| TEXT | LINE WISE EXPLANATION |
|---|---|
| The same. A street. [Thunder and lightning. Enter from opposite sides, CASCA, with his sword drawn, and CICERO] Cicero Good even, Casca: brought you Caesar home? Why are you breathless? and why stare you so? | Another street in Rome. Thunder and lightning. From opposite sides, Casca and Cicero enter. Casca has an open sword in his hand. Cicero Good evening, Casca: did you take Caesar home? Why are you out of breathe? Why do you look at me like that? |
| Casca Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds Have rived the knotty oaks, and I have seen The ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam, To be exalted with the threatening clouds: But never till to-night, never till now, Did I go through a tempest dropping fire. Either there is a civil strife in heaven, Or else the world, too saucy with the gods, Incenses them to send destruction. | Casca Are you not disturbed, when the whole world shakes like that? O Cicero, I have seen many storms, when the fierce winds uprooted many oak trees with strong roots, I have also seen the ocean waves rise to an enormous height and foam desiring to touch the dark clouds. But still I can guarantee that till tonight, I never saw a storm which was that immense. It seems that the storm is dropping fire. Either there is a civil war in heaven or else the people in the world have become too bold with the gods and that is why god sends destruction. |
| Cicero Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? | Cicero Why do you think it is the God’s doing? |
| Casca A common slave—you know him well by sight— Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn Like twenty torches join’d, and yet his hand, Not sensible of fire, remain’d unscorch’d. Besides—I ha’ not since put up my sword—Against the Capitol I met a lion, Who glared upon me, and went surly by, Without annoying me: and there were drawn Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women, Transformed with their fear; who swore they saw Men all in fire walk up and down the streets. And yesterday the bird of night did sit Even at noon-day upon the market-place, Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies Do so conjointly meet, let not men say ‘These are their reasons; they are natural;’ For, I believe, they are portentous things Unto the climate that they point upon. | Casca A slave-if you see him, you will recognize him – raised his left hand, and it was burning like 20 torches together, and still his hand remained unburnt! Moreover,- since then I did not put my sword down in fear- I met a lion at the Capitol, who angrily looked at me but went away in an unfriendly manner without causing any harm to me. I also came upon a number of frightened women who swore that they had seen men walking on the streets of Rome whose bodies were burning in fire. Yesterday the Owl, the bird of night, was awake even in the afternoon sitting somewhere near the market place and kept on hooting and shrieking. When all these strange things are happening together, we cannot call them something which is natural and logical. For I believe, these incidents are like a warning call regarding what is going to happen in Rome, soon. |
| Cicero Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: But men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. Come Caesar to the Capitol to-morrow? | Cicero It is a strange time and people can interpret things in their own way, regardless of what they actually mean. Will Caesar come to the Capitol tomorrow? (Roman senate meet here) |
| Casca He doth; for he did bid Antonius Send word to you he would be there to-morrow. | Casca He will come; as he asked Antonius to inform you that he would be there tomorrow. |
| Cicero Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky Is not to walk in. | Cicero Good night then, Casca: this disturbed weather is not good to stay outside. |
| Casca Farewell, Cicero. Exit CICERO | Casca Goodbye, Cicero. Exit CICERO |
| Enter CASSIUS Cassius Who’s there? | Enter CASSIUS Cassius Who is there? |
| Casca A Roman. | Casca A Roman. |
| Cassius Casca, by your voice. | Cassius I can recognize you by your voice, Casca. |
| Casca Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this! | Casca You can here quite well. Cassius, what a strange night this is! |
| Cassius A very pleasing night to honest men. | Cassius The night is not disturbing to honest men. |
| Casca Who ever knew the heavens menace so? | Casca Who has ever known the sky to be so scary and threatening? |
| Cassius Those that have known the earth so full of faults. For my part, I have walk’d about the streets, Submitting me unto the perilous night, And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see, Have bared my bosom to the thunder-stone; And when the cross blue lightning seem’d to open The breast of heaven, I did present myself Even in the aim and very flash of it. | Cassius People who have lived on earth for a long time know that it is full of faults and problems. I have been walking around the streets of Rome, exposing myself to danger by walking around at night. I have been walking around with my clothes unfastened and open, exposing my chest to the lightning during a storm. And when the lightning appeared to split open the sky, I presented myself to the lightning as if to challenge it. I stood in the path of the lightning bolt as it struck. |
