SCENE 2: THE FORUM. — Shakespeare Retold

[Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens]

CITIZENS

We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.

We want to know the truth! We want our fears allayed!

BRUTUS

Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.

Well, come with me then, friends, and I will tell you.

Cassius, go you into the other street,

Cassius, go out into the other street

And part the numbers.

And split the crowd.

Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here;

If you would like to hear me speak, stay here;

Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;

To hear from Cassius, go the other way.

And public reasons shall be rendered

And we’ll make public each and every reason

Of Caesar's death.

For Caesar’s death.

FIRST CITIZEN

I will hear Brutus speak.

SECOND CITIZEN

I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons,

I will hear Cassius, then compare the reasons,

When severally we hear them rendered.

When separately we’ve heard their messages.

[Exit CASSIUS, with some of the Citizens. BRUTUS goes into the pulpit]

THIRD CITIZEN

The noble Brutus is ascended: silence!

Be quiet! Brutus now is in the pulpit.

BRUTUS

Be patient till the last.

Be patient; hear all that I have to say.

Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my

Romans, countrymen and lovers, listen

cause, and be silent, that you may hear: believe me

in silence so you hear me well. Believe me

for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that

against my honour, and, respecting it,

you may believe: censure me in your wisdom,

you must believe me. Judge me rationally

and awake your senses, that you may the better judge.

and wake your powers of intellect to judge me.

If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of

If there is anybody here who was

Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar

a friend of Caesar, know I loved him too

was no less than his. If then that friend demand

as much as you did. If you then demand

why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:

to know why I killed Caesar, this is why:

--Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved

it’s not that I did not love Caesar, but that

Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and

I loved Rome more. Would you prefer he lived but

die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live

we all die slaves, or Caesar dead, we all live

all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;

as free men? As Caesar loved me, I cry for him;

as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant,

I’m happy he was lucky; I respected

I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I

his bravery. But his ambition caused me

slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his

to kill him. I have tears for love; delight

fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his

for his good luck; respect for valour; death

ambition. Who is here so base that would be a

for his ambition. Who would be a slave?

bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended.

If yes, speak up, if I’ve offended you.

Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If

Who wouldn’t be a Roman? If yes, speak,

any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile

if I’ve offended you. Who here’s so awful

that will not love his country? If any, speak;

they do not love their country? If yes, speak,

for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.

if I’ve offended you. I’ll wait a moment.

ALL

None, Brutus, none.

No one, Brutus. No one.

BRUTUS

Then none have I offended. I have done no more to

Then I’ve offended no one. I’ve done no more

Caesar than you shall do to Brutus.

to Caesar than you’d do to me if I wronged.

The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol;

The reason for his death is listed in

his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy,

the Capitol, his glories not diminished

nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death.

nor crimes exaggerated prior to death.

[Enter ANTONY and others, with CAESAR's body]

Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony:

Here comes his corpse, mourned by Mark Antony,

who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive

who, though he had no part in Caesar’s death,

the benefit of his dying, a place in the

he’ll benefit from it, for he’ll receive

commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this

part of the commonwealth, as will you all!

I depart,--that, as I slew my best lover for the

I’ll leave you with this thought: I killed my friend

good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself,

for greater good of Rome; and this same dagger

when it shall please my country to need my death.

I’ll use to kill myself when Rome demands.

ALL

Live, Brutus! Live, live!

FIRST CITIZEN

Bring him with triumph home unto his house.

Let’s carry him triumphantly back home!

SECOND CITIZEN

Give him a statue with his ancestors.

Give him a statue with his ancestors!

THIRD CITIZEN

Let him be Caesar.

Let him be Caesar!

FOURTH CITIZEN

Caesar's better parts

All the strengths of Caesar

Shall be crowned in Brutus.

Shall be crowned in Brutus!

FIRST CITIZEN

We'll bring him to his house

We’ll take him to his house

With shouts and clamours.

Cheering in celebration!

BRUTUS

My countrymen,--

My countrymen…

SECOND CITIZEN

Peace, silence! Brutus speaks.

Be quiet! Brutus speaks.

FIRST CITIZEN

Peace, ho!

Yes, be quiet!

BRUTUS

Good countrymen, let me depart alone,

Good countrymen, I’m going to leave alone,

And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:

But, for my sake, stay here with Antony.

Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech

Respect the corpse of Caesar, and the speech

Tending to Caesar's glories; which Mark Antony,

Of Caesar’s glories, which Mark Antony,

By our permission, is allowed to make.

by our permission, is allowed to say.

I do entreat you, not a man depart,

I urge you all that no one here should leave,

Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

except for me, till Antony has spoken.

[Exit]

FIRST CITIZEN

Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.

Stay here and let us hear Mark Antony!

