Scene III

[A street.]

Thunder and lightning. Enter Casca, and Cicero.

CICERO:

Good even, Casca. Brought you Caesar home?
Why are you breathless, and why stare you so?

CICERO:

Good evening, Casca. Did you bring Caesar home?
Why are you breathless, and why are you staring like that?

CASCA:

Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth
Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero,
I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds(5)
Have rived the knotty oaks, and I have seen
The ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam,
To be exalted with the threatening clouds,
But never till tonight, never till now,
Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.(10)
Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world too saucy with the gods
Incenses them to send destruction.

CASCA:

Aren’t you moved, when the entire earth
Is shaking uncontrollably? Oh, Cicero,
I have seen major storms, when the scolding winds
Have torn the knotty oaks to pieces, and I have seen
The strong ocean swell and rage and foam,
To be intensified by threatening clouds.
But never until tonight, never until now,
Have I gone through a tempest that is raining fire.
Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world has been too impudent with the gods,
Incensing them to send destruction.

CICERO:

Why, saw you anything more wonderful?

CICERO:

Why, have you seen anything more wonderful?

CASCA:

A common slave—you know him well by sight—(15)
Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn
Like twenty torches join'd, and yet his hand,
Not sensible of fire, remain'd unscorch'd.
Besides—I ha' not since put up my sword—
Against the Capitol I met a lion,(20)
Who glazed upon me and went surly by
Without annoying me: and there were drawn
Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women
Transformed with their fear, who swore they saw
Men all in fire walk up and down the streets.(25)
And yesterday the bird of night did sit
Even at noon-day upon the market-place,
Howling and shrieking. When these prodigies
Do so conjointly meet, let not men say(30)
“These are their reasons; they are natural,”
For, I believe, they are portentous things
Unto the climate that they point upon.

CASCA:

A common slave—you’d know him well by sight—
Held up his left hand, which flamed and burned
Like twenty torches all together, and yet his hand,
Not feeling any fire, wasn’t even scorched.
Besides,—I haven’t used my sword since—
I met a lion, in front of the Capitol,
Who glared at me, and angrily passed me by,
Without attacking me, and there were a hundred ghastly
Women gathered in a heap,
Transformed by their fear; who swore they saw
Men, all on fire, walking up and down the streets.
And yesterday, the night bird sat
In the marketplace, in the middle of the day,
Howling and shrieking. When these omens
All happen at the same time, don’t let men say
"These things have their reasons; they’re natural,"
For I believe they’re warning signs
That predict the climate that they point to.

CICERO:

Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time;
But men may construe things after their fashion,(35)
Clean from the purpose of the things themselves.
Come Caesar to the Capitol tomorrow?

CICERO:

Indeed, time has a strange disposition
But men may interpret things in whatever way they like,
Far from the purpose of the things themselves.
Does Caesar come to the Capitol tomorrow?

CASCA:

He doth; for he did bid Antonius
Send word to you he would be there tomorrow.

CASCA:

He does, because he asked Antonius to
Send word to you that he would be there tomorrow.

CICERO:

Good then, Casca. This disturbed sky(40)
Is not to walk in.

CICERO:

Good then, Casca. This disturbed sky
Isn’t one to walk in.

CASCA:

Farewell, Cicero.

CASCA:

Goodbye, Cicero.

Exit Cicero.

Enter Cassius.

CASSIUS:

Who's there?(45)

CASSIUS:

Who's there?

CASCA:

A Roman.

CASCA:

A Roman.

CASSIUS:

Casca, by your voice.

CASSIUS:

Casca, I can tell by your voice.

CASCA:

Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this!

CASCA:

You have a good ear. Cassius, what night this is!

CASSIUS:

A very pleasing night to honest men.(50)

CASSIUS:

A very pleasing night to honest men.

CASCA:

Who ever knew the heavens menace so?

CASCA:

Who ever knew the heavens could be so threatening?

CASSIUS:

Those that have known the earth so full of faults.
For my part, I have walk'd about the streets,
Submitting me unto the perilous night,
And thus unbraced, Casca, as you see,(55)
Have bared my bosom to the thunder-stone;
And when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open
The breast of heaven, I did present myself
Even in the aim and very flash of it.

CASSIUS:

Those men that know the earth is full of faults.
For my part, I have walked about the streets,
Giving in to the dangerous night;
And, undressed like this, Casca, as you can see,
I have bared my chest to the thunder bolts;
And when the angry, blue lightning seemed to openThe chest of heaven, I put myself
Even in the direction and the very flash of it.

CASCA:

But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens?(60)
It is the part of men to fear and tremble
When the most mighty gods by tokens send
Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.

CASCA:

But why did you tempt the sky like that?
It is part of men to be afraid and tremble
When the most mighty gods send
Lightening to astonish us.

CASSIUS:

You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life
That should be in a Roman you do want,
Or else you use not. You look pale and gaze(65)
And put on fear and cast yourself in wonder,
To see the strange impatience of the heavens.
But if you would consider the true cause
Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts,
Why birds and beasts from quality and kind,(70)
Why old men fool, and children calculate,
Why all these things change from their ordinance,
Their natures and preformed faculties,
To monstrous quality, why, you shall find
That heaven hath infused them with these spirits(75)
To make them instruments of fear and warning
Unto some monstrous state.
Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man
Most like this dreadful night,
That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars(80)
As doth the lion in the Capitol,
A man no mightier than thyself or me
In personal action, yet prodigious grown
And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.

