Home > Julius Caesar Text > Act III, Scene II - Page 2

FIRST CITIZEN:

If it be found so, some will dear abide it.

FIRST CITIZEN:

If it’s found to be so, someone will dearly pay for it.

SECOND CITIZEN:

Poor soul, his eyes are red as fire with weeping.(125)

SECOND CITIZEN:

Poor soul! His eyes are red as fire with weeping.

THIRD CITIZEN:

There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.

THIRD CITIZEN:

here's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.

FOURTH CITIZEN:

Now mark him, he begins again to speak.

FOURTH CITIZEN:

Now watch him; he begins 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.(130)
O masters! If I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honorable men.
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose(135)
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honorable men.
But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar;
I found it in his closet, 'tis his will.
Let but the commons hear this testament—(140)
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read—
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,(145)
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.

ANTONY:

Only yesterday, the word of Caesar might
Have stood against the world. Now lies he there,
And there is no one too poor to pay him respect.
O gentlemen, if I wanted to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I would do Brutus and Cassius wrong,
Who, as you all know, are honorable men.
I won’t do them wrong; I would rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself, and you,
Before I’ll wrong such honorable men.
But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar,—
I found it in his bedroom,—it’s his will.
Let only the common people hear this testament,—
Which, pardon me, I don’t mean to read,—
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds,
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood;
Yes, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention that hair in their wills, Leaving it as a rich legacy
To their children.

FOURTH CITIZEN:

We'll hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony.

FOURTH CITIZEN:

We'll hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony.

ALL:

The will, the will! We will hear Caesar's will.

ALL:

The will, the will! We will hear Caesar's will.

ANTONY:

Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;(150)
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
And, being men, hearing the will of Caesar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad.
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs,(155)
For if you should, O, what would come of it!

ANTONY:

Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;
It isn’t proper that you know how Caesar loved you.
You aren’t wood, you aren’t stones, you are men;
And, being men, hearing the will of Caesar,
It will inflame you; it will make you crazy.
It’s good that you don’t know that you’re his heirs;
Because if you did, O, what would happen!

FOURTH CITIZEN:

Read the will; we'll hear it, Antony.
You shall read us the will, Caesar's will.

FOURTH CITIZEN:

Read the will! We'll hear it, Antony;
You shall read us the will,—Caesar's will!

ANTONY:

Will you be patient? Will you stay a while?
I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it.(160)
I fear I wrong the honorable men
Whose daggers have stabb'd Caesar; I do fear it.

ANTONY:

Won’t you be patient? Won’t you wait a minute?
I went beyond what I was going to say to tell you about it.
I’m afraid I wrong the honorable men
Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar; I really do fear it.

FOURTH CITIZEN:

They were traitors. “Honorable men!”

FOURTH CITIZEN:

They were traitors. Honorable men!

ALL:

The will! The testament!

ALL:

The will! The testament!

SECOND CITIZEN:

They were villains, murderers. The will!(165)
Read the will!

SECOND CITIZEN:

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 corse of Caesar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?(170)

ANTONY:

You’ll force me, then, to read the will?
Then make a circle around the corpse of Caesar,
And let me show you the man who made the will.
Shall I come down? And will you give me permission?

ALL:

Come down.

ALL:

Come down.

SECOND CITIZEN:

Descend.

SECOND CITIZEN:

Come down.

THIRD CITIZEN:

You shall have leave.

THIRD CITIZEN:

You shall have permission.

FOURTH CITIZEN:

A ring, stand round.

FOURTH CITIZEN:

A circle! Stand round.

FIRST CITIZEN:

Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.(175)

FIRST CITIZEN:

Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.

SECOND CITIZEN:

Room for Antony, most noble Antony.

SECOND CITIZEN:

Room for Antony!—most noble Antony!

ANTONY:

Nay, press not so upon me, stand far off.

ANTONY:

No, don’t press so close to me; stand a bit away.

ALL:

Stand back; room, bear back!

ALL:

Stand back; Make room! Move back.

ANTONY:

If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle. I remember(180)
The first time ever Caesar put it on;
'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii.
Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through;
See what a rent the envious Casca made;(185)
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;
And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Caesar follow'd it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;(190)
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel.
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all;
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,(195)
Quite vanquish'd him. Then burst his mighty heart,
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!(200)
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
O, now you weep, and I perceive you feel
The dint of pity. These are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what weep you when you but behold(205)
Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.

ANTONY:

If you’ve got tears, get ready to shed them now.
You all know this cloak. I remember
The first time Caesar ever put it on;
It was on a summer's evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame Belgium.
Look, Cassius ran his dagger through in this place.
See what a tear the envious Casca made.
Through this one, the well-beloved Brutus stabbed;
And as he withdrew his cursed knife away,
Pay attention to how the blood of Caesar followed it,—
As rushing out of doors, to be opened
If Brutus so unkindly knocked or not;
Because Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel.
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all,
Because, when the noble Caesar saw Brutus stab him,
Ingratitude, stronger than traitors' arms,
Quite defeated him. Then his mighty heart burst,
And, in his cloak covering up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
Which was covered in blood, great Caesar fell.
O, what a fall there was, my countrymen!Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
While bloody treason bloomed over us.
O, now you weep and I can see that you feel
The blow of pity. These tears are full of grace.
Kind souls, what, do you weep when you only see
Our Caesar's clothes wounded? Look here,
Here he is, disfigured, as you can see, by traitors.

