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Modern English
Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, ’Help, ho! they murder Caesar!’ Who’s within?
Neither heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight: Three times Calpurnia has screamed in her sleep, ’Help, help! they’re killing Caesar!’ Who’s there?
My lord?
My lord?
Go bid the priests do present sacrifice And bring me their opinions of success.
Go tell the priests to make an immediate sacrifice And bring me their opinions on how things will turn out.
I will, my lord.
I will, my lord.
What mean you, Caesar? think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day.
What are you doing, Caesar? Do you really plan to go outside? You can’t leave the house today.
Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten’d me Ne’er look’d but on my back; when they shall see The face of Caesar, they are vanished.
Caesar will go outside. The things that have threatened me Have only been behind me; when they see The face of Caesar, they will disappear.
Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; And graves have yawn’d, and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol; The noise of battle hurtled in the air, Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan, And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. O Caesar! these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them.
Caesar, I’ve never been superstitious, But now I’m scared. There’s someone inside, And besides everything we’ve already heard and seen, They report even worse things that the guards have witnessed. A lioness has given birth in the streets; Graves have opened and released their dead; Fierce warriors have fought in the sky, In military formations and perfect battle order, And their blood rained down on the Capitol; The sounds of battle filled the air, Horses were neighing, and dying men were groaning, And ghosts were shrieking and wailing in the streets. Oh Caesar! These events are beyond anything I can understand, And I’m terrified.
What can be avoided Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions Are to the world in general as to Caesar.
What can be avoided, When the gods have already decided the outcome? But Caesar will go outside; because these omens Apply to everyone, not just Caesar.
When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
When beggars die, no comets appear; But when princes die, the heavens themselves blaze with signs.
Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard. It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come.
Cowards die many times before their death; The brave only die once. Of all the strange things I’ve heard, It seems to me the strangest is that men should fear death, Since death is inevitable, And it will come whenever it comes.
What say the augurers?
What do the priests say?
They would not have you to stir forth to-day. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, They could not find a heart within the beast.
They don’t want you to go out today. After cutting open an animal for a sacrifice, They couldn’t find a heart inside it.
The gods do this in shame of cowardice: Caesar should be a beast without a heart, If he should stay at home to-day for fear. No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well That Caesar is more dangerous than he: We are two lions litter’d in one day, And I the elder and more terrible: And Caesar shall go forth.
The gods are doing this to shame cowardice: Caesar should be a heartless beast, If he stays home today out of fear. No, Caesar will not: danger knows well That Caesar is more dangerous than it: We are two lions born on the same day, And I am the older and more terrifying: And Caesar will go out.
Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear That keeps you in the house, and not your own. We’ll send Mark Antony to the senate-house: And he shall say you are not well to-day: Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
Oh no, my lord, Your wisdom is clouded by overconfidence. Don’t go out today: let it be my fear That keeps you at home, not your own fear. We’ll send Mark Antony to the senate: And he’ll say you’re not feeling well today: Let me convince you, on my knees.
Mark Antony shall say I am not well, And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.
Mark Antony will say I’m not well, And, for your sake, I’ll stay at home.
Here’s Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.
Here comes Decius Brutus, he’ll tell them that.
Caesar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Caesar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house.
Caesar, greetings! Good morning, noble Caesar: I’ve come to take you to the senate.
And you are come in very happy time, To bear my greeting to the senators And tell them that I will not come to-day: Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser: I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius.
And you’ve come at a perfect time, To carry my greeting to the senators And tell them I won’t be coming today: Saying I can’t is a lie, and that I dare not is even more untrue: I won’t be coming today: tell them that, Decius.
Say he is sick.
Say he’s sick.
Shall Caesar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch’d mine arm so far, To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth? Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.
Should Caesar send a lie? Have I stretched my arm so far in victory, That I’m now too afraid to tell old men the truth? Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.
Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh’d at when I tell them so.
