| | |
|
Enter BRUTUS in his orchard.
| orchard garden >>>
|
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
What, Lucius, ho!
| |
|
I cannot, by the progress of the stars,
| progress movement, location >>>
|
|
Give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say!
| Give . . . day make a guess about how near |
|
I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.
| it is to daylight |
2.1.5 |
When, Lucius, when? awake, I say! what, Lucius!
| When i.e., when are you going to come? |
| | |
|
Enter LUCIUS | |
| | |
|
LUCIUS
| |
|
Call'd you, my lord?
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Get me a taper in my study, Lucius:
| Get me put for me | taper candle |
|
When it is lighted, come and call me here.
| |
| | |
|
LUCIUS
| |
|
I will, my lord.
| |
| | |
|
Exit [LUCIUS]. | |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
2.1.10 |
It must be by his death: and for my part,
| his i.e., Caesar's |
|
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
| spurn kick |
|
But for the general. He would be crown'd:
| the general the common good |
|
How that might change his nature, there's the question.
| |
|
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
| |
2.1.15 |
And that craves wary walking. Crown him that,
| craves requires | that i.e., king, emperor |
|
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
| |
|
That at his will he may do danger with.
| |
|
The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins
| |
|
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Caesar,
| Remorse conscience, compassion |
2.1.20 |
I have not known when his affections sway'd
| affections sway'd passions ruled (him) |
|
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof,
| proof experience |
|
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
| lowliness (pretended) humbleness | young new |
|
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
| |
|
But when he once attains the upmost round.
| round rung |
2.1.25 |
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
| |
|
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
| base degrees literally, low rungs; |
|
By which he did ascend. So Caesar may.
| metaphorically, contemptible means |
|
Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel
| |
|
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
| Will . . . is cannot be justified on the basis of |
2.1.30 |
Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented,
| anything he has done so far | Fashion explain |
|
Would run to these and these extremities:
| |
|
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
| |
|
Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous,
| as his kind according to his nature |
|
And kill him in the shell.
| mischievous dangerous, harmful |
| | |
|
Enter LUCIUS. | |
| | |
|
LUCIUS
| |
2.1.35 |
The taper burneth in your closet, sir.
| closet private room, study |
|
Searching the window for a flint, I found
| flint A stone used to strike a spark. |
|
This paper, thus seal'd up; and, I am sure,
| thus seal'd up Lucius makes sure that Brutus |
|
It did not lie there when I went to bed.
| knows he didn't open the letter. |
| | |
|
Gives him the letter. | |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Get you to bed again; it is not day.
| |
2.1.40 |
Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March?
| the ides the middle (of any month) |
| | |
|
LUCIUS
| |
|
I know not, sir.
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Look in the calendar, and bring me word.
| |
| | |
|
LUCIUS
| |
|
I will, sir.
| |
| | |
|
Exit [LUCIUS]. | |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
The exhalations whizzing in the air
| exhalations meteors >>>
|
2.1.45 |
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!
| etc. and such things >>>
|
|
Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake!"
| |
|
Such instigations have been often dropp'd
| |
2.1.50 |
Where I have took them up.
| |
|
"Shall Rome, etc." Thus must I piece it out:
| piece it out fill it out, complete the thought |
|
Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome?
| under one man's awe in awe of one man |
|
My ancestors did from the streets of Rome
| |
|
The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king.
| Tarquin Tarquin the Proud >>>
|
2.1.55 |
"Speak, strike, redress!" Am I entreated
| |
|
To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise:
| |
|
If the redress will follow, thou receivest
| the redress i.e., the restoration of the Roman |
|
Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!
| republic | will follow will be the result |
| | Thy full petition everything you're asking for |
|
Enter LUCIUS. | at the hand of Brutus from the hand of Brutus |
| | |
|
LUCIUS
| |
|
Sir, March is wasted fourteen days.
| |
| | |
|
Knock within. | |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
2.1.60 |
'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks.
| |
| | |
|
Exit LUCIUS. | |
| | |
|
Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar,
| whet sharpen, incite |
|
I have not slept.
| |
|
Between the acting of a dreadful thing
| |
|
And the first motion, all the interim is
| motion impulse, proposal |
2.1.65 |
Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream:
| phantasma hallucination |
|
The Genius and the mortal instruments
| Genius guiding spirit, characteristic
|
|
Are then in council; and the state of man,
| disposition >>>
| mortal instruments physical |
|
Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
| and psychological attributes
|
|
The nature of an insurrection.
| in council debating | suffers undergoes |
| | insurrection riot |
|
Enter LUCIUS. | |
| | |
|
LUCIUS
| |
2.1.70 |
Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door,
| brother i.e., brother-in-law (Cassius had |
|
Who doth desire to see you.
