The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)

by William Shakespeare

  Thou art a cobbler, art thou?

  Oh, you are a shoe repairman.

  Second Commoner

  Truly, Sir, all that I live by is with the awl; I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's matters, but with awl. I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I re-cover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neat's-leather have gone upon my handiwork.

  Yes, sir. I live by the awl. I am not a political man. I am like a doctor to old shoes. I save their lives when they are in danger. I have mended many a proper man’s shoes.

  Flavius

  But wherefore art not in thy shop today? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?

  Why are you not in your shop, today? Why are you leading these men around?

  Second Commoner

  Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes to get myself into more work. But indeed, sir, we make holiday to see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph.

  I am hoping to get more work for myself by wearing out their shoes. But, sir, we have all taken off work to see Caesar and celebrate his success.

  Marullus

  Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome, To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements, To towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops, Your infants in your arms, and there have sat The livelong day with patient expectation To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome. And when you saw his chariot but appear, Have you not made an universal shout That Tiber trembled underneath her banks To hear the replication of your sounds Made in her concave shores? And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now cull out a holiday? And do you now strew flowers in his way That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood? Be gone! Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Pray to the gods to intermit the plague That needs must light on this ingratitude.

  What is he celebrating? What has he done to receive such adoration? You idiots! Once, you did whatever you could to cheer on Pompey as he rode through the city of Rome. Now, you put on your best clothes and take off work to celebrate Pompey’s murderer. Go home and pray to the gods to keep the plague away you deserve for such a showing of ingratitude.

  Flavius

  Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort, Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears Into the channel, till the lowest stream Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.

  Go on my fellow countrymen, and to make amends for your wrongdoings, go to the river Tiber and cry until its banks overflow.

  Exit all the Commoners.

  See whether their basest metal be not moved; They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness. Go you down that way towards the Capitol; This way will I. Disrobe the images, If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies.

  Look at those morons leaving, speechless. Let’s go down towards the Capitol and take the decorations from the statues.

  Marullus

  May we do so? You know it is the feast of Lupercal.

  Can we do that? You know it is the feast of Lupercal.

  Flavius

  It is no matter; let no images Be hung with Caesar's trophies. I'll about And drive away the vulgar from the streets; So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing Will make him fly an ordinary pitch, Who else would soar above the view of men, And keep us all in servile fearfulness.

  It doesn’t matter. I don’t want any of the statues decorated for Caesar. Make sure you disperse any of the crowds. If we take away his supporters, maybe he will be more realistic and start treating us fairly, instead of using fear.

  Exit.

  Flourish. Enter Caesar. Antony, for the course. Calpurnia, Portia, Decius Brutus, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, and Casca. A great crowd following, among them a soothsayer.

  Caesar

  Calpurnia,--

  Calpurnia!

  Casca

  Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.

  Be quiet, everyone! Caesar speaks.

  Caesar

  Calpurnia,--

  Calpurnia!

  Calpurnia

  Here, my lord.

  Here I am, my lord.

  Caesar

  Stand you directly in Antonius' way, When he doth run his course.--Antonius,--

  You are standing in Antony’s way when he runs the race. Antony

  Antony

  Caesar, my lord?

  Yes, my lord?

  Caesar

  Forget not in your speed, Antonius, To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say, The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off their sterile curse.

  Don’t forget to touch Calpurnia when you begin to race. The old men say if a childless woman is touched in this holy race, she’ll become fertile.

  Antony

  I shall remember. When Caesar says "Do this," it is perform'd.

  I won’t forget. When you tell me to do something, it is as good as done.

  Caesar

  Set on; and leave no ceremony out.

  Okay, then. Get going, and don’t leave out any rituals.

  Flourish

  Soothsayer

  Caesar!

  Caesar!

  Caesar

  Ha! Who calls?

  Who’s calling me?

  Casca

  Bid every noise be still.--Peace yet again!

  Be quiet everyone!

  Caesar

  Who is it in the press that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cry "Caesar"! Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear.

  Who’s calling me? I hear a shrill voice over the music crying, “Caesar!” Speak, I’m listening.

  Soothsayer

  Beware the Ides of March.

  Beware the ides of March.

  Caesar

  What man is that?

  Who is that?

  Brutus

  A soothsayer bids you beware the Ides of March.

  A soothsayer is telling you to beware of March 15th.

  Caesar

  Set him before me; let me see his face.

  Bring him to me. I want to see his face.

  Cassius

  Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.

  Fellow, come out of the crowd. Look at Caesar.

  Soothsayer approaches.

  Caesar

  What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again.

  What do you want to say to me now? Speak again.

  Soothsayer

  Beware the Ides of March.

  Beware of March 15th.

  Caesar

  He is a dreamer; let us leave him. Pass.

  He’s crazy. Let’s leave.

  Exit all except Brutus and Cassius.

  Cassius

  Will you go see the order of the course?

  Are you going to watch the race?

  Brutus

  Not I

  No, not me.

  Cassius

  I pray you, do.

  Oh, please do.

  Brutus

  I am not gamesome; I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; I'll leave you.

  I don’t care for sports like Antony, but don’t let me stop you, Cassius. I’ll leave.

  Cassius

  Brutus, I do observe you now of late: I have not from your eyes that gentleness And show of love as I was wont to have: You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Over your friend that loves you.

  Brutus, I have observed lately that you don’t seem to have the same feelings towards me, you once had. You have been stubborn and unfriendly to me, your friend who loves you.

  Brutus

  Cassius, Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance Merely upon myself. Vexed I am Of late with passions of some difference, Conceptions only proper to mysel
f, Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors; But let not therefore my good friends be grieved-- Among which number, Cassius, be you one-- Nor construe any further my neglect, Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shows of love to other men.

