneelings and hum
And turn preordinance and rst decree courtesies might excite ordinary men, attering them
45 Into the law of children. Be not fond, turning Roman law into childrens games. But dont b
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood foolish as to think you can swaymefrom whats right
50 That will be thawed from the true quality using the tactics that persuade foolsI mean this at
With that which melteth foolsI mean, sweet words, low bows, and puppy-like fawning. Your brother has b

Low-crookd curtsies, and base spaniel fawning. banished by decree. If you kneel and beg and atter f
Thy brother by decree is banishd. him, Ill kick you out of my way like I would a dog. Kno
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, that I am not unjust, and I will not grant him a pardon
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. without reason.
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satised.
METELLUS
METELLUS
Is there no voice more worthy than my own
55 Is there no voice worthier than my own to appeal to C
To sound more sweetly in great Caesars ear
to repeal the order that my brother be banished?
For the repealing of my banished brother?
BRUTUS
BRUTUS
(kneeling)I kiss thy hand, but not in attery, Caesar,
(kneeling)I kiss your hand, but not in attery, Caesar.
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
you to repeal Publius Cimbers banishment immediat
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.


 CAESAR
I could be well moved if I were as you.
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me.
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-xed and resting quality
There is no fellow in the rmament.
65
The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks.
70 They are all re and every one doth shine,
But theres but one in all doth hold his place.
75 So in the world. 'Tis furnished well with men,
And men are esh and blood, and apprehensive,
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion. And that I am he
Let me a little show it even in this:
That I was constant Cimber should be banished,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
CASCA
Speak, hands, for me!
CASCAand the other conspirators stabCAESAR,BRUTUSlast
CAESAR
85 Et tu, Brut?Then fall, Caesar.
(dies)
CINNA
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
CASSIUS
Some to the common pulpits, and cry out,
Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!
BRUTUS
But here comes Antony.Welcome, Mark Antony.
ANTONY
O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
160
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank.
If I myself, there is no hour so t
As Caesars deaths hour, nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
165 With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
170 Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulll your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not nd myself so apt to die.
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
BRUTUS
O Antony, beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel
As by our hands and this our present act
You see we doyet see you but our hands
175 And this the bleeding business they have done.
180 Our hearts you see not. They are pitiful.
CAESAR
I could be convinced if I were like you. If I could beg o
to change their minds, begging would convince me, t
But Im as immovable as the northern star, whose sta
and stationary quality has no equal in the sky. The sk
shows countless stars. Theyre all made of re, and e
one shines. But only one among all of them remains i
xed position. So it is on earth. The world is full of m
and men are esh and blood, and they are capable of
reason. Yet out of all of them, I know only one who is
unassailable, who never moves from his position. To
you that thats me, let me prove it a little even in this c
was rm in ordering that Cimber be banished, and I r
rm in that decision.
CASCA
Hands, speak for me!
CASCAand the other conspirators stab
CAESAR.BRUTUSstabs him last.
CAESAR
And you too, Brutus? In that case, die, Caesar.
(he dies)
CINNA
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run and proclai
the streets.
CASSIUS
Some should go to the public platforms and cry out,
Liberty, freedom, and democracy!
BRUTUS
But here comes Antony.Welcome, Mark Antony.
ANTONY
Oh, mighty Caesar! Do you lie so low? Have all your
conquests, glories, triumphs, achievements, come t
little? Farewell. Gentlemen, I dont know what you in
to do, who else you intend to kill, who else you cons
corrupt.
If its me, theres no time as good as this hour of Ca
death, and no weapon better than your swords, cov
with the noblest blood in the world. I ask you, if you
a grudge against me, to kill me now, while your stai
hands still reek of blood. I could live a thousand yea
and I wouldnt be as ready to die as I am now. There
place Id rather die than here by Caesar, and no man
death would please me more than being stabbed by
the masters of this new era.
BRUTUS
Oh, Antony, dont beg us to kill you. Though we see
bloody and cruel right now, with our bloody hands a
this deed weve done, youve only seen our hands a
their bloody business; you havent looked into our h
They are full of pity for Caesar. But a stronger pity, f
185 And pity to the general wrong of Rome
As re drives out re, 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 mans
In the disposing of new dignities.
ANTONY
I doubt not of your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody hand.
(shakes hands with the conspirators)
Gentlemen all, alas, what shall I say?
195
My credit now stands on such slippery ground
200 That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a atterer
20 That I did love thee, Caesar, O, tis true.
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody ngers of thy foes
Most noble!in the presence of thy corse?
CASSIUS
Mark Antony
ANTONY
Pardon me, Caius Cassius.
225
The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
CASSIUS
I blame you not for praising Caesar so.
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be pricked in number of our friends?
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
ANTONY
Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed
230 Swayed from the point by looking down on Caesar.
Friends am I with you all and love you all
Upon this hope: that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
BRUTUS
Or else were this a savage spectacle!
235
Our reasons are so full of good regard
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satised.
ANTONY
Thats all I seek.
And am moreover suitor that I may
240
Produce his body to the marketplace,
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.
245 (aside toBRUTUS)You know not what you do.
Do not consent
That Antony speak in his funeral.
wrongs committed against Rome, drove out our pity
Caesar, as re drives out re, and so we killed him.
you, our swords have blunt edges, too dull to harm
Mark Antony. Our arms, which can be strong and cr
and our hearts, lled with brotherly love, embrace y
with kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
CASSIUS
Your vote will be as strong as anyones in the reorde
of the government.
ANTONY
I dont doubt your wisdom. Each of you, give me your bl
hand.(he shakes hands with the conspirators)
gentlemenalas, what can I say? Now that Ive shaken
hands, youll take me for either a coward or a atterer
either case, my credibility stands on slippery ground. It
that I loved you, Caesarnothing could be truer. If your
looking down upon us now, it must hurt you more than
your death to see your Antony making peaceshaking
bloody hands of your enemiesin front of your corpse.
CASSIUS
Mark Antony
ANTONY
Pardon me, Caius Cassius. Even Caesars enemies wo
the same. From a friend, its a cool assessmentno m
that.
CASSIUS
I dont blame you for praising Caesar like this, but w
agreement do you intend to reach with us? Will you
counted as our friend, or should we proceed withou
depending on you?
ANTONY
I took your hands in friendship, but, indeed, I was
distracted when I looked down at Caesar. I am frien
with you all and love you all, on one conditionthat
prove to me that Caesar was dangerous.
BRUTUS
Without that proof, this wouldve been a savage acti
Our reasons are so well considered that even if you,
Antony, were Caesars son, you would be satised w
them.
ANTONY
Thats all I askand that you let me carry his body t
marketplace and, as a friend ought to do, stand on t
platform and give a proper funeral oration.
BRUTUS
You may, Mark Antony.
CASSIUS
Brutus, may I have a word with you?(speaking so th
onlyBRUTUScan hear)You dont know what youre
 Know you how much the people may be moved Dont let Antony speak at his funeral. Dont you kno
By that which he will utter? much the people could be affected by what he says