| married a sister of Brutus.) |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Is he alone?
| |
| | |
|
LUCIUS
| |
|
No, sir, there are moe with him.
| moe more |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Do you know them?
| |
| | |
|
LUCIUS
| |
|
No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears,
| pluck'd about pulled down over |
|
And half their faces buried in their cloaks,
| |
2.1.75 |
That by no means I may discover them
| discover recognize, identify |
|
By any mark of favour.
| mark of favour distinctive appearance |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Let 'em enter.
| |
| | |
|
Exit LUCIUS. | |
| | |
|
They are the faction. O conspiracy,
| |
|
Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
| |
|
When evils are most free? O, then by day
| free i.e., free to roam about |
2.1.80 |
Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough
| |
|
To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy;
| |
|
Hide it in smiles and affability:
| |
|
For if thou put thy native semblance on,
| put thy native semblance on show your |
|
Not Erebus itself were dim enough
| natural appearance | Erebus dark underworld |
2.1.85 |
To hide thee from prevention.
| from prevention from being recognized and |
| | forestalled |
|
Enter the conspirators, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS,
| |
|
CINNA, METELLUS [CIMBER], and TREBONIUS.
| |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
|
I think we are too bold upon your rest:
| are too bold upon too boldly intrude upon |
|
Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you?
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
I have been up this hour, awake all night.
| this hour for at least an hour |
|
Know I these men that come along with you?
| |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
2.1.90 |
Yes, every man of them, and no man here
| |
|
But honours you; and every one doth wish
| |
|
You had but that opinion of yourself
| You had but you only had |
|
Which every noble Roman bears of you.
| |
|
This is Trebonius.
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
He is welcome hither.
| |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
2.1.95 |
This, Decius Brutus.
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
He is welcome too.
| |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
|
This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
They are all welcome.
| |
|
What watchful cares do interpose themselves
| watchful cares worries that keep one awake |
|
Betwixt your eyes and night?
| |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
2.1.100 |
Shall I entreat a word?
| Shall I entreat a word? i.e., Could I have a |
| | private word with you? |
|
They whisper. | |
| | |
|
DECIUS
| |
|
Here lies the east: doth not the day break here?
| Here lies in this direction is (Decius points.) |
| | |
|
CASCA
| |
|
No.
| |
| | |
|
CINNA
| |
|
O, pardon, sir, it doth; and yon gray lines
| |
|
That fret the clouds are messengers of day.
| fret interlace |
| | |
|
CASCA
| |
2.1.105 |
You shall confess that you are both deceived.
| deceived mistaken |
|
Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises,
| |
|
Which is a great way growing on the south,
| a great way growing on the south i.e., quite a |
|
Weighing the youthful season of the year.
| ways south of due east | Weighing considering |
|
Some two months hence up higher toward the north
| |
2.1.110 |
He first presents his fire; and the high east
| the high east due east |
|
Stands, as the Capitol, directly here.
| as the Capitol as does the Capitol |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Give me your hands all over, one by one.
| Give me your hands all over give me all of |
| | your hands again (Presumably, Brutus has |
|
CASSIUS
| shaken hands with the conspirators when they |
|
And let us swear our resolution.
| were introduced to him.) |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
No, not an oath: if not the face of men,
| the face (troubled) expressions |
2.1.115 |
The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse
| sufferance suffering | the time's abuse the cor- |
|
If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
| ruption of these times | betimes immediately |
|
And every man hence to his idle bed;
| hence go from here | idle empty, useless |
|
So let high-sighted tyranny range on,
| high-sighted looking down, like a bird of prey |
|
Till each man drop by lottery. But if these
| range on stay on the prowl | by lottery by |
2.1.120 |
(As I am sure they do) bear fire enough
| chance (at Caesar's whim) | these the reasons |
|
To kindle cowards and to steel with valour
| Brutus cited at the beginning of his speech |
|
The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,
| |
|
What need we any spur but our own cause,
| |
|
To prick us to redress? what other bond
| prick us spur us on |
2.1.125 |
Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word,
| what . . . palter i.e., What other bond do we |
|
And will not palter? and what other oath
| need if we know that we are Romans who will |
|
Than honesty to honesty engaged,
| keep a secret, and not go back on our word? |
|
That this shall be, or we will fall for it?
