Scene II

[A public place.]

Enter Caesar; Antony for the course, Calpurnia, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, Casca; a Soothsayer; after them Marullus and Flavius.

CAESAR:

Calpurnia!

CAESAR:

Calpurnia,—

CASCA:

Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.

CASCA:

Peace, oh! Caesar speaks.

CAESAR:

Calpurnia!

CAESAR:

Calpurnia,—

CALPURNIA:

Here, my lord.

CALPURNIA:

I’m here, my lord.

CAESAR:

Stand you directly in Antonio's way,(5)
When he doth run his course. Antonio!

CAESAR:

Stand directly in Antony’s way,
When he runs his course.—Antony,—

ANTONY:

Caesar, my lord?

ANTONY:

Caesar, my lord?

CAESAR:

Forget not, in your speed, Antonio,
To touch Calpurnia, for our elders say,
The barren, touched in this holy chase,(10)
Shake off their sterile curse.

CAESAR:

Don’t run so fast, Antony, that you forget
To touch Calpurnia; because, as our elders say,
That a woman unable to get pregnant
Can become pregnant if the lead runner touches them.

ANTONY:

I shall remember.
When Caesar says “Do this,” it is perform'd.

ANTONY:

I’ll remember.
When Caesar says, "Do this," I do it.

CAESAR:

Set on, and leave no ceremony out.

CAESAR:

Go on, and don’t leave any ritual out.

SOOTHSAYER:

Caesar!(15)

SOOTHSAYER:

Caesar!

CAESAR:

Ha! Who calls?

CAESAR:

Ha! Who calls?

CASCA:

Bid every noise be still. Peace yet again!

CASCA:

Everyone, quiet.— Peace!

CAESAR:

Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry “Caesar.” Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear.(20)

CAESAR:

Who’s calling for me?
I hear a voice that is more shrill than all the music
Yelling, "Caesar"! Speak, I’m listening.

SOOTHSAYER:

Beware the ides of March.

SOOTHSAYER:

Beware the Ides of March.

CAESAR:

What man is that?

CAESAR:

Who is that man?

BRUTUS:

A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.

BRUTUS:

A man who can tell the future is telling you to beware March 15.

CAESAR:

Set him before me; let me see his face.

CAESAR:

Bring him here; let me see his face.

CASSIUS:

Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.(25)

CASSIUS:

Fellow, come here; look at Caesar.

CAESAR:

What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again.

CAESAR:

What do you say to me now? Speak again.

SOOTHSAYER:

Beware the ides of March.

SOOTHSAYER:

Beware the Ides of March.

CAESAR:

He is a dreamer; let us leave him. Pass.

CAESAR:

He’s a dreamer; let’s get away from him. Let’s go.

Sennet. Exeunt [all but] Brutus and Cassius.]

CASSIUS:

Will you go see the order of the course?

CASSIUS:

Will you go see the order of the winners of the race?

BRUTUS:

Not I.(30)

BRUTUS:

Not I.

CASSIUS:

I pray you, do.

CASSIUS:

Please, go see it.

BRUTUS:

I am not gamesome; I do lack some part
Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
I'll leave you.(35)

BRUTUS:

I don’t like games; I lack some part
Of that quick spirit that Antony has.
Don’t let me hold you up, Cassius, go if you like;
I'll leave you.

CASSIUS:

Brutus, I do observe you now of late;
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love as I was wont to have;
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you.(40)

CASSIUS:

Brutus, I’ve been watching you lately.
I haven’t seen that gentleness in your eyes
And friendship that I used to see.
You’re too stubborn and too strange
To your friend that loves you.

BRUTUS:

Cassius,
Be not deceived; if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference,(45)
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors;
But let not therefore my good friends be grieved—
Among which number, Cassius, be you one—
Nor construe any further my neglect(50)
Than that poor Brutus with himself at war
Forgets the shows of love to other men.

BRUTUS:

Cassius,
Don’t be deceived. If I don’t have my usual face,
I only turn my unhappy face
On myself. I’m annoyed lately
With different passions,
Ideas that only I can know,
Which are perhaps seen in my behavior;
But don’t let my good friends be upset—
Cassius, you’re one of them—
Or try to understand my indifference any further
Than that poor Brutus, at war with himself,
Forgets to show friendship to other men.

