Julius Caesar

drama
INTRODUCTION
JULIUS CAESAR is the story of a man's personal dilemma over moral action, set against the
backdrop of strained political drama. Julius Caesar, an able general and a conqueror returns
to Rome amidst immense popularity after defeating the sons of Pompey. The people
celebrate his victorious return and Mark Antony offers him the crown which he refuses.
Jealous of Caesar's growing power and afraid he may one day become a dictator, Cassius
instigates a conspiracy to murder Caesar. He realizes that to gain legitimacy in the eyes of
the Romans, he must win over the noble Brutus to his side for Brutus is one of the most
trusted and respected among all Romans
Brutus, the idealist, joins the conspiracy feeling that everyone is driven by motives as
honorable as his own. Ironically, Caesar is murdered at the foot of Pompey's statue.
SCRIPT
Act 2 scene 2

Caesar’s House
Thunder and lightning. CAESAR enters, wearing a
nightgown.

Caesar
Characters
Neither the sky nor the earth have been at peace tonight. Three times
Caesar
Calphurnia cried out in her sleep, “Help, ho! They murder Caesar!”
[He hears a noise]
Calphurnia
Who’s there?

Julius Caesar drama

A SERVANT enters. Mark Antony

Trebonius
Servant
Decius Brutus
My lord.
Marcus Brutus

Caesar Metellus
Go bid the priests do present sacrifice and bring me their interpretation of Cassius
the results.
Casca

Cinna
Servant
I will, my lord Antony’s Servant

Servant
The SERVANT exits. CALPHURNIA enters.
Citizen 1

Citizen 2
Calphurnia 1
What mean you, Caesar? Do you think you’re going to go outside? You Citizen 3
shall not stir out of your house toda
Citizen 4
Caesar
 Caesar shall go out. The things that threaten me have never seen anything but my back. When they shall
see The face of Caesar, they are vanished.

Calphurnia
Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. One of our servants told me that —in
addition to the things that we have heard and seen—the night-watchmen have also seen horrid things. A
lioness gave birth in the streets, and graves opened wide and let out their dead. Fierce fiery warriors fought
upon the clouds. In ranks and squadrons until blood drizzled upon the Capito

Caesar

Who can avoid what the gods want to happen? Still, Caesar will go out. These omens have to do with the
world in general as much as they have to do with Caesar.

Calphurnia
When beggars die there are no comets seen. The heavens only light up to announce the deaths of princes.
Julius Caesar drama

Caesar
Cowards die many times before their deaths. The brave only die once. Of all the wonders that I yet have
heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear, Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come
when it will come.

The SERVANT enters

Caesar
What say the priests?

Servant
They don’t want you to go out today. When they pulled out the insides of the holy sacrifice. They could not
find a heart within the beast.

Caesar
The gods do this in shame of cowardice. Caesar should be a beast without a heart If he should stay at
home today for fear. No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well That Caesar is more dangerous than he.
Danger and I are two lions born from the same mother on the same day, and I’m the older and fiercer one.
And Caesar shall go forth.
2
 Calphurnia
Alas, my lord, your wisdom is consumed in confidence. Do not go forth today. Call it my fear That keeps you
in the house, and not your own. We’ll send Mark Antony to the senate house, And he shall say you are not
well today. [kneels] Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

Caesar
Mark Antony shall say I am not well, and for thy humor I will stay at home.

CALPHURNIA stands. DECIUS enters

Caesar
Here’s Decius Brutus. He shall tell them so.

Decius Brutus
Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar. I come to fetch you to the senate house.

Caesar
And you’ve come at just the right time. To bear my greeting to the senators And tell them that I will not
come today. “Cannot” is false, and that I dare not, falser. I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius.

Calphurnia
Say he is sick.

Julius Caesar drama

Caesar
Shall Caesar send a lie? Have I been so victorious in battle, to be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

Decius Brutus
Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so.

