Julius Caesar: Act 4, Scene 3
[Lucilius, aide-de-camp of Brutus,
and Titinius, the aide-de-camp
of Cassius, stand guard outside of
Brutus' tent. Brutus and Cassius
are inside the tent.]
CASSIUS
1 That you have wrong'd me doth appear in this: 2 You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella
2. noted: publicly disgraced. Lucius Pella: a Roman magistrate stationed in Sardis.
3 For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
3. of the Sardians: from the Sardians.
4 Wherein my letters, praying on his side,
4. praying on his side: i.e., requesting leniency for him.
5 Because I knew the man, were slighted off.
5. slighted off: contemptuously disregarded.
BRUTUS
6 You wronged yourself to write in such a case. CASSIUS
7 In such a time as this it is not meet
7. In such a time as this: They are at war with the forces of Mark Antony and Octavius Caesar. meet: appropriate.
8 That every nice offence should bear his comment.
8. That . . . comment: That every little offense should be publicly discussed.
BRUTUS
9 Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself 10 Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm;
10. to have: for having.
11 To sell and mart your offices for gold
11. mart your offices: auction off the influence given you by your official position.
12 To undeservers. CASSIUS
I an itching palm! 13 You know that you are Brutus that speak this, 14 Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
13-14. You know . . . last: i.e., You are trading on the fact that you are a man I love and respect; otherwise, I would kill you on the spot for saying that.
BRUTUS
15 The name of Cassius honours this corruption, 16 And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
15-16. The name . . . head: i.e., Back at you; if you weren't my friend Cassius, I would punish you.
CASSIUS
17 Chastisement! BRUTUS
18 Remember March, the ides of March remember: 19 Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? 20 What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, 21 And not for justice? What, shall one of us
20-21. What villain . . . justice?: i.e., They would have been villains if they had killed Caesar for any other cause than justice.
22 That struck the foremost man of all this world 23 But for supporting robbers, shall we now
23. But for supporting robbers: just for giving free rein to robbers. Julius Caesar was reputed to countenance corrupt tax-collectors and the like.
24 Contaminate our fingers with base bribes, 25 And sell the mighty space of our large honours 26 For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
26. as may be grasped thus: I think the "thus" indicates that Brutus makes a gesture, perhaps putting a thumb and finger together to mean "just a pinch."
27 I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, 28 Than such a Roman. CASSIUS
Brutus, bait not me;
28. bait: harass, stir up to anger.
29 I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, 30 To hedge me in; I am a soldier, I,
30. hedge me in: put restrictions on what I do.
31 Older in practise, abler than yourself31. Older in practise: more experienced.
32 To make conditions.
32. make conditions: make decisions about what should be prohibited and what allowed.
BRUTUS
Go to; you are not, Cassius.
32. Go to: This is a common phrase meaning "no way," "rubbish," "bullsh-t," etc.
CASSIUS
33 I am. BRUTUS
34 I say you are not. CASSIUS
35 Urge me no more, I shall forget myself;
35. urge: push, provoke. forget myself: lose control of myself.
36 Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further.
36. Have mind upon your health: i.e., I might hurt you if I get really angry.
BRUTUS
37 Away, slight man! CASSIUS
38 Is't possible?
38. Is't possible? i.e., I can't believe what is coming out of your mouth!
BRUTUS
Hear me, for I will speak. 39 Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
39. give way and room to: yield to. choler: anger.
40 Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
40. stares glares, looks wildly.
CASSIUS
41 O ye gods, ye gods! must I endure all this? BRUTUS
42 All this! ay, more: fret till your proud heart break;
42. fret: torment yourself, as in "fret and fume."
43 Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
43. choleric: prone to losing your temper.
44 And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
44. bondmen: serfs, slaves. budge: flinch, step back.
45 Must I observe you? must I stand and crouch
45. observe you: i.e., like what you like, hate what you hate. stand: put up with you.
46 Under your testy humour? By the gods
46. testy humour: testy temperament.
47 You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
47. You . . . spleen: i.e., you will have to swallow the poison of your own anger.
48 Though it do split you; for, from this day forth, 49 I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter, 50 When you are waspish.
50. waspish: hotheaded.
CASSIUS
Is it come to this? BRUTUS
51 You say you are a better soldier: 52 Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
52. vaunting: boasting.
