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WorksheetsJulius Caesar Act III
Total questions: 3
Worksheet time: 25mins
A crowd of people; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS, METELLUS CIMBER, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others.
Caesar. [To the Soothsayer] The ides of March are come.
Soothsayer. Ay, Caesar; but not gone.
Artemidorus. Hail, Caesar! read this schedule.
Decius Brutus. Trebonius doth desire you to o'erread,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.1200
Artemidorus. O Caesar, read mine first; for mine's a suit
That touches Caesar nearer: read it, great Caesar.
Caesar. What touches us ourself shall be last served.
Artemidorus. Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly.
Caesar. What, is the fellow mad?1205
Publius. Sirrah, give place.
Cassius. What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.
[CAESAR goes up to the Senate-House, the rest
following]1210
Popilius. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive.
Cassius. What enterprise, Popilius?
Popilius. Fare you well.
Advances to CAESAR
Brutus. What said Popilius Lena?1215
Cassius. He wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive.
I fear our purpose is discovered.
Brutus. Look, how he makes to Caesar; mark him.
Cassius. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,1220
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.
Brutus. Cassius, be constant:
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.1225
Cassius. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus.
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS
Decius Brutus. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.1230
Brutus. He is address'd: press near and second him.
Cinna. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
Caesar. Are we all ready? What is now amiss
That Caesar and his senate must redress?
Metellus Cimber. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,1235
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart,—
Kneeling
Caesar. I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings and these lowly courtesies1240
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turn pre-ordinance and first decree
Into the law of children. Be not fond,
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
That will be thaw'd from the true quality1245
With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words,
Low-crooked court'sies and base spaniel-fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished:
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.1250
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.
Metellus Cimber. Is there no voice more worthy than my own
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?1255
Brutus. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar;
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
Caesar. What, Brutus!
Cassius. Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon:1260
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
Cassius. 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,1265
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
They are all fire and every one doth shine,
But there's but one in all doth hold his place:1270
So in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion: and that I am he,1275
Let me a little show it, even in this;
That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
Cinna. O Caesar,—
Caesar. Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?1280
Decius Brutus. Great Caesar,—
Caesar. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
Casca. Speak, hands for me!
[CASCA first, then the other Conspirators and
BRUTUS stab CAESAR]1285
Caesar. Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar.
Dies
Cinna. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
Cassius. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out1290
'Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!'
Brutus. People and senators, be not affrighted;
Fly not; stand stiff: ambition's debt is paid.
Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
Decius Brutus. And Cassius too.1295
Brutus. Where's Publius?
Cinna. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
Metellus Cimber. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's
Should chance—
Brutus. Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer;1300
There is no harm intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius.
Cassius. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people,
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
Brutus. Do so: and let no man abide this deed,1305
But we the doers.
Re-enter TREBONIUS
Cassius. Where is Antony?
Trebonius. Fled to his house amazed:
Men, wives and children stare, cry out and run1310
As it were doomsday.
Brutus. Fates, we will know your pleasures:
That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time
And drawing days out, that men stand upon.
Cassius. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life1315
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
Brutus. Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridged
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood1320
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,
And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
Let's all cry 'Peace, freedom and liberty!'
Cassius. Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence1325
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
Brutus. How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompey's basis lies along
No worthier than the dust!1330
Cassius. So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave their country liberty.
Decius Brutus. What, shall we forth?
Cassius. Ay, every man away:1335
Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
Enter a Servant
Brutus. Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's.
Servant. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel:1340
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say I love Brutus, and I honour him;1345
Say I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him and loved him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolved
How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead1350
So well as Brutus living; but will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
Brutus. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;1355
I never thought him worse.
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour,
Depart untouch'd.
Servant. I'll fetch him presently.1360
Exit
Brutus. I know that we shall have him well to friend.
Cassius. I wish we may: but yet have I a mind
That fears him much; and my misgiving still
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.1365
Brutus. But here comes Antony.
[Re-enter ANTONY]
Welcome, Mark Antony.
Antony. O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,1370
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar's death hour, nor no instrument1375
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,1380
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
Brutus. O Antony, beg not your death of us.1385
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands and this our present act,
You see we do, yet see you but our hands
And this the bleeding business they have done:
Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;1390
And pity to the general wrong of Rome—
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:
Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts1395
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
Cassius. Your voice shall be as strong as any man's
In the disposing of new dignities.
Brutus. Only be patient till we have appeased1400
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.
Antony. I doubt not of your wisdom.1405
Let each man render me his bloody hand:
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
Now, Decius Brutus, yours: now yours, Metellus;
Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;1410
Though last, not last in love, yours, good Trebonius.
Gentlemen all,—alas, what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.1415
That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true:
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,
To see thy thy Anthony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,1420
Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?
Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
It would become me better than to close
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.1425
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart;
Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe.
O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.1430
How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
Dost thou here lie!
Cassius. Mark Antony,—
Antony. Pardon me, Caius Cassius:
The enemies of Caesar shall say this;1435
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
Cassius. I blame you not for praising Caesar so;
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends;
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?1440
Antony. Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed,
Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Caesar.
Friends am I with you all and love you all,
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.1445
Brutus. Or else were this a savage spectacle:
Our reasons are so full of good regard
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.
Antony. That's all I seek:1450
And am moreover suitor that I may
Produce his body to the market-place;
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.
Brutus. You shall, Mark Antony.1455
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 moved1460
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 protest1465
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.1470
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 all1475
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.1480
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 man1485
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—1490
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 familiar1495
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,1500
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]1505
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—1510
O Caesar!—
Seeing 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,1515
Began to water. Is thy master coming?
Servant. He lies to-night 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;1520
Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile;
Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse
Into the market-place: there shall I try
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men;1525
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.
