Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1 Page 1 of 9

Julius Caesar : Act 3, Scene 1

Flourish. Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, Flourish Trumpet call, announcing the
CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, entrance of a V.I.P.
TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS,
ARTEMIDORUS, PUBLIUS, [POPILIUS,]
and the SOOTHSAYER.

CAESAR
The ides of March are come.

Soothsayer
Ay, Caesar; but not gone.

ARTEMIDORUS
Hail, Caesar! read this schedule.
DECIUS
Trebonius doth desire you to o'erread,
3.1.5 At your best leisure, this his humble suit.
ARTEMIDORUS
O Caesar, read mine first; for mine's a suit
That touches Caesar nearer: read it, great Caesar.
CAESAR
What touches us ourself shall be last served.
ARTEMIDORUS
Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly.
schedule document (This is the letter that
Artemidorus wrote to warn Caesar that he is in
danger.)
o'erread read over, consider
At . . . leisure i.e., as soon as you have time
suit petition (Decius hands Caesar another
letter.)
touches Caesar nearer concerns Caesar more
closely
us ourself i.e., me personally (Caesar is using the
royal plural, as though he's already a king.)
served attended to

CAESAR
3.1.10 What, is the fellow mad?

PUBLIUS
Sirrah, give place. Sirrah low fellow | give place get out of the way

CASSIUS
What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.

[CAESAR enters the Capitol, enters the Capitol i.e., goes upstage >>>
the rest following.]

POPILIUS
I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive.

CASSIUS
What enterprise, Popilius?

POPILIUS
Fare you well.

[Popilius goes to CAESAR.]

BRUTUS
3.1.15 What said Popilius Lena?

CASSIUS
He wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive.
Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 1
I fear our purpose is discovered.
Julius Caesar Navigator Home | Scene Index | Previous Scene | Next Scene

http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/JC_Navigator/JC_3_1.html 25/04/2018
Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1 Page 2 of 9

BRUTUS
Look, how he makes to Caesar; mark him. makes to walks toward | mark pay attention to

CASSIUS
Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
3.1.20 Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.
prevention being thwarted
this i.e., their plot against Caesar
turn back i.e., leave the Capitol (Cassius vows
that if he doesn't kill Caesar he will kill himself.)

BRUTUS
Cassius, be constant: constant steady, resolute
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change. change change color, show any marked reaction

CASSIUS
3.1.25 Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus. his time i.e., the right time to play his part in the
He draws Mark Antony out of the way. plot

[Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS.]

DECIUS
Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar. presently prefer his suit immediately present his
petition
BRUTUS
He is address'd: press near and second him. address'd ready | second him back him up

CINNA
3.1.30 Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. rears raises (to stab Caesar)

CAESAR
Are we all ready? What is now amiss
That Caesar and his senate must redress?

METELLUS CIMBER
Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar, puissant powerful
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
3.1.35 An humble heart—

[Kneeling.]

CAESAR
I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turn preordinance and first decree
Into the law of children. Be not fond
3.1.40 To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words,
Low-crooked court'sies and base spaniel-fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished:
3.1.45 If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.
METELLUS CIMBER
Is there no voice more worthy than my own
3.1.50 To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?
prevent forestall
couchings . . . courtesies stooping, bowing,
kneeling | fire the blood of influence, thrill
preordinance and first decree i.e., immutable law
the law of children i.e., whimsical rules
Be not fond / To don't be so foolish as to
rebel unruly | true quality natural stability
Low-crooked court'sies groveling bows
spurn kick
Caesar . . . satisfied i.e., Caesar does not punish
without good reason, and will not remit
punishment without good reason
repealing recalling (from exile)

BRUTUS
I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar;
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Julius Caesar: Actfreedom
3, Sceneof1repeal freedom to return (from exile)
Julius Caesar Navigator Home | Scene Index | Previous Scene | Next Scene

http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/JC_Navigator/JC_3_1.html 25/04/2018
Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1 Page 3 of 9

CAESAR
3.1.55 What, Brutus!

