ACT 3
[A crowd of people; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS, METELLUS CIMBER, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others]
CAESAR
[To the Soothsayer]
The ides of March are come.
It’s March 15th.
SOOTHSAYER
Ay, Caesar; but not gone.
But it’s not over yet.
ARTEMIDORUS
Hail, Caesar! Read this schedule.
Hail, Caesar. Read this letter.
DECIUS BRUTUS
Trebonius doth desire you to o'erread,
Trebonius would like you to peruse,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.
When you have time, this humble document.
ARTEMIDORUS
O Caesar, read mine first; for mine's a suit
Oh Caesar, read mine first, for mine’s a letter
That touches Caesar nearer: read it, great Caesar.
That’s more about you. Read it, great Caesar.
CAESAR
What touches us ourself shall be last served.
The notes concerning me will be read last.
ARTEMIDORUS
Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly.
No, don’t wait, Caesar; you must read it now.
CAESAR
What, is the fellow mad?
Is this man here insane?
PUBLIUS
Sirrah, give place.
Sir, move along.
CASSIUS
What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Do you think you can canvass in the street?
Come to the Capitol.
Go to the Capitol.
[CAESAR goes up to the Senate-House, the rest following]
POPILIUS
I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive.
I hope your enterprise succeeds today.
CASSIUS
What enterprise, Popilius?
What enterprise, Popilius?
POPILIUS
Fare you well.
I wish you well.
[Advances to CAESAR]
BRUTUS
What said Popilius Lena?
What did Popilius Lena say?
CASSIUS
He wished to-day our enterprise might thrive.
He said he hoped our enterprise succeeds.
I fear our purpose is discovered.
I fear our plans today have been exposed.
BRUTUS
Look, how he makes to Caesar; mark him.
Watch how he walks to Caesar; look at him.
CASSIUS
Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
Casca, be quick; I fear we’ve been found out.
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Brutus, what shall we do? If our plan’s known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
Then either me or Caesar won’t leave here,
For I will slay myself.
For I will kill myself.
BRUTUS
Cassius, be constant:
Calm down now, Cassius.
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
Popilius Lena doesn’t speak of our plans,
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
For look: he smiles and Caesar hasn’t changed.
CASSIUS
Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus.
Trebonius has done his job; look, Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
He’s led Mark Antony out of the way.
[Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS]
DECIUS BRUTUS
Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
Where is Metellus Cimber? Have him go
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
Right now and give his messages to Caesar.
BRUTUS
He is addressed: press near and second him.
He’s ready; stand nearby and back him up.
CINNA
Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
Casca, you’ll be the first to stab at Caesar.
CAESAR
Are we all ready? What is now amiss
Are we all ready? What, then, are the problems
That Caesar and his senate must redress?
That Caesar and his Senate have to fix?
METELLUS CIMBER
Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Most high and mighty and most powerful Caesar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
Metellus Cimber throws himself before you
An humble heart,--
With humble heart.
[Kneeling]
CAESAR
I must prevent thee, Cimber.
I have to stop you, Cimber.
These couchings and these lowly courtesies
This stooping, bowing down, and flattery
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
Might stir and influence the common man
And turn pre-ordinance and first decree
And turn the laws that should be sacrosanct
Into the law of children. Be not fond,
To loosely followed rules. Do not believe
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
That Caesar is a man whose character
That will be thawed from the true quality
Will let his mind be swayed from what is right
With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words,
By things that fools absorb; such as kind words,
Low-crooked court'sies and base spaniel-fawning.
Deep bows and grovelling, just like a dog.
Thy brother by decree is banished:
Your brother, by the law, is not allowed here.
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
If you will bow and beg and grovel for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
I’ll kick you like a coward out the way.
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
I didn’t do the wrong, nor without reason
Will he be satisfied.
Will I allow him back.
METELLUS CIMBER
Is there no voice more worthy than my own
Is there no one more suitable than me
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear
To sweetly, earnestly request great Caesar
For the repealing of my banished brother?