53 And it shall please me well: for mine own part, 54 I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
52. learn of: learn from. Brutus is being sarcastic. He means something like, "When you show that you really are a better soldier then—and only then—will I learn lessons from you."
CASSIUS
55 You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus; 56 I said, an elder soldier, not a better: 57 Did I say 'better'? BRUTUS
If you did, I care not. CASSIUS
58 When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.
58. durst not: dared not. thus have mov'd me: angered me the way you have just now.
BRUTUS
59 Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him.
59. Peace: shut up. you durst not so have tempted him: you would not have dared to provoke him as you are now doing to me.
CASSIUS
60 I durst not! BRUTUS
61 No. CASSIUS
62 What, durst not tempt him! BRUTUS
For your life you durst not! CASSIUS
63 Do not presume too much upon my love;
63-64. Do . . . for: i.e., Don't count too much on my friendship to keep you safe; I may lose my temper, hurt you, and be sorry afterwards.
64 I may do that I shall be sorry for.
BRUTUS
65 You have done that you should be sorry for.
65. that: something which. The something is countenancing the taking of bribes.
66 There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats, 67 For I am arm'd so strong in honesty
67. arm'd so strong in honesty: i.e., protected by my certainty that I am right.
68 That they pass by me as the idle wind, 69 Which I respect not. I did send to you
69. respect not: pay no attention to.
70 For certain sums of gold, which you denied me: 71 For I can raise no money by vile means: 72 By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
72. coin my heart: make coins out of my heart.
73 And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
73. drop my blood for drachmas: i.e., pay for small coins with my own blood.
74 From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
74. their vile trash: i.e., the very little that they have.
75 By any indirection: I did send
75. indirection: dishonest or devious means.
76 To you for gold to pay my legions, 77 Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius? 78 Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so? 79 When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, 80 To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
80. rascal counters: paltry sums. Counters were tokens used by shopkeepers to keep track of fractional values of the smallest coins.
81 Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts; 82 Dash him to pieces! CASSIUS
I denied you not. BRUTUS
83 You did. CASSIUS
84 I did not: he was but a fool that brought 85 My answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart:
84-85. he . . . back: The "he" is the messenger that Cassius is blaming. rived: torn to pieces.
86 A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
86. bear: make allowances for. infirmities: small faults.
87 But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. BRUTUS
88 I do not, till you practise them on me.
88. you practise them on me: make them affect me.
CASSIUS
89 You love me not. BRUTUS
"high Olympus"
I do not like your faults.
CASSIUS
90 A friendly eye could never see such faults. BRUTUS
91 A flatterer's would not, though they do appear 92 As huge as high Olympus.
CASSIUS
93 Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, 94 Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
94. alone on Cassius: on Cassius alone.
95 For Cassius is aweary of the world; 96 Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother;
96. braved: challenged.
97 Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observed,
97. Check'd: criticized, reproved.
98 Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote,
98. learn'd . . . rote: studied and committed to memory.
99 To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
99. cast: throw.
"here my naked breast"
"here my naked breast"
100 My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
101 And here my naked breast;
[Unsheathes his dagger and offers
it to Brutus. Then opens his tunic.]
within, a heart102 Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:
102. Dearer than Plutus' mine: more precious than Plutus' abundance of riches. >>>
103 If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;
103. take it forth: i.e., cut out my heart.
104 I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
105 Strike, as thou didst at Caesar; for, I know,106 When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better107 Than ever thou lovedst Cassius. BRUTUS
Sheathe your dagger:108 Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
108. it shall have scope: your anger will have free rein.
109 Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
109. dishonour shall be humour: i.e., I will regard your insults as the result of a mood of the moment.
110 O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
110. yoked with: partnered with.
111 That carries anger as the flint bears fire;112 Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,
112. much enforced: struck hard. hasty: momentary.
113 And straight is cold again.
113. straight: immediately.
CASSIUS
Hath Cassius lived114 To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,115 When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him?
115. blood ill-temper'd: diseased blood. >>>
BRUTUS
116 When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too. CASSIUS
117 Do you confess so much? Give me your hand. BRUTUS
118 And my heart too. CASSIUS
O Brutus! BRUTUS
What's the matter? CASSIUS
119 Have not you love enough to bear with me,120 When that rash humour which my mother gave me121 Makes me forgetful?
121. forgetful: i.e., forgetful of my love and respect for you.
