Julius Caesar — Act 3, Scene 2

original text and modern English, side by side

The same. The Forum · Citizens, Brutus, First Citizen, Second Citizen, Third Citizen, Fourth Citizen, Antony, Servant

In the Forum, Brutus explains the assassination to the crowd in cool, balanced prose — he loved Caesar, but loved Rome more — and wins them over completely. Then Antony, allowed to speak only by Brutus's permission and forbidden to blame the conspirators, repeats that Brutus is "an honourable man" until the phrase turns to acid, displays Caesar's stabbed cloak and body, and reads a will leaving money and gardens to every citizen. The mob riots, Brutus and Cassius flee Rome, and Octavius arrives.

Enter Brutus and goes into the pulpit, and Cassius, with a throng of Citizens.

Citizens

We will be satisfied;

We want an explanation.

let us be satisfied.

Let us have an explanation.

Brutus

Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.

Then come with me and listen, friends.

Cassius, go you into the other street

And part the numbers.

Cassius, take the other street and split the crowd.

Those that will hear me speak, let ’em stay here;

Anyone who wants to hear me, stay here;

Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;

anyone who'd rather hear Cassius, go with him.

And public reasons shall be rendered

Of Caesar’s death.

The reasons for Caesar's death will be explained in public.

First Citizen

I will hear Brutus speak.

I'll hear Brutus speak.

Second Citizen

I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons,

When severally we hear them rendered.

I'll hear Cassius, and then we can compare their arguments after hearing each of them separately.

Exit Cassius, with some of the Citizens. Brutus goes into the rostrum.

Third Citizen

The noble Brutus is ascended:

Noble Brutus has taken the platform.

silence!

Quiet!

Brutus

Be patient till the last.

Wait until I've finished.

Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause; and be silent,

that you may hear.

Romans, countrymen, friends — hear me out, and keep quiet so you can hear.

Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine

honour, that you may believe.

Trust me because of my reputation, and respect my reputation so that you can trust me.

Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your

senses, that you may the better judge.

Judge me with your intelligence, and stay sharp so you can judge better.

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 there is anyone in this crowd who was a close friend of Caesar's, I tell him that Brutus loved Caesar just as much as he did.

If then that friend demand why Brutus

rose against Caesar, this is my answer:

And if that friend asks why Brutus rose against Caesar, here is my answer:

Not that I loved Caesar less,

but that I loved Rome more.

not because I loved Caesar less, but because I loved Rome more.

Had you rather Caesar were living, and die

all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?

Would you rather have Caesar alive and all die slaves, than have Caesar dead and all live free?

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.

Because Caesar loved me, I weep for him; because he was successful, I am glad for him; because he was brave, I respect him — but because he was ambitious, I killed him.

There

is tears, for his love; joy for his fortune; honour for his valour; and

death, for his ambition.

Tears for his love, gladness for his success, respect for his courage, and death for his ambition.

Who is here so base, that would be a bondman?

Is anyone here so low that he'd want to be a slave?

If any, speak; for him have I offended.

If so, speak up — I've wronged him.

Who is here so rude, that would

not be a Roman?

Is anyone here so uncivilized that he doesn't want to be a Roman?

If any, speak; for him have I offended.

If so, speak up — I've wronged him.

Who is here so

vile, that will not love his country?

Is anyone here so worthless that he doesn't love his country?

If any, speak; for him have I

offended.

If so, speak up — I've wronged him.

I pause for a reply.

I'll wait for an answer.

Citizens

None, Brutus, none.

No one, Brutus, no one.

Brutus

Then none have I offended.

Then I've wronged no one.

I have done no more to Caesar than you shall

do to Brutus.

I've done nothing to Caesar that you won't be free to do to Brutus.

The question of his death is enroll’d in the Capitol, his

glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforc’d,

for which he suffered death.

The full account of his death is filed in the Capitol, with his achievements undiminished where he deserved credit, and his crimes not exaggerated, for which he was put to death.

