Homework answers / question archive / Julius_Caesar_NG 8/19/06 11:20 AM Page 7 Julius Caesar Before We Start Handout 1 Name Date Hour Character and Term List Below is a list of the major characters and terms

Julius_Caesar_NG 8/19/06 11:20 AM Page 7 Julius Caesar Before We Start Handout 1 Name Date Hour Character and Term List Below is a list of the major characters and terms

Economics

Share With

Julius_Caesar_NG 8/19/06 11:20 AM Page 7 Julius Caesar Before We Start Handout 1 Name Date Hour Character and Term List Below is a list of the major characters and terms. Characters Julius Caesar: Caesar is a leader in both in the military and the senate. His recent victories lead the people to offer him the crown, but he refuses. Other leaders fear he will become ambitious and thus view him as a threat. Octavius Caesar: Octavius is Julius Caesar’s adopted son and heir apparent. After Caesar’s death he rules Rome with Marc Antony and Lepidus as part of the triumvirate. Marcus Antonius: Loyal to Julius Caesar, Marcus Antonius seeks revenge against the conspirators and shows some ambition of his own. Referred to as Marc Antony. Lepidus: He is a member of the triumvirate. Lepidus seems to have less power than either Marc Antony or Octavius Caesar although Octavius relies on him considerably. Cicero: Cicero is a member of the Roman senate who is known for delivering excellent speeches. He is unaware of the conspiracy. Publius: Publius is another member of the Roman senate. Popilius Lena: Popilius Lena is unaware of the conspiracy. He is also a member of the Roman senate. Marcus Brutus: Dedicated to preserving freedom in Rome by preventing the rise of a sovereign, Marcus Brutus overcomes his loyalty to Caesar for what he believes is the greater good. Referred to as Brutus. Cassius: Cassius is a Roman general who conspires against Julius Caesar, using treachery and deceit to accomplish his own desires. Casca: Casca is a Roman who dislikes Julius Caesar and works to persuade Brutus and Cassius that Caesar’s ambition will destroy Rome. Trebonius: Trebonius is a member of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. Ligarius: Ligarius is also a member of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. Decius Brutus: Decius Brutus is a member of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. He plays a pivotal role in the plot. Shakespeare's actors only got their lines as the play was in progress. They found out who else was playing the day of the performance. 7 © 2006. Teacher’s Discovery® Julius_Caesar_NG 8/19/06 11:20 AM Page 8 Julius Caesar Character List and Term List Before We Start Handout 1, continued Metellus Cimber: Cinna: Flavius & Marullus: Cinna, a poet: Calpurnia: Portia: Metellus Cimber is a member of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. Cinna is also a member of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. As elected officials, Flavious and Marullus fault the masses for switching their allegiances quickly and easily. These tribunes are punished for anti-Caesar activities. Cinna is a poet who unfortunately shares the same name as one of the conspirators. Calpurnia is the wife of Julius Caesar. She fears for his safety, but, ultimately, her pleas cannot overcome his wishes. She is the wife of Marcus Brutus. Portia senses Brutus’ unease but is unable to help him. Terms Characters: Characters are the names of all the people who appear in the play, listed at the very beginning, often under the title Dramatis Personae, a Latin phrase which means “people of the play.” After their initial identification, you will find the name of each character, capitalized (and often abbreviated), before he or she speaks. Acts: Acts are the divisions of the plot or action into sections and indicated with Roman numerals. Scenes: Scenes are subdivisions within acts. The beginning of each scene describes the physical appearance of the stage for this section, suggesting the real surroundings for the historical time and action of the play; usually printed in italics. Stage directions: These are the directions given in brackets or parentheses to a character before his or her speech. They are unspoken but important for understanding characters and their behavior at the time. Costumes: Costumes are the clothing actors wear that help us to identify the individual characters, usually telling us when and where they lived. For example, if we were to actually stage a performance of Julius Caesar, we could indicate the time period by the type of military clothing. Lighting: Lighting is the use of artificial lights and spotlights to suggest time of day or night, as well as to highlight certain areas of the stage and certain key characters in a particular scene. 8 © 2006. Teacher’s Discovery® Julius_Caesar_NG 8/19/06 11:20 AM Page 9 Julius Caesar Before We Start Handout 2 Name Date Hour Synopsis Ruling an empire, especially one with the size and influence of ancient Rome, isn’t easy. With wars and conspiracies, private strategizing mixed with public feuding, and evil omens indicating great doom, a leader must constantly guard against enemies from within and without. When Julius Caesar returns from battle, having defeated his archrival Pompey, the citizens clamor to name him king, but it is an offer fraught with peril. Although Caesar refuses the crown, Roman senators and high public officials fear the worst: Caesar’s ambition might lead him to overthrow the Republic in favor of a monarchy. At this moment, plans are set in motion and fates are sealed. Shakespeare’s shortest history, Julius Caesar, was first performed in 1599 at the old Globe Theater. It is possible that the playwright was giving some political commentary on the situation in England. Queen Elizabeth I had reigned for many years but was likely to die without an heir, an event that could throw the country into chaos. Shakespeare’s retelling of the events surrounding the real Julius Caesar’s life and death offered important lessons for his time that we can translate into ours. When you read Julius Caesar, you must familiarize yourself with two worlds: Shakespeare’s 16th-century England and Caesar’s ancient Rome. The Roman Empire, where some men sought honor and power and others demonstrated betrayal and intrigue, will quickly draw you in and help you think about important issues for today. Shakespeare’s language may sound strange initially, but reading slowly and carefully will help you understand the meaning. The blank verse will start to feel familiar as you read the words aloud. Shakespeare’s blank verse is an iambic pentameter; pentameter means that each line has five “feet,” or accents. Iambic means that each foot has two syllables in a soft-hard (unaccented-accented) combination. 9 © 2006. Teacher’s Discovery® Line Original Text Modern Text 1 The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Crowther, John, ed. “No Fear Julius Caesar.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. http://nfs.sparknotes.com/juliuscaesar Act 1, Scene 1 5 10 Enter FLAVIUS, MURELLUS, a CARPENTER, aCOBBLER, and certain FLAVIUS and MURELLUS enter and speak to other COMMONERS over the stage aCARPENTER, a COBBLER, and some other commoners. FLAVIUS FLAVIUS Hence! Home, you idle creatures get you home! Get out of here! Go home, you lazy men. What, is today a Is this a holiday? What, know you not, holiday? Don’t you know that working men aren’t supposed Being mechanical, you ought not walk to walk around on a workday without wearing their work Upon a laboring day without the sign clothes? You there, speak up. What’s your occupation? Of your profession?—Speak, what trade art thou? CARPENTER CARPENTER Why, sir, a carpenter. I’m a carpenter, sir. MURELLUS MURELLUS Where is thy leather apron and thy rule? Where are your leather apron and your ruler? What are you What dost thou with thy best apparel on? doing, wearing your best clothes? And you, sir, —You, sir, what trade are you? what’s your trade? COBBLER COBBLER Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler. Well, compared to a fine workman, you might call me a mere cobbler. 15 MURELLUS MURELLUS But what trade art thou? Answer me directly. But what’s your trade? Answer me straightforwardly. COBBLER COBBLER A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience, which is, indeed, sir, It is a trade, sir, that I practice with a clear conscience. I am a a mender of bad soles. mender of worn soles. MURELLUS MURELLUS What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty knave, what trade? What trade, boy? You insolent rascal, what trade? COBBLER COBBLER Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me. Yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend Sir, please, don’t be angry. But if your soles are worn out, I you. can mend you. MURELLUS MURELLUS Line Original Text What mean’st thou by that? “Mend” me, thou saucy fellow? Modern Text 2 What do you mean by that? “Mend” me, you mpertinent fellow?! 20 COBBLER COBBLER Why, sir, cobble you. Cobble you, sir. FLAVIUS FLAVIUS Thou art a cobbler, art thou? You’re a cobbler, are you? COBBLER COBBLER Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl. I meddle with no tradesman’s matters Sir, I make my living using an awl. I stick to my work? I don’t nor women’s matters, but withal I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes. When meddle in politics or chase women. I’m a surgeon to old they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon shoes. When they’re endangered, I save them. The noblest neat’s leather have gone upon my handiwork. men who ever walked on leather have walked on my handiwork. FLAVIUS FLAVIUS But wherefore art not in thy shop today? But why aren’t you in your shop today? Why are you leading Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? these men through the streets? COBBLER COBBLER Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes to get myself into more work. But indeed, sir, Well, to wear out their shoes and get myself more work. we make holiday to see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph. Seriously, though, we took the day off to see Caesar, sir, and celebrate his triumph. 35 40 MURELLUS MURELLUS Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? Why would you celebrate it? What victory does he bring What tributaries follow him to Rome home? What foreign lands has he conquered and captive To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? foreigners chained to his chariot wheels? You blockheads, You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things, you unfeeling men! You hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, O you hard hearts, you cruèl men of Rome, didn’t you know Pompey? Many times you climbed up on Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft walls and battlements, towers and windows—even chimney Have you climbed up to walls and battlements, tops—with your babies in your arms, and sat there patiently To towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops, all day waiting to see great Pompey ride through the streets Your infants in your arms, and there have sat of Rome. And when you caught a glimpse of his chariot, The livelong day with patient expectation didn’t you shout so loud that the river Tiber shook as it To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome. echoed? And now you put on your best clothes? And now And when you saw his chariot but appear, you take a holiday? Have you not made an universal shout 45 That Tiber trembled underneath her banks Line Original Text Modern Text 3 To hear the replication of your sounds Made in her concave shores? And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now cull out a holiday? 