The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (900 page)

Exit.

Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, Lucius, and Soldiers. Titinius and Pindarus meet them.

Brutus

Stand, ho!

Stop!

Lucilius

Give the word, ho! and stand.

Tell everyone to stop!

Brutus

What now, Lucilius! is Cassius near?

What’s going on, Lucilius? Is Cassius nearby?

Lucilius

He is at hand; and Pindarus is come


To do you salutation from his master.

He’s nearby, and Pindarus has come to greet you on his behalf.

Brutus

He greets me well.--Your master, Pindarus,


In his own change, or by ill officers,


Hath given me some worthy cause to wish


Things done, undone: but, if he be at hand,


I shall be satisfied.

Pindarus, you are a good man, but your master has either changed his mind or been influenced by bad officers. I wish we hadn’t done some of the things we did. I need an explanation.

Pindarus

I do not doubt


But that my noble master will appear


Such as he is, full of regard and honour.

I don’t doubt that my noble master will show up.

Brutus

He is not doubted.--A word, Lucilius:


How he received you, let me be resolved.

I don’t doubt him. Lucilius, I need to ask how Cassius received you.

Lucilius

With courtesy and with respect enough;


But not with such familiar instances,


Nor with such free and friendly conference,


As he hath used of old.

He treated me courteously and with respect, but he wasn’t friendly like he is usually.

Brutus

Thou hast described


A hot friend cooling: ever note, Lucilius,


When love begins to sicken and decay,


It useth an enforced ceremony.


There are no tricks in plain and simple faith;


But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,


Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;


But, when they should endure the bloody spur,


They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades


Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?

You have just described a friend in retreat. Remember, Lucilius, when someone no longer wants to be your friend, they act as you have described. Hollow men are like showy horses. They look gallant, but when it’s time to work, they disappear. Is his army coming?

Lucilius

They meant his night in Sard is to be quarter'd:


The greater part, the Horse in general,


Are come with Cassius.

They are in Sardis tonight to be dispersed. The largest is coming with Cassius.

Brutus

Hark! he is arrived.


March gently on to meet him.

Listen! He is here.

Low march within.

Let’s go to meet him.

Enter Cassius and his men.

Cassius

Stand, ho!

Stop!

Brutus

Stand, ho! Speak the word along.

Stop! Tell the others.

First Soldier

Stand!

Stop!

Second Soldier

Stand!

Stop!

Third Soldier

Stand!

Stop!

Cassius

Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.

Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.

Brutus

Judge me, you gods! wrong I mine enemies?


And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?

Let the gods judge me, if I have done you wrong. How I have I wronged you?

Cassius

Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs;


And when you do them--

You may act like you haven’t done anything, but you know you…

Brutus

Cassius, be content;


Speak your griefs softly, I do know you well.


Before the eyes of both our armies here,


Which should perceive nothing but love from us,


Let us not wrangle; bid them move away;


Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,


And I will give you audience.

Cassius, calm down. Tell me what’s bothering you calmly. I know you very well. In front of both our armies, who should see nothing but love from us, let’s not fight. Tell them to move on, and we’ll go in my tent, so I can hear what you have to say.

Cassius

Pindarus,


Bid our commanders lead their charges off


A little from this ground.

Pindarus, tell the commanders to fall back.

Brutus

Lucilius, do you the like; and let no man


Come to our tent till we have done our conference.--


Lucius and Titinius, guard our door.

Lucilius, you do the same, and don’t let anyone come to my tent until we are done conferencing. Let Lucius and Titinius guard the door.

Exit.

Enter Brutus and Cassius

Cassius

That you have wrong'd me doth appear in this:


You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella


For taking bribes here of the Sardians;


Whereas my letters, praying on his side


Because I knew the man, were slighted off.

You wronged me when you condemned Lucius Pella for taking bribes from the Sardians. You ignored my letters on his behalf. I knew the man.

Brutus

You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case.

You were wrong to write those letters.

Cassius

In such a time as this it is not meet


That every nice offense should bear his comment.

In times like these, you shouldn’t talk about others offences.

Brutus

Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself


Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm,


To sell and mart your offices for gold


To undeservers.

You are one to talk when you sell your offices for to people who don’t deserve them.

Cassius

I an itching palm!


You know that you are Brutus that speak this,


Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.

Are you calling me greedy? If anybody else made such a claim against me, it would be their last.

Brutus

The name of Cassius honors this corruption,


And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.

You use your name to cover up corruption.

Cassius

Chastisement!

Corruption!

Brutus

Remember March, the Ides of March remember:


Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?


What villain touch'd 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 honours


For so much trash as may be grasped thus?


I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,


Than such a Roman.

Remember in March, March 15
th
? Didn’t the great Julius bleed for the sake of justice? Who stabbed him who was not seeking justice? Didn’t we kill him for supporting robbers? Should we begin to do the same thing? I rather be a dog and howl at the moon than a Roman like that.

Cassius

Brutus, bay not me,


I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,


To hedge me in; I am a soldier, ay,


Older in practice, abler than yourself


To make conditions.

Don’t howl at me, Brutus. I won’t take it. You’ve forgotten who you are talking to. I am a soldier, and much wiser than you, and more able to make things happen.

Brutus

Go to; you are not, Cassius.

Go for it. You are not the Cassius, I used to know.

Cassius

I am.

Oh, yes I am.

Brutus

I say you are not.

Well, I say you aren’t.

Cassius

Urge me no more, I shall forget myself;


Have mind upon your health, tempt me no farther.

You better stop, before I forget myself. Remember your health and don’t tempt me.

Brutus

Away, slight man!

Get out of here, little man!

Cassius

Is't possible?

Oh, yeah?

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?

You better listen to what I’m saying. I will not be frightened by you.

Cassius

O gods, ye gods! must I endure all this?

Oh, gods! Must I endure 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 humour? 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.