Enter Brutus in his orchard.
Brutus is in his garden, alone.
BRUTUS: What, Lucius, ho!—I cannot by the progress of the stars give guess how near to day.—Lucius, I say!—I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.—When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say! What, Lucius!
Brutus is calling out for his servant, Lucius. He’s trying to figure out the time of day, but he can’t tell from the stars. He wishes he could have woken up earlier, and keeps calling for Lucius.
Enter Lucius.
Lucius enters.
LUCIUS: Called you, my lord?
Lucius asks if Brutus called for him.
BRUTUS: Get me a taper in my study, Lucius. When it is lighted, come and call me here.
Brutus asks Lucius to bring him a candle from his study and to call him back once it’s lit.
LUCIUS: I will, my lord. He exits.
Lucius agrees and leaves.
BRUTUS: It must be by his death. And for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general. He would be crowned: How that might change his nature, there’s the question.
Brutus is thinking about Julius Caesar’s possible rise to power. He doesn’t have any personal reason to harm Caesar, but he believes Caesar’s crowning could change his character and behavior. Brutus is concerned about what might happen if Caesar becomes king.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, and that craves wary walking. Crown him that, and then I grant we put a sting in him that at his will he may do danger with.
Brutus compares Caesar’s potential crowning to a bright day that brings out a dangerous snake (adder). He believes that if Caesar becomes king, he may use his power to harm others as he wishes.
Th’ abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power.
Brutus reflects that the misuse of power happens when someone becomes cruel or lacks empathy (remorse) because of their power.
BRUTUS: Remorse from power. And, to speak truth of Caesar, I have not known when his affections swayed More than his reason.
Brutus reflects that the abuse of power happens when someone loses empathy (remorse). He continues to talk about Caesar, saying that, in his experience, Caesar’s emotions (affections) have never overruled his reason.
But ’tis a common proof That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; But, when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend. So Caesar may.
Brutus uses the metaphor of ambition being a ladder. When someone is starting out (lowliness), they climb up the ladder with their face looking upward. But once they reach the top, they turn their back on the ladder and look down on the lower stages, forgetting how they got there. Brutus fears Caesar might do the same once he becomes too powerful.
Then, lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel Will bear no color for the thing he is, Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented, Would run to these and these extremities.
Brutus decides that since Caesar’s rise to power seems inevitable, they should act now before it happens. He acknowledges that they don’t have a solid reason (quarrel) against Caesar as he is, but they must imagine how dangerous he could become if he gains even more power.
And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg, Which, hatched, would, as his kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell.
Brutus compares Caesar to a serpent’s egg. While it’s still in the egg, it’s not dangerous, but once it hatches, it would grow into a harmful snake. Brutus concludes that it’s better to “kill him in the shell” – stop Caesar before he grows more powerful and dangerous.
Enter Lucius.
Lucius enters the scene.
LUCIUS: The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Searching the window for a flint, I found This paper, thus sealed up, and I am sure It did not lie there when I went to bed.
Lucius tells Brutus that the candle is burning in his study and that he found a letter, which was sealed, in the window when he was looking for a flint. Lucius is sure that the letter wasn’t there when he went to bed.
Gives him the letter.
Lucius hands Brutus the letter.
BRUTUS: Get you to bed again. It is not day. Is not tomorrow, boy, the ides of March?
Brutus tells Lucius to go back to bed because it’s still not morning. He then asks if tomorrow is the Ides of March (March 15), which is a significant date in Roman history.
LUCIUS: I know not, sir.
Lucius replies that he doesn’t know.
BRUTUS: Look in the calendar, and bring me word.
Brutus tells Lucius to check the calendar and let him know.
LUCIUS: I will, sir. He exits.
Lucius agrees and exits.
BRUTUS: The exhalations, whizzing in the air, Give so much light that I may read by them.
Brutus remarks that the air’s light (possibly from the moon or other natural sources) is bright enough for him to read the letter.
Opens the letter and reads.
Brutus opens the letter and begins reading it.
BRUTUS: Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake, and see thyself! Shall Rome, etc. Speak, strike, redress!
Brutus is imagining a voice calling to him, urging him to wake up and take action. The voice seems to represent his conscience, urging him to think about Rome’s future and how it should be governed. “Speak, strike, redress” are calls to action—speak out, act, and fix the situation.
“Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake.” Such instigations have been often dropped Where I have took them up.
Brutus acknowledges that these kinds of calls to action (instigations) have appeared before, and he has often taken them seriously.
“Shall Rome, etc.” Thus must I piece it out: Shall Rome stand under one man’s awe? What, Rome? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive when he was called a king.
Brutus is continuing his internal debate, considering the question: should Rome be ruled by one man? He refers to the historical event of the Romans overthrowing King Tarquin, emphasizing that his ancestors fought against monarchy and would not want Rome to fall under a single ruler’s control.
“Speak, strike, redress!” Am I entreated To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus.
Brutus reflects on the call to action—should he speak out and take action? He makes a promise to Rome that, if the necessary changes (redress) come from his actions, Rome will get what it needs from him.
Enter Lucius.
Lucius enters the scene.
LUCIUS: Sir, March is wasted fifteen days. Knock within.
Lucius tells Brutus that the month of March is already halfway gone (fifteen days have passed). There is a knock at the door.
BRUTUS: ’Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. Lucius exits.
Brutus tells Lucius to answer the door.
Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, I have not slept.
Brutus reflects that ever since Cassius convinced him to consider acting against Caesar, he hasn’t been able to sleep, troubled by the idea.
Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion, all the interim is Like a phantasma or a hideous dream.
Brutus explains that the time between deciding to do something terrible and actually carrying it out feels like a nightmare or a hallucination. The uncertainty is haunting him.
The genius and the mortal instruments Are then in council, and the state of man, Like to a little kingdom, suffers then The nature of an insurrection.
Brutus describes this period as a time when his inner genius (his reason) and his mortal actions (the instruments) are in conflict, much like a small kingdom suffering from rebellion (insurrection). He is torn between action and inaction.
Enter Lucius.
Lucius enters again.
LUCIUS: Sir, ’tis your brother Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you.
Lucius informs Brutus that Cassius is at the door, wanting to speak with him.
BRUTUS: Is he alone?
Brutus asks if Cassius is alone.
LUCIUS: No, sir. There are more with him.
Lucius replies that Cassius is not alone and that others are with him.
BRUTUS: Do you know them?
Brutus asks if Lucius knows who the other people are.
LUCIUS: No, sir. Their hats are plucked about their ears, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them By any mark of favor.
Lucius says he doesn’t know them because they’re hiding their faces. Their hats are pulled low, and their cloaks cover half their faces, making it impossible to identify them.
BRUTUS: Let ’em enter. Lucius exits.
Brutus decides to let them in.
BRUTUS: They are the faction. O conspiracy, Sham’st thou to show thy dang’rous brow by night, When evils are most free? O, then, by day 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 path, thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention.
Brutus realizes that the group entering is part of the conspiracy against Caesar. He speaks to the conspiracy as though it were a person, criticizing it for being secretive and operating at night, when evil actions are easier to hide. He warns that if the conspiracy shows itself openly (in the light of day), it will be recognized for what it is. He urges it to disguise itself with friendliness and politeness, because if it shows its true nature, no darkness (Erebus, the Greek god of darkness) will be enough to hide it from being stopped (prevention).
Enter the conspirators, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus, and Trebonius.
The conspirators enter: Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus, and Trebonius.
CASSIUS: I think we are too bold upon your rest. Good morrow, Brutus. Do we trouble you?
Cassius greets Brutus, apologizing if they are disturbing him by coming so early.
BRUTUS: I have been up this hour, awake all night. Know I these men that come along with you?
Brutus replies that he has been awake all night. He asks if he knows the men who are with Cassius.
CASSIUS: Yes, every man of them; and no man here But honors you, and every one doth wish You had but that opinion of yourself Which every noble Roman bears of you. This is Trebonius.
Cassius assures Brutus that he knows all the men and that each one honors him. He continues by saying that they all wish Brutus had the same high opinion of himself that they, and all noble Romans, have of him. He then introduces Trebonius.
BRUTUS: He is welcome hither.
Brutus greets Trebonius, who was introduced by Cassius.
CASSIUS: This, Decius Brutus.
Cassius introduces Decius Brutus.
BRUTUS: He is welcome too.
Brutus accepts Decius’s presence.
CASSIUS: This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.
