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Act 3, Scene 1

Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting.

  1. [A crowd of people in the street leading to the Capitol, among them Artemidorus and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Popilius, Publius, and others.]
  2. Julius Caesar
  3. 1120 The Ides of March are come.
  4. Soothsayer
  5. 1121 Ay, Caesar; but not gone.
  6. Artemidorus
  7. 1122 Hail, Caesar! read this schedule.
  8. Decius Brutus
  9. 1123 Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read,
  10. 1124 At your best leisure, this his humble suit.
  11. Artemidorus
  12. 1125 O Caesar, read mine first; for mine's a suit
  13. 1126 That touches Caesar nearer: read it, great Caesar.
  14. Julius Caesar
  15. 1127 What touches us ourself shall be last served.
  16. Artemidorus
  17. 1128 Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly.
  18. Julius Caesar
  19. 1129 What, is the fellow mad?
  20. Publius
  21. 1130 Sirrah, give place.
  22. Caius Cassius
  23. 1131 What, urge you your petitions in the street?
  24. 1132 Come to the Capitol.
  25. [Caesar enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise.]
  26. Popilius Lena
  27. 1133 I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive.
  28. Caius Cassius
  29. 1134 What enterprise, Popilius?
  30. Popilius Lena
  31. 1135 Fare you well.
  32. 1136 Advances to Caesar.
  33. Marcus Brutus
  34. 1137 What said Popilius Lena?
  35. Caius Cassius
  36. 1138 He wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive.
  37. 1139 I fear our purpose is discovered.
  38. Marcus Brutus
  39. 1140 Look, how he makes to Caesar: mark him.
  40. Caius Cassius
  41. 1141 Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.—
  42. 1142 Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
  43. 1143 Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
  44. 1144 For I will slay myself.
  45. Marcus Brutus
  46. 1145 Cassius, be constant:
  47. 1146 Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
  48. 1147 For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
  49. Caius Cassius
  50. 1148 Trebonius knows his time, for, look you, Brutus,
  51. 1149 He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
  52. [Exeunt Antony and Trebonius. Caesar and the Senators take their seats.]
  53. Decius Brutus
  54. 1150 Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
  55. 1151 And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
  56. Marcus Brutus
  57. 1152 He is address'd; press near and second him.
  58. Cinna
  59. 1153 Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
  60. Casca
  61. 1154 Are we all ready?
  62. Julius Caesar
  63. 1155 What is now amiss
  64. 1156 That Caesar and his Senate must redress?
  65. Metellus Cimber
  66. 1157 Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
  67. 1158 Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
  68. 1159 An humble heart.
  69. [Kneeling.]
  70. Julius Caesar
  71. 1160 I must prevent thee, Cimber.
  72. 1161 These couchings and these lowly courtesies
  73. 1162 Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
  74. 1163 And turn pre-ordinance and first decree
  75. 1164 Into the law of children. Be not fond,
  76. 1165 To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
  77. 1166 That will be thaw'd from the true quality
  78. 1167 With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words,
  79. 1168 Low-crooked curtsies, and base spaniel-fawning.
  80. 1169 Thy brother by decree is banished:
  81. 1170 If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him,
  82. 1171 I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
  83. Metellus Cimber
  84. 1172 Caesar, thou dost me wrong.
  85. Julius Caesar
  86. 1173 Caesar did never wrong but with just cause,
  87. 1174 Nor without cause will he be satisfied.
  88. Metellus Cimber
  89. 1175 Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
  90. 1176 To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear
  91. 1177 For the repealing of my banish'd brother?
  92. Marcus Brutus
  93. 1178 I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar;
  94. 1179 Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
  95. 1180 Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
  96. Julius Caesar
  97. 1181 What, Brutus?
  98. Caius Cassius
  99. 1182 Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon:
  100. 1183 As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
  101. 1184 To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
  102. Julius Caesar
  103. 1185 I could be well moved, if I were as you;
  104. 1186 If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
  105. 1187 But I am constant as the northern star,
  106. 1188 Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
  107. 1189 There is no fellow in the firmament.
