Julius Caesar, Act 1, Scene 3

Good even, Casca: brought you Caesar home? Why are you breathless, and why stare you so?

Good evening, Casca. Did you see Caesar home? Why are you out of breath, and why do you stare like that?

Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds Have riv’d the knotty oaks; and I have seen Th’ ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam, To be exalted with the threatening clouds: But never till tonight, never till now, Did I go through a tempest dropping fire. Either there is a civil strife in heaven, Or else the world too saucy with the gods, Incenses them to send destruction.

Aren't you shaken, when the whole balanced frame of the earth shakes like something unsteady? Oh, Cicero, I have seen storms when the raging winds have split the gnarled oaks; and I have seen the ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam, as if to rise as high as the threatening clouds. But never until tonight, never until now, did I walk through a storm that dropped fire. Either there is civil war in heaven, or else the world, too insolent toward the gods, provokes them into sending destruction.

Why, saw you anything more wonderful?

Why, did you see anything even more amazing?

A common slave, you’d know him well by sight, Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn Like twenty torches join’d, and yet his hand, Not sensible of fire remain’d unscorch’d. Besides, I ha’ not since put up my sword, Against the Capitol I met a lion, Who glared upon me, and went surly by, Without annoying me. And there were drawn Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women, Transformed with their fear; who swore they saw Men, all in fire, walk up and down the streets. And yesterday the bird of night did sit, Even at noonday upon the marketplace, Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies Do so conjointly meet, let not men say, “These are their reasons; they are natural”; For I believe, they are portentous things Unto the climate that they point upon.

An ordinary slave — you'd recognize him at once by sight — held up his left hand, and it flamed and burned like twenty torches put together, yet his hand, feeling no fire, stayed unburned. Besides that — I haven't put my sword away since — near the Capitol I met a lion, who glared at me and went sullenly past without doing me any harm. And there were a hundred ghastly women crowded together in a heap, changed by their fear; they swore they saw men, all on fire, walking up and down the streets. And yesterday the owl sat in the marketplace at midday, hooting and shrieking. When these unnatural signs all come together like this, don't let anyone say, "Here are the causes; they are natural." Because I believe they are warnings of disaster to the country they point at.

Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time. But men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. Comes Caesar to the Capitol tomorrow?

It's true, the times are strangely out of order. But men can interpret things to suit themselves, completely apart from what the things themselves mean. Is Caesar coming to the Capitol tomorrow?

He doth, for he did bid Antonius Send word to you he would be there tomorrow.

He is, because he told Antonius to send you word that he would be there tomorrow.

Goodnight then, Casca: this disturbed sky Is not to walk in.

Good night then, Casca. This troubled sky is no weather for walking in.

Farewell, Cicero.

Goodbye, Cicero.

Who’s there?

Who's there?

A Roman.

A Roman.

Casca, by your voice.

It's Casca, by your voice.

Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this!

Your hearing is good. Cassius, what a night this is!

A very pleasing night to honest men.

A very pleasant night to honest men.

Who ever knew the heavens menace so?

Who has ever known the skies to threaten like this?

Those that have known the earth so full of faults. For my part, I have walk’d about the streets, Submitting me unto the perilous night; And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see, Have bar’d my bosom to the thunder-stone; And when the cross blue lightning seem’d to open The breast of heaven, I did present myself Even in the aim and very flash of it.

Those who have known the earth to be so full of crimes. As for me, I have walked around the streets, exposing myself to the dangerous night; and with my clothes loosened like this, Casca, as you see, I have bared my chest to the thunderbolt; and when the jagged blue lightning seemed to split open the breast of heaven, I put myself right in its path and in the very flash of it.

But wherefore did you so much tempt the Heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods by tokens send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.

But why did you provoke the heavens so much? It is men's proper role to be afraid and tremble, when the mightiest gods send us such terrifying messengers in signs to shock us.

You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life That should be in a Roman you do want, Or else you use not. You look pale and gaze, And put on fear and cast yourself in wonder, To see the strange impatience of the Heavens: But if you would consider the true cause Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, Why birds and beasts, from quality and kind; Why old men, fools, and children calculate, Why all these things change from their ordinance, Their natures, and pre-formed faculties, To monstrous quality; why, you shall find That Heaven hath infus’d them with these spirits, To make them instruments of fear and warning Unto some monstrous state. Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man Most like this dreadful night, That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars, As doth the lion in the Capitol; A man no mightier than thyself, or me, In personal action; yet prodigious grown, And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.

You are slow-witted, Casca, and you lack those sparks of life that ought to be in a Roman, or else you don't use them. You look pale and stare, and you take on fear and throw yourself into amazement, at seeing this strange fury of the heavens. But if you would think about the real reason why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, why birds and beasts act against their nature and kind, why old men, fools and children make prophecies, why all these things depart from their appointed order, their natures and the powers they were formed with, into monstrous behavior — why, you would find that heaven has filled them with these spirits to make them agents of fear and warning about some monstrous condition in the state. Now, Casca, I could name you a man very like this dreadful night, who thunders, flashes lightning, opens graves, and roars, as the lion in the Capitol does: a man no stronger than you or me in what he can do himself, and yet grown ominous and terrifying, as these strange outbreaks are.

’Tis Caesar that you mean; is it not, Cassius?

It's Caesar you mean, isn't it, Cassius?