50 And do you now strew flowers in his way And now you toss flowers in the path of Caesar, who comes That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood? in triumph over Pompey’s defeated sons? Go home! Run to Be gone! your houses, fall on your knees, and pray to the gods to Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, spare you the pain that you deserve for such ingratitude. Pray to the gods to intermit the plague 55 60 65 That needs must light on this ingratitude. FLAVIUS FLAVIUS Go, go, good countrymen, and for this fault, Go, go, good countrymen, and to make up for having done Assemble all the poor men of your sort, wrong, gather up all the poor men like yourselves, lead them Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears to the Tiber, and weep into the river until it overflows its Into the channel till the lowest stream banks. Do kiss the most exalted shores of all. Exeunt CARPENTER, COBBLER, and all the other commoners The CARPENTER, COBBLER, and all the commoners exit. See whether their basest metal be not moved. Well, that ought to move even the most thickheaded of them. They vanish tongue­tied in their guiltiness. There they go, feeling so guilty they’re now tongue­tied— Go you down that way towards the Capitol. they don’t have a thing to say. You go down toward the This way will I. Disrobe the images Capitol, and I’ll go this way. Undress the statues if they’re If you do find them decked with ceremonies. decorated in honor of Caesar. MURELLUS MURELLUS May we do so? Can we do that? You know it’s the feast of Lupercal. You know it is the feast of Lupercal. 70 FLAVIUS FLAVIUS It is no matter. Let no images It doesn’t matter. Make sure that none of the statues are Be hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll about decorated in tribute to Caesar. I’ll walk around and force the And drive away the vulgar from the streets. commoners off the streets. You do the same, wherever the So do you too, where you perceive them thick. crowds are thick. If we take away Caesar’s support, he’ll These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing have to come back down to earth? otherwise, he’ll fly too high Will make him fly an ordinary pitch, and keep the rest of us in a state of fear and obedience. Who else would soar above the view of men 75 And keep us all in servile fearfulness. Line Original Text Modern Text 4 Act 1, Scene 2 Exeunt severally They exit in different directions. Flourish Enter CAESAR, ANTONY, dressed for the A trumpet sounds. CAESAR enters, followed byANTONY, course, CALPHURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO,BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CA dressed formally for a foot race, SCA, and a SOOTHSAYERin a throng of plebians. After them, MURELLUS thenCALPHURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO,BRUTUS, and FLAVIUS CASSIUS, and CASCA. A great crowd follows, among them a SOOTHSAYER . 5 10 CAESAR CAESAR Calphurnia! Calphurnia! CASCA CASCA Peace, ho! Caesar speaks. Quiet! Caesar’s talking. CAESAR CAESAR Calphurnia! Calphurnia! CALPHURNIA CALPHURNIA Here, my lord. I’m here, my lord. CAESAR CAESAR Stand you directly in Antonius' way Stand right in Antonius’s path when he runs the race. When he doth run his course.—Antonius! Antonius! ANTONY ANTONY Caesar, my lord. Yes, Caesar? CAESAR CAESAR Forget not in your speed, Antonius, Antonius, after you take off, don’t forget to touch Calphurnia, To touch Calphurnia, for our elders say because our wise elders say that if you touch an infertile The barren, touchèd in this holy chase, woman during this holy race, she’ll be freed from the curse of Shake off their sterile curse. sterility. ANTONY ANTONY I shall remember. I’ll remember. When Caesar says “do this,” it is done. When Caesar says, “do this,” it is performed. CAESAR CAESAR Set on, and leave no ceremony out. Continue, then, and don’t forget to perform all of the rituals. Line 15 20 Original Text Modern Text 5 Music A trumpet plays. SOOTHSAYER SOOTHSAYER Caesar! Caesar! CAESAR CAESAR Ha! Who calls? Who’s calling me? CASCA CASCA Bid every noise be still. Peace yet again. Quiet, everyone! Quiet! Music ceases The trumpet stops playing. CAESAR CAESAR Who is it in the press that calls on me? Who in the crowd is calling me? I hear a voice more piercing I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, than the music of these trumpets calling “Caesar!” Speak. Cry “Caesar!”—Speak. Caesar is turned to hear. Caesar is listening. SOOTHSAYER SOOTHSAYER Beware the ides of March. Beware of March 15th. CAESAR CAESAR What man is that? Who’s that? BRUTUS BRUTUS A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. A soothsayer tells you to beware of March 15th. CAESAR CAESAR Set him before me. Let me see his face. Bring him in front of me. Let me see his face. CASSIUS CASSIUS Fellow, come from the throng. Look upon Caesar. You, fellow, step out of the crowd. This is Caesar you’re looking at. 25 SOOTHSAYER approaches The SOOTHSAYER approaches. CAESAR CAESAR What sayst thou to me now? Speak once again. What do you have to say to me now? Speak once again. SOOTHSAYER SOOTHSAYER Beware the ides of March. Beware of March 15th. CAESAR CAESAR He is a dreamer. Let us leave him. Pass! He’s insane. Let’s leave him. Let’s move. Line Original Text Sennet. Exeunt. Manent BRUTUS and CASSIUS Modern Text 6 Trumpets play. Everyone exits except BRUTUSand CASSIUS. 30 CASSIUS CASSIUS Will you go see the order of the course? Are you going to watch the race? BRUTUS BRUTUS Not I. Not me. CASSIUS CASSIUS I pray you, do. Please, come. BRUTUS BRUTUS I am not gamesome. I do lack some part I don’t like sports. I’m not competitive like Antony. But don’t Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. let me keep you from going, Cassius. I’ll go my own way. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires. I’ll leave you. 35 CASSIUS CASSIUS Brutus, I do observe you now of late Brutus, I’ve been watching you lately. You seem less good­ I have not from your eyes that gentleness natured and affectionate toward me than usual. You’ve been And show of love as I was wont to have. stubborn and unfamiliar with me, your friend who loves you. You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Over your friend that loves you. 40 45 BRUTUS BRUTUS Cassius, Cassius, don’t take it badly. If I seem guarded, it’s only Be not deceived. If I have veiled my look, because I’m uneasy with myself. Lately I’ve been I turn the trouble of my countenance overwhelmed with private thoughts and inner conflicts, which Merely upon myself. Vexèd I am have affected my behavior. But this shouldn’t trouble my Of late with passions of some difference, good friends—and I consider you a good friend, Cassius. Conceptions only proper to myself, Don’t think anything more about my distraction than that poor Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors. Brutus, who is at war with himself, forgets to show affection But let not therefore, my good friends, be grieved— to others. Among which number, Cassius, be you one— Nor construe any further my neglect Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shows of love to other men. CASSIUS CASSIUS Line 50 Original Text Modern Text 7 Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion, Brutus, I misunderstood your feelings, and therefore kept to By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried myself certain thoughts I might have shared. Tell me, good Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. Brutus, can you see your face? Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face? 55 60 BRUTUS BRUTUS No, Cassius, for the eye sees not itself No, Cassius. The eye can’t see itself, except by reflection in But by reflection, by some other things. other surfaces. CASSIUS CASSIUS 'Tis just. That’s true. And it’s too bad, Brutus, that you don’t have any And it is very much lamented, Brutus, mirrors that could display your hidden excellence to yourself. That you have no such mirrors as will turn I’ve heard many of the noblest Romans—next to immortal Your hidden worthiness into your eye Caesar—speaking of you, complaining of the tyranny of That you might see your shadow. I have heard today’s government, and wishing that your eyes were Where many of the best respect in Rome, working better. Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus And groaning underneath this age’s yoke, Have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes. 65 70 75 BRUTUS BRUTUS Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, What dangers are you trying to lead me into, Cassius, that That you would have me seek into myself you want me to look inside myself for something that’s not For that which is not in me? there? CASSIUS CASSIUS Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear. I’ll tell you, good Brutus. And since you know you can see And since you know you cannot see yourself yourself best by reflection, I’ll be your mirror and show you, So well as by reflection, I, your glass, without exaggeration, things inside you that you can’t see. Will modestly discover to yourself And don’t be suspicious of me, noble Brutus. If I were your That of yourself which you yet know not of. average fool, or if I made my feelings for you worthless by And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus. making the same promises of friendship to everybody, or if Were I a common laugher, or did use you’d seen me first flattering men, hugging them tightly, and To stale with ordinary oaths my love later slandering them behind their backs, or if you hear that I To every new protester, if you know drunkenly declare friendship at banquets with all the rabble, That I do fawn on men and hug them hard only then, of course, go ahead and assume I’m dangerous. And, after, scandal them, or if you know That I profess myself in banqueting 80 To all the rout, then hold me dangerous. Line 85 Original Text Modern Text 8 Flourish, and shout within Trumpets play offstage, and then a shout is heard. BRUTUS BRUTUS What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Why are they shouting? I’m afraid the people have made Choose Caesar for their king. Caesar their king. CASSIUS CASSIUS Ay, do you fear it? Really, are you afraid of that? Then I have to assume you Then must I think you would not have it so. don’t want him to be king. BRUTUS BRUTUS I would not, Cassius. Yet I love him well. I don’t, Cassius, though I love Caesar very much. But why do But wherefore do you hold me here so long? you keep me here so long? What do you want to tell me? If What is it that you would impart to me? it’s for the good of all Romans, I’d do it even if it meant my If it be aught toward the general good, death. Let the gods give me good luck only as long as I love Set honor in one eye and death i' th' other, honor more than I fear death. And I will look on both indifferently, 90 For let the gods so speed me as I love The name of honor more than I fear eath. 95 100 105 CASSIUS CASSIUS I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, I know this quality in you, Brutus—it’s as familiar to me as As well as I do know your outward favor. your face. Indeed, honor is what I want to talk to you about. I Well, honor is the subject of my story. don’t know what you and other men think of this life, but as I cannot tell what you and other men for me, I’d rather not live at all than live to worship a man as Think of this life, but, for my single self, ordinary as myself. I was born as free as Caesar. So were I had as lief not be as live to be you. We both have eaten as well, and we can both endure In awe of such a thing as I myself. the cold winter as well as he. Once, on a cold and windy day, I was born free as Caesar. So were you. when the river Tiber was crashing against its banks, Caesar We both have fed as well, and we can both said to me, “Cassius, I dare you to jump into this rough water Endure the winter’s cold as well as he. with me and swim to that point there.” As soon as he spoke, For once upon a raw and gusty day, though I was fully dressed, I plunged in and called for him to The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, follow. And he did. The water roared, and we fought against Caesar said to me, “Darest thou, Cassius, now it with vigorous arms. And, thanks to our fierce Leap in with me into this angry flood competitiveness, we made progress. But before we reached And swim to yonder point?” Upon the word, the end point, Caesar cried, “Help me, Cassius, or I will sink!” Accoutred as I was, I plungèd in And just as Aeneas, the hero who founded Rome, emerged And bade him follow. So indeed he did. from the fires of Troy with his elderly father Anchises on his Line 110 Original Text Modern Text 9 The torrent roared, and we did buffet it shoulder, so I emerged from the Tiber carrying the tired With lusty sinews, throwing it aside Caesar. And stemming it with hearts of controversy. But ere we could arrive the point proposed, Caesar cried, “Help me, Cassius, or I sink!” I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor, 115 Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber Did I the tired Caesar. And this man 120 125 Is now become a god, and Cassius is And this is the man who has now become a god, and I’m a A wretched creature and must bend his body wretched creature who must bow down if Caesar so much as If Caesar carelessly but nod on him. carelessly nods my way. In Spain, Caesar had a fever, and it He had a fever when he was in Spain, made him shake. It’s true, this so­called “god”—he shook. And when the fit was on him, I did mark His cowardly lips turned white, and the same eye whose How he did shake. 