Scene I

[Rome. The Capitol]

[Flourish. Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus [Cimber], Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Artimedorus, Publius, [Popilius]; and the Soothsayer.]

CAESAR:

The ides of March are come.

CAESAR:

The Ides of March are here.

SOOTHSAYER:

Ay, Caesar, but not gone.

SOOTHSAYER:

Yes, Caesar, but not gone.

ARTEMIDORUS:

Hail, Caesar! Read this schedule.

ARTEMIDORUS:

Hail, Caesar! Read this petition.

DECIUS:

Trebonius doth desire you to o'er read,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.(5)

DECIUS:

Trebonius wants you to read this
Humble suit at your leisure.

ARTEMIDORUS:

O Caesar, read mine first, for mine's a suit
That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.

ARTEMIDORUS:

O Caesar, read mine first, because mine's a suit
That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.

CAESAR:

What touches us ourself shall be last served.

CAESAR:

What concerns ourselves shall be the last thing considered.

ARTEMIDORUS:

Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly.

ARTEMIDORUS:

Don’t delay, Caesar; read it instantly.

CAESAR:

What, is the fellow mad?(10)

CAESAR:

What, is the fellow mad?

PUBLIUS:

Sirrah, give place.

PUBLIUS:

Servant, get away.

CASSIUS:

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

CASSIUS:

What, do you present your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.

POPILIUS:

I wish your enterprise today may thrive.

POPILIUS:

I wish your undertaking today may thrive.

CASSIUS:

What enterprise, Popilius?(15)

CASSIUS:

What undertaking, Popilius?

POPILIUS:

Fare you well.

POPILIUS:

Goodbye.
Greetings to Caesar.

BRUTUS:

What said Popilius Lena?

BRUTUS:

What did Popilius Lena say?

CASSIUS:

He wish'd today our enterprise might thrive.
I fear our purpose is discovered.

CASSIUS:

He wished that our undertaking today might thrive.
I’m afraid our plan has been discovered.

BRUTUS:

Look, how he makes to Caesar. Mark him.(20)

BRUTUS:

Look, how he gets Caesar’s attention. Watch him.

CASSIUS:

Casca,
Be sudden, for we fear prevention.
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.(25)

CASSIUS:

Casca, do it quickly, because we’re afraid we’ll be stopped.—
Brutus, what’s going to be done? If this is known,
Cassius or Caesar shall never turn back,
Because I’ll kill myself.

BRUTUS:

Cassius, be constant.
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.

BRUTUS:

Cassius, stop worrying.
Popilius Lena doesn’t speak about our plan,
Because, look, he smiles, and Caesar doesn’t notice anything.

CASSIUS:

Trebonius knows his time, for, look you, Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.(30)

CASSIUS:

Trebonius when to act, because, look, Brutus,
He’s taking Mark Antony out of the way.

[Exeunt Antony and Trebonius.]

DECIUS:

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

DECIUS:

Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him come,
And now tell Caesar what it is that he wants.

BRUTUS:

He is address'd; press near and second him.

BRUTUS:

He’s ready; get closer and back him up.

CINNA:

Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.

CINNA:

Casca, you’re the first one to strike.

CAESAR:

Are we all ready? What is now amiss(35)
That Caesar and his Senate must redress?

CAESAR:

Are we All ready? What’s the problem
That Caesar and his Senate must fix?

METELLUS:

Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart.

METELLUS:

Most high, most mighty, and most powerful Caesar,
Metellus Cimber falls before you
Most humbly.

CAESAR:

I must prevent thee, Cimber.(40)
These couchings and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men
And turn preordinance and first decree
Into the law of children. Be not fond
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood(45)
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools, I mean sweet words,
Low-crooked court'sies, and base spaniel-fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished.
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,(50)
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.

CAESAR:

I must stop you, Cimber.
These lying down and these lowly courtesies
Might move ordinary men,
And turn previous laws and the first decree
Into the laws of children. Don’t be so silly as
To think that Caesar has such rebel blood
That will be changed by
The same things that change fools; I mean, sweet words,
Low, crooked curtsies, and playing up to me like a puppy.
Your brother is banished by decree.
If you do bend, and pray, and play up to me for him,
I reject you out of my way like a stray dog.
Caesar has never been wrong, only with good reason,
And he will not be satisfied without good reason.