Caesar
The cause is in my will. I will not come. That is enough to satisfy the senate. But because I like you, I'll tell
you for your personal satisfaction. My wife Calphurnia has asked me to stay home. She dreamed last night
that she saw a statue of me, that was streaming pure blood, like a fountain with a hundred spouts. And many
happy Romans came smiling and washed their hands in it. Calphurnia thinks the dreams are warnings and
omens of approaching evil and on her knee Hath begged that I will stay at home today.

Decius Brutus
This dream is all amiss interpreted. It was a vision fair and fortunate. Your statue spouting blood in
many pipes, in which so many smiling Romans bathed, signifies that from you great Rome shall suck Reviving
blood, and that great men shall press for tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance. This by Calphurnia’s dream
is signified.

Caesar 3
This is a very good interpretation.
 Decius Brutus
I will have interpreted it well, after you have heard the rest of what I have to say. The Senate has decided to
give mighty Caesar a crown today. If you send them word that you won’t come, they may change their minds.
Besides, it was a mock. Apt to be rendered for someone to say, “Break up the senate till another time When
Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams.” If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper, “Lo, Caesar is
afraid?” Pardon me, Caesar. For my dear, dear love To your proceeding bids me tell you this, And reason to
my love is liable.

Caesar
How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia! I am ashamed I did yield to them. Give me my robe, for I
will go.

BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS, CINNA, and PUBLIUS enter.

Caesar
Good friends, come in and have some wine with me. And we will leave together right after that, like friends.

Decius Brutus
[aside] That every “like” is not the same, O Caesar, the heart of Brutus earns to think upon.
Julius Caesar drama

They all exit.

4
 Act 3 scene 1
Rome. Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS
BRUTUS, METELLUS CIMBER, TREBOUIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS,
POPILIUS, PUBLIUS and others.

Caesar
Are we all ready? What are the problems that Caesar and his senate should deal with?

Metellus
[Kneeling] Most high, most mighty, and most powerful Caesar, Metellus Cimber kneels before
you with a humble heart.

Caesar

Julius Caesar drama

I must prevent you, Cimber. Your kneeling and overly humble courtesies might flatter ordinary men to
turn
Roman law into some kind of child's game. But don’t be so foolish as to think that you can influence Caesar to
do something that is not right through the tricks that persuade fools— flattery, low bows, and pathetic dog-like
fawning. Your brother was banished by decree. If you kneel and beg and flatter for him, I’ll kick you like a
dog out of my way. Know that Caesar does not punish him without good reason, and will not give him what
he wants without good reason.

Metellus
Is there no voice more worthy than my own to sound more sweetly in great Caesar’s ear for the repealing of
my banished brother?

Marcus Brutus
Caesar, I kiss your hand, but not in flattery, desiring that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of
repeal.

Caesar
What, Brutus?

Cassius
5
Pardon, Caesar. Caesar, pardon.I throw myself down at your feet to beg that Publius Cimber regain his
citizenship.
 Caesar
I could be well moved if I were as you. If I could beg others to change their minds, begging would convince me,
too. But I am constant as the northern star, whose stable and immobile quality has no equal in the sky. The
skies are filled with countless stars. They are all made of fire, and every single one shines. But there's just one
out of all of them that holds its central place. The world is the same way. It's full of men—and men are flesh and
blood, and capable of understanding. Yet of them all, I know just one who is beyond questioning and
immovable, who never shifts from his position. I am that man, and I will show you in this way: I was resolved
that Cimber should be banished, and I am resolved that he should remain banished.

Cinna
[kneeling] O Caesar

Caesar
Hence! Would you try to lift up Mount Olympus?

Decius Brutus
[Kneeling] Great Caesar

Caesar
Julius Caesar drama

Why are you kneeling, when even Brutus' kneeling is in vain?

Casca
Speak, hands, for me!

CASCA and the other conspirators stab CAESAR. BRUTUS stabs him last.

Caesar
And you too, Brutus?

[To himself] Then die, Caesar. [He dies]

Cinna
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.

