THE TRAGEDY OF
JULIUS CAESAR

JULIUS CAESAR
OCTAVIUS CAESAR, Triumvir after his death.
MARCUS ANTONIUS, ” ” ”
M. AEMILIUS LEPIDUS, ” ” ”
CICERO, PUBLIUS, POPILIUS LENA, Senators.
MARCUS BRUTUS, Conspirator against Caesar.
CASSIUS, ” ” ”
CASCA, ” ” ”
TREBONIUS, ” ” ”
LIGARIUS,” ” ”
DECIUS BRUTUS, ” ” ”
METELLUS CIMBER, ” ” ”
CINNA, ” ” ”
FLAVIUS, tribune
MARULLUS, tribune
ARTEMIDORUS, a Sophist from Cnidos.
A Soothsayer
CINNA, a poet.
Another Poet.
LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, young CATO, and VOLUMNIUS, Friends to Brutus and Cassius.
VARRO, CLITUS, CLAUDIUS, STRATO, LUCIUS, DARDANIUS, Servants to Brutus
PINDARUS, Servant to Cassius

CALPHURNIA, wife of Caesar
PORTIA, wife of Brutus

Caesar's Ghost

Senators, citizens, soldiers, common people, messengers, and servants.

Enter Flavius, Marullus and a crowd of Citizens.

FLAVIUS.
Go home, you lazy people, get out of here.
Is this a holiday? Don’t you know,
Since you’re workers, you shouldn’t be out
On a working day without showing some sign
Of what you do? Tell me, what’s your job?

CARPENTER.
Why, sir, I'm a carpenter.

MARULLUS.
Where's your leather apron and your ruler?
Why are you wearing your best clothes?
You, sir, what do you do for a living?

COBBLER.
Honestly, sir, when it comes to being a skilled worker, I’m just, as you would put it, a cobbler.

MARULLUS.
But what job do you have? Answer me straight.

COBBLER.
A profession, sir, that I hope to pursue with a clear conscience, which is really, sir, a repairer of worn-out soles.

MARULLUS.
What job do you have, you scoundrel? You mischievous scoundrel, what job?

COBBLER.
No, please, sir, don't be upset with me; but if you are upset, sir, I can fix that.

MARULLUS.
What do you mean by that? Fix this for me, you cheeky guy!

COBBLER.
Why, sir, cobble you.

FLAVIUS.
You're a shoemaker, right?

COBBLER.
Honestly, sir, all I do is work with the awl; I don't get involved in other trades or women’s issues, but I truly am like a surgeon to old shoes: when they’re in bad shape, I fix them. As skilled as anyone who’s ever walked on nice leather has walked on my work.

FLAVIUS.
But why aren’t you in your shop today?
Why are you taking these men around the streets?

COBBLER.
Honestly, sir, wearing out their shoes just means I have more work. But really, sir, we're taking a break to see Caesar and celebrate his victory.

MARULLUS.
Why are you celebrating? What victory is he bringing back?
What tributes are following him to Rome,
To decorate his chariot wheels in chains?
You blocks, you stones, you even worse than mindless things!
Oh, you hard-hearted, cruel people of Rome,
Did you not know Pompey? Many times,
You climbed up to walls and battlements,
To towers and windows, even to chimney tops,
Holding your babies in your arms, and there you sat
All day long, waiting patiently
To see great Pompey walk the streets of Rome.
And when you saw his chariot appear,
Did you not raise a universal cheer,
That made the Tiber tremble beneath her banks
To hear your echoes
Resounding off her shores?
And now you dress in your finest clothes?
And now you celebrate a holiday?
And now you scatter flowers in his path,
As he triumphs over Pompey’s blood?
Get away!
Hurry to your homes, fall to your knees,
Pray to the gods to lift the plague
That must surely fall on this ingratitude.

FLAVIUS.
Go on, good people, and for this mistake
Gather all the poor men like you,
Bring them to the banks of the Tiber, and cry
Your tears into the river, until the lowest water
Touches the highest shores of all.

[Citizens exit.]

See if their lowest instincts aren’t stirred;
They disappear, speechless in their shame.
You head down that path toward the Capitol;
I will go this way. Remove the statues,
If you find them adorned with rituals.

MARULLUS.
Can we do that?
You know it's the Feast of Lupercal.

FLAVIUS.
It doesn’t matter; let’s not hang any images
With Caesar’s trophies. I’ll go and clear the streets
Of the common folks; you do the same where you see them gathered.
These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing
Will bring him down to an ordinary level,
When he was meant to soar above everyone,
And keep us all in a state of fearful submission.

[Exit.]

Enter, in a procession with music, Caesar; Antony, for the event; Calphurnia, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius and Casca; a large crowd is following, including a Fortune teller.

CAESAR.
Calpurnia.

CASCA.
Hey, everyone! Caesar is speaking.

Music stops.

CAESAR.
Calpurnia.

CALPHURNIA.
Yes, my lord.

CAESAR.
Get directly in Antonius’ path,
When he runs his course. Antonius.

Caesar, my lord?

CAESAR.
Don't forget, in your haste, Antonius,
To touch Calphurnia; because our elders say,
That those who are barren, when touched in this sacred hunt,
Shake off their infertility curse.

ANTONY.
I’ll remember.
When Caesar says “Do this,” it gets done.

CAESAR.
Let's go; and don't skip any formalities.

Music.

Fortune teller.
Caesar!

CAESAR.
Ha! Who's there?

CASCA.
Tell everyone to be quiet; bring back the peace!

[Music stops.]

CAESAR.
Who’s calling me from the crowd?
I hear a voice louder than all the music,
Shouting “Caesar”! Speak. Caesar is listening.

FORTUNE TELLER.
Beware the Ides of March.

CAESAR.
Who is that man?

BRUTUS.
A fortune teller warns you to watch out for the Ides of March.

CAESAR.
Bring him here; I want to see his face.

CASSIUS.
Hey, buddy, step away from the crowd; take a look at Caesar.

CAESAR.
What do you have to say to me now? Speak again.

Soothsayer.
Watch out for the Ides of March.

CAESAR.
He's a dreamer; let's just leave him. Move on.

[Sennet. Everyone exits except Brutus and Cassius.]

CASSIUS.
Are you going to check the schedule?

Not me.

CASSIUS.
Please, go ahead.

BRUTUS.
I’m not playful: I lack some of that lively energy
that Antony has.
Don’t let me hold you back, Cassius;
I’ll step aside.

CASSIUS.
Brutus, I’ve noticed you lately:
I haven’t seen the kindness
And affection in your eyes that I used to see.
You’re acting too harsh and too oddly
Toward your friend who cares about you.

BRUTUS.
Cassius,
Don’t be fooled: if I’ve hidden my feelings,
I’m just reflecting my troubles back at myself. I’ve been
Upset lately with some conflicting emotions,
Thoughts that are only relevant to me,
Which might explain my behavior;
But let my good friends not be upset
(And that includes you, Cassius)
And don’t interpret my neglect
As anything more than poor Brutus, fighting within himself,
Forgetting to show affection to others.

CASSIUS.
Then, Brutus, I’ve really misunderstood your feelings;
Because of this, I’ve kept buried in my heart
Thoughts of great worth, valuable ideas.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your reflection?

BRUTUS.
No, Cassius, because the eye can't see itself
Unless it reflects off something else.

CASSIUS.
It’s true:
And it's really sad, Brutus,
That you don’t have any mirrors that can show
Your true worth to you,
So you could see your own greatness. I’ve heard
That many of the most respected people in Rome,
(Except the great Caesar) talking about Brutus,
And struggling under the weight of this age,
Have wished that noble Brutus could see himself.

BRUTUS.
What dangers are you leading me into, Cassius,
That you want me to search within myself
For something that isn’t there?

CASSIUS.
So, good Brutus, get ready to listen;
And since you know you can’t see yourself
As clearly as you can through a reflection, I, your mirror,
Will humbly reveal to you
What you don’t yet understand about yourself.
And don’t be jealous of me, kind Brutus:
If I were just a regular flatterer, or if I used
To cheapen my love with common oaths
To every new person I met; if you know
That I butter up guys and embrace them tightly,
And then gossip about them afterwards; or if you know
That I publicly claim to enjoy partying
With the whole crowd, then call me a threat.

Flourish and shout.

BRUTUS.
What's with all this shouting? I’m worried the people
Are going to choose Caesar as their king.

CASSIUS.
Yeah, are you afraid of it?
Then I have to assume you don’t want it to be that way.

BRUTUS.
I wouldn't, Cassius; but I care for him a lot,
Why do you keep me here for so long?
What is it that you want to tell me?
If it's anything for the greater good,
I'll consider both honor and death equally;
For may the gods help me as I love
The idea of honor more than I fear death.

CASSIUS.
I know you have virtue, Brutus,
Just as well as I recognize your appearance.
Well, honor is the main topic of my story.
I can't speak for you and others
About this life; but for myself,
I'd rather not exist than live in awe
Of someone like myself.
I was born as free as Caesar; so were you;
We've both been well-nourished, and we can both
Handle the winter's cold just as well as he can:
Once, on a chilly and windy day,
As the troubled Tiber crashed against its banks,
Caesar said to me, “Do you dare, Cassius, to
Jump in with me into this angry flood,
And swim to that point over there?” So, right then,
Fully dressed as I was, I jumped in,
And told him to follow: and indeed, he did.
The current roared, and we fought it
With strong muscles, pushing it aside
And resisting it with our fierce hearts.
But before we could reach the proposed point,
Caesar shouted, “Help me, Cassius, or I'm sinking!”
I, like Aeneas, our great ancestor,
Carried the old Anchises on my shoulder
From the burning ruins of Troy; so from the waves of Tiber
I lifted the exhausted Caesar. And now this man
Has become a god; while Cassius is
A miserable creature, forced to bow
If Caesar carelessly just nods at him.
He had a fever when he was in Spain,
And when the fit hit him, I noticed
How he shook: it's true, this god shook:
His cowardly lips lost all color,
And that same eye, which awes the world,
Lost its shine. I heard him groan:
Yes, and that tongue of his, which commanded the Romans
To pay attention and write down his speeches,
Sadly cried out, “Give me some drink, Titinius,”
Like a sick child. Oh gods, it surprises me,
That a man of such weak character could
Rise above the grand world
And take the prize all by himself.

[Yell. Thrive.]

BRUTUS.
Another round of applause?
I really think these cheers are
For some new honors that are piled on Caesar.

CASSIUS.
Look, he strides across the narrow world
Like a giant, while we insignificant men
Walk beneath his massive legs, searching around
To find our own dishonorable graves.
At times, men control their own destinies:
The problem, dear Brutus, isn't in our stars,
But in ourselves, as we are the underdogs.
“Brutus” and “Caesar”: what makes “Caesar” so special?
Why should that name be more prominent than yours?
Combine them, and yours is as good a name;
Say them together, and they sound just as good;
Weigh them, and they carry the same weight; if you call on them,
“Brutus” will summon a spirit just as quickly as “Caesar.”
Now, in the names of all the gods,
What is it that feeds our Caesar,
That he has become so powerful? Age, you should be ashamed!
Rome, you have lost the line of noble blood!
When has there been an era since the great flood,
That was known for more than just one man?
When could they say, until now, that spoke of Rome,
That her vast walls contained only one man?
Now it's really Rome, and spacious enough,
When it holds merely one single man.
Oh, you and I have heard our fathers say,
That there was a Brutus once who would have accepted
The eternal devil to maintain his power in Rome,
Just as easily as a king!

