Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Summary, Explanation, Word meanings| ICSE Class 10 English Drama

 

ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Summary, Theme, Explanation along with difficult word meanings

 

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ICSE Class 10 Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 

By William Shakespeare

 

In Act 4, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the scene starts in Brutus’s tent. Brutus and Cassius argue about corruption and money, showing their personal issues with each other. During this argument, Cassius learns that Portia has died. After this news, Brutus and Cassius reconcile. Then, the Ghost of Caesar appears, warning Brutus about his fate at the battle of Philippi.

 

• Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Summary 
• Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Summary in Hindi
• Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Theme 
• Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Explanation

Related: 

• Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Question Answers
• Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Character Sketch
• ICSE Class 10 English Lesson Notes

 

Julius Caesar Act 4 Scene 3 Summary 

The scene opens in Brutus’s tent, where he is engaged in a heated argument with Cassius. Brutus accuses Cassius of being corrupt, specifically for having an ‘itching palm’ i.e. taking bribes and selling positions for gold. He points to Cassius’s defense of Lucius Pella, who was condemned for bribery, as evidence. Cassius is furious and defensive, warning Brutus that his comments would be his last if he weren’t Brutus. Brutus reminds Cassius of their justification for killing Caesar for justice and asks if they should now taint their honorable cause with corruption. He declares he’d rather be a dog than a corrupt Roman.

The argument escalates, with Cassius asserting his experience as an elder soldier and Brutus dismissing him as a slight man and comparing Cassius’s anger to a madman’s rage. Brutus also reveals a further point of contention: he had requested funds (gold) from Cassius to pay his soldiers, and Cassius had denied the request, forcing Brutus to use honorable means to raise money. Cassius denies the refusal, blaming the messenger and lamenting that Brutus makes his faults seem worse, claiming Brutus no longer loves him. Brutus clarifies he dislikes Cassius’s faults, not Cassius himself, though he uses harsh language.

Overwhelmed and feeling unappreciated, Cassius dramatically offers Brutus his dagger to strike his heart, claiming he is weary of the world, hated by his friend, and checked like a slave. Brutus quickly softens, urging him to sheath the dagger. He explains that his own quick anger is like a spark from a flint, quickly cooling, and confesses he was ill-tempered when he spoke the harsh words. Cassius, recognizing Brutus’s confession, reconciles with him, attributing his own rashness to a ‘rash humour’ inherited from his mother. The two friends shake hands and are interrupted by a Poet, who bursts into the tent urging them to be friends and not let petty grudges divide them. Brutus sends the Poet away.

After the others leave, Brutus, seeking to calm Cassius, tells him to prepare to lodge their armies and requests wine. Brutus then reveals the source of his profound grief and anger: his wife, Portia, is dead. He tells Cassius that she died by swallowing fire, driven mad by his absence and the growing power of Octavius and Antony. Messala and Titinius then enter, and Messala confirms the news that Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus have proscribed and killed many senators, including Cicero. Brutus, having already internalized the news before speaking with Messala, stoically accepts Portia’s death, saying he has the patience to endure it now. Cassius admits he could not bear such a loss with Brutus’s calmness.

The generals then turn to military strategy. Cassius advises staying put and letting the enemy march to them, wasting their own resources. Brutus, however, argues that they must march to Philippi immediately to engage the enemy. His main reason is that the people between their camp and Philippi are only reluctantly supporting them and could be forced to join the enemy. Brutus then delivers his famous ‘tide in the affairs of men’ analogy, urging them to seize the opportunity i.e. ‘the flood’ now before their fortunes decline. Cassius agrees to Brutus’s plan.

Finally, as Brutus tries to rest, he is visited by the Ghost of Caesar. The Ghost identifies himself as Brutus’s ‘evil spirit’ and tells Brutus that he will see him again at Philippi. Brutus is initially frightened but attempts to speak further after the Ghost vanishes. He wakes Lucius and his servants, Varro and Claudius, who were sleeping in his tent, but none of them saw the ghost-like figure. Brutus then sends Varro and Claudius with a message to Cassius to advance his troops, confirming their plan to march to Philippi to face the enemy.