Cassius
Some of us should go to the public platforms, and cry out, “Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!”
Confusion. Some citizens and senators exit.

Marcus Brutus
6 People and senators, be not affrighted. Fly not. Stand still. Caesar alone had to die for his ambition.

Casca
Go to the platform, Brutus.
Decius Brutus
And Cassius too.

Marcus Brutus
Where’s Publius?

Cinna
Here, quite confounded with this mutiny

Metellus
Stand close together, in case some friend of Caesar tries

Marcus Brutus
Don’t talk about standing together.
[To PUBLIUS] —Publius, good cheer. There is no harm intended to your person, Nor to no Roman else. So, tell
them,

Julius Caesar drama

Publius.

Cassius
And leave us, Publius, lest that the people, rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.

Marcus Brutus
Do so. And let no man abide this deed but we the doers.

PUBLIUS exits. TREBONIUS enters.

Cassius
Where is Antony?

Trebonius
Fled to his house amazed. Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run As it were doomsday.

Marcus Brutus
We'll soon discover what the Fates want to happen to us. We already know that we'll all die one day. It’s
just a matter of when. Men try to control that by prolonging the time they have left to live as long as possible.
7
Cassius
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
 Marcus Brutus
Grant that, and then is death a benefit. So are we Caesar’s friends, that have abridged His time of fearing
death. Stoop, Romans, stoop, and let us bathe our hands in Caesar’s blood Up to the elbows, and smear our
swords with it. Then walk we forth, even to the marketplace, And waving our red weapons o'er our heads Let’s
all cry, “Peace, freedom and liberty!”

Cassius
Stoop, then, and wash.

The conspirators smear their hands and swords with CAESAR’s blood.

Cassius
How many ages hence Shall this our lofty scene be acted over in countries that don’t yet exist, and in
languages not yet known?!

Marcus Brutus
How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport, , just as he now lies beneath Pompey’s statue as worthless
as dust?!
Julius Caesar drama

Cassius
So oft as that shall be, So often shall the knot of us be called “The men that gave their country liberty.”

Decius Brutus
What, shall we forth?

Cassius
Ay, every man away. Brutus shall lead, and we will grace his heels with the most boldest and best
hearts of Rome.

ANTONY'S SERVANT enters.

Marcus Brutus
Wait! Who comes here? A friend of Antony’s

Antony’s Servant
[Kneeling] Brutus, my master told me to kneel just like this. [He lays down with his head down to the
floor] And like this. He told me to prostrate myself, and, being on the ground like this, he told me to say: “Brutus
is noble, wise, brave, and honest. Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving. Antony loves Brutus and honors
him. Antony feared Caesar, honored him, and loved him. If Brutus will promise that Antony would be safe to
8 come to him and hear and explanation why Caesar deserved to be killed, Mark Antony will not love dead Caesar
as much as living Brutus. And he will follow noble Brutus through the hard times of this unprecedented state of
affairs.” So says my master, Antony.
 Marcus Brutus
Your master is a wise and valiant Roman. I never thought him worse. Tell him that if he wants to come here.
He shall be satisfied and, by my honor, Depart untouched.

Antony’s Servant
[rising] I’ll fetch him presently

ANTONY'S SERVANT exits

Marcus Brutus
But here comes Antony.
[To ANTONY] Welcome, Mark Antony.

Mark Antony
[To CAESAR's body] Oh, mighty Caesar! Do you lie so low? Are all of your conquests, glories,
triumphs, and successes now shrunk to such little value? Farewell. [To the conspirators] Gentlemen, I don’t
know what you plan to do; who else you must kill ; If it’s me, there’s no time as fitting as this hour of Caesar’s
death As Caesar’s death’s hour, nor no instrument Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich With the
most noble blood of all this world. I beg you, if you have a grudge against me, do what you want to do right now
while your purpled hands do reek and smoke, Fulfill your pleasure. Live a thousand years, I shall not find myself
so apt to die. Even if were I to live a thousand years, I would never find another moment when I would be as

Julius Caesar drama

ready to die as I am now. There’s no place I’d rather die than next to Caesar, and no manner of death I'd prefer
than being stabbed by you, the leaders of this new era.

