What Antony says, I'll announce, he says only by our
permission and by our conviction that Caesar should be honored with
all the usual and lawful ceremonies. It'll help us more
than hurt us.
CASSIUS
(aside to
BRUTUS) I know not what may fall. I
like it not.
CASSIUS
(speaking so that only BRUTUS
can hear) I'm worried about
the outcome of his speech. I don't like this plan.
BRUTUS
260
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 all
265
About his funeral. And you shall speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.
BRUTUS
Mark Antony, take Caesar's body. You will not blame us in
your funeral speech, but will say all the good you want to about
Caesar and that you do it by our permission. Otherwise,
you'll have no role at all in his funeral. And
you'll speak on the same platform as I do, after
I'm done.
ANTONY
Be it so.
I do desire no more.
ANTONY
So be it. I don't want anything more.
BRUTUS
270
Prepare the body then, and follow us.
BRUTUS
Prepare the body, then, and follow us.
Exeunt. Manet ANTONY
Everyone except ANTONY
exits.
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 man
That ever livèd in the tide of times.
275
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—
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men.
ANTONY
Oh, pardon me, you bleeding corpse, for speaking politely and
acting mildly with these butchers! You are what's left of
the noblest man that ever lived. Pity the hand that shed this
valuable blood. Over your wounds—which, like speechless
mouths, open their red lips, as though to beg me to
speak—I predict that a curse will fall upon the bodies
of men.