'Tis true, this god did shake! gaze terrifies the world lost its gleam. I heard him groan— His coward lips did from their color fly, yes, I did—and the same tongue that ordered the Romans to And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world obey him and transcribe his speeches in their books cried, Did lose his luster. I did hear him groan, “Give me some water, Titinius,” like a sick girl. It astounds Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans me that such a weak man could beat the whole world and Mark him and write his speeches in their books— carry the trophy of victory alone. “Alas,” it cried, “give me some drink, Titinius,” 130 As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me A man of such a feeble temper should So get the start of the majestic world And bear the palm alone. 135 Shout within. Flourish A shout offstage. Trumpets play. BRUTUS BRUTUS Another general shout! More shouting! I think this applause is for some new honors I do believe that these applauses are awarded to Caesar. For some new honors that are heaped on Caesar. CASSIUS CASSIUS Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Why, Caesar straddles the narrow world like a giant, and we Like a Colossus, and we petty men petty men walk under his huge legs and look forward only to Walk under his huge legs and peep about dying dishonorably, as slaves. Men can be masters of their To find ourselves dishonorable graves. fate. It is not destiny’s fault, but our own faults, that we’re Line 140 145 Original Text Modern Text 10 Men at some time are masters of their fates. slaves. “Brutus” and “Caesar.” What’s so special about The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars “Caesar”? Why should that name be proclaimed more than But in ourselves, that we are underlings. yours? Write them together—yours is just as good a name. Brutus and Caesar—what should be in that “Caesar”? Pronounce them—it is just as nice to say. Weigh them—it’s Why should that name be sounded more than yours? just as heavy. Write them together, yours is as fair a name. Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well. Weigh them, it is as heavy. Conjure with 'em, 150 155 160 Original Text Modern Text “Brutus” will start a spirit as soon as “Caesar.” Cast spells with them, and “Brutus” will call up a ghost Now in the names of all the gods at once, as well as “Caesar.” Now, in the name of all the gods, I Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed ask you what food does Caesar eat that has made him That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! grow so great? Our era should be ashamed! Rome has Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! lost the ability to raise noble men! When was there ever When went there by an age, since the great flood, an age, since the beginning of time, that didn’t feature But it was famed with more than with one man? more than one famous man? Until now, no one could say When could they say till now, that talked of Rome, that only one man mattered in all of vast Rome. Now, That her wide walks encompassed but one man? though, in all of Rome, there’s room for only one man. Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, You and I have heard our fathers talk of another When there is in it but one only man. Brutus—your ancestor—who would’ve let the devil Oh, you and I have heard our fathers say, himself reign in his Roman Republic before he let a king There was a Brutus once that would have brooked rule. Th' eternal devil to keep his state in Rome As easily as a king. 165 170 BRUTUS BRUTUS That you do love me, I am nothing jealous. I have no doubt that you love me. I’m beginning to What you would work me to, I have some aim. understand what you want me to do. What I think about How I have thought of this and of these times this, and about what’s happening here in Rome, I’ll tell I shall recount hereafter. For this present, you later. For now, don’t try to persuade me anymore—I I would not, so with love I might entreat you, ask you as a friend. I’ll think over what you’ve said, I’ll Be any further moved. What you have said listen patiently to whatever else you have to say, and I’ll I will consider, what you have to say find a good time for us to discuss further such weighty I will with patience hear, and find a time matters. Until then, my noble friend, think about this: I’d Both meet to hear and answer such high things. rather be a poor villager than call myself a citizen of Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: Rome under the hard conditions that this time is likely to Line Original Text Brutus had rather be a villager Modern Text 11 put us through. Than to repute himself a son of Rome 175 Under these hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us. 180 CASSIUS CASSIUS I am glad that my weak words I’m glad that my weak words have provoked even this Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. small show of protest from you. Enter CAESAR and his train, which includes CASCA CAESAR enters with his followers, who includeCASCA. BRUTUS BRUTUS The games are done and Caesar is returning. The games are done and Caesar is returning. CASSIUS CASSIUS As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve, As they pass by, grab Casca by the sleeve, and he’ll tell you And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you if anything important happened today—in his usual sour way. What hath proceeded worthy note today. 185 BRUTUS BRUTUS I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, I’ll do so. But look, Cassius, Caesar looks angry and The angry spot doth glow on Caesar’s brow, everyone else looks as if they’ve been scolded. Calphurnia’s And all the rest look like a chidden train. face is pale, and Cicero’s eyes are as red and fiery as they Calphurnia’s cheek is pale, and Cicero get when senators are arguing with him at the Capitol. Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes As we have seen him in the Capitol Being crossed in conference by some senators. CASSIUS CASSIUS Casca will tell us what the matter is. Casca will tell us what’s the matter. During the exchange During the exchange between CAESAR andANTONY, BRUTUS pulls CASCA by the sleeve between CAESAR andANTONY, BRUTUS pulls CASCA by the sleeve. 190 CAESAR CAESAR Antonio. Antonio! ANTONY ANTONY Caesar. Caesar? Line 195 Original Text Modern Text 12 CAESAR CAESAR (aside to ANTONY) Let me have men about me that are fat, (speaking so that only ANTONY can hear) I want the men Sleek­headed men and such as sleep a­nights. around me to be fat, healthy­looking men who sleep at night. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. That Cassius over there has a lean and hungry look. He He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous. thinks too much. Men like him are dangerous. ANTONY ANTONY (aside to CAESAR) Fear him not, Caesar. He’s not dangerous. (speaking so that only CAESAR can hear) Don’t be afraid of He is a noble Roman and well given. him, Caesar. He isn’t dangerous. He’s a noble Roman with a good disposition. 200 205 210 CAESAR CAESAR (aside to ANTONY) Would he were fatter! But I fear him not. (speaking so that only ANTONY can hear) I wish he were Yet if my name were liable to fear, fatter! But I’m not afraid of him. And yet, if I were capable of I do not know the man I should avoid fearing anyone, Cassius would be the first man I’d avoid. He So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much. reads a lot, he’s a keen observer, and he sees the hidden He is a great observer, and he looks motives in what men do. He doesn’t like plays the way you Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays, do, Antony. He doesn’t listen to music. He rarely smiles, and As thou dost, Antony. He hears no music. when he does smile, he does so in a self­mocking way, as if Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort he scorns himself for smiling at all. Men like him will never be As if he mocked himself and scorned his spirit comfortable while someone ranks higher than themselves, That could be moved to smile at anything. and therefore they’re very dangerous. I’m telling you what Such men as he be never at heart’s ease should be feared, not what I fear—because after all, I am Whiles they behold a greater than themselves, Caesar. Come over to my right side, because this ear is deaf, And therefore are they very dangerous. and tell me what you really think of Cassius. I rather tell thee what is to be feared Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar. Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, And tell me truly what thou think’st of him. Sennet. Exeunt CAESAR and all his train exceptCASCA Trumpets play. CAESAR exits with all his followers except CASCA. 215 CASCA CASCA (to BRUTUS) (to BRUTUS) You tugged on my cloak. Do you want to speak You pulled me by the cloak. Would you speak with me? with me? BRUTUS BRUTUS Ay, Casca. Tell us what hath chanced today Yes, Casca. Tell us what happened today that put Caesar in Line 220 Original Text Modern Text 13 That Caesar looks so sad. such a serious mood. CASCA CASCA Why, you were with him, were you not? But you were with him, weren’t you? BRUTUS BRUTUS I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. If I were, I wouldn’t need to ask you what happened. CASCA CASCA Why, there was a crown offered him? and, being offered him, he put it by with A crown was offered to him, and he pushed it away with the the back of his hand, thus? and then the people fell a­shouting. back of his hand, like this—and then the people started shouting. 225 BRUTUS BRUTUS What was the second noise for? What was the second noise for? CASCA CASCA Why, for that too. The same thing. CASSIUS CASSIUS They shouted thrice. What was the last cry for? They shouted three times. What was the last cry for? CASCA CASCA Why, for that too. For the same thing. BRUTUS BRUTUS Was the crown offered him thrice? The crown was offered to him three times? CASCA CASCA Ay, marry, was ’t, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other, and at Yes, indeed, it was, and he pushed it away three times, each every putting­by mine honest neighbors shouted. time more gently than the last? and at each refusal my countrymen shouted. CASSIUS CASSIUS Who offered him the crown? Who offered him the crown? CASCA CASCA Why, Antony. Antony. BRUTUS BRUTUS Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Tell us how it happened, noble Casca. CASCA CASCA Line Original Text Modern Text 14 I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it. It was mere foolery. I did not I can’t explain it. It was all silly and so I paid no attention. I mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown (yet ’twas not a crown neither, saw Mark Antony offer him a crown—though it wasn’t a real ’twas one of these coronets) and, as I told you, he put it by once—but, for all crown, just a small circlet—and, as I told you, he refused it that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again, once—though in my opinion he would’ve liked to have it. then he put it by again—but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers Then Antony offered it to him again, and he refused it again off it. And then he offered it the third time. He put it the third time by. And still, (though, in my opinion, he was reluctant to take his hand off as he refused it, the rabblement hooted and clapped their chapped hands and