CASSIUS:

Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion,
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.(55)
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?

CASSIUS:

Then, Brutus, I have really misunderstood your passions,
Which is why this my heart has forgotten
Thoughts of great value, worthy thoughts.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?

BRUTUS:

No, Cassius, for the eye sees not itself
But by reflection, by some other things.

BRUTUS:

No, Cassius, because the eye can only see itself
In a mirror or by some other thing like it.

CASSIUS:

'Tis just,
And it is very much lamented, Brutus,(60)
That you have no such mirrors as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye
That you might see your shadow. I have heard
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus,(65)
And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.

CASSIUS:

It’s a morally upright face.
And it’s very much lamented, Brutus,
That you don’t have any mirrors that will
Let you see your own hidden worthiness,
Any mirrors that you might let you see your shadow.
I have heard that many of the best-respected men in Rome,—
Except immortal Caesar!— speak about Brutus,
And groaning underneath the political burden of this age,
Have wished that noble Brutus could see what they see.

BRUTUS:

Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,
That you would have me seek into myself
For that which is not in me?(70)

BRUTUS:

What dangers would you lead me into, Cassius,
That you want me to search for something
That I don’t have in myself?

CASSIUS:

Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear,
And since you know you cannot see yourself
So well as by reflection, I your glass
Will modestly discover to yourself
That of yourself which you yet know not of.(75)
And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus;
Were I a common laugher, or did use
To stale with ordinary oaths my love
To every new protester, if you know
That I do fawn on men and hug them hard(80)
And after scandal them, or if you know
That I profess myself in banqueting
To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.

CASSIUS:

For that reason, good Brutus, get ready to hear what I have to say;
And since you know you can’t see yourself
Except in a mirror, I’ll be your mirror,
And will modestly let you see
That in yourself which you don’t know about.
And don’t be angry with me, gentle Brutus;
I wish I were a common comedian, or used
To urinating on my friendship with ordinary oaths
To every new opponent; if you know
That I show false friendship to some men, and hug them hard
And after that, tell lies about them, or if you know
That I profess myself at feasts to be friends with
The entire place, then think about me dangerous.

Flourish, and shout.

BRUTUS:

What means this shouting? I do fear the people
Choose Caesar for their king.(85)

BRUTUS:

What does this shouting mean? I’m afraid the people
Are going to choose Caesar for their king.

CASSIUS:

Ay, do you fear it?
Then must I think you would not have it so.

CASSIUS:

Yes, you fear it?
Then I must think you wouldn’t want it.

BRUTUS:

I would not, Cassius, yet I love him well.
But wherefore do you hold me here so long?
What is it that you would impart to me?(90)
If it be aught toward the general good,
Set honor in one eye and death i' the other
And I will look on both indifferently.
For let the gods so speed me as I love
The name of honor more than I fear death.(95)

BRUTUS:

I wouldn’t, Cassius; but I really like him,
But why are you keeping me here so long?
What do you want to tell me?
If it’s anything for the common good,
Put honor in one of my eyes and death in the other
And I’ll look on both equally;
Because, let the gods strike me dead, I love
The name of honor more than I’m afraid death.

CASSIUS:

I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
As well as I do know your outward favor.
Well, honor is the subject of my story.
I cannot tell what you and other men
Think of this life, but, for my single self,(100)
I had as lief not be as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
I was born free as Caesar, so were you;
We both have fed as well, and we can both
Endure the winter's cold as well as he.(105)
For once, upon a raw and gusty day,
The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,
Caesar said to me, “Darest thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood
And swim to yonder point?” Upon the word,(110)
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in
And bade him follow. So indeed he did.
The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews, throwing it aside
And stemming it with hearts of controversy.(115)
But ere we could arrive the point proposed,
Caesar cried, “Help me, Cassius, or I sink!”
I, as Aeneas our great ancestor
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber(120)
Did I the tired Caesar. And this man
Is now become a god, and Cassius is
A wretched creature, and must bend his body
If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.
He had a fever when he was in Spain,(125)
And when the fit was on him, I did mark
How he did shake. 'Tis true, this god did shake;
His coward lips did from their color fly,
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
Did lose his luster. I did hear him groan.(130)
Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans
Mark him and write his speeches in their books,
Alas, it cried, “Give me some drink, Titinius,”
As a sick girl. Ye gods! It doth amaze me
A man of such a feeble temper should(135)
So get the start of the majestic world
And bear the palm alone.