Enter Antony and others, with Caesar’s body.

Brutus

Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony,

Here comes his body, with Mark Antony in mourning.

who, though he had no hand

in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the

commonwealth;

Antony had no part in the killing, but he'll get the benefit of it — a place in the republic.

as which of you shall not?

So will every one of you.

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.

I'll leave you with this: I killed the man I loved best for the good of Rome, and I'm keeping the same dagger for myself, for whenever my country needs my death.

Citizens

Live, Brutus!

Long live Brutus!

live, live!

Live, live!

First Citizen

Bring him with triumph home unto his house.

Carry him home in triumph.

Second Citizen

Give him a statue with his ancestors.

Put up a statue of him beside his ancestors.

Third Citizen

Let him be Caesar.

Make him Caesar.

Fourth Citizen

Caesar’s better parts

Shall be crown’d in Brutus.

Everything that was best in Caesar should be crowned in Brutus.

First Citizen

We’ll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.

We'll take him home with cheering and noise.

Brutus

My countrymen,—

My countrymen —

Second Citizen

Peace! Silence!

Quiet! Silence!

Brutus speaks.

Brutus is speaking.

First Citizen

Peace, ho!

Quiet there!

Brutus

Good countrymen, let me depart alone,

And, for my sake, stay here with Antony.

Good countrymen, let me go home by myself, and for my sake stay here with Antony.

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.

Show respect to Caesar's body, and listen respectfully to Antony's speech about Caesar's achievements — which he has our permission to make.

I do entreat you, not a man depart,

Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.

I'm asking you: nobody leave except me, until Antony has spoken.

Exit.

First Citizen

Stay, ho!

Wait!

and let us hear Mark Antony.

Let's hear Mark Antony.

Third Citizen

Let him go up into the public chair.

Let him go up on the public platform.

We’ll hear him.

We'll listen to him.

Noble Antony, go up.

Go up, noble Antony.

Antony

For Brutus’ sake, I am beholding to you.

For Brutus's sake, I'm grateful to you.

Goes up.

Fourth Citizen

What does he say of Brutus?

What was that about Brutus?

Third Citizen

He says, for Brutus’ sake

He finds himself beholding to us all.

He says he's grateful to us all, on Brutus's account.

Fourth Citizen

’Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here!

He'd better not say anything against Brutus here.

First Citizen

This Caesar was a tyrant.

Third Citizen

Nay, that’s certain.

No question about it.

We are blest that Rome is rid of him.

We're lucky Rome is rid of him.

Second Citizen

Peace!

Quiet!

let us hear what Antony can say.

Let's hear what Antony has to say.

Antony

You gentle Romans,—

You good citizens of Rome —

Citizens

Peace, ho!

Quiet there!

let us hear him.

Let's hear him.

Antony

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;

Friends, Romans, countrymen, give me your attention.

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

I've come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

The evil that men do lives after them,

The good is oft interred with their bones;

The harm men do outlasts them; the good is usually buried with their bones.

So let it be with Caesar.

Let that be true of Caesar too.

The noble Brutus

Hath told you Caesar was ambitious.

The noble Brutus has told you Caesar was ambitious.

If it were so, it was a grievous fault,

And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.

If that's so, it was a serious fault, and Caesar has paid for it seriously.

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.

Here, with the permission of Brutus and the rest — for Brutus is an honourable man, and so are they all, all honourable men — I've come to speak at Caesar's funeral.

He was my friend, faithful and just to me;

He was my friend, loyal and fair to me.

But Brutus says he was ambitious,

And Brutus is an honourable man.

But Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honourable man.

He hath brought many captives home to Rome,

Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:

Caesar brought home crowds of prisoners to Rome, and their ransom money filled the public treasury.

Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?

Did that look like ambition?

When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept;

When the poor cried out, Caesar wept with them.

Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:

Ambition ought to be harder than that.