To overrule his brother’s banishment?
BRUTUS
I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar;
I kiss your hand, but not through flattery, Caesar
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Requesting you that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
Have his sentence repealed immediately.
CAESAR
What, Brutus!
What, you as well, Brutus?
CASSIUS
Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon:
Pardon me, Caesar!
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
I’ll bow to you as far as I can go
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
To beg Publius Cimber’s liberation.
CAESAR
I could be well moved, if I were as you:
I might be influenced, if I were like you.
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
If I did beg forgiveness, I’d believe it.
But I am constant as the northern star,
But I’m as steady as the sky’s North Star,
Of whose true-fixed and resting quality
That sits unmoving each and every night;
There is no fellow in the firmament.
There’s nothing in the heavens that’s more stable.
The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks,
The skies shine with innumerable stars;
They are all fire and every one doth shine,
They all glow brightly, shining in the night.
But there's but one in all doth hold his place:
But there is only one that doesn’t move.
So in the world; 'tis furnished well with men,
The world is just the same; it’s full of men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
All made the same, with intellect and fear.
Yet in the number I do know but one
But out of all these men, I know just one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Whose own opinion never will be altered
Unshaked of motion: and that I am he,
By outside influence; and that is me.
Let me a little show it, even in this;
And let me demonstrate it on this topic:
That I was constant Cimber should be banished,
I resolutely said Cimber was banished
And constant do remain to keep him so.
And resolutely state he will remain so.
CINNA
O Caesar,--
Oh Caesar…
CAESAR
Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
Do you think you’ll move a mountain?
DECIUS BRUTUS
Great Caesar,--
Great Caesar…
CAESAR
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
Didn’t Brutus kneel in vain?
CASCA
Speak, hands for me!
Hands, do my wishes!
[CASCA first, then the other Conspirators and BRUTUS stab CAESAR]
CAESAR
Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar.
And you as well, Brutus? Then Caesar dies.
[Dies]
CINNA
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
We’re free at last! The tyrant has been killed!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
Let’s run and shout about it in the streets!
CASSIUS
Some to the common pulpits, and cry out
Go, some of you, to podiums, declaring,
'Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!'
We’re free from slavery and subjugation!
BRUTUS
People and senators, be not affrighted;
People and Senators, don’t be afraid.
Fly not; stand stiff: ambition's debt is paid.
Stay here, don’t run, for all our work is done.
CASCA
Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
DECIUS BRUTUS
And Cassius too.
And Cassius, too.
BRUTUS
Where's Publius?
Where’s Publius?
CINNA
Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
He’s here, confused at witnessing this coup.
METELLUS CIMBER
Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's
Let’s stand united; if a friend of Caesar
Should chance--
Should find us here…
BRUTUS
Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer;
Don’t say that we’re united. Fear not, Publius.
There is no harm intended to your person,
It isn’t our intention here to hurt you,
Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius.
Nor any other Roman. Tell them, Publius.
CASSIUS
And leave us, Publius; lest that the people,
And leave us, Publius, in case the people
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
Who rush in here will do you any harm.
BRUTUS
Do so: and let no man abide this deed,
Do that, and let’s make sure no one is blamed
But we the doers.
Except us culprits.
[Re-enter TREBONIUS]
CASSIUS
Where is Antony?
Where is Antony?
TREBONIUS
Fled to his house amazed:
He’s run off home in disbelief.
Men, wives and children stare, cry out and run
Men and their wives and children scream and run
As it were doomsday.
Like it’s the end of time.
BRUTUS
Fates, we will know your pleasures:
We’ll learn our fate.
That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time
We all know we will die; but don’t know when,
And drawing days out, that men stand upon.
And men should make the most of every day.
CASSIUS
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
Yes; if your life is shortened twenty years,
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
It’s twenty years less time to fear your death.
BRUTUS
Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
Good point, and therefore death is beneficial.