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Summary of Julius Caesar Act 4 Scene 3 in Hindi 

दृश्य ब्रूटस के तम्बू में खुलता है, जहाँ वह कैसियस के साथ गरमागरम बहस में लगा रहता है।  ब्रूटस कैसियस पर भ्रष्ट होने का आरोप लगाता है, विशेष रूप से एक ‘खुजली हथेली’ i.e होने के लिए। रिश्वत लेना और सोने के लिए पद बेचना।  वह सबूत के रूप में कैसियस द्वारा लुसियस पेल्ला के बचाव की ओर इशारा करता है, जिसे रिश्वत के लिए दोषी ठहराया गया था।  कैसियस क्रोधित और रक्षात्मक होता है, ब्रूटस को चेतावनी देता है कि अगर वह ब्रूटस नहीं होता तो उसकी टिप्पणियां उसकी आखिरी होतीं।  ब्रूटस कैसियस को न्याय के लिए सीज़र की हत्या के उनके औचित्य की याद दिलाता है और पूछता है कि क्या उन्हें अब अपने सम्मानजनक उद्देश्य को भ्रष्टाचार से कलंकित करना चाहिए।  वह घोषणा करता है कि वह एक भ्रष्ट रोमन के बजाय एक कुत्ता बनना पसंद करेगा।

बहस बढ़ती है, कैसियस ने एक बड़े सैनिक के रूप में अपने अनुभव का दावा किया और ब्रूटस ने उसे एक मामूली आदमी के रूप में खारिज कर दिया और कैसियस के गुस्से की तुलना एक पागल आदमी के गुस्से से की।  ब्रूटस विवाद के एक और बिंदु का भी खुलासा करता हैः उसने अपने सैनिकों को भुगतान करने के लिए कैसियस से धन (सोना) का अनुरोध किया था, और कैसियस ने अनुरोध को अस्वीकार कर दिया था, जिससे ब्रूटस को धन जुटाने के लिए सम्मानजनक साधनों का उपयोग करने के लिए मजबूर होना पड़ा।  कैसियस इनकार करने से इनकार करता है, दूत को दोष देता है और विलाप करता है कि ब्रूटस उसके दोषों को बदतर बनाता है, यह दावा करते हुए कि ब्रूटस अब उससे प्यार नहीं करता है।  ब्रूटस स्पष्ट करता है कि वह कैसियस के दोषों को नापसंद करता है, खुद कैसियस को नहीं, हालांकि वह कठोर भाषा का उपयोग करता है।

अभिभूत और अप्रशंसित महसूस करते हुए, कैसियस नाटकीय रूप से ब्रूटस को अपने दिल पर प्रहार करने के लिए अपनी खंजर की पेशकश करता है, यह दावा करते हुए कि वह दुनिया से थका हुआ है, अपने दोस्त से नफरत करता है, और एक गुलाम की तरह जाँच करता है।  ब्रूटस जल्दी से नरम हो जाता है, उसे खंजर को ढकने का आग्रह करता है।  वह बताता है कि उसका अपना त्वरित क्रोध एक चकमक की चिंगारी की तरह है, जो जल्दी से ठंडा हो जाता है, और स्वीकार करता है कि जब वह कठोर शब्द बोलता था तो वह गुस्से में था।  कैसियस, ब्रूटस के कबूलनामे को पहचानते हुए, उसके साथ सुलह कर लेता है, अपनी मां से विरासत में मिले ‘रैश ह्यूमर’ के कारण अपनी खुद की जल्दबाजी को जिम्मेदार ठहराता है।  दोनों दोस्त हाथ मिलाते हैं और एक कवि उन्हें रोक देता है, जो तम्बू में घुसकर उनसे दोस्त बनने का आग्रह करता है और छोटी-छोटी दुर्भावनाओं को उन्हें विभाजित नहीं करने देता है।  ब्रूटस कवि को दूर भेज देता है।

