Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 1
Flourish. Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS,
Flourish: Trumpet call.
CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS,
TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY,
"Hail, Caesar! read this schedule."
LEPIDUS, ARTEMIDORUS, PUBLIUS,
[POPILIUS,] and the SOOTHSAYER.
CAESAR [To the Soothsayer.]
1 The ides of March are come. Soothsayer
2 Ay, Caesar; but not gone. ARTEMIDORUS
3 Hail, Caesar! read this schedule.
3. schedule: short note.
DECIUS
4 Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, 5 At your best leisure, this his humble suit.
4-5. Trebonius . . . suit: i.e., Trebonius asks that you read his humble request as soon as possible.
ARTEMIDORUS
6 O Caesar, read mine first; for mine's a suit 7 That touches Caesar nearer: read it, great Caesar.
7. That touches Caesar nearer: that concerns Caesar more personally.
CAESAR
8 What touches us ourself shall be last served.
8. What touches us ourself shall be last served: i.e., I will attend to personal issues only after taking care of more important matters. —Note that Caesar refers to himself with the royal plural, as though he were already king.
ARTEMIDORUS
9 Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly. CAESAR
10 What, is the fellow mad? PUBLIUS
Sirrah, give place.
10. Sirrah, give place: i.e., Hey buddy, out of the way.
CASSIUS
11 What, urge you your petitions in the street? 12 Come to the Capitol. [CAESAR enters the Capitol,
the rest following.]
CAESAR . . . following: This is a questionable stage direction.
POPILIUS
13 I wish your enterprise today may thrive. CASSIUS
14 What enterprise, Popilius? POPILIUS
Fare you well. [Popilius walks towards CAESAR.]
BRUTUS
15 What said Popilius Lena? CASSIUS
16 He wish'd today our enterprise might thrive. 17 I fear our purpose is discovered. BRUTUS
18 Look, how he makes to Caesar; mark him.
18. makes to: walks toward. mark him: watch him closely.
CASSIUS
19 Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
19. be sudden, for we fear prevention: be quick about it, because we fear being stopped before we have begun.
20 Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
20. If this be known: i.e., if our plot is known.
21 Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
21. never shall turn back: i.e., never leave this place. Cassius vows that if he doesn't kill Caesar he will kill himself.
22 For I will slay myself. BRUTUS
Cassius, be constant:
22. constant: steady, resolute.
23 Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; 24 For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
24. change: change color, show any marked reaction.
CASSIUS
25 Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus,
25. his time: i.e., the right time to play his part in our plot.
26 He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS.]
DECIUS
27 Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, 28 And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
28. presently prefer his suit: immediately present his petition.
BRUTUS
29 He is address'd: press near and second him.
29. address'd: ready. second him: back him up.
CINNA
30 Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
30. rears your hand: raises your hand (to stab Caesar).
CAESAR
31 Are we all ready? What is now amiss 32 That Caesar and his senate must redress? METELLUS CIMBER
33 Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
33. puissant: powerful.
34 Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat 35 An humble heart,— [Kneeling.]
CAESAR
I must prevent thee, Cimber.
35. prevent: forestall.
36 These couchings and these lowly courtesies
36. couchings . . . courtesies: bowing, kneeling.
37 Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
37. fire the blood: thrill.
38 And turn preordinance and first decree
38. preordinance . . . decree: i.e., settled law.
39 Into the law of children. Be not fond
39. the law of children: i.e., whimsical rules.
40 To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
39-40. Be not fond / To think that: don't be so foolish as to think that.
41 That will be thaw'd from the true quality
41. thaw'd from the true quality: i.e., melted out of shape.
42 With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, 43 Low-crooked court'sies and base spaniel-fawning.
43. Low-crooked court'sies: i.e., groveling bows.
44 Thy brother by decree is banished: 45 If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, 46 I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
46. spurn: kick.
47 Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause 48 Will he be satisfied.
47-48. Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause / Will he be satisfied: i.e., Caesar does not punish without good reason, and will not remit punishment without good reason.
METELLUS CIMBER
49 Is there no voice more worthy than my own 50 To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear 51 For the repealing of my banish'd brother?
51. repealing: recalling from exile.
BRUTUS
52 I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar; 53 Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may 54 Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
54. freedom of repeal: freedom to return from exile.
CAESAR
55 What, Brutus! CASSIUS
Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon: 56 As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, 57 To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
57. enfranchisement: restoration of full civic rights.
CAESAR
58 I could be well moved, if I were as you:
58. well moved: easily influenced.
59 If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
59. pray to move: beg favors.
60 But I am constant as the northern star,
60. the northern star: Polaris, the North Star.
61 Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
61. resting: unmoving.