BRUTUS BRUTUS
(aside toCASSIUS)By your pardon. (speaking so that onlyCASSIUScan hear)With your
250
I will myself into the pulpit rst, permission, Ill stand on the platform rst and expla
And show the reason of our Caesars death. reason for Caesars death.
What Antony shall speak, I will protest,
What Antony says, Ill announce, he says only by our
He speaks by leave and by permission,
permission and by our conviction that Caesar shoul
255 And that we are contented Caesar shall
honored with all the usual and lawful ceremonies. It
Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
help us more than hurt us.
It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
CASSIUS
CASSIUS
(aside toBRUTUS)I know not what may fall. I like it not.
(speaking so that onlyBRUTUScan hear)Im worrie
about the outcome of his speech. I dont like this pl

BRUTUS
Mark Antony, here, take you Caesars body.
BRUTUS
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
Mark Antony, take Caesars body. You will not blam
260 But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,
your funeral speech, but will say all the good you w
And say you do t by our permission.
265 about Caesar and that you do it by our permission.
Else shall you not have any hand at all
Otherwise, youll have no role at all in his funeral. An
About his funeral. And you shall speak
youll speak on the same platform as I do, after Im
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.
ANTONY
ANTONY
Be it so.
So be it. I dont want anything more.
I do desire no more.
BRUTUS BRUTUS

Prepare the body then, and follow us. Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
Exeunt. ManetANTONY Everyone exceptANTONYexits.
ANTONY
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, ANTONY
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Oh, pardon me, you bleeding corpse, for speaking p
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man and acting mildly with these butchers! You are what
270
That ever livd in the tide of times. of the noblest man that ever lived. Pity the hand tha
275 Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! this valuable blood. Over your woundswhich, like
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy speechless mouths, open their red lips, as though t
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips me to speakI predict that a curse will fall upon the
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue bodies of men.
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men.
Domestic fury and erce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy.
Fierce civil war will paralyze all of Italy. Blood and
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
destruction will be so common and familiar that mo
And dreadful objects so familiar,
will merely smile when their infants are cut to piece
280 That mothers shall but smile when they behold
the hands of war. Peoples capacity for sympathy wi
Their infants quartered with the hands of war,
285 grow tired and weak from the sheer quantity of crue
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds,
deeds. And Caesars ghost, searching for revenge w
And Caesars spirit, ranging for revenge,
290 the goddessAteby his side, just up from Hell, will c
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
the voice of a king, Havoc! and unleash the dogs o
Shall in these connes with a monarchs voice
This foul deed will stink up to the sky with mens co
Cry Havoc! and let slip the dogs of war,
which will beg to be buried.
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Exeunt withCAESARs body They exit withCAESARs body.