दूसरों के जाने के बाद, ब्रूटस, कैसियस को शांत करने की कोशिश में, उसे अपनी सेनाओं को रखने के लिए तैयार होने के लिए कहता है और शराब का अनुरोध करता है।  ब्रूटस तब अपने गहरे दुःख और क्रोध के स्रोत का खुलासा करता हैः उसकी पत्नी, पोर्टिया, मर चुकी है।  वह कैसियस को बताता है कि वह आग निगलने से मर गई, उसकी अनुपस्थिति और ऑक्टेवियस और एंटनी की बढ़ती शक्ति से पागल हो गई।  मेसाला और टिटिनियस तब प्रवेश करते हैं, और मेसाला इस खबर की पुष्टि करता है कि ऑक्टेवियस, एंटनी और लेपिडस ने सिसेरो सहित कई सीनेटरों को प्रतिबंधित और मार दिया है।  ब्रूटस, मेसाला के साथ बात करने से पहले ही खबर को आत्मसात कर चुका है, पोर्टिया की मृत्यु को स्वीकार करते हुए कहता है कि उसके पास अब इसे सहन करने का धैर्य है।  कैसियस स्वीकार करता है कि वह ब्रूटस की शांति से इस तरह के नुकसान को सहन नहीं कर सका।

इसके बाद सेनापति सैन्य रणनीति की ओर मुड़ते हैं।  कैसियस अपने संसाधनों को बर्बाद करते हुए खड़े रहने और दुश्मन को उनकी ओर बढ़ने देने की सलाह देता है।  हालांकि, ब्रूटस का तर्क है कि उन्हें दुश्मन को घेरने के लिए तुरंत फिलिप्पी की ओर कूच करना चाहिए।  उसका मुख्य कारण यह है कि उनके शिविर और फिलिप्पी के बीच के लोग केवल अनिच्छा से उनका समर्थन कर रहे हैं और उन्हें दुश्मन में शामिल होने के लिए मजबूर किया जा सकता है।  ब्रूटस तब अपने प्रसिद्ध ‘पुरुषों के मामलों में ज्वार’ समानता को वितरित करता है, उन्हें अवसर का लाभ उठाने का आग्रह करता है i.e। ‘बाढ़’ अब उनके भाग्य में गिरावट से पहले।  कैसियस ब्रूटस की योजना से सहमत है।

अंत में, जब ब्रूटस आराम करने की कोशिश करता है, तो भूत ऑफ सीज़र उससे मिलने आता है।  भूत खुद को ब्रूटस की ‘दुष्ट आत्मा’ के रूप में पहचानता है और ब्रूटस को बताता है कि वह उसे फिर से फिलिप्पी में देखेगा।  ब्रूटस शुरू में डर जाता है लेकिन भूत के गायब होने के बाद आगे बोलने का प्रयास करता है।  वह लुसियस और उसके सेवकों, वरो और क्लाउडियस को जगाता है, जो उसके तम्बू में सो रहे थे, लेकिन उनमें से किसी ने भी भूत जैसी आकृति नहीं देखी।  ब्रूटस तब कैसियस को अपने सैनिकों को आगे बढ़ाने के लिए एक संदेश के साथ वरो और क्लाउडियस को भेजता है, जिससे दुश्मन का सामना करने के लिए फिलिप्पी की ओर कूच करने की उनकी योजना की पुष्टि होती है।

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Theme of Julius Caesar Act 4 Scene 3

Honour vs. Pragmatism/Corruption
This is the central conflict in the initial argument between Brutus and Cassius. Brutus, a strict idealist, demands absolute honour and justice, which he claims was the sole reason for assassinating Caesar. He condemns Cassius for corruption, called out for having an ‘itching palm’, taking bribes, and selling offices, viewing it as a betrayal of their noble cause. Cassius, on the other hand, represents pragmatism, arguing that in desperate times , one must overlook offences and secure funds by any means to run a war. Brutus’s refusal to raise money ‘by vile means’ and his subsequent dependence on Cassius for gold highlights the practical difficulties of maintaining absolute moral purity in the political and military world.