Cassius introduces the remaining conspirators: Casca, Cinna, and Metellus Cimber.
BRUTUS: They are all welcome.
Brutus welcomes all the conspirators into his house.
BRUTUS: What watchful cares do interpose themselves Betwixt your eyes and night?
Brutus asks what has kept the conspirators awake, indicating his curiosity about why they’ve come so early.
CASSIUS: Shall I entreat a word?
Cassius asks if he can have a private word with Brutus.
Brutus and Cassius whisper together, having a private conversation.
DECIUS: Here lies the east; doth not the day break here?
Decius asks if the day has broken, indicating he’s thinking about the sunrise and its direction.
CASCA: No.
Casca disagrees, stating that the day hasn’t broken yet.
CINNA: O pardon, sir, it doth; and yon gray lines That fret the clouds are messengers of day.
Cinna corrects Casca, saying that the day has indeed begun, as the gray lines in the sky signal the coming of day.
CASCA: You shall confess that you are both deceived. Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises, Which is a great way growing on the south, Weighing the youthful season of the year. Some two months hence, up higher toward the north He first presents his fire, and the high east Stands, as the Capitol, directly here.
Casca, with some certainty, points out that the sun is rising to the south, and explains that the position of the sun is different in the early months of the year. He further argues that the Capitol (which is in the east) marks the direction of the true sunrise.
BRUTUS, coming forward with Cassius: Give me your hands all over, one by one.
Brutus, coming forward after his whispered conversation with Cassius, asks for the conspirators’ hands, probably to signify their unity.
CASSIUS: And let us swear our resolution.
Cassius suggests that they should swear an oath to commit to their plan.
BRUTUS: No, not an oath. If not the face of men, The sufferance of our souls, the time’s abuse— If these be motives weak, break off betimes, And every man hence to his idle bed. So let high-sighted tyranny range on.
Brutus disagrees with the idea of swearing an oath. He says they should not need an oath if they are truly convinced by their noble cause (the face of men, the suffering of their souls, and the abuse of power in Rome). If their reasons are weak, they should abandon the plan. He wants them to act out of genuine conviction, not because they are bound by an oath. If they cannot do that, then they should let Caesar’s tyranny continue unchecked.
BRUTUS: Till each man drop by lottery. But if these— As I am sure they do—bear fire enough To kindle cowards and to steel with valor The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, What need we any spur but our own cause To prick us to redress?
Brutus says they don’t need an oath or any external force (like drawing lots) to motivate them. He believes their cause is so just and inspiring that even the fainthearted or overly emotional can find courage in it. He questions why they would need anything beyond their own sense of purpose to act.
What other bond Than secret Romans that have spoke the word And will not palter? And what other oath Than honesty to honesty engaged That this shall be or we will fall for it?
He emphasizes their bond as Roman patriots who have already made a verbal commitment. This shared integrity, based on mutual honesty and resolve, is all the assurance they need.
Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous, Old feeble carrions, and such suffering souls That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear Such creatures as men doubt;
Brutus criticizes the idea of swearing oaths, saying that only people of weak character (priests, cowards, deceitful men, and those who passively accept injustice) need oaths to reinforce their resolve. Swearing is for those who lack the courage and conviction to act otherwise.
But do not stain The even virtue of our enterprise, Nor th’ insuppressive mettle of our spirits, To think that or our cause or our performance Did need an oath, when every drop of blood That every Roman bears, and nobly bears, Is guilty of a several bastardy If he do break the smallest particle Of any promise that hath passed from him.
He insists that their mission is virtuous and their determination unshakable. Suggesting they need an oath would undermine their honor and the integrity of their cause. If a Roman were to break a promise, it would be a betrayal of their nobility (as though they were illegitimate, or “bastards”).
CASSIUS: But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? I think he will stand very strong with us.
Cassius proposes including Cicero, a respected Roman statesman, in their conspiracy, believing his influence and support would be valuable.
CASCA: Let us not leave him out.
Casca agrees, suggesting they should involve Cicero.
CINNA: No, by no means.
Cinna also supports the idea of involving Cicero, strongly agreeing.
METELLUS: O, let us have him, for his silver hairs Will purchase us a good opinion And buy men’s voices to commend our deeds. It shall be said his judgment ruled our hands. Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, But all be buried in his gravity.
