Act 2, Scene 2 Original Text Modern Text Thunder and lightning Enter Julius CAESAR in his nightgown Thunder and lightning. CAESAR enters in his nightgown. CAESAR Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight. Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, “Help, ho! They murder Caesar!”—Who’s within? CAESAR Neither the sky nor the earth have been quiet tonight. Calphurnia cried out three times in her sleep, “Help, someone! They’re murdering Caesar!” Who’s there? Enter a SERVANT A SERVANT enters. SERVANT My lord. SERVANT My lord? 5 CAESAR Go bid the priests do present sacrifice And bring me their opinions of success. CAESAR Go tell the priests to perform a sacrifice immediately, and bring me their interpretation of the results. SERVANT I will, my lord. SERVANT I will, my lord. Exit SERVANT The SERVANT exits. Enter CALPHURNIA CALPHURNIA enters. CALPHURNIA What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house today. CALPHURNIA What are you doing, Caesar? Are you planning to go out? You’re not leaving the house today. 10 CAESAR Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me Ne'er looked but on my back. When they shall see The face of Caesar, they are vanishèd. CAESAR I will go out. The things that threaten me have only seen my back. When they see the face of Caesar, they will vanish. 15 CALPHURNIA Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, CALPHURNIA Caesar, I never believed in omens, but now they frighten me. A servant told me the saw horrid sights too, but different ones from what we heard and saw. A lioness gave
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat An humble heart— 45 50 CAESAR I must prevent thee, Cimber. These couchings and these lowly courtesies Might fire the blood of ordinary men And turn preordinance and first decree Into the law of children. Be not fond, To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood That will be thawed from the true quality With that which melteth fools—I mean, sweet words, Low-crookèd curtsies, and base spaniel fawning. Thy brother by decree is banishèd. If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause Will he be satisfied. I have Roman that you 55 METELLUS Is there no voice more worthy than my own To sound more sweetly in great Caesar’s ear For the repealing of my banished brother? BRUTUS (kneeling) I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar, Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Act 3, Scene 1, Page 4 Original Text Modern Text 60 CAESAR What, Brutus? CAESAR What, even you, Brutus?
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. Exit BRUTUS BRUTUS exits. 60 FIRST PLEBEIAN Stay, ho! And let us hear Mark Antony. FIRST PLEBEIAN Let’s stay and hear Mark Antony. THIRD PLEBEIAN Let him go up into the public chair. We’ll hear him.—Noble Antony, go up. THIRD PLEBEIAN Let him mount the pulpit. We’ll listen to him. Noble Antony, mount the podium. ANTONY For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you. (ascends the pulpit) ANTONY For Brutus’s sake, I am indebted to you. (he steps up into the pulpit) Act 3, Scene 2, Page 4 Original Text Modern Text 65 FOURTH PLEBEIAN What does he say of Brutus? FOURTH PLEBEIAN What does he say about Brutus? THIRD PLEBEIAN He says for Brutus' sake He finds himself beholding to us all. THIRD PLEBEIAN He says that for Brutus’s sake he finds himself indebted to us all. FOURTH PLEBEIAN 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here. FOURTH PLEBEIAN He’d better not speak badly of Brutus here. FIRST PLEBEIAN This Caesar was a tyrant. FIRST PLEBEIAN Caesar was a tyrant. THIRD PLEBEIAN Nay, that’s certain. We are blest that Rome is rid of him. THIRD PLEBEIAN That’s for sure. We’re lucky that Rome is rid of him. 70 FOURTH PLEBEIAN Peace! Let us hear what Antony can say. SECOND PLEBEIAN Quiet! Let’s hear what Antony has to say. ANTONY You gentle Romans— ANTONY You gentle Romans—