216 private griefs personal grievances
220 orator eloquent speaker, master of rhetoric
221 plain blunt plain-speaking and forthright
224 wit intelligence
225 Action gestures (used by a skilled orator to reinforce his words)
226 right on directly, truthfully
229 Brutus i.e. a skilled orator
231 ruffle up incite, enrage
240 Wherein for what
246 several individual
246 drachmas silver coins; seventy-five would be a generous sum
252 orchards gardens
254 common pleasures public parks, pleasure gardens
255 recreate enjoy
259 brands burning logs
259 fire set fire to
263 forms benches
263 windows shutters
264 Mischief evil, harm
269 straight (go) straight away
270 upon a wish just as I would have wished
270 merry in good spirits, inclined toward us
273 Are rid have ridden
274 Belike probably
274 notice of news about
3.3 Location: a street in Rome
1 tonight last night
2 unluckily … fantasy ominously burden my imagination
3 forth out
9 directly without evasion/immediately
18 bear … bang get a beating
27 he’s a conspirator the First Plebeian confuses Cinna with the conspirator of the same name
32 Pluck tear, wrench
33 turn him going set him on his way
4.1 Location: A private place, Rome
1 pricked marked down
2 Your brother Lucius Aemilius Paulus, a supporter of Brutus
7 spot mark (against his name); may play on the sense of “moral stain,” which would cause damn to resonate with its religious sense
7 damn condemn (legally)
10 cut … legacies reduce some of the cost entailed by Caesar’s legacies (to the people; the suggestion is that the will is to be altered)
12 Or either
13 slight worthless, insignificant
14 Meet fit
15 The … divided after Caesar’s fall, the Roman empire was divided into three parts, each ruled by one of the triumvirs (Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus)
18 voice vote (regarding)
19 black sentence sentencing of men to death
19 proscription branding of men as outlaws (which meant their property was confiscated)
20 have … days i.e. am older
22 divers sland’rous loads various burdensome accusations
24 business task/load
26 will want it
27 off away
28 empty unburdened, idle
29 commons public fields
31 tried experienced
33 appoint … provender provide him with plenty of food
35 wind turn sharply
36 corporal bodily
37 taste degree, sense
39 barren-spirited dull-minded, lacking initiative
40 objects … imitations i.e. trivialities, curiosities, things of fashion
41 staled worn out, made stale
42 Begin his fashion i.e. he takes as fashionable
43 property means to an end
44 Listen hear
45 levying powers raising armies
45 make head muster troops
46 combined united, of one mind
47 made decided (upon), secured
47 stretched extended as far as possible
48 presently immediately
48 sit in counsel i.e. discuss, be advised
49 covert … disclosed hidden affairs may best be revealed
50 open visible, apparent
50 surest most securely and decisively
51 at the stake tied to a stake, like a bear being baited with dogs
52 bayed about surrounded
54 mischiefs evils, harms
4.2 Location: a camp near Sardis (the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, Asia Minor); outside Brutus’ tent, into which the action then moves
1 Stand ho halt
2 Give … ho pass on the command (to halt)
5 his master i.e. Cassius
7 change i.e. changed behavior, altered attitude
7 ill officers unruly, poor subordinates
8 worthy justifiable/substantial
10 be satisfied be resolved, have an explanation
13 regard respect
15 he i.e. Cassius
15 resolved informed
17 familiar instances signs of friendship
18 conference conversation
21 hot eager, devoted
21 ever always
23 useth … ceremony manifests itself with forced courtesy
25 hot at hand eager at the outset
26 gallant fine, splendid
26 mettle vigor, spirit
march i.e. march played on drums
27 bloody i.e. spattered with blood from the horse’s sides
28 fall let fall
28 crests necks
28 jades worn-out horses
29 Sink … trial fail when put to the test
30 quartered billeted, lodged
31 horse in general entire cavalry
powers troops
34 gently nobly/in an unthreatening manner
40 brother brother-in-law
42 should i.e. could I possibly
46 griefs grievances
50 enlarge give free voice to
51 give you audience listen to you
53 charges troops
53 off away
59 noted disgraced, discredited
61 praying entreating
62 slighted off slightingly dismissed
64 meet appropriate
65 nice petty
65 bear his comment be subject to such criticism
67 condemned … palm to blame for your greed
68 mart trade, barter
68 offices positions of responsibility
71 You … last i.e. if you weren’t my friend Brutus, I’d kill you for saying this
73 honours gives honor to
74 chastisement punishment
74 hide his head i.e. is not enforced (with the suggestion of a head hung in shame)
81 But merely