Metellus adds that Cicero’s age and wisdom (“silver hairs”) would lend credibility and respectability to their actions. Having Cicero as part of the group would make their deeds seem well-judged and mature, rather than rash or reckless.
BRUTUS: O, name him not! Let us not break with him, For he will never follow anything That other men begin.
Brutus opposes involving Cicero. He argues that Cicero won’t follow a plan started by others because he is too proud to join something he didn’t initiate.
CASSIUS: Then leave him out.
CASCA: Indeed, he is not fit.
Cassius and Casca agree with Brutus, deciding not to involve Cicero.
DECIUS: Shall no man else be touched, but only Caesar?
Decius raises the question of whether they should only target Caesar or include others, such as Mark Antony, in their plan.
CASSIUS: Decius, well urged. I think it is not meet Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar, Should outlive Caesar. We shall find of him A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means, If he improve them, may well stretch so far As to annoy us all; which to prevent, Let Antony and Caesar fall together.
Cassius agrees with Decius, arguing that Mark Antony is dangerous because he is clever and resourceful. If left alive, Antony might use his influence and resources to seek revenge or harm them. Therefore, Cassius suggests killing both Caesar and Antony.
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; For Antony is but a limb of Caesar.
Brutus rejects Cassius’s suggestion, saying that killing both Caesar and Antony would make their actions look excessively violent and driven by jealousy. He views Antony as an extension (“a limb”) of Caesar, and without Caesar, Antony poses no real threat.
Let’s 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 And not dismember Caesar! But, alas, Caesar must bleed for it.
Brutus emphasizes that they should see themselves as noble sacrificers, not savage murderers. He wishes they could remove Caesar’s power (“spirit”) without killing him, but he acknowledges that Caesar’s death is necessary to achieve their goal.
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.
Brutus urges the conspirators to kill Caesar with dignity and purpose, rather than with anger or brutality. He uses a metaphor, comparing Caesar’s assassination to preparing a sacred offering for the gods, rather than butchering an animal for dogs.
And let our hearts, as subtle masters do, Stir up their servants to an act of rage And after seem to chide ’em. This shall make Our purpose necessary and not envious; Which so appearing to the common eyes, We shall be called purgers, not murderers.
Brutus advises them to channel their emotions into the act of assassination, but afterward, they should appear calm and regretful. This way, their actions will seem necessary and virtuous rather than driven by personal jealousy or malice. They will be seen as healers or “purgers” of Rome, not as ruthless killers.
BRUTUS: And for Mark Antony, think not of him, For he can do no more than Caesar’s arm When Caesar’s head is off.
Brutus dismisses Mark Antony as a threat, likening him to Caesar’s arm—useless without Caesar’s head. He believes Antony won’t pose any danger once Caesar is gone.
CASSIUS: Yet I fear him, For in the engrafted love he bears to Caesar—
Cassius remains concerned about Antony, emphasizing Antony’s deep loyalty to Caesar and the potential risk of retaliation.
BRUTUS: 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.
Brutus assures Cassius that Antony’s love for Caesar won’t lead to any significant threat. At most, Antony might grieve Caesar’s death so deeply that he harms himself.
And that were much he should, for he is given To sports, to wildness, and much company.
Brutus further downplays Antony, describing him as someone who enjoys frivolous pursuits, partying, and socializing, implying that Antony lacks the focus or seriousness to be a threat.
TREBONIUS: There is no fear in him. Let him not die, For he will live and laugh at this hereafter.
Trebonius agrees with Brutus, arguing that Antony isn’t dangerous and will likely move on from Caesar’s death without causing trouble.
Clock strikes.
BRUTUS: Peace, count the clock.
CASSIUS: The clock hath stricken three.
The clock striking three symbolizes the passage of time and emphasizes that it’s nearly time for their plan to unfold.
TREBONIUS: ’Tis time to part.
Trebonius signals that it’s time to conclude their meeting and prepare for the assassination.
CASSIUS: But it is doubtful yet Whether Caesar will come forth today or no, For he is superstitious grown of late, Quite from the main opinion he held once Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies.
Cassius expresses doubt about whether Caesar will attend the Senate because Caesar has recently become superstitious. He has started believing in omens, dreams, and rituals, which he previously dismissed.
It may be these apparent prodigies, The unaccustomed terror of this night, And the persuasion of his augurers May hold him from the Capitol today.
