Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 2
Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS
with the PLEBEIANS.
Plebeians
1
We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.
1. be satisfied: get a satisfactory explanation.
BRUTUS
2
Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.
2. audience: a hearing.
3
Cassius, go you into the other street, 4
And part the numbers.
4. part the numbers: divide the crowd.
5
Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here; 6
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him; 7
And public reasons shall be rendered 8
Of Caesar's death.
First Plebeian
I will hear Brutus speak.
Second Plebeian
9
I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, 10
When severally we hear them rendered.
10. severally: separately.
[Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Plebeians.
BRUTUS] goes into the pulpit.
Third Plebeian
11
The noble Brutus is ascended: silence!
BRUTUS
12
Be patient till the last.
12. Be patient till the last: hear me out.
13
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my
13. lovers: dear friends.
14
cause, and be silent, that you may hear: believe me
13-14. hear . . . hear: hear me out because this important, and be silent, so that you can hear my words. >>>
15
for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, 16
that you may believe: censure me in your wisdom,
14-16. believe . . . believe: do me the honor of believing me and bear in mind my honorable reputation, so that you can believe me. censure: judge.
17
and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. 18
If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of 19
Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar 20
was no less than his. If then that friend demand 21
why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: 22
Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved 23
Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and 24
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live 25
all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; 26
as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was 27
valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, 28
I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his 29
fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his 30
ambition. Who is here so base that would be a 31
bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended.
31. bondman: slave. offended: wronged.
32
Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman?
32. rude: barbarous, stupid.
33
If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here 34
so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak; 35
for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.
All
36
None, Brutus, none.
BRUTUS
37
Then none have I offended. I have done no more to
37-38. I . . . Brutus: I have done to Caesar no more than what you will do to me (if I do the wrongs that Caesar has done).
38
Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of
38-39. the question . . . enrolled: The justification of his death is on record.
39
his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not
40
extenuated, wherein he was worthy, nor his offences
40. extenuated: minimized.
41
enforced, for which he suffered death.
41. enforced: overemphasized.
Enter MARK ANTONY [and others],
with CAESAR's body.
42
Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who, 43
though he had no hand in his death, shall receive 44
the benefit of his dying, a place in the 45
commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this 46
I depart,that, as I slew my best lover for the
46. best lover: dearest friend.
47
good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, 48
when it shall please my country to need my death.
All
49
Live, Brutus! live, live!
First Plebeian
50
Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
Second Plebeian
51
Give him a statue with his ancestors.
Third Plebeian
52
Let him be Caesar.
Fourth Plebeian
Caesar's better parts
52. parts: qualities.
53
Shall be crown'd in Brutus.
First Plebeian
We'll bring him to his house 54
With shouts and clamours.
BRUTUS
My countrymen,
Second Plebeian
55
Peace, silence! Brutus speaks.
First Plebeian
Peace, ho!
BRUTUS
56
Good countrymen, let me depart alone, 57
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony: 58
Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech
58. Do grace . . . and grace his speech: pay respect to Caesar and listen courteously to Antony's speech.
59
Tending to Caesar's glories; which Mark Antony,
59. Tending to: concerning, praising.
60
By our permission, is allow'd to make. 61
I do entreat you, not a man depart, 62
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
Exit.
First Plebeian
63
Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.
Third Plebeian
64
Let him go up into the public chair; 65
We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.
ANTONY
66
For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.
66. beholding to you: indebted to you.
Goes into the pulpit.
Fourth Plebeian
67
What does he say of Brutus?
Third Plebeian
He says, for Brutus' sake, 68
He finds himself beholding to us all.
Fourth Plebeian
69
'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.
First Plebeian
70
This Caesar was a tyrant.
Third Plebeian
Nay, that's certain: 71
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
Second Plebeian
72
Peace! let us hear what Antony can say.
ANTONY
73
You gentle Romans,
Plebeians
Peace, ho! let us hear him.
ANTONY
74
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
74. lend me your ears: i.e., grant me your attention for a moment.
75
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. 76
The evil that men do lives after them; 77
The good is oft interred with their bones;
77. oft interred: often buried.
78
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus 79
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: 80
If it were so, it was a grievous fault, 81
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
81. answer'd it: paid for it.
82
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest
82. under leave of: by permission of.