CASSIUS:

I know you’ve that virtue, Brutus,
As well as I know your face.
Well, honor is the subject of my story.
I can’t tell what you and other men
Think of this life; but, for myself alone,
I would rather not live to be
In awe of such a thing as I’m.
I was born free as Caesar; so were you.
We both have eaten as well, and we can both
Endure the winter's cold as well as he does,
Because once, on a raw and windy day,
The troubled Tiber River beating against her banks,
Caesar said to me, "Do you dare, Cassius,
Leap in with me into this angry flood now
And swim over there to that point?" On the word,
Dressed as I was, I plunged in,
And asked him to follow me. And indeed he did so.
The waters roared, and we hit at it
With lusty muscles, throwing it aside
And stopping it with hearts that had no doubts;
But before we could arrive the proposed point,
Caesar cried, "Help me, Cassius, I sink!”
Then I, just as Aeneas, our great ancestor,
Bore the old Anchises from the flames of Troy
On his shoulder, I carried the tired Caesar
From the waves of Tiber. And now this man
Has become a god, and Cassius is
A wretched creature, and must bow,
Even if Caesar only nods at him carelessly.
He had a fever when he was in Spain,
And, when the fit was on him, I noticed
How he shook. It’s true, this god shook!
He lost all the color in his coward lips;
And that same eye that the world owes a bow to
Lost its shine. I heard him groan.
Yes, and that tongue of his that asked the Romans
To notice him and write his speeches in their books,
Cried, "Give me some drink, Titinius,"
Just as a sick girl does.—You gods, it amazes me that
A man of such a feeble temper should
Instantly get the majestic world,
And wear the glory alone.

Shout. Flourish.

BRUTUS:

Another general shout!
I do believe that these applauses are
For some new honors that are heap'd on Caesar.(140)

BRUTUS:

Another general shout!
I believe that this applause is
For some new honors that are to be heaped on Caesar.

CASSIUS:

Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates:(145)
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Brutus, and Caesar: what should be in that Caesar?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
Write them together, yours is as fair a name;(150)
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;
Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em,
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Caesar.
Now, in the names of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed(155)
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
When went there by an age since the great flood
But it was famed with more than with one man?
When could they say till now that talk'd of Rome(160)
That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,
When there is in it but one only man.
O, you and I have heard our fathers say
There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd(165)
The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
As easily as a king.

CASSIUS:

Why, man, he stands on top of the narrow world
Like the Colossus of Rhodes, and we little men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves disgraceful graves.
Sometimes, men are masters of their fates.
The mistake, dear Brutus, isn’t in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
"Brutus" and "Caesar.” What is in that name, "Caesar?"
Why should that name be sounded any more than yours?
Write them down together; your name is just as good;
Say them out loud; your name sounds just as good;
Think about their importance, yours is just as important;
Use them to contact ghosts, "Brutus" will bring a spirit
As soon as "Caesar." Now, in the names of all the gods at once,
What meat does this our Caesar eat
That he’s grown so great? Age, shame on you!
Rome, there are no more people of noble bloods in you!
Has there ever been any age since Noah and the flood
That was not famous because of more than one man?
When could they say, until now, those that talked about Rome,
That her wide walls were ruled by only one man?
Is Rome still Rome, and does it have room enough,
When there is in it only one man?
O, you and I have heard our fathers say
There was a Brutus once that would have fought
The eternal devil to keep his status in Rome,
As easily as he would fight a king!

BRUTUS:

That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;
What you would work me to, I have some aim.
How I have thought of this and of these times,(170)
I shall recount hereafter; for this present,
I would not, so with love I might entreat you,
Be any further moved. What you have said
I will consider; what you have to say
I will with patience hear, and find a time(175)
Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:
Brutus had rather be a villager
Than to repute himself a son of Rome
Under these hard conditions as this time(180)
Is like to lay upon us.

