Julius Caesar in modern English, scene by scene

About this translation

Every scene of Julius Caesar is set out twice: William Shakespeare’s words on one side, and on the other a plain modern English rendering of the same lines, in the same order. It is a way to read the original, not a replacement for it — the rendering says what the text says, and the text is the thing you quote.

Line numbers count the verse lines of each scene in the public-domain Project Gutenberg edition these pages are set from, so they may not match the numbering in a printed edition.

1. Act 1, Scene 1 — Rome. A street.Away with you! Go home, you lazy creatures, get home. Is this a holiday? What, don't you…
2. Act 1, Scene 2 — The same. A public place.Calphurnia.
3. Act 1, Scene 3 — The same. A street.Good evening, Casca. Did you see Caesar home? Why are you out of breath, and why do you…

1. Act 2, Scene 1 — Rome. Brutus’ orchard.Hey, Lucius! I can't tell from the movement of the stars how close it is to daybreak…
2. Act 2, Scene 2 — A room in Caesar’s palace.Neither heaven nor earth has been at peace tonight. Three times in her sleep Calphurnia…
3. Act 2, Scene 3 — A street near the Capitol."Caesar, beware of Brutus; watch out for Cassius; don't go near Casca; keep an eye on…
4. Act 2, Scene 4 — Another part of the same street, before the house of Brutus.Please, boy, run to the Senate house. Don't wait to answer me — just go. Why are you…

1. Act 3, Scene 1 — Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting.The fifteenth of March has come.
2. Act 3, Scene 2 — The same. The Forum.We want an explanation; let us have an explanation.
3. Act 3, Scene 3 — The same. A street.Last night I dreamed that I was feasting with Caesar, and unlucky things weigh on my…

1. Act 4, Scene 1 — Rome. A room in Antony’s house.All these, then, are to die; their names are marked on the list.
2. Act 4, Scene 2 — Before Brutus’ tent, in the camp near Sardis.Halt!
3. Act 4, Scene 3 — Within the tent of Brutus.That you have wronged me is clear from this: you have condemned and publicly disgraced…

1. Act 5, Scene 1 — The plains of Philippi.Now, Antony, our hopes are fulfilled. You said the enemy would not come down, but would…
2. Act 5, Scene 2 — The same. The field of battle.Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and deliver these written orders to the legions on the other…
3. Act 5, Scene 3 — Another part of the field.Oh, look, Titinius, look, the cowards are running away! I have turned into an enemy to my…
4. Act 5, Scene 4 — Another part of the field.Still, countrymen, oh, still hold your heads up!
5. Act 5, Scene 5 — Another part of the field.Come, poor remnant of my friends, rest on this rock.