62 There is no fellow in the firmament.
62. fellow: equal.
63 The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, 64 They are all fire and every one doth shine, 65 But there's but one in all doth hold his place:
65. his: its. The "one that doth hold his place" is Polaris, the North Star.
66 So in the world: 'tis furnish'd well with men, 67 And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive; 68 Yet in the number I do know but one 69 That unassailable holds on his rank,
69. holds on his rank: maintains his position.
70 Unshaked of motion: and that I am he,
70. Unshaked of motion: unmoved by outside influences.
71 Let me a little show it, even in this — 72 That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
72. constant: resolute, unwavering.
73 And constant do remain to keep him so. CINNA
74 O Caesar,— CAESAR
Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?
74. Olympus: mountain which is the home of the gods.
DECIUS
75 Great Caesar,— CAESAR
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
75. bootless: in vain. Caesar's point is that if Brutus can't change Caesar's mind, no one can.
CASCA
76 Speak, hands for me!
They stab Caesar.
CAESAR
77 Et tu, Brute?— Then fall, Caesar.
77. Et tu, Brute?: and you, Brutus?
" Et tu, Brute?"
Dies.
CINNA
78 Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! 79 Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. CASSIUS
80 Some to the common pulpits, and cry out
80. common pulpits: public platforms for giving speeches.
81 'Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!'
81. enfranchisement: restoration of full citizenship.
BRUTUS
82 People and senators, be not affrighted; 83 Fly not; stand still: ambition's debt is paid.
83. Fly: flee. ambition's debt is paid: i.e., Caesar has paid for his ambition.
CASCA
84 Go to the pulpit, Brutus. DECIUS
And Cassius too. BRUTUS
85 Where's Publius?
85. Publius: He is an old senator who has not run away and who is not a member of the conspiracy against Caesar.
CINNA
86 Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
86. confounded with this mutiny: stunned by this uproar.
METELLUS CIMBER
87 Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's 88 Should chance —
87-88. Stand . . . chance — : stick together and stay here, in case a friend of Caesar's should happen —.
BRUTUS
89 Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer;
89. good cheer: i.e., don't worry, everything is fine.
90 There is no harm intended to your person,
91 Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius.
91. no Roman else: i.e., no Roman other than Caesar.
CASSIUS
92 And leave us, Publius; lest that the people, 93 Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
93. your age: i.e., your old self. mischief: harm.
BRUTUS
94 Do so: and let no man abide this deed,
94. abide: take the consequences of.
95 But we the doers. [Exeunt all but the Conspirators.]
Enter TREBONIUS.
CASSIUS
96 Where is Antony? TREBONIUS
Fled to his house amazed:
96. amazed: stunned.
97 Men, wives and children stare, cry out and run 98 As it were doomsday. BRUTUS
Fates, we will know your pleasures: 99 That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time
100 And drawing days out, that men stand upon.
99-100. 'tis . . . upon: i.e., only the questions of the exact time of death and the possibility of living a few more days make people pause at death's door.
CASSIUS
101 Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life102 Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
"let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood"
BRUTUS
103 Grant that, and then is death a benefit:104 So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridged105 His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,106 And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood107 Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:108 Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,
108. even to the market-place: right into the Forum.
109 And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,110 Let's all cry 'Peace, freedom and liberty!'
CASSIUS
111 Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence112 Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
112. acted over: repeatedly portrayed on stage.
113 In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
113. accents: varieties of languages.
BRUTUS
114 How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
114. in sport: for entertainment.
115 That now on Pompey's basis lies along
115. on Pompey's basis lies along: lies flat next to the pedestal of Pompey's statue.
116 No worthier than the dust! CASSIUS
So oft as that shall be,117 So often shall the knot of us be call'd
117. knot: group, fellowship.
118 The men that gave their country liberty. DECIUS
119 What, shall we forth?
119. shall we forth?: shall we go?
CASSIUS
Ay, every man away:120 Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
120. grace his heels: i.e., do honor to him in a triumphal procession.
121 With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome. Enter a Servant.
BRUTUS
122 Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's.
122. Soft!: hold on!; wait a minute!
Servant
123 Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel:124 Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;125 And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:126 Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
126. honest: honorable, trustworthy.
127 Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:128 Say I love Brutus, and I honour him;129 Say I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him and loved him.130 If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony131 May safely come to him, and be resolved
131. be resolved: be convinced.
132 How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,133 Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead134 So well as Brutus living; but will follow135 The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus136 Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
136. Thorough: through. this untrod state: unprecedented state of affairs.
137 With all true faith. So says my master Antony. BRUTUS
138 Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;139 I never thought him worse.140 Tell him, so please him come unto this place,141 He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour,
141. be satisfied: receive a full, satisfactory, explanation.