BRUTUS.
I'm not jealous that you love me;
I have some idea of what you're trying to get me to do:
I've thought about this and the current situation,
And I'll share my thoughts later. For now,
I wouldn’t, even if I could appeal to you with love,
Want to be pushed further. I’ll consider what you’ve said;
I’ll listen patiently to what you have to say
And find a time that works for both of us
To discuss and respond to such important matters.
Until then, my noble friend, think about this:
Brutus would rather be a farmer
Than consider himself a son of Rome
Under these difficult conditions that this time
Seems likely to impose on us.

CASSIUS.
I’m glad that my weak words
Have sparked even this little fire from Brutus.

Enter Caesar and his crew.

BRUTUS.
The games are over, and Caesar is coming back.

CASSIUS.
As they walk by, grab Casca by the sleeve,
And he will, in his usual grumpy way, tell you
What important things have happened today.

BRUTUS.
I will do that. But, listen, Cassius,
The angry mark is visible on Caesar’s forehead,
And everyone else looks like they've just been scolded:
Calphurnia’s face is pale; and Cicero
Has those ferret-like and fiery eyes
That we've seen in the Capitol,
When he's been interrupted in talks by some senators.

CASSIUS.
Casca will let us know what's going on.

CAESAR.
Antony.

Caesar?

CAESAR.
I want men around me who are well-fed,
Well-groomed, and who sleep peacefully at night:
That Cassius over there has a thin and restless appearance;
He thinks too much: those kinds of men are a threat.

ANTONY.
Don’t be afraid of him, Caesar; he’s not a threat;
He’s a respected Roman and highly regarded.

CAESAR.
I wish he were heavier! But I’m not worried about him:
Yet if my name were something to be afraid of,
I wouldn’t know which person to avoid
More than that skinny Cassius. He reads a lot,
He observes everything, and he sees
Right through people's actions. He doesn’t enjoy plays,
Like you do, Antony; he doesn’t listen to music.
He rarely smiles, and when he does, it’s as if
He’s mocking himself and looking down on his soul
For being able to smile at anything.
Men like him are never at ease
When they see someone greater than themselves,
And that’s why they are very dangerous.
I’d rather tell you what to be afraid of
Than what I’m actually afraid of; because I’m always Caesar.
Come on my right side, since this ear is deaf,
And tell me honestly what you think of him.

[Caesar and his entourage exit. Casca stays.]

CASCA.
You pulled me by the cloak; do you want to talk to me?

BRUTUS.
Yeah, Casca, tell us what happened today,
That Caesar looks so gloomy.

CASCA.
So, you were with him, right?

BRUTUS.
I shouldn't then ask Casca what happened.

CASCA.
Well, they offered him a crown, and when it was offered, he brushed it away with the back of his hand like this; then the crowd started shouting.

BRUTUS.
What was the second noise about?

CASCA.
Well, for that too.

CASSIUS.
They shouted three times: what was the last shout for?

CASCA.
Why not that too?

BRUTUS.
Did they offer him the crown three times?

CASCA.
Yeah, sure enough, he pushed it away three times, each time gentler than the last; and with every time he pushed it away, my honest neighbors cheered.

CASSIUS.
Who offered him the crown?

CASCA.
Why, Antony.

BRUTUS.
Tell us what happened, kind Casca.

CASCA.
I might as well be hanged as explain how it happened: it was just foolishness; I didn’t really pay attention. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown; but it wasn’t really a crown, it was one of those little coronets. As I mentioned, he pushed it away the first time: but honestly, I think he wanted it. Then Antony offered it to him again: he rejected it again; but I still think he didn’t want to let it go. Then Antony offered it a third time; he turned it down a third time, and still, as he refused it, the crowd booed, clapped their hands, threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and made such a horrible noise because Caesar rejected the crown that it almost choked him, as he fainted and fell down. And for my part, I didn’t dare laugh, worried I might open my mouth and inhale that awful air.

CASSIUS.
Wait! Please tell me, did Caesar faint?

CASCA.
He collapsed in the marketplace, foaming at the mouth and unable to speak.

BRUTUS.
It’s very likely: he has epilepsy.

CASSIUS.
No, Caesar doesn't have it; but you, me,
And honest Casca, we have epilepsy.

CASCA.
I don’t know what you mean by that; but I’m certain Caesar fell down. If the common people didn’t cheer and boo him based on whether he pleased or disappointed them, like they do with performers in a theater, then I’m no real man.

BRUTUS.
What did he say when he came to his senses?

CASCA.
Look, before he collapsed, when he saw that the common people were happy he rejected the crown, he opened his shirt and offered them his throat to cut. And I swear, if I had been anyone else, I would have taken him seriously; I’d rather go to hell with the rogues than not. And then he fell. When he came to his senses, he said if he had done or said anything wrong, he wanted them to think it was just a weakness. Three or four young women where I was standing cried, “Oh, poor guy!” and forgave him completely. But don't pay any attention to them: if Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done the same.

BRUTUS.
And, after that, he left feeling this upset?

CASCA.
Yeah.

CASSIUS.
Did Cicero say anything?

CASCA.
Yeah, he spoke Greek.

CASSIUS.
What’s the point?

CASCA.
No way, and I’ll never look you in the face again. But those who understood him smiled at each other and shook their heads; as for me, it was all Greek. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling down scarves from Caesar’s images, have been silenced. Take care. There was more nonsense, but I can’t remember it all.

CASSIUS.
Are you coming over for dinner tonight, Casca?

CASCA.
No, I'm promised to go.

CASSIUS.
Are you free to have dinner with me tomorrow?

CASCA.
Yeah, if I'm still alive, and you're up for it, and your dinner is worth eating.

CASSIUS.
Great. I'll be waiting for you.

CASCA.
Go ahead; goodbye to both.

[Exit Casca.]

BRUTUS.
What a straightforward guy he has become!
He had a quick temper when he was in school.

CASSIUS.
Is he really carrying out
Any daring or noble plan,
Even if he pretends to be sluggish?
This roughness actually enhances his cleverness,
Making people more eager to take in his words
With a greater appetite.

BRUTUS.
And that’s how it is. For now, I’ll take my leave:
Tomorrow, if you want to talk with me,
I’ll come to you; or, if you prefer,
Come to me, and I’ll be waiting for you.

CASSIUS.
I'll do that: until then, keep the world in mind.

[Exit Brutus.]

Well, Brutus, you're noble; yet I see,
Your honorable nature can be influenced
By whatever it leans towards: so it makes sense
That noble minds stick with their own kind;
For who is so steadfast that they can't be tempted?
Caesar is hard on me, but he loves Brutus.
If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius,
He wouldn't indulge me. Tonight,
I'll throw several notes at his windows,
As if they came from different citizens,
All saying how highly Rome regards
His reputation; within which, subtly,
Caesar’s ambition will be hinted at.
And after this, let Caesar feel secure,
Because we will either challenge him, or face worse days.

[Leave.]

Thunder and lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, Casca with his sword out, and Cicero.

CICERO.
Good evening, Casca: did you bring Caesar home?
Why are you out of breath, and why do you look so surprised?

CASCA.
Aren't you moved when the entire earth shakes like something unstable? Oh Cicero,
I've seen storms when the raging winds have torn apart sturdy oaks; and I've seen
the ambitious ocean rise and roar and foam,
Fueled by threatening clouds:
But never until tonight, never until now,
Have I experienced a storm raining fire.
Either there's a civil conflict in heaven,
Or the world is too bold with the gods,
Provoking them to bring destruction.

CICERO.
Did you see anything more amazing?

CASCA.
A common slave, you’d recognize him easily,
Held up his left hand, which flamed and burned
Like twenty torches combined, and yet his hand,
Unaware of the fire, remained unburned.
Besides, I haven’t drawn my sword since,
I encountered a lion by the Capitol,
Who glared at me and walked by grumpily,
Without bothering me. And there were gathered
A hundred terrified women,
Transformed by their fear; they swore they saw
Men, all in flames, walking through the streets.
And yesterday, even at noon, the owl sat,
Right in the marketplace,
Hooting and screaming. When these omens
All occur together, let not men say,
“These are just natural events”;
For I believe, they are ominous signs
For the situation they indicate.

CICERO.
It really is a weird time.
But people interpret things in their own way,
completely missing the point of what they really are.
Is Caesar coming to the Capitol tomorrow?

CASCA.
He does, because he told Antonius
To let you know he would be there tomorrow.

CICERO.
Goodnight then, Casca: this unsettled sky
Is not a place to walk.

CASCA.
Goodbye, Cicero.

[Exit Cicero.]

Enter Cassius.

CASSIUS.
Who's there?

CASCA.
A Roman.

CASSIUS.
Casca, I recognize your voice.

CASCA.
You have sharp hearing. Cassius, what night is this!

CASSIUS.
A really nice night for honest people.

CASCA.
Who ever knew the skies could threaten like this?

CASSIUS.
Those who know the earth is full of flaws.
As for me, I’ve walked the streets,
Putting myself at risk in the dangerous night;
And, without armor, Casca, as you can see,
I’ve exposed my chest to the thunderbolt;
And when the bright blue lightning appeared to split
The sky open, I stood right in the path and the flash of it.

CASCA.
But why did you challenge the heavens so much?
It's natural for people to fear and tremble,
When the powerful gods send
Such terrifying messages to shock us.

CASSIUS.
You’re being dull, Casca; and you’re missing those sparks of life
That should be in a Roman, or you’re just not using them. You look pale and stare,
Putting on fear and acting shocked,
Watching the strange restlessness of the skies:
But if you would think about the real reason
For all these fires, all these wandering spirits,
Why birds and beasts, regardless of type;
Why old men, fools, and children analyze,
Why everything changes from its normal state,
Their characteristics, and natural abilities,
To something monstrous; well, you’ll discover
That Heaven has filled them with these spirits,
To make them tools of fear and warning
For some monstrous event.
Now I could, Casca, name to you a man
Most like this frightening night,
That thunders, flashes, opens graves, and roars,
Like the lion in the Capitol;
A man no stronger than you or me,
In personal action; yet he’s become enormous,
And as frightening as these strange phenomena are.

CASCA.
It's Caesar you're talking about, right, Cassius?

CASSIUS.
Let it be whoever it is: because Romans now
Have strength and bodies like their ancestors;
But, sadly! our fathers’ minds are gone,
And we are ruled by our mothers’ spirits;
Our burden and suffering make us seem weak.

CASCA.
They say the senators tomorrow
Plan to make Caesar a king;
And he will wear his crown by sea and land,
Everywhere except here in Italy.

CASSIUS.
I know where I'm going to use this dagger then;
Cassius will free himself from bondage:
In this, gods, you make the weak the strongest;
In this, gods, you conquer tyrants.
No stone tower, no walls of beaten brass,
No airless dungeon, no strong iron chains,
Can hold back the strength of the spirit;
But life, tired of these worldly restraints,
Always has the power to let itself go.
If I know this, then everyone else does too,
That part of the tyranny I endure
I can shake off whenever I want.

[No thunder.]

