Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 1
Rome. Before and within the Capitol.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Flourish. Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Publius, Popilius, Artemidorus, the Soothsayer, and other Senators and Petitioners.
Caesar
The ides of March are come.
Caesar
The fifteenth of March has arrived.
Soothsayer
Ay, Caesar, but not gone.
Soothsayer
Yes, Caesar — but it isn't over.
Artemidorus
Hail, Caesar. Read this schedule.
Artemidorus
Hail, Caesar. Read this document.
Decius
Trebonius doth desire you to o'erread,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.
Decius
Trebonius asks you to read,
at your convenience, this humble request of his.
Artemidorus
O Caesar, read mine first, for mine's a suit
That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.
Artemidorus
Caesar, read mine first — mine is a matter
that concerns Caesar more closely. Read it, great Caesar.
Caesar
What touches us ourself shall be last served.
Caesar
Anything concerning me personally comes last. (That decision kills him. It is his own vanity: a great man puts public business first.)
Artemidorus
Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly.
Artemidorus
Don't delay, Caesar — read it now.
Caesar
What, is the fellow mad?
Caesar
Is the man mad?
Publius
Sirrah, give place.
Publius
You there — step aside.
Cassius
What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.
Cassius
What, are you pressing petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.
Caesar goes forward, the rest following.
Popilius
I wish your enterprise today may thrive.
Popilius
(to Cassius) I hope your undertaking succeeds today.
Cassius
What enterprise, Popilius?
Cassius
What undertaking, Popilius?
Popilius
Fare you well.
Popilius
Good luck to you.
Brutus
What said Popilius Lena?
Brutus
What did Popilius Lena say?
Cassius
He wished today our enterprise might thrive.
I fear our purpose is discoverèd.
Cassius
He hoped our undertaking would succeed today.
I'm afraid our plan has been found out.
Brutus
Look how he makes to Caesar. Mark him.
Brutus
Look — he's heading for Caesar. Watch him.
Cassius
Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.—
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.
Cassius
Casca, be quick — we're afraid of being stopped. —
Brutus, what do we do? If this is known,
either Cassius or Caesar won't be going home,
because I'll kill myself.
Brutus
Cassius, be constant.
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes,
For look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
Brutus
Cassius, hold steady.
Popilius Lena isn't talking about our plan.
Look — he's smiling, and Caesar's expression hasn't changed.
Cassius
Trebonius knows his time, for look you, Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
Cassius
Trebonius knows his cue — look, Brutus,
he's drawing Mark Antony out of the way.
Trebonius and Antony exit.
Decius
Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
Decius
Where's Metellus Cimber? Have him go
and put his request to Caesar right now.
Brutus
He is addressed. Press near and second him.
Brutus
He's ready. Move in close and back him up.
Cinna
Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
Cinna
Casca, you're the first to raise your hand.
Caesar
Are we all ready? What is now amiss
That Caesar and his Senate must redress?
Caesar
Are we all ready? What's wrong now
that Caesar and his Senate must put right?
Metellus
Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart.
Metellus
Most high, most mighty, most powerful Caesar,
Metellus Cimber lays before your chair
a humble heart.
Caesar
I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men
And turn preordinance and first decree
Into the law of children. Be not fond
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
That will be thawed from the true quality
With that which melteth fools—I mean sweet words,
Low-crookèd curtsies, and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banishèd.
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know: Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.
Caesar
I have to stop you there, Cimber.
This crouching and these grovelling courtesies
might stir the blood of ordinary men
and turn settled law and original decree
into a children's game. Don't be so foolish
as to think Caesar's blood is so unruly
that it can be melted out of its true nature
by what melts fools — I mean sweet words,
deep bows, and cringing spaniel flattery.
Your brother is banished by decree.
If you bow and pray and fawn on his behalf,
I'll kick you out of my path like a stray dog.
Understand: Caesar does no injustice, and won't be satisfied
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?
Metellus
Is there no worthier voice than mine
to sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear
for the recall of my banished brother?
