Home > Julius Caesar Text > Act I, Scene II - Page 3

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.