BRUTUS
Yes, Cassius; and, from henceforth,122 When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,123 He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
123. leave you so: leave it at that.
Enter a Poet.
Poet
124 Let me go in to see the generals;125 There is some grudge between 'em, 'tis not meet
125. meet: fitting.
126 They be alone. LUCILIUS
127 You shall not come to them. Poet
128 Nothing but death shall stay me.
128. stay me: stop me.
CASSIUS
129 How now! what's the matter? Poet
130 For shame, you generals! what do you mean?131 Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;132 For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye. CASSIUS
133 Ha, ha! how vilely doth this cynic rhyme!
133. cynic: rude, loud fellow.
BRUTUS
134 Get you hence, sirrah; saucy fellow, hence!
134. sirrah: little sir.
CASSIUS
135 Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion.
135. 'tis his fashion: i.e., that's just how he is.
BRUTUS
136 I'll know his humour, when he knows his time:
136. I'll . . . time: i.e., I'll put up with his oddities when he knows the right time for them.
137 What should the wars do with these jigging fools?
137. jigging fools: rhyming fools, rapping tools.
138 Companion, hence!
138. Companion: buddy, as in "Get lost, buddy."
CASSIUS
Away, away, be gone. Exit Poet.
BRUTUS
139 Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders140 Prepare to lodge their companies tonight.
CASSIUS
141 And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you
141. Messala: a trustworthy subordinate officer.
142 Immediately to us. [Exeunt LUCILIUS and TITINIUS.]
BRUTUS
Lucius, a bowl of wine!
"Lucius, a bowl of wine!"
CASSIUS
143 I did not think you could have been so angry. BRUTUS
144 O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs. CASSIUS
145 Of your philosophy you make no use,
145. your philosophy: Stoicism, the dominant philosophy of the time.
146 If you give place to accidental evils.
146. give place to: yield to. accidental: caused by chance. Stoics are supposed to be impervious to such evils.
BRUTUS
147 No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.
147. No . . . dead: Brutus' point is that he has been true to Stoicism by carrying on without saying anything about the suicide of his wife.
CASSIUS
148 Ha! Portia! BRUTUS
149 She is dead. CASSIUS
150 How 'scaped I killing when I cross'd you so?
150. How 'scaped I killing: how did I escape from being killed.
151 O insupportable and touching loss!152 Upon what sickness? BRUTUS
Impatient of my absence,
152. Impatient of: unable to bear.
153 And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony154 Have made themselves so strong:—for with her death155 That tidings came;—with this she fell distract,
154-155. for . . . came: i.e., with news of her death also came news that Octavius and Antony had gained strength. fire: live coals. >>>
156 And, her attendants absent, swallow'd fire. CASSIUS
157 And died so? BRUTUS
Even so. CASSIUS
O ye immortal gods! Enter Boy [LUCIUS], with wine and tapers.
tapers: candles. The sun is going down.
BRUTUS
158 Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine.159 In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. Drinks.
CASSIUS
160 My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.161 Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup;
o'erswell: overflows.
162 I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. [Drinks. Exit LUCIUS.]
Enter TITINIUS and MESSALA.
BRUTUS
163 Come in, Titinius! Welcome, good Messala.164 Now sit we close about this taper here,165 And call in question our necessities.
165. call in question our necessities: discuss what we must do next.
CASSIUS [Aside, to Brutus.]
166 Portia, art thou gone? BRUTUS
No more, I pray you.167 Messala, I have here received letters,168 That young Octavius and Mark Antony169 Come down upon us with a mighty power,
169. power: army.
170 Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
170. Bending . . . Philippi: directing their rapid march towards Philippi. Philippi was a Roman-controlled city in Northeastern Greece.
MESSALA
171 Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.
171. tenor: general meaning.
BRUTUS
172 With what addition?
172. With what addition?: i.e., what else do your letters say?
MESSALA
173 That by proscription and bills of outlawry,
173. proscription and bills of outlawry: Proscription put persons outside of the protection of the law, so that their lives and property could be taken at will. Bills of outlawry were written announcements of proscriptions, posted in public places.
