Julius Caesar: Act 1, Scene 2
Enter CAESAR, ANTONY for the course,
for the course: in the traditional Lupercalia garb of the two runners of a ceremonial course. >>>
CALPURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS,
CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA,
[a great crowd of commoners following,
among them] a Soothsayer; after them
after them: not with them. Murellus and Flavius, as we saw in the previous scene, tried to prevent commoners from joining the crowd around Caear, but it's too late.
MURELLUS and FLAVIUS.
CAESAR
1
Calpurnia!
CASCA
Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.
CAESAR
Calpurnia!
Calpurnia
2
Here, my lord.
CAESAR
3
Stand you directly in Antonius' way, 4
When he doth run his course. Antonius!
ANTONY
5
Caesar, my lord?
CAESAR
6
Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, 7
To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,
6-7. Forget not to . . . Touch Calpurnia: The Lupercal runners carried thongs of goatskin with which they struck those along the course; this was supposed to make men virile and women fertile.
8
The barren, touched in this holy chase, 9
Shake off their sterile curse.
ANTONY
9
I shall remember: 10
When Caesar says 'do this,' it is perform'd.
CAESAR
11
Set on; and leave no ceremony out.
11. Set on: get on with it.
Soothsayer
12
Caesar!
CAESAR
13
Ha! who calls?
CASCA
14
Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
CAESAR
15
Who is it in the press that calls on me?
15. press: thick crowd.
16
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, 17
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer
18
Beware the ides of March.
18. ides: the middle of a month.
Louis Calhern as Julius Caesar; Richard Hale as the Soothsayer. 1953.
Louis Calhern as Julius Caesar; Richard Hale as the Soothsayer. 1953.
CAESAR
What man is that?
BRUTUS
19
A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
CAESAR
20
Set him before me; let me see his face.
CASSIUS
21
Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
CAESAR
22
What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
Soothsayer
23
Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR
24
He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
24. pass: let's go.
Sennet. Exeunt. Manent BRUTUS
Sennet: trumpet call to announce the arrival or departure of a V.I.P. Manent: remain behind.
and CASSIUS.
CASSIUS
25
Will you go see the order of the course?
25. the order of the course: how the race goes.
BRUTUS
26
Not I.
CASSIUS
27
I pray you, do.
BRUTUS
28
I am not gamesome: I do lack some part 29
Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
29. quick: lively.
30
Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
30. hinder . . . your desires: keep you from doing what you want to do.
31
I'll leave you.
CASSIUS
32
Brutus, I do observe you now of late: 33
I have not from your eyes that gentleness 34
And show of love as I was wont to have:
34. show of love: signs of friendship. wont: accustomed.
35
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand 36
Over your friend that loves you.
35-36. You bear . . . your friend: i.e., Your treatment of me is high-handed. >>>
BRUTUS
36
Cassius, 37
Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look,
37. veil'd my look: avoided eye contact.
38
I turn the trouble of my countenance
38. the trouble of my countenance: troubled looks.
39
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
39. Merely: only, entirely.
40
Of late with passions of some difference,
40. passions of some difference: conflicting emotions.
41
Conceptions only proper to myself,
41. only proper to myself: only relating to myself.
42
Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors;
42. give some soil: dirty, stain.
43
But let not therefore my good friends be grieved 44
Among which number, Cassius, be you one 45
Nor construe any further my neglect,45. construe: interpret.
46
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, 47
Forgets the shows of love to other men.
CASSIUS
48
Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; 49
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried 50
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
49-50. By means . . . value: i.e., because of my misunderstanding about what was bothering you I have hidden thoughts of great value.
51
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?
BRUTUS
52
No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself, 53
But by reflection, by some other things.
CASSIUS
54
'Tis just:
54. 'Tis just: i.e., that's exactly right.
55
And it is very much lamented, Brutus, 56
That you have no such mirrors as will turn 57
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,56-57. as will turn / Your hidden worthiness into your eye: i.e., which will let you see your own hidden worth.
