Read and listen with a SparkNotes PLUS trial!
No Fear Translations
No Fear Audio
Already have an account? Log in
Original Text |
Modern Text |
Thunder and lightning Enter Julius CAESAR in his nightgown
|
Thunder and lightning Enter Julius CAESAR in his nightgown
|
CAESAR Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight.
Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out,
“Help, ho! They murder Caesar!”—Who’s within?
|
CAESAR Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight.
Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out,
“Help, ho! They murder Caesar!”—Who’s within?
|
Enter a SERVANT
|
Enter a SERVANT
|
SERVANT My lord.
|
SERVANT My lord.
|
CAESAR 5 Go bid the priests do present sacrifice
And bring me their opinions of success.
|
CAESAR Go bid the priests do present sacrifice
And bring me their opinions of success.
|
SERVANT I will, my lord.
|
SERVANT I will, my lord.
|
Exit SERVANT
|
Exit SERVANT
|
Enter CALPHURNIA
|
Enter CALPHURNIA
|
CALPHURNIA What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house today.
|
CALPHURNIA What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house today.
|
CAESAR 10 Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me
Ne'er looked but on my back. When they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanishèd.
|
CAESAR Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me
Ne'er looked but on my back. When they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanishèd.
|
CALPHURNIA Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
15 Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelpèd in the streets,
And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead.
|
CALPHURNIA Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelpèd in the streets,
And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead.
|
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds
20 In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol.
The noise of battle hurtled in the air.
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.
25 O Caesar! These things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.
|
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol.
The noise of battle hurtled in the air.
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.
O Caesar! These things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.
|
CAESAR What can be avoided
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.
|
CAESAR What can be avoided
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.
|
CALPHURNIA 30 When beggars die there are no comets seen.
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
|
CALPHURNIA When beggars die there are no comets seen.
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
|
CAESAR Cowards die many times before their deaths.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
35 It seems to me most strange that men should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
|
CAESAR Cowards die many times before their deaths.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
|
Enter SERVANT
|
Enter SERVANT
|
What say the augurers?
|
What say the augurers?
|
SERVANT They would not have you to stir forth today.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
40 They could not find a heart within the beast.
|
SERVANT They would not have you to stir forth today.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.
|
CAESAR The gods do this in shame of cowardice.
Caesar should be a beast without a heart
If he should stay at home today for fear.
No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well
|
CAESAR The gods do this in shame of cowardice.
Caesar should be a beast without a heart
If he should stay at home today for fear.
No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well
|
45 That Caesar is more dangerous than he.
We are two lions littered in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible.
And Caesar shall go forth.
|
That Caesar is more dangerous than he.
We are two lions littered in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible.
And Caesar shall go forth.
|
CALPHURNIA Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
50 Do not go forth today. Call it my fear
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We’ll send Mark Antony to the senate house,
And he shall say you are not well today.
(kneels) Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
|
CALPHURNIA Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
Do not go forth today. Call it my fear
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We’ll send Mark Antony to the senate house,
And he shall say you are not well today.
(kneels) Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
|
CAESAR 55 Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
And for thy humor I will stay at home.
|
CAESAR Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
And for thy humor I will stay at home.
|
CALPHURNIA rises
|
CALPHURNIA rises
|
Enter DECIUS
|
Enter DECIUS
|
Here’s Decius Brutus. He shall tell them so.
|
Here’s Decius Brutus. He shall tell them so.
|
DECIUS Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar.
I come to fetch you to the senate house.
|
DECIUS Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar.
I come to fetch you to the senate house.
|
CAESAR 60 And you are come in very happy time
To bear my greeting to the senators
And tell them that I will not come today.
“Cannot” is false, and that I dare not, falser.
I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius.
|
CAESAR And you are come in very happy time
To bear my greeting to the senators
And tell them that I will not come today.
“Cannot” is false, and that I dare not, falser.
I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius.
|
CALPHURNIA 65 Say he is sick.
|
CALPHURNIA Say he is sick.
|
CAESAR Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?
|
CAESAR Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?
|
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.
|
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.
|
DECIUS Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
70 Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so.
|
DECIUS Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so.
|
CAESAR The cause is in my will. I will not come.
That is enough to satisfy the senate.
But for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know.
75 Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood. And many lusty Romans
Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.
80 And these does she apply for warnings and portents
And evils imminent, and on her knee
Hath begged that I will stay at home today.
|
CAESAR The cause is in my will. I will not come.
That is enough to satisfy the senate.
But for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know.
Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood. And many lusty Romans
Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.
And these does she apply for warnings and portents
And evils imminent, and on her knee
Hath begged that I will stay at home today.
|
DECIUS This dream is all amiss interpreted.
It was a vision fair and fortunate.
85 Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
90 This by Calphurnia’s dream is signified.
|
DECIUS This dream is all amiss interpreted.
It was a vision fair and fortunate.
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
This by Calphurnia’s dream is signified.
|
CAESAR And this way have you well expounded it.
|
CAESAR And this way have you well expounded it.
|
DECIUS I have, when you have heard what I can say.
