The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 545
Forgive me, Caesar that I am meek and gentle with these butchers! You were the noblest man who ever lived. I curse the hand that shed your blood! Over your wounds I swear a curse upon their lives. Domestic fury and fierce civil strife will erupt all over Italy. It will be so awful and become so customary that mothers will smile when their infants are torn apart. Caesar’s spirit will get revenge as it cries in a kingly voice, “Havoc,” and the dogs of war are released. Dying men will groan to be buried.
Enter a servant.
You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?
You are a servant for Octavius Caesar, aren’t you?
Servant
I do, Mark Antony.
I am, Mark Antony.
Antony
Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.
Caesar wrote to him and asked him to come to Rome.
Servant
He did receive his letters, and is coming; And bid me say to you by word of mouth,-- [Seeing the body.] O Caesar!--
He did receive his letters and is coming. He asked me to tell you… Oh, Caesar!
Sees the body.
Antony
Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep. Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes, Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, Began to water. Is thy master coming?
Your heart is big. Go ahead and cry. The passion I see in your eyes is contagious for now my eyes are watering. Is your master coming?
Servant
He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.
He is with seven Roman battalions tonight.
Antony
Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced. Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, No Rome of safety for Octavius yet; Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay awhile; Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse Into the market-place: there shall I try, In my oration, how the people take The cruel issue of these bloody men; According to the which thou shalt discourse To young Octavius of the state of things. Lend me your hand.
Go back quickly and tell him what has happened. Rome is dangerous and not safe for Octavius, yet. No, stay awhile. Don’t leave until I take the body to the market-place. We will see how the people respond to this bloody event. Then you can let Octavius know how things are. Give me a hand.
Exit with Caesar’s body.
Enter Brutus, Cassius, and a throng of Citizens
Citizens
We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.
Tell us something to satisfy us.
Brutus
Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.-- Cassius, go you into the other street And part the numbers.-- Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here; Those that will follow Cassius, go with him; And public reasons shall be rendered Of Caesar's death.
Then follow me and listen, friends. Cassius, go part the crowds. Those who want to hear me speak, stay. Everyone else, go with Cassius. We will explain the reasons for Caesar’s death.
First Citizen
I will hear Brutus speak.
I want to hear Brutus speak.
Second Citizen
I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons, When severally we hear them rendered.
I will listen to Cassius, so we can compare their reasons.
Exit Cassius with some of the Citizens. Brutus goes into the pulpit.
Third Citizen
The noble Brutus is ascended: silence!
The noble Brutus is ready. Silence!
Brutus
Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my cause; and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe: censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer,--Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his ambition. Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.
Please hear me out. Romans, countrymen, and lovers of Caesar, be quiet and listen to what I have to say. By my honor, believe me I loved Caesar as well as anyone. You are probably wondering why I rose against him. My reason is this, I loved Rome more. Ask yourself, if you had rather Caesar lived and die as a slave or had Caesar dead and live as free men. For his love, I wept for him. He was a fortunate man, and I rejoiced in his fortune. He was brave, and I honored him. But, he was ambitious, so I killed him. If there is anyone here whom I have offended, then you are not a true Roman. Is there anyone who wants to speak against their country? I’m waiting.
All
None, Brutus, none.
None, Brutus, none.
Brutus
Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enroll'd in the Capitol, his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy;, nor his offenses enforced, for which he suffered death.
Then I haven’t offended anyone. I have done no more to Caesar than you would do to me. Now you know the reasons for his death. He was a man worthy of glory, but his offences for which he died could not be tolerated.
Enter Antony and others with Caesar’s body.
Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this I depart-- that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death.
Here comes his body, carried by Mark Antony, who had no part in his death but will benefit by taking a place in the senate. Is there anyone who objects? Now, I will depart saying I killed my best friend for the good of Rome. I hold the same dagger for myself, if it is for the good of Rome.
All
Live, Brutus! live, live!
Live, Brutus, live, live!
First Citizen
Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
Take him home with triumph.
Second Citizen
Give him a statue with his ancestors.
Erect a statue in his honor.
Third Citizen
Let him be Caesar.
Let him be Caesar.
Fourth Citizen
Caesar's better parts Shall be crown'd in Brutus.
Let him be crowned as an equal to Caesar.
First Citizen
We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.
Let’s carry him to his house and shout in victory.
Brutus
My countrymen,--
My countrymen…
Second Citizen
Peace! silence! Brutus speaks.
Be quiet! Silence! Brutus speaks.
First Citizen
Peace, ho!
Be quiet!
Brutus
Good countrymen, let me depart alone, And, for my sake, stay here with Antony: Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech Tending to Caesar's glory; which Mark Antony, By our permission, is allow'd to make. I do entreat you, not a man depart, Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
My good countrymen, let me depart alone. Stay here with Antony and honor Caesar’s body and listen to Antony’s speech glorifying Caesar. We are allowing Mark Antony to speak, so I’m asking that you stay until Antony is finished.
Exit.
First
Citizen
Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.
Stay everyone! Let’s listen to Mark Antony.
Third Citizen
Let him go up into the public chair; We'll hear him.--Noble Antony, go up.
Let him go up to the podium. We’ll listen to him. Go on, noble Antony.
Antony
For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.
For Brutus’s sake, I will.
Goes into the pulpit.
Fourth Citizen
What does he say of Brutus?
What did he say about Brutus?
Third Citizen
He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholding to us all.
He said he was going to speak for Brutus’s sake and he owed it to us.
Fourth Citizen
'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.
He better not talk poorly about Brutus here.
First Caesar
This Caesar was a tyrant.