58
That you might see your shadow. I have heard,58. shadow: image.
59
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
59. best respect: highest reputation.
60
Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus60. immortal Caesar: Cassius is being sarcastic, but Caesar did become immortal. After his assassination his supporters forced the Senate to officially deify him. Previously the only ruler to be deified was Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome.
61
And groaning underneath this age's yoke, 62
Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.
BRUTUS
63
Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, 64
That you would have me seek into myself 65
For that which is not in me?
CASSIUS
66
Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear: 67
And since you know you cannot see yourself 68
So well as by reflection, I, your glass,
68. glass: mirror.
69
Will modestly discover to yourself
69. modestly: without exaggeration. discover: reveal.
70
That of yourself which you yet know not of. 71
And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus:
71. jealous on me: suspicious of me.
72
Were I a common laugher, or did use
72. common laugher: run-of-the-mill joker.
73
To stale with ordinary oaths my love
74
To every new protester; if you know
72-74. did use . . . protester: habitually cheapened my friendship by making clichéd vows of camaraderie to every new buddy.
75
That I do fawn on men and hug them hard 76
And after scandal them, or if you know
76. scandal: slander.
77
That I profess myself in banqueting77. profess myself: make vows of friendship.
78
To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.78. rout: mob.
Flourish and shout.
Flourish: trumpet call.
"What means this shouting?"
Illustrator: Kenny Meadows.
"What means this shouting?"
Illustrator: Kenny Meadows.
BRUTUS
79
What means this shouting? I do fear, the people 80
Choose Caesar for their king.
CASSIUS
80
Ay, do you fear it? 81
Then must I think you would not have it so.
BRUTUS
82
I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well. 83
But wherefore do you hold me here so long? 84
What is it that you would impart to me? 85
If it be aught toward the general good, 86
Set honour in one eye and death i' the other, 87
And I will look on both indifferently,
87. indifferently: impartially.
88
For let the gods so speed me as I love88. speed me: enable me to prosper.
89
The name of honour more than I fear death.
CASSIUS
90
I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, 91
As well as I do know your outward favour.
91. favour: face, appearance.
92
Well, honour is the subject of my story. 93
I cannot tell what you and other men 94
Think of this life; but, for my single self, 95
I had as lief not be as live to be
95. I had as lief not be: i.e., I would rather not live.
96
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
96. such a thing as I myself: i.e., someone no better than myself.
97
I was born free as Caesar; so were you: 98
We both have fed as well, and we can both 99
Endure the winter's cold as well as he:100
For once, upon a raw and gusty day,101
The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,102
Caesar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now103
Leap in with me into this angry flood,104
And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word,
104. Upon the word: as soon as he said that.
105
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in
105. Accoutred: equipped, dressed (probably in armor).
106
And bade him follow; so indeed he did.
106. bade him follow: invited him to follow my example.
107
The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
107. buffet it: attack it.
108
With lusty sinews, throwing it aside109
And stemming it with hearts of controversy;
109. stemming . . . controversy: beating it back with our hearts fired up by the challenge.
110
But ere we could arrive the point proposed,
110. arrive the point proposed: reach the promontory Caesar had proposed as their goal.
111
Caesar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!'112
I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor,112. Aeneas: The legendary father of the Roman people.
113
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder114
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber
114. Anchises: The father of Aeneas. >>>
115
Did I the tired Caesar. And this man
115. Did I: i.e., I carried Caesar on my back.
116
Is now become a god, and Cassius is117
A wretched creature and must bend his body,118
If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.119
He had a fever when he was in Spain,120
And when the fit was on him, I did mark121
How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake;122
His coward lips did from their colour fly,
122. His coward lips did from their colour fly: Literally, his lips lost their color. Metaphorically, his lips deserted their flag.
123
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
123. bend: glance.
124
Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan:
124. his lustre: its lustre.