Cassius notes the strange signs, the fearful events of the previous night, and the warnings from Caesar’s augurers (fortune-tellers) might convince Caesar to stay home.
DECIUS: Never fear that. If he be so resolved, I can o’ersway him, for he loves to hear That unicorns may be betrayed with trees, And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, Lions with toils, and men with flatterers.
*Decius confidently claims he can persuade Caesar to attend. He knows Caesar enjoys flattery and can be manipulated through clever words. Decius compares this to how animals are lured into traps:
- Unicorns are captured using trees.
- Bears are drawn in with reflective surfaces like mirrors.
- Elephants fall into pits.
- Lions are caught in nets.*
Similarly, men like Caesar can be deceived through flattery and manipulation.
DECIUS: But when I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most flatter’d.
Decius notes Caesar’s hypocrisy: while Caesar claims to dislike flattery, he is most easily influenced when being flattered.
Let me work, For I can give his humor the true bent, And I will bring him to the Capitol.
Decius is confident he understands Caesar’s personality and knows how to manipulate him. He assures the group that he will successfully persuade Caesar to attend the Senate.
CASSIUS: Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.
Cassius insists they will all go together to ensure Caesar arrives at the Capitol.
BRUTUS: By the eighth hour, is that the uttermost?
Brutus asks if eight o’clock is the latest time they need to act.
CINNA: Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.
Cinna agrees that eight o’clock should be the final deadline and stresses that no one should fail to be ready.
METELLUS: Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard, Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey. I wonder none of you have thought of him.
Metellus points out that Caius Ligarius holds a grudge against Caesar because Caesar rebuked him for praising Pompey. He suggests including Ligarius in the conspiracy.
BRUTUS: Now, good Metellus, go along by him. He loves me well, and I have given him reasons. Send him but hither, and I’ll fashion him.
Brutus agrees to recruit Ligarius, mentioning that Ligarius respects him. Brutus will convince Ligarius to join their cause.
CASSIUS: The morning comes upon ’s. We’ll leave you, Brutus. And, friends, disperse yourselves, but all remember What you have said, and show yourselves true Romans.
Cassius acknowledges that dawn is approaching and advises everyone to leave. He reminds them to stay true to their commitment and act as honorable Romans.
BRUTUS: Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily. Let not our looks put on our purposes, But bear it, as our Roman actors do, With untired spirits and formal constancy.
Brutus advises the group to appear cheerful and normal, hiding their true intentions. He compares this to Roman actors who maintain composure and focus during a performance.
And so good morrow to you every one.
Brutus bids the conspirators farewell.
All but Brutus exit.
The conspirators leave, leaving Brutus alone.
BRUTUS: Boy! Lucius!—Fast asleep? It is no matter. Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber.
Brutus calls for Lucius but finds him asleep. He doesn’t wake him and reflects on how peaceful sleep can be, describing it as “honey-heavy dew.”
Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies
Brutus envies Lucius’s calm mind, free of troubling thoughts or visions. Lucius is unburdened by the weight of the conspiracy.
BRUTUS: Which busy care draws in the brains of men. Therefore thou sleep’st so sound.
Brutus observes that Lucius sleeps soundly because he is free from the burdens of care and anxiety that trouble men deeply involved in important matters.
Enter Portia.
Portia, Brutus’s wife, enters, marking a shift in the scene’s tone to a personal and emotional confrontation.
PORTIA: Brutus, my lord.
Portia addresses Brutus with respect and affection, but her tone hints at concern.
BRUTUS: Portia! What mean you? Wherefore rise you now? It is not for your health thus to commit Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.
Brutus expresses surprise and worry about Portia being awake so early in the cold, referencing her health.
PORTIA: Nor for yours neither. You’ve ungently, Brutus, Stole from my bed.
Portia counters that Brutus has not been kind to himself either, pointing out that he left their bed without explanation.
And yesternight at supper You suddenly arose and walked about, Musing and sighing, with your arms across,
She recounts Brutus’s behavior at dinner, where he acted distracted and distressed, physically expressing his turmoil by crossing his arms.
And when I asked you what the matter was, You stared upon me with ungentle looks.
Portia describes how Brutus looked at her harshly when she tried to understand what was troubling him.
I urged you further; then you scratched your head And too impatiently stamped with your foot.
