Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. thrust out their dead. A lioness hath whelpèd in the streets, And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead. Act 2, Scene 2, Page 2 Original Text Modern Text Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds Fierce, fiery warriors fought in the clouds in the 20 usual formations of war—ranks and In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, until the clouds drizzled blood onto the Capitol. The noise of battle filled the air, and horses Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol. neighed, and dying men groaned, and ghosts The noise of battle hurtled in the air. shrieked and squealed in the streets. Oh, Caesar! 25 These things are beyond anything we’ve seen Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan, before, and I’m afraid. And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. O Caesar! These things are beyond all use, And I do fear them. CAESAR CAESAR What can be avoided How can we avoid what the gods want to happen? But I will go out, for these bad omens apply to the Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? world in general as much as they do to me. Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these predictions Are to the world in general as to Caesar. CALPHURNIA CALPHURNIA 30 When beggars die there are no comets seen. When beggars die there are no comets in the sky. The heavens only announce the deaths of princes. The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. CAESAR CAESAR Cowards die many times before their deaths. Cowards die many times before their deaths. The brave experience death only once. Of all the The valiant never taste of death but once. strange things I’ve ever heard, it seems most 35 strange to me that men fear death, given that Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, death, which can’t be avoided, will come whenever it wants. It seems to me most strange that men should fear, Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come.
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelpèd in the streets, And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead. thrust out their dead. Act 2, Scene 2, Page 2 Original Text Modern Text 20 25 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. Fierce, fiery warriors fought in the clouds in the usual formations of war—ranks and the clouds drizzled blood onto the Capitol. The noise of battle filled the air, and horses neighed, and dying men groaned, and ghosts shrieked and squealed in the streets. Oh, Caesar! These things are beyond anything we’ve seen before, and I’m afraid. CAESAR 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. CAESAR How can we avoid what the gods want to happen? But I will go out, for these bad omens apply to the world in general as much as they do to me. 30 CALPHURNIA When beggars die there are no comets seen. The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. CALPHURNIA When beggars die there are no comets in the sky. The heavens only announce the deaths of princes. 35 CAESAR 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. CAESAR Cowards die many times before their deaths. The brave experience death only once. Of all the strange things I’ve ever heard, it seems most strange to me that men fear death, given that death, which can’t be avoided, will come whenever it wants. until