Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 2 - Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears

ï»¿ Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 2 - Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears

Julius Caesar

Please see the bottom of the page for full explanatory notes and helpful resources.

ACT III 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;	5
	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.	10
	Exit CASSIUS, with some of the 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 honour, and have respect to mine honour, 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 free men? 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.	33
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 offences
	enforced, for which he suffered death.	39
	Enter ANTONY and others, with CAESAR's body.
	Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who,
	though he had no hand in his death, shall receive
	the benefit of his dying, a place in the
	commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this
	I depart,--that, as I slew my best lover for the
	good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself,
	when it shall please my country to need my death.	46
All	Live, Brutus! live, live!
First Citizen	Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
Second Citizen	Give him a statue with his ancestors.
Third Citizen	Let him be Caesar.
Fourth Citizen	Caesar's better parts	50
	Shall be crown'd in Brutus.
First Citizen	We'll bring him to his house
	With shouts and clamours.
BRUTUS	My countrymen,--
Second Citizen	Peace, silence! Brutus speaks.
First Citizen	Peace, ho!
BRUTUS	Good countrymen, let me depart alone,	55
	And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:
	Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech
	Tending to Caesar's glories; which Mark Antony,
	By our permission, is allow'd to make.
	I do entreat you, not a man depart,	60
	Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
	Exit
First Citizen	Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.
Third Citizen	Let him go up into the public chair;
	We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.
ANTONY	For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.	65
	Goes into the pulpit
Fourth Citizen	What does he say of Brutus?
Third Citizen	He says, for Brutus' sake,
	He finds himself beholding to us all.
Fourth Citizen	'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.
First Citizen	This Caesar was a tyrant.
Third Citizen	Nay, that's certain:
	We are blest that Rome is rid of him.	70
Second Citizen	Peace! let us hear what Antony can say.
ANTONY	You gentle Romans,--
Citizens	Peace, ho! let us hear him.
ANTONY	Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
	I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
	The evil that men do lives after them;	75
	The good is oft interred with their bones;
	So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
	Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
	If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
	And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.	80
	Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest--
	For Brutus is an honourable man;
	So are they all, all honourable men--
	Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
	He was my friend, faithful and just to me:	85
	But Brutus says he was ambitious;
	And Brutus is an honourable man.
	He hath brought many captives home to Rome
	Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
	Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?	90
	When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:
	Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
	Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
	And Brutus is an honourable man.
	You all did see that on the Lupercal	95
	I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
	Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
	Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
	And, sure, he is an honourable man.
	I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,	100
	But here I am to speak what I do know.
	You all did love him once, not without cause:
	What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?
	O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
	And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;	105
	My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
	And I must pause till it come back to me.
First Citizen	Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.
Second Citizen	If thou consider rightly of the matter,
	Caesar has had great wrong.
Third Citizen	Has he, masters?	110
	I fear there will a worse come in his place.
Fourth Citizen	Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown;
	Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.
First Citizen	If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
Second Citizen	Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
Third Citizen	There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.	116
Fourth Citizen	Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
ANTONY	But yesterday the word of Caesar might
	Have stood against the world; now lies he there.
	And none so poor to do him reverence.	120
	O masters, if I were disposed to stir
	Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
	I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
	Who, you all know, are honourable men:
	I will not do them wrong; I rather choose	125
	To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
	Than I will wrong such honourable men.
	But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar;
	I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:
	Let but the commons hear this testament--	130
	Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read--
	And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds
	And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
	Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
	And, dying, mention it within their wills,	135
	Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
	Unto their issue.
Fourth Citizen	We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.
All	The will, the will! we will hear Caesar's will.
ANTONY	Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;
	It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.	141
	You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