Portia recalls Brutus’s visible frustration and impatience when she pressed him for answers.
Yet I insisted; yet you answered not, But with an angry wafture of your hand Gave sign for me to leave you.
Despite her persistence, Brutus did not reply and instead dismissed her with an irritated gesture.
So I did, Fearing to strengthen that impatience Which seemed too much enkindled,
Portia withdrew out of fear of aggravating Brutus further in his already agitated state.
And withal Hoping it was but an effect of humor, Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
Portia rationalizes that perhaps Brutus’s behavior was a temporary mood, a common occurrence for everyone.
It will not let you eat nor talk nor sleep, And could it work so much upon your shape As it hath much prevailed on your condition, I should not know you, Brutus.
Portia observes how Brutus’s mental turmoil has taken over his habits. She warns that if it starts to affect his physical appearance as much as it affects his mind, he would become unrecognizable to her.
Dear my lord, Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
Portia pleads earnestly for Brutus to share what is troubling him, showing her care and desire to support him.
BRUTUS: I am not well in health, and that is all.
Brutus dismisses her concerns with a vague excuse, claiming his distress is due to poor health.
PORTIA: Brutus is wise and, were he not in health, He would embrace the means to come by it.
Portia challenges Brutus’s explanation, pointing out that as a wise man, he would seek remedies for his health if that were truly the issue.
BRUTUS: Why so I do. Good Portia, go to bed.
Brutus tries to dismiss Portia’s concerns and encourages her to rest, showing his reluctance to engage with her probing questions.
PORTIA: Is Brutus sick? And is it physical To walk unbracèd and suck up the humors Of the dank morning?
Portia questions Brutus’s claim of being ill, sarcastically pointing out that his behavior—walking unprotected in the cold, damp air—is inconsistent with someone concerned about their physical health.
What, is Brutus sick, And will he steal out of his wholesome bed To dare the vile contagion of the night?
Portia suggests that Brutus’s actions are irrational for someone claiming to be unwell, emphasizing the strangeness of his behavior.
No, my Brutus, You have some sick offense within your mind, Which by the right and virtue of my place I ought to know of.
Portia confronts Brutus directly, asserting that his true ailment is emotional or mental. She insists that, as his wife, she has the right to know what troubles him.
She kneels. And upon my knees I charm you, by my once commended beauty, By all your vows of love, and that great vow Which did incorporate and make us one,
Portia kneels in a dramatic gesture, appealing to their marriage vows and her former beauty to convince Brutus to confide in her.
That you unfold to me, your self, your half, Why you are heavy, and what men tonight Have had resort to you; for here have been Some six or seven who did hide their faces Even from darkness.
Portia urges Brutus to share his burdens with her, emphasizing their unity in marriage. She also expresses concern over the clandestine visitors who have come to see him, suggesting that she is perceptive and aware of unusual occurrences.
BRUTUS: Kneel not, gentle Portia.
Brutus, uncomfortable with her gesture, asks her to rise. This response reveals both his affection for her and his unease with her persistent questioning.
He lifts her up.
This action is symbolic of his desire to reassure her and maintain their bond, though he still withholds the truth.
PORTIA: I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
Portia responds sharply, implying that if Brutus were truly kind and trusting, she wouldn’t have to resort to such extreme measures to learn the truth.
Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, Is it excepted I should know no secrets That appertain to you?
Portia challenges Brutus to define their relationship, questioning whether she is excluded from his personal and emotional struggles despite their marital bond.
Am I your self But, as it were, in sort or limitation, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, And talk to you sometimes?
Portia laments being treated as only a partial partner in their marriage—present for companionship and physical intimacy but excluded from his deeper thoughts.
Dwell I but in the suburbs Of your good pleasure?
Portia uses a metaphor to ask if she exists only on the periphery of Brutus’s affection and trust, not fully embraced within his heart and mind.
If it be no more, Portia is Brutus’ harlot, not his wife.
Portia delivers a powerful ultimatum, stating that if she is only a superficial presence in his life, she is reduced to the status of a mistress rather than a true partner.
BRUTUS:
“You are my true and honorable wife,
As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart.”
Brutus acknowledges Portia’s significance and expresses his love metaphorically, comparing her to the lifeblood that sustains him. However, his admission stops short of granting her full access to his inner turmoil, showcasing his emotional struggle.
