PLEBEIANS
“We will be satisfied! Let us be satisfied!”

• The crowd is calling out that they want answers and are eager for satisfaction, indicating they are looking for justification about Caesar’s death.

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 renderèd / Of Caesar’s death.”

• Brutus directs the crowd to listen to him. He tells Cassius to lead a group in another direction. Brutus asks the crowd to stay if they want to hear his reasons for killing Caesar. The word “renderèd” means “given” or “provided,” indicating that Brutus will present logical and public reasons for Caesar’s assassination.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
“I will hear Brutus speak.”

• One plebeian shows support for Brutus and wants to hear his explanation.

SECOND PLEBEIAN
“I will hear Cassius, and compare their reasons / When severally we hear them renderèd.”

• Another plebeian wants to hear both Brutus and Cassius before making up their mind, showing the crowd’s division in opinion.

Cassius exits with some of the Plebeians. Brutus goes into the pulpit.

THIRD PLEBEIAN
“The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence.”

• The plebeian calls Brutus noble and asks for silence, showing respect and attention as Brutus prepares to speak.

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.”

• Brutus asks the crowd to be patient and listen carefully. He appeals to their sense of honor and reason, asking them to trust his intentions, not just his words. “Censure” here means “to judge.” He wants the crowd to use their wisdom and senses to judge his actions more clearly.

“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 emphasizes that his love for Caesar was as great as anyone’s in the crowd. He defends his actions by saying that he didn’t kill Caesar because of personal hatred, but because he loved Rome more than Caesar’s power. This is a rational appeal, trying to justify the assassination as an act for the greater good of Rome.

“Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen?”

• Brutus asks the crowd a rhetorical question: would they prefer Caesar to be alive and them to be slaves under his rule, or would they rather have Caesar dead, with them living as free citizens? This shows Brutus’ belief in freedom over dictatorship.

“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.”

• Brutus expresses his grief for Caesar’s death. He recognizes Caesar’s good qualities, but justifies killing him by calling Caesar “ambitious”—a key reason for his death, in Brutus’ mind.

“There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition.”

• Brutus explains that his emotions are mixed—he mourns Caesar’s love, rejoices in his successes, honors his bravery, but condemns him to death because of 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.”

• Brutus challenges the crowd, asking if there’s anyone who prefers slavery over freedom, or anyone who does not love Rome. He defends his actions by claiming he has only done what was necessary for the country.

“I pause for a reply.”

• Brutus waits for a response, creating a moment of tension to see if anyone will object.

PLEBEIANS
“None, Brutus, none.”

• The crowd responds in agreement, showing that they support Brutus’ reasoning.

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.”

• Brutus continues, saying that he has done nothing more to Caesar than what anyone would do to him if he were to betray Rome. He also says that the decision of Caesar’s death is public and justified. The word “enrolled” refers to a formal record, showing that Caesar’s death was justified.

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Enter Mark Antony and others with Caesar’s body.

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BRUTUS
“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?”

• Brutus acknowledges that Antony will benefit from Caesar’s death, despite not being involved in the assassination. He says that Antony will now have a place in the Roman government, just like anyone else.

“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.”

• Brutus ends by saying that he would be willing to die for Rome if the country ever needed it. He uses the metaphor of the dagger again, showing his readiness to sacrifice himself for the greater good.

PLEBEIANS
“Live, Brutus, live, live!”

• The crowd shouts for Brutus to live, showing their support for his actions.