If You Have Tears
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
If You Have Tears
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle. I remember
The first time ever Caesar put it on.
’Twas on a summer’s evening in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii.
Look, in this place ran Cassius’ dagger through.
See what a rent the envious Casca made.
Through this the well-belovèd Brutus stabbed,
And, as he plucked his cursèd steel away,
Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it,
As rushing out of doors to be resolved
If Brutus so unkindly knocked or no;
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel.
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all.
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms,
Quite vanquished him. Then burst his mighty heart,
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey’s statue
(Which all the while ran blood) great Caesar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I and you and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourished over us.
O, now you weep, and I perceive you feel
The dint of pity. These are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold
Our Caesar’s vesture wounded? Look you here,
Antony lifts Caesar’s cloak.
Here is himself, marred as you see with traitors.
Quot praesunt lacrimae: my Latin
quot praesunt lacrimae, fiatis fundere prompti.
omnibus hic vobis constat bene notus amictus;
tempore quem primo – memori mihi credite – Caesar
induit, ipse dies aestu cum mollior ibat,
castra ubi tenta fuere, die quo vicerat Hainam
Belgarumque tribum validum Hanoniensibus arvis.
aspicite: hic sica percussit Cassius; immo
hic lacerum irrupsit Casca invidiosus amictum;
percutit hic scissum delectu Brutus amatus;
quin etiam ut Brutus maledictum subtrahit ensem,
insequitur, spectate, cruor, velut ocius exit,
haud aliter, quam si Brutum reperire volebat,
an feriat portas vix comiter, anne vacaret:
deliciae nam Brutus erat, sua summa voluptas.
volvite, di, quanta Brutum face Caesar amavit!
hoc gravius vulnus: fuit haud crudelius ullum;
viderat ut Brutum Caesar pulsare, quod armis
fortius infidis, mens ingratissima tantum
devicit penitus: jacet, en! cor nobile ruptum:
os tegit in palla; Pompeii sanguinolenta
leto sub statua ruit ingens Caesar ademptus.
quantus erat, cives, ibi casus, quanta ruina!
quin ego, quin et vos et nos occumbimus omnes;
fraus et proditio florebant more cruento.
funditis, heu! lacrimas: misereri vulnere tactos
percipio, fletum generosum. at fletis amictum
Caesaris attactum modo? sed deflectite visum:
ipse homo Caesar adest, falsorum saucius actis.
On another page: in Inglish (with no letter E)...
Translation: Copyright © Timothy Adès