Marcus Brutus
Oh, Antony, don’t beg us to kill you. Though now we must appear bloody and cruel— As by our
hands and
this our present act You see we do —yet see you but our hands And this the bleeding business they have done.
Our hearts you see not. They are full of pity for Caesar. But, just as fire drives out fire, our pity for the wrongs
committed against Rome overcame our pity for Caesar and made us do what we did to Caesar. For your part, To
you our swords have soft points, Mark Antony. Our arms in strength of malice and our hearts filled with
brotherly love With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.

Cassius
Your voice shall be as strong as any man’s in the selection of new government officials.

Marcus Brutus
Just be patient until we’ve calmed the masses, who are beside themselves with fear. And then we
will deliver you the cause, Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him, Have thus proceeded.

Mark Antony

I don’t doubt your wisdom. May each of you give me his bloody hand. [He shakes hands with the
conspirators]
9
[To BRUTUS] First, Marcus Brutus, I will shake your hand.

[To CASSIUS] Next, Caius Cassius, I take your hand.

 [To DECIUS] Now, Decius Brutus, yours.

[To METELLUS] Now yours, Metellus.

[To CINNA] Yours, Cinna.

[To CASCA] And, my valiant Casca, yours.

[To TREBONIUS] Though I shake your hand last, I do not love you the least, good Trebonius.

[To the conspirators] All of you gentlemen, alas, what can I say? Now that we’ve shaken hands, my credibility
stands on such slippery ground that you must think me either a coward or a flatterer.

[To CAESAR's body] It is true that I loved you, Caesar. If your spirit is looking down upon us now, would it
grieve you more than even your death to see your Antony making peace, and shaking the bloody hands of your
enemies—most noble enemies!—in the presence of your corpse? If I had as many eyes as you have wounds,
and they wept tears as fast as your wounds stream blood, even that would be more becoming than joining your
enemies in friendship. Forgive me, Julius! Here is where you were brought down, like a brave deer surrounded
by hunting dogs. Here is where you fell, and here your hunters still stand, stained and reddened by your blood.
Oh, world, you were the forest to this deer. And this deer, oh world, was your dear. Now you lie here, so much
like a deer, stabbed by many princes!
Julius Caesar drama

Cassius
Mark Antony

Mark Antony

Pardon me, Caius Cassius. The enemies of Caesar shall say this; Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Cassius
I blame you not for praising Caesar so. But what compact mean you to have with us? Will you be
marked down as one of our friends, or should we move on without depending on you?

Mark Antony
Therefore I took your hands, But, indeed, I was distracted when I looked down at Caesar. Upon this hope: that
you shall give me reasons Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.

Marcus Brutus
If we couldn't, killing him would have been just some savage act! Our reasons are so full of good regard
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar, You should be satisfied.

Mark Antony
10 That’s all I seek—and would also ask the favor that I be allowed to bring his body to the marketplace and
stand on the platform and Speak in the order of his funeral.

Marcus Brutus
You shall, Mark Antony.
Cassius
Brutus, a word with you . [aside to BRUTUS] You know not what you do. Do not consent That Antony
speak in his funeral. Know you how much the people may be moved By that which he will utter?

Marcus Brutus
[To CASSIUS so that only he can hear] If you'll agree, I myself will stand on the platform first and explain
the reason for Caesar’s death. I will protest, He speaks by leave and by permission, And that we are contented
Caesar shall Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies. It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
Cassius
[To BRUTUS so that only he can hear] Anything could happen. I like it not.

Marcus Brutus
Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar’s body. You will not blame us in your funeral speech, But speak all good
you can devise of Caesar, And say you do ’t by our permission. Otherwise, you won't take any part in his funeral.
And you’ll speak on the same platform that I do, after I've finished my own speech.

Mark Antony
Be it so. I do desire no more.