METELLUS:

Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear(55)
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

METELLUS:

Is there any voice more worthy than mine
To speak more sweetly into great Caesar's ear
To ask for a repeal of my banished brother’s sentence?

BRUTUS:

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

BRUTUS:

I kiss your hand but not in flattery, Caesar.
I ask you for an immediate repeal for
Publius Cimber.

CAESAR:

What, Brutus?(60)

CAESAR:

What, Brutus?

CASSIUS:

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

CASSIUS:

Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon.
Cassius falls as low as your foot,
To beg freedom for Publius Cimber.

CAESAR:

I could be well moved, if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me;(65)
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks;
They are all fire and every one doth shine;(70)
But there's but one in all doth hold his place.
So in the world, 'tis furnish'd well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,(75)
Unshaked of motion; and that I am he,
Let me a little show it, even in this;
That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
And constant do remain to keep him so.

CAESAR:

I could be persuaded, if I were like you;
If I could pray to be persuaded, prayers would persuade me.
But I’m constant as the north star,
Whose true-fixed and resting quality
Is unequalled in the sky.
The skies are painted with an infinite number of stars,
They’re all fire, and every one shines;
But there's only one north star.
It’s the same in the world; it has many men,
And men are flesh and blood, and fearful;
Yet in that number, I only know one
That holds on his rank not open to attack,
Unshaken by persuasion. And I’m that man.
Let me show it a little, even in this,—
That I was resolved that Cimber should be banished,
And remain resolved to keep him so.

CINNA:

O Caesar,—(80)

CINNA:

O Caesar,—

CAESAR:

Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?

CAESAR:

Go away! Will you move the mountain of the gods?

DECIUS:

Great Caesar—

DECIUS:

Great Caesar,—

CAESAR:

Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?

CAESAR:

Doesn’t Brutus kneel without success?

CASCA:

Speak, hands, for me!

CASCA:

Speak, hands, for me!

They stab Caesar.

CAESAR:

Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!(85)

CAESAR:

You too, Brutus?— Then fall, Caesar!

Dies.

CINNA:

Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.

CINNA:

Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!—
Run away, proclaim, cry it about the streets.

CASSIUS:

Some to the common pulpits and cry out
“Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!”

CASSIUS:

Some of you go to the common people in the squares
And cry out, "Liberty, freedom, and liberation!"

BRUTUS:

People, and senators, be not affrighted,(90)
Fly not, stand still; ambition's debt is paid.

BRUTUS:

People and Senators, don’t be afraid;
Don’t flee; stand still; ambition has paid its debt.

CASCA:

Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

CASCA:

Go ahead to the square, Brutus.

DECIUS:

And Cassius too.

DECIUS:

And Cassius too.

BRUTUS:

Where's Publius?

BRUTUS:

Where's Publius?

CINNA:

Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.(95)

CINNA:

Here, quite confused by this mutiny.

METELLUS:

Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's
Should chance—

METELLUS:

Stand together solidly, for fear that some friend of Caesar's
Should happen —

BRUTUS:

Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer,
There is no harm intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else. So tell them, Publius.(100)

BRUTUS:

Don’t talk about standing.—Publius, good cheer!
We don’t intend to harm you,
Or any other Roman. Tell them so, Publius.

CASSIUS:

And leave us, Publius, lest that the people
Rushing on us should do your age some mischief.

CASSIUS:

And leave us, Publius for fear that the people
Will attack us, doing some mischief to your old body.

BRUTUS:

Do so, and let no man abide this deed
But we the doers.

BRUTUS:

Do so;— and let no man pay for this deed
But we who did it.

[Re-]enter Trebonius.]

CASSIUS:

Where is Antony?(105)

CASSIUS:

Where's Antony?

TREBONIUS:

Fled to his house amazed.
Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run
As it were doomsday.

TREBONIUS:

Fled to his house amazed.
Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run,
As it were doomsday.