Act 3, Scene 2

Original Text Modern Text

 EnterBRUTUSandCASSIUSwith
BRUTUSandCASSIUSenter with a throng of CITIZENS.
theCITIZENS
CITIZENS CITIZENS

We will be satised! Let us be satised! We want answers. Give us answers.

BRUTUS
BRUTUS
Then follow me and give me audience,
Then follow me and listen to my speech, friends.
friends.
FIRST CITIZEN FIRST CITIZEN

I will hear Brutus speak. Ill listen to Brutus.

ExitCASSIUSwith some of
CASSIUSexits with some of theCITIZENS.BRUTUSgets up on the platform.
theCITIZENSBRUTUSgoes into the pulpit
THIRD CITIZENS THIRD CITIZENS

The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence! Quiet! Noble Brutus has mounted the platform.
BRUTUS
Be patient till the last. Romans,
countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my
cause, and be silent that you may hear.
BRUTUS
Believe me for mine honor, and have
Be patient until I nish. Romans, countrymen, and friends! Listen to my
respect to mine honor that you may
reasons and be silent so you can hear. Believe me on my honor and keep my
believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and
honor in mind, so you may believe me. Be wise when you criticize me and keep
awake your senses that you may the better
your minds alert so you can judge me fairly. If theres anyone in this assembly,
judge. If there be any in this assembly, any
any dear friend of Caesars, I say to him that my love for Caesar was no less
dear friend of Caesars, to him I say that
than his. If, then, that friend demands to know why I rose up against Caesar,
Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than
this is my answer: its not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.
his. If then that friend demand why Brutus
rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not
that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more.

Had you rather Caesar were living and die

all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to
live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I
Would you rather that Caesar were living and we would all go to our graves as
weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice
slaves, or that Caesar were dead and we all lived as free men? I weep for
at it. As he was valiant, I honor him. But, as
Caesar in that he was good to me. I rejoice in his good fortune. I honor him for
he was ambitious, I slew him. There is
being brave. But his ambitionfor that, I killed him. There are tears for his love,
tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor
joy for his fortune, honor for his bravery, and death for his ambition. Who here
for his valor, and death for his ambition.
is so low that he wants to be a slave? If there are any, speak, for it is he whom
Who is here so base that would be a
Ive offended. Who here is so barbarous that he doesnt want to be a Roman? If
bondman? If any, speakfor him have I
there are any, speak, for it is he whom Ive offended. Who here is so vile that he
offended. Who is here so rude that would
doesnt love his country? If there are any, speak, for it is he whom I have
not be a Roman? If any, speakfor him
offended. I will pause for a reply.
have I offended. Who is here so vile that
will not love his country? If any, speakfor
him have I offended. I pause for a reply.
ALL ALL

None, Brutus, none. No one, Brutus, no one.

BRUTUS
Then none have I offended. I have done no BRUTUS
more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus.Then I have offended no one. Ive done no more to Caesar than you will do to
The question of his death is enrolled in the me. The reasons for his death are recorded in the Capitol. His glory has not
Capitol. His glory not extenuated wherein been diminished where he earned it, nor have those offenses for which he was
he was worthy, nor his offenses enforced killed been exaggerated.
for which he suffered death.
Enter MarkANTONYwithCAESARs body ANTONYenters withCAESARs body.
Here comes his body, mourned by Mark
Antony, who, though he had no hand in his
death, shall receive the benet of his dying Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who, though he had no part in
a place in the commonwealthas which the killing, will benet from his deathreceiving a share in the commonwealth,

of you shall not? With this I depart: that, as as you all will. With these words I leave. Just as I killed my best friend for the
I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, Igood of Rome, so will I kill myself when my country requires my death.
 have the same dagger for myself when it
shall please my country to need my death.
ALL ALL
45 Live, Brutus! Live, live! Live, Brutus! Live, live!
FIRST CITIZENS
FIRST CITIZENS
Bring him with triumph home unto his
Lets carry him in triumph to his house!
house!
SECOND CITIZENS SECOND CITIZENS

Give him a statue with his ancestors! Lets build a statue of him, near those of his ancestors!
THIRD CITIZENS THIRD CITIZENS

Let him be Caesar! Let him become Caesar!

