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 bring 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 balance of the earth shakes like something unsteady? Oh, Cicero, I have seen storms when the scolding winds have split the knotty oaks; and I have seen the ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam, trying 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 has grown too insolent with the gods, and 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 easily by sight — held up his left hand, and it flamed and burned like twenty torches put together, and yet his hand, not feeling the fire, stayed unburned. Besides — and I haven't put my sword away since — near the Capitol I met a lion, who glared at me and went past sullenly, without harming me. And there were a hundred ghastly women huddled in a heap, transformed by their fear, who swore they saw men, all on fire, walking up and down the streets. And yesterday the bird of night sat in the marketplace at midday, hooting and shrieking. When these unnatural signs come together like this, don't let men say, "Here are the causes; these things are natural." Because I believe they are omens warning the country they appear over.

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?

Indeed, it is a strangely troubled time. But men may interpret things to suit themselves, entirely apart from the real meaning of those things. 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.

Goodnight then, Casca. This troubled sky is no weather to walk about in.

Farewell, Cicero.

Goodbye, Cicero.

Who’s there?

Who's there?

A Roman.

A Roman.

Casca, by your voice.

Casca, judging 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 for 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 about 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 placed myself right in its target 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 role to fear and tremble when the mightiest gods send such terrifying messengers as signs to astonish 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 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 there are all these fires, all these drifting ghosts, why birds and beasts act against their nature and kind; why old men, fools and children make prophecies; why all these things change from their appointed order, their natures, and the abilities they were formed with, into monstrous behaviour — why, then you would find that heaven has filled them with these spirits to make them instruments of fear and warning about some monstrous condition of the state. Now, Casca, I could name to you a man very like this dreadful night, a man who thunders, flashes lightning, opens graves and roars as the lion in the Capitol does; a man no stronger than you or me in his own person, yet grown ominous and terrifying, just 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 the muscles and limbs of their ancestors; but, alas for these times, our fathers' minds are dead, and we are ruled by our mothers' spirits; our submission to the yoke shows us to be womanish.

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.

Indeed, they say the senators tomorrow intend to make Caesar a king; and he will 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 free Cassius from slavery. In that, you gods, you make the weak the strongest of all; in that, you gods, you defeat tyrants. Neither a tower of stone, nor walls of hammered brass, nor an airless dungeon, nor strong chains of iron can hold in the strength of the spirit; life, when it grows tired of these worldly prison bars, never lacks the power to release itself. If I know this, let all the world know it too: that portion of tyranny that I put up with I can shake off whenever I please.

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

So can I. So every slave holds 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 Romans were not deer. Those who want to make a great fire quickly start it with flimsy straw. What trash Rome is, what rubbish and what garbage, when it serves as the cheap fuel to light up something as vile as Caesar! But, oh grief, where have you led me? Perhaps I am saying this in front of a willing slave; in that case 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 step as far as anyone who goes furthest.

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 understand, Casca, that I have already persuaded a certain number of the noblest-minded Romans to join me in an undertaking with honourable but dangerous consequences; and I know that by now they are waiting for me at Pompey's Porch. For right now, 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 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's a friend. Cinna, where are you hurrying to?

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

To look for 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. Good Cinna, take this paper, and make sure you place it in the praetor's chair, where only Brutus will find it; and throw this one in at his window; and fix this one with wax on old Brutus' statue. When all that 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 off and place these papers as you told me.

That done, repair to Pompey’s theatre.

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

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 see Brutus at his house before daybreak. Three quarters of him is ours already, and at the next meeting the whole man will give 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 finest 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 value, and our great need of him, exactly right. Let's go, because it is past midnight; and before daybreak we will wake him and make sure of him.