Cicero. Good evening, Casca. Did you escort Caesar to his residence?

Why are you breathless? And why do you stare at me in this strange
manner?
Casca. Are you not affected when the earth shakes and trembles in the
course of its movement? Indeed, the earth is shaking like something which
has no firm foundation to stand upon. O Cicero, I have, in the course of my
life, witnessed storms during which the raging winds tore open the strong
oak-trees; and I have also beheld the ambitious ocean rising and foaming in
all its fury, and striving to lift itself as high as the menacing clouds in the
sky. But never before, till tonight, till this very moment, did I ever go
through a storm from which flames of fire were falling. There seems to be a
civil war going on among the gods in heaven. If that is not so, then the gods
are feeling furious with this insolent world because of its defiant attitude
towards them; and they are, for this reason, punishing us with destruction.
Cicero. What makes you say that? Did you see anything even more
strange and surprising than the storm?
Casca. Yes. I saw a common slave whom you know well by sight. He
was holding up his left hand which was flaming and burning like a number
of torches joined together. And yet his hand did not feel the heat, and it
remained unburnt. Besides, I saw another strange sight; and I have not
sheathed my sword since then. Just opposite the Capitol, I met a lion who
looked angrily at me but passed by me in that state of anger, without hurting
me. I also saw a hundred women huddled together and looking as dreadful
as ghosts. Those women seemed to have undergone some strange kind of
change because of the fear in their minds. Those women told me on oath
that they had seen men, wholly covered with flames of fire and walking up
and down the street. That is not all. Yesterday the owl was seen sitting at
noon-time upon the market-place, hooting and screeching. I say that, when
such extraordinary and dreadful signs occur together in this way, the people
should not try to dismiss them by offering natural reasons for their
occurrence. I say so because I believe that these happenings are intended by
the gods to serve as supernatural warnings to the country in which they
occur.

Cicero. Undoubtedly these are times when strange things seem likely
to happen. But different people interpret things in their own different ways.
They do so in a way completely different from the real meaning of these
things. Now tell me whether Caesar would come to the Capitol tomorrow.
Casca. Yes, he will come, because he asked Antony to send you a
message to the effect that he would be there tomorrow.
Cicero. Good night then, Casca. The sky is so disturbed at this time
that it is not proper for anybody to walk about out of doors.
Casca. Farewell, Cicero.
Cicero leaves.
 Enter Cassius.

Cassius. Who is there?

Casca. A Roman.

Cassius. Oh Casca, it is you. I have recognized you by your voice.

Casca. Your hearing is really sharp if you have recognized me by my
voice. Cassius, what a terrible night is this!
Cassius. No, it is a very pleasant night for honest men.
Casca. Is there any man who has ever before seen the sky threatening
human beings in this manner?
Cassius. Yes. People, who have known this world to be full of many
evils, must have seen such a sight before. So far as I am concerned, I have
been walking through the streets of the city, exposing myself to the dangers
of this night. I have kept my cloak unbuttoned, Casca, as you can see. I did
so in order to offer my bare breast to the thunder-bolt. And when the zigzag
lightning seemed to tear open the surface of the sky, I just took a stand at
the exact point at which the flash of lightning was aimed.
Casca. But why did you provoke the elements to such an extent? In my
opinion, it is the nature of human beings to feel afraid and to tremble when
the most powerful gods send us frightening signs and omens to amaze and
bewilder us.

Cassius. No, that is not the case, Casca. You are a stupid man if you
think so. Either you are lacking in those quick perceptions which a true
Roman should possess, or you do not make use of those perceptions. You
look pale, and you stare blankly at nothing. You put on an appearance of
fear, and you allow yourself to be surprised by the sight of these strange
disturbances in the sky. But I ask you to consider the real cause behind
these happenings. There are fires to be seen in the atmosphere. Ghosts have
been seen moving about noiselessly. Birds and beasts have been behaving in
a manner different from which we would expect them in view of their
character and the type to which they belong. Old men are these days
behaving foolisly, while children are able to predict the future happenings.
Thus all things are deviating from their original functioning as ordained by
Providence. All things are changing their natures; and their faculties, with
which they were originally gifted, have become abnormal and perverse. If
you think over all this, you shall come to the conclusion that heaven has
filled them with these spirits to serve as a means of fear and as a warning of
some terrible disaster about to happen. (These strange and abnormal
occurrences warn us of some unnatural calamity). And now, Casca, I can
mention to you the name of a man who is as frightful as this night. He is a
man who roars like thunder, who shows sudden bursts of passion, who
causes the ghosts of the dead to walk upon the earth, and who roars in the
Capitol like a lion. Actually that man is no more powerful than you or I, so
far as the capacity to act is concerned. But he has become supernaturally
dreadful. He is now a source of as much fear to human beings as these
strange outbreaks of Nature which you have seen tonight.
Casca. It is Caesar whom you have in mind. Is it not so, Cassius?

Cassius. Do not bother about whom I have in mind. What I say is that
the Romans now certainly have the same strong muscles and limbs as their
forefathers had. But I feel sorry about the present time because now the
Romans have lost the spirit of their forefathers. The present-day Romans are
being controlled by the spirits of their mothers. We Romans now willingly
submit to tyranny and endure it in a manner which shows us to be as weak
minded as women.