125
Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans126
Mark him and write his speeches in their books,
126. Mark him: Listen and learn from him.
127
Alas, it cried 'Give me some drink, Titinius,'
127. Titinius: Later in the play we see that Titinius is an aide-de-camp to Cassius.
128
As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me129
A man of such a feeble temper should
129. temper: constitution.
130
So get the start of the majestic world
130. get the start of: get a jump on, get an advantage over.
131
And bear the palm alone.
131. the palm: the palm branch, as a symbol of victory and ensuing peace.
Shout. Flourish
BRUTUS
132
Another general shout!133
I do believe that these applauses are134
For some new honours that are heap'd on Caesar.
CASSIUS
135
Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world136
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
136. Colossus: a gigantic statue that was thought to stand astride the entrance to the harbor at Rhodes.
137
Walk under his huge legs and peep about138
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.139
Men at some time are masters of their fates:140
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,141
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.142
Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that 'Caesar'?143
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?144
Write them together, yours is as fair a name;145
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;146
Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em,
146. conjure: to call upon a spirit to appear, by means of a magic ritual.
147
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Caesar.
147. start: cause to appear.
148
Now, in the names of all the gods at once,149
Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed,150
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!151
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
151. lost . . . bloods: lost the ability to breed noble families.
152
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
152. great flood: In classical mythology, a flood which drowned everyone except one man and his wife.
153
But it was famed with more than with one man?154
When could they say till now, that talk'd of Rome,155
That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?156
Now is it Rome indeed and room enough,
156. Now . . . enough: The words "Rome" and "room" sounded alike, so this is a pun which says that since there is room in Rome for only one man, Rome is an empty room.
157
When there is in it but one only man.158
O, you and I have heard our fathers say,159
There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd
159. There was a Brutus once: Lucius Junius Brutus. >>>
160
The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome161
As easily as a king.159-161. There was a Brutus once . . . as a king:i.e., Once there was a Brutus that would have sooner let the Devil rule in Rome than a king.
BRUTUS
162
That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;
162. I am nothing jealous: I do not doubt.
163
What you would work me to, I have some aim:
163. What . . . aim: i.e., I have a good idea of what you are trying to work me up to doing.
164
How I have thought of this and of these times,165
I shall recount hereafter; for this present,166
I would not, so with love I might entreat you,167
Be any further moved. What you have said166-167. I would not . . . moved i.e., I do not wantI'm asking in the name of our close friendshipto hear any more about what you want me to do.
168
I will consider; what you have to say169
I will with patience hear, and find a time
170
Both meet to hear and answer such high things.169-170. and find . . . high things: and I will find a fitting time to hear your concerns and to make decisions about such important matters.
171
Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:172
Brutus had rather be a villager173
Than to repute himself a son of Rome174
Under these hard conditions as this time175
Is like to lay upon us.
175. like: likely.
CASSIUS
176
I am glad that my weak words177
Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.
BRUTUS
178
The games are done and Caesar is returning.
CASSIUS
179
As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve;180
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you181
What hath proceeded worthy note today.
Enter CAESAR and his Train.
BRUTUS
182
I will do so. But, look you, Cassius,183
The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow,184
And all the rest look like a chidden train:
184. a chidden train: scolded followers.
185
Calpurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero186
Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes187
As we have seen him in the Capitol,188
Being cross'd in conference by some senators.188. Being cross'd in conference: When he has been contradicted in a debate.
CASSIUS
189
Casca will tell us what the matter is.
CAESAR
190
Antonius!
ANTONY
191
Caesar?
CAESAR
192
Let me have men about me that are fat;193
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights:194
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;195
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
ANTONY
196
Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous;197
He is a noble Roman and well given.
197. well given: well disposed; friendly.
CAESAR
198
Would he were fatter! But I fear him not:199
Yet if my name were liable to fear,199. my name: i.e., I, myself, whose name is so great that it can never be associated with fear.