The Price of Idealism/Stoicism
Brutus embodies the ideals of Stoicism, the Roman philosophy emphasizing reason, duty, and emotional endurance in the face of suffering. This theme is most powerfully explored through his reaction to the death of his wife, Portia. He maintains a calm, almost detached composure, stating, ‘With meditating that she must die once, / I have the patience to endure it now’. While Messala and Cassius are moved by the loss, Brutus uses his philosophy to suppress his grief. However, the intensity of his initial anger and the profound shock of the news when he first mentions it suggest that his stoicism is a taxing, self-imposed mask, showing the heavy price of idealism and emotional suppression.

Fraternity and Reconciliation
The scene is a powerful depiction of a broken friendship and its subsequent reconciliation. The two leaders are driven to the brink of a deadly quarrel by their political differences, personal faults, and mutual stress. Cassius’s emotional breakdown, offering Brutus his heart to be struck, is the climax of their anger. The turning point is Brutus’s confession that he was also ‘ill-temper’d’ and the revelation of Portia’s death, which strips away the political façade and reunites them in shared grief and humanity. Their final handshake and Brutus’s gentle dismissal of Cassius’s temper re-establishes their fraternity, showing that love and loyalty can endure beyond political strife.

Foreshadowing and Portents
The theme of fate and foreboding is introduced at the very end of the scene. Brutus’s encounter with the Ghost of Caesar, who identifies himself as Brutus’s ‘evil spirit’, is a clear portent of disaster. The Ghost’s promise, ‘To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi’, directly foreshadows the final battle and Brutus’s eventual defeat and death. This supernatural event suggests that the conspirators, despite their noble intentions, are being hunted by the unavoidable consequences of their actions, or by a malignant destiny.

Opportunity and Inaction (The Tide)
In the strategic planning session, Brutus introduces a key philosophical and practical theme: the importance of seizing the right moment. His famous metaphor, the ‘tide in the affairs of men’, argues that success depends on taking action when conditions are perfect i.e. ‘taken at the flood’. If this opportunity is ‘Omitted, all the voyage of their life / Is bound in shallows and in miseries’. This concept justifies his decision to march to Philippi immediately, emphasizing that success in both war and life often depends on decisive action rather than cautious inaction.

Setting of the Scene
The setting for the entirety of Act IV, Scene III of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is Brutus’s tent in the military camp near Sardis, which is in modern-day Turkey. This physical location is important because it provides a private, isolated space for the intense confrontation between Brutus and Cassius, allowing their argument over corruption and military strategy to unfold with dramatic tension, away from their armies. The setting emphasizes the stress and high stakes of the military campaign against Mark Antony and Octavius. The dark, intimate space of the tent also enhances the scene’s climax, providing the atmosphere for the somber reveal of Portia’s death and the terrifying appearance of Caesar’s Ghost, which marks the dramatic turning point and foreshadows the upcoming battle at Philippi.

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Julius Caesar Act 4 Scene 3 Explanation

 

Play
BRUTUS and CASSIUS remain onstage, now in Brutus’ tent.
CASSIUS
That you have wronged me doth appear in this:
You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians,
Wherein my letters, praying on his side
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.
BRUTUS
You wronged yourself to write in such a case.
CASSIUS
In such a time as this it is not meet
That every nice offense should bear his comment.
BRUTUS
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemned to have an itching palm,
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.
CASSIUS
I “an itching palm!”
You know that you are Brutus that speak this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
BRUTUS
The name of Cassius honors this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
CASSIUS
Chastisement!