  108. 1190 The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
  109. 1191 They are all fire, and every one doth shine;
  110. 1192 But there's but one in all doth hold his place:
  111. 1193 So in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men,
  112. 1194 And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
  113. 1195 Yet in the number I do know but one
  114. 1196 That unassailable holds on his rank,
  115. 1197 Unshaked of motion: and that I am he,
  116. 1198 Let me a little show it, even in this,—
  117. 1199 That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
  118. 1200 And constant do remain to keep him so.
  119. Cinna
  120. 1201 O Caesar,—
  121. Julius Caesar
  122. 1202 Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?
  123. Decius Brutus
  124. 1203 Great Caesar,—
  125. Julius Caesar
  126. 1204 Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
  127. Casca
  128. 1205 Speak, hands, for me!
  129. [Casca stabs Caesar in the neck. Caesar catches hold of his arm. He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and at last by Marcus Brutus.]
  130. Julius Caesar
  131. 1206 Et tu, Brute?— Then fall, Caesar!
  132. [Dies. The Senators and People retire in confusion.]
  133. Cinna
  134. 1207 Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!—
  135. 1208 Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
  136. Caius Cassius
  137. 1209 Some to the common pulpits and cry out,
  138. 1210 "Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!"
  139. Marcus Brutus
  140. 1211 People and Senators, be not affrighted;
  141. 1212 Fly not; stand still; ambition's debt is paid.
  142. Casca
  143. 1213 Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
  144. Decius Brutus
  145. 1214 And Cassius too.
  146. Marcus Brutus
  147. 1215 Where's Publius?
  148. Cinna
  149. 1216 Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
  150. Metellus Cimber
  151. 1217 Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's
  152. 1218 Should chance—
  153. Marcus Brutus
  154. 1219 Talk not of standing.—Publius, good cheer!
  155. 1220 There is no harm intended to your person,
  156. 1221 Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius.
  157. Caius Cassius
  158. 1222 And leave us, Publius; lest that the people
  159. 1223 Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
  160. Marcus Brutus
  161. 1224 Do so;—and let no man abide this deed
  162. 1225 But we the doers.
  163. [Re-enter Trebonius.]
  164. Caius Cassius
  165. 1226 Where's Antony?
  166. Trebonius
  167. 1227 Fled to his house amazed.
  168. 1228 Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run,
  169. 1229 As it were doomsday.
  170. Marcus Brutus
  171. 1230 Fates, we will know your pleasures:
  172. 1231 That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time
  173. 1232 And drawing days out, that men stand upon.
  174. Casca
  175. 1233 Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
  176. 1234 Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
  177. Marcus Brutus
  178. 1235 Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
  179. 1236 So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridged
  180. 1237 His time of fearing death.—Stoop, Romans, stoop,
  181. 1238 And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood
  182. 1239 Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
  183. 1240 Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,
  184. 1241 And waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
  185. 1242 Let's all cry, "Peace, freedom, and liberty!"
  186. Caius Cassius
  187. 1243 Stoop then, and wash. How many ages hence
  188. 1244 Shall this our lofty scene be acted o'er
  189. 1245 In States unborn and accents yet unknown!
  190. Marcus Brutus
  191. 1246 How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
  192. 1247 That now on Pompey's basis lies along
  193. 1248 No worthier than the dust!
  194. Caius Cassius
  195. 1249 So oft as that shall be,
  196. 1250 So often shall the knot of us be call'd
  197. 1251 The men that gave their country liberty.
  198. Decius Brutus
  199. 1252 What, shall we forth?
  200. Caius Cassius
  201. 1253 Ay, every man away:
  202. 1254 Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
  203. 1255 With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
  204. Marcus Brutus
  205. 1256 Soft, who comes here?
  206. [Enter a Servant.]
  207. Marcus Brutus
  208. 1257 A friend of Antony's.
  209. Servant
  210. 1258 Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;
  211. 1259 Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
  212. 1260 And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
  213. 1261 Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
  214. 1262 Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving;
  215. 1263 Say I love Brutus and I honor him;
  216. 1264 Say I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him, and loved him.