	And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar,
	It will inflame you, it will make you mad:
	'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;	145
	For, if you should, O, what would come of it!
Fourth Citizen	Read the will; we'll hear it, Antony;
	You shall read us the will, Caesar's will.
ANTONY	Will you be patient? will you stay awhile?
	I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it:	150
	I fear I wrong the honourable men
	Whose daggers have stabb'd Caesar; I do fear it.
Fourth Citizen	They were traitors: honourable men!
All	The will! the testament!
Second Citizen	They were villains, murderers: the will! read the will.	155
ANTONY	You will compel me, then, to read the will?
	Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,
	And let me show you him that made the will.
	Shall I descend? and will you give me leave?	160
Several Citizens	Come down.
Second Citizen	Descend.
Third Citizen	You shall have leave.
	ANTONY comes down.
Fourth Citizen	A ring; stand round.
First Citizen	Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.
Second Citizen	Room for Antony, most noble Antony.	166
ANTONY	Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.
Several Citizens	Stand back; room; bear back.
ANTONY	If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
	You all do know this mantle: I remember	170
	The first time ever Caesar put it on;
	'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,
	That day he overcame the Nervii:
	Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through:
	See what a rent the envious Casca made:	175
	Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;
	And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
	Mark how the blood of Caesar follow'd it,
	As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
	If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;	180
	For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel:
	Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
	This was the most unkindest cut of all;
	For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
	Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,	185
	Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;
	And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
	Even at the base of Pompey's statua,
	Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
	O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!	190
	Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
	Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
	O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
	The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
	Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold	195
	Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
	Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
First Citizen	O piteous spectacle!
Second Citizen	O noble Caesar!
Third Citizen	O woful day!	200
Fourth Citizen	O traitors, villains!
First Citizen	O most bloody sight!
Second Citizen	We will be revenged.
All	Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!
	Let not a traitor live!
ANTONY	Stay, countrymen.	205
First Citizen	Peace there! hear the noble Antony.
Second Citizen	We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him.
ANTONY	Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
	To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
	They that have done this deed are honourable:	210
	What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
	That made them do it: they are wise and honourable,
	And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.	215
	I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:
	I am no orator, as Brutus is;
	But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
	That love my friend; and that they know full well
	That gave me public leave to speak of him:	220
	For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
	Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
	To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
	I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
	Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,
	And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus,	226
	And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
	Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
	In every wound of Caesar that should move
	The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.	230
All	We'll mutiny.
First Citizen	We'll burn the house of Brutus.
Third Citizen	Away, then! come, seek the conspirators.
ANTONY	Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.
All	Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony!
ANTONY	Why, friends, you go to do you know not what:
	Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?
	Alas, you know not: I must tell you then:
	You have forgot the will I told you of.
All	Most true. The will! Let's stay and hear the will.	240
ANTONY	Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal.
	To every Roman citizen he gives,
	To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.
Second Citizen	Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death.
Third Citizen	O royal Caesar!
ANTONY	Hear me with patience.
All	Peace, ho!
ANTONY	Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
	His private arbours and new-planted orchards,
	On this side Tiber; he hath left them you,	250
	And to your heirs for ever, common pleasures,
	To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
	Here was a Caesar! when comes such another?
First Citizen	Never, never. Come, away, away!
	We'll burn his body in the holy place,	255
	And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.
	Take up the body.
Second Citizen	Go fetch fire.
Third Citizen	Pluck down benches.
Fourth Citizen	Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.
	Exeunt Citizens with the body.
ANTONY	Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,	261
	Take thou what course thou wilt!
	Enter a Servant
	How now, fellow!
Servant	Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
ANTONY	Where is he?
Servant	He and Lepidus are at Caesar's house.
ANTONY	And thither will I straight to visit him:
	He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
	And in this mood will give us any thing.
Servant	I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius	269
	Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
ANTONY	Belike they had some notice of the people,
	How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.
	Exeunt

