Julius Caesar, Act 4, Scene 1

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

All these, then, are to die; their names are marked on the list.

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 either — your sister's son, 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 money left in legacies.

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 with no merit, 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 is what you thought of him, and yet you took his vote on who should be marked down to die in our grim sentence of death and 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 put these honours on this man, to relieve ourselves of various loads of blame, he will carry them only the way a donkey carries gold: groaning and sweating under the job, either led or driven as we choose the road. And once he has brought our treasure where we want it, then we take his load off and turn him loose, like the unburdened 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 please, 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 plenty of feed. He is a creature I train to fight, to turn, to halt, to run straight ahead, his body's movement controlled by my mind. And in some degree Lepidus is no more than that: he must be taught and trained and told to go out. A man with no spirit of his own; one who feeds on curiosities, tricks and imitations which, once other men are done with them and have worn them out, become his latest fashion. Speak of him only as a tool. And now, Octavius, hear great matters. Brutus and Cassius are raising armies; we must gather our forces at once. So let our alliance be tightly knit, our best friends secured, our resources stretched to the limit. And let us go and sit in council immediately, to work out how hidden matters may best be brought to light 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 on all sides by many enemies. And some who smile have, I fear, millions of injuries in their hearts.