  217. 1265 If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
  218. 1266 May safely come to him, and be resolved
  219. 1267 How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
  220. 1268 Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead
  221. 1269 So well as Brutus living; but will follow
  222. 1270 The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
  223. 1271 Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
  224. 1272 With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
  225. Marcus Brutus
  226. 1273 Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
  227. 1274 I never thought him worse.
  228. 1275 Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
  229. 1276 He shall be satisfied and, by my honour,
  230. 1277 Depart untouch'd.
  231. Servant
  232. 1278 I'll fetch him presently.
  233. [Exit.]
  234. Marcus Brutus
  235. 1279 I know that we shall have him well to friend.
  236. Caius Cassius
  237. 1280 I wish we may: but yet have I a mind
  238. 1281 That fears him much; and my misgiving still
  239. 1282 Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
  240. Marcus Brutus
  241. 1283 But here comes Antony.—
  242. [Re-enter Antony.]
  243. Marcus Brutus
  244. 1284 Welcome, Mark Antony.
  245. Mark Antony
  246. 1285 O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low?
  247. 1286 Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
  248. 1287 Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.—
  249. 1288 I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
  250. 1289 Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
  251. 1290 If I myself, there is no hour so fit
  252. 1291 As Caesar's death-hour, nor no instrument
  253. 1292 Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
  254. 1293 With the most noble blood of all this world.
  255. 1294 I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
  256. 1295 Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
  257. 1296 Fulfill your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
  258. 1297 I shall not find myself so apt to die:
  259. 1298 No place will please me so, no means of death,
  260. 1299 As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
  261. 1300 The choice and master spirits of this age.
  262. Marcus Brutus
  263. 1301 O Antony, beg not your death of us!
  264. 1302 Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
  265. 1303 As, by our hands and this our present act
  266. 1304 You see we do; yet see you but our hands
  267. 1305 And this the bleeding business they have done:
  268. 1306 Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;
  269. 1307 And pity to the general wrong of Rome—
  270. 1308 As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—
  271. 1309 Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
  272. 1310 To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony;
  273. 1311 Our arms in strength of amity, and our hearts
  274. 1312 Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
  275. 1313 With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
  276. Caius Cassius
  277. 1314 Your voice shall be as strong as any man's
  278. 1315 In the disposing of new dignities.
  279. Marcus Brutus
  280. 1316 Only be patient till we have appeased
  281. 1317 The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
  282. 1318 And then we will deliver you the cause
  283. 1319 Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,
  284. 1320 Have thus proceeded.
  285. Mark Antony
  286. 1321 I doubt not of your wisdom.
  287. 1322 Let each man render me his bloody hand:
  288. 1323 First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;—
  289. 1324 Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;—
  290. 1325 Now, Decius Brutus, yours;—now yours, Metellus;—
  291. 1326 Yours, Cinna;—and, my valiant Casca, yours;—
  292. 1327 Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.
  293. 1328 Gentlemen all—alas, what shall I say?
  294. 1329 My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
  295. 1330 That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
  296. 1331 Either a coward or a flatterer.—
  297. 1332 That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true:
  298. 1333 If then thy spirit look upon us now,
  299. 1334 Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death
  300. 1335 To see thy Antony making his peace,
  301. 1336 Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,—
  302. 1337 Most noble!—in the presence of thy corse?
  303. 1338 Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
  304. 1339 Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
  305. 1340 It would become me better than to close
  306. 1341 In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
  307. 1342 Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart;
  308. 1343 Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
  309. 1344 Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy death.—
  310. 1345 O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;
  311. 1346 And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.—
  312. 1347 How like a deer strucken by many princes,
  313. 1348 Dost thou here lie!
  314. Caius Cassius
  315. 1349 Mark Antony,—
  316. Mark Antony
  317. 1350 Pardon me, Caius Cassius:
  318. 1351 The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
  319. 1352 Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
  320. Caius Cassius
  321. 1353 I blame you not for praising Caesar so;
  322. 1354 But what compact mean you to have with us?
  323. 1355 Will you be prick'd in number of our friends,
  324. 1356 Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
  325. Mark Antony
  326. 1357 Therefore I took your hands; but was indeed
  327. 1358 Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Caesar.