Word Meanings
Doth: does
Condemned: officially declared to be wrong or guilty; judged and sentenced
Noted: officially marked with disgrace or discredit
Bribes: money or favors given to illegally influence a person in authority
Wherein: in which
Praying on his side: arguing or requesting on his behalf
Slighted off: treated as unimportant; dismissed with contempt
Wrought: wronged; treated unjustly
Meet: proper or fitting
Nice offense: a subtle, fine, or minor fault or crime
Bear his comment: receive public scrutiny, criticism, or punishment
Itching palm: a hand that is greedy for money or bribes
Mart: sell or trade
Offices: official positions or appointments
Undeservers: people who are not worthy of the positions
Else: otherwise
Honors this corruption: lends respectability to this immoral behavior; shields it
Chastisement: severe punishment or discipline
Hide his head: conceal itself or be unable to appear (because it is overshadowed by Cassius’s honor)

Explanation of the above dialogues— Cassius told Brutus that the way Brutus had wronged him was apparent in the fact that Brutus had condemned and officially disgraced Lucius Pella for taking bribes from the people of Sardis. Cassius complained that his own letters, which asked for leniency on Pella’s behalf because Cassius knew the man, were completely disregarded. Brutus responded that Cassius himself was wrong to write on behalf of a corrupt man in such a situation. Cassius insisted that during a difficult time like this, it was not appropriate or necessary for every minor offense to be thoroughly scrutinized and punished. Brutus then told Cassius that Cassius himself was widely accused of being corrupt; specifically, of having an itching palm, meaning he was selling his official positions for gold to people who did not deserve them. Cassius reacted with shock to the accusation of having an itching palm. He warned Brutus that he was only allowed to speak such words because he was Brutus, otherwise, by the gods, that speech would have been his last. Brutus countered that Cassius’s honorable reputation actually protected this corruption, and therefore, the deserved punishment had to conceal itself out of respect for Cassius’s name. Cassius angrily repeated the word ‘Chastisement’ i.e. punishment. The core conflict is a clash of ethics: Brutus’s uncompromising idealism versus Cassius’s cynical pragmatism. His accusation that Cassius has an ‘itching palm’ goes beyond politics; it is a profound moral attack on Cassius’s character, essentially calling him a common thief. Cassius argues that in troubled times, they cannot afford to pursue ‘every nice offense’ i.e. petty crime. His defense of Pella and his own bribery reflect a practical belief that power requires money, even if acquired through morally dubious means.

 

Play
BRUTUS
Remember March, the ides of March remember.
Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake?
What villain touched his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honors
For so much trash as may be graspèd thus?
I had rather be a dog and bay the moon
Than such a Roman.
CASSIUS
Brutus, bait not me.
I’ll not endure it. You forget yourself
To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.
BRUTUS
Go to. You are not, Cassius.
CASSIUS
I am.
BRUTUS
I say you are not.
CASSIUS
Urge me no more, I shall forget myself.
Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further.
BRUTUS
Away, slight man!
CASSIUS
Is ’t possible?
BRUTUS
Hear me, for I will speak.
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
CASSIUS
O ye gods, ye gods, must I endure all this?

