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Act 4, Scene 2
Julius Caesar Translation Act 4, Scene 3
BRUTUS and CASSIUS remain onstage, now in Brutus' tent.
CASSIUS
That you have wronged me doth appear in this: You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella For taking bribes here of the Sardians, Wherein my letters, praying on his side Because I knew the man, were slighted off.
CASSIUS
This is how you have wronged me: you condemned and publicly disgraced Lucius Pella for taking bribes from the Sardinians. Then you ignored my letters, in which I asked you to be lenient with him because I know the man.
BRUTUS
You wronged yourself to write in such a case.
BRUTUS
You wronged yourself to write in support of such a man.
CASSIUS
In such a time as this it is not meetThat every nice offense should bear his comment.
CASSIUS
In a time like this, it is not appropriate to focus on every little offense.
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BRUTUS
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemned to have an itching palm, To sell and mart your offices for gold To undeservers.
BRUTUS
Let me tell you, Cassius, that you yourself are often accused of being corrupt, of selling positions in your army to undeserving men.
CASSIUS
I “an itching palm!”You know that you are Brutus that speak this,Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
CASSIUS
Me, “corrupt!” You know that if you were not Brutus, then I swear by the gods, that speech would have been your last.
BRUTUS
The name of Cassius honors this corruption,And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
BRUTUS
Cassius, your honorable reputation masks this corruption, and so it is not condemned.
CASSIUS
Chastisement!
CASSIUS
Condemned!
BRUTUS
Remember March, the ides of March remember. Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What villain touched his body, that did stab, And not for justice? What, shall one of us That struck the foremost man of all this world But for supporting robbers, shall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes, And sell the mighty space of our large honors For so much trash as may be graspèd thus? I had rather be a dog and bay the moon Than such a Roman.
BRUTUS
Remember March. March 15th. Remember. Didn’t great Caesar die for the sake of justice? Any man who stabbed him for reasons other than justice is a villain. What? Did we strike down the most powerful man in the world in part because he allowed tax-collectors to act corruptly, only to dirty our own hands with immoral bribes now? And sell our reputations for as much money as we can grab? I’d rather be a dog, howling at the moon, than be that kind of Roman.
CASSIUS
Brutus, bait not me. I’ll not endure it. You forget yourself To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I, Older in practice, abler than yourself To make conditions.
CASSIUS
Brutus, don’t hassle me. I won’t take it. You’re forgetting yourself if you think you can limit my authority. I’m a soldier, more experienced than you, and better able to decide how to manage things.
BRUTUS
Go to. You are not, Cassius.
BRUTUS
You must be kidding! You are not, Cassius.
CASSIUS
I am.
CASSIUS
I am.
BRUTUS
I say you are not.
BRUTUS
I say you’re not.
CASSIUS
Urge me no more, I shall forget myself.Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further.
CASSIUS
Stop pushing me, or I might forget to control myself. Think about your health. Provoke me no more.
BRUTUS
Away, slight man!
BRUTUS
Go away, you little man.
CASSIUS
Is ’t possible?
CASSIUS
Is this possible?
BRUTUS
Hear me, for I will speak.Must I give way and room to your rash choler?Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
BRUTUS
Listen to me, because I have something to say. Must I give in to your impulsive anger? Should I be frightened when a madman stares wildly around?
CASSIUS
O ye gods, ye gods, must I endure all this?
CASSIUS
Oh you gods, oh you gods! Must I tolerate all this?
BRUTUS
“All this?” Ay, more. Fret till your proud heart break. Go show your slaves how choleric you are And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge? Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch Under your testy humor? By the gods, You shall digest the venom of your spleen, Though it do split you. For from this day forth, I’ll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter, When you are waspish.
BRUTUS
“All this?” Yes, and more. Rage until your proud heart breaks. Go show your slaves how angry you are, and make your servants tremble. But must I give way? Must I watch out for you? Must I hide in fear when you're in a bad mood? By the gods, before I’ll respond to you, you’ll have to swallow the poison of your bad temper until it makes you burst. From this day on, you’ll only make me laugh when you get hotheaded.
