Julius Caesar Read online

  146 sound sound out, question

  150 silver hairs i.e. old age/wisdom (silver also suggests money, an image picked up in purchase and buy)

  155 gravity sober authority/wisdom

  156 break speak, broach the matter

  161 touched affected, i.e. killed

  162 meet fitting

  165 shrewd contriver cunning schemer/astute strategist

  165 means resources/power

  166 improve exploit, make good use of

  167 annoy injure

  171 envy malice

  174 spirit influence/essence/disposition

  175 spirit soul

  182 subtle cunning

  183 Stir up provoke

  183 their servants i.e. our hands

  184 chide rebuke

  185 purpose purpose seem

  187 purgers cleansers, healers (of the state)

  192 ingrafted firmly implanted (gardening term referring to the practice of grafting a shoot from one plant onto the stem of another)

  195 take thought become depressed, sunk in grief

  196 that … should it would be extreme if he did

  198 no fear nothing to fear

  206 from the main contrary to the solid

  207 ceremonies ritual divination of omens

  208 apparent conspicuous, plainly visible

  210 augurers Roman religious officials who predicted the future by interpreting a variety of signs and portents

  213 o’ersway him influence him, change his mind

  214 unicorns … trees supposedly the fierce unicorn could be goaded into charging at a tree, where it would become trapped when its horn got embedded in the trunk

  215 glasses mirrors (into which the bear would gaze, distracted)

  215 holes holes in the ground, booby traps

  216 toils nets, snares

  220 humour mood/disposition

  220 true bent right inclination, proper direction

  223 uttermost latest time

  225 bear Caesar hard bear a grudge toward Caesar, dislike him

  226 rated reproached, rebuked

  228 by i.e. to

  229 reasons i.e. reasons to love me

  230 fashion him work on him, shape him to our purposes

  231 upon’s upon us

  235 put on show, reflect

  237 untired inexhaustible (may play on the sense of “uncostumed” although this is not historically accurate)

  237 formal constancy outward integrity, fidelity to one’s role

  241 figures … fantasies imaginings

  242 busy constantly active/interfering

  245 mean you are you doing

  248 ungently unkindly, rudely

  251 arms a-cross conventional gesture of melancholy or introspection

  257 wafture (dismissive) wave

  260 withal in addition

  261 humour (a bad) mood, (a disordered) temperament

  264 shape physical appearance

  265 condition state of mind

  266 know recognize

  273 unbracèd with clothing unbuttoned

  273 humours dampness, noxious vapors

  275 wholesome healthful

  276 dare risk/defy

  277 rheumy moist

  277 unpurgèd impure (the sun having yet to purge its moisture)

  279 sick offence harmful disorder

  280 place position (as your wife)

  282 charm conjure, entreat

  283 that great vow i.e. the marriage vow

  285 unfold reveal

  285 half other half

  286 heavy sad

  287 resort access

  293 excepted made an exception (that)

  295 in … limitation within certain limits (legal phrase)

  296 keep remain

  296 comfort make comfortable, bring pleasure to

  297 suburbs outskirts, the less tightly regulated parts of a city well known for prostitution

  299 harlot prostitute

  301 ruddy drops i.e. blood

  307 Cato Marcus Porcius Cato was known for his rigid moral integrity; as an ally of Pompey, he committed suicide rather than give in to Caesar

  310 counsels plans/secrets

  311 constancy fortitude

  318 by and by imminently

  318 bosom i.e. heart

  320 construe explain

  321 charactery writing, i.e. meaning

  kerchief scarf generally worn about the head (especially by invalids)

  327 Vouchsafe deign to accept

  337 exorcist one who calls up spirits by magical rites

  338 mortified deadened (by illness/by Caesar)

  339 strive contend

  341 whole healthy, well

  345 To whom i.e. to meet the man to whom

  346 Set … foot advance, lead on

  2.2 Location: Caesar’s house, Rome

  5 present immediate

  6 opinions predictions (based on study of the entrails of sacrificed animals)

  13 stood on insisted on, gave weight to

  13 ceremonies omens, portents

  16 watch night watchmen

  17 whelpèd given birth

  18 yawned gaped open

  19 fiery warriors i.e. comets, considered to be bad omens

  22 hurtled clashed noisily

  24 ghosts … squeal ghosts were traditionally supposed to have thin, high-pitched voices

  25 use customary experience

  28 end outcome

  28 purposed determined, intended

  30 to directed just as much to

  32 blaze forth i.e. proclaim with meteors, fire

  41 of … forth out of one of the sacrificial animal corpses

  43 in shame of to shame

  48 littered born

  52 consumed in devoured by

  59 humour whim, fancy

  63 happy opportune

  71 greybeards old men (often derogatory)

  79 stays detains

  82 lusty vigorous, lively, eager

  84 apply for interpret as

  87 amiss wrongly

  92 press appeal/crowd forward

  93 tinctures, stains, relics i.e. tokens marked with a martyr’s blood (tinctures also includes the sense “colours on a coat of arms”)

