SCENES FROM “JULIUS CÆSAR”

When the Roman general, Julius Cæsar, returned to Rome after his splendid triumphs, many of the people were eager to make him their king, though Rome was at that time a republic. Cassius and a party of famous Romans, among them the patriot Brutus, formed a conspiracy against Cæsar, and were successful in causing his death. The Forum, the market place of Rome, was immediately thronged with angry citizens, threatening the conspirators. Mark Antony, one of Cæsar's supporters, asked permission of the conspirators to speak at Cæsar's funeral. This permission was granted by Brutus, who did not realize the power of Antony's oratory.

SCENE I

PLACE: The Forum

Brutus

Cassius

Antony

Characters First Citizen

Second Citizen

Third Citizen

Fourth Citizen

[Enter Brutus and Cassius and a throng of Citi

zens.]

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 Cæsar's death.

First Citizen.

Second Citizen.

I will hear Brutus speak.

I will hear Cassius; and com

pare their reasons,

When severally we hear them rendered.

[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 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 Cæsar's, to him I say that Brutus' love to Cæsar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Cæsar, this is my answer, Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living and die all slaves, than that Cæsar were dead, to live all freemen? As Cæsar 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 Cæsar than you shall do to Brutus. [Enter Antony and others, with Cæsar'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 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. All Live, Brutus! live, live!

I depart,

First Citizen. Bring him with triumph home to his house.

Second Citizen. Give him a statue with his ancestors.

Third Citizen. Let him be Cæsar.

Fourth Citizen.

Cæsar's better parts

Shall be crowned in Brutus.

First Citizen. We'll bring him to his house with

Brutus. Good countrymen, let me depart alone. And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:

Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Cæsar's glories, which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allowed to make.

I do entreat you, not a man depart,
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.

Antony.

you.

Noble Antony, go up.

For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to

[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 Cæsar was a tyrant.

Third Citizen.

Nay, that's certain:

We are blest that Rome is rid of him.

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 Cæsar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;

The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Cæsar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Cæsar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Cæsar answered it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest,
For Brutus is an honorable man;

So are they all, all honorable men,—
Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;

And Brutus is an honorable man.

He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whose ransom did the general coffers fill:

Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious?

When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept : Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;

And Brutus is an honorable man.