142 Depart untouch'd. Servant
I'll fetch him presently.
142. presently: immediately.
Exit.
BRUTUS
143 I know that we shall have him well to friend.
143. I know that we shall have him well to friend: I am sure that we will have him on our side.
CASSIUS
144 I wish we may: but yet have I a mind145 That fears him much; and my misgiving still
145. fears: distrusts.
146 Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
145-146. my misgiving . . . purpose: my misgivings always turn out to be painfully true.
BRUTUS
147 But here comes Antony. Enter ANTONY.
Welcome, Mark Antony. ANTONY
148 O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?149 Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,150 Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.151 I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,152 Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
152. must be let blood: must be bled (to cure a disease). rank: festering with disease (and who therefore should be bled).
153 If I myself, there is no hour so fit154 As Caesar's death hour, nor no instrument155 Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich156 With the most noble blood of all this world.157 I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
157. bear me hard: have a grudge against me.
158 Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
158. purpled: bloody. reek and smoke: smell and steam (with Caesar's blood).
159 Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,159. Live: If I live.
160 I shall not find myself so apt to die:
160. apt: ready.
161 No place will please me so, no means of death,
162 As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,163 The choice and master spirits of this age.
163. choice: elite.
BRUTUS
164 O Antony, beg not your death of us.165 Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,166 As, by our hands and this our present act,167 You see we do, yet see you but our hands
167. we do: what we are doing. but only.
168 And this the bleeding business they have done:169 Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;
169. pitiful: full of pity.
170 And pity to the general wrong of Rome—
170. pity . . . Rome: pity for wronged Rome.
171 As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—
171. pity pity: i.e., pity for Rome drives out pity for Caesar.
172 Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
170-172. pity . . . Caesar: i.e., pity for Rome has killed Caesar.
173 To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:
173. have leaden points: i.e., are harmless. >>>
174 Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts
174. in strength of: with the same strength as.
175 Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
175. temper: feelings,disposition. receive you in: take you into our fellowship.
176 With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence. CASSIUS
177 Your voice shall be as strong as any man's
177. voice: vote, influence.
178 In the disposing of new dignities.
178. disposing of new dignities: choosing new state officers (such as military commanders, judges, etc.).
BRUTUS
179 Only be patient till we have appeased
179. appeased: calmed.
180 The multitude, beside themselves with fear,181 And then we will deliver you the cause,
181. deliver you the cause: explained to you the reason.
182 Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,183 Have thus proceeded.
183. Have thus proceeded: have taken this action.
ANTONY
I doubt not of your wisdom.184 Let each man render me his bloody hand:
184. render me: give me (his hand to shake).
185 First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;186 Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;187 Now, Decius Brutus, yours: now yours, Metellus;188 Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;189 Though last, not last in love, yours, good Trebonius.190 Gentlemen all,—alas, what shall I say?191 My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
191. credit: credibility.
192 That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
192. conceit me: think of me, judge me.
193 Either a coward or a flatterer. [Speaking to the body of Caesar.]
194 That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true:195 If then thy spirit look upon us now,196 Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,
196. dearer: more keenly.
197 To see thy Anthony making his peace,198 Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,199 Most noble! in the presence of thy corpse?200 Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,201 Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,202 It would become me better than to close
202. close: engage with. One would expect a person to close with enemies by fighting them.
203 In terms of friendship with thine enemies.204 Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart;
204. bay'd: brought to bay, like a hart (stag) surrounded by dogs.
205 Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,206 Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe.
206. Sign'd . . . lethe: i.e., marked by your blood. >>>
207 O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;208 And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.209 How like a deer, strucken by many princes,210 Dost thou here lie! CASSIUS
211 Mark Antony,— ANTONY
Pardon me, Caius Cassius:212 The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
212. The enemies . . . this: i.e., even the enemies of Caesar will say as much as I have just said.
213 Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
213. cold modesty: unemotional, simple truth.
CASSIUS
214 I blame you not for praising Caesar so;215 But what compact mean you to have with us?
215. compact: agreement.
216 Will you be prick'd in number of our friends;
216. be . . . friends: marked down as a friend of ours. (Where we use check marks they used pricks
—little holes.)
217 Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
217. shall we on: shall we carry on with our business.
ANTONY
218 Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed,218. Therefore . . . hands: I shook your hands to show that I could be counted among your friends.
219 Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Caesar.
219. Sway'd from the point: diverted from my intention.
220 Friends am I with you all and love you all,221 Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
221. Upon this hope: i.e., and so I hope.
222 Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
222. wherein: i.e., in what particulars.