83
For Brutus is an honourable man; 84
So are they all, all honourable men 85
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. 86
He was my friend, faithful and just to me: 87
But Brutus says he was ambitious; 88
And Brutus is an honourable man. 89
He hath brought many captives home to Rome 90
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
90. general coffers: public treasury.
91
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? 92
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: 93
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: 94
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; 95
And Brutus is an honourable man. 96
You all did see that on the Lupercal 97
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
97. I thrice presented him a kingly crown: See Casca's account of this, beginning at 1.2.221
98
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? 99
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;100
And, sure, he is an honourable man.101
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,102
But here I am to speak what I do know.103
You all did love him once, not without cause:104
What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?105
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
105. judgment: the ability to come to reasonable conclusions based on the evidence.
106
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;107
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,108
And I must pause till it come back to me.
First Plebeian
109
Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.
Second Plebeian
110
If thou consider rightly of the matter,111
Caesar has had great wrong.
Third Plebeian
Has he, masters?112
I fear there will a worse come in his place.
112. I . . . place: I'm afraid that he will be succeeded by someone worse.
Fourth Plebeian
113
Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown;114
Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.
First Plebeian
115
If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
115. some . . . dear abide it: some people will pay dearly for it.
Second Plebeian
116
Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
Third Plebeian
117
There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
Fourth Plebeian
118
Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
ANTONY
119
But yesterday the word of Caesar might120
Have stood against the world; now lies he there.121
And none so poor to do him reverence.
121. none . . . reverence: no one is so lowly that he needs to kneel to him.
122
O masters, if I were disposed to stir123
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
123. mutiny: riot, rebellion.
124
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,125
Who, you all know, are honourable men:126
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose127
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,128
Than I will wrong such honourable men.129
But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar;130
I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:
130. closet: study, private room.
131
Let but the commons hear this testament
131. the commons: the common people.
132
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read133
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds134
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
134. napkins: handkerchiefs.
135
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,136
And, dying, mention it within their wills,137
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy138
Unto their issue.
138. issue: children.
Fourth Plebeian
139
We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.
All
140
The will, the will! we will hear Caesar's will.
ANTONY
141
Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;142
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
142. meet: fitting.
143
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;144
And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar,145
It will inflame you, it will make you mad:146
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;147
For, if you should, O, what would come of it!
Fourth Plebeian
148
Read the will; we'll hear it, Antony;149
You shall read us the will, Caesar's will.
ANTONY
150
Will you be patient? will you stay awhile?151
I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it:
151. have o'ershot myself: said more than I have should have.
152
I fear I wrong the honourable men153
Whose daggers have stabb'd Caesar; I do fear it.
Fourth Plebeian
154
They were traitors: honourable men!
All
155
The will! the testament!
Second Plebeian
156
They were villains, murderers: the will! read the will.
ANTONY
157
You will compel me, then, to read the will?158
Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,159
And let me show you him that made the will.160
Shall I descend? and will you give me leave?
Several Plebeians
161
Come down.
Second Plebeian
162
Descend.
Third Plebeian
163
You shall have leave.
[ANTONY comes down from the pulpit.]
Fourth Plebeian
164
A ring; stand round.
First Plebeian
165
Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.
165. from: away from. hearse: bier.
Second Plebeian
166
Room for Antony, most noble Antony.
ANTONY
167
Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.
Several Plebeians
168
Stand back; room; bear back.
168. room: make room. bear move.
ANTONY
169
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.170
You all do know this mantle: I remember
170. mantle: cloak.
171
The first time ever Caesar put it on;172
'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,173
That day he overcame the Nervii:
173. the Nervii: a Belgian tribe.
174
Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through:175
See what a rent the envious Casca made:
175. rent: gash. envious: spiteful.
176
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;177
And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
177. pluck'd: jerked. steel: dagger.
178
Mark how the blood of Caesar follow'd it,179
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
179. As: as if. to be resolved: to find out for sure.
180
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;
180. unkindly: cruelly and unnaturally.
181
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel:
181. angel: best beloved.
182
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
182. dearly: dearly; at great expense.
183
This was the most unkindest cut of all;
182. most unkindest: In Shakespeare's time there wasn't no rule about no double negatives nor nothing like that.