  328. 1359 Friends am I with you all, and love you all,
  329. 1360 Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
  330. 1361 Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
  331. Marcus Brutus
  332. 1362 Or else were this a savage spectacle:
  333. 1363 Our reasons are so full of good regard
  334. 1364 That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
  335. 1365 You should be satisfied.
  336. Mark Antony
  337. 1366 That's all I seek:
  338. 1367 And am moreover suitor that I may
  339. 1368 Produce his body to the market-place;
  340. 1369 And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
  341. 1370 Speak in the order of his funeral.
  342. Marcus Brutus
  343. 1371 You shall, Mark Antony.
  344. Caius Cassius
  345. 1372 Brutus, a word with you.
  346. [Aside to Brutus.]
  347. Caius Cassius
  348. 1373 You know not what you do; do not consent
  349. 1374 That Antony speak in his funeral:
  350. 1375 Know you how much the people may be moved
  351. 1376 By that which he will utter?
  352. [Aside to Cassius.]
  353. Marcus Brutus
  354. 1377 By your pardon:
  355. 1378 I will myself into the pulpit first,
  356. 1379 And show the reason of our Caesar's death:
  357. 1380 What Antony shall speak, I will protest
  358. 1381 He speaks by leave and by permission;
  359. 1382 And that we are contented Caesar shall
  360. 1383 Have all true rights and lawful ceremonies.
  361. 1384 It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
  362. [Aside to Brutus.]
  363. Caius Cassius
  364. 1385 I know not what may fall; I like it not.
  365. Marcus Brutus
  366. 1386 Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body.
  367. 1387 You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
  368. 1388 But speak all good you can devise of Caesar;
  369. 1389 And say you do't by our permission;
  370. 1390 Else shall you not have any hand at all
  371. 1391 About his funeral: and you shall speak
  372. 1392 In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
  373. 1393 After my speech is ended.
  374. Mark Antony
  375. 1394 Be it so;
  376. 1395 I do desire no more.
  377. Marcus Brutus
  378. 1396 Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
  379. [Exeunt all but Antony.]
  380. Mark Antony
  381. 1397 O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
  382. 1398 That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
  383. 1399 Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
  384. 1400 That ever lived in the tide of times.
  385. 1401 Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
  386. 1402 Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,—
  387. 1403 Which, like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips
  388. 1404 To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue,—
  389. 1405 A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
  390. 1406 Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
  391. 1407 Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
  392. 1408 Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
  393. 1409 And dreadful objects so familiar,
  394. 1410 That mothers shall but smile when they behold
  395. 1411 Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
  396. 1412 All pity choked with custom of fell deeds:
  397. 1413 And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
  398. 1414 With Ate' by his side come hot from Hell,
  399. 1415 Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
  400. 1416 Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war,
  401. 1417 That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
  402. 1418 With carrion men, groaning for burial.—
  403. [Enter a Servant]
  404. Mark Antony
  405. 1419 .
  406. Mark Antony
  407. 1420 You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?
  408. Servant
  409. 1421 I do, Mark Antony.
  410. Mark Antony
  411. 1422 Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.
  412. Servant
  413. 1423 He did receive his letters, and is coming;
  414. 1424 And bid me say to you by word of mouth,—
  415. [Seeing the body.]
  416. Servant
  417. 1425 O Caesar!—
  418. Mark Antony
  419. 1426 Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.
  420. 1427 Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes,
  421. 1428 Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,
  422. 1429 Began to water. Is thy master coming?
  423. Servant
  424. 1430 He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.
  425. Mark Antony
  426. 1431 Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced.
  427. 1432 Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
  428. 1433 No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;
  429. 1434 Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay awhile;
  430. 1435 Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse
  431. 1436 Into the market-place: there shall I try,
  432. 1437 In my oration, how the people take
  433. 1438 The cruel issue of these bloody men;
  434. 1439 According to the which thou shalt discourse
  435. 1440 To young Octavius of the state of things.
  436. 1441 Lend me your hand.
  437. [Exeunt with Caesar's body.]