BRUTUS:

I’m not angry that you’re my friend;
As for what you’re persuading me to do, I have some plans.
I’ll tell you later what I’ve thought about this
And about these times,; for now,
Please don’t to try to persuade me any further.
I’ll think about what you’ve said;
I’ll patiently hear what you’ve to say, and find a time
When I can both meet with you to hear and answer such high things.
Until then, my noble friend, chew on this.
Brutus would rather be a villager
Than to say he is a son of RomeUnder the hard conditions that these times
Are likely to lay on us.

CASSIUS:

I am glad that my weak words
Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.

CASSIUS:

I’m glad that my weak words
Have brought out this show of fire from Brutus.

Enter Caesar and his Train.

BRUTUS:

The games are done, and Caesar is returning.

BRUTUS:

The games are finished, and Caesar is returning.

CASSIUS:

As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve,(185)
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note today.

CASSIUS:

As they pass by, grab Casca by the sleeve;
And he’ll, in his sour way, tell you
What notable events have happened today.

BRUTUS:

I will do so. But, look you, Cassius,
The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow,
And all the rest look like a chidden train:(190)
Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero
Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
As we have seen him in the Capitol,
Being cross'd in conference by some senators.

BRUTUS:

I’ll do so.—But, look, Cassius,
Caesar is looking very angry,
And all the rest look as though they’ve been scolded.
Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero
Looks with the same beady and fiery eyes
That we have seen on him in the Capitol,
When some senators disagreed with him in a meeting.

CASSIUS:

Casca will tell us what the matter is.(195)

CASSIUS:

Casca will tell us what’s wrong.

CAESAR:

Antonio!

CAESAR:

Antonius,—

ANTONY:

Caesar?

ANTONY:

Caesar?

CAESAR:

Let me have men about me that are fat,
Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights:
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;(200)
He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.

CAESAR:

Make sure the men around me are fat;
Bald men, and men that sleep all night.
Cassius over there has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.

ANTONY:

Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous;
He is a noble Roman and well given.

ANTONY:

Don’t be afraid of him, Caesar; he's not dangerous;
He’s a noble Roman and has a good disposition.

CAESAR:

Would he were fatter! But I fear him not,
Yet if my name were liable to fear,(205)
I do not know the man I should avoid
So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much,
He is a great observer, and he looks
Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays,
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;(210)
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit
That could be moved to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,(215)
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd
Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.(220)

CAESAR:

I wish he were fatter! But I’m not afraid of him.
Yet, if I were afraid of him,
I don’t know of any other the man I should avoid
So much as that skinny Cassius. He reads a lot;
He’s a great observer, and actually he looks
Through the deeds of men. He doesn’t like any plays
As you do, Antony; he doesn’t like any music.
He seldom smiles, and smiles in such a way
As if he were laughing at himself and cursed his spirit
For being moved to smile at anything.
Such men as he is are never at ease in their hearts
When they see a man greater than themselves;
And for that reason they are very dangerous.
I would rather tell you what to be afraid of
More than what I am afraid of, for I’m always Caesar.
Come over here my right side, because I am deaf in this ear,
And tell me what you really think of him.

Sennet. Exeunt Caesar and his Train [but Casca.]

CASCA:

You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me?

CASCA:

You pulled my sleeve; do you want to speak with me?

BRUTUS:

Ay, Casca, tell us what hath chanced today,
That Caesar looks so sad.

BRUTUS:

Yes, Casca, tell us what has happened today
That makes Caesar look so sad.

CASCA:

Why, you were with him, were you not?

CASCA:

Why, you were with him, weren’t you?

BRUTUS:

I should not then ask Casca what had chanced.(225)

BRUTUS:

If I was, then I shouldn’t ask Casca what had happened.

CASCA:

Why, there was a crown offered him, and being offered
him: he put it by with the back of his hand, thus, and then
the people fell a-shouting.