FIRST CITIZEN:

O piteous spectacle!

FIRST CITIZEN:

O piteous spectacle!

SECOND CITIZEN:

O noble Caesar!

SECOND CITIZEN:

O noble Caesar!

THIRD CITIZEN:

O woeful day!(210)

THIRD CITIZEN:

O sad day!

FOURTH CITIZEN:

O traitors, villains!

FOURTH CITIZEN:

O traitors, villains!

FIRST CITIZEN:

O most bloody sight!

FIRST CITIZEN:

O most bloody sight!

SECOND CITIZEN:

We will be revenged.

SECOND CITIZEN:

We will have revenge.

ALL:

Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill!
Slay! Let not a traitor live!(215)

ALL:

Revenge,—go,—find,—burn,—fire,—kill,—slay,— don’t let a
traitor live!

ANTONY:

Stay, countrymen.

ANTONY:

Wait, countrymen.

FIRST CITIZEN:

Peace there! Hear the noble Antony.

FIRST CITIZEN:

Peace there! Hear the noble Antony.

SECOND CITIZEN:

We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him.

SECOND CITIZEN:

We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him.

ANTONY:

Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up(220)
To such a sudden flood 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.(225)
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts.
I am no orator, as Brutus is;
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend, and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him.(230)
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood. I only speak right on;
I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,(235)
And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.(240)

ANTONY:

Good friends, sweet friends, don’t let me stir you up
To such a sudden flood of rebellion.
They who have done this deed are honorable.
What private sorrows they have that made them do it,
Alas, I don’t know,
They're wise and honorable,And will, no doubt, answer you with reasons.
I didn’t come, friends, to steal away your hearts.
I’m no orator, as Brutus is;
I am only, as you all know, a plain blunt man,
That loved my friend, and that is known full well
By they who gave me public permission to speak about him,
Because I don’t have wit, or words, or worth,
Action, or utterance, or the power of speech,
To stir men's blood. I only speak directly;
I tell you what you yourselves already know.
I show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor dumb mouths,
And ask them to speak for me. But if I were Brutus,
And if Brutus were Antony, there would be an Antony to
Ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar, that would move
The stones of Rome to rise and rebel.

ALL:

We'll mutiny.

ALL:

We'll rebel.

FIRST CITIZEN:

We'll burn the house of Brutus.

FIRST CITIZEN:

We'll burn the house of Brutus.

THIRD CITIZEN:

Away, then! Come, seek the conspirators.

THIRD CITIZEN:

Away, then! Come, find the conspirators.

ANTONY:

Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.

ANTONY:

But hear me, countrymen; still hear me speak.

ALL:

Peace, ho! Hear Antony, most noble Antony!(245)

ALL:

Peace, oh! hear Antony; most noble Antony!

ANTONY:

Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.
Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?
Alas, you know not; I must tell you then.
You have forgot the will I told you of.

ANTONY:

Why, friends, you go ahead to do you don’t know what.
Where has Caesar deserved your loves like this?
Alas, you don’t know; I must tell you then.
You’ve forgotten the will I told you of.

ALL:

Most true, the will! Let's stay and hear the will.(250)

ALL:

Most true; the will!—let's stay, and hear the will.

ANTONY:

Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal.
To every Roman citizen he gives,
To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

ANTONY:

Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal.
To every Roman citizen he gives
Seventy-five dollars each.

SECOND CITIZEN:

Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death.

SECOND CITIZEN:

Most noble Caesar!—we'll revenge his death.

THIRD CITIZEN:

O royal Caesar!(255)

THIRD CITIZEN:

O, royal Caesar!

ANTONY:

Hear me with patience.

ANTONY:

Hear me with patience.

ALL:

Peace, ho!

ALL:

Peace, oh!

ANTONY:

Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbors, and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tiber; he hath left them you,(260)
And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures,
To walk abroad and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?

ANTONY:

Moreover, he has left you all his fields,
His private gardens, and just planted orchards,
On this side Tiber. He has left them you,
And to your heirs forever, common pleasures,
To walk abroad and relax yourselves.
Here was a Caesar! When does another like him come?

FIRST CITIZEN:

Never, never. Come, away, away!
We'll burn his body in the holy place(265)
And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.
Take up the body.

FIRST CITIZEN:

Never, never.—Come, away, away!
We'll burn his body in the holy place,
And we’ll set the traitors' houses on fire with the torches.
Pick up the body.

SECOND CITIZEN:

Go fetch fire.

SECOND CITIZEN:

Go, go get fire.

THIRD CITIZEN:

Pluck down benches.

THIRD CITIZEN:

Grab down benches.

FOURTH CITIZEN:

Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.(270)

FOURTH CITIZEN:

Grab down chairs, windows, anything.

Exit Plebeians [with the body.]

ANTONY:

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

[Enter a Servant.]

How now, fellow?

ANTONY:

Now let it work.—Mischief, you’re working!
Take you what course you’ll!—

What is it now, fellow?

SERVANT:

Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.

SERVANT:

Sir, Octavius has already come to Rome.