No Fear Shakespeare: Julius Caesar: Act 2 Scene 1

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Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare

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Modern Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter BRUTUS in his orchard	Enter BRUTUS in his orchard
BRUTUS What, Lucius, ho!— I cannot by the progress of the stars Give guess how near to day.—Lucius, I say!— I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.— 5 When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say! What, Lucius!	BRUTUS What, Lucius, ho!— I cannot by the progress of the stars Give guess how near to day.—Lucius, I say!— I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.— When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say! What, Lucius!
Enter LUCIUS	Enter LUCIUS
LUCIUS Called you, my lord?	LUCIUS Called you, my lord?
BRUTUS Get me a taper in my study, Lucius. When it is lighted, come and call me here.	BRUTUS Get me a taper in my study, Lucius. When it is lighted, come and call me here.
LUCIUS I will, my lord.	LUCIUS I will, my lord.
Exit LUCIUS	Exit LUCIUS
BRUTUS 10 It must be by his death, and for my part I know no personal cause to spurn at him But for the general. He would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there’s the question. It is the bright day that brings forth the adder 15 And that craves wary walking. Crown him that, And then I grant we put a sting in him That at his will he may do danger with.	BRUTUS It must be by his death, and for my part I know no personal cause to spurn at him But for the general. He would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there’s the question. It is the bright day that brings forth the adder And that craves wary walking. Crown him that, And then I grant we put a sting in him That at his will he may do danger with.
Th' abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power. And, to speak truth of Caesar, 20 I have not known when his affections swayed More than his reason. But ’tis a common proof That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, Whereto the climber upward turns his face. But when he once attains the upmost round, 25 He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend. So Caesar may. Then, lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel Will bear no color for the thing he is, 30 Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented, Would run to these and these extremities. And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg— Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous— And kill him in the shell.	Th' abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power. And, to speak truth of Caesar, I have not known when his affections swayed More than his reason. But ’tis a common proof That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, Whereto the climber upward turns his face. But when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend. So Caesar may. Then, lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel Will bear no color for the thing he is, Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented, Would run to these and these extremities. And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg— Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous— And kill him in the shell.
Enter LUCIUS	Enter LUCIUS
LUCIUS 35 The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Searching the window for a flint, I found This paper, thus sealed up, and I am sure It did not lie there when I went to bed. (gives him a letter)	LUCIUS The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Searching the window for a flint, I found This paper, thus sealed up, and I am sure It did not lie there when I went to bed. (gives him a letter)
BRUTUS 40 Get you to bed again. It is not day. Is not tomorrow, boy, the ides of March?	BRUTUS Get you to bed again. It is not day. Is not tomorrow, boy, the ides of March?
LUCIUS I know not, sir.	LUCIUS I know not, sir.
BRUTUS Look in the calendar and bring me word.	BRUTUS Look in the calendar and bring me word.
LUCIUS I will, sir.	LUCIUS I will, sir.
Exit LUCIUS	Exit LUCIUS
BRUTUS 45 The exhalations whizzing in the air Give so much light that I may read by them. (opens the letter and reads) “Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake, and see thyself. Shall Rome, etc. Speak, strike, redress!” 50 “Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake.” Such instigations have been often dropped Where I have took them up. —“Shall Rome, etc.” Thus must I piece it out: “Shall Rome stand under one man’s awe?” What, Rome? 55 My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive when he was called a king. —“Speak, strike, redress!” Am I entreated To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest 60 Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!	BRUTUS The exhalations whizzing in the air Give so much light that I may read by them. (opens the letter and reads) “Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake, and see thyself. Shall Rome, etc. Speak, strike, redress!” “Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake.” Such instigations have been often dropped Where I have took them up. —“Shall Rome, etc.” Thus must I piece it out: “Shall Rome stand under one man’s awe?” What, Rome? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive when he was called a king. —“Speak, strike, redress!” Am I entreated To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!
Enter LUCIUS	Enter LUCIUS
LUCIUS Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.	LUCIUS Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.
Knock within	Knock within
BRUTUS 'Tis good. Go to the gate. Somebody knocks.	BRUTUS 'Tis good. Go to the gate. Somebody knocks.
Exit LUCIUS	Exit LUCIUS
Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, I have not slept.	Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, I have not slept.
