Julius Caesar
Act IV, Scene 1
A house in Rome.
- Enter Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus.
Mark Antony
1- These many then shall die, their names are prick’d.
Octavius
2- Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus?
Lepidus
3- I do consent—
Octavius
4- Prick him down, Antony.
Lepidus
5 - 6- Upon condition Publius shall not live,
- Who is your sister’s son, Mark Antony.
Mark Antony
7 - 10- 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
11- What? Shall I find you here?
Octavius
12- Or here or at the Capitol.
- Exit Lepidus.
Mark Antony
13 - 16- This is a slight unmeritable man,
- Meet to be sent on errands; is it fit,
- The threefold world divided, he should stand
- One of the three to share it?
Octavius
17 - 19- So you thought him,
- And took his voice who should be prick’d to die
- In our black sentence and proscription.
Mark Antony
20 - 29- Octavius, I have seen more days than you,
- And though we lay these honors 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.
Augustus of Prima Porta, also known as Octavius Caesar
Unknown artist, 1st century
Octavius
30 - 31- You may do your will;
- But he’s a tried and valiant soldier.
Mark Antony
32 - 50- 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 govern’d by my spirit;
- And in some taste is Lepidus but so:
- He must be taught, and train’d, and bid go forth;
- A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
- On objects, arts, and imitations,
- Which, out of use and stal’d 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 combin’d,
- Our best friends made, our means stretch’d,
- And let us presently go sit in council,
- How covert matters may be best disclos’d,
- And open perils surest answered.
Octavius
51 - 54- Let us do so; for we are at the stake,
- And bay’d about with many enemies,
- And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,
- Millions of mischiefs.
- Exeunt.
Costume design for Antony in Scassallati's production of Julius Caesar