CASSIUS
Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon:
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. enfranchisement restoration of full civic rights

CAESAR
I could be well moved, if I were as you: moved influenced, affected
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me: pray entreat, beg, appeal
3.1.60 But I am constant as the northern star, the northern star Polaris, the North Star
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality resting stable, unmoving
There is no fellow in the firmament. fellow equal
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
They are all fire and every one doth shine,
3.1.65 But there's but one in all doth hold his place: his i.e., its
So in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive; apprehensive intelligent, capable of understanding
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank, holds on his rank maintains his position
3.1.70 Unshaked of motion: and that I am he, Unshaked of motion unmoved by outside
Let me a little show it, even in this; influences, and unaffected by pleas
That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, constant resolute
And constant do remain to keep him so.

CINNA
O Caesar—

CAESAR
Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus? Olympus mountain which is the abode of the gods

DECIUS
3.1.75 Great Caesar—

CAESAR
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? bootless in vain (Caesar's point is that if Brutus
can't change Caesar's mind, no one can.)
CASCA
Speak, hands for me! Speak plead, strike >>>

They stab CAESAR.

CAESAR
Et tu, Brute?— Then fall, Caesar! Et tu, Brute? and you Brutus?

Dies.

CINNA
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.

CASSIUS
3.1.80 Some to the common pulpits, and cry out common pulpits public platforms
"Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!" enfranchisement i.e., restoration of full citizenship

BRUTUS
People and senators, be not affrighted;
Fly not; stand stiff: ambition's debt is paid. Fly flee, run away | stand stiff stay where you are
ambition's debt is paid i.e., Caesar has paid for his
CASCA ambition
Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

DECIUS
And Cassius too.

BRUTUS Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 1

3.1.85 Julius Caesar Navigator Home | Scene Index
Where's Publius? | Previous
Publius Scene |not
(An old senator, Next Scene of the
a member

http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/JC_Navigator/JC_3_1.html 25/04/2018
Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1 Page 4 of 9

conspiracy against Caesar.)

CINNA
Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. confounded with amazed by | mutiny uproar

METELLUS CIMBER
Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's Stand . . . chance i.e., stick together and stay here,
Should chance— in case a friend of Caesar's (attacks us)

BRUTUS
Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer; good cheer i.e., don't worry, be happy
3.1.90 There is no harm intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius. else i.e., other than Caesar

CASSIUS
And leave us, Publius; lest that the people,
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief. age your old self | mischief harm

BRUTUS
Do so: and let no man abide this deed, abide take the consequences of
3.1.95 But we the doers.

[Exeunt all but the Conspirators.]

Enter TREBONIUS

CASSIUS
Where is Antony?

TREBONIUS
Fled to his house amazed: amazed stupefied
Men, wives and children stare, cry out and run
As it were doomsday. As as if

BRUTUS
Fates, we will know your pleasures:
That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time That . . . know (Because everyone dies.)
3.1.100 And drawing days out, that men stand upon. the time the exact time of death
drawing days out prolonging life
CASSIUS stand upon concern themselves with >>>
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.

BRUTUS
Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridged
3.1.105 His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place, even to the market-place i.e., right into the Forum
And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
3.1.110 Let's all cry "Peace, freedom and liberty!"

CASSIUS
Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
BRUTUS
How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
3.1.115 That now on Pompey's basis lies along
No worthier than the dust!
acted over repeatedly portrayed (on stage)
accents languages (The play you are reading is in
English, which didn't exist when Caesar died.)
in sport for entertainment
on Pompey's basis lies along lies flat next to the
pedestal of Pompey's statue

CASSIUS
So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be call'd knot group, fellowship
The men that gave their country liberty.
Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 1
DECIUS Julius Caesar Navigator Home | Scene Index | Previous Scene | Next Scene

http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/JC_Navigator/JC_3_1.html 25/04/2018
Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1 Page 5 of 9

What, shall we forth? shall we forth? shall we go?

CASSIUS
Ay, every man away:
3.1.120 Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels grace his heels i.e., do honor to him in a triumphal
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome. procession

Enter a Servant.

BRUTUS
Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's. Soft! hold on!; wait a minute!

