Act 3, Scene 2

Original Text

*The Forum. Enter Brutus and Cassius, with Plebeians.* PLEBEIANS. We will be satisfied! Let us be satisfied! BRUTUS. Then follow me and give me audience, friends. Cassius, go you into the other street And part the numbers. Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here; Those that will follow Cassius, go with him; And public reasons shall be rendered Of Caesar's death. FIRST PLEBEIAN. I will hear Brutus speak. SECOND PLEBEIAN. I will hear Cassius, and compare their reasons When severally we hear them rendered. THIRD PLEBEIAN. The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence!

Modern English

*The public forum in Rome. Brutus and Cassius enter with a crowd of citizens.* CITIZENS. We demand answers! Give us answers! BRUTUS. Then follow me and hear me out, friends. Cassius, take the other street and split the crowd. Anyone who wants to hear me, stay here. Anyone who wants to hear Cassius, go with him. We'll both give you the reasons for Caesar's death. FIRST CITIZEN. I'll listen to Brutus. SECOND CITIZEN. I'll hear Cassius, and then compare their arguments once we've heard them separately. THIRD CITIZEN. Noble Brutus has gone up to the platform. Quiet!

Original Text

BRUTUS. Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than 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 freemen? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death for his ambition. Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak, for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak, for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak, for him have I offended. I pause for a reply. ALL. None, Brutus, none!

Modern English

BRUTUS. Hear me out to the end. Romans, countrymen, friends — listen to my reasons, and be quiet so you can hear. Trust me because of my reputation, and respect my reputation so that you can trust me. Judge me fairly, and think clearly, so your judgment will be sound. If anyone here was a dear friend of Caesar's, I want him to know that Brutus loved Caesar just as much as he did. If that friend then asks why Brutus turned against Caesar, here is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Would you rather Caesar were alive and you all lived as slaves, or that Caesar were dead and you all lived as free men? I weep for Caesar because he loved me. I celebrate his good fortune. I honor his bravery. But because he was ambitious, I killed him. There are tears for his love, joy for his luck, honor for his courage, and death for his ambition. Is anyone here low enough to want to be a slave? If so, speak up — I've offended you. Is anyone here barbaric enough not to want to be a Roman? If so, speak up — I've offended you. Is anyone here despicable enough not to love his own country? If so, speak up — I've offended you. I'll wait for an answer. ALL. No one, Brutus! No one!

Original Text

BRUTUS. Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. *Enter Mark Antony with Caesar's body.* Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying — a place in the commonwealth — as which of you shall not? With this I depart: that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself when it shall please my country to need my death. ALL. Live, Brutus, live, live! FIRST PLEBEIAN. Bring him with triumph home unto his house! SECOND PLEBEIAN. Give him a statue with his ancestors! THIRD PLEBEIAN. Let him be Caesar!

Modern English

BRUTUS. Then I've offended no one. I've done nothing more to Caesar than you would do to me in the same situation. The record of why he was killed is filed at the Capitol. His accomplishments are not diminished — he earned them. And his crimes are not exaggerated — they're the reason he was put to death. *Mark Antony enters, carrying Caesar's body.* Here comes his body, brought by Mark Antony, who had no part in his death but will share the benefits of what we've done — a place in a free republic — just as every one of you will. And now I'll leave you with this: just as I killed my closest friend for Rome's sake, I keep the same dagger ready for myself, whenever my country needs my death. ALL. Long live Brutus! Long live! FIRST CITIZEN. Carry him home in a victory parade! SECOND CITIZEN. Put up a statue of him alongside his ancestors! THIRD CITIZEN. Make him Caesar!

Original Text

BRUTUS. Good countrymen, let me depart alone, And, for my sake, stay here with Antony. Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech Tending to Caesar's glories, which Mark Antony, By our permission, is allowed to make. I do entreat you, not a man depart Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. *Exit.* FIRST PLEBEIAN. Stay, ho, and let us hear Mark Antony! THIRD PLEBEIAN. Let him go up into the public chair. We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up. ANTONY. For Brutus' sake I am beholding to you.

Modern English

BRUTUS. Good citizens, let me leave on my own. And for my sake, stay here with Antony. Show respect to Caesar's body, and listen to the speech about Caesar's achievements that Mark Antony, with our permission, has been allowed to give. Please — let no one leave until Antony has finished speaking. *Brutus exits.* FIRST CITIZEN. Wait — let's hear Mark Antony! THIRD CITIZEN. Let him go up to the platform. We'll listen. Go on up, noble Antony. ANTONY. I'm grateful to you, for Brutus's sake.

