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
_Calphurnia.jpg)
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.
_soothsayer(Richard_Hale).jpg)
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 want—I'm asking in the name of our close friendship—to 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
181. worthy note: noteworthy, interesting, significant. 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 eyes
186. such ferret and such fiery eyes: red and darting eyes.187 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
Cicero279 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.