So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridged
So we are friends of Caesar who have shortened
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
His time of fearing death. Bow down now, Romans,
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood
And let us wipe our hands in Caesar’s blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Up to our elbows and smear it on our swords.
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,
Then we’ll walk out towards the marketplace,
And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
And, waving our red swords above our heads,
Let's all cry 'Peace, freedom and liberty!'
Let’s all shout, “Peace, freedom and liberty!”
CASSIUS
Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence
I’ll bow and wipe. How many years from now
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
Will this surreal scene be acted out
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
In states and languages not yet created!
BRUTUS
How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
How many times will Caesar bleed on stage
That now on Pompey's basis lies along
As he lies now at Pompey’s statue’s base,
No worthier than the dust!
With no more worth than dust!
CASSIUS
So oft as that shall be,
And every time
So often shall the knot of us be called
This group of us will always be declared
The men that gave their country liberty.
The men that gave our country liberty.
DECIUS BRUTUS
What, shall we forth?
Shall we leave now?
CASSIUS
Ay, every man away:
Yes, all of us should leave.
Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
Brutus will lead, and dutifully we’ll follow
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
With all the bold and bravest hearts of Rome.
[Enter a Servant]
BRUTUS
Soft! Who comes here? A friend of Antony's.
Be quiet; who’s this? A friend of Antony.
SERVANT
Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel:
Brutus, my master told me I should kneel.
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
Like this, Mark Antony said I should drop down,
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
And, in submission, told me I should say this:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Brutus is noble, wise, fearless and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal and loving.
Say I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Say I love Brutus and respect him too;
Say I feared Caesar, honoured him and loved him.
Say I feared Caesar, honoured him and loved him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
If Brutus will ensure that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolved
May safely come to him and hear the story
How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
What Caesar did that he deserved to die,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead
Mark Antony will not love Caesar dead
So well as Brutus living; but will follow
As much as Brutus living, and will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
The future actions, good and bad, of Brutus
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
Throughout the risky places he’s not been
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
With dedication. So says Antony.
BRUTUS
Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
Your master is a brave and clever Roman.
I never thought him worse.
I’ve never thought him less than this.
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
Tell him that if he wants to come to us,
He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour,
He will be satisfied; and by my honour,
Depart untouched.
He will be safe.
SERVANT
I'll fetch him presently.
I’ll fetch him right away.
[Exit]
BRUTUS
I know that we shall have him well to friend.
I know that he’ll become a friend of ours.
CASSIUS
I wish we may: but yet have I a mind
I hope you’re right; but I’m of the opinion
That fears him much; and my misgiving still
That he is dangerous, and things I fear
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
Have always proven right.
BRUTUS
But here comes Antony.
But here comes Antony.
[Re-enter ANTONY]
Welcome, Mark Antony.
Welcome, Mark Antony!
ANTONY
O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low?
Is that you lying there, oh mighty Caesar?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
Have all your glories won in victory
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
Just boiled down to this? Goodbye, god bless.
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
I don’t know, gentlemen, of your intentions,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
Who else you want to kill, who else is bad.
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
If I am one, no time is more appropriate
As Caesar's death hour, nor no instrument
Than at the time of Caesar’s death; no weapon
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
More fitting than those swords that you have stained
With the most noble blood of all this world.
With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
I urge you, if it’s your intent to kill me,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Then do it now, with bloodied, steaming hands,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
As you desire. If I live a millennium,
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
I will not find a better time to die;
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
No place will please me more, no cause of death
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
As being stabbed by you alongside Caesar,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
The leading masters of our current age.
BRUTUS
O Antony, beg not your death of us.
Oh Antony, don’t beg for us to kill you!
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
Although, right now, we seem bloody and cruel
As, by our hands and this our present act,
Because our hands reveal what we’ve just done,
You see we do, yet see you but our hands
And you can see that, but that’s all you see,
And this the bleeding business they have done:
Our hands and this here corpse that they have slain.
Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;
But you can’t see our hearts are full of pity,
And pity to the general wrong of Rome--
And pity all the wrong that Rome has suffered,
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity--
Like fire kills fire, Rome’s pity pities Caesar,
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
And pity’s done this deed to him. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:
Our swords are soft to you, Mark Antony.
Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts
These arms that slaughtered Caesar and our hearts
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
That love you like a brother, will embrace you
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
With all our love, good thoughts, and our respect.
CASSIUS
Your voice shall be as strong as any man's
Your voice will be an equal to us all
In the disposing of new dignities.
As we assign new roles and leadership.
BRUTUS
Only be patient till we have appeased
But just be patient till we have appeased
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
The public, who are terrified right now;
And then we will deliver you the cause,
And then I will explain to you the reasons
Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,
Why I, who did love Caesar when I stabbed him,
Have thus proceeded.
Did what I did.
ANTONY
I doubt not of your wisdom.
I do not doubt your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody hand:
Let each of you give me your bloodied hand.
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;
First, Marcus Brutus, I will shake your hand.
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
Next, Caius Cassius, I will shake yours too.
Now, Decius Brutus, yours: now yours, Metellus;
Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours Metellus;
Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;
Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;
Though last, not last in love, yours, good Trebonius.
Last, but by no means least, Trebonius.
Gentlemen all,--alas, what shall I say?
Gentlemen: oh dear, what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
My credibility is on thin ice
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
And there are only two bad ways to view me:
Either a coward or a flatterer.
Either a coward or a flatterer.
That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true:
That I did love you, Caesar, it is true!
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
But if your spirit’s looking on us now,
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,
Won’t it be more upset, more than your death,
To see thy thy Antony making his peace,
To see your Antony is making peace
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
By shaking bloodied hands with all your foes—
Most noble! In the presence of thy corse?
Good gracious! In the presence of your corpse?
Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
If I’d as many eyes as you have wounds
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
that wept as fast as blood seeps out your cuts,
It would become me better than to close
It would be more appropriate for me
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Than making friends with all your enemies.
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bayed, brave hart;
I’m sorry, Julius! It was a deer hunt,
Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
And here you fell, and here your hunters stand,
Signed in thy spoil, and crimsoned in thy lethe.
Stained with your guts and your river of blood.
O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;
Oh world, you were the forest to this stag,
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
And this stag was the heart of this whole world.
How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
And like a stag slaughtered by landed gentry,
Dost thou here lie!
You lie here now!
CASSIUS
Mark Antony,--
Mark Antony…
ANTONY
Pardon me, Caius Cassius:
I’m sorry, Caius Cassius.
The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
For even Caesar’s enemies would say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
But, from a friend, it is a simple truth.
CASSIUS
I blame you not for praising Caesar so;
I do not blame you praising Caesar like this.
But what compact mean you to have with us?
But what agreement do you plan with us?
Will you be pricked in number of our friends;
Will you be listed as a friend of ours
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
Or shall we leave and not depend on you?
ANTONY
Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed,
I shook your hands in friendship, but, in truth,
Swayed from the point, by looking down on Caesar.
My own allegiance swayed observing Caesar.
Friends am I with you all and love you all,
I am a friend to all of you, and love you,
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
And it’s my hope that you will give me reason
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
Why you considered Caesar dangerous.
BRUTUS
Or else were this a savage spectacle:
If not, this would have been pure savagery.
Our reasons are so full of good regard
Our reasons are so good and comprehensive,
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
That even if you were the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.
You would be satisfied.
ANTONY
That's all I seek:
That’s all I want;
And am moreover suitor that I may
And also, may I ask to be allowed
Produce his body to the market-place;
To take his body to the marketplace,
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
And in the pulpit, as a friend would do,
Speak in the order of his funeral.
Speak in the service at his funeral.
BRUTUS
You shall, Mark Antony.
You can, Mark Antony.
CASSIUS
Brutus, a word with you.
A word, please, Brutus.
[Aside to BRUTUS]
You know not what you do: do not consent
You don’t know what you’re doing. Don’t allow
That Antony speak in his funeral:
That Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral.
