First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
| |
Thunder & Lightning. | Thunder and lightning | | JC II.ii.1.1 | |
Enter Iulius Casar in his Night-gowne. | Enter Julius Caesar in his nightgown | nightgown, night-gown (n.)dressing-gown | JC II.ii.1.2 | |
Casar. | CAESAR | | | |
Nor Heauen, nor Earth, / Haue beene at peace to night: | Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight; | | JC II.ii.1 | |
Thrice hath Calphurnia, in her sleepe cryed out, | Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, | | JC II.ii.2 | |
Helpe, ho: They murther Casar. Who's within? | ‘ Help, ho! They murder Caesar!’ Who's within? | | JC II.ii.3 | |
Enter a Seruant. | Enter a Servant | | JC II.ii.4 | |
Ser. | SERVANT | | | |
My Lord. | My lord? | | JC II.ii.4 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
Go bid the Priests do present Sacrifice, | Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, | | JC II.ii.5 | |
And bring me their opinions of Successe. | And bring me their opinions of success. | opinion (n.)judgement, conviction, belief | JC II.ii.6 | |
| | success (n.)result, outcome, issue | | |
Ser. | SERVANT | | | |
I will my Lord. | I will, my lord. | | JC II.ii.7 | |
Exit | Exit | | JC II.ii.8.1 | |
Enter Calphurnia. | Enter Calphurnia | | JC II.ii.8.2 | |
Cal. | CALPHURNIA | | | |
What mean you Casar? Think you to walk forth? | What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth? | | JC II.ii.8 | |
You shall not stirre out of your house to day. | You shall not stir out of your house today. | | JC II.ii.9 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
Caesar shall forth; the things that threaten'd me, | Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me | | JC II.ii.10 | |
Ne're look'd but on my backe: When they shall see | Ne'er looked but on my back; when they shall see | | JC II.ii.11 | |
The face of Casar, they are vanished. | The face of Caesar, they are vanished. | | JC II.ii.12 | |
Calp. | CALPHURNIA | | | |
Casar, I neuer stood on Ceremonies, | Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, | stand on (v.)insist on, demand, call for | JC II.ii.13 | |
| | ceremony (n.)omen, portent, prognostication | | |
Yet now they fright me: There is one within, | Yet now they fright me. There is one within, | fright (v.), past form frightedfrighten, scare, terrify | JC II.ii.14 | |
Besides the things that we haue heard and seene, | Besides the things that we have heard and seen, | | JC II.ii.15 | |
Recounts most horrid sights seene by the Watch. | Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. | watch (n.)watchmen, officers, street patrol | JC II.ii.16 | |
A Lionnesse hath whelped in the streets, | A lioness hath whelped in the streets, | | JC II.ii.17 | |
And Graues haue yawn'd, and yeelded vp their dead; | And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead; | yawn (v.)open wide, gape | JC II.ii.18 | |
Fierce fiery Warriours fight vpon the Clouds | Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds | | JC II.ii.19 | |
In Rankes and Squadrons, and right forme of Warre | In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, | squadron (n.)army detachment, body of soldiers | JC II.ii.20 | |
| | right (adj.)typical, true, classic | | |
| | form (n.)orderly manner, good arrangement | | |
Which drizel'd blood vpon the Capitoll: | Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol; | Capitol (n.)geographical and ceremonial centre of ancient Rome, the seat of government | JC II.ii.21 | |
The noise of Battell hurtled in the Ayre: | The noise of battle hurtled in the air, | hurtle (v.)sound violently, resound harshly | JC II.ii.22 | |
Horsses do neigh, and dying men did grone, | Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan, | | JC II.ii.23 | |
And Ghosts did shrieke and squeale about the streets. | And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. | | JC II.ii.24 | |
O Casar, these things are beyond all vse, | O Caesar, these things are beyond all use, | use (n.)usual practice, habit, custom | JC II.ii.25 | |
And I do feare them. | And I do fear them. | | JC II.ii.26.1 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
What can be auoyded | What can be avoided | | JC II.ii.26.2 | |
Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty Gods? | Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? | end (n.)outcome, result, issue | JC II.ii.27 | |
| | purpose (v.)decide, resolve, determine | | |
Yet Casar shall go forth: for these Predictions | Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions | | JC II.ii.28 | |