Brutus
I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar,
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
Brutus
I kiss your hand, but not as flattery, Caesar,
asking that Publius Cimber
be immediately allowed home.
Caesar
What, Brutus?
Caesar
What — Brutus?
Cassius
Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon!
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
Cassius
Pardon, Caesar — Caesar, pardon!
Cassius falls as low as your foot
to beg freedom for Publius Cimber.
Caesar
I could be well moved, if I were as you.
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me.
But I am constant as the Northern Star,
Of whose true fixed and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks;
They are all fire, and every one doth shine.
But there's but one in all doth hold his place.
So in the world: 'tis furnished well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive.
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion; and that I am he
Let me a little show it, even in this:
That I was constant Cimber should be banished
And constant do remain to keep him so.
Caesar
I could easily be moved, if I were like you.
If I begged to move others, begging would move me.
But I'm as constant as the North Star,
whose genuinely fixed, unmoving nature
has no equal in the whole sky.
The heavens are painted with countless sparks.
They're all fire, and every one shines.
But only one of them holds its position.
It's the same in the world: it's well stocked with men,
and men are flesh and blood, and capable of fear.
Yet among them all I know only one
who holds his place unassailably,
unshaken by anything. And that I am that man,
let me demonstrate a little, in this very case:
I was firm that Cimber should be banished,
and I remain firm in keeping him so. (He has just compared himself to the one fixed point in the universe. He has about ten seconds left.)
Cinna
O Caesar—
Cinna
Caesar—
Caesar
Hence. Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
Caesar
Get away. Are you trying to move a mountain?
Decius
Great Caesar—
Decius
Great Caesar—
Caesar
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
Caesar
Isn't Brutus kneeling in vain already?
Casca
Speak, hands, for me!
Casca
Hands, speak for me!
Casca strikes first; the others rise and stab Caesar.
Caesar
Et tu, Brutè?—Then fall, Caesar.
Caesar
You too, Brutus? — Then fall, Caesar. (The Latin means 'and you, Brutus?' Note that it isn't his last line: he dies giving himself an order.)
He dies.
Cinna
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
Cinna
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run out, announce it, shout it through the streets!
Cassius
Some to the common pulpits and cry out
'Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement.'
Cassius
Some of you get to the public platforms and cry
'Liberty, freedom and emancipation!'
Brutus
People and Senators, be not affrighted.
Fly not; stand still. Ambition's debt is paid.
Brutus
Citizens and senators, don't be afraid.
Don't run — stand still. Ambition's debt has been paid.
Casca
Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
Casca
Go to the platform, Brutus.
Decius
And Cassius too.
Decius
And Cassius too.
Brutus
Where's Publius?
Brutus
Where's Publius?
Cinna
Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
Cinna
Here — completely stunned by this uprising.
Metellus
Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's
Should chance—
Metellus
Stay close together, in case one of Caesar's friends
happens to—
Brutus
Talk not of standing.—Publius, good cheer.
There is no harm intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else. So tell them, Publius.
Brutus
Don't talk about standing firm. — Publius, take heart.
No harm is intended to you,
or to any other Roman. Tell them that, Publius.
Cassius
And leave us, Publius, lest that the people,
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
Cassius
And leave us, Publius, in case the crowd
rushes at us and hurts an old man like you.
Brutus
Do so, and let no man abide this deed
But we the doers.
Brutus
Do that — and let no one answer for this act
except us who did it.
Exeunt all but the conspirators. Enter Trebonius.
Cassius
Where is Antony?
Cassius
Where's Antony?
Trebonius
Fled to his house amazed.
Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run
As it were doomsday.
Trebonius
Fled home in shock.
Men, women and children are staring, screaming and running
as though it were the end of the world.
Brutus
Fates, we will know your pleasures.
That we shall die we know; 'tis but the time,
And drawing days out, that men stand upon.
Brutus
Fates, we'll find out what you intend.
We know we're going to die. It's only the timing,
the stretching out of days, that men care about.