184
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,185
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,186
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;187
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
187. in his mantle muffling up his face: as he covered his face with his cloak.
188
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,189
Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
189. Which all the while ran blood: I don't think it is meant that the statue bled, only that it was dripping with Caesar's blood.
190
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!191
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,192
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
192. flourish'd over us: celebrated its triumph over us; waved its weapons.
193
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel194
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
194. dint: painful sense. gracious drops: tears of honor.
195
Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold196
Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
196. vesture: garment.
[ANTONY lifts Caesar's mantle.]
197
seventy-five drachmas.
First Plebeian
198
O piteous spectacle!
Second Plebeian
199
O noble Caesar!
Third Plebeian
200
O woeful day!
Fourth Plebeian
201
O traitors, villains!
First Plebeian
202
O most bloody sight!
Second Plebeian
203
We will be revenged.
All
204
Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!
204. About!: let's do it now!
205
Let not a traitor live!
ANTONY
206
Stay, countrymen.
206. Stay: wait a minute.
First Plebeian
207
Peace there! hear the noble Antony.
207. Peace there!: shut up, back there!
Second Plebeian
208
We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him.
ANTONY
209
Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up210
To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
210. mutiny: rebellion, riot.
211
They that have done this deed are honourable:212
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
212. private griefs: personal grievances.
213
That made them do it: they are wise and honourable,214
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.215
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:216
I am no orator, as Brutus is;217
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,218
That love my friend; and that they know full well219
That gave me public leave to speak of him:220
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,221
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
220-221. wit . . . utterance: intelligence, vocabulary, reputation, eloquent gestures, polished delivery.
222
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
222. speak right on: i.e., say what I really think.
223
I tell you that which you yourselves do know;224
Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor
dumb mouths,
224. dumb: silent.
225
And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus,226
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony227
Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
227. ruffle up your spirits: raise your hackles.
228
In every wound of Caesar that should move
227. move: provoke.
229
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
229. mutiny: rebel, riot.
All
230
We'll mutiny.
First Plebeian
We'll burn the house of Brutus.
Third Plebeian
231
Away, then! come, seek the conspirators.
ANTONY
232
Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.
All
233
Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony!
ANTONY
234
Why, friends, you go to do you know not what:235
Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?236
Alas, you know not: I must tell you then:237
You have forgot the will I told you of.
All
238
Most true. The will! Let's stay and hear the will.
ANTONY
239
Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal.
239. under Caesar's seal: i.e., authenticated by Caesar. >>>
240
To every Roman Plebeian he gives,241
To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.
241. several: individual. drachmas: silver coins. >>>
Second Plebeian
242
Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death.
Third Plebeian
243
O royal Caesar!
ANTONY
244
Hear me with patience.
All
245
Peace, ho!
ANTONY
246
Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,247
His private arbours and new-planted orchards,248
On this side Tiber; he hath left them you,249
And to your heirs for ever, common pleasures,
249. common pleasures: i.e., public parks.
250
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
251
Here was a Caesar! when comes such another?
First Plebeian
252
Never, never. Come, away, away!253
We'll burn his body in the holy place,254
And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.
254. the brands: the torches used to light the funeral pyre. fire: set fire to.
255
Take up the body.
Second Plebeian
256
Go fetch fire.
Third Plebeian
257
Pluck down benches.
257. Pluck down: tear to pieces.
Fourth Plebeian
258
Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.
258. forms: benches without backs. windows: shutters. any thing: i.e., anything that we can use to start a fire.
Exeunt Plebeians [with the body].
ANTONY
259
Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,
259. Mischief: evildoing, wickedness.
260
Take thou what course thou wilt!
Enter Servant.
How now, fellow!
Servant
261
Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
ANTONY
262
Where is he?
Servant
263
He and Lepidus are at Caesar's house.
ANTONY
264
And thither will I straight to visit him:
264. straight: immediately.
265
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
265. He comes upon a wish: i.e., Octavius has arrived at the exact moment that I wished he would. is merry: i.e., is smiling upon me.
266
And in this mood will give us any thing.
Servant
267
I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius268
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
268. Are rid: have ridden.
ANTONY
269
Belike they had some notice of the people,270
How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.269-270. Belike . . . them: i.e., It's likely they received news of how my speech made the people angry at them.
Exeunt.