Original Text

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 interred with their bones. So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious. If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answered it. Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest — For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, all honourable men — Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me; But Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honourable man.

Modern English

ANTONY. Friends, Romans, countrymen — lend me your ears! I've come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives on after them; the good is often buried with their bones. So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus has told you Caesar was ambitious. If that were true, it was a terrible fault, and Caesar has certainly paid for it. Here, with the permission of Brutus and the rest — because Brutus is an honorable man, and so are they all, all honorable men — I've come to speak at Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, loyal and fair to me. But Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man.

Original Text

He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill. 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 honourable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And sure he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, 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 judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason! Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me.

Modern English

Caesar brought many prisoners back to Rome whose ransoms filled the public treasury. Did that seem like ambition? When the poor cried out, Caesar wept for them. Ambition ought to be made of harder stuff. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man. You all saw that during the Lupercal festival I offered him a king's crown three times, and three times he turned it down. Was that ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious — and certainly, Brutus is an honorable man. I'm not here to disprove what Brutus said. I'm here to say what I know to be true. You all loved Caesar once, and for good reason. What reason holds you back from mourning him now? O reason, you've fled to mindless animals, and men have lost their ability to think! Forgive me. My heart is in that coffin there with Caesar, and I need to stop until it comes back to me.

Original Text

FIRST PLEBEIAN. Methinks there is much reason in his sayings. SECOND PLEBEIAN. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Caesar has had great wrong. THIRD PLEBEIAN. Has he, masters? I fear there will a worse come in his place. FOURTH PLEBEIAN. Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown; Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious. 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, Who, you all know, are honourable men. I will not do them wrong. I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, Than I will wrong such honourable men. But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar. I found it in his closet; 'tis his will.

Modern English

FIRST CITIZEN. You know, he makes a lot of sense. SECOND CITIZEN. If you think about it carefully, Caesar was treated very unfairly. THIRD CITIZEN. Was he? I'm worried someone worse will take his place. FOURTH CITIZEN. Did you hear what he said? Caesar refused the crown. So he obviously wasn't ambitious. ANTONY. Just yesterday, Caesar's word could have stood against the entire world. Now he lies there, and nobody is lowly enough to show him respect. Friends, if I wanted to stir your hearts to riot and rage, I'd be doing Brutus and Cassius wrong — and they, as you all know, are honorable men. I refuse to wrong them. I'd rather wrong the dead, wrong myself, and wrong you than wrong such honorable men. But here's a document with Caesar's seal on it. I found it in his study. It's his will.

Original Text

ALL. The will! The will! We will hear Caesar's will! ANTONY. Have patience, gentle friends; I must not read it. 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, For if you should, 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 have o'ershot myself to tell you of it. I fear I wrong the honourable men Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar. I do fear it. FOURTH PLEBEIAN. They were traitors. "Honourable men"! ALL. The will! The testament!

Modern English

ALL. The will! The will! Read us Caesar's will! ANTONY. Be patient, good people — I really shouldn't read it. You're better off not knowing how much Caesar loved you. You're not made of wood or stone — you're human beings. And if you hear Caesar's will, it will set you on fire, it will drive you mad. It's better you don't know that you're his heirs — because if you found out, there's no telling what would happen. FOURTH CITIZEN. Read the will! We want to hear it, Antony! Read us the will — Caesar's will! ANTONY. Will you just be patient? Will you wait? I shouldn't have even mentioned it. I'm afraid I'm disrespecting the honorable men whose daggers killed Caesar. I'm truly afraid of that. FOURTH CITIZEN. Traitors is what they are! "Honorable men"! ALL. The will! Read the will!

Original Text

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. Shall I descend? And will you give me leave? ALL. Come down! ANTONY. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle. I remember 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. Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabbed; And as he plucked his cursed steel away, Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it, As rushing out of doors to be resolved If Brutus so unkindly knocked or no; 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, Quite vanquished 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! Then I, and you, and all of us fell down, Whilst bloody treason flourished over us.