CASSIUS
Is it come to this?
CASSIUS
Has it come to this?
BRUTUS
You say you are a better soldier.Let it appear so. Make your vaunting true,And it shall please me well. For mine own part,I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
BRUTUS
You say that you’re a better soldier. Prove it. Make your boasting come true, and I’ll be delighted. I’m always happy to learn from noble men.
CASSIUS
You wrong me every way. You wrong me, Brutus.I said an elder soldier, not a better.Did I say “better?”
CASSIUS
You wrong me in every way. You wrong me, Brutus. I said an older soldier, not a better one. Did I say “better?”
BRUTUS
If you did, I care not.
BRUTUS
If you did, I don’t care.
CASSIUS
When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.
CASSIUS
When Caesar was alive, even he didn't dare to anger me this way.
BRUTUS
Peace, peace! You durst not so have tempted him.
BRUTUS
Enough, enough! You would not have dared to tempt him like this.
CASSIUS
I durst not!
CASSIUS
I wouldn’t have dared!
BRUTUS
No.
BRUTUS
No.
CASSIUS
What, durst not tempt him?
CASSIUS
What? Not dared to tempt him?
BRUTUS
For your life you durst not!
BRUTUS
Not on your life!
CASSIUS
Do not presume too much upon my love.I may do that I shall be sorry for.
CASSIUS
Don’t count too much on my love for you. I might do something that I’ll regret.
BRUTUS
You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats, For I am armed so strong in honesty That they pass by me as the idle wind, Which I respect not. I did send to you For certain sums of gold, which you denied me, For I can raise no money by vile means. By heaven, I had rather coin my heart And drop my blood for drachmas than to wring From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash By any indirection. I did send To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me. Was that done like Cassius? Should I have answered Caius Cassius so? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts. Dash him to pieces!
BRUTUS
You’ve already done the thing you should regret. Cassius, your threats don’t frighten me, because I’m so sure that I am in the right that they pass me by like an insignificant breeze that I barely even notice. I sent you a message asking for a certain amount of gold, which you refused to give me. It's against my nature to raise money in immoral ways. By god, I’d rather turn my heart into money—spilling my blood in exchange for coins—than to wring from the calloused hands of peasants what little they have through dishonesty or trickery. I asked you for gold to pay my soldiers, and you refused. Is that how Caius Cassius acts? Would I have ever responded in such a way to you? If I ever grow so greedy that I hoard such a measly amount of money from my friends, then, gods, crush me to pieces with your thunderbolts!
CASSIUS
I denied you not.
CASSIUS
I did not refuse you.
BRUTUS
You did.
BRUTUS
You did.
CASSIUS
I did not. He was but a fool that brought My answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart. A friend should bear his friend’s infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
CASSIUS
I did not. The man who brought my answer back to you was a fool. Brutus, you’ve broken my heart. A friend should put up with his friend’s weaknesses, but you make mine seem larger than they are.
BRUTUS
I do not, till you practice them on me.
BRUTUS
I don’t, until you practice them on me.
CASSIUS
You love me not.
CASSIUS
You do not love me.
BRUTUS
I do not like your faults.
BRUTUS
I don’t like your faults.
CASSIUS
A friendly eye could never see such faults.
CASSIUS
A friend would never see those faults.
BRUTUS
A flatterer’s would not, though they do appearAs huge as high Olympus.
BRUTUS
No, a flatterer wouldn’t, even though they are as huge as towering Mount Olympus.