200
I do not know the man I should avoid201
So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much;
201. spare: lean, skinny.
202
He is a great observer and he looks203
Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays,202-203. he looks / Quite through the deeds of men: he sees the motives of men's deeds.
204
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;204. hears no music: will not listen to music (and is therefore out of harmony with others).
205
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort206
As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit207
That could be moved to smile at any thing.208
Such men as he be never at heart's ease209
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,210
And therefore are they very dangerous.211
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd212
Than what I fear; for always I am Caesar.213
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,214
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.
Sennet. Exeunt CAESAR and all his Train,
Sennet: A trumpet call.
Illustration by Sir John Gilbert.
Illustration by Sir John Gilbert.
[CASCA stays behind.]
CASCA
215
You pull'd me by the cloak; would you 216
speak with me?
BRUTUS
217
Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced today,
217. chanced: happened.
218
That Caesar looks so sad.
218. sad: serious, depressed.
CASCA
219
Why, you were with him, were you not?
BRUTUS
220
I should not then ask Casca what had chanced.
CASCA
221
Why, there was a crown offered him: and being222
offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand,
222. put it by: waved it off.
223
thus; and then the people fell a-shouting.
223. thus: Casca mimics Caesar's gesture.
Caesar refuses coronet from Antony
BRUTUS
224
What was the second noise for?
CASCA
225
Why, for that too.
CASSIUS
226
They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for?
CASCA
227
Why, for that too.
BRUTUS
228
Was the crown offered him thrice?
CASCA
229
Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every
229. marry: indeed.
230
time gentler than other, and at every putting-by231
mine honest neighbours shouted.
231. mine honest neighbours: This is Casca's contemptuous term for the commoners who love Caesar.
CASSIUS
232
Who offered him the crown?
CASCA
233
Why, Antony.
BRUTUS
234
Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.234. the manner of it: the exact way it happened.
gentle: noble.
gentle: noble.
CASCA
235
I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it:236
it was mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark
236. I did not mark it: I didn't pay attention to it.
237
Antony offer him a crown;yet 'twas not a crown238
neither, 'twas one of these coronets;and, as I told
238. coronets: small crown, or a garland. >>>
239
you, he put it by once: but, for all that, to my240
thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he
240. he would fain have had it: he really wanted it.
241
offered it to him again; then he put it by again:242
but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his243
fingers off it. And then he offered it the third244
time; he put it the third time by: and still as he245
refused it, the rabblement howted and clapped their
245. howted: hooted, cheered.
246
chapped hands and threw up their sweaty night-caps
246. night-caps: This is Casca's sarcastic term for the commoners' caps. >>>
247
and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because248
Caesar refused the crown that it had almost choked249
Caesar; for he swounded and fell down at it: and
249. swounded and fell down at it: swooned fainted amd away because of the commoners' stinking breath.
250
for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of
250. durst: dared.
251
opening my lips and receiving the bad air.
CASSIUS
252
But, soft, I pray you: what, did Caesar swound?
CASCA
253
He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at254
mouth, and was speechless.
BRUTUS
255
'Tis very like: he hath the failing sickness.255. like: likely. the falling sickness: epilepsy.
CASSIUS
256
No, Caesar hath it not; but you and I,257
And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness.
255. we have the falling sickness: i.e., we are the ones who have the falling sickness because we are the ones who are falling under Caesar's power.
CASCA
258
I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure,259
Caesar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not260
clap him and hiss him, according as he pleased and261
displeased them, as they use to do the players in
261. as they use to do the players: as they are used to doing to the actors.
262
the theatre, I am no true man.
BRUTUS
263
What said he when he came unto himself?
CASCA
264
Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the265
common herd was glad he refused the crown, he266
plucked me ope his doublet and offered them his
266. plucked . . . doublet: pulled open his jacket. >>>
267
throat to cut. An I had been a man of any
268
occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word,269
I would I might go to hell among the rogues. And so
267-269. An . . . rogues: if I were a man of action (instead of a slacker), and if I had not taken him at his word and killed him, I wish I would have gone to hell with the other slackers.