174 Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus,175 Have put to death an hundred senators. BRUTUS
176 Therein our letters do not well agree;177 Mine speak of seventy senators that died178 By their proscriptions, Cicero being one. CASSIUS
179 Cicero one! MESSALA
Cicero is dead,180 And by that order of proscription.181 Had you your letters from your wife, my lord? BRUTUS
182 No, Messala. MESSALA
183 Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?
BRUTUS
184 Nothing, Messala.184. Nothing, Messala: Is Brutus lying?
MESSALA
That, methinks, is strange. BRUTUS
185 Why ask you? hear you aught of her in yours? MESSALA
186 No, my lord. BRUTUS
187 Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. MESSALA
188 Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell:189 For certain she is dead, and by strange manner. BRUTUS
190 Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala:191 With meditating that she must die once,
191. must die once: must die at some time.
192 I have the patience to endure it now.
192. patience: fortitude.
MESSALA
193 Even so great men great losses should endure.
193. Even so: i.e., Just as Brutus has done just now.
CASSIUS
194 I have as much of this in art as you,
194. I have as much of this in art as you: i.e., I have as much Stoicism as you, but only in theory.
195 But yet my nature could not bear it so. BRUTUS
196 Well, to our work alive. What do you think
196. alive: concerning the living.
197 Of marching to Philippi presently?
197. presently: immediately.
CASSIUS
198 I do not think it good. BRUTUS
Your reason? CASSIUS
This it is:199 'Tis better that the enemy seek us:200 So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,
200. waste his means: use up his supplies.
201 Doing himself offence; whilst we, lying still,
201. offence: harm.
202 Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness. BRUTUS
203 Good reasons must, of force, give place to better.
203. of force: by necessity.
204 The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground205 Do stand but in a forced affection;206 For they have grudged us contribution:
206. grudged us contribution: unwillingly contributed men and money.
207 The enemy, marching along by them,208 By them shall make a fuller number up,
208. make a fuller number up: add to their forces (by recruiting among the locals).
209 Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encouraged;
209. new-added: with additional troops.
210 From which advantage shall we cut him off,211 If at Philippi we do face him there,212 These people at our back.
212. These people at our back: i.e., leaving behind the locals who might turn against us.
CASSIUS
Hear me, good brother. BRUTUS
213 Under your pardon. You must note beside,
213. Under your pardon: i.e., excuse me, allow me to finish what I was saying.
214 That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
214. we have tried the utmost of our friends: i.e., we have gotten all we can from our supporters.
215 Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe:216 The enemy increaseth every day;217 We, at the height, are ready to decline.218 There is a tide in the affairs of men,219 Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
219. at the flood: at high tide. fortune: success.
220 Omitted, all the voyage of their life
220. Omitted: missed, ignored.
221 Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
221. bound in: confined to.
222 On such a full sea are we now afloat;223 And we must take the current when it serves,224 Or lose our ventures.
224. ventures: risky enterprises.
CASSIUS
Then, with your will, go on;
224. with your will: as you wish.
225 We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.
225. meet them: i.e., engage in battle against Antony and Octavius.
BRUTUS
226 The deep of night is crept upon our talk,227 And nature must obey necessity;
227. nature must obey necessity: i.e., we must get some sleep.
228 Which we will niggard with a little rest.
228. niggard: stint, pay off as cheaply as possible.
229 There is no more to say? CASSIUS
No more. Good night:230 Early tomorrow will we rise, and hence.
230. hence: depart, get going.
BRUTUS
231 Lucius! Enter LUCIUS.
My gown.
231. My gown: i.e., fetch my dressing gown.
[Exit LUCIUS.]
Farewell, good Messala:232 Good night, Titinius. Noble, noble Cassius,233 Good night, and good repose. CASSIUS
O my dear brother!234 This was an ill beginning of the night:235 Never come such division 'tween our souls!
235. Never . . . souls!: i.e., Let us never again have such a quarrel as we had today.
236 Let it not, Brutus. Enter LUCIUS with the gown.
BRUTUS
Every thing is well. CASSIUS
237 Good night, my lord. BRUTUS
Good night, good brother. TITINIUS, MESSALA
238 Good night, Lord Brutus. BRUTUS
Farewell, every one. Exeunt [all but BRUTUS and LUCIUS].
239 Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
239. instrument: musical instrument, probably a lute.
LUCIUS
240 Here in the tent. BRUTUS
What, thou speak'st drowsily?241 Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'er-watch'd.