| Casca But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods by tokens send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. | Casca But why did you tempt the sky to hit you? It is natural for people to be afraid when they are faced with danger. When the gods send signs of their power and anger, people should be afraid. These signs are meant to shock and terrify people. |
| Cassius You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life That should be in a Roman you do want, Or else you use not. You look pale and gaze And put on fear and cast yourself in wonder, To see the strange impatience of the heavens: But if you would consider the true cause Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, Why birds and beasts from quality and kind, Why old men fool and children calculate, Why all these things change from their ordinance Their natures and preformed faculties To monstrous quality,—why, you shall find That heaven hath infused them with these spirits, To make them instruments of fear and warning Unto some monstrous state. Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man Most like this dreadful night, That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars As doth the lion in the Capitol, A man no mightier than thyself or me In personal action, yet prodigious grown And fearful, as these strange eruptions are. | Cassius Casca is not living up to his potential. You lack the qualities that a Roman should have or not making use of his abilities. You look pale and frightened and act afraid and surprised by the storm. You watch the storm with wonder and amazement. If you would think about it more deeply, why there are so many strange occurrences happening during the storm, why animals are behaving strangely during the storm, why people of all ages are acting strangely during the storm, why everything seems to be out of order during the storm, why everything seems to be acting against its own nature during the storm, if you think about it more deeply, you will realize that God has given these things spirits to warn people about some terrible event that will happen in the future. I could name a man who reminds me of this storm, he resembles this terrible night and he thunders like thunderstorms, lights up like lightning, opens graves like earthquakes, and roars like the lion in Rome’s Capitol. This man isn’t any stronger than you or me in combat but has become monstrous and inspires fear like these strange occurrences during the storm. |
| Casca ‘Tis Caesar that you mean; is it not, Cassius? | Casca Is it Caesar you want to point at, Cassius? |
| Cassius Let it be who it is: for Romans now Have thews (muscles) and limbs like to their ancestors; But, woe the while! our fathers’ minds are dead, And we are govern’d with our mothers’ spirits; Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish. | Cassius Whoever it might be: The people of Rome are strong and capable like their ancestors. But the sad part is that the wisdom of our fathers has been lost. And we are being ruled by women’s emotions/ mothers. Our complete submission to Caesar shows weakness and is womanish. |
| Casca Indeed, they say the senators tomorrow Mean to establish Caesar as a king; And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, In every place, save here in Italy. | Casca Indeed, there is a rumor that the Senators will establish Caesar as the king tomorrow. Caesar will wear his crown everywhere except in Italy. |
| Cassius I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius: Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat: Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world besides, That part of tyranny that I do bear I can shake off at pleasure. Thunder still | Cassius I know where I will use my dagger. Cassius will free himself from his own bondage by attempting suicide. No one can stop me from that. The gods make the weak strong and defeat tyrants by allowing this power to the weak. Neither a stony tower nor walls of beaten brass can hold him. Neither an airless dungeon nor strong links of iron can hold him. The strength of spirit cannot be held. Life is tired of these worldly bars but still has the power to dismiss itself. If I know this, then everyone else should know it too. This part of tyranny that I am suffering, I can shake it off whenever I want to by killing myself. Thunder still |
| Casca So can I: So every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity. | Casca I can also do that: Every prisoner has this power in his own hand to free himself from his captivity. |
| Cassius And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf, But that he sees the Romans are but sheep: He were no lion, were not Romans hinds. Those that with haste will make a mighty fire Begin it with weak straws: what trash is Rome, What rubbish and what offal, when it serves For the base matter to illuminate So vile a thing as Caesar! But, O grief, Where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this Before a willing bondman; then I know My answer must be made. But I am arm’d, And dangers are to me indifferent. | Cassius Why should Caesar be a tyrant? I know that Caesar can never be a wolf. But Caesar sees the Romans as sheep. If the Romans were not coward female deer, then Caesar could never be a lion. Those who make a mighty fire fast, begin it with little twigs. Rome is trash- rubbish and garbage to be burned – when it can do nothing but arouse ambition in a useless Caesar. O grief! Where have I spoken this! Perhaps before a man who wants to serve Caesar willingly. Then I will have to face the consequences of what I have spoken. But I am ready to face the consequences indifferently. |
