# Julius Caesar (1919) Yale/Text/Act II

Notes originally placed at the bottom of each page appear below, following Act II. Where these notes gloss a word in the text, the gloss can also be found by hovering over the text.
Where these notes refer to an end note (cf. n. = confer notam; "consult note"), a link to the accompanying end note is provided from the Footnotes section. The end notes accompanying Act II begin on page 101 of the original volume.
Layout 2
ACT SECOND
Scene One
Enter Brutus in his Orchard.
Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say! I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.4 When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say! what, Lucius!
Enter Lucius.
Luc. Call'd you, my lord?
Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: When it is lighted, come and call me here.8
Luc. I will, my lord.Exit.
Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crown'd:12 How that might change his nature, there's the question: It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; ​And that craves wary walking. Crown him that, And then, I grant, we put a sting in him16 That at his will he may do danger with. The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power; and, to speak truth of Cæsar, I have not known when his affections sway'd20 More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof, That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; But when he once attains the upmost round,24 He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend. So Cæsar may: Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel28 Will bear no colour for the thing he is, Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, Would run to these and these extremities; And therefore think him as a serpent's egg32 Which hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell.
Enter Lucius.
Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Searching the window for a flint, I found36 This paper, thus seal'd up; and I am sure It did not lie there when I went to bed.
Bru. Get you to bed again; it is not day. Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March?40
Luc. I know not, sir.
Bru. Look in the calendar, and bring me word.
Luc. I will, sir.Exit.
Bru. The exhalations whizzing in the air44 Give so much light that I may read by them. Opens the letter, and reads. 'Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake, and see thyself. Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress! Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake!'48 Such instigations have been often dropp'd Where I have took them up. 'Shall Rome, &c.' Thus must I piece it out: Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome?52 My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king. 'Speak, strike, redress!' Am I entreated To speak, and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise:56 If the redress will follow, thou receivest Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!
Enter Lucius.
Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days.59
Knocking within.
Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate: somebody knocks. [Exit Lucius.] Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion, all the interim is64 Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream: The genius and the mortal instruments ​Are then in council; and the state of man, Like to a little kingdom, suffers then68 The nature of an insurrection.
Enter Lucius.
Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you.
Bru. Is he alone?
Luc. No, sir, there are moe with him.
Bru. Do you know them?72
Luc. No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them By any mark of favour.
Bru. Let 'em enter.76 [Exit Lucius.] They are the faction. O conspiracy, Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, When evils are most free? O then by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough80 To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy; Hide it in smiles and affability: For if thou path, thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim enough84 To hide thee from prevention.
Enter the Conspirators, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus, and Trebonius.
Cas. I think we are too bold upon your rest: Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you?
Bru. I have been up this hour, awake all night.88 Know I these men that come along with you?
Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no man here But honours you; and every one doth wish You had but that opinion of yourself92 Which every noble Roman bears of you. This is Trebonius.
Bru. He is welcome hither.
Cas. This, Decius Brutus.
Bru. He is welcome too.
Cas. This, Casca; this, Cinna;96 And this, Metellus Cimber.
Bru. They are all welcome. What watchful cares do interpose themselves Betwixt your eyes and night?
Cas. Shall I entreat a word?100
[Brutus and Cassius] whisper.
Dec. Here lies the east: doth not the day break here?
Casca. No.
Cin. O pardon, sir, it doth; and yon grey lines That fret the clouds are messengers of day.104
Casca. You shall confess that you are both deceiv'd. Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises; Which is a great way growing on the south, Weighing the youthful season of the year.108 Some two months hence up higher toward the north He first presents his fire; and the high east Stands, as the Capitol, directly here.
Bru. Give me your hands all over, one by one.112
Cas. And let us swear our resolution.