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;

And Brutus is an honourable man.

But 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,

Which he did thrice refuse.

You all saw that at the feast of Lupercal I offered him a king's crown three times, and three times he turned it down.

Was this ambition?

Was that ambition?

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;

And sure he is an honourable man.

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and certainly Brutus is an honourable man.

I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,

I'm not saying this to contradict Brutus.

But here I am to speak what I do know.

I'm here to tell you what I know for a fact.

You all did love him once, not without cause;

All of you loved Caesar once, and you had good reason to.

What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?

What reason stops you grieving for him now?

O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts,

And men have lost their reason.

Good judgement has run off to the animals, and men have lost the power to think.

Bear with me.

My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,

And I must pause till it come back to me.

Forgive me — my heart is in that coffin with Caesar, and I have to stop until it comes back to me.

First Citizen

Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.

There's a lot of sense in what he's saying.

Second Citizen

If thou consider rightly of the matter,

Caesar has had great wrong.

If you think it through properly, Caesar was badly wronged.

Third Citizen

Has he, masters?

Was he, gentlemen?

I fear there will a worse come in his place.

I'm afraid we'll get someone worse in his place.

Fourth Citizen

Mark’d ye his words?

Did you catch that?

He would not take the crown;

He wouldn't take the crown.

Therefore ’tis certain he was not ambitious.

So he can't have been ambitious.

First Citizen

If it be found so, some will dear abide it.

If that turns out to be true, some people are going to pay dearly for it.

Second Citizen

Poor soul, his eyes are red as fire with weeping.

Poor man, his eyes are burning red from crying.

Third Citizen

There’s not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.

There's no finer man in Rome than Antony.

Fourth Citizen

Now mark him;

Watch now,

he begins again to speak.

he's starting again.

Antony

But yesterday the word of Caesar might

Have stood against the world;

Only yesterday Caesar's word could have held out against the whole world.

now lies he there,

And none so poor to do him reverence.

Now he lies there, and nobody is low enough to show him respect.

O masters!

Citizens,

If I were dispos’d 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.

if I wanted to stir your hearts and minds into rebellion and fury, I would be doing an injustice to Brutus and to Cassius, who, as you all know, are honourable men.

I will not do them wrong;

I won't do them an injustice.

I rather choose

To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,

Than I will wrong such honourable men.

I would sooner wrong the dead man, and wrong myself, and wrong you, than wrong such honourable men.

But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar,

But here is a document with Caesar's seal on it.

I found it in his closet;

I found it in his private room —

’tis his will:

it's his will.

Let but the commons hear this testament,

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,

Bequeathing it as a rich legacy

Unto their issue.

If the common people could just hear what's in it — which, forgive me, I don't intend to read out — they would go and kiss the dead Caesar's wounds, and dip their handkerchiefs in his sacred blood, and beg for one of his hairs as a keepsake, and mention it on their own deathbeds, leaving it to their children as a treasured inheritance.

Fourth Citizen

We’ll hear the will.

We want to hear the will.

Read it, Mark Antony.

Citizens

The will, the will!

We will hear Caesar’s will.

We want to hear Caesar's will.

Antony

Have patience, gentle friends,

Be patient, good friends.

I must not read it.

I mustn't read it.

It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.

It wouldn't be right for you to know how much Caesar loved you.

You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;

And being men, hearing the will of Caesar,

It will inflame you, it will make you mad.

You aren't wood, you aren't stone — you're men, and being men, hearing Caesar's will would set you on fire and drive you out of your minds.

’Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;

It's better you don't know you're his heirs.

For if you should, O, what would come of it?

If you knew, imagine what would come of it.

Fourth Citizen

Read the will!

We’ll hear it, Antony;

We want to hear it, Antony.

You shall read us the will, Caesar’s will!

You're going to read us the will, Caesar's will!

Antony

Will you be patient?

Will you stay awhile?

