[Enter CAESAR, in his nightgown]
Caesar:
“Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight:
Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,
‘Help, ho! They murder Caesar!’”
Translation:
Even the skies and Earth were disturbed tonight. Calpurnia cried out thrice in her sleep, “Help! They’re killing Caesar!”
Word Meanings:
- Heaven: The sky or the gods above
- Thrice: Three times
- Murder: Kill someone unlawfully
Caesar:
“Who’s within?”
Translation:
Is anyone there?
Word Meanings:
- Within: Inside
- Who’s: Who is
[Enter a Servant]
Servant:
“My lord?”
Translation:
Yes, sir?
Word Meanings:
- Lord: A respectful title for someone powerful
Caesar:
“Go bid the priests do present sacrifice,
And bring me their opinions of success.”
Translation:
Go tell the priests to do a sacrifice now, and ask them what they think about today.
Word Meanings:
- Bid: Command or tell
- Sacrifice: A religious offering, usually of an animal
- Opinions: Thoughts or beliefs
[Exit Servant]
[Re-enter Servant]
Servant:
“They would not have you to stir forth today.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.”
Translation:
The priests said you shouldn’t go out today. When they examined the animal’s organs, they couldn’t find a heart inside.
Word Meanings:
- Stir forth: Go out
- Entrails: Internal organs
- Offering: Sacrificed animal
Caesar:
“The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Caesar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home today for fear.
No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well
That Caesar is more dangerous than he:
We are two lions litter’d in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible:
And Caesar shall go forth.”
Translation:
The gods must be mocking cowardice. If I stayed home out of fear, then I’d be the one without a heart! No, I’m not afraid. Danger knows I’m more dangerous than it is—we’re like two lions born on the same day, but I’m the older and fiercer one. So I’ll go out!
Word Meanings:
- Cowardice: Lack of bravery
- Litter’d: Born (as in animals born in the same group)
- Terrible: Fearsome, powerful
Calpurnia:
“Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
Do not go forth today: call it my fear
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We’ll send Mark Antony to the senate-house:
And he shall say you are not well today.”
Translation:
Oh dear husband, your confidence is clouding your wisdom. Please don’t go today. Say it’s my fear keeping you at home, not yours. We’ll send Antony to the Senate to say you’re unwell.
Word Meanings:
- Alas: An expression of sorrow
- Consumed: Taken over
- Confidence: Overtrust or boldness
Caesar:
“And for thy humour, I will stay at home.”
Translation:
Alright, just to please you, I’ll stay at home.
Word Meanings:
- Thy: Your
- Humour: Mood or wish
[Enter Decius Brutus]
Decius Brutus:
“Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar:
I come to fetch you to the senate-house.”
Translation:
Hail Caesar! Good morning, noble sir. I’ve come to take you to the Senate.
Word Meanings:
- Hail: A respectful greeting
- Worthy: Noble or deserving
- Fetch: Bring or accompany
Caesar:
“And you are come in very happy time,
To bear my greeting to the senators,
And tell them that I will not come today:
Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser:
I will not come today: tell them so, Decius.”
Translation:
You’ve arrived just at the right time. You can take my message to the senators and tell them I’m not coming. Saying I “can’t” is a lie, and saying I “don’t dare” is even worse. Just tell them I won’t come.
Word Meanings:
- In very happy time: At the perfect moment
- Bear: Carry or deliver
- Falser: Even more untrue
Calpurnia:
“Say he is sick.”
Translation:
Tell them he’s sick.
Word Meanings:
- Sick: Unwell or ill
Caesar:
“Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretch’d mine arm so far,
To be afraid to tell greybeards the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.”
Translation:
Should Caesar lie? Have I conquered so much only to be afraid of telling old men the truth? Decius, go tell them I’m not coming.
Word Meanings:
- Conquest: Winning through war or battle
- Greybeards: Old men
Decius Brutus:
“Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh’d at when I tell them so.”
Translation:
Great Caesar, give me a reason—otherwise they’ll laugh at me when I tell them that you’re not coming.
Word Meanings:
- Cause: Reason
- Lest: In case
- Laugh’d at: Mocked or not taken seriously
CAESAR:
The cause is in my will: I will not come;
That is enough to satisfy the senate.
But for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know:
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
She dreamt to-night she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with a hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans came smiling,
And did bathe their hands in it. And these does she apply
For warnings, and portents, and evils imminent;
And on her knee hath begg’d that I will stay at home to-day.
Translation:
The reason is simply my will—I just don’t want to go. That should be enough for the Senate. But since you’re my friend, I’ll explain: Calpurnia begged me to stay home. She dreamed that my statue was like a fountain pouring out blood from a hundred spouts. Strong Romans came and smiled while washing their hands in it. She believes it’s a warning of some approaching danger and pleaded with me to remain at home.