241. knave: boy, rascal. o'er-watch'd: worn out from staying on watch.
242 Call Claudio and some other of my men:243 I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent. LUCIUS
244 Varrus and Claudio! Enter VARRUS and CLAUDIO.
VARRUS
245 Calls my lord? BRUTUS
246 I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep;247 It may be I shall raise you by and by
247. raise: rouse, waken.
248 On business to my brother Cassius.
248. brother: i.e., brother-in-arms.
VARRUS
249 So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.
249. stand and watch your pleasure: i.e., stay awake, and await your commands.
BRUTUS
250 I will not have it so: lie down, good sirs;251 It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.
251. It may be I shall otherwise bethink me: i.e., I might change my mind (so you should get some sleep while you can).
[VARRUS and CLAUDIO lie down.]
252 Look, Lucius, here's the book I sought for so;253 I put it in the pocket of my gown. LUCIUS
254 I was sure your lordship did not give it me. BRUTUS
255 Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful.256 Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,257 And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
LUCIUS
258 Ay, my lord, an't please you.
258. an't: if it.
BRUTUS
It does, my boy:259 I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing. LUCIUS
260 It is my duty, sir. BRUTUS
261 I should not urge thy duty past thy might;
261. I . . . might: i.e., It's not right of me to ask more of you (even in the name of duty) than you are able to do.
262 I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
262. young bloods look for a time of rest: i.e., youths naturally need rest.
LUCIUS
263 I have slept, my lord, already. BRUTUS
264 It was well done; and thou shalt sleep again;265 I will not hold thee long: if I do live,
265. hold: keep, detain.
266 I will be good to thee. Music, and a song.
267 This is a sleepy tune. O murderous slumber,
267. a sleepy tune: a lullaby. murderous slumber: Lucius has fallen dead asleep.
268 Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy,269 That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good night;
268-269. Lay'st . . . music: Lucius played a "sleepy tune," intended to lure Slumber to come to Brutus. Slumber came, but laid his mace (the symbol of his power) on Lucius, rather than on Brutus.
270 I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee:271 If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument;272 I'll take it from thee; [Brutus takes Lucius's instrument
and puts it away.]
and, good boy, good night.273 Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turn'd down274 Where I left reading? Here it is, I think. Enter the Ghost of CAESAR.
275 How ill this taper burns! Ha! who comes here?
275. taper: candle. Candles were said to dim when in the presence of a ghost.
276 I think it is the weakness of mine eyes277 That shapes this monstrous apparition.278 It comes upon me. Art thou any thing?
278. upon: toward, over.
279 Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,280 That makest my blood cold and my hair to stare?
280. stare: stand on end.
"Speak to me what thou art"
"Speak to me what thou art"
281 Speak to me what thou art. GHOST
282 Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
BRUTUS
Why comest thou? GHOST
283 To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi. BRUTUS
284 Well; then I shall see thee again? GHOST
"Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then"
285 Ay, at Philippi. BRUTUS
286 Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then. [Exit Ghost.]
287 Now I have taken heart thou vanishest:288 Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.289 Boy, Lucius! Varrus! Claudio! Sirs, awake! 290 Claudio! LUCIUS
291 The strings, my lord, are false.
291. false: out of tune.
BRUTUS
292 He thinks he still is at his instrument.293 Lucius, awake! LUCIUS
294 My lord? BRUTUS
295 Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out? LUCIUS
296 My lord, I do not know that I did cry. BRUTUS
297 Yes, that thou didst: didst thou see any thing? LUCIUS
298 Nothing, my lord. BRUTUS
299 Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudio! [To VARRUS.]
300 Fellow thou, awake! VARRUS
301 My lord? CLAUDIO
302 My lord? BRUTUS
303 Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep? Both [Varrus, Claudio.]
304 Did we, my lord? BRUTUS
Ay: saw you any thing? VARRUS
305 No, my lord, I saw nothing. CLAUDIO
Nor I, my lord. BRUTUS
306 Go and commend me to my brother Cassius;
306. commend me to: give my respects to.
307 Bid him set on his powers betimes before,
307. Bid him set on his powers betimes before: ask him to get his troops on the march early.
308 And we will follow. Both [Varrus, Claudio.]
It shall be done, my lord. Exeunt.