This Caesar was a tyrant.
Third Citizen
Nay, that's certain: We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
That’s for sure. We are blessed that Rome is rid of him.
Second Citizen
Peace! let us hear what Antony can say.
Be quiet! Let’s hear what Antony has to say.
Antony
You gentle Romans,--
Gentle Romans…
Citizens
Peace, ho! let us hear him.
Silence! Let’s hear what he has to say.
Antony
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones: So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: If it were so, it was a grievous fault; And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it. Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest,-- For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, all honorable men,-- Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And, sure, he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love him once,--not without cause: What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him?-- O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason!--Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me.
Friends, Romans, and countrymen, listen to me. I have come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil men do doesn’t die with them, but the good is often buried with them. So, it will be true of Caesar. Brutus has told you of Caesar’s ambition, and he is noble man. He has brought many prisoners home to Rome whose ransoms filled Rome’s banks. Did Caesar seem ambitious when the he cried with the poor? Yet, Brutus said Caesar was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man. You all saw at the Lupercal I offered the crown to Caesar three times, and he refused each time. Did this seem like ambition? Yet, honorable Brutus said he was. I am not speaking to disagree with Brutus. I only speak of what I know. You all loved Caesar once and not without cause. Why aren’t you mourning for him, now? Let you be judged as beasts without reason. Give me a moment; my heart is with Caesar. I must pause a moment until it comes back to me.
First Citizen
Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.
He makes a lot of sense.
Second Citizen
If thou consider rightly of the matter, Caesar has had great wrong.
If you think about it, Caesar has been wronged.
Third Citizen
Has he not, masters? I fear there will a worse come in his place.
I’m afraid someone worse than him will take his place.
Fourth Citizen
Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown; Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.
Listen to his words. He refused the crown; therefore, he was not ambitious.
First Citizen
If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
Some will agree to that.
Second Citizen
Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
Poor man! Look at Antony’s eyes. They are as red as fire from crying.
Third Citizen
There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
There is not a nobler man than Antony in all of Rome.
Fourth Citizen
Now mark him; he begins again to speak.
Listen! He is starting to speak again.
Antony
But yesterday the word of Caesar might Have stood against the world: now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence. O masters, if I were disposed to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong, Who, you all know, are honourable men: I will not do them wrong; I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself, and you, Than I will wrong such honourable men. But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar,-- I found it in his closet,--'tis his will: Let but the commons hear this testament,-- Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,-- And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds, And dip their napkins in his sacred blood; Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, And, dying, mention it within their wills, Bequeathing it as a rich legacy Unto their issue.
Yesterday, Caesar’s words would have stood up against any in the world. Now, he lies there, and no one is revering him. If I caused you men to be angry with honorable Brutus and Cassius, I would do them a wrong, as well as you and myself. Here’s the will of Caesar, I found in his study. If you could hear his last will and testament, you would kiss Caesar’s wounds and beg for a hair to remember him by, which you would leave as a legacy in your will to pass down. I don’t mean to read it though.
First Citizen
We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.
We’ll hear it. Read it Mark Antony!
All
The will, the will! We will hear Caesar's will.
The will! The will! We want to hear Caesar’s will!
Antony
Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you. You are not wood, you are not stones, but men; And, being men, hearing the will of Caesar, It will inflame you, it will make you mad. 'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs; For if you should, O, what would come of it!
Gentle friends, be patient. I mustn’t read it. You shouldn’t know how much Caesar loved you. You are not made of wood or stone, and if you hear it, you will be angry. You should not hear that you were his heirs. I am scared to think what would happen next!
Fourth Citizen
Read the will! we'll hear it, Antony; You shall read us the will,--Caesar's will!
Read the will. We want to hear it, Antony. Read us the will of Caesar.
Antony
Will you be patient? will you stay awhile? I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it: I fear I wrong the honorable men Whose daggers have stabb'd Caesar; I do fear it.
Will you be patient and stay a little longer? I shouldn’t have told you about it. I am afraid I have caused harm to the honorable men who killed Caesar.
Fourth Citizen
They were traitors: honourable men!
Honorable men! They were traitors.
All
The will! The testament!
The will! The testament!
Second Citizen
They were villains, murderers. The will! read the will!
They were villains! Murderers! Read the will.
Antony
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You will compel me, then, to read the will? Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar, And let me show you him that made the will. Shall I descend? and will you give me leave?
You will force to read the will? Then, make a ring around Caesar’s body, and let me show you who wrote it. Let me come down. Make way.
Several Citizens
Come down.
Come down.
Second Citizen
Descend.
Come down.
Third Citizen
You shall have leave.
We will make way.
Antony comes down.
Fourth Citizen
A ring! stand round.
Make a ring around the body.
First Citizen
Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.
Stand around the body.
SECOND CITIZEN
Room for Antony!--most noble Antony!
Antony
Nay, press not so upon me; stand far' off.
Give me some room. Stand back.
Several Citizens
Stand back; room! bear back.
Stand back. Make room.
Antony
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this mantle: I remember The first time ever Caesar put it on; 'Twas on a Summer's evening, in his tent, That day he overcame the Nervii. Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through: See what a rent the envious Casca made: Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd; And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away, Mark how the blood of Caesar follow'd it,-- As rushing out of doors, to be resolved If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no; For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel: Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him! This was the most unkindest cut of all; For when the noble Caesar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart; And, in his mantle muffling up his face, Even at the base of Pompey's statua, Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell. O, what a fall was there, my countrymen! Then I, and you, and all of us fell down, Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us. O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel The dint of pity: these are gracious drops. Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here, Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.