PORTIA:
“If this were true, then should I know this secret.
I grant I am a woman, but withal
A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife.”
Portia questions Brutus’s sincerity, pointing out that if she were truly valued, she would be privy to his secrets. She asserts her identity as not just any woman but Brutus’s chosen partner, deserving of his trust.
“I grant I am a woman, but withal
A woman well-reputed, Cato’s daughter.”
Here, Portia references her noble lineage—her father, Cato, was renowned for his virtue and stoicism. By invoking her heritage, she emphasizes her strength, intelligence, and moral character.
“Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so fathered and so husbanded?”
Portia challenges gender stereotypes, questioning whether Brutus sees her as weak simply because she is a woman. She argues that her upbringing and marriage have equipped her with strength surpassing societal expectations of her gender.
PORTIA:
“I have made strong proof of my constancy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound
Here, in the thigh. Can I bear that with patience,
And not my husband’s secrets?”
In a dramatic gesture, Portia reveals that she has intentionally wounded herself to prove her endurance and trustworthiness. This act serves as a powerful demonstration of her loyalty and fortitude, underlining her capacity to share Brutus’s burdens.
BRUTUS:
“O you gods, Render me worthy of this noble wife!”
Brutus recognizes Portia’s virtue and laments his inadequacy in comparison. His exclamation underscores his admiration for her and the weight of the responsibility he feels toward her.
BRUTUS:
“Hark, hark, one knocks. Portia, go in awhile,
And by and by thy bosom shall partake
The secrets of my heart.”
Although interrupted, Brutus promises to reveal his plans to Portia later. This moment reflects his growing recognition of her strength and his intention to honor their partnership.
LIGARIUS:
“Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue.”
The introduction of Caius Ligarius, a conspirator, shifts the tone of the scene from intimate to political. Ligarius’s greeting, delivered with physical weakness, highlights the heavy burden shared by those involved in the conspiracy against Caesar.
BRUTUS:
“O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius,
To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick!”
Brutus’s opening lines express a mix of irony and admiration. He laments that Caius Ligarius is unwell during such a critical time, emphasizing the importance of the task at hand.
LIGARIUS:
“I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
Any exploit worthy the name of honor.”
Ligarius demonstrates his unwavering loyalty to Brutus. His declaration implies that his physical ailments pale in comparison to the call of duty, especially one tied to honor—a deeply valued Roman ideal.
LIGARIUS:
“By all the gods that Romans bow before,
I here discard my sickness.”
Ligarius’s symbolic removal of his kerchief marks a turning point where he casts aside his physical weakness. The act reflects his mental fortitude and readiness to commit to the cause, underscoring the theme of mind over matter.
BRUTUS:
“A piece of work that will make sick men whole.”
This cryptic line positions the conspiracy as a form of healing, suggesting that Caesar’s assassination is necessary to restore Rome’s health. The metaphor aligns with Brutus’s self-image as a noble liberator rather than a murderer.
LIGARIUS:
“But are not some whole that we must make sick?”
Ligarius’s retort introduces a moral ambiguity: the conspirators claim their actions will “heal” Rome, but they must also harm (“make sick”) others to achieve this. This duality encapsulates the ethical conflict central to the play.
LIGARIUS:
“Soul of Rome,
Brave son derived from honorable loins,
Thou like an exorcist hast conjured up
My mortifièd spirit.”
Ligarius exalts Brutus, likening him to a spiritual figure capable of reviving his spirit. The imagery of exorcism elevates Brutus’s role, portraying him as a redeemer and reinforcing the conspirators’ belief in the righteousness of their cause.
BRUTUS:
“That must we also. What it is, my Caius,
I shall unfold to thee as we are going
To whom it must be done.”
Brutus maintains secrecy, reinforcing the gravity and danger of their plot. The gradual unveiling of their plans mirrors the suspense and inevitability of Caesar’s fate.
LIGARIUS:
“Set on your foot,
And with a heart new-fired I follow you
To do I know not what; but it sufficeth
That Brutus leads me on.”
Ligarius’s blind faith in Brutus underscores his loyalty and highlights Brutus’s influence as a leader. The phrase “heart new-fired” reflects Ligarius’s rekindled resolve, emphasizing the transformative power of Brutus’s charisma.
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