Mighty Caesar, please give me a reason, Or I’ll be laughed at when I tell them that.
The cause is in my will: I will not come; That is enough to satisfy the senate. But for your private satisfaction, Because I love you, I will let you know: Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home: She dreamt to-night she saw my statua, Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it: And these does she apply for warnings, and portents, And evils imminent; and on her knee Hath begg’d that I will stay at home to-day.
The reason is my will: I won’t come; That’s enough to satisfy the senate. But for your personal peace of mind, Because I love you, I’ll explain it to you: Calpurnia, my wife, keeps me at home: She dreamt last night that she saw my statue, Which, like a fountain with a hundred spouts, Was pouring out pure blood: and many healthy Romans Came smiling, and washed their hands in it: She takes this as a warning, a bad omen, And has begged me to stay home today.
This dream is all amiss interpreted; It was a vision fair and fortunate: Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, In which so many smiling Romans bathed, Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck Reviving blood, and that great men shall press For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance. This by Calpurnia’s dream is signified.
This dream has been badly interpreted; It was a vision of good luck and fortune: Your statue spouting blood from many pipes, In which so many smiling Romans bathed, Means that from you, great Rome will receive Reviving blood, and great men will come To take relics and symbols of honor. This is what Calpurnia’s dream truly means.
And this way have you well expounded it.
And you’ve explained it very well.
I have, when you have heard what I can say: And know it now: the senate have concluded To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. If you shall send them word you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock Apt to be render’d, for some one to say ’Break up the senate till another time, When Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams.’ If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper ’Lo, Caesar is afraid’? Pardon me, Caesar; for my dear dear love To our proceeding bids me tell you this; And reason to my love is liable.
I have something to tell you, and once you hear it: And listen now: the senate has decided To give Caesar a crown today. If you send word that you won’t come, They might change their minds. Also, it would be a joke If someone said ‘Let’s postpone the senate until later, When Caesar’s wife has better dreams.’ If Caesar stays away, won’t they whisper, ‘Look, Caesar is scared’? Sorry, Caesar; but out of my deep, deep love For our cause, I must tell you this; And my love makes me open to reason.
How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! I am ashamed I did yield to them. Give me my robe, for I will go.
How silly your fears seem now, Calpurnia! I’m embarrassed I let them affect me. Give me my robe, I’m going.
And look where Publius is come to fetch me.
And look, here’s Publius, come to take me.
Good morrow, Caesar.
Good morning, Caesar.
Welcome, Publius. What, Brutus, are you stirr’d so early too? Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius, Caesar was ne’er so much your enemy As that same ague which hath made you lean. What is ’t o’clock?
Welcome, Publius. What, Brutus, you’re up so early too? Good morning, Casca. Caius Ligarius, Caesar has never been as much your enemy As the fever that’s made you so thin. What time is it?
Caesar, ’tis strucken eight.
Caesar, it’s eight o’clock.
I thank you for your pains and courtesy.
Thank you for your effort and kindness.
See! Antony, that revels long o’ nights, Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.
Look! Antony, who parties all night, Is still up. Good morning, Antony.
So to most noble Caesar.
Good morning to the most noble Caesar.
Bid them prepare within: I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna: now, Metellus: what, Trebonius! I have an hour’s talk in store for you; Remember that you call on me to-day: Be near me, that I may remember you.
Tell them to get ready inside: I’m sorry for making you all wait for me. Now, Cinna: now, Metellus: what, Trebonius! I have an hour to talk with you; Remember to meet me today: Be close by, so I can remember you.
Caesar, I will:
Caesar, I will:
and so near will I be, That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
And I’ll be so close, That your best friends will wish I were farther away.
Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
Good friends, go inside and have some wine with me; And we’ll all go together, just like friends.
[Aside] That every like is not the same, O Caesar, The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon!
[Aside] Not everything that looks the same is the same, O Caesar, The thought of it makes Brutus’ heart ache!