  93 cognizance tokens/heraldic badge worn by a nobleman’s servant

  100 were … rendered would be a likely joke

  108 reason … liable decorum is overruled by my love

  118 ague fever, sickness

  123 notwithstanding up nevertheless out of bed

  130 remember acknowledge, reward

  134 like friends may not actually be so

  135 That … same i.e. the fact that those who behave

  136 earns grieves

  2.3 Location: a street near the Capitol, Rome

  5 bent resolved/directed

  6 security overconfidence, complacency

  6 way opportunity/access

  7 lover dear and loyal friend

  10 suitor petitioner

  12 Out of free from

  12 teeth i.e. bite

  12 emulation ambitious rivalry

  14 contrive plot, conspire

  2.4 Location: outside Brutus’ house, Rome

  7 constancy resolution, fortitude

  9 man’s i.e. strong, virtuous

  10 counsel secrets

  16 take good note observe closely

  21 bustling rumour agitated commotion

  21 fray fight, noisy brawl/din, stir

  23 Sooth in truth

  31 suit petition, formal request

  34 befriend i.e. help, protect

  40 praetors magistrates (of whom Brutus is one)

  42 void empty

  46 speed prosper

  49 commend me convey my greetings

  3.1 Location: on the way to and then within the Capitol, Rome

  3 schedule document

  4 o’erread read over

  7 touches Caesar nearer affe
cts Caesar more directly

  8 served seen to, addressed/formally delivered (legal term)

  11 Sirrah sir (term of address used to a social inferior)

  11 place way

  20 makes to approaches

  21 sudden swift

  21 prevention interruption, intervention

  23 turn back return (alive)

  25 constant steady, controlled

  27 Caesar i.e. Caesar’s expression

  31 prefer advance, promote

  32 addressed prepared

  32 second support

  33 rears raises up

  36 puissant powerful

  37 seat chair of state/high status

  40 These couchings this bowing, stooping

  40 lowly courtesies humble (or “low”) bows

  41 fire excite/incite to action

  42 pre-ordinance … decree previously established and fundamental laws

  42 turn … lane cast … into the path/return (or transform) … to the narrow understanding;

  43 lane may be a variant of “line” (i.e. “rule”) though many editors emend to “law”

  43 fond (so) foolish

  44 rebel blood i.e. blood that will revolt against reason

  45 quality nature, property/excellence

  46 sweet flattering, sugary

  47 Low-crookèd with body and knee bent low (both “low” and “crooked” have connotations of dishonesty)

  47 spaniel-fawning dog-like fawning (spaniels were proverbially submissive)

  49 pray beg

  50 spurn kick

  50 cur dog

  51 cause good reason

  52 satisfied convinced (to grant a pardon)

  55 repealing recalling (from exile)

  58 freedom of repeal permission to be recalled/freedom resulting from being recalled

  62 enfranchisement liberation

  64 pray to move plead with others to act

  65 northern star the only star in the sky which does not appear to move when viewed from earth

  66 resting unchanging, stable

  67 fellow counterpart, equal

  67 firmament sky

  68 sparks i.e. stars

  72 apprehensive capable of perception and understanding

  74 holds … rank maintains his position

  75 of motion by movement of his own/by the persuasions of others

  80 Hence be gone

  80 Olympus in Greek mythology, the mountain home of the gods

  82 bootless pointlessly, uselessly

  83 hands i.e. his own hands; perhaps also those of the other conspirators

  84 Et tu, Bruté? “And you (too), Brutus?” (Latin)

  87 common pulpits public speaking platforms

  89 affrighted frightened

  90 ambition’s … paid i.e. the price for Caesar’s ambition has been paid with his death (and no one else will be harmed)

  94 confounded with dumbfounded, confused by

  94 mutiny chaos/revolt

  95 fast firm

  97 standing making a stand

  97 good cheer cheer up, be heartened

  101 age elderly personage

  101 mischief injury, harm

  102 abide pay the penalty for/remain with

  105 amazed stunned/dismayed/alarmed

  107 As as if

  108 pleasures wills

  109 time i.e. time of death

  110 drawing days out prolonging of life

  110 stand upon are uncertain about/attach importance to/demand to know

  118 market-place i.e. the Forum, center of public life

  122 acted over acted out/acted over again

  123 accents languages

  125 Pompey’s basis the pedestal of Pompey’s statue

  125 along stretched out

  128 knot group

  132 grace honor (by following)

  134 Soft wait a moment

  138 honest honorable

  141 feared felt reverence and awe for

  142 vouchsafe permit, grant

  143 be resolved learn

  148 Thorough through

  148 untrod state unprecedented state of affairs

  149 faith loyalty, constancy

  153 satisfied informed, reassured, convinced

  154 untouched unharmed

  155 presently immediately

  156 well to as a good

  157 wish hope

  157 mind feeling, presentiment

  158 fears doubts, mistrusts

  158 still … purpose always proves horribly accurate

  159 shrewdly astutely/seriously/dangerously

  162 spoils plunder of war

  163 measure extent, quantity

  165 be let blood i.e. killed (literally, “bled” as a doctor’s patient was)