THIRD CITIZEN

Let him go up into the public chair;

Let him go up into the public pulpit.

We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.

We’ll stay and listen; Antony, go up.

ANTONY

For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.

Through Brutus, I am obligated to you.

[Goes into the pulpit]

FOURTH CITIZEN

What does he say of Brutus?

Third Citizen

He says, for Brutus' sake,

That for Brutus,

He finds himself beholding to us all.

He finds that he is obligated to us.

FOURTH CITIZEN

'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.

It’s best he says no bad things here of Brutus.

FIRST CITIZEN

This Caesar was a tyrant.

THIRD CITIZEN

Nay, that's certain:

That’s for sure.

We are blest that Rome is rid of him.

It is a blessing Rome is rid of him.

SECOND CITIZEN

Peace! Let us hear what Antony can say.

Be quiet and let’s hear Mark Antony.

ANTONY

You gentle Romans,--

You gentle Romans…

CITIZENS

Peace, ho! Let us hear him.

Quiet! Let us hear him.

ANTONY

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

I’m here to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

The evil that men do lives after them;

The bad things people do live on post death;

The good is oft interred with their bones;

But they take good things with them to their grave.

So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus

And so it is with Caesar. Noble Brutus

Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:

Has told you all that Caesar was ambitious.

If it were so, it was a grievous fault,

If that is true, it is a dreadful fault,

And grievously hath Caesar answered it.

And dreadfully has Caesar paid the price.

Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest--

With Brutus’s and with other men’s permission—

For Brutus is an honourable man;

For Brutus is an honourable man,

So are they all, all honourable men--

Just like them all, all honourable men—

Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.

I’ve come to speak at Caesar’s funeral.

He was my friend, faithful and just to me:

He was my friend, loyal and kind to me,

But Brutus says he was ambitious;

But Brutus says that Caesar was ambitious,

And Brutus is an honourable man.

He hath brought many captives home to Rome

He brought back many captives here to Rome

Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:

And massive ransom payments filled our treasury.

Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?

Does this make Caesar seem ambitious to you?

When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:

When paupers cried, then Caesar wept as well;

Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:

Ambitious men are made of sterner stuff.

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;

Yet Brutus says that Caesar was ambitious,

And Brutus is an honourable man.

You all did see that on the Lupercal

You all saw on the day of Lupercal

I thrice presented him a kingly crown,

Three times I offered him a crown of kings,

Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?

And three times he refused. Is that ambition?

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;

Yet Brutus says that Caesar was ambitious,

And, sure, he is an honourable man.

And surely he’s an honourable man.

I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,

I am not saying this to disprove Brutus;

But here I am to speak what I do know.

I’m saying this to tell you what I know.

You all did love him once, not without cause:

You all loved Caesar once, not without reasons.

What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?

So, now, what reasons stop you mourning him?

O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,

It seems that judgement’s fled to brutish beasts

And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;

And men have lost ability to think!

My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,

Stay here: my heart’s with Caesar in the coffin,

And I must pause till it come back to me.

And I must pause until I get it back.

FIRST CITIZEN

Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.

It seems he talks an awful lot of sense.

SECOND CITIZEN

If thou consider rightly of the matter,

If you consider clearly what has happened,

Caesar has had great wrong.

Caesar’s been treated terribly.

THIRD CITIZEN

Has he, masters?

He has?

I fear there will a worse come in his place.

I fear that someone worse just might replace him.

FOURTH CITIZEN

Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown;

You heard him, right? He wouldn’t take the crown,

Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.

And so that proves Caesar was not ambitious.

FIRST CITIZEN

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

If that is proven, someone has to pay.

SECOND CITIZEN

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

Poor soul, his eyes are glowing red from crying.

THIRD CITIZEN

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

There’s not a finer man in Rome than Antony.

FOURTH CITIZEN

Now mark him, he begins again to speak.

Let’s watch him, as he starts to talk again.

ANTONY

But yesterday the word of Caesar might

Just yesterday our Caesar could have spoken,

Have stood against the world; now lies he there.

Defending you from foes. But now he lies there,

And none so poor to do him reverence.

And nobody’s so poor they don’t respect him.

O masters, if I were disposed to stir

Good people, if I were inclined to stir

Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,

Your thoughts and actions into mutiny,

I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,

Then I’d do wrong by Cassius and Brutus,

Who, you all know, are honourable men:

Who, you all know, are honourable men.

I will not do them wrong; I rather choose

I won’t betray them. I would rather choose

To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,

Than I will wrong such honourable men.

Than I’d betray such honourable men.

But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar;

But here’s a document with Caesar’s wax seal.

I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:

I found it in his closet. It’s his will.