| honesty personal honor | engaged pledged |
|
Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous,
| Swear let swear | cautelous deceitful, shifty |
2.1.130 |
Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls
| carrions half-dead men | suffering souls those |
|
That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear
| who will put with anything | unto . . . doubt men |
|
Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain
| whom others suspect of bad faith swear |
|
The even virtue of our enterprise,
| themselves to bad causes | even steadfast |
|
Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
| insuppressive mettle indomitable strength |
2.1.135 |
To think that or our cause or our performance
| or . . . or either . . . or |
|
Did need an oath; when every drop of blood
| |
|
That every Roman bears, and nobly bears,
| |
|
Is guilty of a several bastardy,
| several individual (In a Roman who does not |
|
If he do break the smallest particle
| keep his word, each drop of blood is guilty of |
2.1.140 |
Of any promise that hath pass'd from him.
| bastardy.) |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
|
But what of Cicero? shall we sound him?
| sound him sound him out |
|
I think he will stand very strong with us.
| |
| | |
|
CASCA
| |
|
Let us not leave him out.
| |
| | |
|
CINNA
| |
|
No, by no means.
| |
| | |
|
METELLUS CIMBER
| |
|
O, let us have him, for his silver hairs
| |
2.1.145 |
Will purchase us a good opinion
| purchase procure (There's a little pun on |
|
And buy men's voices to commend our deeds:
| "silver" as coins.) | opinion reputation |
|
It shall be said, his judgment ruled our hands;
| |
|
Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear,
| no whit not at all |
|
But all be buried in his gravity.
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
2.1.150 |
O, name him not: let us not break with him;
| break with him tell our secret to him |
|
For he will never follow any thing
| |
|
That other men begin.
| |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
|
Then leave him out.
| |
| | |
|
CASCA
| |
|
Indeed he is not fit.
| |
| | |
|
DECIUS
| |
|
Shall no man else be touch'd but only Caesar?
| touch'd harmed |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
2.1.155 |
Decius, well urged: I think it is not meet,
| not meet not appropriate (that) |
|
Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar,
| |
|
Should outlive Caesar: we shall find of him
| find of him find that he is |
|
A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means,
| shrewd contriver malicious schemer |
|
If he improve them, may well stretch so far
| means resources (such as wealth and reputation) |
2.1.160 |
As to annoy us all: which to prevent,
| improve them take advantage of them |
|
Let Antony and Caesar fall together.
| annoy harm, injure |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
| |
|
To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
| |
|
Like wrath in death and envy afterwards;
| envy malice, spite |
2.1.165 |
For Antony is but a limb of Caesar:
| |
|
Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
| |
|
We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar;
| |
|
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
| |
|
O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,
| come by seize |
2.1.170 |
And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,
| |
|
Caesar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
| |
|
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
| |
|
Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
| |
|
Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds:
| |
2.1.175 |
And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,
| subtle astute |
|
Stir up their servants to an act of rage,
| servants metaphorically: hands; passions |
|
And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make
| chide reprove, scold | 'em them |
|
Our purpose necessary and not envious:
| make i.e., appear to make |
|
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
| envious malicious, spiteful |
2.1.180 |
We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.
| common eyes opinion of the general populace |
|
And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
| purgers healers, purifiers >>>
|
|
For he can do no more than Caesar's arm
| |
|
When Caesar's head is off.
| |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
|
Yet I fear him;
| |
|
For in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar
| ingrafted deep-rooted |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
2.1.185 |
Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him:
| |
|
If he love Caesar, all that he can do
| |
|
Is to himself, take thought and die for Caesar:
| take thought plunge into melancholy |
|
And that were much he should; for he is given
| were much he should more than he is likely to |
|
To sports, to wildness and much company.
| do |
| | |
|
TREBONIUS
| |
2.1.190 |
There is no fear in him; let him not die;
| no fear in him nothing to fear from him |
|
For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter.
| |
| | |
|
Clock strikes | Clock strikes (There were striking clocks in |
| | Shakespeare's England, but not in Caesar's |
|
BRUTUS
| Rome.) |
|
Peace! count the clock.
| Peace! Be quiet! |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
|
The clock hath stricken three.
| |
| | |
|
TREBONIUS
| |
|
'Tis time to part.
| part depart, break up the meeting |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
|
But it is doubtful yet,
| |
|
Whether Caesar will come forth to-day, or no;
| |
2.1.195 |
For he is superstitious grown of late,
| |
|
Quite from the main opinion he held once
| Quite from the main opinion contrary to the |
|
Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies:
| strong opinion | Of about | ceremonies rites |
|
It may be, these apparent prodigies,
| of divination | apparent prodigies strange |
|
The unaccustom'd terror of this night,
| omens now appearing |
2.1.200 |
And the persuasion of his augurers,
| augurers augurs, priests who interpreted omens |
|
May hold him from the Capitol to-day.