Are to the world in generall, as to Casar. | Are to the world in general as to Caesar. | | JC II.ii.29 | |
Calp. | CALPHURNIA | | | |
When Beggers dye, there are no Comets seen, | When beggars die, there are no comets seen; | | JC II.ii.30 | |
The Heauens themselues blaze forth the death of Princes | The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. | | JC II.ii.31 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
Cowards dye many times before their deaths, | Cowards die many times before their deaths; | | JC II.ii.32 | |
The valiant neuer taste of death but once: | The valiant never taste of death but once. | | JC II.ii.33 | |
Of all the Wonders that I yet haue heard, | Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, | | JC II.ii.34 | |
It seemes to me most strange that men should feare, | It seems to me most strange that men should fear, | | JC II.ii.35 | |
Seeing that death, a necessary end | Seeing that death, a necessary end, | | JC II.ii.36 | |
Will come, when it will come. | Will come when it will come. | | JC II.ii.37.1 | |
Enter a Seruant. | Enter a Servant | | JC II.ii.37 | |
What say the Augurers? | What say the augurers? | augurer (n.)Roman religious official who interpreted and foretold events | JC II.ii.37.2 | |
Ser. | SERVANT | | | |
They would not haue you to stirre forth to day. | They would not have you to stir forth today. | | JC II.ii.38 | |
Plucking the intrailes of an Offering forth, | Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, | | JC II.ii.39 | |
They could not finde a heart within the beast. | They could not find a heart within the beast. | | JC II.ii.40 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
The Gods do this in shame of Cowardice: | The gods do this in shame of cowardice: | | JC II.ii.41 | |
Casar should be a Beast without a heart | Caesar should be a beast without a heart | | JC II.ii.42 | |
If he should stay at home to day for feare: | If he should stay at home today for fear. | | JC II.ii.43 | |
No Casar shall not; Danger knowes full well | No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well | | JC II.ii.44 | |
That Casar is more dangerous then he. | That Caesar is more dangerous than he. | | JC II.ii.45 | |
We heare two Lyons litter'd in one day, | We are two lions littered in one day, | | JC II.ii.46 | |
And I the elder and more terrible, | And I the elder and more terrible; | | JC II.ii.47 | |
And Casar shall go foorth. | And Caesar shall go forth. | | JC II.ii.48.1 | |
Calp. | CALPHURNIA | | | |
Alas my Lord, | Alas, my lord, | | JC II.ii.48.2 | |
Your wisedome is consum'd in confidence: | Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. | confidence (n.)over-confidence, over-assurance, presumption | JC II.ii.49 | |
Do not go forth to day: Call it my feare, | Do not go forth today: call it my fear | | JC II.ii.50 | |
That keepes you in the house, and not your owne. | That keeps you in the house, and not your own. | | JC II.ii.51 | |
Wee'l send Mark Antony to the Senate house, | We'll send Mark Antony to the Senate House, | | JC II.ii.52 | |
And he shall say, you are not well to day: | And he shall say you are not well today. | | JC II.ii.53 | |
Let me vpon my knee, preuaile in this. | Let me upon my knee prevail in this. | | JC II.ii.54 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
Mark Antony shall say I am not well, | Mark Antony shall say I am not well, | | JC II.ii.55 | |
And for thy humor, I will stay at home. | And for thy humour I will stay at home. | humour (n.)fancy, whim, inclination, caprice | JC II.ii.56 | |
Enter Decius. | Enter Decius | | JC II.ii.57 | |
Heere's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. | Here's Decius Brutus; he shall tell them so. | | JC II.ii.57 | |
Deci. | DECIUS | | | |
Caesar, all haile: Good morrow worthy Casar, | Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar; | morrow (n.)morning | JC II.ii.58 | |
I come to fetch you to the Senate house. | I come to fetch you to the Senate House. | fetch (v.)escort, accompany, conduct | JC II.ii.59 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
And you are come in very happy time, | And you are come in very happy time | happy (adj.)opportune, appropriate, propitious, favourable | JC II.ii.60 | |
To beare my greeting to the Senators, | To bear my greeting to the senators, | | JC II.ii.61 | |
And tell them that I will not come to day: | And tell them that I will not come today: | | JC II.ii.62 | |
Cannot, is false: and that I dare not, falser: | Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, falser; | false (adj.)wrong, mistaken | JC II.ii.63 | |