Let but the commons hear this testament--

If all the general public heard these words,

Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read--

Which, I am sorry, I don’t plan to read you,

And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds

Then they would go and kiss dead Caesar’s wounds

And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,

And dip their hankies in his sacred blood,

Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,

Or beg to have a hair as a memento,

And, dying, mention it within their wills,

And when they’re dying, write it in their will

Bequeathing it as a rich legacy

Unto their issue.

To all their children.

FOURTH CITIZEN

We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.

Let’s hear the will! Read it, Mark Antony!

ALL

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

The will, the will! We will hear Caesar’s will!

ANTONY

Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;

Be patient, gentle friends. I must not read it.

It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.

It isn’t right you know how Caesar loved you.

You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;

You are not soulless stones or wood: you’re men.

And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar,

And, as you’re men, if you heard Caesar’s will,

It will inflame you, it will make you mad:

It will incense you; it will make you mad!

'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;

It’s good that you don’t know that you’re his heirs,

For, if you should, O, what would come of it!

For if you did know, what would happen then?

FOURTH CITIZEN

Read the will; we'll hear it, Antony;

Read the will! We’ll hear it, Antony.

You shall read us the will, Caesar's will.

You must 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:

By telling you, I’ve told you more than I should.

I fear I wrong the honourable men

I fear I have betrayed those decent men

Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar; I do fear it.

Whose daggers murdered Caesar. That’s what I fear.

FOURTH CITIZEN

They were traitors: honourable men!

They were traitors! Honourable men?

ALL

The will! The testament!

SECOND CITIZEN

They were villains, murderers: the will! Read the will.

They’re villains, murderers. Read out the will!

ANTONY

You will compel me, then, to read the will?

Are you compelling me to read the will?

Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,

Then form a ring around the corpse of Caesar,

And let me show you him that made the will.

Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?

Shall I come down? Do I have your permission?

SEVERAL CITIZENS

Come down.

SECOND CITIZEN

Descend.

THIRD CITIZEN

You shall have leave.

You have got our permission.

[ANTONY comes down]

FOURTH CITIZEN

A ring; stand round.

Let’s form a ring.

FIRST CITIZEN

Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.

Stand back from both the platform and the body.

Second Citizen

Room for Antony, most noble Antony.

Make room for Antony, most noble Antony.

ANTONY

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

Don’t push on me. Stand back.

SEVERAL CITIZENS

Stand back; room; bear back.

Stand back! Make room! Stand back!

ANTONY

If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.

You all do know this mantle: I remember

You all do know this cloak. I can remember

The first time ever Caesar put it on;

The first time ever Caesar put it on.

'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,

It was a summer’s evening in his tent,

That day he overcame the Nervii:

The day he beat the Belgium tribe, the Nervii.

Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through:

This is the hole where Cassius’ dagger went.

See what a rent the envious Casca made:

Check out this cut that jealous Casca made.

Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabbed;

And this hole here, the well-loved Brutus stabbed,

And as he plucked his cursed steel away,

And as he pulled his wretched dagger out,

Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it,

See how the blood of Caesar followed it,

As rushing out of doors, to be resolved

As though it’s rushing outside to discover

If Brutus so unkindly knocked, or no;

If Brutus had unkindly knocked or not.

For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel:

You know Brutus was Caesar’s guardian angel;

Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!

Then judge, oh gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!

This was the most unkindest cut of all;

This cut here was the cruellest cut of all,

For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,

Because, when Caesar saw the stab from Brutus,

Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,

The pain from his ungratefulness hurt more,

Quite vanquished him: then burst his mighty heart;

And that’s what killed him; then his heart burst open,

And, in his mantle muffling up his face,

And, with his cloak pulled up over his face—

Even at the base of Pompey's statua,

And this was at the base of Pompey’s statue,

Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.

Which, through it all, dripped blood—great Caesar fell.

O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!

Oh, what a fall it was, my countrymen!

Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,

Then me and you and all of us fell down,

Whilst bloody treason flourished over us.

Whilst bloody treason triumphed over us.

O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel

I see you’re crying, and I sense you feel

The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.

The pangs of pity. Those are worthy tears.

Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold

Dear people, do you weep when all you see

Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,

Is Caesar’s bloodied cloak? Then look at this,

Here is himself, marred, as you see, with traitors.

Here is the man himself, hacked up by traitors!

FIRST CITIZEN

O piteous spectacle!

Oh, what an awful sight!

SECOND CITIZEN

O noble Caesar!

Oh, noble Caesar!

THIRD CITIZEN

O woeful day!

Oh, what a dreadful day!

FOURTH CITIZEN

O traitors, villains!

Oh, traitors! Villains!

FIRST CITIZEN

O most bloody sight!

Oh, what a bloody awful sight!

SECOND CITIZEN

We will be revenged.