Bru. No, not an oath: if not the face of men, The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,— If these be motives weak, break off betimes,116 And every man hence to his idle bed; So let high-sighted tyranny range on, Till each man drop by lottery. But if these, As I am sure they do, bear fire enough120 To kindle cowards and to steel with valour The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, What need we any spur but our own cause To prick us to redress? what other bond124 Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word And will not palter? and what other oath Than honesty to honesty engag'd, That this shall be, or we will fall for it?128 Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous, Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls That welcome wrongs: unto bad causes swear Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain132 The even virtue of our enterprise, Nor th' insuppressive mettle of our spirits, To think that or our cause or our performance Did need an oath; when every drop of blood136 That every Roman bears, and nobly bears, Is guilty of a several bastardy, If he do break the smallest particle ​Of any promise that hath pass'd from him.140
Cas. But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? I think he will stand very strong with us.
Casca. Let us not leave him out.
Cin. No, by no means.
Met. O let us have him; for his silver hairs Will purchase us a good opinion145 And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: It shall be said his judgment rul'd our hands; Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, But all be buried in his gravity.149
Bru. O name him not: let us not break with him; For he will never follow anything That other men begin.
Cas. Then leave him out.152
Casca. Indeed he is not fit.
Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd but only Cæsar?
Cas. Decius, well urg'd. I think it is not meet, Mark Antony, so well belov'd of Cæsar,156 Should outlive Cæsar: we shall find of him A shrewd contriver; and you know, his means, If he improve them, may well stretch so far As to annoy us all; which to prevent,160 Let Antony and Cæsar fall together.
Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, Like wrath in death and envy afterwards;164 For Antony is but a limb of Cæsar. Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. We all stand up against the spirit of Cæsar; ​And in the spirit of men there is no blood:168 O then that we could come by Cæsar's spirit, And not dismember Cæsar! But, alas, Cæsar must bleed for it. And, gentle friends, Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;172 Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods, Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds: And let our hearts, as subtle masters do, Stir up their servants to an act of rage,176 And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make Our purpose necessary and not envious; Which so appearing to the common eyes, We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.180 And, for Mark Antony, think not of him; For he can do no more than Cæsar's arm When Cæsar's head is off.
Cas. Yet I fear him; For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cæsar—184
Bru. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him. If he love Cæsar, all that he can do Is to himself: take thought, and die for Cæsar. And that were much he should, for he is given To sports, to wildness, and much company.189
Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die: For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter.
Clock strikes.
Bru. Peace! count the clock.
Cas. The clock hath stricken three.192
Treb. 'Tis time to part.
Cas. But it is doubtful yet Whether Cæsar will come forth to-day or no; ​For he is superstitious grown of late, Quite from the main opinion he held once196 Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies. It may be, these apparent prodigies, The unaccustom'd terror of this night, And the persuasion of his augurers,200 May hold him from the Capitol to-day.
Dec. Never fear that: if he be so resolv'd, I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear That unicorns may be betray'd with trees,204 And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, Lions with toils, and men with flatterers; But when I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most flattered.208 Let me work; For I can give his humour the true bent, And I will bring him to the Capitol.
Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.212
Bru. By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost.
Cin. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.
Met. Caius Ligarius doth bear Cæsar hard, Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey:216 I wonder none of you have thought of him.
Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him: He loves me well, and I have given him reasons; Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him.220
Cas. The morning comes upon 's: we'll leave you, Brutus. And, friends, disperse yourselves; but all remember ​What you have said, and show yourselves true Romans.
Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily;224 Let not our looks put on our purposes, But bear it as our Roman actors do, With untir'd spirits and formal constancy: And so good morrow to you every one.228 Exeunt. Manet Brutus. Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no matter; Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber: Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.233
Enter Portia.
Por. Brutus, my lord!
Bru. Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise you now? It is not for your health thus to commit Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.236
Por. Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus, Stole from my bed; and yesternight at supper You suddenly arose, and walk'd about, Musing and sighing, with your arms across,240 And when I ask'd you what the matter was, You star'd upon me with ungentle looks. I urg'd you further; then you scratch'd your head, And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot;244 Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, But with an angry wafture of your hand Gave sign for me to leave you. So I did, Fearing to strengthen that impatience248 ​Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal Hoping it was but an effect of humour, Which sometime hath his hour with every man. It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep,252 And could it work so much upon your shape As it hath much prevail'd on your condition, I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord, Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.256
Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all.