I will not come to day, tell them so Decius. | I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius. | | JC II.ii.64 | |
Calp. | CALPHURNIA | | | |
Say he is sicke. | Say he is sick. | | JC II.ii.65.1 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
Shall Caesar send a Lye? | Shall Caesar send a lie? | | JC II.ii.65.2 | |
Haue I in Conquest stretcht mine Arme so farre, | Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far, | | JC II.ii.66 | |
To be afear'd to tell Gray-beards the truth: | To be afeard to tell greybeards the truth? | afeard (adj.)afraid, frightened, scared | JC II.ii.67 | |
Decius, go tell them, Casar will not come. | Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come. | | JC II.ii.68 | |
Deci. | DECIUS | | | |
Most mighty Casar, let me know some cause, | Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause, | | JC II.ii.69 | |
Lest I be laught at when I tell them so. | Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so. | | JC II.ii.70 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
The cause is in my Will, I will not come, | The cause is in my will: I will not come; | | JC II.ii.71 | |
That is enough to satisfie the Senate. | That is enough to satisfy the Senate. | | JC II.ii.72 | |
But for your priuate satisfaction, | But for your private satisfaction, | | JC II.ii.73 | |
Because I loue you, I will let you know. | Because I love you, I will let you know; | | JC II.ii.74 | |
Calphurnia heere my wife, stayes me at home: | Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home. | stay (v.)detain, confine, keep | JC II.ii.75 | |
She dreampt to night, she saw my Statue, | She dreamt tonight she saw my statue, | tonight (adv.)last night, this past night | JC II.ii.76 | |
Which like a Fountaine, with an hundred spouts | Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, | | JC II.ii.77 | |
Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans | Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans | lusty (adj.)vigorous, strong, robust, eager | JC II.ii.78 | |
Came smiling, & did bathe their hands in it: | Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it. | | JC II.ii.79 | |
And these does she apply, for warnings and portents, | And these does she apply for warnings and portents | apply (v.)interpret, expound | JC II.ii.80 | |
And euils imminent; and on her knee | And evils imminent; and on her knee | evil (n.)affliction, misfortune, hardship | JC II.ii.81 | |
Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to day. | Hath begged that I will stay at home today. | | JC II.ii.82 | |
Deci. | DECIUS | | | |
This Dreame is all amisse interpreted, | This dream is all amiss interpreted; | | JC II.ii.83 | |
It was a vision, faire and fortunate: | It was a vision fair and fortunate: | | JC II.ii.84 | |
Your Statue spouting blood in many pipes, | Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, | | JC II.ii.85 | |
In which so many smiling Romans bath'd, | In which so many smiling Romans bathed, | | JC II.ii.86 | |
Signifies, that from you great Rome shall sucke | Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck | | JC II.ii.87 | |
Reuiuing blood, and that great men shall presse | Reviving blood, and that great men shall press | press (v.)push forward, thrust, come / go boldly | JC II.ii.88 | |
For Tinctures, Staines, Reliques, and Cognisance. | For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance. | stain (n.)object stained with blood [as of a martyr] | JC II.ii.89 | |
| | relic (n.)memory, trace, recollection | | |
| | tincture (n.)token infused with blood [as of a martyr] | | |
| | cognizance (n.)badge, sign, token | | |
This by Calphurnia's Dreame is signified. | This by Calphurnia's dream is signified. | | JC II.ii.90 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
And this way haue you well expounded it. | And this way have you well expounded it. | | JC II.ii.91 | |
Deci. | DECIUS | | | |
I haue, when you haue heard what I can say: | I have, when you have heard what I can say: | | JC II.ii.92 | |
And know it now, the Senate haue concluded | And know it now. The Senate have concluded | conclude (v.)decide, resolve, settle | JC II.ii.93 | |
To giue this day, a Crowne to mighty Casar. | To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. | | JC II.ii.94 | |
If you shall send them word you will not come, | If you shall send them word you will not come, | | JC II.ii.95 | |
Their mindes may change. Besides, it were a mocke | Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock | mock (n.)act of mockery, mocking remark, derisive action, scornful irony | JC II.ii.96 | |
