Enter Antony, Octavius and Lepidus, seated at a table.
ANTONY
These many then shall die; their names are prick’d.
OCTAVIUS
Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus?
LEPIDUS
I do consent,—
OCTAVIUS
Prick him down, Antony.
LEPIDUS
Upon condition PubliusPublius, an elderly Roman senator present at Caesar's assassination and dismissed unharmed by Brutus. shall not live,Who is your sister’s son, Mark Antony.
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 determineHow to cut off some charge in legacies.
LEPIDUS
What, shall I find you here?
OCTAVIUS
Or here, or at the Capitol.
Exit LepidusMarcus Aemilius Lepidus, the Roman leader who rules with Antony and Octavius in the triumvirate formed after Caesar’s death..
ANTONY
This is a slight unmeritable man,Meet to be sent on errands. Is it fit,The three-fold world divided, he should standOne of the three to share it?
OCTAVIUS
So you thought him,And took his voice who should be prick’d to dieIn our black sentence and proscriptionan official decree naming people as outlaws who may be killed and have their property confiscated..
ANTONY
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
You may do your will;But he’s a tried and valiant soldier.
ANTONY
So is my horse, Octavius; and for thatI 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 feedsOn objects, arts, and imitations,Which, out of use and stal’d by other men,Begin his fashion. Do not talk of himBut as a property. And now, Octavius,Listen great things. Brutus and CassiusAre 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.
OCTAVIUS
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.