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.BRUTUS.You shall,Mark Antony.CASSIUS.Brutus,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?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.CASSIUS.I know not what may fall;I like it not.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.ANTONY.Be it so,I do desire no more.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 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.
Enter a Servant.
You serve Octavius Caesar,do you not?SERVANT.I do,Mark Antony.ANTONY.Caesar did write for 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!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?SERVANT.He lies tonight within seven leagues 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 corse 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.Exeunt with Caesar's body.
SCENE II.The Forum.
Enter Brutus and Cassius,and a throng of Citizens.
CITIZENS.We will be satisfied!Let us be satisfied!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.FIRST CITIZEN.I will hear Brutus speak.SECOND CITIZEN.I will hear Cassius and compare their reasons,When severally we hear them rendered.Exit Cassius,with some Citizens.Brutus goes into the pulpit.THIRD CITIZEN.The noble Brutus is ascended.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 honor,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 honor him;but as he was ambitious,I slew him.There is tears for his love,joy for his fortune,honor for his valor,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.ALL.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 enrolled in the Capitol,his glory not extenuated,wherein he was worthy,nor his offenses enforced,for which he suffered death.
Enter Antony and others,with Caesar's body.