Next: Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 3

_____

Explanatory Notes for Act 3, Scene 2
From Julius Caesar. Ed. Samuel Thurber. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

____

ACT III

Scene 2

The scene of the famous speeches to the citizens of Rome, -- two of the most widely known passages in all Shakespeare. Notice that Brutus speaks with studied plainness of manner, disdaining oratorical tricks and presenting his case with fewest possible words. He believes that his cause is plainly right and needs no defence. He tries to seem to have brought no passion to his deed as assassin. Antony, on the contrary, uses all the tricks of a mob leader. He is overwhelmed with grief and apologizes for his emotion, which, however, he displays before the people with clever effect. He evidently understands his audience better than does Brutus.

It is still the ides of March, a few hours perhaps after Caesar's death. Up to this point the conspirators have carried everything before them, but in this scene the tide turns and the spirit of Caesar begins to work out its revenge.

4. part the numbers: divide the crowd.

7. And public reasons, etc.: And reasons for Caesar's death shall be publicly set forth.

11. is ascended. We should say "has ascended." The poet frequently uses forms of "be" with verbs that today take "have," as later (V, 3, 25) "my life is run his compass."

13. lovers: friends, -- as often in Shakespeare. So in 44 below, "I slew my best lover" and "Thy lover Artemidorus" (II, 3, 8).

15. have respect to: consider, look to.

16. censure: judge, -- not "find fault with."

26. There is tears. This construction, common enough in Shakespeare's time, has already occurred in the play. Do you remember "Three parts of him is ours"? "There's two or three of us"? "Is Decius and Trebonius there"?

29. bondman: slave. Where did Casca say,

So every bondman in his own hand bears
The power to cancel his captivity?

36, 37. The question of his death, etc. That is, a statement of the reasons why Cassar was put to death is placed in the official records of the Capitol.

38. extenuated: lessened, diminished. enforced. Here just the opposite of extenuated, -- that is, enlarged, exaggerated.

42. the commonwealth. According to Cassius, while Caesar lived, all Romans were "bondmen"; now that he is dead, Brutus believes that the commonwealth will be restored.

52. clamors: cheers.

57. Do grace to: honor, pay respect to.

58. Tending to: indicating, touching upon.

61. Save I alone. Shakespeare often uses the nominative case of pronouns after prepositions where modern grammatical usage demands the objective. See "save only he" in V, 5, 69.

65. I am beholding: I am beholden, or under obligations to you. Notice the marked contrast between Antony's style and that of Brutus.

74. to bury Caesar. The Romans burned their dead. Shakespeare is speaking to an English audience and thinks of English manners and customs, as when he speaks of the coffin in 106 below.

76. oft interred: often buried.

89. the general coffers: the public treasury. In "The Merchant" Portia speaks of the treasury of Venice as "the privy coffer of the state."

103. withholds you then to mourn: keeps you from mourning.

114. dear abide it: dearly pay for it. Where did Brutus say, "Let no man abide (suffer for) this deed But we the doers"?

120. so poor to do: so poor as to do, etc. Antony says there are now none so poor or humble but that Csesar is too low for their regard.

129. closet: room, private study, -- as in II, i, 35, where Lucius said to Brutus, "The taper burneth in your closed, sir."

130. the commons: the common people.

133. napkins: handkerchiefs.

137. issue: children, descendants.

141. meet: fitting, proper.

150. I have o'ershot myself. That is, I have gone too far I have spoken more than I should. To overshoot is to shoot beyond, or over, the mark.

165. hearse: bier, coffin.

167. far: further, -- as often in Shakespeare.

168. Bear back: fall back, move further away.

173. That day he overcame the Nervii. Caesar tells of his great victory over the Nervii, "the stoutest warriors of all the Belgae," in the second book of his "Gallic War." Perhaps none of his conquests had contributed more to his fame and popularity with the common people of Rome, who looked upon him as their great military hero.

175. envious: malicious, spiteful. (Cf. II, i, 178.)

179. resolved: informed, assured. Where did Antony send to Brutus to "be resolved How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death"?

181. angel. That is, Brutus was one whom Caesar could trust as he would his guardian angel. Possibly angel is equivalent here merely to "best-loved friend," "favorite."

183. most unkindest cut. Cassius used a similar double superlative when he spoke of "the most boldest and best hearts of Rome." (See III, i, 122 and note.)

194. dint: impression, influence.

197. marred ... with: mangled by.

213. private griefs: personal grievances.