it). Then Antony offered it the third time. He refused it the threw up their sweaty night­caps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath third time, and as he refused it the commoners hooted and because Caesar refused the crown that it had almost choked Caesar—for he clapped their chapped hands, and threw up their sweaty swooned and fell down at it. And for mine own part, I durst not laugh for fear of hats, and let loose such a great deal of stinking breath opening my lips and receiving the bad air. because Caesar refused the crown that it nearly choked Caesar, because he fainted and fell down. As for myself, I didn’t dare laugh, for fear of opening my lips and inhaling the stinking air. 250 255 260 CASSIUS But soft, I pray you. What, did Caesar swoon? CASSIUS But wait a minute, please. Did you say Caesar fainted? CASCA He fell down in the marketplace, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless. CASCA He fell down in the marketplace and foamed at the mouth and was speechless. BRUTUS 'Tis very like. He hath the falling sickness. BRUTUS That’s very likely. He has epilepsy, a disease where you fall down. CASSIUS No, Caesar hath it not. But you and I And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness. CASSIUS No, Caesar doesn’t have epilepsy. You and I, and honest Casca, we have epilepsy—we’ve fallen. CASCA I know not what you mean by that, but I am sure Caesar fell down. If the tag­ rag people did not clap him and hiss him according as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. CASCA I don’t know what you mean by that, but I’m sure Caesar fell down. The rabble applauded and hissed him according to whether he pleased them or displeased them, just like they do to actors in the theater. If they didn’t, I’m a liar. BRUTUS What said he when he came unto himself? BRUTUS What did he say when he regained consciousness? CASCA Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet and offered them his throat to cut. An I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues. And so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, if he had done or said anything amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches where I stood cried, “Alas, good soul!” and forgave him with all their hearts. But there’s no heed to be taken of them. If Caesar had stabbed their mothers they would have done no less. CASCA Indeed, before he fell down, when he realized the commoners were glad he refused the crown, he pulled open his robe and offered them his throat to cut. If I’d been a common laborer and hadn’t taken him up on his offer, to hell with me. And so he fainted. When he regained consciousness again, he said that if he’d done or said anything wrong, he wanted them to know that it was all because of his sickness. Three or four women near me cried, “Alas, good soul!” and forgave him with all their hearts. But never mind them—if Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would’ve forgiven him. BRUTUS And after that he came thus sad away? BRUTUS And after that he came back here looking so serious? CASCA Ay. CASCA Yes. CASSIUS CASSIUS Line 275 Original Text Modern Text 15 Did Cicero say anything? Did Cicero say anything? CASCA CASCA Ay, he spoke Greek. Yes, he said something in Greek. CASSIUS CASSIUS To what effect? What did he say? CASCA CASCA Nay, an I tell you that, I’ll ne'er look you i' th' face again. But those that If I told you I understood Greek, I’d be lying. But those who understood him smiled at one another and shook their heads. But, for mine understood him smiled at one another and shook their heads. own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too. Murellus and As for myself, it was Greek to me. I have more news too. Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Caesar’s images, are put to silence. Fare you Murellus and Flavius have been punished for pulling scarves well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. off statues of Caesar. There you go. There was even more foolishness, if I could only remember it. 285 CASSIUS CASSIUS Will you sup with me tonight, Casca? Will you have dinner with me tonight, Casca? CASCA CASCA No, I am promised forth. No, I have a commitment. CASSIUS CASSIUS Will you dine with me tomorrow? Will you dine with me tomorrow? CASCA CASCA Ay, if I be alive and your mind hold and your dinner worth the eating. Yes, if I’m still alive, and you’re still sane, and your dinner is worth eating. 290 CASSIUS CASSIUS Good. I will expect you. Good. I’ll expect you. CASCA CASCA Do so. Farewell both. Do so. Farewell to you both. Exit CASCA CASCA exits. BRUTUS BRUTUS What a blunt fellow is this grown to be! What a stupid man he’s become! He was so sharp when he He was quick mettle when he went to school. was in school. CASSIUS CASSIUS So is he now in execution He’s still sharp when it comes to carrying out a bold or noble Line 295 Original Text Modern Text 16 Of any bold or noble enterprise, enterprise, though he puts on this show of stupidity. He However he puts on this tardy form. speaks roughly, but what he says is smart, and his This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, roughness makes other people enjoy listening to him. Which gives men stomach to digest his words With better appetite. 300 BRUTUS BRUTUS And so it is. For this time I will leave you. You’re right, that’s how it is. I’ll leave you for now. If you’d like Tomorrow, if you please to speak with me, to talk tomorrow, I’ll come to your home. Or, if you don’t I will come home to you. Or, if you will, mind, come to my home, and I’ll wait for you. Come home to me, and I will wait for you. 305 310 315 CASSIUS CASSIUS I will do so. Till then, think of the world. I’ll do so. Until then, think about the well­being of Rome. Exit BRUTUS BRUTUS exits. Well, Brutus, thou art noble. Yet I see Well, Brutus, you’re noble. Yet I see that your honorable Thy honorable mettle may be wrought character can be bent from its usual shape, which proves From that it is disposed. Therefore it is meet that good men should stick only to the company of other That noble minds keep ever with their likes, good men, because who is so firm that he can’t be seduced? For who so firm that cannot be seduced? Caesar resents me, but he loves Brutus. If I were Brutus now Caesar doth bear me hard, but he loves Brutus. and Brutus were me, I wouldn’t have let him influence me. If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius, Tonight I’ll throw through his window a few letters in different He should not humor me. I will this night, handwriting—as if they came from several citizens—all In several hands, in at his windows throw, testifying to the great respect Romans have for Brutus, and As if they came from several citizens, all alluding to Caesar’s unseemly ambition. And after this, let Writings all tending to the great opinion Caesar brace himself, for we’ll either dethrone him or suffer That Rome holds of his name, wherein obscurely even worse than now. Caesar’s ambition shall be glancèd at. And after this let Caesar seat him sure, For we will shake him, or worse days endure. Exit CASSIUS exits. Thunder and lightning. Enter CASCA and CICERO Thunder and lightning. CASCA and CICERO enter. Act 1, Scene 3 Line Original Text CICERO 5 10 Modern Text 17 CICERO Good even, Casca. Brought you Caesar home? Good evening, Casca. Did you accompany Caesar home? Why are you breathless? And why stare you so? Why are you breathless, and why are you staring like that? CASCA CASCA Are not you moved when all the sway of earth Aren’t you disturbed when the earth itself is shaking and Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, swaying as if it were a flimsy thing? Cicero, I’ve seen storms in I have seen tempests when the scolding winds which the angry winds split old oak trees, and I’ve seen the Have rived the knotty oaks, and I have seen ocean swell, rage, and foam, as if it wanted to reach the storm Th' ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam clouds, but never before tonight, never until now, have I To be exalted with the threatening clouds, experienced a storm that drops fire. Either there are wars in But never till tonight, never till now, heaven, or else the world, too insolent toward the gods, Did I go through a tempest dropping fire. provokes them to send destruction. Either there is a civil strife in heaven, Or else the world, too saucy with the gods, Incenses them to send destruction. CICERO CICERO Why, saw you anything more wonderful? What—have you seen something so strange that it is clearly an omen from the gods? 15 20 CASCA CASCA A common slave—you know him well by sight— A common slave—you’d know him if you saw him—held up his Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn left hand, which flamed and burned like twenty torches Like twenty torches joined, and yet his hand, together. And yet his hand was immune to the fire and didn’t Not sensible of fire, remained unscorched. get burned. Also—I’ve kept my sword unsheathed since I saw Besides—I ha' not since put up my sword— this—in front of the Capitol I met a lion who looked at me and Against the Capitol I met a lion, strutted by without bothering to attack me. And there were a Who glared upon me and went surly by, hundred spooked women huddled together in fear who swore Without annoying me. And there were drawn they saw men on fire walk up and down the streets. Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women, Transformèd with their fear, who swore they saw 25 Men all in fire walk up and down the streets. And yesterday the bird of night did sit 30 And yesterday the night owl sat hooting and shrieking in the Even at noon­day upon the marketplace, marketplace at noon. When all these extraordinary things Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies happen at once, we shouldn’t say, “These happenings can be Do so conjointly meet, let not men say, explained rationally. They’re natural enough.” I think these “These are their reasons. They are natural.” things are omens of things to come in our country. For I believe they are portentous things Unto the climate that they point upon. 35 CICERO CICERO Indeed, it is a strange­disposèd time. Indeed, it’s a strange time. But men tend to interpret things But men may construe things after their fashion, however suits them and totally miss the actual meaning of the Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. things themselves. Is Caesar visiting the Capitol tomorrow? Comes Caesar to the Capitol tomorrow? 40 CASCA CASCA He doth, for he did bid Antonius He is, because he told Antonius to tell you he’d be there Send word to you he would be there tomorrow. tomorrow. CICERO CICERO Good night then, Casca. This disturbèd sky Good night then, Casca. This bad weather isn’t good to walk Is not to walk in. around in. CASCA CASCA Line 45 50 Original Text Modern Text Farewell, Cicero. Farewell, Cicero Exit CICERO CICERO exits. Enter CASSIUS CASSIUS enters. CASSIUS CASSIUS Who’s there? Who’s there? CASCA CASCA A Roman. A Roman. CASSIUS CASSIUS Casca, by your voice. It’s Casca—I know your voice. CASCA CASCA Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this! Your ear is good. Cassius, what a night this is! CASSIUS CASSIUS A very pleasing night to honest men. It’s a very pleasing night to honest men. CASCA CASCA Who ever knew the heavens menace so? Who ever saw the heavens threaten like this? 18 CASSIUS CASSIUS Those that have known the earth so full of faults. Those who have known how bad things are here on earth. I For my part, I have walked about the streets, have walked around the streets, exposing myself to the Submitting me unto the perilous night, perilous night, unbuttoned like this, as you see, Casca, baring And, thus unbracèd, Casca, as you see, my chest to the thunderbolt. When the forked blue lightning Have bared my bosom to the thunder­stone. seemed to break open the sky, I put myself right where I And when the cross blue lightning seemed to open thought it would hit. The breast of heaven, I did present myself Even in the aim and very flash of it. 55 CASCA CASCA But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? But why did you tempt the heavens like that? Mankind’s role is It is the part of men to fear and tremble to fear and tremble when the almighty gods send warning When the most mighty gods by tokens send signals. Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. 60 65 70 CASSIUS CASSIUS You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life You’re acting stupid, Casca, and you lack the quick wits that a That should be in a Roman you do want, Roman should have—or else you don’t use them. You go pale, Or else you use not. You look pale, and gaze, you stare, and you act in awe of the strange disturbance in the And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder heavens. But if you thought about the real reason for all these To see the strange impatience of the heavens. fires, all these gliding ghosts, for why birds and animals But if you would consider the true cause abandon their natural behavior, why old men, fools, and Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, children make predictions, why all sorts of things have Why birds and beasts from quality and kind, departed from the usual course of their natures and become Why old men fool and children calculate, monstrosities, then you’d understand that heaven had them Why all these things change from their ordinance act this way so they would serve as frightening warnings of an Their natures and preformèd faculties unnatural state to come. Right this minute, Casca, I could To monstrous quality—why, you shall find name a man who’s just like this dreadful night. A man who That heaven hath infused them with these spirits thunders, throws lightning, splits open graves, and roars like To make them instruments of fear and warning the lion in the Capitol. Unto some monstrous state. Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man Most like this dreadful night, 75 That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars Line Original Text Modern Text 19 As doth the lion in the Capitol— A man no mightier than thyself or me A man no mightier than you or I in ability, yet grown as huge In personal action, yet prodigious grown, and frightening as tonight’s strange happenings. And fearful as these strange eruptions are. 80 85 CASCA CASCA 'Tis Caesar that you mean. Is it not, Cassius? You’re talking about Caesar, right, Cassius? CASSIUS CASSIUS Let it be who it is. For Romans now Let it be who it is. Romans today still have the powerful bodies Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors, of their ancestors, but, unfortunately, we don’t have their But—woe the while!—our fathers' minds are dead, manly spirits, and instead we take after our mothers. Our And we are governed with our mothers' spirits. tolerance for slavery and oppression shows us to be weak, like Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish. women. CASCA CASCA Indeed, they say the senators tomorrow Indeed, they say that the senators plan to establish Caesar as Mean to establish Caesar as a king, a king tomorrow, and he’ll wear his crown at sea and on land And he shall wear his crown by sea and land everywhere except here in Italy. In every place save here in Italy. CASSIUS 90 95 CASSIUS I know where I will wear this dagger then. I know where I’ll wear this dagger, then. I’ll kill myself to save Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. myself from slavery. In suicide, gods make the weak strong. In Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong. suicide, gods allow tyrants to be defeated. No stony tower, no Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat. brass walls, no airless dungeon, no iron chains can contain a Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, strong mind. But if a man becomes weary of these obstacles, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron he can always kill himself. Let everyone beware: I can shake Can be retentive to the strength of spirit. off the tyranny that now oppresses me whenever I choose. But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world besides, 100 That part of tyranny that I do bear I can shake off at pleasure. Thunder still Thunder continues. CASCA CASCA So can I. So can I. In fact, every imprisoned man holds in his own hand So every bondman in his own hand bears the tool to free himself. The power to cancel his captivity. CASSIUS 105 110 And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? How can Caesar be a tyrant then? Poor man! I know he Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf wouldn’t be a wolf if the Romans didn’t act like sheep. He But that he sees the Romans are but sheep. couldn’t be a lion if the Romans weren’t such easy prey. He were no lion were not Romans hinds. People who want to start a big fire quickly start with little twigs. Those that with haste will make a mighty fire Rome becomes complete trash, nothing but rubbish and Begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome, garbage, when it works to light up the ambitions of someone What rubbish and what offal, when it serves as worthless as Caesar. But, oh no! What have I said in my For the base matter to illuminate grief? I might be speaking to someone who wants to be a So vile a thing as Caesar! But, O grief, slave, in which case I’ll be held accountable for my words. But Where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this I’m armed and I don’t care about danger. Before a willing bondman. Then I know 115 CASSIUS My answer must be made. But I am armed, And dangers are to me indifferent. Line Original Text CASCA 120 Modern Text 20 CASCA You speak to Casca, and to such a man You’re talking to Casca, not to some smiling, two­faced That is no fleering telltale. Hold, my hand. tattletale. Say no more. Shake my hand. If you’re joining Be factious for redress of all these griefs, together to right these wrongs, I’ll go as far as any one of you. And I will set this foot of mine as far As who goes farthest. 125 CASSIUS CASSIUS There’s a bargain made. That’s a deal. Now let me tell you, Casca, I have already Now know you, Casca, I have moved already convinced some of the noblest Romans to join me in an Some certain of the noblest­minded Romans honorable but dangerous mission. And I know that by now To undergo with me an enterprise they’re waiting for me on the porch outside Pompey’s theater. Of honorable­dangerous consequence. We’re meeting on this fearful night because no one is out on And I do know by this they stay for me the streets. The sky tonight looks bloody, fiery, and terrible, In Pompey’s porch. For now, this fearful night, just like the work we have to do. There is no stir or walking in the streets, And the complexion of the element 130 In favor’s like the work we have in hand, Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible. Enter CINNA 135 140 CINNA enters. CASCA CASCA Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Hide for a minute—someone’s approaching fast. CASSIUS CASSIUS 'Tis Cinna. I do know him by his gait. It’s Cinna. I recognize his walk. He’s a friend. Cinna, where are He is a friend.—Cinna, where haste you so? you going in such a hurry? CINNA CINNA To find out you. Who’s that? Metellus Cimber? To find you. Who’s that? Metellus Cimber? CASSIUS CASSIUS No, it is Casca, one incorporate No, it’s Casca, someone who’s going to work with us. Aren’t To our attempts. Am I not stayed for, Cinna? the others waiting for me, Cinna? CINNA CINNA I am glad on ’t. What a fearful night is this! I’m glad Casca is with us. What a fearful night this is! Two or There’s two or three of us have seen strange sights. three of us have seen strange things. CASSIUS CASSIUS Am I not stayed for? Tell me. Are the others waiting? Tell me. CINNA CINNA Yes, you are. Yes, they are. Oh, Cassius, if you could only convince Brutus O Cassius, if you could to join us— But win the noble Brutus to our party— 145 150 CASSIUS CASSIUS Be you content. Good Cinna, take this paper, Don’t worry. Good Cinna, take this paper and be sure to lay it And look you lay it in the praetor’s chair in the judge’s chair where Brutus sits, so he’ll find it. And throw Where Brutus may but find it. And throw this this one in his window, and attach this one with wax to the In at his window. Set this up with wax statue of Brutus’s ancestor, old Brutus. When you’ve finished Upon old Brutus' statue. All this done, all this, return to the porch of Pompey’s theater, where you’ll Repair to Pompey’s porch, where you shall find us. find us. Are Decius Brutus and Trebonius there? Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there? CINNA CINNA All but Metellus Cimber, and he’s gone Everyone’s there except Metellus Cimber, and he’s gone to Line Original Text 155 Modern Text 21 To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, look for you at your house. Well, I’ll hurry and put these papers And so bestow these papers as you bade me. where you told me. CASSIUS CASSIUS That done, repair to Pompey’s theatre. When you’ve finished, go back to Pompey’s theater. Exit CINNA CINNA exits. Come, Casca, you and I will yet ere day Come on, Casca, you and I will go see Brutus at his house See Brutus at his house. Three parts of him before sunrise. He’s three­quarters on our side already, and Is ours already, and the man entire we’ll win him over entirely at this meeting. Upon the next encounter yields him ours. 160 CASCA CASCA Oh, he sits high in all the people’s hearts, Oh, the people love him well. Things that would look bad if we And that which would appear offense in us, did them, Brutus could do and look virtuous—just like an His countenance, like richest alchemy, alchemist turns worthless tin to gold. Will change to virtue and to worthiness. 165 CASSIUS CASSIUS Him and his worth and our great need of him Yes, you’re absolutely right about how worthy Brutus is and You have right well conceited. Let us go, how much we need him. Let’s go, because it’s already after For it is after midnight, and ere day midnight, and we want him on our side before daylight. We will awake him and be sure of him. Exeunt They exit. Act 2, Scene 1 5 Enter BRUTUS in his orchard BRUTUS enters in his orchard. BRUTUS BRUTUS What, Lucius, ho!— Lucius, are you there? I can’t tell by the position of the stars I cannot by the progress of the stars how near it is to daybreak—Lucius, are you there? I wish I had Give guess how near to day.—Lucius, I say!— that weakness, to sleep too soundly. Come on, Lucius! Wake I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.— up, I say! Lucius! When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say! What, Lucius! Enter LUCIUS LUCIUS enters. LUCIUS LUCIUS Called you, my lord? Did you call me, my lord? BRUTUS BRUTUS Get me a taper in my study, Lucius. Put a candle in my study, Lucius. Call me when it’s lit. When it is lighted, come and call me here. 10 LUCIUS LUCIUS I will, my lord. I will, my lord. Exit LUCIUS LUCIUS exits. BRUTUS BRUTUS It must be by his death, and for my part The only way is to kill Caesar. I have no personal reason to I know no personal cause to spurn at him strike at him—only the best interest of the people. He wants to But for the general. He would be crowned. be crowned. The question is, how would being king change How that might change his nature, there’s the question. him? Evil can come from good, just as poisonous snakes tend It is the bright day that brings forth the adder to come out into the open on bright sunny days—which means And that craves wary walking. Crown him that, we have to walk carefully. If we crown him, I have to admit Line 15 Original Text And then I grant we put a sting in him Modern Text 22 we’d be giving him the power to do damage. That at his will he may do danger with. 20 25 30 Th' abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Rulers abuse their power when they separate it from Remorse from power. And, to speak truth of Caesar, compassion. To be honest, I’ve never known Caesar to let his I have not known when his affections swayed emotions get the better of his reason. But everyone knows that More than his reason. But ’tis a common proof an ambitious young man uses humility to advance himself, but That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, when he reaches the top, he turns his back on his supporters Whereto the climber upward turns his face. and reaches for the skies while scorning those who helped him But when he once attains