Por. Brutus is wise, and were he not in health, He would embrace the means to come by it.
Bru. Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed.260
Por. Is Brutus sick, and is it physical To walk unbraced and suck up the humours Of the dank morning? What! is Brutus sick, And will he steal out of his wholesome bed264 To dare the vile contagion of the night, And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus; You have some sick offence within your mind,268 Which, by the right and virtue of my place, I ought to know of; and, upon my knees, I charm you, by my once-commended beauty, By all your vows of love, and that great vow272 Which did incorporate and make us one, That you unfold to me, your self, your half, Why you are heavy, and what men to-night Have had resort to you; for here have been276 Some six or seven, who did hide their faces Even from darkness.
Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia.
Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,280 Is it excepted I should know no secrets That appertain to you? Am I yourself But, as it were, in sort or limitation, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,284 And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.
Bru. You are my true and honourable wife,288 As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart.
Por. If this were true then should I know this secret. I grant I am a woman, but, withal,292 A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife; I grant I am a woman, but, withal, A woman well-reputed, Cato's daughter. Think you I am no stronger than my sex,296 Being so father'd and so husbanded? Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em. I have made strong proof of my constancy, Giving myself a voluntary wound,300 Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience And not my husband's secrets?
Bru. O ye gods, Render me worthy of this noble wife! Knock [within]. Hark, hark! one knocks. Portia, go in awhile;304 And by and by thy bosom shall partake The secrets of my heart. ​All my engagements I will construe to thee, All the charactery of my sad brows.308 Leave me with haste.Exit Portia. Lucius, who's that knocks?
Enter Lucius and Ligarius.
Luc. Here is a sick man that would speak with you.
Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spoke of. Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius! how?312
Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue.
Bru. O what a time have you chose out, brave Caius, To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick!
Lig. I am not sick if Brutus have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honour.317
Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.
Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before, I here discard my sickness! Soul of Rome,321 Brave son, deriv'd from honourable loins, Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjur'd up My mortified spirit. Now bid me run, And I will strive with things impossible;325 Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?
Bru. A piece of work that will make sick men whole.
Lig. But are not some whole that we must make sick?328
Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius, I shall unfold to thee as we are going To whom it must be done.
Lig. Set on your foot, And with a heart new-fir'd I follow you,332 To do I know not what; but it sufficeth That Brutus leads me on.Thunder.
Bru. Follow me then.Exeunt.
Scene Two
[Cæsar's House]
Thunder and lightning. Enter Julius Cæsar in his night-gown.
Cæs. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, 'Help, ho! They murder Cæsar!' Who's within?
Enter a Servant.
Serv. My lord!4
Cæs. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, And bring me their opinions of success.
Serv. I will, my lord.Exit.
Enter Calpurnia.
Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you to walk forth?8 You shall not stir out of your house to-day.
Cæs. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see The face of Cæsar, they are vanished.12
Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, ​Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets;17 And graves have yawn'd and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;21 The noise of battle hurtled in the air, Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan, And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.24 O Cæsar, these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them.
Cæs. What can be avoided Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? Yet Cæsar shall go forth; for these predictions28 Are to the world in general as to Cæsar.
Cal. When beggars die there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
Cæs. Cowards die many times before their deaths;32 The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end,36 Will come when it will come.
Enter a Servant.
What say the augurers?
Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, ​They could not find a heart within the beast.40
Cæs. The gods do this in shame of cowardice: Cæsar should be a beast without a heart If he should stay at home to-day for fear. No, Cæsar shall not; danger knows full well44 That Cæsar is more dangerous than he: We are two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible: And Cæsar shall go forth.
Cal. Alas, my lord,48 Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence. Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear That keeps you in the house, and not your own. We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house,52 And he shall say you are not well to-day: Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well; And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.56
Enter Decius.
Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.
Dec. Cæsar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Cæsar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house.
Cæs. And you are come in very happy time60 To bear my greeting to the senators, And tell them that I will not come to-day: Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser; I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius.64
Cal. Say he is sick.
Cæs. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far To be afeard to tell greybeards the truth? Decius, go tell them Cæsar will not come.68
Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.
Cæs. The cause is in my will: I will not come; That is enough to satisfy the senate:72 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,76 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,80 And evils imminent; and on her knee Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.
Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted; It was a vision fair and fortunate:84 Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, In which so many smiling Romans bath'd, Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck Reviving blood, and that great men shall press For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.89 This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.
Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it.
Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say;92 And know it now: the senate have concluded To give this day a crown to mighty Cæsar. If you shall send them word you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock96 Apt to be render'd, for some one to say, ​'Break up the senate till another time, When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams.' If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper,100 'Lo, Cæsar is afraid'? Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear dear love To your proceeding bids me tell you this, And reason to my love is liable.104
Cæs. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! I am ashamed I did yield to them. Give me my robe, for I will go.
Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trehonius, Cinna, and Publius.
And look where Publius is come to fetch me.108
Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar.
Cæs. Welcome, Publius. What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius, Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy112 As that same ague which hath made you lean. What is 't o'clock?
Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight.
Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy.
Enter Antony.
See, Antony, that revels long o' nights,116 Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.
Ant. So to most noble Cæsar.
Cæs. Bid them prepare within: I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna; now, Metellus; what, Trebonius, I have an hour's talk in store for you;121 Remember that you call on me to-day: ​Be near me, that I may remember you.
Treb. Cæsar, I will:—[Aside.] and so near will I be,124 That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
Cæs. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
Bru. [Aside.] That every 'like' is not 'the same,' O Cæsar,128 The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon.Exeunt.
Scene Three
[A Street near the Capitol]
Enter Artemidorus [reading a paper].
Art. 'Cæsar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Metel- lus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Cæsar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you: security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover,9 Artemidorus.' Here will I stand till Cæsar pass along, And as a suitor will I give him this.12 My heart laments that virtue cannot live Out of the teeth of emulation. If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayest live; If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.Exit.
Scene Four
[Another part of the same Street, before the house of Brutus]
Enter Portia and Lucius.
Por. I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house; Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone. Why dost thou stay?
Luc. To know my errand, madam.
Por. I would have had thee there, and here again,4 Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there. O constancy, be strong upon my side; Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue; I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.8 How hard it is for women to keep counsel! Art thou here yet?
Luc. Madam, what shall I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And so return to you, and nothing else?12
Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, For he went sickly forth; and take good note What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. Hark, boy! what noise is that?16
Luc. I hear none, madam.
Por. Prithee, listen well: I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.20
Enter the Soothsayer.
Por. Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou been?
Sooth. At mine own house, good lady.
Por. What is 't o'clock?
Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady.
Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol?24
Sooth. Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand, To see him pass on to the Capitol.
Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not?
Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar28 To be so good to Cæsar as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
Por. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?
Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.32 Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels, Of senators, of prætors, common suitors, Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:36 I'll get me to a place more void, and there Speak to great Cæsar as he comes along.Exit.
Por. I must go in. Ay me! how weak a thing The heart of woman is. O Brutus,40 The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! Sure, the boy heard me.—Brutus hath a suit That Cæsar will not grant.—O, I grow faint.— Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;44 Say I am merry: come to me again, And bring me word what he doth say to thee.
Exeunt.