Casca
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
Casca
Well, whoever cuts twenty years off a life
cuts off twenty years of fearing death.
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 besmear our swords.
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!'
Brutus
Grant that, and death is a favour.
So we're Caesar's friends, since we've shortened
his time of fearing death. Kneel down, Romans, kneel,
and let's bathe our hands in Caesar's blood
up to the elbows, and smear our swords.
Then we'll walk out to the marketplace
and, waving our red weapons over our heads,
all cry 'Peace, freedom and liberty!' (The man who said 'let's be sacrificers, not butchers' is now organising a blood ritual.)
Cassius
Stoop then, and wash.
Cassius
Kneel down, then, and wash.
They smear their hands and swords with Caesar's blood.
Cassius
How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
Cassius
How many ages from now
will this noble scene of ours be performed again
in countries not yet born and accents not yet invented!
Brutus
How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompey's basis lies along
No worthier than the dust!
Brutus
How many times will Caesar bleed for entertainment,
who now lies stretched at the base of Pompey's statue
worth no more than dust!
Cassius
So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be called
The men that gave their country liberty.
Cassius
However often that happens,
that's how often our little group will be called
the men who gave their country liberty. (They are standing in a dead man's blood, imagining their reviews. Shakespeare is writing the scene they're predicting.)
Decius
What, shall we forth?
Decius
Well — shall we go out?
Cassius
Ay, every man away.
Brutus shall lead, and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
Cassius
Yes, everyone move out.
Brutus will lead, and we'll follow at his heels
with the boldest and best hearts in Rome.
Enter a Servant.
Brutus
Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's.
Brutus
Wait — who's this? One of Antony's men.
Servant
Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel.
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down,
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving.
Say, I love Brutus, and I honor him;
Say, I feared Caesar, honored him, and loved him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him and be resolved
How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead
So well as Brutus living, but will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
Servant
Brutus, my master told me to kneel like this.
Mark Antony told me to fall down like this,
and once flat on the ground, to say this:
Brutus is noble, wise, brave and honest.
Caesar was mighty, bold, kingly and loving.
Say that I love Brutus and honour him.
Say that I feared Caesar, honoured him and loved him.
If Brutus will guarantee that Antony
can come to him safely and be satisfied
as to how Caesar deserved to die,
then Mark Antony will not love the dead Caesar
as much as the living Brutus, and will follow
noble Brutus's fortunes and affairs
through all the dangers of this uncharted situation
in complete good faith. So says my master Antony.
Brutus
Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman.
I never thought him worse.
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied and, by my honor,
Depart untouched.
Brutus
Your master is a wise and brave Roman.
I never thought otherwise.
Tell him that if he'll come here
he'll get his answers and, on my honour,
leave unharmed.
Servant
I'll fetch him presently.
Servant
I'll fetch him right away.
Exit Servant.
Brutus
I know that we shall have him well to friend.
Brutus
I'm sure we'll have him as a good friend.
Cassius
I wish we may; but yet have I a mind
That fears him much, and my misgiving still
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
Cassius
I hope so — but something in me
fears him a great deal, and my instincts
usually turn out to be shrewdly right.
Enter Antony.
Brutus
But here comes Antony.—Welcome, Mark Antony!
Brutus
But here comes Antony. — Welcome, Mark Antony!
Antony
O mighty Caesar, dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.—
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank.
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
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 do beseech you, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfill your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die;
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
Antony
Mighty Caesar — are you brought so low?
Have all your conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils
shrunk to this small space? Farewell. —
I don't know what you intend, gentlemen,
who else must be bled, who else is overgrown.
If it's me, there's no better hour for it
than the hour of Caesar's death, and no weapon
half so fitting as your swords, made rich
with the noblest blood in the world.
I beg you, if you hold a grudge against me,
now, while your reddened hands still steam,
do what you want. If I lived a thousand years
I'd never be so ready to die.
No place would suit me so well, no manner of death,
as here beside Caesar, cut down by you,
the choicest and greatest spirits of the age. (He is unarmed, alone, surrounded by armed murderers. And he is already working.)