Apt to be render'd, for some one to say, | Apt to be rendered, for some one to say, | apt (adj.)likely, inclined, prone | JC II.ii.97 | |
Breake vp the Senate, till another time: | ‘ Break up the Senate till another time, | | JC II.ii.98 | |
When Casars wife shall meete with better Dreames. | When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.’ | | JC II.ii.99 | |
If Casar hide himselfe, shall they not whisper | If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper, | | JC II.ii.100 | |
Loe Casar is affraid? | ‘ Lo, Caesar is afraid ’? | | JC II.ii.101 | |
Pardon me Casar, for my deere deere loue | Pardon me, Caesar, for my dear dear love | | JC II.ii.102 | |
To your proceeding, bids me tell you this: | To our proceeding bids me tell you this, | proceeding (n.)career, advancement, onward course | JC II.ii.103 | |
And reason to my loue is liable. | And reason to my love is liable. | reason (n.)power of reason, judgement, common sense [often opposed to ‘passion’] | JC II.ii.104 | |
| | liable (adj.)subject, legally bound | | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
How foolish do your fears seeme now Calphurnia? | How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia! | | JC II.ii.105 | |
I am ashamed I did yeeld to them. | I am ashamed I did yield to them. | | JC II.ii.106 | |
Giue me my Robe, for I will go. | Give me my robe, for I will go. | | JC II.ii.107 | |
Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Caska, Trebonius, | Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, | | JC II.ii.108.1 | |
Cynna, and Publius. | Cinna, and Publius | | JC II.ii.108.2 | |
And looke where Publius is come to fetch me. | And look where Publius is come to fetch me. | fetch (v.)escort, accompany, conduct | JC II.ii.108 | |
Pub. | PUBLIUS | | | |
Good morrow Casar. | Good morrow, Caesar. | | JC II.ii.109.1 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
Welcome Publius. | Welcome, Publius. | | JC II.ii.109.2 | |
What Brutus, are you stirr'd so earely too? | What, Brutus, are you stirred so early too? | | JC II.ii.110 | |
Good morrow Caska: Caius Ligarius, | Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius, | | JC II.ii.111 | |
Casar was ne're so much your enemy, | Caesar was ne'er so much your enemy | | JC II.ii.112 | |
As that same Ague which hath made you leane. | As that same ague which hath made you lean. | ague (n.)fever, sickness, shaking [as caused by a fever] | JC II.ii.113 | |
What is't a Clocke? | What is't o'clock? | | JC II.ii.114.1 | |
Bru. | BRUTUS | | | |
Casar, 'tis strucken eight. | Caesar, 'tis strucken eight. | | JC II.ii.114.2 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
I thanke you for your paines and curtesie. | I thank you for your pains and courtesy. | | JC II.ii.115 | |
Enter Antony. | Enter Antony | | JC II.ii.116 | |
See, Antony that Reuels long a-nights | See! Antony, that revels long a-nights, | | JC II.ii.116 | |
Is notwithstanding vp. Good morrow Antony. | Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony. | | JC II.ii.117 | |
Ant. | ANTONY | | | |
So to most Noble Casar. | So to most noble Caesar. | | JC II.ii.118.1 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
Bid them prepare within: | Bid them prepare within. | | JC II.ii.118.2 | |
I am too blame to be thus waited for. | I am to blame to be thus waited for. | | JC II.ii.119 | |
Now Cynna, now Metellus: what Trebonius, | Now, Cinna; now, Metellus; what, Trebonius; | | JC II.ii.120 | |
I haue an houres talke in store for you: | I have an hour's talk in store for you; | | JC II.ii.121 | |
Remember that you call on me to day: | Remember that you call on me today; | | JC II.ii.122 | |
Be neere me, that I may remember you. | Be near me, that I may remember you. | | JC II.ii.123 | |
Treb. | TREBONIUS | | | |
Casar I will: and so neere will I be, | Caesar, I will. (aside) And so near will I be | | JC II.ii.124 | |
That your best Friends shall wish I had beene further. | That your best friends shall wish I had been further. | | JC II.ii.125 | |
Cas. | CAESAR | | | |
Good Friends go in, and taste some wine with me. | Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; | | JC II.ii.126 | |
And we (like Friends) will straight way go together. | And we, like friends, will straightway go together. | | JC II.ii.127 | |
Bru. | BRUTUS | | | |
| (aside) | | JC II.ii.128 | |
That euery like is not the same, O Casar, | That every like is not the same, O Caesar, | | JC II.ii.128 | |
The heart of Brutus earnes to thinke vpon. | The heart of Brutus earns to think upon. | earn (v.)yearn, mourn, grieve | JC II.ii.129 | |
Exeunt | Exeunt | | JC II.ii.129 | |