We will get our revenge!

ALL

Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!

Revenge! Let’s find them! Burn them! Kill them!

Let not a traitor live!

No traitor can survive!

ANTONY

Stay, countrymen.

Wait, countrymen.

FIRST CITIZEN

Peace there! Hear the noble Antony.

Wait up! Let’s hear the noble Antony.

SECOND CITIZEN

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

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

ANTONY

Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up

Good friends, sweet friends, don’t let me whip you up

To such a sudden flood of mutiny.

Into a frenzy, seeking mutiny.

They that have done this deed are honourable:

Those men that did this deed are honourable.

What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,

Regrettably, I do not know their gripes

That made them do it: they are wise and honourable,

That made them do this. They are wise and honourable,

And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.

And, surely, they’ll explain their reasons to you.

I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:

I haven’t come to change your loyalties.

I am no orator, as Brutus is;

I am no orator, like Brutus is,

But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,

But, as you know, I am a man of candour

That love my friend; and that they know full well

Who loved his friend, and those men know that well

That gave me public leave to speak of him:

Who gave me the permission I could speak here.

For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,

For I don’t have the wit, the words, the skill,

Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,

The mannerisms, or the power of speech,

To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;

To stir men’s blood. I tell it as it is.

I tell you that which you yourselves do know;

I tell you things that you already know,

Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,

And show you Caesar’s wounds, like mouths that can’t speak,

And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus,

But wish they spoke for me. If I were Brutus,

And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony

And he was me, you’d hear an Antony

Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue

Who’d whip you up in fury, putting tongues

In every wound of Caesar that should move

In every wound of Caesar that would move

The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.

The heart and soul of Rome to mutiny.

ALL

We'll mutiny.

We’ll mutiny!

FIRST CITIZEN

We'll burn the house of Brutus.

We’ll burn the house of Brutus!

THIRD CITIZEN

Away, then! come, seek the conspirators.

Let’s go! Let’s find the wicked men who did this!

ANTONY

Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.

Wait up, my countrymen; I’ve more to say.

ALL

Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony!

Be quiet! Let’s hear noble Antony!

ANTONY

Why, friends, you go to do you know not what:

You’re leaving, friends, but don’t know what to do!

Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?

For what has Caesar done for you to love him?

Alas, you know not: I must tell you then:

Alas, you do not know. But I will tell you.

You have forgot the will I told you of.

You have forgotten of the will I mentioned.

ALL

Most true. The will! Let's stay and hear the will.

That’s true; the will! Let’s stay and hear the will.

ANTONY

Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal.

Here is the will; removing Caesar’s seal:

To every Roman citizen he gives,

To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

To each and every man, seventy-five drachmas.

SECOND CITIZEN

Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death.

Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge his death!

THIRD CITIZEN

O royal Caesar!

Oh, royal Caesar!

ANTONY

Hear me with patience.

Please, hear me out.

ALL

Peace, ho!

Be quiet, once again.

ANTONY

Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,

And also, he has left you all his pathways,

His private arbours and new-planted orchards,

His private gardens, and new-planted orchards

On this side Tiber; he hath left them you,

On this side of the Tiber river. They’re yours

And to your heirs for ever, common pleasures,

For you and your descendants; common pleasures

To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.

To walk around for your rejuvenation.

Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?

For this was Caesar! Will another come?

FIRST CITIZEN

Never, never. Come, away, away!

Never, never! Come on, let’s go!

We'll burn his body in the holy place,

We will cremate him on a funeral pyre,

And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.

And from it, torch those traitor’s houses down!

Take up the body.

Lift up the body.

SECOND CITIZEN

Go fetch fire.

Go and fetch the fire.

THIRD CITIZEN

Pluck down benches.

Break up the wooden benches.

FOURTH CITIZEN

Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.

Brings seats and window frames. Bring anything!

[Exeunt Citizens with the body]

ANTONY

Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,

Now let that work. There’s mischief in the air;

Take thou what course thou wilt!

Do what you will.

[Enter a Servant]

How now, fellow!

What’s up now, good fellow?

SERVANT

Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.

Sir, Octavius has already come to Rome.

ANTONY

Where is he?

SERVANT

He and Lepidus are at Caesar's house.

He and Lepidus are at Caesar’s house.

ANTONY

And thither will I straight to visit him:

And I will go there right away to see him.

He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,

He comes as I had hoped. I’m getting lucky

And in this mood will give us any thing.

And being lucky, anything can happen.

SERVANT

I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius

I heard him say that Cassius and Brutus

Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.

Fled out the gates of Rome like they were mad.

ANTONY

Belike they had some notice of the people,

It’s probable they’d heard how all the people

How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.

Were moved by me. Lead me on to Octavius.

[Exeunt]