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

by William Shakespeare

Cassius

  Then leave him out.

  Then leave him out.

  Casca

  Indeed, he is not fit.

  I don’t think he is right.

  Decius Brutus

  Shall no man else be touch'd but only Caesar?

  Are we only going after Caesar?

  Cassius

  Decius, well urged.--I think it is not meet, Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar, Should outlive Caesar: 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, Let Antony and Caesar fall together.

  Good question, Decius. I think Mark Antony may give us some trouble. So, if he does, let him fall with Caesar.

  Brutus

  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; For Antony is but a limb of Caesar. Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar; And in the spirit of men there is no blood: O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit, And not dismember Caesar! But, alas, Caesar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends, Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; 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, And after seem to chide 'em. This shall mark Our purpose necessary, and not envious; Which so appearing to the common eyes, We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers. And for Mark Antony, think not of him; For he can do no more than Caesar's arm When Caesar's head is off.

  I don’t think that will be necessary, Cassius. Antony just follows Caesar. With Caesar gone, Antony will be no trouble. We must go about this properly and not make Caesar seem like a martyr. We do not want to be seen as murderers, but purgers of evil.

  Cassius

  Yet I do fear him; For in th' ingrafted love he bears to Caesar--

  I still fear him, because of his devotion to Caesar.

  Brutus

  Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him: If he love Caesar, all that he can do Is to himself,--take thought and die for Caesar. And that were much he should; for he is given To sports, to wildness, and much company.

  Don’t think of him, Cassius. If he loves Caesar, all he can do is die for him. He probably will die anyway the way he lives.

  Trebonius

  There is no fear in him; let him not die; For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter.

  No one should fear him. Don’t kill him. He’ll probably live and laugh about this later.

  Clock strikes.

  Brutus

  Peace! count the clock.

  Be quiet! What time is it?

  Cassius

  The clock hath stricken three.

  Three o’clock.

  Trebonius

  'Tis time to part.

  It’s time to go.

  Cassius

  But it is doubtful yet Whether Caesar will come forth today or no; For he is superstitious grown of late, Quite from the main opinion he held once 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 May hold him from the Capitol to-day.

  We still don’t know if Caesar will show in the Capitol today. He has been very superstitious lately.

  Decius Brutus

  Never fear that: if he be so resolved, I can o'ersway him, for he loves to hear That unicorns may be betray'd with trees, 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. Let me work; For I can give his humor the true bent, And I will bring him to the Capitol.

  Don’t worry. I can get him to the Capitol. He loves to hear flattery, so I will get him there by flattering him.

  Cassius

  Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.

  No, we will all go to get him.

  Brutus

  By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost?

  By eight o’clock. Is that the time?

  Cinna

  Be that the uttermost; and fail not then.

  I think so.

  Metellus Cimber

  Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard, Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey: I wonder none of you have thought of him.

  Caius Ligarius has reason to hate Caesar for berating him when he spoke well of Pompey. Have any of you thought about him?

  Brutus

  Now, good Metellus, go along by him: He loves me well, and I have given him reason; Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him.

  Good, Metellus. Go get him. He loves me, as well he should. Send him here and I’ll convince him.

  Cassius

  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.

  The morning is here. We’ll leave you, Brutus. Friends, let’s go our separate ways, but remember what you have said here, and show yourselves as true Romans.

  Brutus

  Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; Let not our looks put on our purposes, But bear it as our Roman actors do, With untired spirits and formal constancy: And so, good morrow to you every one.--

  Good gentlemen, you must look fresh and happy. You cannot let on our purpose with your appearances. Let’s be like Roman actors, tireless spirits and well-composed faces.

  Exit all but 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.

  Boy! Lucius! Are you asleep? No matter. Enjoy the heavenly state of sleep. You have nothing to keep you from sleeping soundly.

  Enter Portia

  Portia

  Brutus, my lord!

  Brutus, my lord!

  Brutus

  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.

  Portia, what are you doing up? It’s not healthy for you to be up in the cold morning air in your weak condition.

  Portia

  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; And, when I ask'd you what the matter was, You stared upon me with ungentle looks: I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head, And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot: 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 impatience 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; 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.

  It’s not good for you, either. You urgently go up from bed, Brutus, and yesterday, at dinner, you suddenly got up and walked around thinking and sighing with your arms crossed. When I asked you what the matter was, you stared at me angrily. You stomped your foot when I inquired more. Then, you refused to answer me and waved me off. I don’t know what is wrong with you, but you can’t eat, or talk, or sleep. You’re just not yourself, Brutus. Please, tell me what’s wrong with you.

  Brutus

  I am not well in health, and that is all.

  I just haven’t been feeling well, lately.

  Portia

  Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health, He would embrace the means to come by it.

  You are a smart man, and if your health were compromised, you would seek treatment.

  Brutus

  Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed.

  I am. Now, go to bed, dear Portia.

  Portia

&
nbsp; 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 bed 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 offense within your mind, Which, by the right and virtue of my place, I ought to know of: and, upon my knees, I charge you, by my once commended beauty, By all your vows of love, and that great vow Which did incorporate and make us one, That you unfold to me, yourself, your half, Why you are heavy, and what men to-night Have had resort to you; for here have been Some six or seven, who did hide their faces Even from darkness.