Know you how much the people may be moved
You know public opinion may be swayed
By that which he will utter?
By what he has to say?
BRUTUS
By your pardon;
With your permission,
I will myself into the pulpit first,
I’ll put myself into the pulpit first
And show the reason of our Caesar's death:
And will explain why Caesar had to die.
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
I will announce what Antony declares,
He speaks by leave and by permission,
He says it with our blessing and permission,
And that we are contented Caesar shall
And that we’ve satisfied ourselves that Caesar
Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
Will have a proper and a lawful funeral.
It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
It will do us more good than do us harm.
CASSIUS
I know not what may fall; I like it not.
I don’t know what will happen. I don’t like it.
BRUTUS
Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body.
Mark Antony: here, you take Caesar’s body.
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
You will not blame us in your funeral speech,
But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,
But only speak about the strengths of Caesar,
And say you do't by our permission;
And say you speak with our express permission,
Else shall you not have any hand at all
But if you don’t agree, you’ll play no part
About his funeral: and you shall speak
In Caesar’s funeral service. And you’ll speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
From the same pulpit where I’m going to speak,
After my speech is ended.
And do so after me.
ANTONY
Be it so.
That’s fine by me.
I do desire no more.
I ask for nothing more.
BRUTUS
Prepare the body then, and follow us.
Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
[Exeunt all but ANTONY]
ANTONY
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
Forgive me, bleeding corpse, becoming dust,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
That I am soft and gentle with these butchers.
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
You are the ruins of the finest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
That ever lived in all eternity.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Misfortune and despair to those who did this!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,--
Over your bleeding body, I predict—
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
Which as your bleeding wounds are lips that can’t speak
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue--
To beg to say the things that I will say—
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
A curse will be discharged on every man;
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Domestic violence and civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
Will sweep across all parts of Italy;
Blood and destruction shall be so in use
Destruction, blood and death will be so common,
And dreadful objects so familiar
And dreadful sights be so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
That mothers will just smile when they observe
Their infants quartered with the hands of war;
Their children butchered, chopped to death by war,
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds:
All pity lost, as violence is the norm;
And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
And Caesar’s spirit, desperate for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
With Ate, the God of Strife from hell, stood by him,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Will, here within this room and with a king’s voice,
Cry 'Havoc', and let slip the dogs of war;
Declare, “Carnage!” unleashing vicious soldiers,
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
And this foul deed will stink to highest heaven
With carrion men, groaning for burial.
By piled-up rotting corpses seeking graves.
[Enter a Servant]
You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?
You are Octavius Caesar’s servant, aren’t you?
SERVANT
I do, Mark Antony.
I am, Mark Antony.
ANTONY
Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.
Caesar wrote him a note to come to Rome.
SERVANT
He did receive his letters, and is coming;
He got those letters and he’s coming here;
And bid me say to you by word of mouth--
He asked for me to let you know in person…
O Caesar!--
Oh, Caesar!
[Seeing the body]
ANTONY
Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.
You are big-hearted. Go away and cry.
Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes,
Your sadness is infectious, for my eyes,
Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,
Observing tears that well up in your own,
Began to water. Is thy master coming?
Begin to cry. So, is your master coming?
SERVANT
He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome.
He’s in a lodge tonight not far from Rome.
ANTONY
Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced:
Ride swiftly back to him; tell him what’s happened.
Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
For Rome is now in mourning, and is dangerous,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;
And for Octavius, Rome isn’t safe yet.
Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile;
Now, hurry off and tell him. Wait a moment;
Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse
Don’t go to him until I’ve brought this corpse
Into the market-place: there shall I try
Into the marketplace. There I will test,
In my oration, how the people take
By what I say, how people do react
The cruel issue of these bloody men;
To this deed that those bloody men have done,
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
And based on that, then you’ll go and explain
To young Octavius of the state of things.
To young Octavius the state of things.
Lend me your hand.
Help me lift him.
[Exeunt with CAESAR's body]