Word Meanings
Ides: The fifteenth day of March, July, May, or October, or the thirteenth day of any other month in the ancient Roman calendar; the date of Caesar’s assassination.
Justice’ sake: For the sake of, or in the interest of, righteousness and fairness.
Foremost: Most important, prominent, or powerful.
Contaminate: To make impure or unclean by mixing with something bad or harmful; to pollute.
Base: Morally low, dishonorable, or shameful.
Trash: Worthless items; refuse or rubbish. Brutus uses it here to mean dishonorable wealth or money.
Grasped: Seized and held firmly; in this context, money that can be easily acquired or taken.
Bay: To howl or utter a prolonged deep sound, especially as a dog or wolf does.
Bait: To torment or harass with persistent attacks or insults.
Endure: To bear or tolerate with patience.
Hedge me in: To surround, restrict, or confine me; to limit my freedom or authority.
Abler: More capable, skillful, or competent.
Conditions: Terms of agreement; the requirements that must be met.
Go to: An expression used to express disapproval, dismissal, or mild rebuke; roughly meaning Nonsense or Come on.
Urge: To provoke or incite someone to do something.
Slight: Small in amount, degree, or importance; Brutus uses it as an insult meaning insignificant or contemptible.
Rash choler: Hasty and uncontrollable anger; ‘choler’ refers to one of the four humours believed to cause irritability.
Frighted: Frightened or scared.
Madman: A person who is insane or behaving in a wild or reckless way.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus told Cassius to remember the Ides of March. He asked if great Julius had not died for the sake of justice. He challenged Cassius to name one villain who had stabbed Caesar for any reason other than justice. Brutus then questioned whether one of them, who had struck down the foremost man in the world only because Caesar was supporting robbers, should now contaminate his fingers with base bribes and trade their great honor for trash that could be held in one’s hand. Brutus declared he would rather be a dog and howl at the moon than be such a Roman. Cassius immediately told Brutus not to bait him and stated he would not tolerate it. He accused Brutus of forgetting himself and trying to confine him. Cassius asserted that he was a soldier, older in experience and more capable than Brutus at making military agreements. Brutus dismissed this, telling Cassius to stop, saying he was not more capable. Cassius insisted that he was. Brutus strongly repeated that Cassius was not. Cassius warned Brutus not to provoke him further, stating he would lose control of himself. He cautioned Brutus to take care of his own well-being and tempt him no further. Brutus angrily ordered the insignificant man to leave. Cassius expressed shock, asking if this was truly happening. Brutus demanded that Cassius listen because he intended to speak. He asked if he had to yield to Cassius’s rash anger and if he should be scared when a madman stares. Cassius appealed to the gods, asking if he was expected to tolerate all of Brutus’s insults. Brutus anchors his argument in Stoic idealism and moral purity. His reference to the Ides of March serves as a potent reminder that the entire conspiracy was supposedly founded on justice, not personal gain. Brutus’s language is absolute and contemptuous; his preference to be a ‘dog and bay the moon’ rather than a corrupt Roman illustrates his commitment to his uncompromising moral code. Cassius challenges these accusations by proclaiming himself ‘older in practice, abler than yourself’, Cassius attempts to shift the argument from a moral one to a professional one, seeking justification through experience. 

 

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BRUTUS
“All this?” Ay, more. Fret till your proud heart break.
Go show your slaves how choleric you are
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humor? By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you. For from this day forth,
I’ll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.
CASSIUS
Is it come to this?
BRUTUS
You say you are a better soldier.
Let it appear so. Make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well. For mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
CASSIUS
You wrong me every way. You wrong me, Brutus.
I said an elder soldier, not a better.
Did I say “better?”
BRUTUS
If you did, I care not.
CASSIUS
When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.
BRUTUS
Peace, peace! You durst not so have tempted him.
CASSIUS
I durst not!
BRUTUS
No.
CASSIUS
What, durst not tempt him?
BRUTUS
For your life you durst not!
CASSIUS
Do not presume too much upon my love.
I may do that I shall be sorry for.