BRUTUS:

Fates, we will know your pleasures.
That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time(110)
And drawing days out that men stand upon.

BRUTUS:

Destiny, tell us what comes next.
We know we shall die, we know; it’s only time
And drawing days out that men live on.

CASSIUS:

Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.

CASSIUS:

Why, he that spends twenty years fearing death
Cuts twenty years off his life.

BRUTUS:

Grant that, and then is death a benefit;
So are we Caesar's friends that have abridged(115)
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords;
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,
And waving our red weapons o'er our heads,(120)
Let's all cry, “Peace, freedom, and liberty!”

BRUTUS:

I agree, and then is death a benefit.
So do we, Caesar's friends, that have cut
His time of fearing death.— Bend, Romans, bend,
And let’s wash our hands in Caesar's blood
Up to the elbows, and smear our swords with it.
Then we will walk out, even to the market-place,
And waving our red weapons over our heads,
Let's all cry, "Peace, freedom, and liberty!"

CASSIUS:

Stoop then, and wash. How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!

CASSIUS:

Bend then, and wash. How often will our deed
Be acted over and over for future generations
In States and languages yet unknown!

BRUTUS:

How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,(125)
That now on Pompey's basis lies along
No worthier than the dust!

BRUTUS:

How many times will Caesar bleed in amusement,
That lies now next to Pompey's statue,
No worthier than the dust!

CASSIUS:

So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave their country liberty.(130)

CASSIUS:

So often as that shall be,
So often shall the group of us be called
The men that gave their country liberty.

DECIUS:

What, shall we forth?

DECIUS:

What, shall we go?

CASSIUS:

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

CASSIUS:

Yes, every man away.
Brutus shall lead, and we will follow him
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.

Enter a Servant.

BRUTUS:

Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's.(135)

BRUTUS:

Wait, who’s coming here?
A friend of Antony's.

SERVANT:

Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel,
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down,
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving.(140)
Say I love Brutus and I honor him;
Say I fear'd Caesar, honor'd him, and loved him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him and be resolved
How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,(145)
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead
So well as Brutus living, but will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.(150)

SERVANT:

Like this, Brutus, my master told me to kneel;
Like this, Antony told me to fall down;
And, being stretched out, on my face, he asked me say,
like this: Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving;
Say I love Brutus and I honor him;
Say I’m afraid of Caesar, honored him, and loved him.
If Brutus will guarantee that Antony
May safely come to him and is ready to tell
How Caesar deserved to die,
Mark Antony shall love Brutus living
Better than Caesar dead, and will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus with all true faith
Thorough the hazards of this unconquered state.
That is what my master Antony says.

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 honor,
Depart untouch'd.(155)

BRUTUS:

Your master is a wise and valiant Roman;
I always thought so.
Tell him, if it pleases him come to this place,
He shall get an explanation and, by my honor,
Leave here safely.

SERVANT:

I'll fetch him presently.

SERVANT:

I'll go get him now.

Exit servant.

BRUTUS:

I know that we shall have him well to friend.

BRUTUS:

I know that we shall have him as a friend.

CASSIUS:

I wish we may, but yet have I a mind
That fears him much, and my misgiving still
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.(160)

CASSIUS:

I hope that we may, but my heart is still
Very much afraid of him, and my gut feeling is that
He cannot be trusted.

[Re-]enter Antony.]

BRUTUS:

But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.

BRUTUS:

But here comes 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? Fare thee well.
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,(165)
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank.
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar's death's hour, nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.(170)
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfill your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die;
No place will please me so, no mean of death,(175)
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.