81 supporting robbers i.e. permitting corruption
83 large honours great reputations/powerful positions
84 trash money
85 bay howl at
89 hedge me in restrict me, challenge my authority
91 make conditions manage affairs
92 Go to expression of dismissive contempt
95 forget myself i.e. lose my temper
96 Have mind upon remember, be concerned for
97 slight worthless, insignificant/thin, lean
100 way and room scope
100 choler rage
105 budge flinch/give way
106 observe honor, wait upon
106 crouch cringe
107 testy humour irritable mood
108 digest i.e. be obliged to swallow
108 spleen bad temper, anger (the spleen was thought to be the seat of strong emotions)
114 vaunting boasting
116 of from/about
121 durst … me would not have dared provoke me in such a manner
127 presume rely
132 idle useless/frivolous/inactive
135 vile means shameful methods (i.e. corruption, extortion)
136 coin turn into money
137 drop shed
137 drachmas silver coins
138 hard toughened with work/ungenerous
138 vile worthless, lowly, contemptible
139 indirection deceit, dishonesty
144 rascal counters worthless coins
150 rived split
151 infirmities flaws, weaknesses
162 braved challenged, defied
163 Checked rebuked/restrained
164 conned by rote memorized through repetition
168 Dearer more valuable
168 Pluto fabulously rich Greek god of the underworld
168 mine silver and gold mines
169 take it forth i.e. tear this heart out
176 dishonour … humour i.e. your dishonorable behavior shall be attributed to a bad mood
177 lamb i.e. the supposedly gentle Brutus
179 enforcèd acted upon by force (i.e. struck to create a spark)
179 hasty quick, brief
183 blood ill-tempered a disordered temperament (physical and mental health was thought to be governed by the four bodily fluids or “humours”; the excess of one would lead to illness or an imbalanced mood)
190 rash humour i.e. choler, the humor responsible for impetuous anger
191 forgetful irrational, badly behaved
194 leave you so i.e. leave it at that
201 mean i.e. think you are doing
204 cynic i.e. fault-finder (literally, a follower of Cynic philosophy, which disdained pleasure and enjoyment)
205 Saucy insolent
206 fashion manner
207 I’ll … time I’ll acknowledge his manner when he recognizes the proper occasion for it (time plays on the sense of “musical time, rhythm”)
208 jigging rhyming in a jerking and metrically unsophisticated manner
209 Companion rogue, rascal
217 of with
218 philosophy usually identified as Stoicism, which valued endurance in the face of hardship, but according to Plutarch, Brutus was a Platonist
219 place room/precedence
219 accidental evils chance misfortunes
223 scaped escaped
223 crossed challenged, opposed
224 touching deeply felt
225 Upon as a result of
228 her i.e. news of her
229 That tidings i.e. news of Octavius and Antony’s power
229 distract mad, deranged
230 fire specifically, burning coals
237 o’erswell overflow
241 call in question discuss
247 Bending directing
247 expedition speedy setting forth/military enterprise
247 Philippi city in Macedonia
248 tenor drift, substance
250 proscription … outlawry i.e. legislation declaring some people to be outlaws punishable by death
270 must die once had to die some day
272 Even so in just such a manner
273 art practiced fortitude, learned behavior
274 nature natural feelings
274 bear it carry it off, maintain it
275 alive concerning those who are living/of present importance
282 offence damage/attack (the opposite of defence)
284 force necessity
284 place way
286 affection allegiance
287 contribution resources, supplies (including soldiers)
289 make … up increase its numbers
290 new-added reinforced, with augmented numbers
293 These … back behind us (supporting us/cut off from our enemy)
295 Under your pardon i.e. allow me to continue
296 tried put (successfully) to the test
301 taken … flood i.e. set sail on when it is in
302 Omitted neglected
303 bound in shallows confined to shallow waters
306 ventures investments at sea/enterprises
308 along go along
311 niggard fob off, stint
315 gown dressing gown
327 instrument musical instrument, perhaps a lute
330 art o’er-watched have been awake (perhaps on guard) for too long
336 raise rouse, wake
338 watch your pleasure remain awake and ready to respond to your needs
340 otherwise bethink me i.e. change my mind
346 touch i.e. play on
347 an’t if it
351 might capabilities, strength
352 look for need, expect
355 hold detain
357 murderous i.e. that gives the appearance of death
358 leaden mace heavy staff of office (used by a sergeant to arrest offenders by touching them with his mace)
367 shapes creates, forms
367 monstrous unnatural
370 stare stand on end
378 taken heart gathered my courage
381 false out of tune
390 Fellow thou thou, fellow
398 commend me convey my greetings
