Brutus Speech in the Forum

By: William Shakespeare

Romans, countrymen, lovers!
Hear me for my cause that you may hear.
Believe me for my honor t h a t y o u m a y b e l i e v e .
Censure me in you wisdom
and awake yo u senses that you m a y the better judge
.
If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of
Caesar, to him I say that Brutus love to
Caesar was no less than his.
I f t h e n t h a t f r i e n d demand why Brutus rose against Caesar? This is
my a n s w e r , n o t t h a t I l o v e C a e s a r l e s s b u t t h a t I l o v e Rome more.
Had you rather, Caesar were living and die all slaves than that Caesar were
dead to live all freemen?
As Caesar loved me I weep for him, as he w a s f o r t u n a t e I r e j o i c e d a t
i t , a s h e w a s v a l i a n t , I honor him but as he was ambitious I slew him.
There is a tear for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his value and death for his
ambition.
W h o i s h e r e s o b r a v e t h a t h e w o u l d n o t b e a Boardman?
I f a n y , I s p e a k f o r h i m , I h a v e o f f e n d e d who is here so rude that he would not
be a Roman.
If a n y I s p e a k f o r h i m , I h a v e o f f e n d e d w h o i s h e r e s o vile that he would
not love is country, if any speak for him, I have offended. I pause for a reply.
None Brutus! None!
Then none have, I offended, I have done no more to Caesar, than you shall do
to Brutus.
The question of his death is registered in the capitol.