CASCA.
I can too:
Every slave has the power in his own hands
To end his own captivity.

CASSIUS.
But why should Caesar be a tyrant?
Poor guy! I know he wouldn’t act like a wolf,
If he didn’t see the Romans as nothing but sheep:
He wouldn’t be a lion if the Romans weren’t like deer.
Those who rush to create a big fire
Start with weak kindling. What a mess Rome is,
What garbage and what filth, when it serves
As the lowly material to support
Such a vile creature as Caesar! But, oh, sadness,
Where have you taken me? I might be saying this
In front of someone willing to be a slave: then I know
I have to respond; but I am prepared,
And dangers don’t bother me.

CASCA.
You’re talking to Casca, someone
Who isn’t a sneaky gossip. Wait, take my hand:
Stand up for fixing all these wrongs,
And I’ll go as far as anyone else.

CASSIUS.
A deal has been made.
Listen, Casca, I've already convinced
Some of the noblest Romans
To join me in a venture
That’s both honorable and dangerous;
And I know they’re waiting for me
In Pompey’s Porch right now: this frightening night,
There’s no activity or movement in the streets;
And the atmosphere
Reflects the grim work we have ahead,
Most bloody, fiery, and truly terrifying.

Enter Cinna.

CASCA.
Stay close for a moment, because someone is coming quickly.

CASSIUS.
It’s Cinna; I can recognize him by the way he walks;
He’s a friend. Cinna, where are you rushing off to?

CINNA.
To find you. Who’s that? Metellus Cimber?

CASSIUS.
No, it’s Casca, joining us
In our efforts. Am I not waiting for you, Cinna?

CINNA.
I’m glad about that. What a scary night this is!
A couple of us have seen some strange things.

CASSIUS.
Am I not waiting for? Tell me.

CINNA.
Yes, you are. O Cassius, if only you could
But get the noble Brutus to join our side—

CASSIUS.
Be satisfied. Good Cinna, take this paper,
And make sure to place it in the praetor’s chair,
So that Brutus will find it; and throw this
In at his window; attach this with wax
On old Brutus’ statue: once you’ve done all this,
Head over to Pompey’s Porch, where you’ll find us.
Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?

CINNA.
Everyone except Metellus Cimber, and he’s left
To look for you at your place. Alright, I’ll hurry,
And then deliver these papers as you instructed.

CASSIUS.
Once that's done, head over to Pompey's theater.

[Exit Cinna.]

Come on, Casca, you and I will, before the day ends,
See Brutus at his house: three parts of him
Are already on our side, and he will be completely
Ours at the next meeting.

CASCA.
Oh, he holds a special place in everyone's hearts!
And what might seem offensive in us,
His presence, like the finest magic,
Will turn into virtue and value.

CASSIUS.
You've understood him, his value, and how much we need him. Let's go,
Because it's past midnight; and before daybreak,
We'll wake him up and make sure we have him.

[Exit.]

Enter Brutus.

BRUTUS.
What, Lucius, hey!
I can’t tell, by the movement of the stars,
How close it is to day.—Lucius, I’m calling you!
I wish it was my fault for sleeping so deeply.
When, Lucius, when? Wake up, I say! What, Lucius!

Enter Lucius.

LUCIUS.
Called you, my lord?

BRUTUS.
Get me a candle in my study, Lucius:
When it's lit, come and call me here.

Sure thing, my lord.

[Leave.]

BRUTUS.
It has to be his death: and for my part,
I see no personal reason to go against him,
But for the greater good. He would be crowned:
How that might change him is the real question.
It’s the bright day that brings out the snake,
And that requires careful steps. Crown him?—that;
And then, I admit, we give him a power,
That he could use to bring about danger.
The misuse of greatness is when it separates
Remorse from power; and, to be honest about Caesar,
I haven’t seen his feelings take over
More than his rational thought. But it’s a common example,
That humility is the ladder for young ambition,
To which the climber looks upward;
But once he reaches the top rung,
He then turns his back on the ladder,
Looks to the skies, scornfully dismissing the lower steps
By which he climbed. So Caesar may;
Then lest he may, let’s stop it. And since the conflict
Won’t allow for what he really is,
Shape it this way: that what he is, enhanced,
Would lead to these and these extremes:
And so think of him as a serpent’s egg
Which, once hatched, would grow to be dangerous;
And kill him in the shell.

Enter Lucius.

LUCIUS.
The candle is burning in your room, sir.
While looking for a flint by the window, I found
This paper, sealed like this, and I’m sure
It wasn’t there when I went to bed.

[Gives him the letter.]

BRUTUS.
Go back to bed; it's not morning yet.
Isn't tomorrow, kid, the Ides of March?

I don’t know, sir.

BRUTUS.
Check the calendar and let me know.

Sure thing, sir.

[Log out.]

BRUTUS.
The fumes swirling in the air
Give off so much light that I can read by them.

Opens the letter and reads.

Brutus, you’re asleep: wake up and see yourself.
Shall Rome, etc. Speak, act, fix this!
“Brutus, you’re asleep: wake up!”
I’ve often heard such calls
And picked them up where I found them.
“Shall Rome, etc.” This is how I need to piece it together:
Should Rome be under the fear of one man? What, Rome?
My ancestors drove the Tarquin out of the streets of Rome
When he was called a king.
“Speak, act, fix this!” Am I asked
To speak and take action? Oh Rome, I promise you,
If the fix comes, you’ll get
Your full request from Brutus.

Enter Lucius.

LUCIUS.
Sir, March is halfway done.

[Come in.]

BRUTUS.
That's good. Go to the gate; someone is knocking.

[Exit Lucius.]

Since Cassius first stirred me up against Caesar,
I haven't slept.
Between the moment of planning something terrible
And the first action, everything in between is
Like a nightmare or a horrifying dream:
The spirit and the human tools
Are then in discussion; and the state of humanity,
Like a small kingdom, experiences
The nature of a rebellion.

Enter Lucius.

LUCIUS.
Sir, it’s your brother Cassius at the door,
He wants to see you.

BRUTUS.
Is he by himself?

LUCIUS.
No, sir, there are more with him.

BRUTUS.
Do you know them?

LUCIUS.
No, sir, their hats are pulled down over their ears,
And half their faces are hidden in their cloaks,
So there's no way I can recognize them
By any sign of affection.

BRUTUS.
Let them in.

[Lucius exits.]

They are the group. Oh conspiracy,
Are you ashamed to reveal your dangerous face at night,
When evil is at its peak? Oh, then, during the day,
Where will you find a dark enough cave
To cover up your monstrous appearance? Don’t seek it, conspiracy;
Hide it behind smiles and friendliness:
For if you show your true self,
Not even darkness itself would be deep enough
To shield you from being stopped.

Enter Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus Cimber and Trebonius.

CASSIUS.
I think we’re being too pushy while you’re resting:
Good morning, Brutus; are we bothering you?

BRUTUS.
I've been up for an hour, awake all night.
Do I know these guys who are coming with you?

CASSIUS.
Yeah, every one of them; and no one here
Doesn’t respect you; and everyone wishes
You had the same opinion of yourself
That every noble Roman has of you.
This is Trebonius.

BRUTUS.
He is welcome here.

CASSIUS.
This is Decius Brutus.

BRUTUS.
He’s welcome too.

CASSIUS.
This is Casca; this is Cinna; and this is Metellus Cimber.

BRUTUS.
They’re all welcome.
What concerns keep you from sleeping?

CASSIUS.
Can I ask you something?

They talk quietly.

DECIUS.
Here lies the east: doesn’t the day break here?

CASCA.
No.

CINNA.
Oh, excuse me, sir, it does; and those gray lines
That break the clouds are signs of day.

CASCA.
You have to admit that you’ve both been fooled.
Right here, as I point my sword, the Sun rises;
Which is a big path growing in the South,
Measuring the young season of the year.
In about two months, up higher toward the North
He first shows his light; and the high East
Stands, like the Capitol, right here.

BRUTUS.
Give me your hands, one by one.

CASSIUS.
And let’s make a pact on our decision.

BRUTUS.
No, not an oath. If not the appearance of men,
The suffering of our souls, the betrayal of our time—
If these are weak motives, then let’s end this now,
And every man go back to his idle bed.
Let high-minded tyranny continue,
Until every man falls victim by chance. But if these,
As I’m sure they do, ignite enough passion
To embolden cowards and inspire women
To brave action; then, fellow countrymen,
What more do we need to urge us to act
Than our own cause? What other bond
Than fellow Romans, who have spoken up,
And will not back down? And what other oath
Than honesty to honesty committed,
That this will happen, or we will die trying?
Let priests and cowards, and cautious men,
Old weaklings, and those who suffer
Welcome injustices; let them swear for bad causes
Such creatures that others doubt; but let’s not tarnish
The pure virtue of our mission,
Nor the unstoppable spirit within us,
By thinking that our cause or our actions
Need an oath; when every drop of blood
That every Roman carries, and carries proudly,
Is guilty of a separate shame,
If he breaks even the smallest part
Of any promise he has made.

CASSIUS.
But what about Cicero? Should we get his opinion?
I think he’ll be really supportive of us.

CASCA.
Let's not forget him.

CINNA.
No way.

METELLUS.
Oh, let’s have him, because his silver hair
Will earn us a good reputation,
And get people to praise our actions.
It will be said that his judgement guided us;
Our youthful recklessness won’t show at all,
But will all be hidden by his seriousness.

BRUTUS.
Oh, don't mention his name; let's not end things with him;
Because he will never support anything
That others start.

CASSIUS.
Just leave him out.

CASCA.
He's definitely not fit.

DECIUS.
Is Caesar the only one who gets to be touched?

CASSIUS.
Decius, well said. I believe it’s not right,
That Mark Antony, who was so loved by Caesar,
Should live longer than Caesar: we will find him
To be a clever planner; and you know, his resources,
If he uses them wisely, could greatly threaten
All of us; so to avoid that,
Let Antony and Caesar be dealt with at the same time.

BRUTUS.
Our plan will seem too violent, Caius Cassius,
To cut off his head and then chop up his body,
Like anger in death and envy afterwards;
For Antony is just a part of Caesar.
Let’s be sacrificers, not butchers, Caius.
We all stand against Caesar’s spirit,
And in human spirit there is no blood.
Oh, if only we could capture Caesar’s spirit
Without dismembering him! But, sadly,
Caesar must bleed for this! And, dear friends,
Let’s kill him bravely, but not out of anger;
Let’s prepare him like a dish worthy of the gods,
Not butcher him like a carcass suited for dogs.
And let our hearts, like clever masters,
Stir their servants into a fit of rage,
And afterward seem to scold them. This will show
Our intention as necessary, not envious;
So that to the public eye,
We will be seen as purgers, not murderers.
And regarding Mark Antony, don’t worry about him;
He can do no more than Caesar’s arm
When Caesar’s head is gone.

CASSIUS.
Yet I'm afraid of him;
Because of the deep love he has for Caesar—

BRUTUS.
Oh, good Cassius, don’t think about him:
If he cares for Caesar, all he can do
Is think about it and die for Caesar.
And that would be a lot for him; he loves
Games, wildness, and being around people.

TREBONIUS.
He's not afraid; let him live;
Because he will survive and laugh about this later.

[Time's up.]

BRUTUS.
Quiet! Check the time.