And know it now: the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
|
DECIUS I have, when you have heard what I can say.
And know it now: the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
|
95 If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be rendered for someone to say,
“Break up the senate till another time
When Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams.”
100 If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper,
“Lo, Caesar is afraid”?
Pardon me, Caesar. For my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
And reason to my love is liable.
|
If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be rendered for someone to say,
“Break up the senate till another time
When Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams.”
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper,
“Lo, Caesar is afraid”?
Pardon me, Caesar. For my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
And reason to my love is liable.
|
CAESAR 105 How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia!
I am ashamèd I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.
|
CAESAR How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia!
I am ashamèd I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.
|
Enter BRUTUS , LIGARIUS , METELLUS , CASCA , TREBONIUS , CINNA , and PUBLIUS
|
Enter BRUTUS , LIGARIUS , METELLUS , CASCA , TREBONIUS , CINNA , and PUBLIUS
|
And look, where Publius is come to fetch me.
|
And look, where Publius is come to fetch me.
|
PUBLIUS Good morrow, Caesar.
|
PUBLIUS Good morrow, Caesar.
|
CAESAR 110 Welcome, Publius.
—What, Brutus, are you stirred 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.
115 —What is ’t o'clock?
|
CAESAR Welcome, Publius.
—What, Brutus, are you stirred 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?
|
BRUTUS Caesar, ’tis strucken eight.
|
BRUTUS Caesar, ’tis strucken eight.
|
CAESAR I thank you for your pains and courtesy.
|
CAESAR I thank you for your pains and courtesy.
|
Enter ANTONY
|
Enter ANTONY
|
See, Antony, that revels long a-nights,
Is notwithstanding up.—Good morrow, Antony.
|
See, Antony, that revels long a-nights,
Is notwithstanding up.—Good morrow, Antony.
|
ANTONY So to most noble Caesar.
|
ANTONY So to most noble Caesar.
|
CAESAR Bid them prepare within.
120 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 today.
Be near me, that I may remember you.
|
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 today.
Be near me, that I may remember you.
|
TREBONIUS That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
|
TREBONIUS That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
|
CAESAR Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me.
And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
|
CAESAR Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me.
And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
|
BRUTUS (aside) That every “like” is not the same, O Caesar,
130 The heart of Brutus earns to think upon.
|
BRUTUS (aside) That every “like” is not the same, O Caesar,
The heart of Brutus earns to think upon.
|
Exeunt
|
Exeunt
|
Original Text |
Modern Text |
Thunder and lightning Enter Julius CAESAR in his nightgown
|
Thunder and lightning Enter Julius CAESAR in his nightgown
|
CAESAR Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight.
Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out,
“Help, ho! They murder Caesar!”—Who’s within?
|
CAESAR Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight.
Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out,
“Help, ho! They murder Caesar!”—Who’s within?
|
Enter a SERVANT
|
Enter a SERVANT
|
SERVANT My lord.
|
SERVANT My lord.
|
CAESAR 5 Go bid the priests do present sacrifice
And bring me their opinions of success.
|
CAESAR Go bid the priests do present sacrifice
And bring me their opinions of success.
|
SERVANT I will, my lord.
|
SERVANT I will, my lord.
|
Exit SERVANT
|
Exit SERVANT
|
Enter CALPHURNIA
|
Enter CALPHURNIA
|
CALPHURNIA What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house today.
|
CALPHURNIA What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house today.
|
CAESAR 10 Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me
Ne'er looked but on my back. When they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanishèd.
|
CAESAR Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me
Ne'er looked but on my back. When they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanishèd.
|
CALPHURNIA Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
15 Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelpèd in the streets,
And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead.
|
CALPHURNIA Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelpèd in the streets,
And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead.
|
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds
20 In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol.
The noise of battle hurtled in the air.
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.
25 O Caesar! These things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.
|
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol.
The noise of battle hurtled in the air.
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.
O Caesar! These things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.
|
CAESAR What can be avoided
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.
|
CAESAR What can be avoided
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.
|
CALPHURNIA 30 When beggars die there are no comets seen.
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
|
CALPHURNIA When beggars die there are no comets seen.
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
|
CAESAR Cowards die many times before their deaths.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
35 It seems to me most strange that men should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
|
CAESAR Cowards die many times before their deaths.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
|
Enter SERVANT
|
Enter SERVANT
|
What say the augurers?
|
What say the augurers?
|
SERVANT They would not have you to stir forth today.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
40 They could not find a heart within the beast.
|
SERVANT They would not have you to stir forth today.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.
|
CAESAR The gods do this in shame of cowardice.
Caesar should be a beast without a heart
If he should stay at home today for fear.
No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well
|
CAESAR The gods do this in shame of cowardice.
Caesar should be a beast without a heart
If he should stay at home today for fear.
No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well
|
45 That Caesar is more dangerous than he.
We are two lions littered in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible.