Will you wait a moment?

I have o’ershot myself to tell you of it.

I went too far in even mentioning it.

I fear I wrong the honourable men

Whose daggers have stabb’d Caesar;

I'm afraid I'm wronging the honourable men whose daggers stabbed Caesar.

I do fear it.

I really am afraid of that.

Fourth Citizen

They were traitors.

Honourable men!

Citizens

The will!

The testament!

The will!

Second Citizen

They were villains, murderers.

They were criminals, murderers.

The will!

Read the will!

Antony

You will compel me then to read the will?

So you're going to force me to read the will?

Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,

And let me show you him that made the will.

Then form a circle around Caesar's body, and let me show you the man who wrote it.

Shall I descend?

Shall I come down?

and will you give me leave?

Do I have your permission?

Citizens

Come down.

Second Citizen

Descend.

Come down.

He comes down.

Third Citizen

You shall have leave.

You have our permission.

Fourth Citizen

A ring!

Make a circle.

Stand round.

First Citizen

Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.

Stand back from the bier, back from the body.

Second Citizen

Room for Antony, most noble Antony!

Make room for Antony, most noble Antony!

Antony

Nay, press not so upon me;

Don't crowd me like this.

stand far off.

Stand back.

Citizens

Stand back;

Stand back!

room!

Room!

bear back.

Move back.

Antony

If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.

If you have any tears, get ready to shed them now.

You all do know this mantle.

You all recognize this cloak.

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.

I remember the first time Caesar ever put it on — a summer evening, in his tent, the day he defeated the Nervii.

Look, in this place ran Cassius’ dagger through:

Look, this is where Cassius's dagger went through.

See what a rent the envious Casca made:

See the tear that spiteful 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 follow’d it,

As rushing out of doors, to be resolv’d

If Brutus so unkindly knock’d, or no;

And Brutus, the man Caesar loved, stabbed through here — and when he pulled his cursed blade out, look how Caesar's blood came after it, as if it were rushing out the door to find out whether it was really Brutus knocking so brutally.

For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel.

Because Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's guardian angel.

Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar lov’d him.

Gods, judge for yourselves how dearly Caesar loved him.

This was the most unkindest cut of all;

That was the cruellest wound of them all.

For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,

Ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms,

Quite vanquish’d him:

When noble Caesar saw Brutus stab him, ingratitude — stronger than any traitor's arm — finished him.

then burst his mighty heart;

And in his mantle muffling up his face,

Even at the base of Pompey’s statue

Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.

His great heart broke, he pulled his cloak over his face, and at the foot of Pompey's statue, which was running with blood the whole time, great Caesar fell.

O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!

What a fall that was, my countrymen.

Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,

Whilst bloody treason flourish’d over us.

In that moment I fell, and you fell, and all of us fell, while bloody treason stood over us in triumph.

O, now you weep; and I perceive you feel

The dint of pity.

Now you're weeping — I can see you feel it.

These are gracious drops.

Those tears do you credit.

Kind souls, what weep you when you but behold

Our Caesar’s vesture wounded?

Kind souls, are you crying at nothing worse than the sight of Caesar's damaged clothing?

Look you here,

Here is himself, marr’d, as you see, with traitors.

Look at this. Here he is himself, cut to pieces, as you can see, by traitors.

First Citizen

O piteous spectacle!

What a pitiful sight!

Second Citizen

O noble Caesar!

Noble Caesar!

Third Citizen

O woeful day!

What a terrible day!

Fourth Citizen

O traitors, villains!

Traitors! Criminals!

First Citizen

O most bloody sight!

What a bloody sight!

Second Citizen

We will be revenged.

We'll have revenge.

Citizens

Revenge,—about,—seek,—burn,—fire,—kill,—slay,—let not a traitor live!

Revenge! Move! Hunt them! Burn! Fire! Kill! Cut them down! Don't let a single traitor live!

Antony

Stay, countrymen.