  165 rank diseased/swollen

  171 purpled blood-red

  171 reek steam (with hot blood)

  172 Live were I to live

  173 apt ready, prepared

  174 mean manner

  175 cut off killed

  176 choice best, most worthy

  176 master leading

  180 see you but you only see

  182 pitiful full of pity, merciful

  184 pity pity i.e. our pity for Rome drove out pity for Caesar

  186 leaden dull, blunt, i.e. benign

  187 in … malice though strongly hostile to Caesar/though strong with the power to harm

  188 Of brothers’ temper with brotherly temperament

  188 receive admit, embrace

  189 kind gentle, well-meaning/brotherly, natural

  190 voice vote

  191 disposing distribution

  191 dignities offices of state, formal roles

  193 multitude common people

  194 deliver you inform you of

  194 cause reason (plays on the sense of “grounds for legal action”)

  196 proceeded taken action (plays on the sense of “taken legal action”)

  198 render give

  205 credit credibility/reputation

  205 slipp’ry perhaps also literally, due to Caesar’s blood

  206 conceit think of

  210 dearer more acutely

  213 Most noble addressed to Caesar’s spirit

  216 become befit, suit

  216 close come to an agreement, unite

  218 bayed hunted by dogs until cornered

  218 hart male deer; puns on “heart”

  220 Signed in marked with

  220 spoil slaughter, (blood of your) mangled body

  220 Lethe the river of Hades, the classical underworld, which induced forgetfulness; here refers to Caesar’s death/oblivion

  222 this i.e. this hart, Caesar

  227 The enemies even the enemies

  228 cold modesty sober moderation

  230 compact agreement

  231 pricked marked down

  232 on proceed

  233 Therefore for that reason (i.e. to be counted as a friend)

  238 Or else otherwise

  239 good regard just consideration

  244 Produce bring forth

  246 order ceremony

  256 protest declare

  257 leave permission, consent

  259 true rites proper funeral rites

  261 fall befall, happen

  267 About i.e. in

  276 tide of times course of history

  277 costly dear, precious

  283 cumber overwhelm, destroy/trouble, burden

  284 in use commonplace, customary

  285 objects sights

  287 quartered with cut to pieces by

  288 custom of constant exposure to

  288 fell cruel, fierce

  289 ranging roving, roaming

  290 Ate Greek goddess of discord and vengeance

  291 confines regions

  292 havoc war cry signaling merciless slaughter

  292 let slip unleash

  293 That so that

  293
foul wicked/stinking

  294 With i.e. along with

  294 carrion men rotting carcasses/corrupt men

  294 groaning crying out

  301 big swollen (with grief)

  302 Passion grief, strong emotion

  305 seven leagues twenty-one miles

  306 Post ride quickly

  309 Hie hence hurry away

  311 try test

  313 issue outcome (of the deed)

  314 which results of which

  314 discourse relate

  3.2 Location: the Roman Forum

  2 give me audience listen to me

  4 part the numbers divide the crowd

  7 public given in public/concerning the public

  7 renderèd given

  11 severally separately

  13 last end (of my speech)

  14 lovers friends

  14 cause grounds for action/explanation/subject of concern

  15 for because of

  16 Censure judge

  17 senses minds, wits

  29 rude uncivilized

  31 vile lowly, contemptible

  35 question of considerations behind

  36 enrolled officially recorded

  36 extenuated lessened, minimized

  37 enforced exaggerated, emphasized

  41 place … commonwealth i.e. his rights as a free man in the Roman republic

  46 triumph pomp, ceremony

  47 SECOND PLEBEIAN not the same man who left earlier to hear Cassius

  49 parts qualities

  50 crowned literally crowned/rewarded/surpassed

  58 grace listen courteously to

  58 Do grace to honor, respect

  59 Tending relating

  64 public chair pulpit, platform for public orations

  66 beholding obliged, indebted

  80 interrèd buried

  84 answered paid for

  85 leave permission

  93 general coffers public treasury

  115 masters sirs

  116 worse i.e. worse tyrant

  119 dear abide it suffer grievously for it

  123 But only

  124 stood against resisted, fought against

  125 poor humble

  134 closet cabinet

  138 dip … blood i.e. as if Caesar were a martyr

  138 napkins handkerchiefs

  142 issue children

  146 meet fit

  155 o’ershot myself gone further than I intended

  169 from back from

  169 hearse coffin or stand on which the body rests

  171 far further

  174 mantle cloak

  177 Nervii Belgian tribe of warriors defeated by Caesar

  179 rent tear, slash

  183 As as if it were

  184 unkindly cruelly/unnaturally

  185 angel favorite, dearest friend/protective spirit

  196 flourished triumphed/prospered/brandished (its sword)

  198 dint impression, mark

  198 gracious virtuous/blessed

  200 vesture clothing

  201 marred spoiled, stained

  201 with by

  208 About! Get moving!