  Are you sick? It can’t be something physical, if you’re walking around in the damp morning. And, what makes you get out of bed to dare the germs that are in the night air. No, Brutus, you are not sick, unless it is in your mind. You are my husband, so I know. Now, tell me why you are so heavy-hearted. Who were the men you talking to? I saw six or seven here in the dark.

  Brutus

  Kneel not, gentle Portia.

  Don’t ask, Portia.

  Portia

  I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, 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, 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.

  I wouldn’t have to if you were honest to your marriage vows. Tell me, Brutus. Am I not to know everything about my husband? Am I just supposed to spend time with you at meals and at bedtime? If so, I’m not your wife, I’m your whore.

  Brutus

  You are my true and honorable wife; As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart.

  You are my wonderful and honorable wife. You are so dear to me.

  Portia

  If this were true, then should I know this secret. I grant I am a woman; but withal 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, 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 Here in the thigh: can I bear that with patience And not my husband's secrets?

  If this is true, then I should know this secret. Granted, I am just a woman, but I am the woman you chose to be your wife. I am the daughter of Cato, but you don’t think I am very strong. Tell me your secret and I will not tell a soul. I have proven my faithfulness, by giving myself a wound in my thigh. If I can bear that pain, then I can bear my husband’s secrets.

  Brutus

  O ye gods, Render me worthy of this noble wife!

  Oh, gods, make me worthy of this noble wife.

  Knocking within.

  Hark, hark, one knocks: Portia, go in awhile; 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. Leave me with haste.

  Hello! Someone is knocking, Portia. Please go in awhile, and I will come in and tell you what’s going on. Hurry and leave.

  Exit Portia.

  --Lucius, who's that knocks?

  Lucius, who’s knocking?

  Re-enter Lucius with Ligarius.

  Lucius

  Here is a sick man that would speak with you.

  A sick man is here and he wants to speak with you.

  Brutus

  Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.-- Boy, stand aside.--Caius Ligarius,--how?

  Caius Ligarius, you are the one Metellus spoke of. Lucius, go away. How are you, Ligarius?

  Ligarius

  Vouchsafe good-morrow from a feeble tongue.

  Good morning. I am not feeling well.

  Brutus

  O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius, To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick!

  What a time to be sick, brave Caius. You should cover your head and you would not be sick!

  Ligarius

  I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honour.

  I am not sick, if you have something worthy for me to do.

  Brutus

  Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.

  I do, if you are healthy enough to hear it.

  Ligarius

  By all the gods that Romans bow before, I here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome! Brave son, derived from honorable loins! Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up My mortified spirit. Now bid me run, And I will strive with things impossible; Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?

  I swear by all the gods, I am no longer sick. You have made me well. Now, tell me what you want me to do.

  Brutus

  A piece of work that will make sick men whole.

  What I am going to tell you may make sick men whole.

  Ligarius

  But are not some whole that we must make sick?

  Will is making some healthy men sick?

  Brutus

  That must we also. What it is, my Caius, I shall unfold to thee, as we are going, To whom it must be done.

  It may, also. I will tell you as we go to whom it must be done.

  Ligarius

  Set on your foot; And with a heart new-fired I follow you, To do I know not what: but it sufficeth That Brutus leads me on.

  I’m following you, although I still don’t know why. But as long as you’re leading, I’m following.

  Brutus

  Follow me then.

  Come this way, then.

  Exit.

  Thunder and lightning. Enter Caesar, in his night-gown.

  Caesar

  Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, "Help, ho! They murder Caesar!"--Who's within?

  Neither heaven nor earth is at peace this night. Three times Calpurnia has cried out in her sleep, “Help! They murder Caesar!” Who’s there?

  Servant

  My lord?

  Your servant, my lord?

  Caesar

  Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, And bring me their opinions of success.

  Tell the priests to present a sacrifice and come tell me what they think.

  Servant

  I will, my lord.

  I will, my lord.

  Exit.

  Enter Calpurnia.

  Calpurnia

  What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day.

  What’s going on, Caesar? Do you mean to go out today? You shouldn’t.

  Caesar

  Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten me Ne'er look but on my back; when they shall see The face of Caesar, they are vanished.

  I am going out because those that wish to cause me harm always talk behind my back. When I appear, they vanish.

  Calpurnia

  Caesar, 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; And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol; 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. O Caesar,these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them!

  Caesar, I have never been superstitious, but now I am frightened. A lioness was seen in the streets, graves have opened revealing the dead, fire has been set throughout the Capitol, and the noise of battle heard in the air with the cries of horses, dying men, and shrieking ghosts. Oh, Caesar! There is no explanation for these occurrences, and I am afraid.

  Caesar

  What can be avoided Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? Ye
t Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions Are to the world in general as to Caesar.

  Who can avoid what the gods ordain? So, I shall go out and face these predictions for myself and for Rome.

  Calpurnia

  When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

  When beggars die, nothing extraordinary happens, but when a prince dies, strange things are seen.

  Caesar

  Cowards die many times before their deaths; 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, Will come when it will come.--

  Cowards die many deaths, but a courageous man only experiences death once. Death is inevitable, so I don’t understand why men fear it.

  Re-enter Servant.

  What say the augurers?

  What did the priests say?

  Servant

  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.

  They don’t think you should come out today. When they performed the sacrifice, they couldn’t find the heart.

  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.