| |
| | |
|
DECIUS
| |
|
Never fear that: if he be so resolved,
| |
|
I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear
| o'ersway him make him change his mind |
|
That unicorns may be betray'd with trees,
| betray'd captured by trickery >>>
|
2.1.205 |
And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,
| glasses mirrors (Bears are very vain, so a hunter |
|
Lions with toils and men with flatterers;
| can sneak up on one while it's admiring itself.) |
|
But when I tell him he hates flatterers,
| holes pitfalls | toils nets |
|
He says he does, being then most flattered.
| |
|
Let me work;
| |
2.1.210 |
For I can give his humour the true bent,
| humour disposition | true bent right direction >>>
|
|
And I will bring him to the Capitol.
| |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
|
Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost?
| eighth 8 a.m. | the uttermost the latest, the dead- |
| | line |
|
CINNA
| |
|
Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.
| Be that i.e., yes, let's say that it is |
| | fail not then i.e., be sure to show up by then |
|
METELLUS CIMBER
| |
2.1.215 |
Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard,
| bear . . . hard hold a grudge against |
|
Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey:
| rated berated, rebuked |
|
I wonder none of you have thought of him.
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Now, good Metellus, go along by him:
| along by him to his house |
|
He loves me well, and I have given him reasons;
| given him reasons i.e., done him favors |
2.1.220 |
Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him.
| fashion him shape him (to our purposes) |
| | |
|
CASSIUS
| |
|
The morning comes upon 's: we'll leave you, Brutus.
| |
|
And, friends, disperse yourselves; but all remember
| disperse yourselves (So that they won't walk |
|
What you have said, and show yourselves true Romans.
| out of Brutus' garden in a group, looking like |
| | conspirators.) |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily;
| |
2.1.225 |
Let not our looks put on our purposes,
| put on show the signs of |
|
But bear it as our Roman actors do,
| |
|
With untired spirits and formal constancy:
| formal constancy consistent adherence to form |
|
And so good morrow to you every one.
| (They should act as they usually do.) |
| | |
|
Exeunt. Manet Brutus. | Manet remains (Brutus stays on stage after the |
| | others leave.) |
|
Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no matter;
| |
2.1.230 |
Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber:
| |
|
Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies,
| figures imaginings |
|
Which busy care draws in the brains of men;
| busy care insistent worries |
|
Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.
| |
| | |
|
Enter PORTIA | |
| | |
|
PORTIA
| |
|
Brutus, my lord!
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?
| |
2.1.235 |
It is not for your health thus to commit
| for good for |
|
Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.
| weak condition poor health |
| | |
|
PORTIA
| |
|
Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus,
| ungently discourteously, unkindly |
|
Stole from my bed: and yesternight, at supper,
| |
|
You suddenly arose, and walk'd about,
| |
2.1.240 |
Musing and sighing, with your arms across,
| across folded across the chest (A sign of |
|
And when I ask'd you what the matter was,
| melancholy.) |
|
You stared upon me with ungentle looks;
| ungentle discourteous |
|
I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head,
| urged you further asked you again (what the |
|
And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot;
| matter was) |
2.1.245 |
Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not,
| Yet . . . yet still . . . still | insisted kept trying |
|
But, with an angry wafture of your hand,
| wafture waving |
|
Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did;
| |
|
Fearing to strengthen that impatience
| |
|
Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal
| |
2.1.250 |
Hoping it was but an effect of humour,
| humour moodiness |
|
Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
| his its |
|
It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep,
| |
|
And could it work so much upon your shape
| shape physical appearance |
|
As it hath much prevail'd on your condition,
| condition state of mind |
2.1.255 |
I should not know you Brutus. Dear my lord,
| I should not know you Brutus I wouldn't |
|
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
| recognize you as Brutus |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
I am not well in health, and that is all.
| |
| | |
|
PORTIA
| |
|
Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health,
| |
|
He would embrace the means to come by it.
| He . . . it i.e., he would do whatever was required |
| | to restore himself to health |
|
BRUTUS
| |
2.1.260 |
Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed.
| Why, so I do (His hidden meaning is that he |
| | has embraced the means of restoring health |
|
PORTIA
| the health of Rome.) |
|
Is Brutus sick? and is it physical
| physical healthful |
|
To walk unbraced and suck up the humours
| unbraced with an open jacket | humours mists |
|
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,
| |
|
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,
| |
2.1.265 |
To dare the vile contagion of the night
| dare risk |
|
And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
| rheumy and unpurged air i.e., air which makes |
|
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;
| a person sick >>>
|
|
You have some sick offence within your mind,
| offence disturbance, illness |
|
Which, by the right and virtue of my place,
| virtue prerogative | my place (as your wife) |
2.1.270 |
I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,
| |
|
I charm you, by my once-commended beauty,
| charm conjure, entreat |
|
By all your vows of love and that great vow
| that great vow i.e., Brutus' marriage vow |
|
Which did incorporate and make us one,
| |
|
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
| unfold reveal |
2.1.275 |
Why you are heavy, and what men to-night
| heavy depressed |
|
Have had resort to you: for here have been
| Have had resort to you have sought you out |
|
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
| |
|
Even from darkness.
