The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (896 page)

Antony

Therefore I took your hands; but was indeed


Sway'd 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.

I took your hands in friendship, but lost my focus when I saw Caesar. I am with you all, and I love you. I hope you can entrust in me your reasons for killing Caesar.

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.

We had such noble intentions, that even if you were Caesar’s son you’d be pleased.

Antony

That's all I seek:


And am moreover suitor that I may


Produce his body to the market-place;


And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,


Speak in the order of his funeral.

That’s all I want to know, and I’d like to take his body to the pulpit, like a friend would, and speak at his funeral.

Brutus

You shall, Mark Antony.

You will, Mark Antony.

Cassius

Brutus, a word with you.



Brutus, can I have 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?

You don’t know what you are doing. Don’t allow Antony to speak at his funeral. You don’t know how the people will be affected by what he will say.

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 rights and lawful ceremonies.


It shall advantage more than do us wrong.

I beg your pardon, but I will speak first and tell everyone why we killed Caesar. I will counter anything Antony will say, but we must allow Caesar to have all the ceremony and rites of someone in his position. It will be to our advantage.

Cassius

I know not what may fall; I like it not.

I don’t know what will happen, and I don’t like it at all.

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.

Mark Antony, take Caesar’s body. You may not blame us in your funeral speech. Speak well of Caesar, and let everyone know we’ve given you permission to speak or else you won’t be able to speak at all. You are going to speak after me.

Antony

Be it so;


I do desire no more.

That’s fine. That’s all I want.

Brutus

Prepare the body, then, and follow us.

Prepare the body then, and follow us.

Exit 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 lived 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 quarter'd 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.--

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.