CASSIUS
Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, For Cassius is aweary of the world— Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; Checked like a bondman, all his faults observed, Set in a notebook, learned, and conned by rote To cast into my teeth. Oh, I could weep My spirit from mine eyes. [offers BRUTUS his bared dagger] There is my dagger. And here my naked breast. Within, a heart Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold. If that thou beest a Roman, take it forth. I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart. Strike, as thou didst at Caesar. For I know When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
CASSIUS
Come, Antony and young Octavius, come. Take your revenge on Cassius alone, because Cassius has grown tired of the world. Hated by someone he loves; defied by his brother; scolded like a servant; and all his faults noted, written down in a notebook, studied, and memorized so that they can be thrown back in his face. Oh, I could weep my soul right out of my eyes. [He offers BRUTUS his unsheathed dagger] There’s my dagger, and here’s my bare chest. Inside it is a heart more valuable than Pluto's silver mine, and richer than gold. If you are a Roman, take out my heart. I, who refused to give you gold, will give you my heart. Strike at me just as you did at Caesar. Because I know that even when you hated him the most, you still loved him better than you ever loved me.
BRUTUS
Sheathe your dagger. Be angry when you will, it shall have scope. Do what you will, dishonor shall be humor. O Cassius, you are yokèd with a lamb That carries anger as the flint bears fire, Who, much enforcèd, shows a hasty spark And straight is cold again.
BRUTUS
No, put away your dagger. Be angry whenever you like, I won’t try to stop you. Do whatever you want, and I’ll look upon your insults as just the product of a bad mood. Oh, Cassius, you are partners with a quiet lamb that gets angry in the same way that a flint makes fire—a brief spark when struck, and then immediately I’m cold again.
CASSIUS
Hath Cassius livedTo be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,When grief and blood ill-tempered vexeth him?
CASSIUS
Have I lived this long only to be mocked by Brutus when grief and anger get the best of me?
BRUTUS
When I spoke that, I was ill-tempered too.
BRUTUS
When I said that, I was angry too.
CASSIUS
Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
CASSIUS
You admit that? Give me your hand.
BRUTUS
And my heart too.
BRUTUS
And my heart too.
CASSIUS and BRUTUS shake hands.
CASSIUS
O Brutus!
CASSIUS
Oh, Brutus!
BRUTUS
What’s the matter?
BRUTUS
What’s the matter?
CASSIUS
Have not you love enough to bear with me,When that rash humor which my mother gave meMakes me forgetful?
CASSIUS
Do you have enough love for me to patiently bear with me when the bad temper I inherited from my mother makes me forget how I should act?
BRUTUS
Yes, Cassius. And from henceforthWhen you are over-earnest with your Brutus,He’ll think your mother chides and leave you so.
BRUTUS
Yes, Cassius. And from now on, when you get angry with me, I’ll assume it’s your mother scolding me, and leave it at that.
POET
[within] Let me go in to see the generals.There is some grudge between 'em. 'Tis not meetThey be alone.
POET
[Offstage] Let me in to see the generals. There’s a grudge between them. It isn’t good for them to be alone.
LUCILLIUS
[within] You shall not come to them.
LUCILLIUS
[Offstage] You can’t go in to see them.
POET
[within] Nothing but death shall stay me.
POET
[Offstage] Only death will stop me.
A POET enters, followed by LUCILLIUS and TITINIUS.
CASSIUS
How now? What’s the matter?
CASSIUS
What’s going on? What’s the matter?
POET
For shame, you generals! What do you mean?Love, and be friends as two such men should be.For I have seen more years, I’m sure, than ye.
POET
Shame on you, generals! What do you do?
Love each other and be friends, as men like you two should.
Listen to me, because I’m older than you.
CASSIUS
Ha, ha, how vilely doth this cynic rhyme!
CASSIUS
Ha ha! How badly this rude man rhymes!
BRUTUS
[to POET] Get you hence, sirrah. Saucy fellow, hence!
BRUTUS
[To POET] Get out of here, sir! Rude man, get gone!
CASSIUS
Bear with him, Brutus. 'Tis his fashion.
CASSIUS
Go easy on him, Brutus. That’s just how he is.
BRUTUS
I’ll know his humor when he knows his time. What should the wars do with these jigging fools? —Companion, hence!
BRUTUS
I’ll humor his behavior when he learns the right time for it. What should we do with all these rhyming fools that follow our armies?
[To the POET] Get out of here, buddy.