ANTONY:

O mighty Caesar! Do you lie so low?
Do all your conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
Boil down to this? Goodbye.—
I don’t know, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be killed, who else is corrupt.
If I’m going be killed, there is no time like
Caesar's death-hour, or any instrument
Half as worthy as your swords, decorated richly
With the most noble blood in this whole world.
Please, if you hate me, kill me now
While your purpled hands smeared with fresh blood.
Live a thousand years, and
I won’t find myself so eager to die.
No place will please me so much, no means of death,
As to be killed here by Caesar, and killed by you,
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,(180)
You see we do, yet see you but our hands
And this the bleeding business they have done.
Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome—
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—(185)
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.(190)

BRUTUS:

O Antony, don’t beg your death from us!
Although we must appear bloody and cruel now,
As you can see by our hands and this recent deed;
Still you can only see our hands
And this bleeding business they have done.
You don’t see our hearts; they’re full of pity;
Pity the general injury of Rome —
As fire drives out fire, so pity drives out pity —
Has done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
Our swords have leaden points to you, Mark Antony;
Our arms in strength of friendship, and our hearts
Of brotherly disposition, receive you
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.

CASSIUS:

Your voice shall be as strong as any man's
In the disposing of new dignities.

CASSIUS:

Your voice shall be as strong as any man's
In giving out the new honorable offices.

BRUTUS:

Only be patient till we have appeased
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause(195)
Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.

BRUTUS:

Only be patient until we have pacified
The multitude, who are beside themselves with fear,
And then we will tell you the reason
Why I, that loved Caesar when I struck him,
Have acted this way.

ANTONY:

I doubt not of your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody hand.
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;(200)
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus;
Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;
Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.
Gentlemen all,—alas, what shall I say?(205)
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.
That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true!
If then thy spirit look upon us now,(210)
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! In the presence of thy corse?
Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,(215)
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
It would become me better than to close
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart,
Here didst thou fall, and here thy hunters stand,(220)
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe.
O world, thou wast the forest to this hart,
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
How like a deer strucken by many princes
Dost thou here lie!(225)

ANTONY:

I don’t doubt your wisdom.
Let each man give me his bloody hand.
First, Marcus Brutus, I will shake with you;—
Next, Caius Cassius, I take your hand;—
Now, Decius Brutus, yours;—now yours, Metellus;—
Yours, Cinna;—and, my valiant Casca, yours;—
Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.
Gentlemen all—alas, what shall I say?
My reputation now stands on such slippery ground,
That you must think of me one of two bad ways,
Either a coward or a flatterer.—
That I loved you, Caesar, O, it’s true.
If then your spirit looks on us now,
Won’t it hurt you more than your death
To see your Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of your foes,—
Most noble!—in the presence of your corpse?
If I had as many eyes as you’ve got wounds,
Weeping as fast as they let your blood out,
It would suit me better than to close
In terms of friendship with your enemies.
Pardon me, Julius! Here you were surrounded, brave deer;
Here you fell, and here your hunters stand,
Marked by your destruction, and turned red by your death.—
O world, you were the forest to this deer;
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of you.—
How much you look like a deer stricken by many princes,
Lying here!

CASSIUS:

Mark Antony,—

CASSIUS:

Mark Antony,—

ANTONY:

Pardon me, Caius Cassius.
The enemies of Caesar shall say this:
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

ANTONY:

Pardon me, Caius Cassius.
The enemies of Caesar shall say all this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold shame.

CASSIUS:

I blame you not for praising Caesar so;(230)
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends,
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

CASSIUS:

I don’t blame you for praising Caesar so;
But what agreement do mean you to have with us?
Will you be counted in the number of our friends,
Or shall we go on and not depend on you?

ANTONY:

Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed
Sway'd from the point by looking down on Caesar.(235)
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.

ANTONY:

I shook your hands for that reason; but I was really
Distracted from the point by looking down on Caesar.
I am friends with you all, and love you all,
On this hope, that you shall give me reasons
Why and how Caesar was dangerous.

BRUTUS:

Or else were this a savage spectacle.
Our reasons are so full of good regard(240)
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.

BRUTUS:

Or else this was a savage spectacle.
Our reasons are so full of good regard
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.

ANTONY:

That's all I seek;
And am moreover suitor that I may
Produce his body to the marketplace,(245)
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.

ANTONY:

That's all I find.
And I am, moreover, asking that I may
Take his body to the market place;
And on the platform, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.

BRUTUS:

You shall, Mark Antony.

BRUTUS:

You shall do it, Mark Antony.

CASSIUS:

Brutus, a word with you.

