The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (899 page)

The people are just as mad. Did you see how I moved them? Bring me to Octavius.

Exit.

Enter Cinna the poet

Cinna the poet

I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Caesar,


And things unluckily charge my fantasy:


I have no will to wander forth of doors,


Yet something leads me forth.

I dreamed tonight that I ate with Caesar,

And unlucky things ran through my fantasy:

I have no desire to enter the door,

Yet, something leads me forward.

Enter Citizens.

First Citizen

What is your name?

What’s your name?

Second Citizen

Whither are you going?

Where are you going?

Third Citizen

Where do you dwell?

Where do you live?

Fourth Citizen

Are you a married man or a bachelor?

Are you married or single?

Second Citizen

Answer every man directly.

Answer each man.

First Citizen

Ay, and briefly.

Yes, but brief.

Fourth Citizen

Ay, and wisely.

And choose your words wisely.

Third Citizen

Ay, and truly; you were best.

Yes and be honest.

Cinna the Poet

What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married man or a bachelor? Then, to answer every man directly and briefly, wisely and truly. Wisely I say I am a bachelor.

What is my name? Where am I going? Where do live? Am I married or single? Well, to answer each of you directly and briefly, wisely and honestly, then I say wisely, “I am a bachelor.”

Second Citizen

That's as much as to say they are fools that marry; you'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly.

Are you saying it is foolish to marry? Careful, you are stepping on my toes. Go on.

Cinna the Poet

Directly, I am going to Caesar's funeral.

Honestly, I am going to Caesar’s funeral.

First Citizen

As a friend, or an enemy?

Are you a friend or enemy?

Cinna the Poet

As a friend.

I am a friend.

Second Citizen

That matter is answered directly.

You answered that well.

Fourth Citizen

For your dwelling,--briefly.

And, where do you live? Be brief.

Cinna the Poet

Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.

I live near the Capitol.

Third Citizen

Your name, sir, truly.

Tell us your name. Don’t lie.

Cinna the Poet

Truly, my name is Cinna.

I am Cinna, honestly.

First Citizen

Tear him to pieces! he's a conspirator.

Tear him to pieces for he is one of the conspirators.

Cinna the Poet

I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.

I am Cinna the poet! I am Cinna the poet.

Fourth Citizen

Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.

Kill him for his bad verses. Kill him for his bad verses.

Cinna the Poet

I am not Cinna the conspirator.

I am not Cinna the conspirator.

Fourth Citizen

It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his


name out of his heart, and turn him going.

It doesn’t matter. His name’s Cinna. Pluck his name right out of his heart.

Third Citizen

Tear him, tear him! Come; brands, ho! firebrands. To


Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's, some to Ligarius': away, go!

Kill him! Kill him! Come, bring your fire. Let’s go to Brutus’s, Cassius’s, and burn them all. Some of you go to Decius’s house and some got to Casca’s and Ligarius’s. Get going!

Exit.

Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus sit at a table.

Antony

These many then shall die; their names are prick'd.

These men will die. Their names are listed.

Octavius

Your brother too must die: consent you, Lepidus?

Your brother must die, too. Are you okay with that, Lepidus?

Lepidus

I do consent,--

I am.

Octavius

Prick him down, Antony.

Write his name down, too, Antony.

Lepidus

--Upon condition Publius shall not live,


Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.

On one condition. Publius, your sister’s son, must also die, Mark Antony.

Antony

He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.


But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar's house;


Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine


How to cut off some charge in legacies.

He shall not live. Look, I have written down his name to be damned. Lepidus, go to Caesar’s house and get his will so we can figure out how to handle it.

Lepidus

What, shall I find you here?

Will you be here when I return?

Octavius

Or here, or at the Capitol.

Here or in the Capitol.

Exit Lepidus.

Antony

This is a slight unmeritable man,


Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit,


The three-fold world divided, he should stand


One of the three to share it?

This man is only fit to be sent on errands. The world is about to be divided. Should he be one of the three to share in this?

Octavius

So you thought him;


And took his voice who should be prick'd to die,


In our black sentence and proscription.

You thought he was when you started to name the men who should die.

Antony

Octavius, I have seen more days than you:


And, though we lay these honors on this man,


To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads,


He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,


To groan and sweat under the business,


Either led or driven, as we point the way;


And having brought our treasure where we will,


Then take we down his load and turn him off,


Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears


And graze in commons.

Octavius, I am older than you, and although, we give this man the job to ease our burden, he will bear it like a donkey bears gold. He will groan and sweat. He will be led or driven, and once we are finished with him, we will take his load and turn him loose to graze in the fields.

Octavius

You may do your will;


But he's a tried and valiant soldier.

Do what you want, but he’s a honorable and courageous soldier.

Antony

So is my horse, Octavius;and for that


I do appoint him store of provender:


It is a creature that I teach to fight,


To wind, to stop, to run directly on,


His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.


And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;


He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth:


A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds


On objects, arts, and imitations,


Which, out of use and staled by other men,


Begin his fashion: do not talk of him


But as a property. And now, Octavius,


Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius


Are levying powers: we must straight make head;


Therefore let our alliance be combined,


Our best friends made, our means stretch'd;


And let us presently go sit in council,


How covert matters may be best disclosed,


And open perils surest answered.

So is my horse, Octavius, and for that I give him food. He is someone who needs to be taught and directed to go forward. He is unspirited and feeds on stale traditions. Now, Octavius, listen. Brutus and Cassius are putting armies together. We must form an alliance and begin to prepare.

Octavius

Let us do so: for we are at the stake,


And bay'd about with many enemies;


And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,


Millions of mischiefs.

Let’s get started for our lives are at stake. We are surrounded by enemies with mischief in their hearts who smile in our face.