The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (886 page)

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.

Surround me with fat, lazy men. See Cassius over there. He has a hungry look about him, and he thinks too much. Men, like him, are dangerous.

Antony

Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous;


He is a noble Roman and well given.

You needn’t fear him. He’s not dangerous. He is a well-known and noble Roman.

 
Caesar

Would he were fatter! But I fear him not:


Yet, if my name were liable to fear,


I do not know the man I should avoid


So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much;


He is a great observer, and he looks


Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays,


As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music:


Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort


As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit


That could be moved to smile at any thing.


Such men as he be never at heart's ease


Whiles they behold a greater than themselves;


And therefore are they very dangerous.


I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd


Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar.


Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,


And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.