The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (893 page)

Caesar

How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!


I am ashamed I did yield to them.


Give me my robe, for I will go.

See, Calpurnia, how foolish fear is. I ashamed I listened to them. Give me my robe, and I will go.

Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, and Cinna.

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.

Now, Publius has come to get me.

Publius

Good morrow, Caesar.

Good morning, Caesar.

Caesar

Welcome, Publius.--


What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?--


Good morrow, Casca.--Caius Ligarius,


Caesar was ne'er so much your enemy


As that same ague which hath made you lean.--


What is't o'clock?

Welcome, Publius. What are you doing up so early, Brutus? Good morning, Casca. Caius Ligarius, you are looking sickly. What time is it?

Brutus

Caesar, 'tis strucken eight.

Caesar, it’s eight o’clock.

Caesar

I thank you for your pains and courtesy.

Thank you.

Enter Antony.

See! Antony, that revels long o'nights,


Is notwithstanding up.--Good morrow, Antony.

Even the partier, Antony, is up. Good morning, Antony!

Antony

So to most noble Caesar.

Same to you, most noble Caesar.

Caesar

Bid them prepare within:


I am to blame to be thus waited for.--


Now, Cinna;--now, Metellus;--what, Trebonius!


I have an hour's talk in store for you:


Remember that you call on me to-day;


Be near me, that I may remember you.

Tell them to get ready and that I am to blame for keeping them waiting. Cinna, Mettellus, and Trebonius, I have a long talk prepared for you, so stay close by.

Trebonius

Caesar, I will. [Aside.] and so near will I be,


That your best friends shall wish I had been further.

I will, Caesar.

Aside.

I will be so close that your best friends will wish I had been further away.

Caesar

Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me;


And we, like friends, will straightway go together.

My good friends, let’s go in and drink some wine and then, we will go together.

Brutus

[Aside.] That every like is not the same, O Caesar,


The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon!

Aside.

I wish things could be the same, Caesar. I hate to think of the future.

Exit all.

Enter Artemidorus, reading a paper.

Artemidorus

"Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come


not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Caesar. If thou be'st not immortal, look about you: security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee!


Thy lover, Artemidorus."


Here will I stand till Caesar pass along,


And as a suitor will I give him this.


My heart laments that virtue cannot live


Out of the teeth of emulation.--


If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayest live;


If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.

“Caesar, beware of Brutus and take heed of Cassius. Do not go near Casca, and keep an eye on Cinna. Don’t trust Trebonius or Metellus Cimber. Decius Brutus doesn’t love you, and you have the wrong idea about Caius Ligarius. These men are of one mind and it is anti-Caesar. If you are not immortal, look around and recognize the conspiracy. May the mighty gods defend you. Your friend, Artemidorus.” I will stand here until Caesar passes by and give him this. My heart aches that a good man cannot be without enemies. If Caesar reads this, he may live. If not, then Fate conspires with traitors.

Exit.

Enter Portia and Lucius.

Portia

I pr'ythee, boy, run to the Senate-house;


Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.


Why dost thou stay?

Please, boy, run to the senate-house. Get going. Why are you still here?

Lucius

To know my errand, madam.

I need to know why I’m going, madam.

Portia

I would have had thee there, and here again,


Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.--


[Aside.] O constancy, be strong upon my side!


Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue!


I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.


How hard it is for women to keep counsel!--


Art thou here yet?

You could have been there and back again by the time I can tell you what you are to do there. Oh Lord, help me be strong. Keep my heart from controlling my mouth. It is so hard for a woman to keep a secret. Are you still here?

Lucius

Madam, what should I do?


Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?


And so return to you, and nothing else?

Madam, what do you want me to do? Just go there and back, nothing else?

Portia

Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,


For he went sickly forth: and take good note


What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.


Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Yes, bring me word, boy, if your lord looked okay. He was sick when he went. Also, take a look at Caesar, and see what men are near him. Listen, boy! What was that noise?

Lucius

I hear none, madam.

I didn’t hear anything.

Portia

Pr'ythee, listen well:


I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,


And the wind brings it from the Capitol.

Please listen harder. I heard a bustling noise from the direction of the Capitol.

Enter the Soothsayer.

Portia

Come hither, fellow:


Which way hast thou been?

Come here, fellow. Where are you coming from?

Soothsayer

At mine own house, good lady.

From my house, good lady.

Portia

What is't o'clock?

What time is it?

Soothsayer

About the ninth hour, lady.

It’s about nine o’clock.

Portia

Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol?

Has Caesar gone to the Capitol, yet?

Soothsayer

Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand


To see him pass on to the Capitol.

Not yet, madam. I haven’t seen him pass by.

Portia

Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?

You work for Caesar, right?

Soothsayer

That I have, lady: if it will please Caesar


To be so good to Caesar as to hear me,


I shall beseech him to befriend himself.

Yes. When it pleases him to hear me out, I am a friend to him.

Portia

Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?

Do you know of any harm intended towards him?

Soothsayer

None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.


Good morrow to you.--Here the street is narrow:


The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,


Of Senators, of Praetors, common suitors,


Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:


I'll get me to a place more void, and there


Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.

None that I know of, although I fear there may be a chance. Good day to you. I need to get going before Caesar and his followers come through this narrow street and trample me to death. I need to get to a better place so I may speak to Caesar.

Exit.

Portia

I must go in.--[Aside.] Ah me, how weak a thing


The heart of woman is!--O Brutus,


The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!--


Sure, the boy heard me.--Brutus hath a suit


That Caesar will not grant.--O, I grow faint.--


Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;


Say I am merry: come to me again,


And bring me word what he doth say to thee.

I must go inside. Yes, the heart of a woman is weak. Oh Brutus, may the heavens help you in your work. I know the boy heard me. Brutus has a request Caesar will not grant. Oh, I grow weaker. Run, Lucius, and tell my lord I am well and happy. Then, come to me and tell me what he says