And Caesar shall go forth.
|
That Caesar is more dangerous than he.
We are two lions littered in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible.
And Caesar shall go forth.
|
CALPHURNIA Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
50 Do not go forth today. Call it my fear
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We’ll send Mark Antony to the senate house,
And he shall say you are not well today.
(kneels) Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
|
CALPHURNIA Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
Do not go forth today. Call it my fear
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We’ll send Mark Antony to the senate house,
And he shall say you are not well today.
(kneels) Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
|
CAESAR 55 Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
And for thy humor I will stay at home.
|
CAESAR Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
And for thy humor I will stay at home.
|
CALPHURNIA rises
|
CALPHURNIA rises
|
Enter DECIUS
|
Enter DECIUS
|
Here’s Decius Brutus. He shall tell them so.
|
Here’s Decius Brutus. He shall tell them so.
|
DECIUS Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar.
I come to fetch you to the senate house.
|
DECIUS Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar.
I come to fetch you to the senate house.
|
CAESAR 60 And you are come in very happy time
To bear my greeting to the senators
And tell them that I will not come today.
“Cannot” is false, and that I dare not, falser.
I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius.
|
CAESAR And you are come in very happy time
To bear my greeting to the senators
And tell them that I will not come today.
“Cannot” is false, and that I dare not, falser.
I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius.
|
CALPHURNIA 65 Say he is sick.
|
CALPHURNIA Say he is sick.
|
CAESAR Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?
|
CAESAR Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?
|
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.
|
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.
|
DECIUS Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
70 Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so.
|
DECIUS Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so.
|
CAESAR The cause is in my will. I will not come.
That is enough to satisfy the senate.
But for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know.
75 Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood. And many lusty Romans
Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.
80 And these does she apply for warnings and portents
And evils imminent, and on her knee
Hath begged that I will stay at home today.
|
CAESAR The cause is in my will. I will not come.
That is enough to satisfy the senate.
But for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know.
Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood. And many lusty Romans
Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.
And these does she apply for warnings and portents
And evils imminent, and on her knee
Hath begged that I will stay at home today.
|
DECIUS This dream is all amiss interpreted.
It was a vision fair and fortunate.
85 Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
90 This by Calphurnia’s dream is signified.
|
DECIUS This dream is all amiss interpreted.
It was a vision fair and fortunate.
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
This by Calphurnia’s dream is signified.
|
CAESAR And this way have you well expounded it.
|
CAESAR And this way have you well expounded it.
|
DECIUS I have, when you have heard what I can say.
And know it now: the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
|
DECIUS I have, when you have heard what I can say.
And know it now: the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
|
95 If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be rendered for someone to say,
“Break up the senate till another time
When Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams.”
100 If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper,
“Lo, Caesar is afraid”?
Pardon me, Caesar. For my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
And reason to my love is liable.
|
If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be rendered for someone to say,
“Break up the senate till another time
When Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams.”
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper,
“Lo, Caesar is afraid”?
Pardon me, Caesar. For my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
And reason to my love is liable.
|
CAESAR 105 How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia!
I am ashamèd I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.
|
CAESAR How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia!
I am ashamèd I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.
|
Enter BRUTUS , LIGARIUS , METELLUS , CASCA , TREBONIUS , CINNA , and PUBLIUS
|
Enter BRUTUS , LIGARIUS , METELLUS , CASCA , TREBONIUS , CINNA , and PUBLIUS
|
And look, where Publius is come to fetch me.
|
And look, where Publius is come to fetch me.
|
PUBLIUS Good morrow, Caesar.
|
PUBLIUS Good morrow, Caesar.
|
CAESAR 110 Welcome, Publius.
—What, Brutus, are you stirred 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.
115 —What is ’t o'clock?
|
CAESAR Welcome, Publius.
—What, Brutus, are you stirred 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?
|
BRUTUS Caesar, ’tis strucken eight.
|
BRUTUS Caesar, ’tis strucken eight.
|
CAESAR I thank you for your pains and courtesy.
|
CAESAR I thank you for your pains and courtesy.
|
Enter ANTONY
|
Enter ANTONY
|
See, Antony, that revels long a-nights,
Is notwithstanding up.—Good morrow, Antony.
|
See, Antony, that revels long a-nights,
Is notwithstanding up.—Good morrow, Antony.
|
ANTONY So to most noble Caesar.
|
ANTONY So to most noble Caesar.
|
CAESAR Bid them prepare within.
120 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 today.
Be near me, that I may remember you.
|
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 today.
Be near me, that I may remember you.
|
TREBONIUS That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
|
TREBONIUS That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
|
CAESAR Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me.
And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
|
CAESAR Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me.
And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
|
BRUTUS (aside) That every “like” is not the same, O Caesar,
130 The heart of Brutus earns to think upon.
|
BRUTUS (aside) That every “like” is not the same, O Caesar,
The heart of Brutus earns to think upon.
|
Exeunt
|
Exeunt
|