CASSIUS.
The clock has struck three.

TREBONIUS.
It's time to part.

CASSIUS.
But it’s still uncertain
Whether Caesar will show up today or not;
He’s become pretty superstitious lately,
Totally differing from what he used to believe
About fantasies, dreams, and rituals.
Maybe these obvious signs,
The unusual fear of this night,
And the advice from his soothsayers,
Will keep him from the Capitol today.

DECIUS.
Don't worry about that: if he’s set on it,
I can sway him, because he loves to hear
That unicorns can be lured by trees,
And bears by mirrors, elephants by traps,
Lions by snares, and men by flatterers.
But when I tell him he hates flatterers,
He insists he does, even while being flattered.
Just let me do my thing;
I know how to play to his mood,
And I’ll get him to the Capitol.

CASSIUS.
No, we will all be there to get him.

BRUTUS.
By eight o'clock: is that the absolute latest?

CINNA.
Let it be the absolute last thing; and don't let it happen again.

METELLUS.
Caius Ligarius is really upset with Caesar,
Who scolded him for speaking positively about Pompey;
I’m surprised that none of you have considered him.

BRUTUS.
Now, good Metellus, go over to him:
He likes me a lot, and I’ve given him a reason to;
Just send him here, and I’ll shape him up.

CASSIUS.
Morning is upon us. We’ll leave you, Brutus.
And, friends, spread out; but don’t forget
What you’ve said, and be true Romans.

BRUTUS.
Good gentlemen, let’s look lively and cheerful;
Don’t let our expressions reveal our intentions,
But handle it like our Roman actors do,
With unflagging energy and steady determination.
So, good morning to you all.

[Everyone leaves except Brutus.]

Hey! Lucius! Fast asleep? It doesn’t matter;
Enjoy the sweet, heavy dew of sleep:
You have no worries or fantasies,
Which busy stress pulls into the minds of people;
That's why you’re sleeping so soundly.

Enter Portia.

PORTIA.
Brutus, my love.

BRUTUS.
Portia, what are you doing? Why are you getting up now?
It’s not good for your health to expose
Your fragile state to the cold morning.

PORTIA.
Not for yours either. You’ve been unkind, Brutus,
Leaving my side; and last night at dinner,
You suddenly got up and started pacing,
Lost in thought and sighing, with your arms crossed;
And when I asked you what was wrong,
You stared at me with harsh looks.
I pressed you for answers; then you scratched your head,
And impatiently stamped your foot;
Still I insisted, yet you said nothing,
But with an angry wave of your hand
Signaled for me to leave. So I did,
Afraid to provoke that impatience
Which seemed too intense; and at the same time
Hoping it was just a passing mood,
Which every man sometimes experiences.
It won’t let you eat, or talk, or sleep;
And if it affected you as much
As it seems to have influenced your state of mind,
I wouldn’t recognize you, Brutus. My dear lord,
Please share with me the cause of your distress.

BRUTUS.
I'm not doing well health-wise, and that's all there is to it.

PORTIA.
Brutus is smart, and if he weren't feeling well,
He would take the steps to get better.

BRUTUS.
Yeah, I do. Good Portia, go to bed.

PORTIA.
Is Brutus sick, and is it physical
To walk unprotected and soak up the dampness
Of the gloomy morning? What, is Brutus sick,
And will he get out of his cozy bed
To face the terrible germs of the night,
And risk the murky and unclean air
To make his illness worse? No, my Brutus;
You have some troubled thoughts in your mind,
Which, based on my role and responsibility,
I should know about: and, on my knees,
I ask you, by my once-praised beauty,
By all your promises of love, and that great promise
That made us one,
That you share with me, your true self, your other half,
Why you are feeling down, and what people tonight
Have come to see you; because there have been
Some six or seven, who hid their faces
Even from the dark.

BRUTUS.
Don't kneel, gentle Portia.

PORTIA.
I shouldn’t have to, if you were kind, Brutus.
In marriage, tell me, Brutus,
Is it expected that I should know no secrets
That belong to you? Am I just
Here to eat with you, comfort you in bed,
And talk to you sometimes? Do I only exist in the outskirts
Of your favor? If that’s all there is,
Then Portia is Brutus’ mistress, not his wife.

BRUTUS.
You are my true and honorable wife,
As dear to me as the red drops
That touch my sorrowful heart.

PORTIA.
If this were true, then I should know this secret.
I admit I am a woman; but still
A woman that Lord Brutus chose to marry;
I admit I am a woman; but still
A woman well respected, Cato’s daughter.
Do you think I am no stronger than my gender,
Being so well born and so loved?
Tell me your plans, I won’t tell anyone.
I have proven my strength of character,
By giving myself a voluntary wound
Here, in my thigh: can I bear that with patience
And not my husband’s secrets?

BRUTUS.
Oh you gods,
Make me worthy of this incredible wife!

[Knock.]

Listen, listen, someone’s knocking. Portia, go inside for a bit;
And soon your heart will share
The secrets of my soul.
I’ll explain all my commitments to you,
All the meaning behind my troubled face.
Leave me quickly.

[Leave Portia.]

Enter Lucius with Ligarius.

Lucius, who's there?

LUCIUS.
Here’s a sick guy who wants to talk to you.

BRUTUS.
Caius Ligarius, that Metellus mentioned.
Boy, step aside. Caius Ligarius, what’s up?

LIGARIUS.
Please accept a good morning from this weak voice.

BRUTUS.
Oh, what a time you've chosen, brave Caius,
To wear a handkerchief! I wish you weren't sick!

LIGARIUS.
I’m not sick if Brutus has any task that’s truly honorable.

BRUTUS.
I have a bold plan in mind, Ligarius,
If you were in a good place to hear about it.

LIGARIUS.
By all the gods that Romans worship,
I now shake off my illness. Spirit of Rome!
Brave son, born from noble lineage!
You, like an exorcist, have called back
My weakened spirit. Now tell me to run,
And I will take on impossible challenges,
Yes, I will overcome them. What should I do?

BRUTUS.
A task that will heal the sick.

LIGARIUS.
But aren't there some healthy people we need to make sick?

BRUTUS.
We also have to do that. What it is, my Caius,
I will explain to you as we go,
To whom it needs to be done.

LIGARIUS.
Get up on your feet,
And with a heart renewed, I follow you,
To do who knows what; but it’s enough
That Brutus is leading me on.

[Thunder.]

BRUTUS.
Come with me then.

[Exit.]

Thunder and lightning. Enter Caesar in his nightgown.

CAESAR.
Neither heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight:
Calphurnia has cried out in her sleep three times,
“Help! They’re killing Caesar!” Who’s inside?

Enter a Servant.

SERVANT.
My lord?

CAESAR.
Go tell the priests to perform a sacrifice,
And bring me their thoughts on how it will go.

Sure thing, my lord.

[Log out.]

Enter Calphurnia.

CALPHURNIA.
What do you mean, Caesar? Do you really plan to go out?
You are not leaving the house today.

CAESAR.
Caesar will go out. The things that scared me
Never faced me directly; when they see
The face of Caesar, they will disappear.

CALPHURNIA.
Caesar, I’ve never been one for rituals,
But now they scare me. There’s something going on,
Besides the things we’ve heard and seen,
That recounts terrifying sights witnessed by the guards.
A lioness gave birth in the streets,
And graves have opened up, releasing their dead;
Fierce, fiery warriors are fighting in the clouds
In organized ranks and formations,
Which showered blood upon the Capitol;
The sounds of battle echoed in the air,
Horses neighed, and dying men groaned,
And ghosts screamed and wailed through the streets.
Oh Caesar, these things are beyond anything I can handle,
And I’m really afraid of them!

CAESAR.
What can be avoided
When the mighty gods have decided the outcome?
Still, Caesar will move forward; because these predictions
Apply to everyone in the world just as they do to Caesar.

CALPHURNIA.
When beggars die, no comets appear;
The heavens themselves light up the death of princes.

CAESAR.
Cowards die a lot before their actual death;
The brave only experience death once.
Of all the amazing things I've heard,
It's strange to me that people should fear,
Since death, an unavoidable end,
Will come whenever it comes.

Enter Servant.

What do the augurers say?

SERVANT.
They don't want you to go out today.
When they cut open the offering,
They couldn't find a heart in the beast.

CAESAR.
The gods do this out of shame for cowardice:
Caesar should be a heartless beast
If he stays home today out of fear.
No, Caesar will not. Danger knows very well
That Caesar is more dangerous than it.
We are two lions born on the same day,
And I am the older and more fearsome,
And Caesar will go out.

CALPHURNIA.
Oh, my lord,
Your wisdom is lost in overconfidence.
Please don't go out today: let it be my fear
That keeps you indoors, not your own.
We'll send Mark Antony to the Senate-house,
And he can say you're not feeling well today.
Let me plead on my knees for this.

CAESAR.
Mark Antony will say I'm not feeling well,
And for your sake, I’ll stay at home.

Enter Decius.

Here’s Decius Brutus; he will tell them that.

DECIUS.
Caesar, all hail! Good morning, respected Caesar.
I’m here to take you to the Senate-house.

CAESAR.
And you’ve arrived at a perfect time
To deliver my message to the Senators,
And let them know that I won’t be coming today.
“Cannot” is a lie, and “dare not” is an even bigger lie:
I will not come today. Make sure they know, Decius.

CALPHURNIA.
Say he's sick.

CAESAR.
Should Caesar send a lie?
Have I in victory extended my reach so far,
To be afraid to tell the elders the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

DECIUS.
Most powerful Caesar, please give me a reason,
So I won't be laughed at when I say it.

CAESAR.
The reason is my choice; I won't go.
That's enough to satisfy the Senate.
But for your personal peace of mind,
Because I care for you, I’ll tell you:
Calphurnia, my wife, is keeping me at home.
She had a dream tonight that she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with a hundred spouts,
Was pouring out pure blood; and many strong Romans
Came smiling and bathed their hands in it.
She interprets this as warnings and signs
And looming dangers; and on her knees
She has begged me to stay home today.

DECIUS.
This dream has been totally misinterpreted:
It was a beautiful and lucky vision.
Your statue pouring out blood from many pipes,
In which so many happy Romans bathed,
Means that great Rome will draw
Reviving blood from you, and that important people will seek
Colors, marks, relics, and symbols.
This is what Calphurnia’s dream signifies.

CAESAR.
And you've explained it well this way.

DECIUS.
I've got something to tell you that you need to hear;
So listen up. The Senate has decided
To give a crown to mighty Caesar today.
If you let them know you won’t come,
They might change their minds. Plus, it would be a joke
If someone were to say,
“Let’s postpone the Senate until a later time,
When Caesar’s wife has better dreams.”
If Caesar hides away, won’t they whisper,
“Look, Caesar is scared”?
Forgive me, Caesar; my deep love
For you prompts me to say this,
And my feelings can’t be ignored.

CAESAR.
How foolish your fears seem now, Calphurnia!
I’m embarrassed that I gave in to them.
Give me my robe, because I’m going.

Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, Cinna and Publius.

And look where Publius has come to get me.

PUBLIUS.
Good morning, Caesar.

CAESAR.
Welcome, Publius.
What’s going on, Brutus, are you up this early too?
Good morning, Casca. Caius Ligarius,
Caesar has never been your enemy
More than that same fever that has made you slim.
What time is it?