Exeunt with CAESAR's body
Who warns Caesar about the Ides of March?
Artemidorus
The Soothsayer
Brutus
Cassius
What does Caesar say about the petition that touches him personally?
He will read it first.
He will read it last.
He will not read it at all.
He will consider it later.
What is Caesar's response to Metellus Cimber's plea for his banished brother?
He agrees to repeal the banishment.
He refuses and calls it flattery.
He asks for more time to decide.
He consults Brutus and Cassius.
What are Caesar's last words before he dies?
'Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!'
'Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar.'
'What, is the fellow mad?'
'Are we all ready?'
What does Antony predict will happen after Caesar's assassination?
Peace and stability in Rome.
Civil strife and bloodshed.
A quick resolution of conflicts.
Caesar's spirit will rest peacefully.
Answer the following question in a well-constructed paragraph:
How does Antony's behavior after Caesar's assassination reveal his true intentions? What clues in the dialogue suggest how he really feels? Explain your reasoning and use text evidence.
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;1535
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,1540
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.1545
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.1550
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 loved1555
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, I1560
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? If1565
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 to1570
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.
[Enter ANTONY and others, with CAESAR's body]1575
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 the1580
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!
First Citizen. Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
Second Citizen. Give him a statue with his ancestors.1585
Third Citizen. Let him be Caesar.
Fourth Citizen. Caesar's better parts
Shall be crown'd in Brutus.
First Citizen. We'll bring him to his house
With shouts and clamours.1590
Brutus. My countrymen,—
Second Citizen. Peace, silence! Brutus speaks.
First Citizen. Peace, ho!
Brutus. Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:1595
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,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.1600
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.1605
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.1610
First Citizen. This Caesar 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,—1615
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;
The good is oft interred with their bones;1620
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.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest—1625
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:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;1630
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?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:1635
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
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,1640
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,
But here I am to speak what I do know.1645
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;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,1650
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?1655
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.1660
Third Citizen. There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
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.1665
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 choose1670
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—1675
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,1680
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;1685
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
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;1690
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:1695
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.1700
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?
Several Citizens. Come down.1705
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.1710
Second Citizen. Room for Antony, most noble Antony.
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 remember1715
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:1720
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;1725
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,1730
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!1735
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 behold1740
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!1745
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!1750
Antony. Stay, countrymen.
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.1755
They that have done this deed are honourable:
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.
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:1760
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:
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,1765
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,1770
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.
All. We'll mutiny.1775
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:1780
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.
Antony. Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal.1785
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.1790
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,
And to your heirs for ever, common pleasures,1795
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,
And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.1800
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,
Take thou what course thou wilt!
[Enter a Servant]
How now, fellow!
Servant. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.1810
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.1815
Servant. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
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
Who ascends the pulpit to address the citizens first?
Brutus
Cassius
Antony
Caesar
What reason does Brutus give for killing Caesar?
He loved Caesar less.
He loved Rome more.
Caesar was a bad person.
Cassius made him do it.
What does Antony repeatedly call Brutus during his speech?
A traitor
An honourable man
A noble Roman
A conspirator
What does Caesar leave to every Roman citizen in his will?
Seventy-five drachmas
Napkins dipped in blood
Rings
His mantle
What does Antony show the citizens to incite their emotions?
Bloody daggers
Caesar's mantle
Caesar's orphaned child
Caesar's crown
In a well-constructed paragraph answer the following question:
If you were a Roman citizen hearing both speeches, would you support Brutus or Antony? Why? Explain your reasoning and use text evidence.
Enter CINNA the poet
Cinna the Poet. I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Caesar,
And things unlucky charge my fantasy:
I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.1825
Enter Citizens
First Citizen. What is your name?
Second Citizen. Whither are you going?
Third Citizen. Where do you dwell?
Fourth Citizen. Are you a married man or a bachelor?1830
Second Citizen. Answer every man directly.
First Citizen. Ay, and briefly.
Fourth Citizen. Ay, and wisely.
Third Citizen. Ay, and truly, you were best.
Cinna the Poet. What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I1835
dwell? Am I a married man or a bachelor? Then, to
answer every man directly and briefly, wisely and
truly: wisely I say, I am a bachelor.
Second Citizen. That's as much as to say, they are fools that marry:
you'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly.1840
Cinna the Poet. Directly, I am going to Caesar's funeral.
First Citizen. As a friend or an enemy?
Cinna the Poet. As a friend.
Second Citizen. That matter is answered directly.
Fourth Citizen. For your dwelling,—briefly.1845
Cinna the Poet. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.
Third Citizen. Your name, sir, truly.
Cinna the Poet. Truly, my name is Cinna.
First Citizen. Tear him to pieces; he's a conspirator.
Cinna the Poet. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.1850
Fourth Citizen. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.
Cinna the Poet. I am not Cinna the conspirator.
Fourth Citizen. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his
name out of his heart, and turn him going.
Third Citizen. Tear him, tear him! Come, brands ho! fire-brands:1855
to Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all: some to Decius'
house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away, go!
Exeunt
What did Cinna the Poet dream about?
Feasting with Caesar
Attending Caesar's funeral
Being a conspirator
Writing bad verses
Where does Cinna the Poet dwell?
By the Capitol
Near Caesar's house
In the marketplace
By the river
What is Cinna the Poet's purpose for going out?
To attend Caesar's funeral
To meet Brutus
To write poetry
To escape the citizens
In a well-constructed paragraph answer the following question:
What emotions did this scene make you feel, and why do you think Shakespeare wanted the audience to experience those emotions? Explain your reasoning. Use text evidence.
In a well-constructed paragraph, answer the following question:
In your opinion, does this scene make the conspirators seem more justified in their fears about Caesar’s power, or does it make them seem more responsible for the chaos? Explain your reasoning. Use text evidence.