CASSIUS
Away, away, be gone.
CASSIUS
Away, away, be gone.
The POET exits.
BRUTUS
Lucillius and Titinius, bid the commandersPrepare to lodge their companies tonight.
BRUTUS
Lucillius and Titinius, tell the commanders to prepare to camp for the night.
CASSIUS
And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you,Immediately to us.
CASSIUS
Then come back, immediately, and bring Messala with you.
LUCILLIUS and TITINIUS exit.
BRUTUS
[calls off] Lucius, a bowl of wine!
BRUTUS
[Calling offstage] Lucius, bring a bowl of wine.
CASSIUS
I did not think you could have been so angry.
CASSIUS
I didn’t think you could get so angry.
BRUTUS
O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
BRUTUS
Oh, Cassius, I’m worn out by many sorrows.
CASSIUS
Of your philosophy you make no useIf you give place to accidental evils.
CASSIUS
You’re not using your Stoic philosophy if you let bad luck upset you.
BRUTUS
No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.
BRUTUS
No one bears sorrow better than I do. Portia is dead.
CASSIUS
Ha, Portia?
CASSIUS
What, Portia?
BRUTUS
She is dead.
BRUTUS
She is dead.
CASSIUS
How ’scaped I killing when I crossed you so? O insupportable and touching loss! Upon what sickness?
CASSIUS
How did I escape getting killed when I argued with you just now? What an unbearable and pitiful loss! What sickness killed her?
BRUTUS
Impatient of my absence, And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony Have made themselves so strong—for with her death That tidings came—with this she fell distract And, her attendants absent, swallowed fire.
BRUTUS
Unable to bear my absence, and worried that young Octavius and Mark Antony have become so strong—which I learned about along with the news of her death—she fell into despair. And, when her attendants were away, she swallowed burning coals.
CASSIUS
And died so?
CASSIUS
That’s how she died?
BRUTUS
Even so.
BRUTUS
Like that.
CASSIUS
O ye immortal gods!
CASSIUS
Oh, you immortal gods!
LUCIUS enters with wine and candles.
BRUTUS
Speak no more of her.—Give me a bowl of wine.—In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. [drinks]
BRUTUS
Speak no more about her. Give me a bowl of wine. I bury all our previous anger with this drink, Cassius. [He drinks]
CASSIUS
My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup.I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. [drinks]
CASSIUS
My heart is thirsty for that noble promise. Pour, Lucius, until the wine overflows my cup. I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. [He drinks]
LUCIUS exits.
TITINIUS and MESSALA enter.
BRUTUS
Come in, Titinius.—Welcome, good Messala!Now sit we close about this taper hereAnd call in question our necessities.
BRUTUS
Come in, Titinius! Welcome, good Messala. Now let’s sit around this candle and consider our situation.
CASSIUS
Portia, art thou gone?
CASSIUS
Portia, are you really gone?
BRUTUS
No more, I pray you.—Messala, I have here receivèd lettersThat young Octavius and Mark AntonyCome down upon us with a mighty power,Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
BRUTUS
No more on that, please. Messala, I have here some letters saying that young Octavius and Mark Antony are marching fast toward Philippi and bearing down upon us with a mighty power.
MESSALA
Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.
MESSALA
I have gotten letters that say the same thing.
BRUTUS
With what addition?
BRUTUS
Do they say anything else?
MESSALA
That by proscription and bills of outlawry,Octavius, Antony, and LepidusHave put to death an hundred senators.
MESSALA
They say that Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus have put to death a hundred senators through legal proclamations declaring men to be unprotected by the law.
BRUTUS
Therein our letters do not well agree.Mine speak of seventy senators that diedBy their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
BRUTUS
There, our letters don’t agree. My letters mention only seventy senators that were killed, with Cicero being one.
CASSIUS
Cicero one?
CASSIUS
Cicero too?
MESSALA
Cicero is dead, And by that order of proscription. [to BRUTUS] Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
MESSALA
Cicero is dead, by that same proclamation.