CASCA:

Why, there was a crown offered to him, and when it was
Offered to him, he pushed it away with the back of his hand, like this,
And then the people started shouting.

BRUTUS:

What was the second noise for?

BRUTUS:

What was the second noise for?

CASCA:

Why, for that too.(230)

CASCA:

Why, for that too.

CASSIUS:

They shouted thrice. What was the last cry for?

CASSIUS:

They shouted three times. What was the last cry for?

CASCA:

Why, for that too.

CASCA:

Why, for that too.

BRUTUS:

Was the crown offered him thrice?

BRUTUS:

Was the crown offered to him three times?

CASCA:

Ay, marry, wast, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler
than other, and at every putting by mine honest neighbors(235)
shouted.

CASCA:

Yes, damn it, it was, and he pushed it aside three times,
Every time more gently than the last, and at each pushing aside,
My honest neighbors shouted.

CASSIUS:

Who offered him the crown?

CASSIUS:

Who offered him the crown?

CASCA:

Why, Antony.

CASCA:

Why, Antony.

BRUTUS:

Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.

BRUTUS:

Tell us how it happened, gentle Casca.

CASCA:

I can as well be hang'd as tell the manner of it. It was(240)
mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer
him a crown, yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of
these coronets and, as I told you, he put it by once. But for
all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he
offered it to him again; then he put it by again. But, to my(245)
thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then
he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by; and
still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted and clapped
their chopped hands and threw up their sweaty nightcaps
and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar(250)
refused the crown, that it had almost choked Caesar, for he
swounded and fell down at it. And for mine own part, I
durst not laugh for fear of opening my lips and receiving the
bad air.

CASCA:

I may as well be hanged as to tell how it happened. It was
merely a joke; I didn’t pay attention to it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a
crown;—yet it wasn’t a crown either, it was one of these
large hats;—and, as I told you, he pushed it aside once. but, for all
that, to my thinking, he seemed eager to have it. Then he
offered it to him again. Then he pushed it aside again. but, to my
thinking, he was very reluctant to remove his fingers off it. And then
he was offered it the third time; he pushed it aside the third time, and
still, as he refused it, the crowd shouted, and clapped
their rough hands, and threw their sweaty night hats into the air, and
uttered such a great deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused
the crown, that the smell almost choked Caesar, because he fainted and
fell down from it. And, for mine part, I didn’t dare laugh for
fear of opening my lips and inhaling the bad air.

CASSIUS:

But, soft, I pray you. What, did Caesar swound?(255)

CASSIUS:

But, wait! Please. What, did Caesar faint?

CASCA:

He fell down in the market-place and foamed at mouth
and was speechless.

CASCA:

He fell down in the market place, foamed at the mouth, and was
speechless.

BRUTUS:

'Tis very like: he hath the falling sickness.

BRUTUS:

It’s very likely. He has epilepsy.

CASSIUS:

No, Caesar hath it not, but you, and I,
And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness.(260)

CASSIUS:

No, Caesar doesn’t have it; but you, and I,
And honest Casca, we have epilepsy.

CASCA:

I know not what you mean by that, but I am sure
Caesar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him
and hiss him according as he pleased and displeased them,
as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true
man.(265)

CASCA:

I don’t know what you mean by that, but I’m sure Caesar fell
down. If the common people didn’t applaud him and hiss at him,
since he pleased and displeased them, as they used to do to
the actors in the theatre, then I’m not really a man.

BRUTUS:

What said he when he came unto himself?

BRUTUS:

What said he when he came to?

CASCA:

Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the
common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked
me ope his doublet and offered them his throat to cut.
An had been a man of any occupation, if I would not(270)
have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell
among the rogues. And so he fell. When he came to himself
again, he said, if he had done or said any thing amiss,
he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity.
Three or four wenches, where I stood cried, “Alas, good(275)
soul!” and forgave him with all their hearts. But there's no
heed to be taken of them; if Caesar had stabbed their
mothers, they would have done no less.