399 set … before set off with his troops early in the morning
5.1 Location: near Philippi
3 keep keep to
4 battles battalions
5 warn challenge
6 Answering responding to/encountering for a fight
6 demand of ask
7 am … bosoms know their secrets
8 could be content would like
9 visit other places be elsewhere, take up different positions
9 come down attack (by surprise)
10 fearful bravery alarming bravery/a false show of bravery to hide their fear
10 face show
11 fasten fix the impression
12 ’tis not so they are unable to do so/they have no courage
14 gallant splendid, smart
15 bloody … battle red flag, a signal for battle
16 to is to, must
17 softly slowly, warily
18 even level, flat
20 exigent critical moment
22 have parley negotiation, during which hostilities were suspended
25 answer … charge respond when they attack
26 Make forth go forward
30 strokes blows
35 The … blows the nature of your blows, how you will strike
36 for as for
36 your words refers to Antony’s deceptively friendly words to the conspirators after Caesar’s murder, or perhaps to his flattering words to the people regarding Caesar’s love for them
36 Hybla town in Sicily, famed for its honey
40 buzzing plays on the sense of “rumor mongering”
41 threat threaten
42 so i.e. give warning
44 showed your teeth grinned
44 apes i.e. fools
46 cur dog
49 This … ruled i.e. if Cassius had had his way, Antony would have been killed along with Caesar
51 cause grounds for hostility, central issue
52 proof trial (on the battlefield)
54 goes up is sheathed
56 another Caesar i.e. myself, Octavius Caesar
57 added slaughter to i.e. been killed by
59 thou … thee i.e. those hands are your own
62 if even if
62 strain family line
63 more honourable more honorably (than being killed by Brutus)
64 peevish foolish/obstinate/ill-tempered
65 masquer one who participates in masques (theatrical entertainments involving elaborate costumes and dancing)
70 stomachs courage, appetites (for battle)
71 billow wave
71 bark ship
72 on the hazard at stake
78 as this this
81 Pompey was Pompey was reluctantly persuaded into a disastrous final battle with Caesar at Pharsalus in 48 BC
81 set stake
83 Epicurus Greek philosopher who believed that the gods were indifferent to human affairs, and thus that omens did not influence the course of events
85 credit give credit to, believe
85 presage foretell events
86 former ensign foremost military banner
87 fell swooped
89 consorted accompanied
91 steads places
91 ravens … kites scavenging birds considered to be bad omens
&nbs
p; 93 As as if
94 fatal ominous, boding death
99 constantly resolutely
100 Even so, Lucilius Brutus finishes his private conversation with Lucilius
102 The may the
103 Lovers dear friends
104 rests still remain always
105 reason with consider
109 philosophy the antisuicide sentiment Brutus expresses is Stoic
110 Cato Portia’s father, an ally of Pompey who committed suicide rather than surrender to Caesar
111 how i.e. why
113 fall happen
113 prevent … life cut short one’s natural lifespan
115 stay await
118 in triumph chained to the victor’s chariot during the triumphal return to Rome
122 great noble
5.2 Location: the battlefield near Philippi
5.2 Alarum call to arms, usually with trumpet or drum
1 bills written commands
2 other side i.e. Cassius’ division of the army, located in another part of the battlefield
3 set on advance
4 cold unenthusiastic/miserable
4 Octavio’s i.e. Octavius’
4 wing division of the army
5 push attack
6 come down attack (by surprise) 5.3
1 the villains i.e. Cassius’ own troops
2 mine own i.e. my own men
3 ensign military flag-bearer
4 it i.e. the flag or banner
7 fell to spoil were slaughtered
8 enclosed surrounded
16 hide i.e. dig hard
18 here back here
20 even with i.e. as quick as
22 thick dim, poor
22 Regard watch
goes aloft i.e. exits and mounts to the upper staging level or gallery
24 This … first i.e. it is my birthday
26 is … compass has come full circle
30 on the spur rapidly
32 light alight, dismount
33 ta’en captured
38 Parthia now northern Iran
39 swore thee made you swear
43 bowels guts, intestines
43 search probe, i.e. stab
44 Stand wait
44 hilts sword handle
48 would … will had I been able to act as I wished, I would not have gained freedom in such a manner
51 take note of i.e. find
52 change exchange of advantages
55 comfort hearten, encourage
67 dews disease-ridden dampness
68 Mistrust Cassius’ doubt
71 apt readily believing
72 The … not? i.e. the apparent capture of Titinius
74 the mother i.e. the melancholy mind
79 darts arrows/spears
79 envenomèd poisoned
86 wreath of victory i.e. laurel wreath
91 apace quickly
92 regarded respected, esteemed
93 part role, duty/proper conduct
101 own proper very own
Low muted, quiet
103 whe’er whether