BRUTUS.
Caesar, it’s struck eight.

CAESAR.
I appreciate your effort and kindness.

Enter Antony.

Look! Antony, who parties late into the night,
Is still up. Good morning, Antony.

ANTONY.
So to the great Caesar.

CAESAR.
Tell them to get ready inside.
It's my fault for making you wait like this.
Now, Cinna; now, Metellus; what about you, Trebonius?
I have an hour's conversation lined up for you:
Don't forget that you're supposed to see me today;
Stay close, so I can remember you.

TREBONIUS.
Caesar, I will. [Aside.] And I'll get so close,
That your closest friends will wish I had stayed farther away.

CAESAR.
Good friends, come in and share some wine with me;
And we, like friends, will head out together right away.

BRUTUS.
[Aside.] That not everything similar is the same, O Caesar,
The heart of Brutus longs to reflect on.

[Exit.]

Enter Artemidorus, reading a document.

ARTEMIDORUS.
“Caesar, watch out for Brutus; be cautious of Cassius; stay away from Casca; keep an eye on Cinna; don’t trust Trebonius; pay attention to Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus doesn’t care for you; you’ve wronged Caius Ligarius. All of these men think alike, and they’re against Caesar. If you’re not immortal, be aware: safety can lead to betrayal. The mighty gods protect you!
Your admirer, Artemidorus.”
I will stand here until Caesar passes by,
And as a petition, I will give him this.
My heart aches that virtue
Cannot survive the jealousy of others.
If you read this, O Caesar, you may survive;
If not, fate is planning with the traitors.

[Leave.]

Enter Portia and Lucius.

PORTIA.
Please, boy, run to the Senate-house;
Don’t wait to answer me, just go.
What are you waiting for?

LUCIUS.
To know my mission, ma'am.

PORTIA.
I would have had you there and back again,
Before I can tell you what you should do there.
[Aside.] O constancy, be strong on my side,
Put a huge mountain between my heart and tongue!
I have a man’s mind but a woman’s strength.
How hard it is for women to keep secrets!
Are you here yet?

LUCIUS.
Ma'am, what should I do?
Just run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And then come back to you, and nothing else?

PORTIA.
Yes, let me know, boy, if your lord is feeling okay,
Because he went out looking unwell: and pay close attention
To what Caesar is doing, and which suitors are approaching him.
Listen, boy, what noise is that?

LUCIUS.
I don't hear anything, ma'am.

PORTIA.
Please, listen carefully.
I heard a lot of noise, like a fight,
And the wind carries it from the Capitol.

LUCIUS.
Honestly, madam, I hear nothing.

Enter the Soothsayer.

PORTIA.
Come here, friend:
Where have you been?

SOOTHSAYER.
At my own house, good lady.

PORTIA.
What time is it?

Fortune teller.
Around nine o'clock, ma'am.

PORTIA.
Has Caesar left for the Capitol yet?

SOOTHSAYER.
Ma'am, not yet. I'm going to take my place,
To watch him head to the Capitol.

PORTIA.
You have some request for Caesar, don’t you?

SOOTHSAYER.
I have it, my lady, if it would please Caesar
To be kind enough to listen to me,
I will urge him to look out for his own well-being.

PORTIA.
Do you know if anyone plans to hurt him?

SOOTHSAYER.
I don't know of anyone who will, but I worry about what might happen.
Good morning to you. The street here is narrow.
The crowd that follows Caesar,
Including Senators, Praetors, and regular people,
Will almost crush a weak man to death:
I’ll find a clearer spot and there
Speak to great Caesar as he passes by.

[Leave.]

PORTIA.
I need to go inside.
[Aside.] Oh, how fragile
A woman's heart is! O Brutus,
May the heavens help you in your mission!
I’m sure the boy heard me. Brutus has a request
That Caesar won’t grant. Oh, I’m feeling weak.
Run, Lucius, and tell my husband I’m doing well;
Say I’m in good spirits; come back to me,
And let me know what he says to you.

[Exit.]

A crowd of people in the street heading to the Capitol. Flourish. Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Artemidorus, Publius, Popilius and the Fortune teller.

CAESAR.
The Ides of March have arrived.

SOOTHSAYER.
Yeah, Caesar; but not gone.

ARTEMIDORUS.
Hail, Caesar! Check out this schedule.

DECIUS.
Trebonius wants you to take a look at his humble request when you have some free time.

ARTEMIDORUS.
Oh Caesar, read my letter first; mine is an appeal
That concerns you more directly. Please read it, great Caesar.

CAESAR.
What affects us personally will be dealt with last.

ARTEMIDORUS.
Don't wait, Caesar. Read it right away.

CAESAR.
What, is he crazy?

PUBLIUS.
Hey, step aside.

CASSIUS.
What, are you pushing your requests out in the street?
Come to the Capitol.

Julius Caesar enters the Capitol, followed by the others. All the Senators stand up.

POPILIUS.
I hope your effort today goes well.

CASSIUS.
What are you up to, Popilius?

POPILIUS.
Take care.

[Moves to Caesar.]

BRUTUS.
What did Popilius Lena say?

CASSIUS.
He hoped our plan would succeed today.
I'm worried our intentions have been revealed.

BRUTUS.
Look how he's approaching Caesar: pay attention to him.

CASSIUS.
Casca, act quickly, because we're worried about getting stopped.
Brutus, what should we do? If this gets out,
Cassius or Caesar won't be able to back down,
Because I will take my own life.

BRUTUS.
Cassius, stay strong:
Popilius Lena isn't talking about what we're planning;
Because look, he’s smiling, and Caesar isn’t reacting.

CASSIUS.
Trebonius knows when to act, because look, Brutus,
He gets Mark Antony out of the way.

[Exit Antony and Trebonius. Caesar and the Senators sit down.]

DECIUS.
Where's Metellus Cimber? Let him come,
And right away present his request to Caesar.

BRUTUS.
He's speaking; move closer and support him.

CINNA.
Casca, you are the first to raise your hand.

CAESAR.
Is everyone ready? What's going on
That Caesar and his Senate need to fix?

METELLUS.
Most high, most mighty, and most powerful Caesar,
Metellus Cimber places before your seat
A humble heart.

Kneeling.

CAESAR.
I must stop you, Cimber.
These bows and lowly gestures
Could ignite the passion of ordinary men,
And turn established laws and first decisions
Into the whims of children. Don’t be foolish,
To think that Caesar has such rebellious blood
That it can be softened by the true nature
With what softens fools; I mean sweet talk,
Lowly bows, and servile flattery.
Your brother has been banished by decree:
If you bend down, and plead, and grovel for him,
I will kick you aside like a dog.
Know this, Caesar does no wrong, nor without reason
Will he be appeased.

METELLUS.
Is there no voice more deserving than mine,
To sound sweeter in great Caesar’s ear
For the return of my banished brother?

BRUTUS.
I kiss your hand, but not to flatter you, Caesar;
I ask you to grant Publius Cimber
Immediate freedom to return.

CAESAR.
What’s up, Brutus?

CASSIUS.
Excuse me, Caesar; please forgive me, Caesar:
Cassius humbles himself at your feet,
To ask for the freedom of Publius Cimber.

CAESAR.
I could be persuaded if I were like you;
If I could pray to be swayed, prayers would sway me:
But I am as steady as the northern star,
Whose true nature and stable quality
Has no equal in the sky.
The heavens are filled with countless sparks,
They are all fire, and each one shines;
But there’s only one that stays in its place.
The same goes for the world; it’s well-populated with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and easily influenced;
Yet among them, I know of only one
Who unwaveringly holds his position,
Unmoved by change: and that is me.
Let me show you this, even now,
That I was determined Cimber should be banished,
And I remain determined to keep him that way.

CINNA.
O Caesar,—

CAESAR.
Get out of here! Are you planning to lift up Olympus?

DECIUS.
Great Caesar,—

CAESAR.
Doesn't Brutus kneel for nothing?

CASCA.
Speak, hands, on my behalf!

[i][Casca stabs Caesar in the neck. Caesar grabs hold of his arm. He is then stabbed by several other conspirators, and finally by Brutus.]

CAESAR.
And you, Brutus?—Then fall, Caesar!

[Dies. The Senators and People leave in a state of confusion.]

CINNA.
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is gone!
Run and tell everyone, shout it in the streets.

CASSIUS.
Some go to the public speakers and shout,
“Liberty, freedom, and empowerment!”

BRUTUS.
People and Senators, don’t be scared.
Don’t run away; stay still; ambition’s debt is settled.

CASCA.
Go to the stage, Brutus.

DECIUS. And Cassius as well.

BRUTUS.
Where’s Publius?

CINNA.
I'm totally confused by this chaos.

METELLUS.
Stick together, or else a friend of Caesar’s might unexpectedly—

BRUTUS.
Don't talk about standing around. Publius, stay upbeat!
No harm is meant to you,
Or to any other Roman. So let them know, Publius.

CASSIUS.
And leave us, Publius; so that the crowd
Coming towards us doesn’t harm your age.

BRUTUS.
Go ahead; and let no one suffer for this action
Except for us who did it.

Enter Trebonius.

CASSIUS.
Where’s Antony at?

TREBONIUS.
Ran home in shock.
People, husbands, and kids stare, shout, and flee,
As if it were the end of the world.

BRUTUS.
Fates, we will understand your intentions.
We know we will die; it's just a matter of time
And how long we stretch out our days.

CASCA.
Well, the person who takes away twenty years of life
Also takes away those years of fearing death.

BRUTUS.
If that's the case, then death is a gift:
We are Caesar’s friends, who have shortened
His time of fearing death. Bow down, Romans, bow down,
And let us dip our hands in Caesar’s blood
Up to our elbows, and stain our swords:
Then let’s go out, even to the marketplace,
And waving our bloody weapons over our heads,
Let’s all shout, “Peace, freedom, and liberty!”

CASSIUS.
So bow down and wash. How many years from now
Will this grand scene be played out again
In future nations, with voices no one’s heard yet!

BRUTUS.
How many times will Caesar bleed for entertainment,
When he now lies on the ground where Pompey fell,
No more valuable than the dirt!

CASSIUS.
As often as that happens,
So often will we be known as
The men who gave their country freedom.

DECIUS.
What, should we go?

CASSIUS.
Yeah, every man is leaving.
Brutus will lead, and we will support him
With the boldest and best spirits of Rome.

Enter a Servant.

BRUTUS.
Hey, who’s coming here? A friend of Antony’s.

SERVANT.
So, Brutus, my master told me to kneel;
Then Mark Antony told me to fall down;
And while I was down, he told me to say:
Brutus is noble, wise, brave, and honest;
Caesar was powerful, bold, royal, and caring;
Say I love Brutus and respect him;
Say I feared Caesar, honored him, and loved him.
If Brutus agrees that Antony
Can safely come to him and understand
How Caesar deserves to lie in death,
Mark Antony will not love Caesar dead
As much as he'll love Brutus alive; he will follow
The fortunes and matters of noble Brutus
Through the challenges of this untraveled state,
With complete loyalty. So says my master Antony.

BRUTUS.
Your leader is a wise and brave Roman;
I never thought any less of him.
Tell him, if it pleases him to come to this place,
He will be satisfied and, on my honor,
Leave without harm.