Casca. Indeed, it is being said that the Senators intend to pass a

resolution tomorrow establishing Caesar as a king. When that has been
done, Caesar will be entitled to wear a crown on his head everywhere,
whether he is travelling over land or voyaging on the seas. Only here, in
Italy, he would not be permitted to wear the crown.
Cassius. If Caesar is crowned the king, I shall stab myself with this
dagger of mine; and I shall, by that method, free myself from my slavery to
Caesar. The gods have given to every weak man the freedom to kill himself;
and, in having done so, the gods have made every weak man most strong.
By killing himself, even a weak man can defeat the power of a dictator.
When the spirit of a man forms a resolve to remain free, it cannot be
imprisoned in a tower of stone, or behind walls of hammered brass, or in an
airless prison-cell, or even in strong steel chains. A man, who is sick of the
restrictions upon his freedom in this world, never lacks the power to
terminate his earthly existence. If I know this, let all the rest of the world
also know that I can put an end to the state of slavery which I am enduring
at present.
The sound of thunder continues to be heard.
Casca. I can do the same. In the same way, every slave has at his
disposal the means by which he can terminate his state of slavery.
Cassius. And why should Caesar be allowed to behave like a dictator if
he knows that men are ready, and able, to free themselves from slavery by
killing themselves. Caesar is in himself by no means a powerful man. I
know that he would not be able to act like a tyrant if he were not to find the
Romans so tame. Caesar would not act like a dictator if the Romans were
not submissive, and if they were not incapable of seeing where their own
welfare lies. Persons, who are in a hurry to light a big fire, must begin with
weak straws which easily catch fire. The Romans are utterly worthless, like
rubbish and waste material, if they serve no better a purpose than that of
fuel for a fire which illumines such a contemptible fellow as Caesar. But
perhaps my grief has led me into a most unpleasant situation. Perhaps I am
speaking all this in the presence of a man who is glad to be a slave. If so,
then I know that I shall have to pay the penalty for what I have said. But I
am fully protected against all dangers because I feel strong by virtue of my
firm convictions.
Casca. You are speaking to me, to Casca, and not to a man who would
betray his friends. I am not the kind of man who goes about conveying to
others what my friends have said to me. (I am not a tale-bearer.). Therefore
say no more on this subject, and shake hands with me. If you form a group
to remedy all these evils, I shall join you and help as much as anyone who is
willing to go to the extreme in this direction,

Cassius. Let these words of yours be regarded as an agreement

between us. Let me tell you, Casca, that I have already taken the initiative in
this matter and have spoken to some of the best and wisest Romans to join
me in undertaking a noble task which can have dangerous consequences for
all of us. I am sure that, by this time, those Romans, to whom I have
spoken, are waiting for me at the entrance to Pompey's theatre, because at
this hour there is no busy movement in the streets and there are no people
walking about. This is a frightful night; and the condition of the sky, as
judged by its appearance, resembles the nature of the task we have to carry
out. Our task will be most bloody, violent, and most dreadful; and that is
why it can be compared to this night which is full of terrors.
Enter Cinna.

Casca (to Cassius). Hide yourself and stay silent and motionless for a
while because here comes somebody in haste.

Cassius. It is Cinna who has come. I recognize him by his manner of

walking. He is a friend of ours. (Then, addressing Cinna.) Cinna, where are
you going in such haste?
Cinna. I was going to look for you. Who is there with you? Is that
Metellus Cimber?

Cassius. No, it is Casca with me. Casca has agreed to join us in our
enterprise. Are our friends not waiting for me, Cinna?
Cinna. I am glad to know that Casca has joined us. This is a most
frightful night. There are two or three persons in our group who have seen
strange sights.

Cassius. But tell me, Cinna, if our friends are waiting for me.
Cinna. Yes, they are waiting for you. But, O Cassius, if only you could
win the support of the noble Brutus for our party
Cassius. Do not feel worried about that. And, Cinna, take this paper
and see that you place it in the magisterial chair where only Brutus will find
it. Throw this other paper in at his window. Here is yet another paper which
you have to stick to the statue of Brutus's ancestor with wax. When you
have completed all these tasks, go to the entrance of Pompey's theatre
where you will find us waiting for you. Are Decius Brutus and Trebonius
already there?
Cinna. Yes, all of them are there except Metellus Cimber who has
gone to your house to look for you. Well, I will hurry, and dispose of these
papers in accordance with your instructions.
Cassius. After doing that, go to Pompey's theatre.
Cinna leaves.

Cassius (to Casca.). Come, Casca, you and I will yet meet Brutus at his
residence before the day dawns. I have almost won him over to our
enterprise already; and when we meet him next and have a talk with him,
we shall complete our conquest of him.
Casca. O, he is held in high respect by all the people here. Without
him, the deed, which we intend doing, would appear to the people as a
crime; but, if he joins us, that very deed would appear to the people to be a
noble and honourable act. Thus his participation in our enterprise will act as
alchemy. The process known as alchemy can turn base metals like lead into
the richest gold. In the same way his joining us in our enterprise will make
our action appear noble and honourable.
Cassius. You have rightly judged his worth and our great need of him.
Let us now go, because it is past midnight. Before the day dawns, we will
wake him up and make sure of his participation in our enterprise.
They leave.