CASCA:

Damn it, before he fell down, when he thought the common
herd was glad he had refused the crown, he opened his
shirt, and offered to cut his throat. If I had been a
man of any occupation, if I wouldn’t have taken him at a word,
I might have gone ahead and stood among the rogues.—and so he fell.
When he came to again, he said, if he had done or said
anything out of order, he wanted the people to think it was his
infirmity. Three or four wenches where I stood cried, "Alas,
good soul!" and forgave him with all their hearts. But you can’t listen to them.
If Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done the same thing.

BRUTUS:

And after that, he came thus sad away?

BRUTUS:

And, after that he came, away sad?

CASCA:

Ay.(280)

CASCA:

Yes.

CASSIUS:

Did Cicero say anything?

CASSIUS:

Did Cicero say anything?

CASCA:

Ay, he spoke Greek.

CASCA:

Yes, he spoke in Greek.

CASSIUS:

To what effect?

CASSIUS:

How did that work?

CASCA:

Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face
again; but those that understood him smiled at one(285)
another and shook their heads; but for mine own part, it
was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too:
Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Caesar's
images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more
foolery yet, if could remember it.(290)

CASCA:

No, if I tell you that, I'll never look you in the face
again. but those that understood him smiled at one another and
shook their heads; but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I
could tell you more news too. Marullus and Flavius have been killed
for pulling scarves off Caesar's images. Goodbye.
There was more nonsense, if I could only remember it.

CASSIUS:

Will you sup with me tonight, Casca?

CASSIUS:

Will you have dinner with me tonight, Casca?

CASCA:

No, I am promised forth.

CASCA:

No, I’ve got another engagement.

CASSIUS:

Will you dine with me tomorrow?

CASSIUS:

Will you dine with me tomorrow?

CASCA:

Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner
worth the eating.(295)

CASCA:

Yes, if I’m alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth
the eating.

CASSIUS:

Good, I will expect you.

CASSIUS:

Good, I’ll expect you.

CASCA:

Do so, farewell, both.

CASCA:

Please do. Goodbye to both of you.

Exit.

BRUTUS:

What a blunt fellow is this grown to be!
He was quick mettle when he went to school.

BRUTUS:

What a blunt fellow he’s turned out to be!
He was becoming very spirited when he was in school.

CASSIUS:

So is he now in execution(300)
Of any bold or noble enterprise,
However he puts on this tardy form.
This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,
Which gives men stomach to digest his words
With better appetite.(305)

CASSIUS:

So he is now in getting any bold or
Noble job done;
However, he pretends to be slow in nature.
This rudeness is the topping to his good traits,
Which lets men accept his words
With better understanding.

BRUTUS:

And so it is. For this time I will leave you.
Tomorrow, if you please to speak with me,
I will come home to you, or, if you will,
Come home to me and I will wait for you.

BRUTUS:

And so it is. I’ll leave you now.
Tomorrow, if you want to speak with me,
I’ll come to your house; or, if you like,
Come to my house, and I’ll wait for you.

CASSIUS:

I will do so. Till then, think of the world.(310)

Exit Brutus.

Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see
Thy honorable metal may be wrought
From that it is disposed; therefore it is meet
That noble minds keep ever with their likes;
For who so firm that cannot be seduced?(315)
Caesar doth bear me hard, but he loves Brutus.
If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius,
He should not humor me. I will this night,
In several hands, in at his windows throw,
As if they came from several citizens,(320)
Writings, all tending to the great opinion
That Rome holds of his name, wherein obscurely
Caesar's ambition shall be glanced at.
And after this let Caesar seat him sure;
For we will shake him, or worse days endure.

CASSIUS:

OK, that’s fine. Until then, think of the world.—

Well, Brutus, you’re noble; yet, I see,
Your honorable disposition may be hammered into
A different shape than it has now. That’s why it’s appropriate
That noble minds stay with people that are like them,
Because who is so strong that they can’t be seduced?
Caesar doesn’t like me very much, but he loves Brutus;
If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius,
He wouldn’t humor me. Tonight,
I will throw writings in his windows,
All tending to the great opinion that Rome holds his name,
by several different hands, as if they came from several citizens,
In these writings, I will analyze, although obscurely,
Caesar's ambition.
And after this, let Caesar sit more securely on his throne,
Because we will shake him from there, or endure worse days.

Exit.