  Cassius, don’t be fooled. If I have looked differently lately, it has nothing to do with you. I have been preoccupied with personal affairs. So, don’t worry about our relationship. Just know, that I am at war with myself and haven’t been myself.

  Cassius

  Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?

  Well then, let me tell you I have been keeping some very interesting thoughts to myself. Brutus, can you see your face?

  Brutus

  No, Cassius, for the eye sees not itself But by reflection, by some other thing.

  No, Cassius, the eye cannot see itself, except in its reflection.

  Cassius

  'Tis just: And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you have no such mirrors as will turn Your hidden worthiness into your eye, That you might see your shadow. I have heard Where many of the best respect in Rome,-- Except immortal Caesar!-- speaking of Brutus, And groaning underneath this age's yoke, Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.

  True, but that’s too bad. I wish you could see what others think about you. Many respect you almost as much as Caesar. They wish you could do something about the tyranny of today’s government.

  Brutus

  Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me?

  Cassius, to what are you alluding? It sounds like something dangerous. I don’t have it in me.

  Cassius

  Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear; And since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass, Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus; Were I a common laugher, or did use To stale with ordinary oaths my love To every new protester; if you know That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard And after scandal them; or if you know That I profess myself, in banqueting, To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.

  Good Brutus, listen to what I have to say. Let me be your mirror. If you don’t believe me to be genuine in my observations, then consider me dangerous.

  Flourish, and shouts.

  Brutus

  What means this shouting? I do fear the people Choose Caesar for their king.

  What does the shouting mean? I am afraid the people choose Caesar for king.

  Cassius

  Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so.

  You fear it? Then, I must believe you would have it otherwise.

  Brutus

  I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well, But wherefore do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good, Set honor in one eye and death i' the other And I will look on both indifferently; For let the gods so speed me as I love The name of honor more than I fear death.

  I wouldn’t, Cassius. I love him very much. So, what do you want to tell me? What is so important? If it is good for everyone, then I will listen even if it means death. I love honor more than I fear death.

  Cassius

  I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favor. Well, honor is the subject of my story. I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Caesar; so were you: We both have fed as well; and we can both Endure the winter's cold as well as he: For once, upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, Caesar said to me, "Darest thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood And swim to yonder point?" Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in, And bade him follow: so indeed he did. The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it With lusty sinews, throwing it aside And stemming it with hearts of controversy; But ere we could arrive the point proposed, Caesar cried, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink! I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber Did I the tired Caesar: and this man Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, If Caesar carelessly but nod on him. He had a fever when he was in Spain; And when the fit was on him I did mark How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake: His coward lips did from their color fly; And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world Did lose his luster. I did hear him groan: Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans Mark him, and write his speeches in their books, Alas, it cried, "Give me some drink, Titinius," As a sick girl.--Ye gods, it doth amaze me, A man of such a feeble temper should So get the start of the majestic world, And bear the palm alone.

  I know you are honorable, Brutus. I also know you are loyal to Caesar. But, my point is honor. I cannot speak for other men, but for me, I cannot live worshiping a man no more special than myself. Both Caesar and I were born free men. We were friends, once, and I saved his life in the river Tiber. I have also seen him cry out like a sick little girl when we were in Spain. Now, he is looked upon as if he was a god, and I am a mere worker.

  Shout. Flourish.

  Brutus

  Another general shout! I do believe that these applauses are For some new honors that are heap'd on Caesar.

  There’s another shout. I believe they are for Caesar.

  Cassius

  Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus; and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonorable graves. Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves,that we are underlings. "Brutus" and "Caesar": what should be in that "Caesar"? Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together, yours is as fair a name; Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with them, "Brutus" will start a spirit as soon as "Caesar." Now, in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! When went there by an age since the great flood, But it was famed with more than with one man? When could they say, till now, that talk'd of Rome, That her wide walls encompass'd but one man? Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, When there is in it but one only man. O, you and I have heard our fathers say There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd Th' eternal devil to keep his state in Rome, As easily as a king!

  He does walk around the world like a giant, while we petty men walk under his huge legs and look around until we are in our graves. Men may be the masters of their own fates, but sometimes they do themselves an injustice. Why should Caesar be any more important than you? Your name is just as good as his. They are both easy to say. What makes him better than you? What has happened to Rome? Once, Rome bred many great men. Now, it seems there is only room for one. You know what our ancestors said. They would have let the devil rule Rome before a king.

  Brutus

  That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; What you would work me to, I have some aim: How I have thought of this, and of these times, I shall recount hereafter; for this present, I would not, so with love I might entreat you, Be any further moved. What you have said, I will consider; what you have to say, I will with patience hear; and find a time Both meet to hear and answer such high things. Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: Brutus had rather be a villager Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under these hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us.

  I know you love me, but I am not jealous. I think I know what you want me to do. I have thought of this before, but for now, I ask that you say no more. Listen to me. I had rather be a nobody than a Roman living in these conditions.

  Cassius


  I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.

  I am glad my simple words have moved you.

  Brutus

  The games are done, and Caesar is returning.

  The race is over and Caesar is coming back.

  Cassius

  As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded worthy note today.

  As the crowd passes by, get Casca’s attention. He will tell you what happened today.

  Re-enter Caesar and his Train.

  Brutus

  I will do so.--But, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train: Calpurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes As we have seen him in the Capitol, Being cross'd in conference by some senators.

  I will, but look, Cassius. Caesar looks angry and the rest look like a broken train. Calpurnia looks pale and Cicero looks angry, like he does in the Capitol when senators disagree with him.

  Cassius

  Casca will tell us what the matter is.

  Casca will tell us what’s going on.

  Caesar

  Antonius,--

  Antony!

  Antony

  Caesar?

  Caesar?

  Caesar

  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.