Marcus Brutus

Julius Caesar drama

Prepare the body then, and follow us.

Everyone exits except ANTONY.

Mark Antony
Oh, pardon me, you bleeding corpse, for being quiet and friendly with these butchers! You are the
remains of the noblest man that ever lived. May disaster strike the hand that shed this priceless blood.
Over your wounds—which, like speechless mouths, open their red lips as if to beg me to speak—I predict
that a curse will come down on us. Anger between brothers and fierce civil war will burden all of Italy.
Blood and destruction will be so common and dreadful events so familiar, that mothers will just smile
when they watch their babies cut to pieces by the hands of war. The sheer volume of evil deeds will choke
people’s compassion. And Caesar’s ghost—searching for revenge with Atë by his side—will rush up from
hell and cry in the voice of a king, “Havoc!” His ghost will unleash the dogs of war, so that this foul murder
will cover the earth with men’s corpses, begging to be buried.

11
 Act 3 scene 2
BRUTUS and CASSIUS enter with a crowd of PLEBEIANS

PLEBEIANS

We will be satisfied! Let us be satisfied!

BRUTUS

Then follow me and give me audience, friends,

(To Cassius) Cassius, go on to the next street. Split up the crowd.

(To Plebeians) Let those who want to hear me speak stay here. Those who want to hear me from
Julius Caesar drama

Cassius, go with him. We’ll explain the reasons behind Caesar’s death publicly.

FIRST PLEBEIN

I will hear Brutus speak.

ANOTHER PLEBEIAN

I will hear Cassius and compare their reasons when severally we hear them rendered.

(Cassius exits with some of the plebeians. Brutus gets up on the platform.)

THIRD PLEBEIAN

The noble Brutus has ascended the platform. Silence!

BRUTUS
12
Be patient till he lasts. Romans, countrymen, and

lovers! Hear me for my cause, and be silent that you may hear.
Do me the honor of believing me, and know that, upon my honor, you can believe me.

Be wise in your judgement of me, and keep your minds alert so that you can judge me wisely.

If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s to him 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.

As Caesar loved me, I weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it.

As he was valiant, I honor him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him.

There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition.

Who is here so wretched that would be a bondman?

If any, speak—from him have I offended.

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

If any, from him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country?

Julius Caesar drama

If any, speak—for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.

ALL

None, Brutus, none.

BRUTUS

Then none have I offended. I’ve done no more to Caesar than you shall do to me.

The reasons of his death is enrolled in the Capitol. His glory has not been reduced where he earned it,

Nor have the offenses for which he was killed been exaggerated.

Here comes his body. Mourned by Mark Antony, who,

Though he had no part in killing Caesar, will benefit from his death—full citizenship in the

Commonwealth, and which of you won’t benefit from that?

With this I depart: that, as I slew my best friend for the good of Rome, I have the same
13
Dagger for myself when it shall please my country to need my death.
 ALL

Live, Brutus! Live, Live!

FIRST PLEBEIAN

Let’s carry him in triumph to his house!

SECOND PLEBEIAN

Give him a statue with near those of his ancestors!

THIRD PLEBEIAN

Let him become Caesar!

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Julius Caesar drama

We will crown Brutus, who has all of Caesar’s better qualities.

FIRST PLEBEIAN

We’ll bring him to his house with shouts and clamors.

BRUTUS

My countrymen—

SECOND PLEBEIAN

Peace, silence! Brutus speaks.

FIRST PLEBEIAN

Peace, ho!
14

BRUTUS
Good countrymen, let me depart alone. And, for my sake, stay here with Anothy.

Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, as well as to Antony’s speech

About Caesar’s glories—which we have given him our permission to make.

I beg that none of you leave until Antony has spoken, except for me.

FIRST PLEBEIAN

Stay, ho! And let us hear Mark Antony.

THIRD PLEBEIAN

Let him go up into the public chair. We’ll hear to him

[To ANTONY] Noble Antony, mount the platform.

