This Was the Noblest Roman of Them All

Marlon Brando as Antony in Julius Caesar (1953)

Listen to:
This Was the Noblest Roman of Them All (:53)

from Julius Caesar

by William Shakespeare

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

Act V, scene v

Antony’s word indeed stir the hearts of the people and civil war quickly breaks out, with Antony leading the charge against Brutus and Cassius. In the end, facing eminent defeat both Cassius and then Brutus run on their swords. When Antony encounters the body of Brutus, he speaks this eulogy:

ANTONY 

This was the noblest Roman of them all:

All the conspirators save only he

Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;

He only, in a general honest thought

And common good to all, made one of them.

His life was gentle, and the elements

So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up

And say to all the world 'This was a man!'