the upmost round, get where he is. Caesar might act like that. Therefore, in case He then unto the ladder turns his back, he does, we must hold him back. And since our quarrel is with Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees his future behavior, not what he does now, I must frame the By which he did ascend. So Caesar may. argument like this: if his position is furthered, his character will Then, lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel fulfill these predictions. And therefore we should liken him to a Will bear no color for the thing he is, serpent’s egg—once it has hatched, it becomes dangerous, Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented, like all serpents. Thus we must kill him while he’s still in the Would run to these and these extremities. shell. And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg— Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous— And kill him in the shell. Enter LUCIUS 35 LUCIUS enters. LUCIUS LUCIUS The taper burneth in your closet, sir. The candle is burning in your study, sir. While I was looking for Searching the window for a flint, I found a flint to light it, I found this paper on the window, sealed up This paper, thus sealed up, and I am sure like this, and I’m sure it wasn’t there when I went to bed. (he It did not lie there when I went to bed. gives BRUTUS the letter) (gives him a letter) 40 45 50 55 BRUTUS BRUTUS Get you to bed again. It is not day. Go back to bed. It isn’t daybreak yet. Is tomorrow the 15th of Is not tomorrow, boy, the ides of March? March, boy? LUCIUS LUCIUS I know not, sir. I don’t know, sir. BRUTUS BRUTUS Look in the calendar and bring me word. Check the calendar and come tell me. LUCIUS LUCIUS I will, sir. I will, sir. Exit LUCIUS LUCIUS exits. BRUTUS BRUTUS The exhalations whizzing in the air The meteors whizzing in the sky are so bright that I can read Give so much light that I may read by them. by them. (he opens the letter and reads) “Brutus, you’re (opens the letter and reads) sleeping. Wake up and look at yourself. Is Rome going to … “Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake, and see thyself. etc. Speak, strike, fix the wrongs!” “Brutus, you’re sleeping. Shall Rome, etc. Speak, strike, redress!” Wake up.” I’ve noticed many such calls to action left where I “Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake.” would find them. “Is Rome going to … etc.” What does this Such instigations have been often dropped mean? Will Rome submit to one man’s power? My ancestors Where I have took them up. drove Tarquin from the streets of Rome when he was —“Shall Rome, etc.” Thus must I piece it out: pronounced a king. “Speak, strike, fix it!” Is this asking me to “Shall Rome stand under one man’s awe?” What, Rome? speak and strike? Oh, Rome, I promise you, if you’re meant to My ancestors did from the streets of Rome receive justice, you’ll receive it by my hand! The Tarquin drive when he was called a king. Line Original Text Modern Text 23 —“Speak, strike, redress!” Am I entreated To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest 60 Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus! Enter LUCIUS 65 LUCIUS enters. LUCIUS LUCIUS Sir, March is wasted fifteen days. Sir, fifteen days of March have gone by. Knock within The sound of a knock offstage. BRUTUS BRUTUS 'Tis good. Go to the gate. Somebody knocks. Good. Go to the gate. Somebody’s knocking. Exit LUCIUS LUCIUS exits. Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, I haven’t slept since Cassius first began to turn me against I have not slept. Caesar. Between the acting of a dreadful thing From the time when you decide to do something terrible to the And the first motion, all the interim is moment you do it, everything feels unreal, like a horrible Like a phantasma or a hideous dream. dream. The unconscious and the body work together and rebel The genius and the mortal instruments against the conscious mind. Are then in council, and the state of man, 70 Like to a little kingdom, suffers then The nature of an insurrection. Enter LUCIUS 75 LUCIUS enters. LUCIUS LUCIUS Sir, ’tis your brother Cassius at the door, Sir, it’s your brother­in­law Cassius at the door. He wants to Who doth desire to see you. see you. BRUTUS BRUTUS Is he alone? Is he alone? LUCIUS LUCIUS No, sir, there are more with him. No, sir. There are others with him. BRUTUS BRUTUS Do you know them? Do you know them? LUCIUS LUCIUS No, sir. Their hats are plucked about their ears, No, sir, their hats are pulled down over their ears and their And half their faces buried in their cloaks, faces are half buried under their cloaks, so there’s no way to That by no means I may discover them tell who they are. By any mark of favor. 80 BRUTUS BRUTUS Let 'em enter. Let them in. Exit LUCIUS LUCIUS exits. They are the faction. O conspiracy, It’s the faction that wants to kill Caesar. Oh, conspiracy, are Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night you ashamed to show your face even at night, when evil things When evils are most free? O, then by day are most free? If so, when it’s day, where are you going to find Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough a cave dark enough to hide your monstrous face? No, don’t To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy. bother to find a cave, conspiracy. Instead, hide your true face Hide it in smiles and affability. behind smiles and friendliness. Line 85 90 95 Original Text Modern Text 24 For if thou path, thy native semblance on, If you went ahead and exposed your true face, Hell itself Not Erebus itself were dim enough wouldn’t be dark enough to keep you from being found and To hide thee from prevention. stopped. Enter the conspirators: CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, CINNA, METELLUS, and The conspirators—CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, CINNA, TREBONIUS METELLUS, and TREBONIUS—enter. CASSIUS CASSIUS I think we are too bold upon your rest. I’m afraid we’re intruding too boldly on your sleep time. Good Good morrow, Brutus. Do we trouble you? morning, Brutus. Are we bothering you? BRUTUS BRUTUS I have been up this hour, awake all night. I was awake. I’ve been up all night. Do I know these men who Know I these men that come along with you? are with you? CASSIUS CASSIUS Yes, every man of them, and no man here Yes, every one of them. There isn’t one of them who doesn’t But honors you, and every one doth wish admire you, and each one of them wishes you had as high an You had but that opinion of yourself opinion of yourself as every noble Roman has of you. This is Which every noble Roman bears of you. Trebonius. This is Trebonius. 100 BRUTUS BRUTUS He is welcome hither. He’s welcome here. CASSIUS CASSIUS This, Decius Brutus. This is Decius Brutus. BRUTUS BRUTUS He is welcome too. He’s welcome too. CASSIUS CASSIUS This, Casca. This, Cinna. And this, Metellus Cimber. This is Casca. This is Cinna. And this is Metellus Cimber. BRUTUS BRUTUS They are all welcome. They’re all welcome. What worries have kept you awake What watchful cares do interpose themselves tonight? Betwixt your eyes and night? 105 110 CASSIUS CASSIUS Shall I entreat a word? Can I have a word with you? BRUTUS and CASSIUS withdraw and whisper BRUTUS and CASSIUS whisper together. DECIUS DECIUS Here lies the east. Doth not the day break here? Here’s the east. Won’t the dawn come from here? CASCA CASCA No. No. CINNA CINNA O, pardon, sir, it doth, and yon gray lines Excuse me, sir, it will. These gray lines that lace the clouds are That fret the clouds are messengers of day. the beginnings of the dawn. CASCA CASCA You shall confess that you are both deceived. You’re both wrong. (pointing his sword) Here, where I point my (points his sword) sword, the sun rises. It’s quite near the south, since it’s still Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises, winter. About two months from now, the dawn will break Which is a great way growing on the south, further toward the north, and due east is where the Capitol Weighing the youthful season of the year. stands, here. Some two months hence up higher toward the north Line Original Text Modern Text 25 He first presents his fire, and the high east 115 Stands, as the Capitol, directly here. BRUTUS BRUTUS (comes forward with CASSIUS) (coming forward with CASSIUS) Give me your hands, all of Give me your hands all over, one by one. you, one by one. (he shakes their hands) (shakes their hands) 120 125 130 135 140 CASSIUS CASSIUS And let us swear our resolution. And let us swear to our resolution. BRUTUS BRUTUS No, not an oath. If not the face of men, No, let’s not swear an oath. If the sad faces of our fellow men, The sufferance of our souls, the time’s abuse— the suffering of our own souls, and the corruption of the If these be motives weak, break off betimes, present time aren’t enough to motivate us, let’s break it off now And every man hence to his idle bed. and each of us go back to bed. Then we can let this ambitious So let high­sighted tyranny range on tyrant continue unchallenged until each of us is killed at his Till each man drop by lottery. But if these— whim. But if we have reasons that are strong enough to ignite As I am sure they do—bear fire enough cowards into action and to make weak women brave—and I To kindle cowards and to steel with valor think we do—then, countrymen, what else could we possibly The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, need to spur us to action? What bond do we need other than What need we any spur but our own cause that of discreet Romans who have said what they’re going to To prick us to redress? What other bond do and won’t back down? And what oath do we need other Than secret Romans that have spoke the word than that we honest men have told each other that this will And will not palter? And what other oath happen or we will die trying? Swearing is for priests, cowards, Than honesty to honesty engaged, overly cautious men, feeble old people, and those long­ That this shall be, or we will fall for it? suffering weaklings who welcome abuse. Only men whom you Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous, wouldn’t trust anyway would swear oaths, and for the worst Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls reasons. Don’t spoil the justness and virtue of our endeavor That welcome wrongs. Unto bad causes swear nor weaken our own irrepressible spirits by thinking that we Such creatures as men doubt. But do not stain need a binding oath, when the blood that every noble Roman The even virtue of our enterprise, contains within him would be proven bastard’s blood if he Nor th' insuppressive mettle of our spirits, broke the smallest part of any promise he had made. To think that or our cause or our performance Did need an oath, when every drop of blood That every Roman bears—and nobly bears— Is guilty of a several bastardy 145 If he do break the smallest particle Of any promise that hath passed from him. 150 155 CASSIUS CASSIUS But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? But what about Cicero? Should we see what he thinks? I think I think he will stand very strong with us. he will stand strong with us. CASCA CASCA Let us not leave him out. Let’s not leave him out. CINNA CINNA No, by no means. No, by no means. METELLUS METELLUS O, let us have him, for his silver hairs Yes, we should get his support, for his mature presence will Will purchase us a good opinion make others think well of us and speak out in support of our And buy men’s voices to commend our deeds. actions. They’ll assume that Cicero, with his sound judgment, It shall be said his judgment ruled our hands. ordered the actions. His dignified maturity will distract attention Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, from our youth and wildness. But all be buried in his gravity. Line Original Text BRUTUS Modern Text 26 BRUTUS O, name him not. Let us not break with him, No, don’t even mention him. We shouldn’t tell him about our For he will never follow anything plans. He’ll never follow anything that other men have started. That other men begin. 