[Enter Brutus and Cassius, and a throng of Citizens]
Plebeians
We will be satisfied! Let us be satisfied!
Brutus
Then follow me and give me the audience, friends.
Cassius, go you into the other street
And listen to me my plebians
Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here;
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
And reasons shall be given of Caesar's death.
First Plebeian
I will hear Brutus speak.
Second Plebeian
I will hear Cassius, and maybe compare their reasons,
[Exit Cassius, with some of the Citizens. Brutus goes into the pulpit.]
Third Plebeian
The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence!
Brutus
Be patient till the last, my fellow Romans. Hear me out and consider my words. I loved
Caesar, not less, but I loved Rome more. If Caesar lived, we'd all be slaves; his ambition
compelled me to act. I mourn his love, celebrate his fortune, respect his valor, but condemn
his ambition. Who here would be a slave? Speak up if I've wronged you. Who wouldn't be a
proud Roman? Who wouldn't love their country? If I offended any of you, please speak. I
pause for a reply.
All
None, Brutus, none.
Brutus
Then I've offended none. I acted towards Caesar as you would to me. His fate is decided in
the Capitol.
[Enter Antony and others, with Caesar's body.]
Here comes his body, mourned by Antony, who has no part in Caesar's death, , just like any
of you. As I leave, I acknowledge you that, as I sacrificed my dearest for Rome's good, I hold
the same dagger for myself, ready to serve my country when needed.
All
Live, Brutus! live, live!
[Brutus descends from pulpit.]
First Plebeian
Bring him with triumph into his house.
Second Plebeian
Give him a statue with his ancestors.
Third Plebeian
Let him be Caesar.
Fourth Plebeian
Caesar's better parts
Shall be crowned in Brutus.
First Plebeian
We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamors.
Brutus
My countrymen —
Second Plebeian
Peace, silence! Brutus speaks!
First Plebeian
Peace, ho!
Brutus
Good countrymen, let me go alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony.
Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech
as Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allowed to make.
till then Antony will be speaking.
[Exit Brutus.]
First Plebeian
Stay, quiet, and let us hear Mark Antony.
Third Plebeian
Let him go up into the public chair.
Antony
For Brutus' sake I am beholden to you.
[Goes into the pulpit.]
Fourth Plebeian
What does he say of Brutus?
Third Plebeian
He says, for Brutus' sake,
He finds himself beholden to us all.
Fourth Plebeian
'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.
First Plebeian
This Caesar was a tyrant.
Third Plebeian
Nay, that's certain.
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
Second Plebeian
Peace! Let us hear what Antony can say.
Antony
You gentle Romans —
Plebeians
Peace, ho! Let us hear him.
Antony
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I'm here to bury Caesar, not praise him.
Evil lives on; good is often forgotten— So it is with Caesar.
Noble Brutus Says he was ambitious. With leave from Brutus and all honorable men, I speak
at Caesar's funeral.
He was my loyal friend.
Brutus claims he was ambitious, And Brutus is honorable.
He brought captives to Rome. Did this seem ambitious?
Yet Brutus says he was, And Brutus is honorable. On the Lupercal, I offered him a crown
thrice, Which he thrice refused. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was, And surely he is
honorable.
I don't aim to disprove Brutus, But to speak what I know. You once loved him; why don’t you
mourn?
Men have lost their reason! My heart lies in the coffin with Caesar, And I must pause till it
returns.
First Plebeian
I think there is much reason in his sayings.
Second Plebeian
If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Caesar has had great wrong.
Second Plebeian
Poor soul, his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
Third Plebeian
There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
Fourth Plebeian
Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
Antony
Yesterday, Caesar's word could sway the world.
Now, he lies forgotten, with none to pay respects.
Mutiny and rage, I'd wrong Brutus and Cassius,
You all know honorable men.
I won't do them wrong; I choose
To wrong the dead, myself, and you,
Over wronging such honorable men.
Here's Caesar's will, with his seal;
Found in his closet, 'tis his testament.
Let the commons hear this —
Though I won't read it —
And they'd honor Caesar's wounds,
Mention it in their wills,
A rich legacy for their heirs.
Fourth Plebeian
We'll hear the will! Read it, Mark Antony.
All
The will! The will! We will hear Caesar's will!
Antony
Have patience, gentle friends; I won't read it. It's not right you know how Caesar loved you.
You're not wood or stones, but men; And, being men, hearing Caesar's will, It will inflame
you, make you mad. It's good you don't know you're his heirs; For, if you did, O, what would
come of it?
Fourth Plebeian
Read the will! We'll hear it, Antony!
You shall read us the will, Caesar's will!
Antony
Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile? I've gone too far in telling you about it. I fear I
wrong the honorable men Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar; I do fear it.
Fourth Plebeian
They were traitors. 'Honorable men'!
All
The will! The testament!
Second Plebeian
They were villains, murderers! The will! Read the will!
Antony
You will compel me, then, to read the will?
Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,
And let me show you him that made the will