Let it be who it is: for Romans now Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors; But, woe the while! our fathers’ minds are dead, And we are govern’d with our mothers’ spirits; Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish.

Let it be whoever it is. Romans today have muscles and limbs like their ancestors'; but, what a time this is! Our fathers' minds are dead, and we are ruled by our mothers' spirits; the yoke we bear and our patience under it show us to be like women.

Indeed, they say the senators tomorrow Mean to establish Caesar as a king; And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, In every place, save here in Italy.

In fact, they say the senators intend tomorrow to make Caesar a king; and he is to wear his crown by sea and land, everywhere except here in Italy.

I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius: Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat. Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world besides, That part of tyranny that I do bear I can shake off at pleasure.

Then I know where I will wear this dagger: Cassius will set Cassius free from slavery. In that, you gods, you make the weak the strongest; in that, you gods, you defeat tyrants. No tower of stone, no walls of hammered brass, no airless dungeon, no strong chains of iron can hold in the strength of the spirit; but life, when it is tired of these bars of the world, is never without the power to release itself. If I know this, let the whole world know it too: the share of tyranny that I bear I can throw off whenever I choose.

So can I: So every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity.

So can I. So every slave carries in his own hand the power to end his captivity.

And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf, But that he sees the Romans are but sheep: He were no lion, were not Romans hinds. Those that with haste will make a mighty fire Begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome, What rubbish, and what offal, when it serves For the base matter to illuminate So vile a thing as Caesar! But, O grief, Where hast thou led me? I, perhaps, speak this Before a willing bondman: then I know My answer must be made; but I am arm’d, And dangers are to me indifferent.

Then why should Caesar be a tyrant? Poor man! I know he wouldn't be a wolf if he didn't see that the Romans are only sheep. He would be no lion if the Romans were not deer. Those who want to build a great fire quickly start it with flimsy straw. What trash Rome is, what rubbish, what garbage, when it serves as the cheap fuel to light up something as worthless as Caesar! But, oh, my grief, where have you led me? Perhaps I am saying this in front of a willing slave; then I know I will have to answer for it. But I am armed, and dangers mean nothing to me.

You speak to Casca, and to such a man That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand: Be factious for redress of all these griefs, And I will set this foot of mine as far As who goes farthest.

You are speaking to Casca, and to a man who is no sneering informer. Here, take my hand: form a faction to put right all these wrongs, and I will set this foot of mine as far forward as anyone who goes farthest.

There’s a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have mov’d already Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans To undergo with me an enterprise Of honourable-dangerous consequence; And I do know by this, they stay for me In Pompey’s Porch: for now, this fearful night, There is no stir or walking in the streets; And the complexion of the element In favour’s like the work we have in hand, Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.

Then we have a bargain. Now let me tell you, Casca, I have already persuaded certain of the noblest-minded Romans to take on an undertaking with me that will have honorable but dangerous results; and I know by now that they are waiting for me at Pompey's Porch. For tonight, on this frightening night, there is no movement or walking in the streets; and the look of the sky resembles the work we have in hand: most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.

Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste.

Stand back out of sight for a moment, because here comes someone in a hurry.

’Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait; He is a friend. Cinna, where haste you so?

It's Cinna; I know him by the way he walks. He is a friend. Cinna, where are you hurrying to?

To find out you. Who’s that? Metellus Cimber?

To find you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?

No, it is Casca, one incorporate To our attempts. Am I not stay’d for, Cinna?

No, it's Casca, someone joined with us in our plans. Aren't they waiting for me, Cinna?

I am glad on’t. What a fearful night is this! There’s two or three of us have seen strange sights.

I'm glad of it. What a frightening night this is! Two or three of us have seen strange sights.

Am I not stay’d for? tell me.

Aren't they waiting for me? Tell me.

Yes, you are. O Cassius, if you could But win the noble Brutus to our party—

Yes, they are. Oh, Cassius, if you could only win the noble Brutus over to our side—

Be you content. Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the praetor’s chair, Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this In at his window; set this up with wax Upon old Brutus’ statue: all this done, Repair to Pompey’s Porch, where you shall find us. Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?

Don't worry about that. Good Cinna, take this paper, and be sure you lay it in the praetor's chair, where only Brutus will find it; and throw this in at his window; fix this with wax on old Brutus' statue. When all this is done, come to Pompey's Porch, where you will find us. Are Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?

All but Metellus Cimber, and he’s gone To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, And so bestow these papers as you bade me.

All of them except Metellus Cimber, and he has gone to look for you at your house. Well, I'll hurry, and place these papers as you told me.

That done, repair to Pompey’s theatre.

When that's done, come to Pompey's theater.

Come, Casca, you and I will yet, ere day, See Brutus at his house: three parts of him Is ours already, and the man entire Upon the next encounter, yields him ours.

Come, Casca, you and I will still go and see Brutus at his house before daylight. Three quarters of him is ours already, and at the next meeting the whole man gives himself up to us.

O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts! And that which would appear offence in us, His countenance, like richest alchemy, Will change to virtue and to worthiness.

Oh, he stands high in all the people's hearts! And what would look like a crime in us, his support, like the most powerful alchemy, will turn into virtue and worthiness.

Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. Let us go, For it is after midnight; and ere day, We will awake him, and be sure of him.

You have judged him, and his worth, and our great need of him, exactly right. Let's go, because it is after midnight; and before daybreak we will wake him and make sure of him.