Servant
Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel:
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
3.1.125 And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest; honest honorable
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Say I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him and loved him.
3.1.130 If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him, and be resolved be resolved have explained to him
How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead
So well as Brutus living; but will follow
3.1.135 The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state Thorough through | untrod state unprecedented
With all true faith. So says my master Antony. state of affairs

BRUTUS
Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
I never thought him worse.
3.1.140 Tell him, so please him come unto this place, so if it should
He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour, be satisfied i.e., receive a full explanation
Depart untouch'd.

Servant
I'll fetch him presently. presently immediately

Exit Servant.

BRUTUS
I know that we shall have him well to friend. well to friend firmly our friend

CASSIUS
I wish we may: but yet have I a mind
3.1.145 That fears him much; and my misgiving still fears distrusts
Falls shrewdly to the purpose. my . . . purpose my misgivings always turn out
to be painfully true
Enter ANTONY.

BRUTUS
But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.

ANTONY
O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
3.1.150 Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well!
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank: must be let blood has to be bled (to cure a disease)
If I myself, there is no hour so fit rank festering, diseased (and in need of bleeding)
As Caesar's death hour, nor no instrument
3.1.155 Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard, bear me hard have a grudge against me
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reekJulius
and smoke, purpled bloody | reek steam (with Caesar's blood)
Caesar: Act 3, Scene 1
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years, Live if
Julius Caesar Navigator Home | Scene Index I live
| Previous Scene | Next Scene

http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/JC_Navigator/JC_3_1.html 25/04/2018
Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1 Page 6 of 9

3.1.160 I shall not find myself so apt to die: apt ready

No place will please me so, no mean of death, mean means
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age. choice elite

BRUTUS
O Antony, beg not your death of us.
3.1.165 Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands and this our present act,
You see we do, yet see you but our hands
And this the bleeding business they have done:
Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;
3.1.170 And pity to the general wrong of Rome—
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony.
Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts
3.1.175 Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
You see we do you see what we have done
but only
pitiful full of pity (for Caesar)
to for | wrong of Rome wrong done to Rome
pity pity i.e., pity for Rome drives pity for Caesar
on to
leaden (Lead is soft and does not take a point.)
in strength of with the same strength they had in
temper feeling, disposition
receive you in take you in, embrace you

CASSIUS
Your voice shall be as strong as any man's
In the disposing of new dignities.
BRUTUS
Only be patient till we have appeased
3.1.180 The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.
voice vote, influence
disposing of new dignities i.e., choosing new state
officers (such as judges, military commanders, etc.)
appeased calmed
deliver you the cause explain to you the reason
Have thus proceeded have taken this action

ANTONY
I doubt not of your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody hand: render give
3.1.185 First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
Now, Decius Brutus, yours: now yours, Metellus;
Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;
Though last, not last in love, yours, good Trebonius.
3.1.190 Gentlemen all,—alas, what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground, credit credibility
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me, conceit me think of me, judge me
Either a coward or a flatterer.
That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true:
3.1.195 If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death, dearer more keenly
To see thy Anthony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! in the presence of thy corse? corse corpse
3.1.200 Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
It would become me better than to close close be reconciled
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart; bay'd brought to bay (like a deer surrounded by
3.1.205 Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand, dogs) | hart deer, with a play on "heart"
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe. Sign'd in thy spoil i.e., stained with blood shed
O world, thou wast the forest to this hart; when you were butchered | lethe river of death >>>
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
3.1.210 Dost thou here lie!

CASSIUS
Mark Antony—

ANTONY
Pardon me, Caius Cassius: Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 1
The enemies of Julius
CaesarCaesar Navigator Home | Scene Index | Previous Scene | Next Scene
shall say this; The enemies i.e., even the enemies

http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/JC_Navigator/JC_3_1.html 25/04/2018
Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1 Page 7 of 9

Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
CASSIUS
I blame you not for praising Caesar so;
3.1.215 But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends;
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
ANTONY
Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed,
Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Caesar.
3.1.220 Friends am I with you all and love you all,
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
this i.e., what he has just said about Caesar
cold modesty unemotional moderation, simple
truth
compact agreement, contract
prick'd in number marked down as one of (We
make check marks; they "pricked" the paper.)
shall we on shall we carry on (with our business)?
Therefore i.e., because I wanted to be a friend to
all of you | Sway'd from the point diverted from
my intention
Upon this hope i.e., and so I hope
wherein in what particulars

BRUTUS
Or else were this a savage spectacle: Or else were this otherwise this would be
Our reasons are so full of good regard good regard sound consideration
3.1.225 That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.

