Mark Antony addresses the crowd grieving for the death of Caesar and reads out his will to the people, inciting a riot.
Great Performances: Julius Caesar premieres nationwide Friday, March 29 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) and streams the following day on pbs.org/gperf and PBS apps.
- Oh now you weep, and I perceive you feel the dint of pity!
These are gracious drops!
Kind souls, what weep you when you but behold our Caesar's vesture wounded?
Look you here.
Here is himself marred, as you see, by traitors.
(crowd gasping) Good friends, true friends, let me not stir you up to such a sudden flood of mutiny.
(people gasping) They that have done this deed are honorable.
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not that made them do it.
They are wise and honorable, and will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
See, I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts.
(people gasping) I am no orator, as Brutus is, but as you know me all, a plain, blunt man that love his friends and that they know full well they gave me public leave to speak of him, for I have neither wit nor worth nor words, action nor utterance nor the power of speech to stir men's blood.
I only speak right on, and 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 where 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.
(people chanting) My friends, you're going to do you know not what wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?
Alas, you know not.
I will tell you then.
You have forgot the will I told you of!
Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal to every Roman citizen he gives, to every several man, a hundred drachmas!
(crowd screams) Moreover he hath left you all his walks, his private arbors, a new planted orchard on this side Tiber.
- [People In Gray] Yes!
- He hath left them you, and to your heirs, forever!
(crowd screams) (intense music) (whistle blows) Now let it work.
Mischief, thou art afoot, take thou what course thou wilt.
(crowd screams) (intense music)