221. wit: understanding.

222. utterance: gift of speech. Antonyms repeated assertion that he is not eloquent is summed up by his "I only speak right on."

243. every several: each separate. seventy-five drachmas. This is the sum given by Plutarch. The drachma was a Greek coin, worth approximately twenty cents; but of course the purchasing value of the fifteen dollars left by Caesar to each citizen was far greater then than it would be today.

249. orchards: gardens, -- as in the stage direction of II, i.

250. On this side Tiber. Caesar's gardens were in reality on the right bank of the river, or beyond the Tiber. Shakespeare copied the error from North's incorrect translation of Plutarch, left them you. The "you" is placed out of its natural order, and at the end of the line, for emphasis. Contrast this arrangement of the words with "he hath left you them."

252. To walk abroad, etc.: For walking out and refreshing yourselves.

260. forms: seats, benches.

267. He comes upon a wish. That is, he comes just at the time I most wished or desired. Fortune is merry. As we say, "Fortune smiles upon us."

270. Are rid: have ridden. (We still use both chid and chidden as past participles of "chide.")

271. Belike they had, etc.: Probably they had some information of how I had moved, or stirred up, the people.

272. Bring: escort, accompany.

________

How to cite the explanatory notes and scene questions:
Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. Ed. Samuel Thurber. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1919. Shakespeare Online. 26 Feb. 2013. < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/julius_3_2.html >.

Scene Questions for Review

1. Why do you think Shakespeare allows us to hear the speech of Brutus rather than that given by Cassius?

2. Do you believe that Cassius was more or less successful than Brutus in addressing the mob?

3. Do you see any reasons for having Brutus speak in prose? (Notice the form of Antony's oration, beginning with line 73.)

4. What are the most striking qualities of Brutus' speech? How would it have affected you had you been in the crowd?

5. Contrast the opening words of the speeches made by Brutus and Antony to the citizens. Which is the more appealing?

6. Point out several ways in which Antony shows greater knowledge of human nature than does Brutus, -- also greater skill as an orator.

7. What is the effect of Antony's pause at line 107? Is this merely an oratorical trick?

8. What do you feel is the most successful point made by Antony?

9. What is the effect of Antony's repeated reference to the "honorable Brutus"? How would you read these words throughout the speech?

10. Can you explain why Brutus had no lasting effect with the citizens? Would he have been more successful had he followed Antony?

11. Did Antony, in your judgment, foresee his influence upon the mob? Can you follow his plan?

12. Describe the Roman mob as you imagine it.

13. What is it that has made the speeches in this scene so famous? Quote the lines from each that you like best.

14. Read the account of these speeches in Plutarch, and then comment upon the changes and improvements made by Shakespeare in his play.

____

More to Explore

Julius Caesar: The Complete Play with Explanatory Notes

An Overview of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar Summary (Acts 1 and 2)

Julius Caesar Summary (Acts 3 and 4)

Julius Caesar Summary (Act 5)

Julius Caesar Study Questions (with Detailed Answers)

The Two Themes of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar Character Introduction

Shakespeare's Ethics: Analysis of Julius Caesar

Blank Verse and Diction in Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar: Analysis by Act and Scene (and Timeline)

_____

Thoughts on Julius Caesar... "The central idea of the play considered as a tragedy is that Good cannot come out of Evil. "Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest," but he made shipwreck of his life by one great error. He committed a crime to prevent, as he thought, a greater crime, and by so doing he brought upon himself and his country greater evils than those he had sought to avert." -- Frances Andrew Purcell. Read on...

_____

Adjectives to Describe the Characters in Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar Quotations (Full)

All About Et tu, Brute?

How to Pronounce the Names in Julius Caesar

Sources for Julius Caesar: Important Excerpts from Plutarch

Shakespeareâ€™s Adaptation of Plutarch's Julius Caesar

Plutarch's Influence on Shakespeare

What is Tragic Irony?

Seneca's Tragedies and the Elizabethan Drama

Characteristics of Elizabethan Drama