CASSIUS:

You’re not too sharp, Casca, and those sparks of life
That should be in a Roman, you want,
Or else, you don’t use what you have. You look pale and dazed,
And put on fear and make yourself wonder,
To see the strange behavior of the Heavens.
But if you would think about the true cause,
Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts,
Why birds and beasts, from quality and kind;
Why old men, fools, and children think about it—
Why all these things change from their usual order,
Change their natures, and their normal events
To monstrous disorder—why, you shall find
That Heaven has infused the lightening with these spirits,
To make them instruments of fear and warning
About some monstrous state. Now I could, Casca,
Name a man to you that is most like this dreadful night,
One that thunders, send lightening, opens graves, and roars,
As the lion in the Capitol does;
A man no mightier in personal action;
Than you or I, yet he’s grown monstrous,
And fearful, just as these strange eruptions are.

CASCA:

'Tis Caesar that you mean, is it not, Cassius?(85)

CASCA:

It’s Caesar that you mean, isn’t it, Cassius?

CASSIUS:

Let it be who it is, for Romans now
Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors.
But, woe the while! Our fathers' minds are dead,
And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits;
Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish.(90)

CASSIUS:

Let it be who it is, because Romans now
Have strong muscles and limbs just like their ancestors;
But, now! our fathers' minds are dead,
And we are governed by our mothers' spirits;
Our burden and suffering makes us look womanish.

CASCA:

Indeed they say the senators tomorrow
Mean to establish Caesar as a king,
And he shall wear his crown by sea and land,
In every place save here in Italy.

CASCA:

Indeed they say that the senators
Mean to establish Caesar as a king tomorrow,And that he will be king everywhere,
In every place, except here in Italy.

CASSIUS:

I know where I will wear this dagger then:(95)
Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius.
Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong;
Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat.
Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass,
Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron,(100)
Can be retentive to the strength of spirit;
But life, being weary of these worldly bars,
Never lacks power to dismiss itself.
If I know this, know all the world besides,
That part of tyranny that I do bear(105)
I can shake off at pleasure.

CASSIUS:

I know where I’ll wear this dagger then.
Cassius will deliver Cassius from slavery.
In that event, you gods, you make the weak the strongest;
In that event, you gods, you defeat tyrants.
No stony tower, no walls of beaten brass,
No airless dungeon, no strong chains of iron
Can hold the strength of the spirit;
But life, tired of these worldly bars,
Never lacks the power to kill itself.
If I know this, and know the whole world too,
I can shake off at pleasure
That part of tyranny that I endure.

Thunder still.

CASCA:

So can I.
So every bondman in his own hand bears
The power to cancel his captivity.

CASCA:

I can too.
And so every slave has in his own hand
The power to cancel his captivity.

CASSIUS:

And why should Caesar be a tyrant then?(110)
Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf
But that he sees the Romans are but sheep.
He were no lion, were not Romans hinds.
Those that with haste will make a mighty fire
Begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome,(115)
What rubbish and what offal, when it serves
For the base matter to illuminate
So vile a thing as Caesar? But, O grief,
Where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this
Before a willing bondman; then I know(120)
My answer must be made. But I am arm'd,
And dangers are to me indifferent.

CASSIUS:

And why should Caesar be a tyrant then?
Poor man! I know he wouldn’t be a wolf,
But he sees that the Romans are nothing but sheep.
He wouldn’t be a lion if Romans weren’t female deer.
Those that are in a hurry will make a mighty fire and
Start it with flimsy straws. What trash Rome is,
What rubbish, and what garbage, when it serves
As the fuel to start a fire that will throw light
On so vile a thing as Caesar! But, O grief,
Where have you taken me? Perhaps I say this
Before a willing slave. Then I know that
My answer must be made; but I’m armed,
And dangers are not important to me.

CASCA:

You speak to Casca, and to such a man
That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand.
Be factious for redress of all these griefs,(125)
And I will set this foot of mine as far
As who goes farthest.

CASCA:

You are speaking to Casca, and to me what you’re
Saying is no ridiculous telling of secrets. Stay, take my hand.
Be a rebel for revenge for all these problems,
And I’ll support you as far
As the man who goes the farthest.

CASSIUS:

There's a bargain made.
Now know you, Casca, I have moved already
Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans(130)
To undergo with me an enterprise
Of honorable-dangerous consequence;
And I do know, by this they stay for me
In Pompey's Porch. For now, this fearful night,
There is no stir or walking in the streets,(135)
And the complexion of the element
In favor's like the work we have in hand,
Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.

CASSIUS:

It’s a deal.
Now you know, Casca, I have already persuaded
Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans
To join me in an undertaking
Of honorable/dangerous consequence;
And I know by this, they are waiting for me
In Pompey's Porch. For now, because of this fearful night,
There’s no noise or walking in the streets,
And the weather reflects
The work we have at hand,
Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.

Enter Cinna.

CASCA:

Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste.

CASCA:

Stand next to me for a while, because someone is coming hastily.

CASSIUS:

'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait;(140)
He is a friend. Cinna, where haste you so?

CASSIUS:

It’s Cinna. I know his walk.
He’s a friend.—

Cinna, where are you going in such a rush?

CINNA:

To find out you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?

CINNA:

To find you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?

CASSIUS:

No, it is Casca, one incorporate
To our attempts. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna?

CASSIUS:

No, it is Casca, one who agrees
With our attempts. Isn’t someone waiting for me, Cinna?

CINNA:

I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this!(145)
There's two or three of us have seen strange sights.

CINNA:

I’m glad about it. What a fearful night is this!
There's two or three of us who have seen strange sights.

CASSIUS:

Am I not stay'd for? Tell me.

CASSIUS:

Isn’t someone waiting for me? Tell me.