65 Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion, all the interim is Like a phantasma or a hideous dream. The genius and the mortal instruments Are then in council, and the state of man, 70 Like to a little kingdom, suffers then The nature of an insurrection.	Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion, all the interim is Like a phantasma or a hideous dream. The genius and the mortal instruments Are then in council, and the state of man, Like to a little kingdom, suffers then The nature of an insurrection.
Enter LUCIUS	Enter LUCIUS
LUCIUS Sir, ’tis your brother Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you.	LUCIUS Sir, ’tis your brother Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you.
BRUTUS Is he alone?	BRUTUS Is he alone?
LUCIUS No, sir, there are more with him.	LUCIUS No, sir, there are more with him.
BRUTUS Do you know them?	BRUTUS Do you know them?
LUCIUS 75 No, sir. Their hats are plucked about their ears, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them By any mark of favor.	LUCIUS No, sir. Their hats are plucked about their ears, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them By any mark of favor.
BRUTUS Let 'em enter.	BRUTUS Let 'em enter.
Exit LUCIUS	Exit LUCIUS
They are the faction. O conspiracy, 80 Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night When evils are most free? O, then by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy. Hide it in smiles and affability.	They are the faction. O conspiracy, Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night When evils are most free? O, then by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy. Hide it in smiles and affability.
85 For if thou path, thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention.	For if thou path, thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention.
Enter the conspirators: CASSIUS , CASCA , DECIUS , CINNA , METELLUS , and TREBONIUS	Enter the conspirators: CASSIUS , CASCA , DECIUS , CINNA , METELLUS , and TREBONIUS
CASSIUS I think we are too bold upon your rest. Good morrow, Brutus. Do we trouble you?	CASSIUS I think we are too bold upon your rest. Good morrow, Brutus. Do we trouble you?
BRUTUS 90 I have been up this hour, awake all night. Know I these men that come along with you?	BRUTUS I have been up this hour, awake all night. Know I these men that come along with you?
CASSIUS Yes, every man of them, and no man here But honors you, and every one doth wish You had but that opinion of yourself 95 Which every noble Roman bears of you. This is Trebonius.	CASSIUS Yes, every man of them, and no man here But honors you, and every one doth wish You had but that opinion of yourself Which every noble Roman bears of you. This is Trebonius.
BRUTUS He is welcome hither.	BRUTUS He is welcome hither.

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter BRUTUS in his orchard	Enter BRUTUS in his orchard
BRUTUS What, Lucius, ho!— I cannot by the progress of the stars Give guess how near to day.—Lucius, I say!— I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.— 5 When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say! What, Lucius!	BRUTUS What, Lucius, ho!— I cannot by the progress of the stars Give guess how near to day.—Lucius, I say!— I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.— When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say! What, Lucius!
Enter LUCIUS	Enter LUCIUS
LUCIUS Called you, my lord?	LUCIUS Called you, my lord?
BRUTUS Get me a taper in my study, Lucius. When it is lighted, come and call me here.	BRUTUS Get me a taper in my study, Lucius. When it is lighted, come and call me here.
LUCIUS I will, my lord.	LUCIUS I will, my lord.
Exit LUCIUS	Exit LUCIUS
BRUTUS 10 It must be by his death, and for my part I know no personal cause to spurn at him But for the general. He would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there’s the question. It is the bright day that brings forth the adder 15 And that craves wary walking. Crown him that, And then I grant we put a sting in him That at his will he may do danger with.	BRUTUS It must be by his death, and for my part I know no personal cause to spurn at him But for the general. He would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there’s the question. It is the bright day that brings forth the adder And that craves wary walking. Crown him that, And then I grant we put a sting in him That at his will he may do danger with.
Th' abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power. And, to speak truth of Caesar, 20 I have not known when his affections swayed More than his reason. But ’tis a common proof That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, Whereto the climber upward turns his face. But when he once attains the upmost round, 25 He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend. So Caesar may. Then, lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel Will bear no color for the thing he is, 30 Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented, Would run to these and these extremities. And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg— Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous— And kill him in the shell.	Th' abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power. And, to speak truth of Caesar, I have not known when his affections swayed More than his reason. But ’tis a common proof That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, Whereto the climber upward turns his face. But when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend. So Caesar may. Then, lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel Will bear no color for the thing he is, Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented, Would run to these and these extremities. And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg— Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous— And kill him in the shell.
