Julius Caesar
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.
And this way have you well expounded it.
DECIUS.
I have, when you have heard what I can say;
And know it now. The Senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render’d, 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.
Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, Cinna and Publius.
And look where Publius is come to fetch me.
PUBLIUS.
Good morrow, Caesar.
CAESAR.
Welcome, Publius.
What, Brutus, are you stirr’d so early too?
Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,
Caesar was ne’er so much your enemy
As that same ague which hath made you lean.
What is’t o’clock?
BRUTUS.
Caesar, ’tis strucken eight.
CAESAR.
I thank you for your pains and courtesy.
Enter Antony.
See! Antony, that revels long a-nights,
Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.
ANTONY.
So to most noble Caesar.
CAESAR.
Bid them prepare within.
I am to blame to be thus waited for.
Now, Cinna; now, Metellus; what, Trebonius!
I have an hour’s talk in store for you:
Remember that you call on me today;
Be near me, that I may remember you.
TREBONIUS.
Caesar, I will. [_Aside._] and so near will I be,
That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
CAESAR.
Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me;
And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
BRUTUS.
[_Aside._] That every like is not the same, O Caesar,
The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon.
[_Exeunt._]
SCENE III. A street near the Capitol.
Enter Artemidorus, reading a paper.
ARTEMIDORUS.
_“Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca;
have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber;
Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wrong’d Caius Ligarius. There
is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Caesar. If
thou be’st not immortal, look about you: security gives way to
conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee!
Thy lover, Artemidorus.”_ Here will I stand till Caesar pass along, And
as a suitor will I give him this. My heart laments that virtue cannot
live Out of the teeth of emulation. If thou read this, O Caesar, thou
mayest live; If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.
[_Exit._]
SCENE IV. Another part of the same street, before the house of Brutus.
Enter Portia and Lucius.
PORTIA.
I pr’ythee, boy, run to the Senate-house;
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.
Why dost thou stay?
LUCIUS.
To know my errand, madam.
PORTIA.
I would have had thee there and here again,
Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.
[_Aside._] O constancy, be strong upon my side,
Set a huge mountain ’tween my heart and tongue!
I have a man’s mind, but a woman’s might.
How hard it is for women to keep counsel!
Art thou here yet?
LUCIUS.
Madam, what should I do?
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And so return to you, and nothing else?
PORTIA.
Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,
For he went sickly forth: and take good note
What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy, what noise is that?
LUCIUS.
I hear none, madam.
PORTIA.
Pr’ythee, listen well.
I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
LUCIUS.
Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
Enter the Soothsayer.
PORTIA.
Come hither, fellow:
Which way hast thou been?
SOOTHSAYER.
At mine own house, good lady.
PORTIA.
What is’t o’clock?
SOOTHSAYER.
About the ninth hour, lady.
PORTIA.
Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol?
SOOTHSAYER.
Madam, not yet. I go to take my stand,
To see him pass on to the Capitol.
PORTIA.
Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?
SOOTHSAYER.
That I have, lady, if it will please Caesar
To be so good to Caesar as to hear me,
I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
PORTIA.
Why, know’st thou any harm’s intended towards him?
SOOTHSAYER.
None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.
Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow.
The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,
Of Senators, of Praetors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
I’ll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.
[_Exit._]
PORTIA.
I must go in.
[_Aside._] Ay me, how weak a thing
The heart of woman is! O Brutus,
The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!
Sure, the boy heard me. Brutus hath a suit
That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint.
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
Say I am merry; come to me again,
And bring me word what he doth say to thee.
[_Exeunt._]
ACT III
SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting.
A crowd of people in the street leading to the Capitol. Flourish. Enter
Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna,
Antony, Lepidus, Artemidorus, Publius, Popilius and the Soothsayer.
CAESAR.
The Ides of March are come.
SOOTHSAYER.
Ay, Caesar; but not gone.
ARTEMIDORUS.
Hail, Caesar! Read this schedule.
DECIUS.
Trebonius doth desire you to o’er-read,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.
ARTEMIDORUS.
O Caesar, read mine first; for mine’s a suit
That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.
CAESAR.
What touches us ourself shall be last serv’d.
ARTEMIDORUS.
Delay not, Caesar. Read it instantly.
CAESAR.
What, is the fellow mad?
PUBLIUS.
Sirrah, give place.
CASSIUS.
What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.
Caesar enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise.
POPILIUS.
I wish your enterprise today may thrive.
CASSIUS.
What enterprise, Popilius?
POPILIUS.
Fare you well.
[_Advances to Caesar._]
BRUTUS.
What said Popilius Lena?
CASSIUS.
He wish’d today our enterprise might thrive.
I fear our purpose is discovered.
BRUTUS.
Look how he makes to Caesar: mark 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.
BRUTUS.
Cassius, be constant:
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
CASSIUS.
Trebonius knows his time, for look you, Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
[_Exeunt Antony and Trebonius. Caesar and the Senators take their
seats._]
DECIUS.
Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
BRUTUS.
He is address’d; press near and second him.
CINNA.
Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
CAESAR.
Are we all ready? What is now amiss
That Caesar and his Senate must redress?
METELLUS.
Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart.
[_Kneeling._]
CAESAR.
I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turn pre-ordinance and first decree
Into the law of children. Be not fond,
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
That will be thaw’d from the true quality
With that which melteth fools; I mean sweet words,
Low-crooked curtsies, and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished:
If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Caesar dost not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.
METELLUS.
Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar’s ear
For the repealing of my banish’d brother?
BRUTUS.
I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar;
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
CAESAR.
What, Brutus?
CASSIUS.
Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon:
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
CAESAR.
I could be well mov’d, 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-fix’d and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber’d 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 furnish’d 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,
Unshak’d of motion: and that I am he,
Let me a little show it, even in this,
That I was constant Cimber should be banish’d,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
CINNA.
O Caesar,—
CAESAR.
Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?
DECIUS.
Great Caesar,—
CAESAR.
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
CASCA.
Speak, hands, for me!
[_Casca stabs Caesar in the neck. Caesar catches hold of his arm. He is
then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and at last by Marcus
Brutus._]
CAESAR.
_Et tu, Brute?_—Then fall, Caesar!
[_Dies. The Senators and People retire in confusion._]
CINNA.
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
CASSIUS.
Some to the common pulpits and cry out,
“Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!”
BRUTUS.
People and Senators, be not affrighted.
Fly not; stand still; ambition’s debt is paid.
CASCA.
Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
DECIUS.
And Cassius too.
BRUTUS.
Where’s Publius?
CINNA.
Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
METELLUS.
Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar’s
Should chance—
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.
CASSIUS.
And leave us, Publius; lest that the people
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
BRUTUS.
Do so; and let no man abide this deed
But we the doers.
Enter Trebonius.
CASSIUS.
Where’s Antony?
TREBONIUS.
Fled to his house amaz’d.
Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run,
As it were doomsday.
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.
CASCA.
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
BRUTUS.
Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
So are we Caesar’s friends, that have abridg’d
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 market-place,
And waving our red weapons o’er our heads,
Let’s all cry, “Peace, freedom, and liberty!”
CASSIUS.
Stoop then, and wash. How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
In States unborn, and accents yet unknown!
BRUTUS.
How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompey’s basis lies along,
No worthier than the dust!
CASSIUS.
So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be call’d
The men that gave their country liberty.
DECIUS.
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.
Enter a Servant.
BRUTUS.
Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony’s.
SERVANT.
Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;