Wait, countrymen.

First Citizen

Peace there!

Quiet there!

Hear the noble Antony.

Listen to noble Antony.

Second Citizen

We’ll hear him, we’ll follow him, we’ll die with him.

We'll listen to 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.

Good friends, dear friends, don't let me push you into a sudden riot like this.

They that have done this deed are honourable.

The men who did this are honourable.

What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,

That made them do it.

What personal grievances made them do it, sadly, I don't know.

They’re wise and honourable,

And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.

They're wise and honourable, and I'm sure they'll give you their reasons.

I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts.

I haven't come to steal your loyalty away from them.

I am no orator, as Brutus is;

I'm no public speaker, the way 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.

I'm just a plain, blunt man, as you all know, who loved his friend. And the men who gave me public permission to speak about him know that perfectly well.

For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,

Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,

To stir men’s blood.

I have no cleverness, no vocabulary, no standing, no gestures, no delivery, no power of speech to stir men's blood.

I only speak right on.

I only say things straight out.

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.

I tell you what you already know, show you dear Caesar's wounds, those poor silent mouths, and ask them to speak for me.

But were I Brutus,

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.

But if I were Brutus, and Brutus were Antony, then there would be an Antony who'd whip your feelings up and put a tongue in every one of Caesar's wounds — enough to make the stones of Rome get up and rebel.

Citizens

We’ll mutiny.

We'll rebel.

First Citizen

We’ll burn the house of Brutus.

We'll burn Brutus's house down.

Third Citizen

Away, then!

Come on, then!

come, seek the conspirators.

Let's go find the conspirators.

Antony

Yet hear me, countrymen;

Hear me first, countrymen.

yet hear me speak.

Let me finish.

Citizens

Peace, ho!

Quiet!

Hear Antony; most noble Antony.

Listen to Antony, most noble Antony.

Antony

Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.

Friends, you're rushing off without knowing what you're doing.

Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?

What has Caesar done to deserve this loyalty from you?

Alas, you know not;

You don't know, do you.

I must tell you then.

Then I'll have to tell you.

You have forgot the will I told you of.

You've forgotten the will I mentioned.

Citizens

Most true;

Quite right —

the will!—let’s stay, and hear the will.

the will! Let's stay and hear the will.

Antony

Here is the will, and under Caesar’s seal.

Here is the will, with Caesar's own seal on it.

To every Roman citizen he gives,

To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.

To every Roman citizen, to each individual man, he leaves seventy-five drachmas.

Second Citizen

Most noble Caesar!

Noble Caesar!

We’ll revenge his death.

We'll avenge his death.

Third Citizen

O, royal Caesar!

Kingly Caesar!

Antony

Hear me with patience.

Hear me out patiently.

Citizens

Peace, ho!

Quiet there!

Antony

Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,

His private arbors, and new-planted orchards,

On this side Tiber;

On top of that, he's left you all his parks, his private gardens, and his newly planted orchards on this side of the Tiber.

he hath left them you,

And to your heirs forever; common pleasures,

To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.

He's left them to you and your descendants forever, as public grounds where you can walk and enjoy yourselves.

Here was a Caesar!

That was a Caesar.

when comes such another?

When will we see another like him?

First Citizen

Never, never.

Come, away, away!

Come on, let's go!

We’ll burn his body in the holy place,

And with the brands fire the traitors’ houses.

We'll burn his body in the sacred precinct, and use the burning wood to set fire to the traitors' houses.

Take up the body.

Pick up the body.

Second Citizen

Go, fetch fire.

Go get fire.

Third Citizen

Pluck down benches.

Tear down the benches.

Fourth Citizen

Pluck down forms, windows, anything.

Tear down the seats, the shutters, anything.

Exeunt Citizens, with the body.

Antony

Now let it work.

Now let it do its work.

Mischief, thou art afoot,

Take thou what course thou wilt!

Chaos is loose — let it run wherever it likes.