Modern English

ANTONY. So you're going to force me to read it? Then gather around Caesar's body and let me show you the man who wrote this will. Shall I come down? Will you make room? ALL. Come down! ANTONY. If you have tears in you, get ready to shed them now. You all recognize this cloak. I remember the first time Caesar ever wore it — it was on a summer evening in his tent, the day he defeated the Nervii tribe. Look — here's where Cassius's dagger went through. See the gash that jealous Casca made. And through here — this is where beloved Brutus stabbed. And as he pulled his cursed blade back out, watch how Caesar's blood rushed after it, as if flooding out through the door to see whether it was really Brutus who had knocked so cruelly. Because Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's dearest friend. Gods, judge how deeply Caesar loved him! This was the cruelest cut of all. Because when noble Caesar saw Brutus stab him, the ingratitude — more powerful than any weapon — completely broke him. His great heart burst. And with his cloak pulled up over his face, right at the base of Pompey's statue — which ran with blood the whole time — mighty Caesar fell. What a collapse that was, my fellow Romans! In that moment, I fell, and you fell, and all of us fell, while bloody treason triumphed over us.

Original Text

ALL. O piteous spectacle! O traitors, villains! We will be revenged! Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay! Let not a traitor live! ANTONY. Stay, countrymen. FIRST PLEBEIAN. Peace there! Hear the noble Antony! ANTONY. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To such a sudden flood of mutiny. They that have done this deed are honourable. What private griefs they have, alas, I know not, That made them do it. They are wise and honourable, And will no doubt with reasons answer you. 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. 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, 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. ALL. We'll mutiny! FIRST PLEBEIAN. We'll burn the house of Brutus!

Modern English

ALL. What a heartbreaking sight! Traitors! Villains! Revenge! We want revenge! Search! Burn! Kill! Destroy! Don't let a single traitor live! ANTONY. Wait, fellow Romans. FIRST CITIZEN. Quiet! Let noble Antony speak! ANTONY. Good friends, dear friends — please, don't let me provoke you into a sudden wave of violence. The men who did this are honorable. Whatever personal grievances drove them to it, I honestly don't know. They're wise and honorable, and I'm sure they'll explain their reasons to you. I didn't come here to steal your loyalty. I'm no speechmaker, the way Brutus is. I'm just a plain, direct man, as you all know me, who loved his friend. And the men who gave me public permission to speak know that well enough. I have no cleverness, no eloquence, no authority, no dramatic skill, no power of persuasion to stir men's blood. I simply speak the truth. I'm telling you what you already know. I'm showing you sweet Caesar's wounds — those poor, silent mouths — and asking them to speak on my behalf. But if I were Brutus and Brutus were Antony, then there'd be an Antony who would whip up your spirits and give a voice to every one of Caesar's wounds — a voice that would make the very stones of Rome rise up in revolt. ALL. We'll revolt! FIRST CITIZEN. We'll burn down Brutus's house!

Original Text

ANTONY. 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. 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! 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. SECOND PLEBEIAN. Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death! ANTONY. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours, and new-planted orchards, On this side Tiber; he hath left them you, And to your heirs for ever — common pleasures, To walk abroad and recreate yourselves. Here was a Caesar! When comes such another? FIRST PLEBEIAN. Never, never! Come, away, away! We'll burn his body in the holy place And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. Take up the body. *Exeunt Plebeians with the body.* ANTONY. Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot; Take thou what course thou wilt.

Modern English

ANTONY. But wait — hear me out. Listen to me. ALL. Quiet! Let Antony speak! Noble Antony! ANTONY. Friends, you're about to act without thinking. Why does Caesar deserve your love? You don't even know yet. Let me tell you. You've forgotten the will I mentioned. ALL. That's right! The will! Let's hear the will! ANTONY. Here it is — sealed with Caesar's own seal. To every Roman citizen, he leaves seventy-five silver coins each. SECOND CITIZEN. Noble Caesar! We'll avenge his death! ANTONY. And on top of that, he's left you all his gardens, his private walkways, and his newly planted orchards on this side of the Tiber — left them to you and to your children forever, as public parks for you to walk in and enjoy. That was Caesar! When will we see his like again? FIRST CITIZEN. Never! Never! Come on — let's go! We'll burn his body on sacred ground and use the torches to set fire to the traitors' homes. Pick up the body! *The citizens carry the body away.* ANTONY. Now let the chaos begin. Mischief, you're loose — go wherever you want.

Julius Caesar

Act 3, Scene 2

Act 3, Scene 2