Caesar Enters the Senate

Flourish. Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus; Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna; Publius, Popilius, Artemidorus, the Soothsayer, and other Senators and Petitioners.
A grand entrance is made as Caesar arrives at the Senate with his allies and the conspirators who plan to kill him.

CAESAR: The ides of March are come.
(Caesar acknowledges that the 15th of March has arrived, the day he was warned about.)

SOOTHSAYER: Ay, Caesar, but not gone.
(The Soothsayer reminds him that the day isn’t over yet—danger still looms.)

ARTEMIDORUS: Hail, Caesar. Read this schedule.
(Artemidorus, a teacher loyal to Caesar, tries to hand him a letter warning him of the assassination plot.)

DECIUS:
“Trebonius doth desire you to o’erread,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.”
(Decius, one of the conspirators, distracts Caesar by telling him to read a different letter instead of Artemidorus’ warning.)

ARTEMIDORUS:
“O Caesar, read mine first, for mine’s a suit
That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.”
(Artemidorus urges Caesar to read his letter first because it directly concerns him.)

CAESAR:
“What touches us ourself shall be last served.”
(Caesar says that anything concerning his personal safety can wait—he will take care of public matters first.)

ARTEMIDORUS: Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly.
(Artemidorus insists that Caesar read the letter immediately—it’s urgent!)

CAESAR: What, is the fellow mad?
(Caesar dismisses Artemidorus as crazy for being so persistent.)

PUBLIUS: Sirrah, give place.
(Publius, a senator, tells Artemidorus to step aside and stop bothering Caesar.)

CASSIUS:
“What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.”
(Cassius scolds Artemidorus, telling him that it’s inappropriate to make requests out in public; they should enter the Senate instead.)

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A Brief Moment of Fear

POPILIUS, to Cassius: I wish your enterprise today may thrive.
(Popilius, another senator, secretly wishes Cassius luck with whatever he is planning. Cassius immediately becomes nervous.)

CASSIUS: What enterprise, Popilius?
(Cassius pretends not to know what Popilius is talking about, afraid that their conspiracy has been discovered.)

POPILIUS: Fare you well. (He walks away.)
(Popilius leaves without saying anything else, making Cassius even more anxious.)

BRUTUS: What said Popilius Lena?
(Brutus asks Cassius what Popilius just told him.)

CASSIUS:
“He wished today our enterprise might thrive.
I fear our purpose is discoverèd.”
(Cassius tells Brutus that Popilius wished them success, and he is worried that their plot has been exposed.)

BRUTUS:
“Look how he makes to Caesar. Mark him.”
(Brutus notices that Popilius is now talking to Caesar and tells Cassius to watch closely to see if Caesar reacts suspiciously.)

CASSIUS:
“Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.—
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.”
(Cassius tells Casca to act quickly because they might be discovered. He also says that if their plan is exposed, he would rather kill himself than face capture.)

BRUTUS: Cassius, be constant.
(Brutus tells Cassius to stay calm.)

*POPILIUS LENA SPEAKS NOT OF OUR PURPOSES,
For look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
(Brutus reassures Cassius that Popilius is not betraying them—he is smiling, and Caesar does not look suspicious or alarmed.)

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The Plan Proceeds

CASSIUS:
“Trebonius knows his time, for look you, Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.”
(Cassius sees that Trebonius is successfully leading Antony away so he won’t interfere with the assassination.)

DECIUS: Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go and presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
(Decius tells Metellus to step forward and beg Caesar for his brother’s return from exile—this will serve as a distraction.)

BRUTUS: He is addressed. Press near and second him.
(Brutus tells the others to support Metellus’ request and get close to Caesar.)

CINNA: Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
(Cinna reminds Casca that he is supposed to be the first to strike Caesar with his dagger.)

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The Assassination

CAESAR:
“Are we all ready? What is now amiss
That Caesar and his Senate must redress?”
(Caesar asks if they are all prepared and what issue needs to be resolved.)

METELLUS, kneeling:
“Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart.”
(Metellus kneels and flatters Caesar, pretending to be humble while actually distracting him.)

CAESAR:
“I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men…
Thy brother by decree is banishèd.”
(Caesar dismisses Metellus’ begging. He says that flattery might work on weak men, but he will not change his decision about Cimber’s banishment.)

BRUTUS, kneeling:
“I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar,
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.”
(Brutus also kneels and pretends to ask for Cimber’s return from exile.)

CAESAR: What, Brutus?
(Caesar is shocked that Brutus, whom he trusts, is also begging for Cimber.)

CASSIUS, kneeling:
“Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon!
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.”
(Cassius kneels dramatically, begging Caesar for the same request.)

CAESAR:
“I could be well moved, if I were as you.
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me…
But I am constant as the Northern Star.”
(Caesar refuses, saying he is as unchanging as the North Star, meaning he will not be persuaded.)

CASCA: Speak, hands, for me!
(Casca suddenly stabs Caesar, starting the assassination!)

