Julius Caesar Read online

  24 trod upon plays on sense of “had sex with”

  25 leather could also be slang for “vagina”

  25 neat’s leather cowhide, i.e. shoes;

  25 gone upon walked on/had sex with

  25 handiwork possible connotations of masturbation

  26 wherefore why

  30 triumph victory/ceremonious procession in which the victors rode in chariots with their captives chained

  32 tributaries prisoners of war (for whom a ransom would be demanded)

  33 grace adorn

  36 Pompey great Roman general defeated by Caesar at the battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC; he fled to Egypt where he was murdered

  40 livelong entire

  44 That so that

  44 Tiber Rome’s river

  45 replication reverberation, echo

  46 concave hollowed out/curved

  48 cull out choose for yourself

  50 blood lifeblood/relatives (specifically, his sons, who were also defeated by Caesar)

  53 intermit stop

  58 till … all i.e. until the water level rises from its very lowest to reach the highest banks

  60 basest mettle lowly dispositions/base metal (an image from alchemy, the pseudoscience that sought to turn base metals into gold)

  60 moved stirred, persuaded/changed (into gold)

  62 Capitol Capitoline Hill, site of the temple of supreme Roman god Jupiter; used in the play as the location of the senate house

  63 images statues of Caesar

  64 ceremonies ornamental trappings of state/worshipful tokens

  66 feast of Lupercal Roman festival held on February 15 in honor of Lupercus, the god of shepherds; festivities centered around the Lupercal, a cave in which a wolf was believed to have suckled Rome’s founders, Romulus and Remus

  68 trophies tokens of victory

  68 about walk about (the city)

  69 vulgar common people

  70 thick numerous, thronging

  72 pitch height (achieved by bird of prey before swooping)

  73 else otherwise

  1.2 for ready for

  1.2 course wearing nothing but goat skins, youths celebrating the festival of Lupercal ran around Palatine Hill, striking women with strips of goat hide to promote fertility

  1.2 Soothsayer prophet

  2 ho a call for attention

  5 Stand … course in order that Calpurnia should be touched by Antony, as an aid to fertility

  18 press crowd

  21 Ides of March March 15

  Sennet trumpet call signaling a procession

  29 order arrangement/proceedings

  32 gamesome fond of sport/lively/merry

  33 quick lively

  36 now of late lately

  38 wont accustomed

  39 bear … Over are too unyielding and unfamiliar toward

  42 if … myself i.e. if I have seemed distant, it is because I have directed all my anxieties inward

  44 Merely entirely

  45 passions … difference conflicting emotions/powerful feelings that have come between myself and my friends

  46 Conceptions thoughts

  46 only proper belonging only/only appropriate

  47 soil stain/explanation

  50 construe interpret, understand

  52 shows outward manifestations

  54 By means whereof as a result of which

  54 buried kept to itself/suppressed/put to rest

  55 cogitations thoughts, ideas

  58 But except

  59 just true

  61 turn return/reflect

  63 shadow reflection

  64 of … respect most highly regarded men

  66 yoke apparatus worn on the neck, used to restrict the movement of a captive or conquered enemy

  67 had his eyes i.e. saw things for himself/saw things as the speaker did

  71 Therefore hence/as for that

  73 glass mirror

  74 modestly without exaggeration

  74 discover reveal

  75 That … of i.e. your potential

  76 jealous on mistrustful of

  76 gentle noble/kind

  77 common laughter subject of public ridicule

  77 did use were I accustomed

  78 stale make stale/depreciate/make into a laughingstock

  78 ordinary common, banal

  79 protester declarer of friendship

  81 scandal scorn/slander

  82 profess myself declare friendship

  83 rout rabble/assembled company

  Flourish trumpet fanfare accompanying a person in authority

  91 aught anything

  92 Set … i’th’other i.e. present me with both

  93 indifferently impartially

  94 speed prosper

  97 favour appearance/face

  101 as lief as soon, rather

  101 be exist

  102 such … myself i.e. a fellow man

  107 chafing with fretting at/raging against

  109 flood river

  111 Accoutrèd dressed

  112 bade invited/told

  113 buffet it beat it back

  114 lusty sinews vigorous muscles, strong arms

  115 stemming cutting through

  115 hearts of controversy competitive hearts, contentious spirits

  116 ere before

  118 Aeneas legendary founder of Rome; Virgil’s Aeneid relates how he carried his old father, Anchises, on his back as they escaped from the burning city of Troy

  123 bend his body i.e. bow

  126 mark note, observe

  128 from … fly i.e. became pale (colour plays on the sense of “military flag,” the lips being cowardly deserters)

  129 bend gaze

  131 bade ordered

  136 start of advantage over

  137 palm palm leaf, symbol of victory

  142 Colossus giant; the Colossus of Rhodes, a gigantic statue of the sun god Apollo, supposedly stood astride the entrance to the harbor

  145 at some time at times

  146 our stars i.e. fate

  149 be sounded be spoken/resound/be celebrated

  152 conjure invoke spirits

  153 start raise, awake

  155 meat food

  156 great powerful (plays on the sense of “fat”)