Brutus
O Antony, beg not your death of us!
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 pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
(As fire drives out fire, so pity pity)
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony.
Our arms in strength of malice, and our hearts
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
Brutus
Antony, don't beg us for your death!
Though we must look bloody and cruel now,
as our hands and this act of ours
clearly show, you only see our hands
and the bleeding work they've done.
You can't see our hearts — they're full of pity.
And it was pity for the general wrong done to Rome
— as fire drives out fire, so pity drove out pity —
that did this to Caesar. As for you,
our swords have blunt points, Mark Antony.
Our arms, though strong in violence, and our hearts,
which are brotherly, welcome you in
with kind love, good will and respect.
Cassius
Your voice shall be as strong as any man's
In the disposing of new dignities.
Cassius
Your vote will count as much as anyone's
in handing out the new offices. (Cassius is offering him a bribe within a minute of the murder.)
Brutus
Only be patient till we have appeased
The multitude, 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.
Brutus
Just be patient until we've calmed
the crowd, who are out of their minds with fear.
Then we'll explain to you the reason
why I, who loved Caesar even as I struck him,
have acted this way.
Antony
I doubt not of your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody hand.
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you.—
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand.—
Now, Decius Brutus, yours;—now yours, Metellus;—
Yours, Cinna;—and, my valiant Casca, yours;—
Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.—
Gentlemen all—alas, what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.—
That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true!
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes—
Most noble!—in the presence of thy corpse?
Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
It would become me better than to close
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bayed, brave hart,
Here didst thou fall, and here thy hunters stand
Signed in thy spoil and crimsoned in thy Lethe.
O world, thou wast the forest to this hart,
And this indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
How like a deer strucken by many princes
Dost thou here lie!
Antony
I've no doubt of your good judgment.
Let each of you give me his bloody hand.
First, Marcus Brutus, I'll shake yours. —
Next, Caius Cassius, I take your hand. —
Now, Decius Brutus, yours. — Now yours, Metellus. —
Yours, Cinna. — And my brave Casca, yours. —
Last but not least in affection, yours, good Trebonius. —
Gentlemen all — what can I say?
My reputation stands on such slippery ground now
that you must think me one of two bad things:
either a coward or a flatterer. —
That I loved you, Caesar — that's true!
If your spirit is watching us now,
won't it hurt you more than your own death
to see your Antony making peace,
shaking the bloody fingers of your enemies —
most noble men! — in front of your corpse?
If I had as many eyes as you have wounds,
weeping as fast as they stream your blood,
that would suit me better than making
terms of friendship with your enemies.
Forgive me, Julius! Here you were cornered, brave stag.
Here you fell, and here your hunters stand,
marked with your blood and crimsoned in your death.
World, you were the forest to this stag —
and he, world, was your very heart.
How like a deer struck down by many princes
you lie here!
Cassius
Mark Antony—
Cassius
Mark Antony—
Antony
Pardon me, Caius Cassius.
The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
Antony
Forgive me, Caius Cassius.
Even Caesar's enemies would say this much.
So in a friend, it's cold restraint.
Cassius
I blame you not for praising Caesar so.
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be pricked in number of our friends,
Or shall we on and not depend on you?
Cassius
I don't blame you for praising Caesar like that.
But what agreement do you intend to make with us?
Will you be counted among our friends,
or should we go on without relying on you?
Antony
Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed
Swayed from the point by looking down on Caesar.
Friends am I with you all and love you all,
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
Antony
That's why I took your hands — though I was
distracted from the point by looking down at Caesar.
I'm friends with you all and I love you all,
on this hope: that you'll give me reasons
how and why Caesar was dangerous.
Brutus
Or else were this a savage spectacle.
Our reasons are so full of good regard
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.
Brutus
Otherwise this would just be a savage spectacle.
Our reasons are so well considered
that even if you were Caesar's own son, Antony,
you'd be satisfied.