Word Meanings
Fret: To be visibly or deeply worried, anxious, or distressed; to cause annoyance.
Choleric: Extremely irritable or easily angered; relating to the bodily humor choler, which was believed to cause a passionate temperament.
Bondmen: Slaves or servants; individuals bound to service without personal freedom.
Budge: To move or shift one’s position; in this context, to yield or give way to someone else’s will.
Observe: To show deference or honor to; to obey or yield to.
Crouch: To stoop low with the limbs bent; in this context, to humble oneself or behave subserviently.
Testy: Impatient, irritable, or easily annoyed.
Spleen: An organ believed in ancient medicine to be the seat of emotions like anger, spite, and malice; hence, bitter, ill-natured anger.
Mirth: Amusement, especially as expressed in laughter.
Waspish: Resembling a wasp in temper; easily annoyed or quick to sting with sharp words.
Vaunting: Boasting, speaking proudly or self-aggrandizingly.
Elder: Older; having lived for a longer time or having greater experience.
Durst (Dare): Past tense of ‘dare’, to have the courage or impudence to do something.
Tempted: Provoked or challenged into action, often rashly.
Presume: To assume or suppose something to be true without proof; to take liberties or act with excessive confidence.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus responded to Cassius’s plea by affirming he must endure all of the insults, and even more. He ordered Cassius to rage until his arrogant heart broke. He told Cassius to go and show his slaves how angry he was and make his servants tremble. Brutus then demanded to know if he must give way, if he must obey Cassius, or if he must stand and humble himself before Cassius’s irritable temper. Brutus swore by the gods that Cassius would have to swallow his bitter anger, even if it destroyed him. He declared that from that day forward, he would use Cassius’s outbursts as a source of amusement and laughter whenever Cassius became irritable. Cassius reacted by asking if their relationship had deteriorated to such an extreme point.Brutus challenged Cassius by reminding him that he claimed to be a better soldier. He demanded Cassius prove this claim to be true, stating that he would be pleased. Brutus added that he, for his part, would be happy to learn from noble men. Cassius complained that Brutus was wronging him in every possible way. He clarified that he had said he was an elder soldier, not a better one, and asked Brutus if he had actually used the word better. Brutus dismissively replied that he didn’t care if Cassius had used the word or not. Cassius remarked that when Caesar was alive, Caesar would not have dared to provoke him like this. Brutus immediately told Cassius to be quiet, asserting that Cassius would not have dared to provoke Caesar in such a way. Cassius questioned the assertion that he durst not have provoked Caesar. Brutus firmly denied that Cassius would have dared. Cassius angrily repeated the question of whether he durst not tempt Caesar. Brutus insisted that Cassius would not have dared, even to save his own life. Cassius warned Brutus not to take his friendship for granted, suggesting he might commit an act he would later regret. Brutus is at his most severe and judgmental here. He uses the language of mastery and contempt, daring Cassius to vent his ‘rash choler’ on his slaves, not on him. This refusal to ‘crouch / Under your testy humor’ is a forceful declaration of Brutus’s stoic independence and his insistence on maintaining moral high ground. He attempts to enforce a hierarchy in their friendship, where his principled reserve must dominate Cassius’s pragmatic heat. Brutus, though technically Cassius’s subordinate in military experience, has completely assumed control through his moral authority and sheer force of will. 

 

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BRUTUS
You have done that you should be sorry for.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats,
For I am armed so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me,
For I can raise no money by vile means.
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart
And drop my blood for drachmas than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection. I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me. Was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answered Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous
To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts.
Dash him to pieces!

Word Meanings
Terror: Extreme fear or fright.
Honesty: The quality of being truthful, sincere, and morally upright.
Idle: Lazy, inactive; here meaning useless or without effect.
Respect: To regard with deference or esteem; here meaning to heed or pay attention to.
Vile: Extremely unpleasant, wicked, or morally bad.
Coin: To make or stamp metallic money.
Drachmas: Ancient Greek silver coins, used here generically for money.
Wring: To squeeze or twist forcibly, especially to extract liquid or, in this context, money through coercion.
Vile trash: Worthless and despicable property or money.
Indirection: Indirect or dishonest means; deceitful practices.
Legions: Large units of the Roman army.
Covetous: Having or showing a great desire to possess something belonging to someone else; greedy.
Rascal counters: Worthless or base coins or pieces of money.
Thunderbolts: A shaft of lightning regarded as the weapon of a god (like Jove or Jupiter).
Dash: To throw or smash violently.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus asserted that Cassius had already performed actions he should regret. Brutus stated there was no fear in Cassius’s threats because he was protected so powerfully by honesty that the threats passed him by like an unnecessary wind, which he did not care about. Brutus revealed that he had sent a messenger to Cassius for specific amounts of gold, which Cassius refused to give him, explaining that he himself could not gather any money through wicked means. Brutus swore by heaven that he would sooner turn his heart into currency and shed his blood for coins than forcefully take worthless money from the rough hands of poor workers by any dishonest method. Brutus repeated that he had sent to Cassius for gold specifically to pay his soldiers, and Cassius had refused him. He questioned whether Cassius’s actions were befitting his character. Brutus asked if he should have given Caius Cassius such an unfavorable reply if their roles were reversed. Brutus then stated that if he, Marcus Brutus, ever became so greedy as to withhold such despicable money from his friends, he prayed the gods would instantly prepare their thunderbolts and smash him into pieces. The core of the accusation is the denial of gold needed to pay the legions. Brutus uses this factual offense to launch into a powerful declaration of his extreme idealism. The hyperbole ‘I had rather coin my heart / And drop my blood for drachmas’ is one of the most famous expressions of his character, proving that his virtue is non-negotiable, even if it harms their military position. Brutus paints Cassius not just as flawed, but as a traitor to the very principles of the Republic they founded.

