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 anything.

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

3.3 Enter Cinna the poet

CINNA

I dreamt tonight 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.

Enter the Plebeians

FIRST PLEBEIAN What is your name?

SECOND PLEBEIAN Whither are you going?

THIRD PLEBEIAN Where do you dwell?

FOURTH PLEBEIAN Are you a married man or a bachelor?

SECOND PLEBEIAN Answer every man directly.

FIRST PLEBEIAN Ay, and briefly.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN Ay, and wisely.

THIRD PLEBEIAN Ay, and truly, you were best.

CINNA What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I 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 PLEBEIAN That’s as much as to say they are fools that marry. You’ll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed directly.

CINNA Directly I am going to Caesar’s funeral.

FIRST PLEBEIAN As a friend or an enemy?

CINNA As a friend.

SECOND PLEBEIAN That matter is answered directly.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN For your dwelling—briefly.

CINNA Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.

THIRD PLEBEIAN Your name, sir, truly.

CINNA Truly, my name is Cinna.

FIRST PLEBEIAN Tear him to pieces! He’s a conspirator.

CINNA I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.

CINNA I am not Cinna the conspirator.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN It is no matter, his name’s Cinna. Pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

THIRD PLEBEIAN Tear him, tear him!

⌈They set upon Cinna⌉

Come, brands, ho! Firebrands! To Brutus’, to Cassius’!

Burn all! Some to Decius’ house, and some to Casca’s;

some to Ligarius‘. Away, go!

Exeunt all the Plebeians, with Cinna

4.1 Enter Antony with papers, Octavius, and Lepidus

ANTONY

These many, then, shall die; their names are pricked.

OCTAVIUS (to Lepidus)

Your brother too must die. Consent you, Lepidus?

LEPIDUS

I do consent.

OCTAVIUS Prick him down, Antony.

LEPIDUS

Upon condition Publius shall not live,

Who is your sister’s son, Mark Antony.

ANTONY

He shall not live. Look, with a spot I damn him.

But Lepidus, go you to Caesar’s house;

Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine

How to cut off some charge in legacies.

LEPIDUS What, shall I find you here?

OCTAVIUS Or here or at the Capitol. Exit Lepidus

ANTONY

This is a slight, unmeritable man,

Meet to be sent on errands. Is it fit,

The three-fold world divided, he should stand

One of the three to share it?

OCTAVIUS So you thought him,

And took his voice who should be pricked to die

In our black sentence and proscription.

ANTONY

Octavius, I have seen more days than you,

And though we lay these honours on this man

To ease ourselves of divers sland’rous loads,

He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,

To groan and sweat under the business,

Either led or driven as we point the way;

And having brought our treasure where we will,

Then take we down his load, and turn him off,

Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears

And graze in commons.

OCTAVIUS You may do your will;

But he’s a tried and valiant soldier.

ANTONY

So is my horse, Octavius, and for that

I do appoint him store of provender.

It is a creature that I teach to fight,

To wind, to stop, to run directly on,

His corporal motion governed by my spirit;

And in some taste is Lepidus but so.

He must be taught, and trained, and bid go forth—

A barren-spirited fellow, one that feeds

On objects, arts, and imitations,

Which, out of use and staled by other men,

Begin his fashion. Do not talk of him

But as a property. And now, Octavius,

Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius

Are levying powers. We must straight make head.

Therefore let our alliance be combined,

Our best friends made, our meinies stretched,

And let us presently go sit in council,

How covert matters may be best disclosed,

And open perils surest answered.

OCTAVIUS

Let us do so, for we are at the stake

And bayed about with many enemies;

And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,

Millions of mischiefs. Exeunt

4.2 Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucius, and the army. ⌈Lucillius,⌉ Titinius, and Pindarus meet them

BRUTUS Stand, ho!

⌈SOLDIER⌉ Give the word ‘ho’, and stand.

BRUTUS

What now, Lucillius: is Cassius near?

LUCILLIUS

He is at hand, and Pindarus is come

To do you salutation from his master.

BRUTUS

He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,

In his own change or by ill officers,

Hath given me some worthy cause to wish

Things done undone. But if he be at hand,

I shall be satisfied.

PINDARUS I do not doubt

But that my noble master will appear

Such as he is, full of regard and honour.

BRUTUS

He is not doubted.—A word, Lucillius.

Brutus and Lucillius speak apart

How he received you let me be resolved.