ANTONY
That's all I seek:
And am moreover suitor that I may suitor one who requests a favor
Produce his body to the market-place; Produce bring forth | the market-place the Forum
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend, pulpit rostrum >>>
3.1.230 Speak in the order of his funeral. order ceremony

BRUTUS
You shall, Mark Antony.

CASSIUS
Brutus, a word with you.

[Aside to BRUTUS.]

You know not what you do: do not consent

That Antony speak in his funeral:
Know you how much the people may be moved
3.1.235 By that which he will utter?

BRUTUS
By your pardon—
I will myself into the pulpit first,
And show the reason of our Caesar's death:
What Antony shall speak, I will protest protest proclaim, announce
He speaks by leave and by permission,
3.1.240 And that we are contented Caesar shall
Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies. true proper, rightful
It shall advantage more than do us wrong. advantage benefit (us)

CASSIUS
I know not what may fall; I like it not. fall happen

BRUTUS
Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body.
3.1.245 You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,
And say you do't by our permission;
Else shall you not have any hand at all
About his funeral: and you shall speak About in
3.1.250 In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.

ANTONY
Be it so. Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 1
I do desire no more.
Julius Caesar Navigator Home | Scene Index | Previous Scene | Next Scene

http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/JC_Navigator/JC_3_1.html 25/04/2018
Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1 Page 8 of 9

BRUTUS
Prepare the body then, and follow us.

Exeunt. Manet ANTONY.
ANTONY
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
3.1.255 That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy—
3.1.260 Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue—
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
3.1.265 Blood and destruction shall be so in use
And dreadful objects so familiar
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds:
3.1.270 And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
3.1.275 With carrion men, groaning for burial.
Manet ANTONY (He remains on stage after the
others leave.)
the tide of times the course of history
costly precious
dumb incapable of speech
voice and utterance of my tongue i.e., things said
both passionately and eloquently
cumber overwhelm, burden
so in use so common
objects sights
but only
quarter'd cut to pieces
All . . . deeds i.e., cruel deeds will be so customary
that all pity will be choked off | ranging roaming
Ate goddess of discord and random cruelty
these confines these regions, i.e., Italy
"Havoc!" (A war-cry, signaling that no quarter will
be given.) | let slip unleash | That so that
this foul deed Caesar's murder

Enter Octavius' Servant.

You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?

Servant
I do, Mark Antony.

ANTONY
Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.

Servant
He did receive his letters, and is coming;
3.1.280 And bid me say to you by word of mouth—

Seeing the body

O Caesar!—

ANTONY
Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep. big swollen with grief
Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes, Passion sorrow, grief
Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine, beads of sorrow i.e., tears
3.1.285 Began to water. Is thy master coming?

Servant
He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome. lies lodges | seven leagues (About twenty miles.)

ANTONY
Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced: Post ride on horseback | chanced happened
Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;
3.1.290 Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile; Hie hence hurry away
Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse back return (to Octavius) | borne carried
Into the market-place: there shall I try corse corpse | try test
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men; issue deed
Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 1
3.1.295 According to theJulius
which, thou shalt discourse According to the which taking into consideration
Caesar Navigator Home | Scene Index | Previous Scene | Next Scene

http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/JC_Navigator/JC_3_1.html 25/04/2018
Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1 Page 9 of 9

To young Octavius of the state of things. how the Romans react to Antony's speech
Lend me your hand. young Octavius (He was 18.)

Exeunt with [CAESAR's body].

Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 1

Julius Caesar Navigator Home | Scene Index | Previous Scene | Next Scene

http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/JC_Navigator/JC_3_1.html 25/04/2018