[To BRUTUS] Have you gotten letters from your wife, my lord?
BRUTUS
No, Messala.
BRUTUS
No, Messala.
MESSALA
Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?
MESSALA
And the letters you have received say nothing about her?
BRUTUS
Nothing, Messala.
BRUTUS
Nothing, Messala.
MESSALA
That methinks is strange.
MESSALA
I think that’s strange.
BRUTUS
Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in yours?
BRUTUS
Why do you ask? Have you heard something about her in your letters?
MESSALA
No, my lord.
MESSALA
No, my lord.
BRUTUS
Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true.
BRUTUS
Now, as you’re a Roman, tell me the truth.
MESSALA
Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell.For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
MESSALA
Then like a Roman you must bear the truth. It’s certain that she is dead, and she died in a strange way.
BRUTUS
Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala.With meditating that she must die once,I have the patience to endure it now.
BRUTUS
Well, goodbye, Portia. We all must die, Messala. Knowing that she would have to die sometime, I can endure her death now.
MESSALA
Even so great men great losses should endure.
MESSALA
That’s exactly the way that great men should endure great losses.
CASSIUS
I have as much of this in art as you,But yet my nature could not bear it so.
CASSIUS
I know the philosophy of Stoicism as well as you, but I still couldn’t bear this news as you do.
BRUTUS
Well, to our work alive. What do you thinkOf marching to Philippi presently?
BRUTUS
Well, now for our work concerning the living. Should we march to Philippi immediately?
CASSIUS
I do not think it good.
CASSIUS
I don’t think that's a good idea.
BRUTUS
Your reason?
BRUTUS
Your reasons?
CASSIUS
This it is: 'Tis better that the enemy seek us. So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, Doing himself offense, whilst we, lying still, Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness.
CASSIUS
Here it is: it’s better if the enemy has to come to us. In doing so, he’ll waste his supplies and tire out his soldiers—reducing his own strength. Meanwhile we will be rested, strong, and nimble by staying here.
BRUTUS
Good reasons must of force give place to better. The people ’twixt Philippi and this ground Do stand but in a forced affection, For they have grudged us contribution. The enemy, marching along by them, By them shall make a fuller number up, Come on refreshed, new-added, and encouraged, From which advantage shall we cut him off If at Philippi we do face him there, These people at our back.
BRUTUS
Those are good reasons, but they must give way to better ones. The people who live between here and Philippi are only loyal to us out of fear of our force. They only gave us men and money for our army because they felt they had to. The enemy, marching past them, will be able to grow by recruiting them. Then, they'll come at us refreshed, newly reinforced, and confident. We can block this advantage if we face the enemy at Philippi, because these people will then be behind us.
CASSIUS
Hear me, good brother—
CASSIUS
Listen to me, good brother—
BRUTUS
Under your pardon. You must note beside, That we have tried the utmost of our friends, Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe. The enemy increaseth every day. We, at the height, are ready to decline. There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, And we must take the current when it serves Or lose our ventures.
BRUTUS
Allow me to finish. You must also recognize that we’ve gotten as much as we can from those who support us. Our regiments are full, and our cause is ready. While the enemy gets larger each day, we—now at our largest—can only decrease. There’s a kind of tidal movement, a back-and-forth, in the affairs of men. Acting when you are at high tide leads to success. But if you miss high tide, all the rest of the voyage of your life will be mired in the shallows of misery. We now float on such a high tide. And we must ride the current now, or lose out.
CASSIUS
Then, with your will, go on.We’ll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.
CASSIUS
Then, if that’s your desire, proceed. We two will go as well, and meet them at Philippi.
BRUTUS
The deep of night is crept upon our talk, And nature must obey necessity, Which we will niggard with a little rest. There is no more to say?
BRUTUS
Night has snuck up on us while we were talking. Our bodies must obey the requirement of nature and sleep. But we’ll satisfy that requirement with as little rest as possible. Is there anything else to discuss?
CASSIUS
No more. Good night.Early tomorrow will we rise and hence.