160 165 CASSIUS CASSIUS Then leave him out. Then leave him out. CASCA CASCA Indeed he is not fit. Indeed, he’s not right for this. DECIUS DECIUS Shall no man else be touched but only Caesar? But should we only go after Caesar? No one else? CASSIUS CASSIUS Decius, well urged. I think it is not meet Good point, Decius. I don’t think it would be wise to let Mark Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar, Antony, whom Caesar is so fond of, outlive Caesar. We’d find Should outlive Caesar. We shall find of him that he was a dangerous plotter. And as you know, his A shrewd contriver. And, you know, his means, connections, if he put them to good use, might be enough to If he improve them, may well stretch so far hurt us all. To prevent this, Mark Antony should die along with As to annoy us all? which to prevent, Caesar. Let Antony and Caesar fall together. 170 175 180 185 BRUTUS BRUTUS Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, Our action will seem too bloody if we cut off Caesar’s head To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, and then hack at his arms and legs too, Caius Cassius— Like wrath in death and envy afterwards, because Mark Antony is merely one of Caesar’s arms. It’ll look For Antony is but a limb of Caesar. like we killed Caesar out of anger and Mark Antony out of Let us be sacrificers but not butchers, Caius. envy. Let’s be sacrificers but not butchers, Caius. We’re all We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar, against what Caesar stands for, and there’s no blood in that. And in the spirit of men there is no blood. Oh, how I wish we could oppose Caesar’s spirit—his Oh, that we then could come by Caesar’s spirit overblown ambition—and not hack up Caesar himself! But, And not dismember Caesar! But, alas, unfortunately, Caesar has to bleed if we’re going to stop him. Caesar must bleed for it. And, gentle friends, Noble friends, let’s kill him boldly but not with anger. Let’s Let’s kill him boldly but not wrathfully. carve him up like a dish fit for the gods, not chop him up like a Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, carcass fit for dogs. Let’s be angry only long enough to do the Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds. deed, and then let’s act like we’re disgusted by what we had to And let our hearts, as subtle masters do, do. This will make our actions seem practical and not vengeful. Stir up their servants to an act of rage If we appear calm to the people, they’ll call us surgeons rather And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make than murderers. As for Mark Antony—forget him. He’ll be as Our purpose necessary and not envious, useless as Caesar’s arm after Caesar’s head is cut off. Which so appearing to the common eyes, We shall be called purgers, not murderers. And for Mark Antony, think not of him, For he can do no more than Caesar’s arm 190 When Caesar’s head is off. Original Text Modern Text CASSIUS CASSIUS Yet I fear him. But I’m still afraid of him, because the deep­rooted love he has For in the engrafted love he bears to Caesar— for Caesar— BRUTUS BRUTUS Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him. Alas, good Cassius, don’t think about him. If he loves Caesar, If he love Caesar, all that he can do then he can only hurt himself—by grieving and dying for Is to himself: take thought and die for Caesar. Caesar. And I’d be surprised if he even did that, for he prefers Line 195 Original Text And that were much he should, for he is given Modern Text 27 sports, fun, and friends. To sports, to wildness and much company. 200 205 TREBONIUS TREBONIUS There is no fear in him. Let him not die, There’s nothing to fear in him. Let’s not kill him. He’ll live and For he will live and laugh at this hereafter. laugh at this afterward. Clock strikes A clock strikes. BRUTUS BRUTUS Peace! Count the clock. Quiet! Count how many times the clock chimes. CASSIUS CASSIUS The clock hath stricken three. The clock struck three. TREBONIUS TREBONIUS 'Tis time to part. It’s time to leave. CASSIUS CASSIUS But it is doubtful yet But we still don’t know whether Caesar will go out in public Whether Caesar will come forth today or no. today or not, because he’s become superstitious lately, a For he is superstitious grown of late, complete turnaround from when he used to have such a bad Quite from the main opinion he held once opinion of fortune­tellers, dream interpreters, and ritual Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies. mumbo­jumbo. It might happen that these strange signs, the It may be, these apparent prodigies, unusual terror of this night, and the urgings of his fortune­ The unaccustomed terror of this night, tellers will keep him away from the Capitol today. And the persuasion of his augurers May hold him from the Capitol today. 210 215 DECIUS DECIUS Never fear that. If he be so resolved, Don’t worry about that. If he’s reluctant, I can convince him. He I can o'ersway him. For he loves to hear loves to hear me tell him how men can be snared by flatterers, That unicorns may be betrayed with trees, just like unicorns can be captured in trees, elephants in holes, And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, and lions with nets. When I tell him he hates flatterers, he Lions with toils, and men with flatterers. agrees, just at the moment when I’m flattering him the most. But when I tell him he hates flatterers, Let me work on him. I can put him in the right mood, and I’ll He says he does, being then most flatterèd. bring him to the Capitol. Let me work. For I can give his humor the true bent, And I will bring him to the Capitol. Original Text 220 225 Modern Text CASSIUS CASSIUS Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. No, we’ll all go there to bring him. BRUTUS BRUTUS By the eighth hour. Is that the uttermost? By eight o'clock. Is that the latest we can do it? CINNA CINNA Be that the uttermost, and fail not then. Let’s make that the latest, but be sure to get there before then. METELLUS METELLUS Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard, Caius Ligarius doesn’t like Caesar, who berated him for Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey. speaking well of Pompey. I wonder that none of you thought I wonder none of you have thought of him. about getting his support. BRUTUS BRUTUS Now, good Metellus, go along by him. Good Metellus, go to him now. He likes me, and I’ve given him Line Original Text He loves me well, and I have given him reasons. Modern Text 28 good reason to. Just send him here, and I’ll persuade him. Send him but hither and I’ll fashion him. 230 235 CASSIUS CASSIUS The morning comes upon ’s. We’ll leave you, Brutus. The morning is approaching. We’ll leave, Brutus. Friends, go —And, friends, disperse yourselves. But all remember your separate ways. But all of you, remember what you’ve said What you have said, and show yourselves true Romans. and prove yourselves true Romans. BRUTUS BRUTUS Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily. Good gentlemen, look like you’re rested and happy. Don’t let Let not our looks put on our purposes, our faces betray our plans. Instead, carry yourselves like But bear it as our Roman actors do, Roman actors, with cheerful spirits and well­composed faces. With untired spirits and formal constancy. And so, good morning to all of you. And so good morrow to you every one. 240 Exeunt. Manet BRUTUS Everyone except BRUTUS exits. Boy! Lucius!—Fast asleep? It is no matter. Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? Well, enjoy the sweetness of deep Enjoy the honey­heavy dew of slumber. sleep. Your brain isn’t stuffed with the strange shapes and Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies, fantasies that come to men who are overwhelmed by worries. Which busy care draws in the brains of men. That’s why you sleep so soundly. Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Enter PORTIA PORTIA enters. PORTIA PORTIA Brutus, my lord. Brutus, my lord. BRUTUS BRUTUS Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise you now? Portia, what are you doing awake? It isn’t good for your health It is not for your health thus to commit to expose your weak body to the raw, cold morning. Your weak condition to the raw, cold morning. 245 250 255 260 PORTIA PORTIA Nor for yours neither. Y' have ungently, Brutus, It’s not good for your health, either. You rudely snuck out of Stole from my bed. And yesternight, at supper, bed. And last night at dinner, you got up abruptly and paced You suddenly arose and walked about, back and forth with your arms crossed, brooding and sighing, Musing and sighing, with your arms across, and when I asked you what was the matter, you gave me a And when I asked you what the matter was, dirty look. I asked you again, and you scratched your head and You stared upon me with ungentle looks. stamped your foot impatiently. I still insisted on knowing what I urged you further, then you scratched your head the matter was, but you wouldn’t answer me, instead giving And too impatiently stamped with your foot. me an angry wave of your hand and telling me to leave you Yet I insisted? yet you answered not, alone. So I left, afraid of further provoking anger that was But with an angry wafture of your hand already inflamed but still hoping this was merely moodiness, Gave sign for me to leave you. So I did, which everyone is affected by once in awhile. Your strange Fearing to strengthen that impatience mood won’t let you eat or talk or sleep. If it had changed your Which seemed too much enkindled, and withal outward appearance as much as it has affected you on the Hoping it was but an effect of humor, inside, I wouldn’t even be able to recognize you, Brutus. My Which sometime hath his hour with every man. dear lord, tell me what’s bothering you. It will not let you eat nor talk nor sleep, And could it work so much upon your shape As it hath much prevailed on your condition, I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord, Make me acquainted with your cause of grief. 265 BRUTUS BRUTUS I am not well in health, and that is all. I’m not feeling well—that’s all. Line 270 275 280 Original Text Modern Text 29 PORTIA PORTIA Brutus is wise, and were he not in health, You’re smart, though, and if you were sick, you’d take what He would embrace the means to come by it. you needed to get better. BRUTUS BRUTUS Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed. I’m doing so. Good Portia, go to bed. PORTIA PORTIA Is Brutus sick? And is it physical Are you sick? And is it healthy to walk uncovered and breathe To walk unbracèd and suck up the humors in the dampness of the morning? You’re sick, yet you sneak Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick, out of your warm bed and let the humid and disease­infested And will he steal out of his wholesome bed, air make you sicker? No, my Brutus, you have some sickness To dare the vile contagion of the night within your mind, which by virtue of my position I deserve to And tempt the rheumy and unpurgèd air know about. (she kneels) And on my knees, I urge you, by my To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus. once­praised beauty, by all your vows of love and that great You have some sick offense within your mind, vow of marriage which made the two of us one person, that Which by the right and virtue of my place you should reveal to me, who is one half of yourself, why I ought to know of. you’re troubled and what men have visited you tonight. For (kneels) And upon my knees there were six or seven men here, who hid their faces even in I charm you, by my once­commended beauty, the darkness. By all your vows of love and that great vow Which did incorporate and make us one That you unfold to me, your self, your half, Why you are heavy, and what men tonight 285 Have had to resort to you. For here have been Some six or seven who did hide their faces Even from darkness. 290 BRUTUS BRUTUS Kneel not, gentle Portia. Don’t kneel, noble Portia. PORTIA PORTIA (rising) I should not need if you were gentle, Brutus. (getting up) I wouldn’t need to if you were acting nobly. Tell Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, me, Brutus, as your wife, aren’t I supposed to be told the Is it excepted I should know no secrets secrets that concern you? Am I part of you only in a limited That appertain to you? Am I yourself sense—I get to have dinner with you, sleep with you, and talk But, as it were, in sort or limitation, to you sometimes? To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, And talk to you sometimes? 