ANTONY

Julius Caesar drama

For Brutus’ sake, I am indebted to you.

[He steps up onto the platform]

FOURTH PLEBEIAN

What does he say of Brutus?

THIRD PLEBEIAN

He says that for Brutus’ sake he finds himself indebted to us all.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN

He’d better not say that for Brutus’ sake he finds himself indebted to us all.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
15
This Caesar was a tyrant.
 THIRD PLEBEIAN

That’s certain! We’re lucky that Rome is rid of him.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN

Peace! Let us hear what Antony has to say.

ANTONY

You noble Romans—

ALL

Peace, ho! Let us hear him.

ANTONY
Julius Caesar drama

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

The evil that men do is remembered after they die, but the good is often buried with their bones.

May it be that way with Caesar. The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious.

If it were so, it was a terrible fault, and both Caesars paid terribly for it.

Now with the permission of Brutus and the others—for Brutus is an honorable man,

as all the others are honorable men—I have come to speak at Caesar’s funeral.

He was my friend, faithful and loyal just to me. But Brutus says he was ambitious,

And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives’ home to Rome

Whose ransoms filled the treasury.

Did Caesar seem ambitious when he did this?

When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept.

Ambitions shouldn’t be so tender-hearted. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,

16
And Brutus is an honorable man.

You all saw that on the feast day of Lupercal, I offered Caesar a king’s crown thrice.
Which he did thrice refuse.

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,

And, sure, Brutus is an honorable man.

I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, but here I am to speak what I do know.

You all loved Caesar once, and not without reason. So, what reason stops you from mourning him?

Oh, gods! You have become brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason!

Apologies for that outburst. My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause until

It returns to me. [He weeps]

FIRST PLEBEIAN

I think there is much reason in his sayings.

SECOND PLEBEIAN

Julius Caesar drama

If you think about it the right way, Caesar has been badly wronged.

THIRD PLEBEIAN

Has he, good sirs? I fear that someone worse that Caesar will come to replace him.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN

Did you listen to Antony’s words? Caesar would not take the crown.

Therefore, it’s certain that he wasn’t ambitious.

FIRST PLEBEIAN

If it can be proven that he wasn’t, certain people will pay dearly for all this.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
17
There’s not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
 FOURTH PLEBEIAN

Now pay attention to him. He begins to speak again.

ANTONY

Just yesterday, no one in the world would have stood against Caesar’s commands.

Now he lies there dead, and no one is so humble as to show him respect.

Oh, sirs, if I were trying to stir your hearts and minds to rage and rebellion,

I would be doing wrong to Brutus and Cassius—who, as you all know,

Are honorable men. I will not do them wrong. I choose rather to wrong the dead,

And wrong myself and you, than wrong such honorable men.

But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar. I found it in his closet.

‘Tis his will. Let the commons hear this testament--

Which, pardon me. I don’t plan on reading to you—And they would go and
Julius Caesar drama

Kiss dead Caesar’s wounds and dip their napkins in his sacred blood

And even beg for a lock of his hair to remember him by. And when they died, they would include the
napkin

Or the hair in their wills, passing it on the their own theirs as a treasured inheritance.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
We’ll hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony!

ALL
The will, the will! We will hear Caesar’s Will.

ANTONY
have patience, gentle friends. I must not read it.
It's not right for you to know how much Caesar loved you. You are not wood, you are not
stones, but men. And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar, It will inflame you, it will make

18 you mad.
It’s better that you not know that you are his heirs. For, if you should—Oh, 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’ve said too much in telling you about it. I fear I wrong the honorable men
60 Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar. I do fear it.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
they were traitors! “Honorable men”!

ALL
The will! The testament!
SECOND PLEBEIAN
They were villains, murderers. The will! Read the will!

Julius Caesar drama

ANTONY
So you'll force me 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 come down? Will you allow me to come down?

SECOND PLEBEIAN Descend.

THIRD PLEBEIAN We’ll allow you.