| Casca You speak to Casca, and to such a man That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand: Be factious for redress of all these griefs, And I will set this foot of mine as far As who goes farthest. | Casca You are speaking to Casca, and he is such a man who do not gossip. Take my hand: In the group who disagree this present situation and wish to end this grief. I will support till the farthest. |
| Cassius There’s a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have moved already Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans To undergo with me an enterprise Of honourable-dangerous consequence; And I do know, by this, they stay for me In Pompey’s porch: for now, this fearful night, There is no stir or walking in the streets; And the complexion of the element In favour’s like the work we have in hand, Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible. | Cassius I have made an agreement with others to take action against Caesar. I have already started to act on my plan. I have convinced some of Rome’s most respected citizens to join me to undertake this act of bravery and risk. The undertaking will be dangerous but will be done for honorable reasons. The conspirators are waiting for me at Pompey’s entrance. The night is dark and ominous. The streets are quiet and empty. The weather conditions are favorable for our plan. The plan will be violent and terrible. |
| Casca Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. | Casca Hide for sometime, as someone is approaching very fast. |
| Cassius ‘Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait; He is a friend. [Enter CINNA] Cinna, where haste you so? | Cassius He is Cinna; I can tell his name from the way he walks; He is a friend. [Enter CINNA] Cinna, where are you going so fast? |
| Cinna To find out you. Who’s that? Metellus Cimber? | Cinna I was searching for you. Who is that? Metellus Cimber? |
| Cassius No, it is Casca; one incorporate To our attempts. Am I not stay’d for, Cinna? | Cassius No, it is Casca; the one who joined our conspiracy against Caesar. Were you waiting long for me, Cinna? |
| Cinna I am glad on ‘t. What a fearful night is this! There’s two or three of us have seen strange sights. | Cinna I am glad to hear that. What a terrible night this is! Some of us have also seen strange sights. |
| Cassius Am I not stay’d for? tell me. | Cassius Are the others waiting for me? tell me. |
| Cinna Yes, you are. O Cassius, if you could But win the noble Brutus to our party— | Cinna Yes, everyone is waiting for you. O Cassius, only if you were able to persuade Brutus to join our plan. |
| Cassius Be you content: good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the praetor’s chair, Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this In at his window; set this up with wax Upon old Brutus’ statue: all this done, Repair to Pompey’s porch, where you shall find us. Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there? | Cassius Don’t worry. Take a paper, Cinna. Place the paper in the praetor’s (a govt title) chair. The paper should be placed where Brutus can easily find it. Another paper should be thrown through Brutus’ window. Another paper needs to be attached to the statue of old Brutus using wax. After completing all these tasks, Cinna should return to Pompey’s porch where he will find Cassius and other conspirators. Are Decius Brutus and Trebonius waiting for me? |
| Cinna All but Metellus Cimber; and he’s gone To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, And so bestow these papers as you bade me. | Cinna All the conspirators except for Metellus Cimber are waiting for you at your house. Cimber has gone to seek you at your house. I will hurry and go to deliver some papers as you have instructed me to do. |
| Cassius That done, repair to Pompey’s theatre. [Exit CINNA] Come, Casca, you and I will yet ere day See Brutus at his house: three parts of him Is ours already, and the man entire Upon the next encounter yields him ours. | Cassius When that is done, come back to Pompey’s theatre. [Exit CINNA] Before daylight, you and I will see Brutus at his house: we have conquered three parts of him already, we will conquer him whole when we meet him next. |
| Casca O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts: And that which would appear offence in us, His countenance, like richest alchemy, Will change to virtue and to worthiness. | Casca O, he is admired deeply by the people of Rome: What people will consider as an offence if it is done by us, because of his popularity and influence, it will be considered virtuous and worthy. Just like Alchemy, that could transfer base metals to noble metals. |
| Cassius Him and his worth and our great need of him You have right well conceited. Let us go, For it is after midnight; and ere day We will awake him and be sure of him. Exeunt | Cassius How worthy he is and how important he is in our plan, you have understood very well. Let us go, It is already after midnight; and before day we have to awake him and be sure that he is a part of our plan. Exit |
For important MCQs from Julius Caesar Act 1 Scene 3, click the link below: https://slothskill.com/2023/06/21/julius-caesar-act-1-scene-3-questions-mcq-icse-translation-summary/
Hi mam, love your work. Can You please upload for act 2 scenes?
Sure. Stay tuned.