  156 Age i.e. the present time

  157 breed of ability to produce/supply of

  158 the great flood feature of both the Bible and Greek mythology; in the classical flood, Zeus drowns all mankind except for Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha

  162 room puns on Rome (the words were pronounced in a similar way)

  165 a Brutus once i.e. Lucius Junius Brutus, who expelled the last king of Rome and founded the Roman republic

  165 brooked tolerated, endured

  166 state throne/kingship

  168 nothing jealous in no doubt

  169 work persuade

  169 aim idea, understanding

  172 so … you if I may entreat you in friendship

  173 moved urged, persuaded

  176 meet fitting

  176 high important

  179 repute consider

  181 like likely

  train retinue

  186 after according to

  187 worthy that is worthy of

  190 chidden scolded, rebuked

  192 ferret ferret-like, i.e. small and red

  194 crossed challenged

  194 conference debate

  199 Sleek-headed well-groomed, smooth-haired

  200 yond i.e. yonder, over there

  203 given disposed

  204 Would I wish

  205 my name i.e. I

  207 spare lean, gaunt

  208 looks … deeds i.e. sees right through to the motives behind men’s actions

  211 sort way

  215 greater i.e. greater man

  218 Caesar i.e. not liable to fear

  223 chanced happened

  224 sad serious/downcast


  227 crown laurel crown, symbol of kingship

  228 put it by waved it away, declined it

  235 marry indeed (literally, “by the Virgin Mary”)

  236 gentler more courteously/with less insistence

  242 mere complete

  244 coronets smaller crowns, inferior to that worn by a king

  245 fain willingly

  248 still as whenever

  249 rabblement crowd, rabble

  250 chopped chapped, roughened

  250 nightcaps a slighting reference to their headgear, not to caps worn in bed

  253 durst dared

  256 soft wait a moment

  259 like likely

  259 the falling sickness epilepsy

  261 we … sickness i.e. our fortunes are falling, we are neglected

  263 tag-rag ragged

  265 use are accustomed

  265 true honest

  268 plucked me plucked (me is an intensifier)

  269 ope open

  269 doublet close-fitting Elizabethan man’s jacket

  269 an if

  270 a … occupation i.e. a working man, one of the crowd (plays on sense of “a man of action”)

  270 taken … word taken him at his word (taken plays on sense of “struck”)

  271 would wish

  277 stabbed plays on sense of “penetrated sexually”

  285 Greek to me i.e. unintelligible

  287 put to silence i.e. removed from office (or possibly “put to death”)

  290 promised forth engaged to dine elsewhere

  292 mind hold inclination doesn’t change

  296 blunt forthright/dull

  297 quick mettle lively spirited, quick-witted

  300 tardy sluggish, reluctant

  301 rudeness rough, uncouth manner

  301 wit intelligence

  302 stomach appetite, inclination

  306 home to you to your house

  308 the world i.e. the state of Rome/your civic duty

  309 noble begins an alchemical metaphor: “noble” metals (gold and silver) cannot be transmuted into base substances (though despite this, Cassius thinks he can alter Brutus)

  310 mettle spirit, disposition (puns on “metal”)

  310 wrought manipulated/transmuted

  311 that … disposed its usual inclination/its natural disposition

  311 meet right, fitting

  312 their likes those like them

  313 who i.e. who is

  314 bear me hard tolerate me grudgingly, dislike me

  316 He … me i.e. Brutus would not be able to sway my views (as I do his)/Caesar would still not be able to entice me

  317 several hands different styles of handwriting

  319 tending to concerning

  320 obscurely covertly, subtly

  321 glanced hinted

  322 seat him sure seat himself most securely (in the chair of power), i.e. “take great care”

  1 even evening

  1 Brought accompanied

  3 moved upset, affected

  3 sway order, rule, authority (plays on sense of “swinging movement”)

  5 scolding clamoring/rebuking

  6 rived split

  8 exalted with raised up to

  12 saucy insolent, defiant

  14 wonderful astonishing, extraordinary

  18 sensible of feeling

  19 put up sheathed

  20 Against close to/in front of

  21 glazed stared

  22 annoying harming

  23 Upon into

  23 heap crowd

  23 ghastly terrified

  26 bird of night the owl, considered a bird of ill omen; its cry was thought to herald death

  28 prodigies unnatural things/bad omens

  29 conjointly meet happen in unison, coincide

  32 climate region

  32 point upon are directed at, happen in

  34 after their fashion in their own way

  35 Clean utterly

  45 what what kind of

  51 unbracèd with doublet unbuttoned

  52 thunder-stone thunderbolt

  53 cross forked/hostile

  58 tokens signs, omens

  59 dreadful inspiring dread and fear

  59 heralds messengers

  61 want lack

  62 use not ignore them

  64 impatience anger

  67 from … kind against their natures

  68 calculate (are able to) interpret events

  69 ordinance appointed function

  70 preformèd established, innate

  71 monstrous unnatural

  74 state condition, state of affairs/commonwealth (i.e. Rome)

