Julius Caesar, Act 4, Scene 1

These many then shall die; their names are prick’d.

All these men, then, must die; their names are marked.

Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus?

Your brother must die too; do you agree, Lepidus?

I do consent,—

I agree—

Prick him down, Antony.

Mark him down, Antony.

Upon condition Publius shall not live, Who is your sister’s son, Mark Antony.

—on the condition that Publius does not live, the son of your sister, Mark Antony.

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.

He shall not live; look, with one mark I condemn him. But, Lepidus, you go to Caesar's house; bring the will here, and we will decide how to cut back some of the expense in the bequests.

What, shall I find you here?

What, will I find you here?

Or here, or at the Capitol.

Either here, or at the Capitol.

This is a slight unmeritable man, Meet to be sent on errands. Is it fit, The three-fold world divided, he should stand One of the three to share it?

This is a trivial man who deserves nothing, fit only to be sent on errands. Is it right that, with the world split three ways, he should stand as one of the three who share it?

So you thought him, And took his voice who should be prick’d to die In our black sentence and proscription.

That was your opinion of him, and yet you took his vote on who should be marked for death in our black sentence of outlawry.

Octavius, I have seen more days than you; And though we lay these honours 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.

Octavius, I have lived more days than you; and though we pile these honours on this man, to relieve ourselves of various slanderous burdens, he will only carry them the way a donkey carries gold — to groan and sweat under the job, either led or driven, whichever way we point; and once he has brought our treasure where we want it, then we take his load off and turn him loose, like the unloaded donkey, to shake his ears and graze on the common land.

You may do your will; But he’s a tried and valiant soldier.

You may do as you like; but he is a proven and brave soldier.

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.

So is my horse, Octavius; and for that I assign him a supply of fodder. He is a creature I teach to fight, to turn, to halt, to run straight ahead, his body's movements governed by my mind. And, to a degree, Lepidus is no more than that: he must be taught, and trained, and told to go forward — a man with no spirit in him, one who feeds on curiosities, tricks and imitations which, worn out and made stale by other men, become the latest thing for him. Don't speak of him except as a tool. And now, Octavius, listen to important matters. Brutus and Cassius are raising armies; we must gather our forces at once. So let our alliance be tightened, our best friends won over, our resources stretched to the limit; and let us go and sit in council straight away on how hidden dangers may best be uncovered, and open dangers most surely met.

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.

Let us do that: for we are tied to the stake, and barked at all round by many enemies; and some who smile have, I am afraid, millions of harms in their hearts.