BRUTUS
223 Or else were this a savage spectacle:
223. Or else . . .spectacle: i.e., Of course, otherwise this would just be a brutal murder.
224 Our reasons are so full of good regard
224. good regard: sound consideration.
225 That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,226 You should be satisfied. ANTONY
That's all I seek:227 And am moreover suitor that I may
227. suitor: one who asks a favor.
228 Produce his body to the market-place;
228. Produce . . . market-place: i.e., Take his body to the Forum and show it there.
229 And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
229. the pulpit: i.e., the Rostra.
230 Speak in the order of his funeral.
230. Speak in the order of his funeral: i.e., be one among the speakers at his funeral ceremonies.
BRUTUS
231 You shall, Mark Antony. CASSIUS
Brutus, a word with you. [Aside to BRUTUS.]
232 You know not what you do: do not consent233 That Antony speak in his funeral:234 Know you how much the people may be moved235 By that which he will utter? BRUTUS
By your pardon;236 I will myself into the pulpit first,237 And show the reason of our Caesar's death:238 What Antony shall speak, I will protest
238. protest: announce.
239 He speaks by leave and by permission,240 And that we are contented Caesar shall241 Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
241. true: proper, rightful.
242 It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
242. It shall advantage: It will benefit (us).
CASSIUS
243 I know not what may fall; I like it not.
243. fall: happen (by chance or fate).
BRUTUS
244 Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body.245 You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,246 But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,247 And say you do't by our permission;248 Else shall you not have any hand at all249 About his funeral: and you shall speak250 In the same pulpit whereto I am going,251 After my speech is ended.
"O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth"
ANTONY
Be it so.252 I do desire no more. BRUTUS
253 Prepare the body then, and follow us.
Exeunt [all but ANTONY].
Manet ANTONY [with the body of Caesar].
ANTONY
254 O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,255 That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!256 Thou art the ruins of the noblest man257 That ever lived in the tide of times.
257. the tide of times: the course of history.
258 Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
258. costly: precious.
259 Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,—260 Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
260. dumb: incapable of speech. ope: open.
261 To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue—
261. To . . . tongue: i.e., to beg me to speak for them with passion and eloquence.
262 A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;263 Domestic fury and fierce civil strife264 Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
264. cumber: burden, overwhelm.
265 Blood and destruction shall be so in use
265. so in use: so common.
266 And dreadful objects so familiar
266. dreadful objects: dreadful sights.
267 That mothers shall but smile when they behold
267. but smile: merely smile.
268 Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
268. quarter'd: cut into pieces.
269 All pity choked with custom of fell deeds:
269. All . . . deeds: i.e., cruel deeds will be so customary that all pity will be choked off.
270 And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
270. ranging: roaming about.
271 With Atë by his side come hot from hell,
271. Atë: goddess of delusion and senseless violence.
272 Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
272. these confines: i.e., all the regions of Italy.
273 Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;
273. 'Havoc': i.e., "Kill them all!"
let slip: unleash.
274 That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
274. That: so that. this foul deed: the murder of Caesar.
275 With carrion men, groaning for burial.
275. carrion: the decaying flesh of dead animals.
Enter Octavius' Servant.
276 You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?
276. Octavius Caesar: He was the adopted son and legal heir of Julius Caesar, and he became Caesar Augustus, the first and most effective Emperor of the Roman Empire.
Caesar Augustus
Caesar Augustus
Servant
277 I do, Mark Antony. ANTONY
278 Caesar did write for him to come to Rome. Servant
279 He did receive his letters, and is coming;280 And bid me say to you by word of mouth—281 O Caesar!— [Seeing the body.]
ANTONY
282 Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.
282. big: swollen with grief.
283 Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes,
283. Passion: sorrow, grief.
284 Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,
284. beads of sorrow: tears.
285 Began to water. Is thy master coming? Servant
286 He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.
286. lies: lodges. seven leagues: about 21 miles.
ANTONY
287 Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced:
287. Post: i.e., Don't walk; hire horses. chanced: happened.
288 Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,289 No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;290 Hie hence, and tell him so.
290. Hie hence: hurry away.
[The Servant turns to leave.]
Yet, stay awhile;
291 Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corpse
291. back: go back. borne: carried.
292 Into the market-place: there shall I try
292. the market-place: the Forum. try: test.
293 In my oration, how the people take294 The cruel issue of these bloody men;
294. issue: child; i.e., the murder of Caesar.
295 According to the which, thou shalt discourse
295. According . . . discourse: i.e., taking into account how the Roman citizens react to Antony's speech you will explain.
296 To young Octavius of the state of things.
296. young Octavius: He was 18 years old.
297 Lend me your hand.
297. Lend me your hand: i.e., help me carry the body.
Exeunt [with CAESAR's body.]