Antony
That's all I seek;
And am, moreover, suitor that I may
Produce his body to the marketplace,
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.
Antony
That's all I want.
And I also request permission
to take his body to the marketplace
and, from the platform, as a friend should,
speak as part of his funeral.
Brutus
You shall, Mark Antony.
Brutus
You may, Mark Antony.
Cassius
Brutus, a word with you.
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?
Cassius
Brutus, a word.
(aside to Brutus) You don't know what you're doing. Don't agree
to let Antony speak at the funeral.
Do you realise how much the crowd could be moved
by what he says?
Brutus
By your pardon,
I will myself into the pulpit first
And show the reason of our Caesar's death.
What Antony shall speak 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.
Brutus
With your permission —
I'll go up to the platform first myself
and explain the reason for Caesar's death.
I'll make clear that whatever Antony says,
he says by our leave and permission,
and that we're content for Caesar to have
all proper rites and lawful ceremonies.
It'll help us more than harm us. (The single worst decision in the play. Cassius was right.)
Cassius
I know not what may fall. I like it not.
Cassius
I don't know what may happen. I don't like it.
Brutus
Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body.
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us
But speak all good you can devise of Caesar
And say you do 't by our permission,
Else shall you not have any hand at all
About his funeral. And you shall speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.
Brutus
Mark Antony — take Caesar's body.
In your funeral speech you're not to blame us,
but you may say every good thing you can think of about Caesar,
and you must say you're doing it by our permission,
or you'll have no part at all
in his funeral. And you'll speak
from the same platform I'm going to,
after my speech is finished.
Antony
Be it so.
I do desire no more.
Antony
So be it.
I ask for nothing more.
Brutus
Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
Brutus
Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
Exeunt all but Antony.
Antony
O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers.
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever livèd in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy
(Which like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue)
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
Blood and destruction shall be so in use
And dreadful objects so familiar
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quartered with the hands of war,
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds;
And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war,
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men groaning for burial.
Antony
Forgive me, you bleeding piece of earth,
for being mild and polite with these butchers.
You are the ruins of the noblest man
who ever lived in the whole course of history.
Cursed be the hand that spilled this precious blood!
Over your wounds I now prophesy —
wounds that open their red lips like speechless mouths
begging for the voice of my tongue —
that a curse will fall on the bodies of men.
Domestic rage and savage civil war
will burden every part of Italy.
Blood and destruction will be so routine,
and dreadful sights so ordinary,
that mothers will merely smile to see
their babies cut apart by the hands of war,
all pity strangled by the habit of atrocity.
And Caesar's spirit, roaming for revenge
with the goddess of ruin beside him, straight from hell,
will, within these borders, in a king's voice,
cry 'Havoc!' and unleash the dogs of war,
so that this foul deed will stink across the earth
with rotting men groaning for burial.
Enter Octavius's Servant.
Antony
You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?
Antony
You serve Octavius Caesar, don't you?
Servant
I do, Mark Antony.
Servant
I do, Mark Antony.
Antony
Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.
Antony
Caesar wrote asking him to come to Rome.
Servant
He did receive his letters and is coming,
And bid me say to you by word of mouth—
O Caesar!
Servant
He got the letters and is on his way,
and told me to say to you in person—
Oh, Caesar!
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?
Antony
Your heart is full. Go aside and weep.
Grief is catching, I see — my own eyes,
seeing those tears standing in yours,
started to water. Is your master coming?
Servant
He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.
Servant
He's staying tonight within twenty miles of Rome.
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 corpse
Into the marketplace. 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.
Antony
Ride back fast and tell him what's happened.
Rome is in mourning, Rome is dangerous —
not a safe Rome for Octavius yet.
Hurry off and tell him. — No, wait a moment.
You won't go back until I've carried this body
into the marketplace. There I'll test,
in my speech, how the people take
the cruel work of these bloody men.
And based on that you'll report
to young Octavius how things stand.
Give me a hand.
Exeunt with Caesar's body.