FOURTH CITIZENS
FOURTH CITIZENS
Caesars better parts
Caesars better qualities exist in Brutus, and we will crown him.
Shall be crowned in Brutus!
FIRST CITIZENS
FIRST CITIZENS
Well bring him to his house with shouts
50 Well bring him to his house with shouts and celebration!
and clamors.

BRUTUS BRUTUS

My countrymen My countrymen
SECOND CITIZENS SECOND CITIZENS

Peace, silence! Brutus speaks. Silence! Brutus speaks.

FIRST CITIZENS FIRST CITIZENS

Peace, ho! Quiet there!

BRUTUS
Good countrymen, let me depart alone.
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony.
BRUTUS
Do grace to Caesars corpse, and grace his
55 Good countrymen, let me leave alone. I want you to stay here with Antony to
speech
pay respects to Caesars corpse and listen to Antonys speech about Caesars
Tending to Caesars glories, which Mark
glories, which he gives with our permission. I ask that none of you leave,
Antony
except myself, until Antony has nished.
By our permission is allowed to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
ExitBRUTUS BRUTUSexits.
FIRST CITIZENS FIRST CITIZENS
60 Stay, ho! And let us hear Mark Antony. Lets stay and hear Mark Antony.
THIRD CITIZENS
THIRD CITIZENS
Let him go up into the public chair.
Let him mount the pulpit. Well listen to him. Noble Antony, mount the podium.
Well hear him.Noble Antony, go up.
ANTONY ANTONY
For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you. For Brutuss sake, I am indebted to you.
(ascends the pulpit) (he steps up into the pulpit)
FOURTH CITIZENS FOURTH CITIZENS
65 What does he say of Brutus? What does he say about Brutus?
THIRD CITIZENS
THIRD CITIZENS
He says for Brutus' sake
He says that for Brutuss sake he nds himself indebted to us all.
He nds himself beholding to us all.
FOURTH CITIZENS
FOURTH CITIZENS
'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus
Hed better not speak badly of Brutus here.
here.
FIRST CITIZENS FIRST CITIZENS

This Caesar was a tyrant. Caesar was a tyrant.

THIRD CITIZENS
THIRD CITIZENS
Nay, thats certain.
Thats for sure. Were lucky that Rome is rid of him.
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
FOURTH CITIZENS SECOND CITIZENS
70 Peace! Let us hear what Antony can say. Quiet! Lets hear what Antony has to say.
ANTONY ANTONY

You gentle Romans You gentle Romans

ALL ALL

Peace, ho! Let us hear him. Quiet there! Let us hear him.
 ANTONY
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me
your ears.
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them; ANTONY
The good is oft interrd with their bones. Friends, Romans, countrymen, give me your attention. I have come here to bury
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do is remembered after their
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious. deaths, but the good is often buried with them. It might as well be the same
75
If it were so, it was a grievous fault, with Caesar. The noble Brutus told you that Caesar was ambitious. If thats
80 And grievously hath Caesar answered it. true, its a serious fault, and Caesar has paid seriously for it. With the
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest permission of Brutus and the othersfor Brutus is an honorable man; they are
85 all honorable menI have come here to speak at Caesars funeral. He was my
For Brutus is an honorable man;
So are they all, all honorable men friend, he was faithful and just to me. But Brutus says he was ambitious, and
Come I to speak in Caesars funeral. Brutus is an honorable man. He brought many captives home to Rome whose
He was my friend, faithful and just to me. ransoms brought wealth to the city.
But Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
He hath brought many captives home to
Rome
Whose ransoms did the general coffers ll.

Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?

When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept.
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
90 I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
95 Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
100 And, sure, he is an honorable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
105 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 ed to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me.
My heart is in the cofn there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.(weeps)
FIRST CITIZENS
Is this the work of an ambitious man? When the poor
cried, Caesar cried too. Ambition shouldnt be so soft. Yet
Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an
honorable man. You all saw that on the Lupercal feast
day I offered him a kings crown three times, and he
refused it three times. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus
says he was ambitious. And, no question, Brutus is an
honorable man. I am not here to disprove what Brutus
has said, but to say whatIknow. You all loved him once,
and not without reason. Then what reason holds you
back from mourning him now? Men have become brutish
beasts and lost their reason! Bear with me. My heart is in
the cofn there with Caesar, and I must pause until it
returns to me.(he weeps)
FIRST CITIZENS