295 Dwell I but in the suburbs Is my place only on the outskirts of your happiness? If it’s Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, nothing more than that, then I’m your whore, not your wife. Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife. BRUTUS BRUTUS You are my true and honorable wife, You’re my true and honorable wife, as dear to me as the blood As dear to me as are the ruddy drops that runs through my sad heart. That visit my sad heart. 300 305 PORTIA PORTIA If this were true, then should I know this secret. If that were true, then I’d know your secret. I admit I’m only a I grant I am a woman, but withal woman, but nevertheless I’m the woman Lord Brutus took for A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife. his wife. I admit I’m only a woman, but I’m still a woman from a I grant I am a woman, but withal noble family—I’m Cato’s daughter. Do you really think I’m no A woman well­reputed, Cato’s daughter. stronger than the rest of my sex, with such a father and such a Think you I am no stronger than my sex, husband? Tell me your secrets. I won’t betray them. I’ve Being so fathered and so husbanded? proved my trustworthiness by giving myself a voluntary wound Line Original Text Modern Text 30 Tell me your counsels. I will not disclose 'em. here in my thigh. If I can bear that pain, then I can bear my I have made strong proof of my constancy, husband’s secrets. Giving myself a voluntary wound 310 Here in the thigh. Can I bear that with patience, And not my husband’s secrets? BRUTUS BRUTUS O ye gods, Oh, gods, make me worthy of this noble wife! Render me worthy of this noble wife! 315 Knock within A knocking sound offstage. Hark, hark! One knocks. Portia, go in awhile. Listen! Someone knocks. Portia, go inside awhile, and soon And by and by thy bosom shall partake enough you’ll share the secrets of my heart. I’ll explain all that The secrets of my heart. I have committed to do and all the reasons for my sad face. All my engagements I will construe to thee, Leave me quickly. All the charactery of my sad brows. Leave me with haste. Exit PORTIA PORTIA exits. Lucius, who’s that knocking? Lucius, who’s that knocking? Enter LUCIUS and LIGARIUS LUCIUS and LIGARIUS enter. Ligarius wears a cloth wrapped around his head, indicating that he’s sick. 320 325 LUCIUS LUCIUS He is a sick man that would speak with you. Here’s a sick man who wants to speak with you. BRUTUS BRUTUS Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.— It’s Caius Ligarius, whom Metellus spoke of. Boy, stand aside. Boy, stand aside.—Caius Ligarius, how? Caius Ligarius! How are you? LIGARIUS LIGARIUS Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue. Please accept my feeble “good morning.” BRUTUS BRUTUS O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius, Oh, what a time you’ve chosen to be sick, brave Caius! How I To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick! wish you felt better! LIGARIUS LIGARIUS I am not sick if Brutus have in hand I’m not sick if you’ve prepared some honorable exploit for me. Any exploit worthy the name of honor. 330 335 BRUTUS BRUTUS Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Indeed, I would have such an exploit for you, Ligarius, if you Had you a healthful ear to hear of it. were healthy enough to hear it. LIGARIUS LIGARIUS (removes his kerchief) (takes off his head covering) By all the gods that Romans By all the gods that Romans bow before, worship, I hereby throw off my sickness! Soul of Rome! Brave I here discard my sickness! Soul of Rome, son of honorable ancestors! You’ve conjured up my deadened Brave son derived from honorable loins, spirit like an exorcist. Now say the word, and I will tackle all Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up kinds of impossible things, and succeed too. What is there to My mortifièd spirit. Now bid me run, do? And I will strive with things impossible, Yea, get the better of them. What’s to do? BRUTUS BRUTUS A piece of work that will make sick men whole. A deed that will make sick men healthy. Line Original Text Modern Text 31 LIGARIUS LIGARIUS But are not some whole that we must make sick? But aren’t there some healthy men whom we have to make sick? 340 BRUTUS BRUTUS That must we also. What it is, my Caius, That too. My dear Caius, I’ll explain the task at hand to you as I shall unfold to thee as we are going we walk toward the man we must do it to. To whom it must be done. 345 LIGARIUS LIGARIUS Set on your foot, Start walking, and with an energized heart, I’ll follow you—to And with a heart new­fired I follow you, what, I don’t know, but I’m satisfied, simply knowing that To do I know not what. But it sufficeth Brutus leads me. That Brutus leads me on. Thunder Thunder. BRUTUS BRUTUS Follow me, then. Follow me, then. Exeunt They all exit. Original Text Modern Text Thunder and lightning Enter Julius CAESAR in his nightgown Thunder and lightning. CAESAR enters in his nightgown. Act 2, Scene 2 5 10 CAESAR CAESAR Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight. Neither the sky nor the earth have been quiet tonight. Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, Calphurnia cried out three times in her sleep, “Help, someone! “Help, ho! They murder Caesar!”—Who’s within? They’re murdering Caesar!” Who’s there? Enter a SERVANT A SERVANT enters. SERVANT SERVANT My lord. My lord? CAESAR CAESAR Go bid the priests do present sacrifice Go tell the priests to perform a sacrifice immediately, and bring And bring me their opinions of success. me their interpretation of the results. SERVANT SERVANT I will, my lord. I will, my lord. Exit SERVANT The SERVANT exits. Enter CALPHURNIA CALPHURNIA enters. CALPHURNIA CALPHURNIA What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth? What are you doing, Caesar? Are you planning to go out? You shall not stir out of your house today. You’re not leaving the house today. CAESAR CAESAR Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me I will go out. The things that threaten me have only seen my Ne'er looked but on my back. When they shall see back. When they see the face of Caesar, they will vanish. The face of Caesar, they are vanishèd. Line 15 Original Text Modern Text 32 CALPHURNIA CALPHURNIA Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, Caesar, I never believed in omens, but now they frighten me. Yet now they fright me. There is one within, A servant told me the night­watchmen saw horrid sights too, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, but different ones from what we heard and saw. A lioness Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. gave birth in the streets, and graves cracked open and thrust A lioness hath whelpèd in the streets, out their dead. And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead. 20 25 Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds Fierce, fiery warriors fought in the clouds in the usual In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, formations of war—ranks and squadrons—until the clouds Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol. drizzled blood onto the Capitol. The noise of battle filled the The noise of battle hurtled in the air. air, and horses neighed, and dying men groaned, and ghosts Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan, shrieked and squealed in the streets. Oh, Caesar! These And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. things are beyond anything we’ve seen before, and I’m afraid. O Caesar! These things are beyond all use, And I do fear them. CAESAR CAESAR What can be avoided How can we avoid what the gods want to happen? But I will go Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? out, for these bad omens apply to the world in general as Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these predictions much as they do to me. Are to the world in general as to Caesar. 30 35 CALPHURNIA CALPHURNIA When beggars die there are no comets seen. When beggars die there are no comets in the sky. The The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. heavens only announce the deaths of princes. CAESAR CAESAR Cowards die many times before their deaths. Cowards die many times before their deaths. The brave The valiant never taste of death but once. experience death only once. Of all the strange things I’ve ever Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, heard, it seems most strange to me that men fear death, given It seems to me most strange that men should fear, that death, which can’t be avoided, will come whenever it Seeing that death, a necessary end, wants. Will come when it will come. 40 Enter SERVANT The SERVANT enters. What say the augurers? What do the priests say? SERVANT SERVANT They would not have you to stir forth today. They don’t want you to go out today. They pulled out the guts Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, of the sacrificed animal and couldn’t find its heart. They could not find a heart within the beast. CAESAR CAESAR The gods do this in shame of cowardice. The gods do this to test my bravery. They’re saying I’d be an Caesar should be a beast without a heart animal without a heart if I stayed home today out of fear. So, I If he should stay at home today for fear. won’t. No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well 45 That Caesar is more dangerous than he. Danger knows that Caesar is more dangerous than he is. We are two lions littered in one day, We’re two lions born on the same day in the same litter, and And I the elder and more terrible. I’m the older and more terrible. I will go out. And Caesar shall go forth. CALPHURNIA CALPHURNIA Alas, my lord, Alas, my lord, your confidence is getting the better of your Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. wisdom. Don’t go out today. Say that it’s my fear that keeps Line 50 Original Text Modern Text 33 Do not go forth today. Call it my fear you inside and not your own. We’ll send Mark Antony to the That keeps you in the house, and not your own. senate house, and he’ll say that you’re sick today. (she kneels) We’ll send Mark Antony to the senate house, Let me, on my knees, win you over to this plan. And he shall say you are not well today. (kneels) Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this. 55 60 65 CAESAR CAESAR Mark Antony shall say I am not well, All right. Mark Antony will say I’m not well, and to please you And for thy humor I will stay at home. I’ll stay at home. CALPHURNIA rises CALPHURNIA gets up. Enter DECIUS DECIUS enters. Here’s Decius Brutus. He shall tell them so. Here’s Decius Brutus. He’ll tell them so. DECIUS DECIUS Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar. Hail, Caesar! Good morning, worthy Caesar. I’ve come to take I come to fetch you to the senate house. you to the senate house. CAESAR CAESAR And you are come in very happy time And you’ve come at a good time, so you can convey my To bear my greeting to the senators greetings to the senators and tell them I won’t come today. It And tell them that I will not come today. wouldn’t be true to say that I can’t come, and even less true to “Cannot” is false, and that I dare not, falser. say that I don’t dare come. I simply won’t come today. Tell I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius. them so, Decius. CALPHURNIA CALPHURNIA Say he is sick. Say he’s sick. CAESAR CAESAR Shall Caesar send a lie? Would I send a lie? Have I accomplished so much in battle, Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far but now I’m afraid to tell some old men the truth? To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth? Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come. 70 75 80 Decius, go tell them that Caesar won’t come. DECIUS DECIUS Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause, Most mighty Caesar, give me some reason, so I won’t be Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so. laughed at when I tell them so. CAESAR CAESAR The cause is in my will. I will not come. The reason is that it’s what I want. I’m not coming. That’s That is enough to satisfy the senate. enough for the senate. But for your private satisfaction, But for your private sat...