Read the excerpt from act 1, scene 3, of Julius Caesar. A be
CASSIUS. And why should Caesar be a tyrant then?
Poor man, I know he would not be a wolf
But that he sees the Romans are but sheep.
Why is this excerpt an example of verbal irony?
O Cassius speaks of the Romans as sheep, but he believes they are strong independent thinkers.
O Cassius portrays Caesar as a cruel-hearted tyrant, and at the same time says he pitties Caesar
can't help himself.
Cassius believes himself to be innocent, and only the audience knows that he is like a scheming
O Cassius wishes that he could be a cruel leader like Caesar.

O Cassius portrays Caesar as a cruel-hearted tyrant, and at the same time says he pitties Caesar  can't help himself.

Explanation:

William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" revolves around the story of the death of Caesar at the hands of his close ally Brutus and other conspirators. The play deals with themes of loyalty, good vs. evil, appearance, and reality, power, greed, etc.

In the given excerpt from the play, Cassius questions why or how Caesar can be a tyrant. For him, Caesar "would not be a wolf" but then, he also states that "[Caesar] sees the Romans are but sheep." This is an example of verbal irony because Cassius portrays Caesar as a cruel tyrant but also pities the person.

Thus, the correct answer is the second option.

i believe it may be the hope this sorry if i'm wrong.