  77 lightens flashes lightning

  80 prodigious ominous/unnatural

  81 fearful frightening

  81 eruptions disturbances

  84 thews sinews, muscles

  85 fathers (noble) forefathers, ancestors

  87 yoke and sufferance patience in servitude

  90 by … land i.e. in all dominions

  93 from … Cassius i.e. will commit suicide

  94 Therein i.e. through suicide

  98 be retentive to confine, restrict

  99 bars prison bars/obstacles

  101 know … besides let it be known by all the world

  102 bear endure

  103 pleasure will

  105 bondman slave

  110 hinds female deer/servants

  111 make … fire i.e. achieve fame, power

  112 weak straws i.e. the Roman people

  112 trash twigs, hedge cuttings (i.e. paltry but flammable)

  113 rubbish debris from decayed buildings

  113 offal rubbish/wood shavings

  115 vile base, corrupt

  118 My … made I must answer for it (i.e. be punished/fight you)

  121 fleering sneering

  121 Hold, my enough, take my

  122 factious prepared to form a faction

  123 set … mine i.e. commit myself, proceed

  124 who whoever

  130 this this time, now

  130 stay wait

  131 Pompey’s porch colonnade built by Pompey in 55 BC to provide shelter for spectators attending the Theatrum Pompei (Pompey’s theatre) that was constructed at the same time

  133 complexion appearance/disposition

  133 element sky, heavens

  134 favour appearance/face

  136 close concealed

  140 incorporate To united to, part of

  141 stayed waited

  142 on’t of it

  149 praetor high-ranking magistrate, i.e. Brutus

  150 may … it i.e. cannot avoid finding it

  151 set this up attach this

  153 Repair make your way

  156 hie hurry

  165 countenance approval/face, appearance

  165 alchemy pseudoscience that sought to turn base metals into gold

  168 conceited conceived of, understood/expressed with an elaborate image

  2.1 Location: Brutus’ garden, Rome

  2.1 orchard garden

  5 When exclamation of impatience

  7 taper candle

  10 his i.e. Caesar’s; Brutus is in mid-thought

  11 spurn strike, kick

  12 general general cause, public good

  15 craves requires

  15 crown him that i.e. crown him

  19 Remorse pity, compassion

  20 affections emotions

  20 swayed influenced, ruled (him)

  21 proof experience

  22 lowliness humility/pretended humbleness

  22 ladder i.e. means of rising to power

  24 upmost round highest rung

  26 base degrees lower rungs/those of lower social status

  28 the … is our cause for complaint cannot be justified on the grounds of his current behavior

  29 colour good reason/pretext

  30 Fashion contrive/fabri
cate, pervert

  30 augmented i.e. once he has been given more power

  33 as his kind like the rest of its species

  33 mischievous harmful, dangerous

  35 closet private room

  44 exhalations meteors (considered bad omens, these were thought to consist of noxious vapors that had been drawn up, or “exhaled,” from the earth by the sun)

  51 piece it out add to it, fill it out

  54 Tarquin Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome, who was expelled by Lucius Junius Brutus

  58 petition request

  61 whet incite (literally refers to sharpening of a knife)

  64 motion suggestion/impulse

  65 phantasma illusion, hallucination

  66 genius attendant guardian spirit thought to influence a man throughout his life

  66 mortal instruments human functions (mental and physical; these should obey the genius)

  67 council intense debate, dispute

  67 state condition/commonwealth

  69 insurrection rebellion

  70 brother brother-in-law; Cassius was married to Brutus’ sister

  75 plucked about pulled down over

  77 discover identify

  78 mark of favour facial feature

  82 free unconfined

  84 visage face

  86 thou … on pursue (i.e. maintain) your natural appearance

  87 Erebus in classical mythology, the dark place through which the dead must pass before they reach the underworld, Hades

  88 prevention being (recognized and) forestalled

  89 are too bold intrude too boldly

  103 watchful cares sleep-preventing anxieties

  104 night i.e. sleep

  108 yon yonder, those

  109 fret adorn, lace

  110 deceived mistaken

  111 as i.e. where

  112 growing on advancing toward

  113 Weighing considering, taking into account

  117 all over all of you

  119 face of men i.e. troubled look of the people

  120 sufferance suffering

  121 betimes quickly

  122 idle unoccupied/lazy

  123 high-sighted ambitious, with the sight directed upward/soaring beyond view (image from falconry)

  123 range move freely

  124 lottery chance

  126 steel make firm

  130 Than than that of

  130 secret trustworthy/concealed

  131 palter equivocate, use trickery

  132 engaged pledged, committed

  133 fall i.e. die

  134 Swear i.e. those who take oaths are

  134 cautelous cautious

  135 carrions corpses (used here of sick old men)

  137 Such … doubt the sort of wretches one can have little faith in

  138 even true, steady

  139 th’insuppressive the indomitable, not suppressible

  140 or either

  143 several individual

  143 bastardy i.e. act that shows he is no true, legitimate Roman