SERVANT.
I’ll get him soon.

[Leave.]

BRUTUS.
I know that we can count on him as a good friend.

CASSIUS.
I hope we can: but I still have a feeling
That worries me a lot; and my doubts still
Hit quite close to the point.

Enter Antony.

BRUTUS.
But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.

ANTONY.
Oh mighty Caesar! Are you really lying so low?
Have all your victories, glories, triumphs, and spoils
Shrunk to this tiny measure? Farewell.
I don’t know, gentlemen, what you plan,
Who else needs to be killed, who else is corrupted:
If it’s me, there's no time more fitting
Than the moment of Caesar’s death; nor is there any weapon
Of half the value as those swords of yours, stained
With the most noble blood in the world.
I beg you, if you’re angry with me,
Now, while your bloody hands are still warm and smoking,
Do as you wish. Live a thousand years,
I won’t find myself more ready to die.
No place will satisfy me as much, no way to die,
As to be cut down here by Caesar, at your hands,
The choice and greatest minds of this age.

BRUTUS.
Oh Antony, don’t plead with us for your life.
Even though we may seem bloody and cruel now,
Because of what we’ve done with our own hands,
You only see our hands
And the bloody work they’ve committed.
You can’t see our hearts; they are filled with compassion;
And the pity we feel for the great injustice done to Rome—
Just as fire drives out fire, so pity follows pity—
Has caused us to act against Caesar. As for you,
Our swords hold no threats, Mark Antony;
While our arms may seem filled with malice, our hearts
Carry the warmth of brotherhood, welcoming you
With all our love, good intentions, and respect.

CASSIUS.
Your voice will be as powerful as any man's
When it comes to deciding new honors.

BRUTUS.
Just be patient until we calm
The crowd, who are overwhelmed with fear,
And then we will explain to you the reason
Why I, who loved Caesar when I killed him,
Have acted this way.

ANTONY.
I have no doubt about your wisdom.
Let each man show me his bloody hand.
First, Marcus Brutus, I will shake your hand;
Next, Caius Cassius, I take yours.
Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus;
Yours, Cinna; and, my brave Casca, yours;
Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius.
Gentlemen all—oh, what can I say?
My reputation now rests on such unstable ground,
That you must think of me in one of two bad ways,
Either a coward or a flatterer.
That I loved you, Caesar, oh, it's true:
If your spirit looks upon us now,
Will it not grieve you more than your death,
To see your Antony making peace,
Shaking the bloody hands of your enemies,
So noble, in front of your corpse?
If I had as many eyes as you have wounds,
Weeping as fast as they stream forth your blood,
It would suit me better than to close
In friendship with your enemies.
Forgive me, Julius! Here you were hunted down, brave heart;
Here you fell; and here your hunters stand,
Marked in your spoils, and stained in your blood.
Oh world, you were the forest to this heart;
And this indeed, oh world, is the heart of you.
How like a deer struck down by many princes,
Do you here lie!

CASSIUS.
Mark Antony,—

ANTONY.
Excuse me, Caius Cassius:
Caesar's enemies will say this;
Then, in a friend, it is just cold humility.

CASSIUS.
I don’t blame you for praising Caesar;
But what agreement do you want to have with us?
Will you be counted among our friends,
Or should we go on without relying on you?

ANTONY.
So I took your hands; but I got distracted
By looking down at Caesar.
I consider you all my friends and I care about you all,
With the hope that you will explain to me
Why and how Caesar was a threat.

BRUTUS.
Otherwise, this would be a brutal scene.
Our reasons are so solid
That if you were, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You would be satisfied.

ANTONY.
That’s all I want,
And I also ask to
Bring his body to the marketplace;
And in the public forum, as a true friend should,
Speak at his funeral.

You will, Mark Antony.

CASSIUS.
Brutus, I need to talk to you.
[Aside to Brutus.] You don’t realize what you're doing. Don’t agree
To let Antony speak at his funeral.
Do you understand how much the crowd could be swayed
By what he’ll say?

BRUTUS.
[Aside to Cassius.] Excuse me:
I will go up to the pulpit first,
And explain the reason for Caesar’s death.
Whatever Antony says, I will declare
He speaks with our approval;
And that we agree Caesar shall
Have all his rightful honors and proper ceremonies.
This will benefit us more than harm us.

CASSIUS.
[Aside to Brutus.] I don’t know what’s going to happen; I don’t like it.

BRUTUS.
Mark Antony, take Caesar’s body.
Don’t blame us in your funeral speech,
But say all the good you can about Caesar,
And say you’re doing it with our permission;
Otherwise, you won’t have any role at all
In his funeral. You’ll speak
In the same spot I’m going to,
After I finish my speech.

ANTONY.
That's fine;
I don't want anything more.

BRUTUS.
Get the body ready, then, and come with us.

[Everyone exits except Antony.]

ANTONY.
Oh, excuse me, you bleeding piece of earth,
For being meek and gentle with these butchers.
You are the remains of the noblest man
Who ever lived in the course of history.
Woe to the hand that spilled this precious blood!
Over your wounds now I prophesy,
Which, like silent mouths, open their ruby lips
To ask for the voice and expression of my tongue,
A curse will fall upon the limbs of men;
Domestic rage and fierce civil conflict
Will burden every part of Italy;
Blood and destruction will become so common,
And horrifying sights so familiar,
That mothers will just smile when they see
Their infants torn apart by the hands of war;
All compassion choked by the habit of cruel acts:
And Caesar’s spirit, seeking revenge,
With Ate by his side, coming hot from Hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice
Cry havoc and unleash the dogs of war,
So that this foul act will be known above the earth
With dead men, groaning for burial.

Enter a Servant.

You work for Octavius Caesar, right?

SERVANT.
I do, Mark Antony.

ANTONY.
Caesar did ask him to come to Rome.

SERVANT.
He got your letters and is on his way,
And asked me to tell you in person,—
[Seeing the body.] O Caesar!

ANTONY.
Your heart is big, go aside and cry.
I can see that your emotions are contagious; because my eyes,
Seeing those tears of sorrow in yours,
Started to fill up. Is your boss coming?

SERVANT.
He's lying tonight within seven miles of Rome.

ANTONY.
Quickly go back and tell him what’s happened.
Here’s a grieving Rome, a dangerous Rome,
Not a safe place for Octavius yet.
Go there and tell him so. But wait a moment;
You won’t leave until I’ve taken this body
Into the market-place: there, I’ll see
In my speech how the people respond
To the brutal outcome of these bloody men;
Based on that, you can update young Octavius on the situation.
Give me your hand.

[Exit with Caesar’s body.]

Enter Brutus and goes into the pulpit, and Cassius, with a crowd of People.

CITIZENS.
Let's be content; let's just be content.

BRUTUS.
Then follow me and listen up, friends.
Cassius, you head down the other street
And split the crowd up.
Those who want to hear me speak, stay here;
Those who want to follow Cassius, go with him;
And we’ll explain publicly
The reasons behind Caesar’s death.

FIRST CITIZEN.
I want to hear Brutus speak.

SECOND CITIZEN.
I’ll listen to Cassius and compare their arguments,
When we hear them separately presented.

[Exit Cassius with some of the Citizenship. Brutus goes up to the platform.]

THIRD CITIZEN.
The honorable Brutus is here: quiet down!

BRUTUS.
Please be patient until the end.
Romans, fellow citizens, and friends, listen to me for my cause; and be quiet so you can hear. Trust me for my honor, and respect my honor so you can believe. Critique me with your wisdom, and awaken your senses so you can judge better. If there’s anyone in this crowd, any dear friend of Caesar’s, I say to him that Brutus’ love for Caesar was no less than yours. If that friend asks why Brutus turned against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Would you rather have Caesar alive and be slaves, than have Caesar dead and be free men? As Caesar loved me, I mourn for him; as he was fortunate, I celebrate his success; as he was brave, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I killed him. There is sorrow for his love; joy for his success; honor for his bravery; and death for his ambition. Who is here so low that would choose to be a slave? If anyone, speak up; for him, I have offended. Who is here so uncivilized that would not want to be a Roman? If anyone, speak up; for him, I have offended. Who is here so despicable that does not love his country? If anyone, speak up; for him, I have offended. I pause for a response.

CITIZENS.
None, Brutus, none.

BRUTUS.
Then I haven't offended anyone. I've done nothing to Caesar that you won't do to Brutus. The matter of his death is documented in the Capitol, his achievements not minimized, in which he was deserving; nor his wrongdoings exaggerated, for which he faced death.

Enter Antony and others, with Caesar's body.

Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who, even though he didn't cause his death, will benefit from his passing, gaining a position in the community; as will all of you, right? With this, I leave, knowing that, as I killed my dearest friend for the sake of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, whenever my country decides it needs my life.

CITIZENS.
Live, Brutus! Live on!

FIRST CITIZEN.
Take him home with celebration to his house.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Give him a statue alongside his ancestors.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Let him be Caesar.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Brutus will highlight
Caesar's best qualities.

FIRST CITIZEN.
We’ll take him to his house with cheers and noise.

BRUTUS.
My fellow citizens,—

SECOND CITIZEN.
Quiet! Silence! Brutus speaks.

Quiet, everyone!

BRUTUS.
Good people of the country, let me leave by myself,
And for my sake, please stay here with Antony.
Honor Caesar’s body, and appreciate his speech
About Caesar’s greatness, which Mark Antony,
With our consent, is permitted to deliver.
I ask you, don’t let anyone leave,
Except for me, until Antony has spoken.

[Leave.]

FIRST CITIZEN.
Wait! Let's listen to Mark Antony.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Let him take the public seat.
We’ll listen to him. Noble Antony, please go up.

ANTONY.
I owe you one for Brutus' sake.

[Increases.]

FOURTH CITIZEN.
What does he say about Brutus?

THIRD CITIZEN.
He says that, for Brutus’ sake,
He feels grateful to all of us.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
It’s better if he doesn’t say anything bad about Brutus here!

FIRST CITIZEN.
This Caesar was a dictator.

THIRD CITIZEN.
No doubt about it.
We're lucky that Rome is free of him.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Calm down! Let’s listen to what Antony has to say.

You kind Romans,—

CITIZENS.
Peace, everyone! Let's listen to him.

ANTONY.
Friends, Romans, countrymen, listen to me;
I’m here to lay Caesar to rest, not to praise him.
The bad things people do live on after them,
The good is often buried with their bones;
So it is with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Has told you Caesar was ambitious.
If that’s true, it was a serious mistake,
And Caesar has paid for it dearly.
Here, with permission from Brutus and the others,
For Brutus is an honorable man,
So are they all, all honorable men,
I come to speak at Caesar’s funeral.
He was my friend, loyal and just to me;
But Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
He brought many captives back to Rome,
Whose ransoms filled the general treasury:
Did that seem ambitious to you in Caesar?
When the poor cried out, Caesar shed tears;
Ambition should come from stronger stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honorable man.
You all saw that at the Lupercal
I offered him a kingly crown three times,
Which he refused each time. Was that ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And surely he is an honorable man.
I’m not trying to disprove what Brutus said,
But I’m here to speak from what I know.
You all loved him once, not without reason;
What’s stopping you from mourning for him now?
O judgment, you have fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Please, bear with me.
My heart is in that coffin with Caesar,
And I must pause until it returns to me.