Methinks there is much reason in his sayings. I think theres a lot of sense in what he says.
SECOND CITIZENS SECOND CITIZENS
If thou consider rightly of the matter, If you think about it correctly, Caesar has suffered a great
Caesar has had great wrong. wrong.
THIRD CITIZENS THIRD CITIZENS
110 Has he, masters? Has he, sirs? Im worried there will be someone worse to
I fear there will a worse come in his place. replace him.
FOURTH CITIZENS FOURTH CITIZENS
Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown. Did you hear Antony? Caesar wouldnt take the crown.
Therefore tis certain he was not ambitious. Therefore its certain that he wasnt ambitious.
FIRST CITIZENS FIRST CITIZENS

If it be found so, some will dear abide it. If it turns out he wasnt, certain people are going to get it.
SECOND CITIZENS SECOND CITIZENS

Poor soul! His eyes are red as re with weeping. Poor man! Antonys eyes are ery red from crying.
THIRD CITIZENS THIRD CITIZENS
115 Theres not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. There isnt a nobler man than Antony in all of Rome.
FOURTH CITIZENS FOURTH CITIZENS

Now mark him. He begins again to speak. Now listen, hes going to speak again.
ANTONY
But yesterday the word of Caesar might
Have stood against the world. Now lies he there,
ANTONY
 And none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters, if I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong
120 Who, you all know, are honorable men.
I will not do them wrong. I rather choose
125
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
130 Than I will wrong such honorable men.
But heres a parchment with the seal of Caesar.
135 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 Caesars wounds
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.
FOURTH CITIZENS
Well hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony!
ALL
The will, the will! We will hear Caesars will.
ANTONY
Have patience, gentle friends. I must not read it.
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
140
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men.
145 And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar,
It will iname you, it will make you mad.
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs.
For, if you shouldOh, what would come of it!
FOURTH CITIZENS
Read the will. Well hear it, Antony.
You shall read us the will, Caesars will.
ANTONY
Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile?
150 I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it.
I fear I wrong the honorable men
Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar. I do fear it.
FOURTH CITIZENS
They were traitors! Honorable men!
ALL
The will! The testament!
SECOND CITIZENS
They were villains, murderers. The will! Read the will!
ANTONY
You will compel me, then, to read the will?
155
Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?
ALL
Come down.
SECOND CITIZENS
Descend.
THIRD CITIZENS
You shall have leave.
ANTONYdescends from the pulpit
FOURTH CITIZENS
160 A ring!
Stand round.
FIRST CITIZENS
Stand from the hearse. Stand from the body.
Only yesterday the word of Caesar might have stood
against the world. Now he lies there worth nothing, and
no one is so humble as to show him respect. Oh, sirs, if I
stirred your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I would
offend Brutus and Cassius, who, you all know, are
honorable men. I will not do them wrong. I would rather
wrong the dead, and wrong myself and you, than wrong
such honorable men. But heres a paper with Caesars
seal on it. I found it in his roomits his will. If you could
only hear this testamentwhich, excuse me, I dont
intend to read aloudyou would kiss dead Caesars
wounds and dip your handkerchiefs in his sacred blood,
and beg for a lock of hair to remember him by. And when
you died, you would mention the handkerchief or the hair
in your will, bequeathing it to your heirs like a rich legacy.
FOURTH CITIZENS
We want to hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony.
ALL
The will, the will! We want to hear Caesars will.
ANTONY
Be patient, gentle friends, I must not read it. It isnt proper
for you to know how much Caesar loved you. You arent
wood, you arent stonesyoure men. And, being men, the
contents of Caesars will would enrage you. Its better
that you dont know youre his heirs, for if you knew, just
imagine what would come of it!
FOURTH CITIZENS
Read the will. We want to hear it, Antony. You have to
read us the will, Caesars will.
ANTONY
Will you be patient? Will you wait awhile? Ive said too
much in telling you of it. Im afraid that I wrong the
honorable men whose daggers have stabbed Caesar.
FOURTH CITIZENS
They were traitors. Honorable men!
ALL
The will! The testament!
SECOND CITIZENS
They were villains, murderers. The will! Read the will!
ANTONY
You force me to read the will, then? Then make a circle
around Caesars corpse, and let me show you the man
who made this will. Shall I come down? Will you let me?
ALL
Come down.
SECOND CITIZENS
Descend.
THIRD CITIZENS
Well let you.
ANTONYdescends from the pulpit.
FOURTH CITIZENS
Make a circle; stand around him.
FIRST CITIZENS
Stand away from the hearse. Stand away from the body.