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Easy Reading Shakespeare
Volume Two
JULIUS CAESAR
Mark Antony speaks to the
Roman crowd after Caesar’s murder.
He stood before the people;
His eyes were full of tears.
He said, ‘Friends, Romans, Countrymen
Now lend to me your ears.
‘I come to bury Caesar;
Not to sing his praises.
I know but little of the issues
Gallant Brutus raises.
‘Brutus claims he showed ambition
As only tyrants can,
This must be true – for Brutus is
An honourable man.
‘But Caesar was my greatest friend;
I answered to his call.
They say he was ambitious,
But I ask you, one and all,
‘When Caesar won great treasure
From all his many wars,
Did he show blind ambition?
Did he ignore our laws?
‘No – he brought his treasure back;
He brought it back to Rome.
Would a greedy selfish man
Bring all this bounty home?
‘And when I asked him to be king
Did he just grab the crown?
No – on three occasions
You saw him turn it down.’
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