Word Meanings:
- Cause: Reason
- Stays me at home: Keeps me from going out
- Spouts: Openings or jets
- Lusty Romans: Healthy, strong Roman men
- Apply: Interpret
- Portents: Omens or signs
- Imminent: About to happen
DECIUS:
Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render’d, for someone to say,
“Break up the Senate till another time,
When Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams.”
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper
“Lo, Caesar is afraid”?
Translation:
Also, people will joke and say, “Let’s cancel the Senate meeting until Caesar’s wife has better dreams.” If you stay home, won’t people whisper, “Look, Caesar is afraid”?
Word Meanings:
- Mock apt to be render’d: A joke that people will definitely make
- Break up the Senate: Cancel or postpone the meeting
- Lo: Look!
- Whisper: Gossip secretly
CAESAR:
How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.
Translation:
Calpurnia, your fears seem silly now! I’m ashamed that I gave in to them. Bring me my robe—I’m going to the Senate.
Word Meanings:
- Yield: Give in or surrender
- Robe: Formal Roman garment for officials
[Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, and Cinna]
DECIUS:
Here is thy brother, Caesar, and the rest.
Hearty friends to greet you.
Translation:
Here comes your brother (Publius) and the others, Caesar. Loyal friends here to greet you.
CAESAR:
They are all welcome.
What is’t o’clock?
Translation:
They are all welcome. What time is it?
BRUTUS:
Caesar, ’tis strucken eight.
Translation:
Caesar, it’s just turned eight o’clock.
CAESAR:
I thank you for your pains and courtesy.
Translation:
Thank you all for the trouble you’ve taken and for your kindness.
[Enter Antony]
ANTONY:
Good morrow, Caesar.
Translation:
Good morning, Caesar.
CAESAR:
Welcome, Antony.
CAESAR:
What, Brutus, are you stirr’d so early too?
Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,
Caesar was ne’er so much your enemy
As that same ague which hath made you lean.
What is’t o’clock?
Translation:
Brutus, you’re up early too? Good morning, Casca. Caius Ligarius, I’ve never been as much your enemy as the fever (ague) that’s made you so thin. What time is it?
Word Meanings:
- Stirr’d: Awake and active
- Ague: Fever
- Lean: Thin, weak
BRUTUS:
Caesar, ’tis strucken eight.
Translation:
Caesar, it’s just past eight o’clock.
CAESAR (to Ligarius):
I must observe you, sir: I see you well.
Your looks are, sure, full of vigour.
Translation:
I have to say—you look quite well. You seem full of strength and energy.
LIGARIUS:
I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
Any exploit worthy the name of honour.
Translation:
I’m not sick—if Brutus is involved in something that’s honorable, I’ll join in it, no matter what.
Word Meanings:
- Exploit: A bold or noble act
- Worthy the name of honour: Deserving to be called honorable
CAESAR:
Such a man am I to-day.
Translation:
That’s exactly the kind of man I am today—strong, bold, and ready for noble action.
CAESAR:
Such a man am I to-day.
Let me have men about me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o’ nights.
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
(Note: This line actually appears earlier in Act 1, but Caesar repeats the sentiment in this scene with slight variations.)
[Re-enter Servant]
CAESAR:
Go, bid the priests do present sacrifice
And bring me their opinions of success.
Translation:
Go, tell the priests to make a sacrifice right now, and bring me their opinion on whether the day will be lucky.
[Exit Servant. Trumpet sounds]
[Enter Calpurnia again, anxious and worried]
CALPURNIA:
Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me.
Translation:
Caesar, I’ve never believed in omens and rituals before—but now they truly scare me.
[Shortly after, the servant returns]
SERVANT:
They would not have you stir forth to-day.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.
Translation:
The priests say you shouldn’t go out today. When they examined the sacrificed animal, it had no heart—which is a terrible omen.
CAESAR:
The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Caesar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well
That Caesar is more dangerous than he:
We are two lions litter’d in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible:
And Caesar shall go forth.
Translation:
The gods did this to shame me for even considering cowardice. If I stayed home out of fear, I’d be the one without a heart. No, I won’t stay home. Danger knows very well that I am more dangerous than it is. We were born on the same day, but I’m the older, fiercer lion. So I will go.
Word Meanings:
- Litter’d: Born (like lion cubs)
- Go forth: Leave home, proceed with plans
[Trumpets continue. All the conspirators prepare to leave with Caesar.]
CAESAR:
And you are come in very happy time
To bear my greeting to the senators
And tell them that I will not come to-day…
(Then changes his mind after Decius’s persuasion)
Give me my robe, for I will go.
[Exeunt all.]