CASSIUS
Nothing else. Good night. Early tomorrow, we will get up and get moving.
BRUTUS
Lucius!
BRUTUS
Lucius!
LUCIUS enters.
BRUTUS
My gown.
BRUTUS
My nightgown.
LUCIUS exits.
BRUTUS
Farewell, good Messala.—Good night, Titinius.—Noble, noble Cassius,Good night and good repose.
BRUTUS
Farewell, good Messala. Good night, Titinius. Noble, noble Cassius, good night, and sleep well.
CASSIUS
O my dear brother,This was an ill beginning of the night.Never come such division ’tween our souls.Let it not, Brutus.
CASSIUS
Oh, my dear brother! This was a poor start to the night. May we never again have such a disagreement. Let’s not, Brutus.
LUCIUS enters with the nightgown.
BRUTUS
Everything is well.
BRUTUS
All is well.
CASSIUS
Good night, my lord.
CASSIUS
Good night, my lord.
BRUTUS
Good night, good brother.
BRUTUS
Good night, good brother.
TITINIUS, MESSALA
Good night, Lord Brutus.
TITINIUS, MESSALA
Good night, Lord Brutus.
BRUTUS
Farewell, everyone.
BRUTUS
Farewell, everyone.
CASSIUS, TITINIUS, and MESSALA exit.
BRUTUS
Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
BRUTUS
Give me the nightgown. Where’s your lute?
LUCIUS
Here in the tent.
LUCIUS
Here in the tent.
BRUTUS
What, thou speak’st drowsily? Poor knave, I blame thee not. Thou art o'erwatched. Call Claudio and some other of my men. I’ll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.
BRUTUS
What, you speak as if you are tired? Poor fool, I don’t blame you. You’ve stayed awake too long, watching over me. Call Claudio and some of my other men. I’ll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.
LUCIUS
Varrus and Claudio!
LUCIUS
Varrus and Claudio!
VARRUS and CLAUDIO enter.
VARRUS
Calls my lord?
VARRUS
You called us, my lord?
BRUTUS
I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep.It may be I shall raise you by and byOn business to my brother Cassius.
BRUTUS
Sirs, I ask you to sleep in my tent. I might wake you up at some point to send you on business to my brother Cassius.
VARRUS
So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.
VARRUS
If you’d like, we’ll stand by and be ready to do what whatever you need.
BRUTUS
I will not have it so. Lie down, good sirs. It may be I shall otherwise bethink me. —Look, Lucius, here’s the book I sought for so. I put it in the pocket of my gown.
BRUTUS
I refuse to let you stay up. Lie down, good sirs. I might decide not to send you. Look, Lucius, here’s the book I was searching for. I put it in the pocket of my nightgown.
VARRUS and CLAUDIO lie down.
LUCIUS
I was sure your lordship did not give it me.
LUCIUS
I was sure that you hadn’t given it to me.
BRUTUS
Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful. Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile, And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
BRUTUS
Bear with me, good boy. I’m very forgetful. Can you stay awake a while longer and play a song or two on your lute?
LUCIUS
Ay, my lord, an ’t please you.
LUCIUS
Yes, if it would make you happy, my lord.
BRUTUS
It does, my boy.I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
BRUTUS
It would, my boy. I ask too much of you, but you’re willing.
LUCIUS
It is my duty, sir.
LUCIUS
It’s my duty, sir.
BRUTUS
I should not urge thy duty past thy might.I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
BRUTUS
I shouldn’t make you perform your duty beyond what you’re able to do. I know that the young need rest.
LUCIUS
I have slept, my lord, already.
LUCIUS
I’ve slept already, my lord.
BRUTUS
It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again.I will not hold thee long. If I do live,I will be good to thee.
BRUTUS
That was smart, and you’ll sleep some more. I won’t keep you very long. If I survive, I’ll be good to you.
LUCIUS plays music and sings a song, then falls asleep.
