Page 2219 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

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.

Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? [90]
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept;
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff;
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,

And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal [95]
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And sure he is an honourable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, [100]
But here I am to speak what I do know.

You all did love him once, not without cause;
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?
O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason! Bear with me; [105]

My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.

FIRST PLEBEIAN
Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.

FOURTH PLEBEIAN
If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Caesar has had great wrong.

THIRD PLEBEIAN

Has he, masters? [110]
I fear there will a worse come in his place.

FIFTH PLEBEIAN
Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown;
Therefore ’tis certain he was not ambitious.