Act 4, Scene 1
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ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, and LEPIDUS enter.
ANTONY
These many, then, shall die. Their names are pricked.
These are the ones who will be killed. Their names are marked.
OCTAVIUS
[to LEPIDUS] Your brother too must die. Consent you, Lepidus?
[To LEPIDUS] Your brother must die, too. Do you agree, Lepidus?
LEPIDUS
I do consent—
I agree—
OCTAVIUS
5Prick him down, Antony.
Mark him down, Antony.
LEPIDUS
Upon condition Publius shall not live,Who is your sister’s son, Mark Antony.
On the condition that your sister's son, Publius, also must not be allowed
to live, Mark Antony.
ANTONY
He shall not live. Look, with a spot I damn him. But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar’s house. 10Fetch
the will hither, and we shall determine How to cut off some charge in legacies.
He will not live. See—with this mark I've sentenced him to death. But,
Lepidus, go now to Caesar’s house. Bring his will here, and we’ll figure out
a way to reduce his gifts to the people.
LEPIDUS
What, shall I find you here?
Will you be here when I get back?
OCTAVIUS
Or here, or at the Capitol.
We'll either be here or at the Capitol.
LEPIDUS exits.
ANTONY
This is a slight, unmeritable man, 15Meet to be sent on errands. Is it fit, The threefold world
divided, he should stand One of the three to share it?
He’s an insignificant, and unworthy man—only fit to be sent on
errands. When we've split rulership of the world into three parts, is it
proper that he should be one of the three men to share it?
OCTAVIUS
So you thought him.And took his voice who should be pricked to die 20In our black sentence and
proscription.
You thought so. Besides, you listened to his opinion about who we should
mark for death.
ANTONY
Octavius, I have seen more days than you. And though we lay these honors on this man To ease
ourselves of divers slanderous loads, He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold, 25To 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 30And graze in commons.
Octavius, I’ve lived longer than you have. And though we’re giving these
honors to this man so that he carries the blame for the wrongs we’re
going to do, he’ll carry these honors like a jackass carries gold—groaning
and sweating under the load, either led or pushed, as we direct the way
he should go. And once he’s brought our treasure where we want, we’ll
relieve him of the load and put him out to pasture, like a jackass, to shake
his ears and graze.
OCTAVIUS
You may do your will,But he’s a tried and valiant soldier.
You can do whatever you want, but he’s an experienced and brave
soldier.
ANTONY
So is my horse, Octavius, and for that I do appoint him store of provender. 35It is a creature that I
teach to fight, To wind, to stop, to run directly on, His corporal motion governed by my spirit, And,
in some taste, is Lepidus but so. He must be taught and trained and bid go forth, 40A barren-
spirited fellow, one that feeds On objects, arts, and imitations, Which, out of use and staled by
other men, Begin his fashion. Do not talk of him But as a property. And now, Octavius, 45Listen
great things. Brutus and Cassius Are levying powers. We must straight make head.Therefore let our
alliance be combined, Our best friends made, our means stretched. And let us presently go sit in
council 50How covert matters may be best disclosed, And open perils surest answered.
So is my horse, Octavius, and for that reason I give him a supply of food.
My horse is a creature that I direct during a fight—to turn, to stop, to run
straight ahead. I control his movements. And, to some degree, Lepidus is
nothing more than that. He has to be taught and trained and told what to
do. He's an empty sort of man, and he considers the trends and tastes
that went out of fashion with other men long ago to be the utmost in
style. Don’t think of Lepidus as anything other than a tool for us to
use. And now, Octavius, listen to more important things. Brutus and
Cassius are building armies. We must immediately do the same.
Therefore, we should combine our strength, confirm the support of our
allies, and stretch our connections to their fullest reach. Let’s now go
discuss how we can find out what hidden dangers face us, and how to
respond to those dangers we already know about.
OCTAVIUS
Let us do so. For we are at the stake And bayed about with many enemies. And some that smile
have in their hearts, I fear, 55Millions of mischiefs.
Let’s do that, because we’re surrounded by many enemies, like a bear
chained to a stake and circled by howling dogs. And I fear that some of
the people who smile at us actually mean to harm us.
They exit.