As Casca strikes, the others rise up and stab Caesar.
(One by one, the conspirators stab Caesar.)

CAESAR: Et tu, Brutè?—Then fall, Caesar.
(Caesar sees Brutus among the attackers and is heartbroken. “You too, Brutus?” Realizing he has been betrayed, he dies.)

The Aftermath of the Assassination

CASSIUS:
“Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.”
(Cassius joyfully celebrates Caesar’s death, calling for liberty and freedom. He urges others to spread the word that tyranny has been destroyed.)

DECIUS: People and senators, be not affrighted;
Fly not; stand still: ambition’s debt is paid.
(Deius tries to calm the senators and people who are shocked by the murder, telling them not to be afraid. He claims that Caesar’s ambition, which they feared, has been paid for.)

CASSIUS: Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
(Cassius urges Brutus to speak to the people and explain the reason behind Caesar’s assassination.)

BRUTUS: And let us bathe our hands in Caesar’s blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords.
Then walk we forth, even to the marketplace,
And, waving our red weapons o’er our heads,
Let’s all cry, ‘Peace, freedom, and liberty!’
(Brutus suggests a ritualistic display of their victory over Caesar: they will wash their hands in his blood, brandish their swords, and march through the streets proclaiming liberty.)

CASSIUS: Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
(Cassius repeats his earlier declaration, further emphasizing the idea of freedom from Caesar’s rule.)

DECIUS: People and senators, be not affrighted;
Fly not; stand still: ambition’s debt is paid.
(Deius tries to calm the crowd again, claiming that Caesar’s death was a necessary act to rid Rome of tyranny.)

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The Crowd’s Reaction and Brutus’ Speech

BRUTUS:
“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.”
(Brutus speaks to the crowd, explaining that he killed Caesar not out of hatred for him, but out of love for Rome. He implies that Caesar’s ambition would have harmed the state, and that his actions were in the best interest of the people.)

BRUTUS:
“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.”
(Brutus asks the crowd if they would prefer living under Caesar’s rule as slaves or live in freedom with Caesar dead. He expresses conflicting emotions, mourning Caesar as a person but justifying his death because of Caesar’s dangerous ambition.)

BRUTUS:
“There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death for his ambition.”
(Brutus explains that his emotions are mixed—he mourns Caesar’s love, rejoices in his good fortune, honors his bravery, but ultimately had to kill him because of his ambition.)

BRUTUS:
“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.”
(Brutus asks the crowd if anyone would oppose him. He wants to know if anyone feels he has wronged them by killing Caesar. He claims his actions were for the greater good of Rome and challenges anyone to dispute that.)

CROWD: None, Brutus, none.
(The crowd agrees with Brutus, showing their support.)

BRUTUS: Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Caesar than you shall do to me. The question of his death is resolved, and his ambition is gone. Now, let the people know that Brutus’ actions were noble and well-intentioned.

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Antony’s Speech

Enter Mark Antony
(Mark Antony enters the scene. He is about to give his own speech.)

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;
The good is oft interrèd 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.”
(Antony begins his famous speech, acknowledging that Brutus has already spoken about Caesar’s ambition. He hints that Brutus’ actions were justified, but he uses this to soften the crowd up and plant seeds of doubt.)

ANTONY:
“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.”
(Antony praises Brutus and the conspirators, calling them “honourable men,” but his repetition of this phrase subtly mocks them and begins to turn the crowd against them.)

ANTONY:
“He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.”
(Antony continues to repeat that Brutus is “honourable,” but in doing so, he’s suggesting the opposite, subtly questioning Brutus’ motives.)

ANTONY:
“He hath brought many captives home to Rome
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
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.”
(Antony lists Caesar’s acts of generosity and kindness, questioning how someone so caring and selfless could be called ambitious. He continues to point out that Brutus is “honourable,” but his repetition is starting to make the crowd question Brutus’ version of events.)

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The Turning of the Crowd

ANTONY:
“You all did see that on the Lupercal
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.”
(Antony brings up the incident when Caesar refused a crown, pointing out that if he had ambition, he would have accepted it. Again, he contrasts this with Brutus’ claim that Caesar was ambitious.)

ANTONY:
“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.”
(Antony tries to position himself as humble and sincere, unlike Brutus. He claims that he’s not a skilled speaker, just someone who loved Caesar.)

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The Crowd’s Fury

ANTONY:
“Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.”
(Antony shows his grief by pausing dramatically, claiming that he’s so moved by the loss of Caesar that he needs a moment.)

CROWD: Let him speak! Let him speak!
(The crowd is now increasingly moved and demands that Antony continue.)

ANTONY:
“If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle: I remember
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:
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb’d;
And as he pluck’d his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
If Caesar should be dead; it was not so.”
(Antony makes a powerful display by showing Caesar’s bloodied cloak and dramatically recounting the stabbing. His tone is sorrowful and the crowd is deeply moved.)