Enter LUCIUS	Enter LUCIUS
LUCIUS 35 The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Searching the window for a flint, I found This paper, thus sealed up, and I am sure It did not lie there when I went to bed. (gives him a letter)	LUCIUS The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Searching the window for a flint, I found This paper, thus sealed up, and I am sure It did not lie there when I went to bed. (gives him a letter)
BRUTUS 40 Get you to bed again. It is not day. Is not tomorrow, boy, the ides of March?	BRUTUS Get you to bed again. It is not day. Is not tomorrow, boy, the ides of March?
LUCIUS I know not, sir.	LUCIUS I know not, sir.
BRUTUS Look in the calendar and bring me word.	BRUTUS Look in the calendar and bring me word.
LUCIUS I will, sir.	LUCIUS I will, sir.
Exit LUCIUS	Exit LUCIUS
BRUTUS 45 The exhalations whizzing in the air Give so much light that I may read by them. (opens the letter and reads) “Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake, and see thyself. Shall Rome, etc. Speak, strike, redress!” 50 “Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake.” Such instigations have been often dropped Where I have took them up. —“Shall Rome, etc.” Thus must I piece it out: “Shall Rome stand under one man’s awe?” What, Rome? 55 My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive when he was called a king. —“Speak, strike, redress!” Am I entreated To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest 60 Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!	BRUTUS The exhalations whizzing in the air Give so much light that I may read by them. (opens the letter and reads) “Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake, and see thyself. Shall Rome, etc. Speak, strike, redress!” “Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake.” Such instigations have been often dropped Where I have took them up. —“Shall Rome, etc.” Thus must I piece it out: “Shall Rome stand under one man’s awe?” What, Rome? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive when he was called a king. —“Speak, strike, redress!” Am I entreated To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!
Enter LUCIUS	Enter LUCIUS
LUCIUS Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.	LUCIUS Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.
Knock within	Knock within
BRUTUS 'Tis good. Go to the gate. Somebody knocks.	BRUTUS 'Tis good. Go to the gate. Somebody knocks.
Exit LUCIUS	Exit LUCIUS
Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, I have not slept.	Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, I have not slept.
65 Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion, all the interim is Like a phantasma or a hideous dream. The genius and the mortal instruments Are then in council, and the state of man, 70 Like to a little kingdom, suffers then The nature of an insurrection.	Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion, all the interim is Like a phantasma or a hideous dream. The genius and the mortal instruments Are then in council, and the state of man, Like to a little kingdom, suffers then The nature of an insurrection.
Enter LUCIUS	Enter LUCIUS
LUCIUS Sir, ’tis your brother Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you.	LUCIUS Sir, ’tis your brother Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you.
BRUTUS Is he alone?	BRUTUS Is he alone?
LUCIUS No, sir, there are more with him.	LUCIUS No, sir, there are more with him.
BRUTUS Do you know them?	BRUTUS Do you know them?
LUCIUS 75 No, sir. Their hats are plucked about their ears, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them By any mark of favor.	LUCIUS No, sir. Their hats are plucked about their ears, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them By any mark of favor.
BRUTUS Let 'em enter.	BRUTUS Let 'em enter.
Exit LUCIUS	Exit LUCIUS
They are the faction. O conspiracy, 80 Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night When evils are most free? O, then by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy. Hide it in smiles and affability.	They are the faction. O conspiracy, Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night When evils are most free? O, then by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy. Hide it in smiles and affability.
85 For if thou path, thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention.	For if thou path, thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention.
Enter the conspirators: CASSIUS , CASCA , DECIUS , CINNA , METELLUS , and TREBONIUS	Enter the conspirators: CASSIUS , CASCA , DECIUS , CINNA , METELLUS , and TREBONIUS
CASSIUS I think we are too bold upon your rest. Good morrow, Brutus. Do we trouble you?	CASSIUS I think we are too bold upon your rest. Good morrow, Brutus. Do we trouble you?
BRUTUS 90 I have been up this hour, awake all night. Know I these men that come along with you?	BRUTUS I have been up this hour, awake all night. Know I these men that come along with you?
CASSIUS Yes, every man of them, and no man here But honors you, and every one doth wish You had but that opinion of yourself 95 Which every noble Roman bears of you. This is Trebonius.	CASSIUS Yes, every man of them, and no man here But honors you, and every one doth wish You had but that opinion of yourself Which every noble Roman bears of you. This is Trebonius.
BRUTUS He is welcome hither.	BRUTUS He is welcome hither.