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Kneel not, gentle Portia.
| |
| | |
|
PORTIA
| |
|
I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
| gentle noble, generous, courteous |
2.1.280 |
Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,
| |
|
Is it excepted I should know no secrets
| excepted stated as a condition (of their |
|
That appertain to you? Am I yourself
| marriage) |
|
But, as it were, in sort or limitation,
| in sort or limitation in a sort of a way, with |
|
To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,
| limitations |
2.1.285 |
And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs
| suburbs outlying areas |
|
Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
| |
|
Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.
| harlot (In Shakespeare's time, prostitutes |
| | frequented the "suburbs.") |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
You are my true and honourable wife,
| |
|
As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
| ruddy red | drops (of blood) |
2.1.290 |
That visit my sad heart
| sad depressed, troubled |
| | |
|
PORTIA
| |
|
If this were true, then should I know this secret.
| |
|
I grant I am a woman; but withal
| withal with-all, still, nevertheless |
|
A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife:
| |
|
I grant I am a woman; but withal
| |
2.1.295 |
A woman well-reputed, Cato's daughter.
| Cato Cato the Younger, famous for his |
|
Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
| integrity and Stoicism >>>
|
|
Being so father'd and so husbanded?
| |
|
Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:
| counsels secrets |
|
I have made strong proof of my constancy,
| constancy Stoicism, trustworthiness |
2.1.300 |
Giving myself a voluntary wound
| |
|
Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience.
| Here, in the thigh (There's no stage direction, |
|
And not my husband's secrets?
| but surely she must show the bloody wound.) |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
O ye gods,
| |
|
Render me worthy of this noble wife!
| Render me make me |
| | |
|
Knocking within | |
| | |
|
Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile;
| |
2.1.305 |
And by and by thy bosom shall partake
| partake share, receive |
|
The secrets of my heart.
| |
|
All my engagements I will construe to thee,
| engagements commitments | construe explain |
|
All the charactery of my sad brows:
| charactery handwriting | sad troubled |
|
Leave me with haste.
| |
| | |
|
Exit PORTIA. | |
| | |
|
Lucius, who's that knocks?
| |
| | |
|
Enter LUCIUS and [CAIUS] LIGARIUS | |
|
[wearing a kerchief]. | |
| | |
|
LUCIUS
| |
2.1.310 |
He is a sick man that would speak with you.
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.
| |
|
Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius, how?
| how? i.e., what's up? or how are you doing? |
| | |
|
LIGARIUS
| |
|
Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue.
| Vouchsafe good morrow please accept a |
| | "good morning" |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius,
| brave noble |
2.1.315 |
To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick!
| wear a kerchief i.e., be sick >>>
|
| | |
|
LIGARIUS
| |
|
I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
| |
|
Any exploit worthy the name of honour.
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius,
| |
|
Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.
| |
| | |
|
LIGARIUS
| |
2.1.320 |
By all the gods that Romans bow before,
| |
|
I here discard my sickness! Soul of Rome!
| |
|
Brave son, derived from honourable loins!
| |
|
Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up
| exorcist magician (one that drives out evil |
|
My mortified spirit. Now bid me run,
| spirits) | conjured up magically raised |
2.1.325 |
And I will strive with things impossible;
| mortified deadened |
|
Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
A piece of work that will make sick men whole.
| whole healthy (Brutus means that they will rid |
| | Rome of the sickness of Caesar's tyranny.) |
|
LIGARIUS
| |
|
But are not some whole that we must make sick?
| |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
|
That must we also. What it is, my Caius,
| |
2.1.330 |
I shall unfold to thee, as we are going
| unfold reveal, explain |
|
To whom it must be done.
| |
| | |
|
LIGARIUS
| |
|
Set on your foot,
| Set on your foot i.e., lead the way |
|
And with a heart new-fired I follow you,
| |
|
To do I know not what: but it sufficeth
| |
|
That Brutus leads me on.
| |
| | |
|
Thunder. | |
| | |
| | |
|
BRUTUS
| |
| | |
|
Follow me, then.
| |
| | |
|
Exeunt. | |
| | |