Footnotes to Act II
Scene One
​Scene One S. d. Orchard: garden 5 When: exclamation of impatience 11 spurn at: oppose vindictively 12 general: people's sake, public welfare ​15 Crown him that; cf. n. 19 Remorse: mercy, conscience 20 affections: passions 21 proof: proved experience 26 degrees: steps, rungs 28 prevent: be beforehand quarrel: attack on him, accusation 29 colour: justification 30 Fashion: put, formulate 31 these and these: such and such 33 as his kind: as is the nature of his species 35 closet: study ​44 exhalations: meteors 58 Thy full petition: full measure of what thou askest 59 fourteen; cf. n. 61, 62 Cf. n. 64 motion: instigation, inception 65 phantasma: vision, phantasmagoria 66 genius: the guardian spirit, within man mortal instruments: human faculties ​70 brother: he had married Brutus' sister, Junia 72 moe: more, others 76 mark of favour: trait of countenance 77 faction: band of conspirators 83 path: walk, proceed native: natural on: being on 84 Erebus: gloomy region leading to Hades (the name signifies 'darkness') 85 prevention: being forestalled ​86 bold: i.e., in intruding 90 and no: and there is no 104 fret: chequer 106 as: where 107 growing on: tending toward 108 Weighing: on account of ​112 all over: successively 114 face of men: mute appeal in the people's looks 115 sufferance: suffering, distress the . . . abuse: abuses of the time 116 betimes: before it's too late 118 high-sighted: haughty 119 lottery: arbitrary decree 123 What: why 125 Than secret: than that of resolute 126 palter: play fast and loose 129 cautelous: crafty, deceitful 130 carrions: wretches no better than soulless carcasses suffering: long-suffering 133 even: just 134 insuppressive: irrepressible 135 or . . . or: either . . . or 138 Is individually condemned as illegitimate ​150 break with: broach our plan to 157 of: in 158 shrewd contriver: malevolent plotter 159 improve: make the most of 160 annoy: seriously injure 164 envy: vindictiveness ​184 ingrafted: deeply rooted 187 Is to: concerns, affects, only take thought: despond 188 that . . . should: even that would be more than might be expected 190 fear: cause for fear ​196 from . . . main: changed from the general 198 apparent: manifest 204 trees: by luring them to drive their horns too firmly into trees 205 glasses: mirrors, to distract their attention holes: pitfalls 206 toils: nets, snares 210 humour: disposition; cf. n. on line 250 213 uttermost: latest 216 rated: berated, reprimanded 218 by him: by his house 220 fashion: like modern 'whip into shape' ​227 formal constancy: dignified self-possession 231 figures: pictures created by imagination ​250 humour; cf. n. 253, 254 (outward) shape, (inward) condition 261 physical: healthful 266 rheumy: causing rheumatic diseases unpurged: unpurified by the sun 268 sick offence: unhealthy trouble 271 charm: conjure, entreat ​283 in . . . limitation: only after a fashion or with restrictions 292 withal: with this saving reservation 295 Cato: Marcus Porcius Cato, 'of Utica' ​307 engagements: undertakings that I stand committed to construe: explain 308 charactery: writing, message 309 who's: who is it 313 Vouchsafe: vouchsafe to receive 315 kerchief: swathing for the head of the sick 323 exorcist: magician 324 mortified: deadened 331 To whom: to him to whom
Scene Two
​Scene Two S. d. night-gown: dressing-gown 5 present: immediate 6 success: the future 13 stood on ceremonies: laid stress on omens ​20 right form: regular formations 22 hurtled: emitted sounds of conflict, clashed 25 use: previous experience 27 end: accomplishment 29 Are to: are as applicable to ​49 confidence: over-confidence 56 humour: whim, caprice ​75 stays: keeps 88 press: crowd about 89 tinctures: healing medicines; cf. n. stains: assimilable traces (tinges) of Cæsar's qualities relics: i.e., religious benefits cognizance: heraldic emblems, i.e., social benefits 96 mock: gibe ​103 proceeding: career 104 liable: subservient ​128 Cf. n. 129 yearns: grieves
Scene Three
​8 security gives way: unguardedness yields opportunity 9 lover: friend 14 Out . . . teeth: free from the bite emulation: grudging jealousy
Scene Four
​20 Sooth: in truth ​37 void: open