Enter a Servant.

Antony

How now, fellow?

Well, my man?

Servant

Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.

Sir, Octavius has already reached Rome.

Antony

Where is he?

Servant

He and Lepidus are at Caesar’s house.

He and Lepidus are at Caesar's house.

Antony

And thither will I straight to visit him.

Then I'll go straight there to see him.

He comes upon a wish.

He's arrived exactly when I wanted him.

Fortune is merry,

And in this mood will give us anything.

Luck is in a generous mood, and while it lasts it will give us anything.

Servant

I heard him say Brutus and Cassius

Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.

I heard him say that Brutus and Cassius have ridden out through the gates of Rome like madmen.

Antony

Belike they had some notice of the people,

How I had moved them.

They probably got word of how I'd worked the people up.

Bring me to Octavius.

Take me to Octavius.

Exeunt.

Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 summary

Who appears in this scene

Citizens, Brutus, First Citizen, Second Citizen, Third Citizen, Fourth Citizen, Antony, Servant — The same. The Forum.

Famous lines in Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2, explained

“rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, / but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die” (line 20): Brutus's whole defence compressed into one balanced sentence: he does not deny loving Caesar, he claims a higher loyalty outranked it. The neat antithesis is typical of his speech — logical, symmetrical, addressed to the crowd's reason — and it works, briefly. Its weakness is that it asks the citizens to think in abstractions about liberty, which is exactly the ground Antony refuses to fight on when he replaces argument with a bloodstained cloak and a cash bequest.
“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; / I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.” (line 72): Antony opens by placing himself among the crowd — friends first, citizens second — rather than above them as Brutus did, and "lend me your ears" asks a small, temporary favour from people who are currently hostile to him. The second line is a disclaimer that lets him keep the promise he made to Brutus while breaking it in substance: he never formally praises Caesar, he simply makes the crowd do it. Everything that follows is built on this pose of having no case to argue.
“But Brutus says he was ambitious, / And Brutus is an honourable man.” (line 85): Antony was forbidden to accuse the conspirators, so instead he repeats their virtue until repetition destroys it. Each time the refrain returns it follows a fact that contradicts the charge of ambition — the ransom money paid into the treasury, Caesar weeping for the poor, the crown refused three times — so the crowd, not Antony, draws the conclusion that Brutus lied. This is the play's great lesson in rhetoric: a speaker who never states his accusation cannot be answered, and by the end the word "honourable" has been turned into an insult without Antony ever saying a disloyal word.
“This was the most unkindest cut of all;” (line 182): Pointing at the tear Brutus's dagger made in Caesar's cloak, Antony calls it the worst wound — not the deepest, but the one from the man Caesar loved. "Unkind" carries its old sense of unnatural, a betrayal of kinship as well as friendship, and the deliberately ungrammatical double superlative makes it sound like grief overflowing rather than crafted speech. The line survives as the everyday phrase for a betrayal that hurts because of who delivered it.
“I am no orator, as Brutus is; / But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,” (line 214): Antony denies having any rhetorical skill in the middle of the most skilful speech in the play — the claim is itself a technique, disarming the crowd by making his manipulation look like honest feeling. He also quietly reframes Brutus's polished style as a warning sign: the smooth speaker is the one with something to sell. Two minutes later he tells them that if he were Brutus he would rouse Rome's very stones to riot, which is precisely what he has already done.

Keep reading

About this translation: the original text follows the public-domain Project Gutenberg Globe edition; the modern English translation was written in-house for Polytranslator and is reviewed on an ongoing basis (last revised August 2026). Free to print and photocopy for classroom use. Cite as: “Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 2. Polytranslator side-by-side translation, polytranslator.com/shakespeare/julius-caesar/act-3-scene-2.”

Studying the language itself? Our Shakespearean English course teaches thou/thee, the verbs, and the meter — free through Unit 2. Or try the Shakespearean English translator.