BRUTUS
This is a sleepy tune. O murderous slumber, Layst thou thy leaden mace upon my boy That plays thee music? —Gentle knave, good night. I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee. If thou dost nod, thou break’st thy instrument. I’ll take it from thee. And, good boy, good night. —Let me see, let me see. Is not the leaf turned down Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
BRUTUS
This is a sleepy tune. Oh, deadening sleep, have you touched your staff to my boy who plays music for you?
[To LUCIUS] Dear boy, good night. I won’t trouble you so much as to wake you. If your head were to nod down, you’d break your instrument, so I’ll take it from you. Good boy, good night.
[To himself] Let me see, let me see. Didn’t I turn down the corner of the page where I stopped reading? Here it is, I think.
The GHOST of Caesar enters.
BRUTUS
How ill this taper burns!—Ha, who comes here? I think it is the weakness of mine eyes That shapes this monstrous apparition. It comes upon me.—Art thou any thing? Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil That makest my blood cold and my hair to stare? Speak to me what thou art.
BRUTUS
This candle is so dim. Hey! Who comes here? I think the weakness in my eyes is making me see this awful ghost. It’s coming toward me. Are you real? Are you some god, some angel, or some devil, that you make my blood turn cold and my hair stand up? Tell me what you are.
GHOST
Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
GHOST
Your evil spirit, Brutus.
BRUTUS
Why comest thou?
BRUTUS
Why did you come here?
GHOST
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
GHOST
To tell you that you’ll see me at Philippi.
BRUTUS
Well, then I shall see thee again?
BRUTUS
Then I will see you again?
GHOST
Ay, at Philippi.
GHOST
Yes, at Philippi.
BRUTUS
Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then.
BRUTUS
I guess I will see you at Philippi, then.
The GHOST exits.
BRUTUS
Now I have taken heart thou vanishest.Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.—Boy, Lucius!—Varrus!—Claudio!—Sirs, awake!—Claudio!
BRUTUS
Just as I get the courage to talk to you, you disappear. Evil spirit, I’d like to talk with you some more. Boy, Lucius! Varrus! Claudio! Sirs, awake! Claudio!
LUCIUS
The strings, my lord, are false.
LUCIUS
The strings are out of tune, my lord.
BRUTUS
He thinks he still is at his instrument.Lucius, awake.
BRUTUS
He thinks he’s still playing his instrument. Lucius, wake up!
LUCIUS
My lord?
LUCIUS
My lord?
BRUTUS
Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out?
BRUTUS
Were you dreaming, Lucius? Is that why you cried out?
LUCIUS
My lord, I do not know that I did cry.
LUCIUS
My lord, I don’t know if I did cry out.
BRUTUS
Yes, that thou didst. Didst thou see any thing?
BRUTUS
Yes, you did. Did you see anything?
LUCIUS
Nothing, my lord.
LUCIUS
Nothing, my lord.
BRUTUS
Sleep again, Lucius.—Sirrah Claudio! [to VARRUS] Fellow thou, awake!
BRUTUS
Go back to sleep, Lucius. Sir Claudio!
[To VARRUS] You there, wake up!
VARRUS
My lord?
VARRUS
My lord?
CLAUDIO
My lord?
CLAUDIO
My lord?
BRUTUS
Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
BRUTUS
Why did you cry out in your sleep?
VARRUS, CLAUDIO
Did we, my lord?
VARRUS, CLAUDIO
Did we, my lord?
BRUTUS
Ay. Saw you anything?
BRUTUS
Yes. Did you see anything?
VARRUS
No, my lord, I saw nothing.
VARRUS
No, my lord, I didn’t see anything.
CLAUDIO
Nor I, my lord.
CLAUDIO
Me neither, my lord.
BRUTUS
Go and commend me to my brother Cassius. Bid him set on his powers betimes before, And we will follow.
BRUTUS
Go and bring my greetings to my brother Cassius. Ask him to get his soldiers marching first, and we will follow.
VARRUS, CLAUDIO
It shall be done, my lord.
VARRUS, CLAUDIO
It will be done, my lord.
Everyone exits in different directions.
