EULOGIES FOR CAESAR: ACCORDING TO SHAKESPEARE

3 Plebeian. The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence!

Brutus. Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear. 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 rejoiced at it; as he was valiant, I honored him, but—as he was ambitious, I slew him. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.

All. None, Brutus, none!

Brutus. Then none have I offended.

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

1 Plebeian. This Caesar was a tyrant.

3 Plebeian.  Nay, that's certain. We are blest that Rome is rid of him.

2 Plebeian. Let us hear what Antony can say.

All.  Peace, ho! Let us hear him.
 

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 answered it. He was my friend, faithful and 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 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 honorable 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 honorable man.  I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, but here I am to speak what I do know.  Bear with me.  My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause till it come back to me.

1     Plebeian. Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.

2  Plebeian. If thou consider rightly of the matter, Caesar has had great wrong.

3  Plebeian. Has he not, masters? I fear there will a worse come in his place.

4 Plebeian. Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown; therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.

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

2   Plebeian. Four soul! His eyes are red as fire with weeping.

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

4  Plebeian. Now mark him. He begins again to speak.

Antony. Yesterday the word of Caesar might have stood against the world. Now lies he there, and none so poor to do him reverence. 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 I do not mean to read,

and they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds

and dip their napkins in his sacred blood.

4 Plebeian. We'll hear the will! Read it, Antony.

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

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

4 Plebian. Read the will! We'll hear it. You shall read us the will, Caesar's will!

Antony. Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile? I fear I wrong the honorable men whose daggers have stabbed Caesar.

4 Plebian. They were traitors.

All.  The will! The testament!

2 Plebian. They were villains, murderers! The will! Read the will!

Antony. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this cloak. I remember the first time ever Caesar put it on. Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through. See what a rent the envious Casca made. Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabbed; and as he plucked his cursed steel away, mark how the blood of Caesar followed it, as rushing out of doors to be resolved.  This was the unkindest cut of all;

for when the noble Caesar saw him stab, ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, vanquished him and burst his mighty heart.

4 Plebeian. O traitors, villains!

1  Plebeian. O most bloody sight!

2  Plebeian. We will be revenged.

All.  Revenge! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay! Let not a traitor live!