ANTONY comes down from the platform.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
A ring!
Stand round.

FIRST PLEBEIAN 19
Stand from the hearse. Stand from the body.
 SECOND PLEBEIAN
Room for Antony, most noble Antony!
ANTONY
No, don’t press up against me. Stand further away.
ALL
Stand back. Room! Bear back.

ANTONY
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all know this cloak. I remember the first time ever Caesar put it on.
Taws on a summer’s evening in his tent, that day he defeated the Nervii warriors.
. Look, this is the place where Cassius’s dagger cut through it. See the rip that the envious Casca
made. The much beloved
Brutus stabbed him through this hole 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.
Julius Caesar drama

For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel.

90 Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
This was the unkindest cut of all.
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, stronger than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquished him. Then his mighty heart burst. And with his face covered by his cloak—which
was dripping with blood— great Caesar fell at the base of Pompey’s statue. O, what a fall was there,
my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
while bloody treason celebrated its victory over us. Oh, now you weep, and I see you feel the
pain of pity. These are gracious drops. Good men, do you weep when all you're looking at is
Caesar’s wounded cloak? Look right here, here is the man himself, Kind souls, what, weep you
when you but behold

Our Caesar’s vesture wounded? Look you here,

Here is himself, marred, as you see, with traitors.
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FIRST PLEBEIAN
Oh, what a heartbreaking sight!
SECOND PLEBEIAN
O noble Caesar!
THIRD PLEBEIAN
O woeful day!
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
0 O traitors, villains!
FIRST PLEBEIAN
O most bloody sight!
SECOND PLEBEIAN
We will be revenged.

ALL
Revenge! Look around. Find them! Burn! Set fire!
Kill! Slay! Let not a traitor live!
ANTONY
5 Stay, countrymen.
FIRST PLEBEIAN

Julius Caesar drama

Peace there! Hear the noble Antony.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
We’ll hear him. We’ll follow him. We’ll die with him.

ANTONY
Good friends, sweet friends! Let me not stir you up to such a sudden flood of mutiny.
20 They that have done this deed are honorable.
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it. They are wise and honorable, and will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts.
25 I am no orator, as Brutus is,
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man

battered by traitors, as you can see. [He lifts up

CAESAR's cloak] That love my friend. And that they know full well That gave me public leave to speak
of him. For I have neither it nor words nor worth, 30 I don't have the cleverness, vocabulary, 21

reputation, body language, or eloquence to stir men to passion. I just say what I really think. I tell
 you what you already know. I show you sweet Caesar’s wounds —those poor, poor, speechless
mouths—and ask them to speak for me. 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 each of Caesar’s wounds a voice that would inspire even the stones in Rome
to rise up and rebel.

ALL
We’ll revolt.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
We’ll burn the house of Brutus.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
Julius Caesar drama

Away, then! Come, seek the conspirators.

ANTONY
Yet hear me, countrymen. Yet hear me speak.

ALL
Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony!

ANTONY
Why, friends, you don’t know what you’re doing. What has Caesar done to deserve your love? Alas,
you know not. I must tell you then.
You have forgot the will I told you of.

ALL
That's true. The will! Let’s stay and hear the will.

ANTONY
Here is the will, and under Caesar’s seal
50 To every Roman citizen he gives— to every single man— seventy-five silver coins.

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SECOND PLEBEIAN
Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge his death.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
O royal Caesar!

ANTONY
Hear me with patience.

ALL
Quiet!

ANTONY
Moreover, , he’s left you all of his walkways, his private gardens, and newly planted orchards, on
this side of the Tiber River. He has left them to you and to your heirs forever —common pleasures,
60 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 use the torches to set fire to the traitors' houses Take

Julius Caesar drama

up the body.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
Go fetch fire.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
Pluck down benches.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Pluck down forms, windows, anything.
PLEBEIANS exit with CAESAR’s body.

ANTONY
Now let it work. Mischief, you are on the loose.
Take thou what course thou wilt!

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