[Aside to Brutus.]

You know not what you do. Do not consent(250)
That Antony speak in his funeral.
Know you how much the people may be moved
By that which he will utter?

CASSIUS:

Brutus, a word with you.

You don’t know what you’re doing; don’t consent
That Antony speak at his funeral.
Do you know how much the people may be affected
By what he’ll say?

BRUTUS:

By your pardon,
I will myself into the pulpit first,(255)
And show the reason of our Caesar's death.
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission,
And that we are contented Caesar shall
Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.(260)
It shall advantage more than do us wrong.

BRUTUS:

Please.
I’ll go onto the platform first,
And explain our Caesar's death.
Whatever Antony shall speak, I’ll formerly declare
That he speaks with our permission
And that we are happy that Caesar shall
Have all true rights and lawful ceremonies.
It’ll be to our advantage more than doing us harm.

CASSIUS:

I know not what may fall; I like it not.

CASSIUS:

I don’t know what may happen; I don’t like it.

BRUTUS:

Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body.
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,(265)
And say you do't by our permission,
Else shall you not have any hand at all
About his funeral. And you shall speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.(270)

BRUTUS:

Mark Antony, here, take Caesar's body.
You shall not blame us in your funeral speech,
But speak all the good that you can imagine about Caesar;
And say you do it by our permission;
Or else you won’t have any part at all
In his funeral. And you shall speak
After my speech is ended
On the same platform where I’m going to be.

ANTONY:

Be it so,
I do desire no more.

ANTONY:

I don’t desire any more.

BRUTUS:

Prepare the body then, and follow us.

BRUTUS:

Prepare the body, then, and follow us.

Exeunt [all but] Antony.

ANTONY:

O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!(275)
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy
Which like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips(280)
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue,
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,(285)
And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds,
And Caesar's spirit ranging for revenge,(290)
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war,
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.(295)

Enter Octavius' Servant.

You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?

ANTONY:

O, forgive me, you bleeding piece of earth,
That I’m meek and gentle with these butchers!
You’re the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
I now predict over your wounds now,—
Which, like dumb mouths, open their ruby lips
To ask the voice and action of my tongue,—
A curse shall fall on the limbs of men;Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall break out in all the parts of Italy;
Blood and destruction shall be so widespread,
And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall only smile when they see
Their infants cut into pieces by the hands of war;
All pity choked with usual practice of savage deeds.
And Caesar's spirit, raging for revenge,
Coming hot from Hell with chief witch by his side,
Shall cry "Havoc!" in these regions, with a monarch's voice
And let the dogs of war loose,
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With decaying men, groaning for burial.—

You serve Octavius Caesar, don’t you?

SERVANT:

I do, Mark Antony.

SERVANT:

I do, Mark Antony.

ANTONY:

Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.

ANTONY:

Caesar wrote for him to come to Rome.

SERVANT:

He did receive his letters, and is coming,
And bid me say to you by word of mouth—(300)
O Caesar!

SERVANT:

He received his letters, and is coming;
And told me to say to you by word of mouth,—
O Caesar!—

ANTONY:

Thy heart is big; get thee apart and weep.
Passion, I see, is catching, for mine eyes,
Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,
Began to water. Is thy master coming?(305)

ANTONY:

Your heart is big, go some place private and weep.
Passion, I see, is catching; for my eyes,
Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in yours,
Began to tear. Is your master coming?

SERVANT:

He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.

SERVANT:

He lies tonight within twenty-one miles of Rome.

ANTONY:

Post back with speed and tell him what hath chanced.
Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;
Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay awhile,(310)
Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse
Into the market-place. There shall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men,
According to the which thou shalt discourse(315)
To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.

ANTONY:

Get back to him quickly speed, and tell him what has happened.
Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
A Rome not safe for Octavius yet;
Get going, and tell him so. Stay here for a bit;
You shall not go back until I have carried this corpse
Into the market place. There I shall test,
In my speech, how the people takeThe cruel actions of these bloody men;
Once I know that, you shall tell
Young Octavius the state of things.
Lend me your hand.

Exeunt.