270
he fell. When he came to himself again, he said,271
If he had done or said any thing amiss, he desired272
their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three273
or four wenches, where I stood, cried 'Alas, good274
soul!' and forgave him with all their hearts: but275
there's no heed to be taken of them; if Caesar had276
stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less.
BRUTUS
277
And after that, he came, thus sad, away?
277. sad: serious, depressed.
CASCA
278
Ay.
CASSIUS
279
Did Cicero say any thing?
CASCA
280
Ay, he spoke Greek.
280. he spoke Greek: Among some Romans, Greek was considered a cosmopolitan and sophisticated second language, as Latin was in Shakespeare's time.
CASSIUS
281
To what effect?
281. To what effect?: i.e., What did he have to say? What points did he make?
CASCA
282
Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the
282. an: if.
283
face again: but those that understood him smiled at
282-283. an . . . again: i.e., If I told you what Cicero said, I would be just lying and pretending that I knew Greek.
284
one another and shook their heads; but, for mine own285
part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more
285. Greek: i.e., pompous gibberish.
286
news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs
286. scarfs: decorations.
287
off Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you
286. put to silence: dismissed from office. In the previous scene we saw that Marullus and Flavius, tribunes of the people, were trying to stop Caesar's rise to power. They have lost the battle.
288
well. There was more foolery yet, if I could289
remember it.
CASSIUS
290
Will you sup with me tonight, Casca?
290. sup: have dinner.
CASCA
291
No, I am promised forth.
291. promised forth: have a previous engagement.
CASSIUS
292
Will you dine with me tomorrow?
292. dine: have lunch.
CASCA
293
Ay, if I be alive and your mind hold and your dinner
293. your mind hold: you don't change your mind.
294
worth the eating.
CASSIUS
295
Good: I will expect you.
CASCA
296
Do so. Farewell, both.
Exit.
BRUTUS
297
What a blunt fellow is this grown to be!
297. blunt: rude, careless.
298
He was quick mettle when he went to school.
298. He was quick mettle: He had a lively spirit.
CASSIUS
299
So is he now in execution
300
Of any bold or noble enterprise,
299-300. execution / Of: carrying out.
301
However he puts on this tardy form.301. However . . . form: however much he pretends to be sluggish and careless.
302
This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,
302. wit: intelligence.
303
Which gives men stomach to digest his words
303. stomach: relish.
304
With better appetite.
BRUTUS
305
And so it is. For this time I will leave you:306
Tomorrow, if you please to speak with me,307
I will come home to you; or, if you will,308
Come home to me, and I will wait for you.
CASSIUS
309
I will do so: till then, think of the world.
309. the world: i.e., great issues, such as the future of the Roman Republic.
Exit BRUTUS.
310
Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,311
Thy honourable metal may be wrought312
From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet
311-312. Thy . . . disposed: Your honorable character can be twisted away from its natural disposition.
313
That noble minds keep ever with their likes;
312-313. Therefore . . . likes: i.e., Therefore noble minds should associate only with other noble minds.
314
For who so firm that cannot be seduced?315
Caesar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus:
315. doth bear me hard: holds a grudge against me.
316
If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius,317
He should not humour me. I will this night,
317. humour me: persuade me, seduce me.
318
In several hands, in at his windows throw,
318. In several hands: in various handwritings.
319
As if they came from several citizens,320
Writings all tending to the great opinion321
That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely
320-321. Writings . . . name: messages all expressing the great honor in which Rome holds his name.
322
Caesar's ambition shall be glanced at:
322. glanced at: subtly alluded to.
323
And after this let Caesar seat him sure;324
For we will shake him, or worse days endure.
323-324. And . . . endure: And after this Caesar better make sure his position is secure, because we will shake him from power or have to endure many hard days.
Exit.