FIRST CITIZEN.
I think there’s a lot of truth in what he’s saying.

SECOND CITIZEN.
If you think about it carefully,
Caesar has been treated very unfairly.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Has he, guys?
I'm afraid someone even worse will take his spot.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Did you hear what he said? He wouldn’t accept the crown;
So it’s clear he wasn’t ambitious.

FIRST CITIZEN.
If that's the case, some will definitely endure it.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Poor guy, his eyes are as red as fire from crying.

THIRD CITIZEN.
There’s no one more honorable in Rome than Antony.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Now pay attention; he’s starting to speak again.

ANTONY.
But just yesterday, Caesar's word could have stood against the entire world; now he lies there, and no one is poor enough to pay him respect.
Oh, masters! If I wanted to inspire you to revolt and rage, I would be doing Brutus and Cassius a disservice, who, as you all know, are honorable men.
I won't do them wrong; I'd rather wrong the dead, wrong myself and you, than wrong such honorable men.
But here’s a parchment with Caesar's seal; I found it in his closet. It’s his will:
If the common people hear this testament, which I don’t actually mean to read, they would go and kiss dead Caesar’s wounds and dip their handkerchiefs in his sacred blood;
Yes, they would beg for a hair from him as a keepsake, and when they die, mention it in their wills,
Leaving it as a valuable legacy for their descendants.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Let’s hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony.

CITIZENS.
The will, the will! We're going to hear Caesar’s will.

ANTONY.
Please be patient, dear friends, I can’t read it.
It’s not right for you to know how much Caesar cared for you.
You’re not trees, you’re not rocks, but people;
And as people, hearing Caesar’s will,
It will ignite you, it will drive you crazy.
It’s better you don’t know that you’re his heirs;
Because if you did, oh, what would happen?

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Read the will! Let’s hear it, Antony;
You should read us the will, Caesar’s will!

ANTONY.
Will you be patient? Will you stay for a bit?
I’ve gone too far in telling you this.
I worry I might disrespect the honorable men
Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar; I really do worry about that.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
They were traitors. Respectable people!

CITIZENS.
The will! The estate plan!

SECOND CITIZEN.
They were crooks, killers. The will! Read the will!

ANTONY.
So you want me to read the will?
Then gather around Caesar's body,
And let me show you who created the will.
Should I go down? Will you let me?

CITIZENS.
Come down.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Come down.

He’s coming down.

THIRD CITIZEN.
You can go.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
A ring! Gather around.

FIRST CITIZEN.
Step back from the hearse, step back from the body.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Make way for Antony, the most honorable Antony!

ANTONY.
No, don't crowd me; keep your distance.

CITIZENS.
Stand back; make space!

ANTONY.
If you have tears, get ready to shed them now.
You all know this cloak. I remember
The first time Caesar put it on;
It was on a summer evening, in his tent,
The day he defeated the Nervii.
Look, right here Cassius drove his dagger through:
See the wound that the envious Casca made:
Through this, the beloved Brutus stabbed;
And as he pulled his cursed blade away,
Notice how Caesar's blood followed it,
Like it was rushing out of doors, trying to figure out
If Brutus knocked so unkindly or not;
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel.
Judge, oh you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him.
This was the cruelest cut of all;
For when noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, stronger than a traitor's weapon,
Completely defeated him: then his mighty heart burst;
And with his cloak covering his face,
Right at the base of Pompey’s statue
Which was running with blood the whole time, great Caesar fell.
Oh, what a fall that was, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
While bloody treason thrived around us.
Oh, now you weep; and I see you feel
The sting of pity. These are kind tears.
Good people, why do you weep when you only see
Our Caesar’s robe wounded? Look right here,
Here he is, marred, as you can see, by traitors.

FIRST CITIZEN.
Oh, what a sad sight!

Noble Caesar!

THIRD CITIZEN.
Oh, what a sad day!

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Oh, traitors, villains!

FIRST CITIZEN.
Oh, what a gruesome sight!

SECOND CITIZEN.
We will get our revenge.

CITIZENS.
Revenge—seek—burn—fire—kill—slay—let no traitor live!

ANTONY.
Wait, fellow countrymen.

FIRST CITIZEN.
Hold on! Listen to the noble Antony.

SECOND CITIZEN.
We’ll listen to him, we’ll stand by him, we’ll die for him.

ANTONY.
Good friends, dear friends, please don’t let me provoke you
To such a sudden wave of rebellion.
Those who have done this deed are honorable.
What personal pains they have, sadly, I don’t know,
That made them do it. They’re wise and honorable,
And will surely explain themselves to you.
I’m not here, friends, to take your hearts away.
I’m not a great speaker like Brutus is;
But, as you all know me, I’m just a straightforward guy,
Who loves my friend; and they know very well
That gave me permission to speak about him.
I have neither cleverness, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor expression, nor the gift of speech,
To stir people’s passions. I only speak plainly.
I tell you what you already know,
Show you sweet Caesar’s wounds, poor silent mouths,
And ask them to speak for me. But if I were Brutus,
And Brutus were Antony, there would be an Antony
Who would stir up your spirits and give a voice
To every wound of Caesar, one that would move
The stones of Rome to rise and revolt.

CITIZENS.
We're rebelling.

FIRST CITIZEN.
We're going to burn Brutus's house.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Let’s go! Come on, let’s find the conspirators.

ANTONY.
But listen to me, fellow citizens; just let me speak.

CITIZENS.
Peace, everyone! Listen to Antony; the most honorable Antony.

ANTONY.
Why, friends, you’re going to do something you don’t even understand.
What has Caesar done to deserve your love?
Unfortunately, you don’t know; I have to tell you then.
You’ve forgotten the will I mentioned.

CITIZENS.
Very true; let’s stay and listen to the will.

ANTONY.
Here's the will, sealed by Caesar.
He gives to every Roman citizen,
To each individual, seventy-five drachmas.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Most noble Caesar! We will avenge his death.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Oh, royal Caesar!

ANTONY.
Listen to me patiently.

CITIZENS.
Peace, everyone!

ANTONY.
Furthermore, he has left you all his paths,
His private gardens and newly planted orchards,
On this side of the Tiber; he has left them to you,
And to your heirs for all time; shared joys,
To stroll around and enjoy yourselves.
Here was a Caesar! When will we see another like him?

FIRST CITIZEN.
Never, never. Come on, let’s go!
We’ll burn his body in the sacred place,
And with the flames, we’ll torch the traitors’ houses.
Pick up the body.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Go, get fire.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Take down the benches.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Tear down anything—decorations, windows, everything.

[Exit Citizens, with the body.]

ANTONY.
Now let it happen. Trouble, you’re in motion,
Take whatever direction you want!

Enter a Servant.

What's up, friend?

SERVANT.
Sir, Octavius has already arrived in Rome.

ANTONY.
Where's he?

SERVANT.
He and Lepidus are at Caesar's place.

ANTONY.
And I’ll head there right away to see him.
He arrives with a desire. Luck is on our side,
And in this good mood, she’ll grant us anything.

SERVANT.
I heard him say that Brutus and Cassius
Are riding like crazy people through the gates of Rome.

ANTONY.
It seems they got wind of how I influenced the people.
Take me to Octavius.

[Exit.]

Enter Cinna, the poet, and then the citizens.

CINNA.
I dreamed tonight that I was having a feast with Caesar,
And unfortunate thoughts fill my mind.
I don’t want to go outside,
Yet something is pushing me to go.

FIRST CITIZEN.
What's your name?

SECOND CITIZEN.
Where are you going?

THIRD CITIZEN.
Where do you live?

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Are you married or single?

SECOND CITIZEN.
Answer everyone directly.

FIRST CITIZEN.
Yeah, and briefly.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Yes, and wisely.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Yeah, honestly, that's probably for the best.

CINNA.
What’s my name? Where am I headed? Where do I live? Am I married or single? To answer everyone directly and clearly, and wisely and truthfully: I say wisely that I am single.

SECOND CITIZEN.
That’s basically saying that anyone who marries is a fool; I’m worried you’ll hit me for that. Go ahead, continue.

CINNA.
I'm going straight to Caesar's funeral.

FIRST CITIZEN.
As a friend or an enemy?

CINNA.
As a buddy.

SECOND CITIZEN.
That issue has been addressed directly.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
For your home, briefly.

CINNA.
I live close to the Capitol.

THIRD CITIZEN.
What's your name, sir?

CINNA.
Honestly, my name is Cinna.

FIRST CITIZEN.
Rip him apart! He's a traitor.

CINNA.
I’m Cinna the poet, I’m Cinna the poet.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Rip him apart for his terrible poems, rip him apart for his terrible poems.

CINNA.
I'm not Cinna the traitor.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
It doesn’t matter; his name is Cinna. Just pull his name out of his heart and send him on his way.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Tear him apart! Come on; get the torches! Let’s go to Brutus’ place, to Cassius’. Burn everything down. Some to Decius’ house, and some to Casca’s, some to Ligarius’. Let’s go!

[They exit.]

Enter Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, seated at a table.

ANTONY.
Many of them will die; their names are marked.

OCTAVIUS.
Your brother has to die as well; do you agree, Lepidus?

LEPIDUS.
I agree,—

OCTAVIUS.
Take him down, Antony.

LEPIDUS.
As long as Publius doesn't survive,
He is your sister's son, Mark Antony.

ANTONY.
He won't live; see, I condemn him with a mark.
But, Lepidus, head over to Caesar’s place;
Bring the will here, and we’ll figure out
How to reduce some expenses in the inheritances.

LEPIDUS.
What, are you here now?

OCTAVIUS.
Either here or at the Capitol.

[Exit Lepidus.]

ANTONY.
This is a worthless man,
Suitable only for running errands. Is it right,
That in a world so divided, he should be
One of the three to share it?

OCTAVIUS.
So you believed him,
And silenced the one who should be marked to die
In our harsh judgment and banishment.

ANTONY.
Octavius, I’ve seen more days than you;
And even though we give this man these honors,
To relieve ourselves of various slanderous burdens,
He will only carry them like a donkey carries gold,
Groaning and sweating under the weight,
Either led or driven, as we direct the way;
And once we’ve brought our treasure where we want,
Then we’ll take down his burden and send him off,
Like an empty donkey, to shake his ears,
And graze with the others.

OCTAVIUS.
You can do what you want;
But he's a proven and brave soldier.

ANTONY.
So is my horse, Octavius; and because of that
I’ve stocked him up with plenty of feed.
He’s a creature that I train to fight,
To turn, to stop, to charge straight ahead,
His movements controlled by my will.
In a way, Lepidus is just like that:
He needs to be taught, trained, and ordered to go out:
A dull-witted guy; someone who thrives
On appearances, tricks, and imitations,
Which, once overused and tired by others,
Shape his style. Don’t talk about him
Except as an asset. And now, Octavius,
Listen closely to big news. Brutus and Cassius
Are gathering forces; we need to act quickly.
So let’s join forces,
Get our best allies on board, and expand our resources;
And let’s head to council right now,
To figure out how to best reveal hidden matters,
And address open dangers most effectively.

OCTAVIUS.
Let's go for it: we're in a tough spot,
Surrounded by many enemies;
And some who smile, I worry,
Have a million evil thoughts in their hearts.

[Exit.]

Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, Titinius and Soldiers; Pindarus meeting them; Lucius at some distance.

Brutus.
Stand up!

LUCILIUS.
Give the word, hey! and stop.

BRUTUS.
What's up, Lucilius! Is Cassius nearby?

LUCILIUS.
He’s here, and Pindarus has arrived
To bring you greetings from his master.

Pindarus hands Brutus a letter.

BRUTUS.
He greets me nicely. Your boss, Pindarus,
In his own way, or through bad agents,
Has given me some good reason to wish
Things had happened differently: but, if he’s around,
I’ll be satisfied.

PINDARUS.
I have no doubt
That my great master will show up
Just as he is, full of respect and honor.

BRUTUS.
No one doubts him. A word, Lucilius;
I want to know how he welcomed you.

LUCILIUS.
With enough courtesy and respect,
But not with such familiar examples,
Nor with such open and friendly conversation,
As he used to do before.

BRUTUS.
You’ve described
A passionate friend turning distant. Always remember, Lucilius,
When love starts to fade and weaken
It forces a false atmosphere.
There are no games in honest and straightforward faith;
But empty men, like horses warmed up,
Make a grand display and promise of their worth;

[Low volume march inside.]

But when they should face the bloody challenge,
They lower their heads, and like treacherous horses
Fail in the test. Is his army approaching?

LUCILIUS.
They planned to camp out tonight in Sardis;
Most of them, the cavalry in general,
Have arrived with Cassius.

Enter Cassius and Soldiers.

BRUTUS.
Listen! He has arrived.
Walk softly to meet him.

CASSIUS.
Stand up!

Brutus.
Stop! Share the news.

Halt!

SECOND SOLDIER.
Halt!

THIRD SOLDIER.
Halt!

CASSIUS.
Most esteemed brother, you have wronged me.

BRUTUS.
Judge me, gods; have I wronged my enemies?
And if not, how could I wrong a brother?

CASSIUS.
Brutus, this serious demeanor of yours hides your grievances;
And when you act—

BRUTUS.
Cassius, calm down.
Share your concerns quietly; I know you well.
In front of both our armies here,
Which should only see love from us,
Let’s not argue. Tell them to step back;
Then in my tent, Cassius, share your concerns,
And I will listen to you.

CASSIUS.
Pindarus,
Tell our leaders to move their troops away
A bit from this spot.

BRUTUS.
Lucilius, go ahead and do your thing; and let no one
Come to our tent until we've finished our discussion.
Lucius and Titinius, watch the door.

[Leave the stage.]

Enter Brutus and Cassius.

CASSIUS.
It’s clear you’ve wronged me in this:
You have judged and accused Lucius Pella
For taking bribes from the Sardians;
Yet my letters, supporting him
Because I knew him well, were completely ignored.

BRUTUS.
You did yourself a disservice by writing in this situation.

CASSIUS.
In a time like this, it’s not appropriate
For every little offense to be commented on.

BRUTUS.
I need to tell you, Cassius, you’re really seen as having a greedy nature,
To sell and trade your positions for money
To those who don’t deserve it.

CASSIUS.
I have an itching palm!
You know that you are the one, Brutus, saying this,
Otherwise, by the gods, this speech would be your last.

BRUTUS.
The name of Cassius brings respect to this corruption,
And punishment, therefore, keeps itself hidden.

CASSIUS.
Punishment!

BRUTUS.
Remember March, remember the Ides of March:
Didn’t great Julius bleed for justice’ sake?
What villain touched his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What! Shall one of us,
Who struck the most important man in the world
Just to support thieves, now
Contaminate our hands with petty bribes,
And sell the immense value of our great honors
For something as worthless as this?
I would rather be a dog, howling at the moon,
Than be such a Roman.

CASSIUS.
Brutus, don’t provoke me,
I won’t tolerate it. You’re losing your composure,
Trying to limit me. I’m a soldier, I am,
More experienced, better than you
At setting terms.

BRUTUS.
Come on; you’re not serious, Cassius.

I am.

BRUTUS.
I say you're not.

CASSIUS.
Stop pushing me, or I might lose it;
Think about your health, don’t push me any further.

BRUTUS.
Get lost, weakling!

CASSIUS.
Is it possible?

BRUTUS.
Listen to me, because I have something to say.
Do I have to make space for your reckless anger?
Should I be scared when a lunatic glares at me?

CASSIUS.
Oh gods, oh gods! Do I have to put up with all this?

BRUTUS.
All of this? Yeah, more: fume until your proud heart shatters;
Go show your servants how angry you are,
And make your slaves tremble. Do I have to move?
Do I have to pay attention to you? Do I have to stand and crouch
Under your bad mood? By the gods,
You will swallow the bitterness of your anger,
Even if it tears you apart; because, from this day on,
I’ll make you my amusement, yeah, for my laughter,
When you're being a jerk.

CASSIUS.
Has it come to this?

BRUTUS.
You claim you’re a better soldier:
Prove it; back up your bragging,
And that will make me happy. As for me,
I’d be happy to learn from noble people.

CASSIUS.
You're wronging me in every way, Brutus.
I said, an older soldier, not a better one:
Did I say better?

BRUTUS.
If you did, I don't care.

CASSIUS.
When Caesar was alive, he wouldn't have dared to approach me like this.

BRUTUS.
Calm down, calm down! You wouldn't have dared to challenge him like that.

CASSIUS.
I shouldn't?

No.

What? Wouldn't dare tempt him?

BRUTUS.
You wouldn't dare for your life.

CASSIUS.
Don't take my love for granted.
I might end up doing something I'll regret.

BRUTUS.
You’ve done something you should regret.
There’s no fear, Cassius, in your threats,
Because I’m so strong in honesty,
That they go past me like the idle wind,
Which I don’t care about. I did reach out to you
For certain amounts of gold, which you turned me down for;
Because I can’t raise money through dishonest means:
By Heaven, I’d rather create my own heart,
And shed my blood for coins, than to extract
From the rough hands of peasants their worthless scraps
By any underhanded method. I did send
To you for gold to pay my troops,
Which you denied me: was that for real, Cassius?
Should I have responded to Caius Cassius like that?
When Marcus Brutus becomes so greedy,
To keep such worthless coins from his friends,
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,
And smash him to pieces!

CASSIUS.
I didn't deny you.

You did.

CASSIUS.
I didn’t. He was just a fool
Who brought my answer back. Brutus has torn my heart apart.
A friend should support his friend's weaknesses;
But Brutus makes mine worse than they actually are.

BRUTUS.
I won't, until you try them on me.

CASSIUS.
You don't love me.

BRUTUS.
I don't like your weaknesses.

CASSIUS.
A kind eye would never notice such flaws.

BRUTUS.
A flatterer’s words wouldn’t, even if they seem
As grand as Mount Olympus.

CASSIUS.
Come on, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Get your revenge on Cassius by yourselves,
Because Cassius is tired of the world:
Hated by someone he loves; betrayed by his brother;
Held back like a slave; all his faults noted,
Written down, memorized, and repeated,
To throw back in my face. Oh, I could cry
My heart out! There is my dagger,
And here’s my bare chest; inside, a heart
More precious than gold or any riches:
If you’re truly Roman, take it out.
I, who refused you gold, will give you my heart:
Strike just like you did at Caesar; because I know,
When you hated him the most, you loved him more
Than you ever loved Cassius.

BRUTUS.
Put away your dagger.
Get angry whenever you want; it’s allowed;
Do whatever you want; dishonor will just be a joke.
Oh Cassius, you’re tied to a gentle soul
Who holds onto anger like flint holds fire,
Showing a quick spark when pushed,
But immediately cools down again.

CASSIUS.
Has Cassius lived
Just to bring joy and laughter to his Brutus,
While sadness and anger are bothering him?

BRUTUS.
When I said that, I was in a bad mood too.

CASSIUS.
Do you admit that much? Just give me your hand.

BRUTUS.
And my heart as well.

CASSIUS.
Oh Brutus!

BRUTUS.
What's wrong?

CASSIUS.
Don't you love me enough to put up with me,
When that impulsive nature my mother passed on to me
Makes me forgetful?

BRUTUS.
Yeah, Cassius; and from now on,
When you’re too intense with your Brutus,
He’ll think your mom is scolding, and walk away.

Enter Poet, followed by Lucilius, Titinius, and Lucius.

POET.
[Within.] Let me go in to see the generals,
There's some tension between them; it’s not right
They’re alone.

LUCILIUS.
[Inside.] You can't go in there.

POET.
[Inside.] Nothing but death will stop me.

CASSIUS.
What’s going on?

POET.
Shame on you, generals! What are you doing?
Love each other and be friends, like two men should;
I’ve definitely lived more years than you have.

CASSIUS.
Ha, ha! How ridiculously does this cynic rhyme!

BRUTUS.
Get out of here, you little punk. Scram!

CASSIUS.
Just be patient with him, Brutus; it’s just how he is.

BRUTUS.
I'll understand his mood when he knows when to act.
What do these dancing idiots have to do with the wars?
Friend, get lost!

CASSIUS.
Go away, leave!

[Exit Poet.]

BRUTUS.
Lucilius and Titinius, tell the commanders
To get their troops ready to camp tonight.

CASSIUS.
And come yourself and bring Messala with you
Right away to us.

[Lucilius and Titinius leave.]

BRUTUS.
Lucius, a glass of wine.

[Exit Lucius.]

CASSIUS.
I didn't think you could get so angry.

BRUTUS.
Oh Cassius, I'm tired of so many sorrows.

CASSIUS.
You're not really using your philosophy
If you let random misfortunes get to you.

BRUTUS.
No one handles grief better. Portia is dead.

CASSIUS.
What? Portia?

BRUTUS.
She’s gone.

CASSIUS.
How did I escape killing you when I confronted you like that?
Oh, this unbearable and heartbreaking loss!
What caused this sickness?

BRUTUS.
Frustrated by my absence,
And upset that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so powerful; for with her death
That news arrived. With this, she became distraught,
And, with her attendants gone, swallowed fire.

CASSIUS.
And died like that?

BRUTUS.
Still.

CASSIUS.
Oh you immortal gods!

Enter Lucius, with wine and a candle.

BRUTUS.
Don't mention her anymore. Pour me a glass of wine.
With this, I put all unkindness to rest, Cassius.

Beverages.

CASSIUS.
I'm so eager for that generous promise.
Pour, Lucius, until the wine spills over the cup.
I can't get enough of Brutus' love.

Beverages.

[Exit Lucius.]

Enter Titinius and Messala.

BRUTUS.
Come in, Titinius!
Welcome, good Messala.
Now let’s sit close around this candle here,
And discuss our needs.

CASSIUS.
Portia, are you gone?

BRUTUS.
Enough already, please.
Messala, I just got some letters,
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Are coming at us with a huge force,
Focusing their efforts on Philippi.

MESSALA.
I have letters with the same content.

BRUTUS.
What's the add-on?

MESSALA.
That through legal bans and outlawing
Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus
Have executed a hundred Senators.

BRUTUS.
In that, our letters don’t match up well.
Mine mention seventy Senators who died
Because of their proscriptions, Cicero being one.

CASSIUS.
Cicero, one!

MESSALA.
Cicero is dead,
And because of that order of proscription.
Did you receive your letters from your wife, my lord?