 

Play
CASSIUS
I denied you not.
BRUTUS
You did.
CASSIUS
I did not. He was but a fool that brought
My answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart.
A friend should bear his friend’s infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
BRUTUS
I do not, till you practice them on me.
CASSIUS
You love me not.
BRUTUS
I do not like your faults.
CASSIUS
A friendly eye could never see such faults.
BRUTUS
A flatterer’s would not, though they do appear
As huge as high Olympus.

Word Meanings
Rived: Past tense of the verb “rive,” meaning to split or tear apart violently. Cassius uses it metaphorically to mean that Brutus has deeply wounded or broken his heart.
Infirmities: Physical or mental weakness; personal failings or faults; defects of character.
Practice them on me: To put one’s faults into action against me; to make one’s flaws evident or harmful in a way that directly affects me.
Faults: Defects, shortcomings, or undesirable qualities.
Flatterer’s: Pertaining to a flatterer; a person who praises someone excessively and insincerely, often to gain favor.
Olympus: Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece and, in Greek mythology, the home of the major gods. Brutus uses it as a symbol for immense size or height.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Cassius insisted that he had not denied Brutus the gold. Brutus contradicted him, stating that he did deny it. Cassius firmly repeated his denial, claiming the messenger who brought his reply back was merely a fool. Cassius then accused Brutus of tearing his heart apart. He argued that a friend ought to endure and tolerate his friend’s weaknesses, but Brutus was instead exaggerating Cassius’s weaknesses beyond their true size. Brutus replied that he only challenged Cassius’s faults when Cassius acted on them against him. Cassius then accused Brutus of not loving him. Brutus corrected him, stating that he simply did not like Cassius’s faults. Cassius countered that a truly friendly person would never even notice such faults. Brutus responded that a flattering person certainly would not notice them, even if those faults were as enormous as the massive Mount Olympus. Cassius’ core need for unconditional acceptance, even in his moments of moral weakness. Brutus remains rigidly devoted to his idealistic moral code. He refuses to concede that friendship should excuse corruption or bad behavior, stating plainly, ‘I do not like your faults’. His final, crushing reply that only a ‘flatterer’s’ eye would ignore faults as vast as ‘high Olympus’, firmly positions Brutus as the honest critic, rejecting the idea that love means blinding oneself to moral error. 

 

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CASSIUS
Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is aweary of the world—
Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother;
Checked like a bondman, all his faults observed,
Set in a notebook, learned, and conned by rote
To cast into my teeth. Oh, I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes.
[offers BRUTUS his bared dagger] There is my dagger.
And here my naked breast. Within, a heart
Dearer than Plutus’ mine, richer than gold.
If that thou beest a Roman, take it forth.
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart.
Strike, as thou didst at Caesar. For I know
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.

Word Meanings
Aweary: Tired, weary, or exhausted.
Braved: Challenged, defied, or insulted with impudence or daring.
Checked: Restrained, reprimanded, or sharply rebuked.
Bondman: A slave or a serf; one bound to service.
Observed: Noticed, watched, or remarked upon, often critically.
Conned by rote: Memorized by mechanical repetition, without deep understanding of the meaning.
Cast into my teeth: To throw back or reproach me with; to use my faults as accusations against me.
Plutus’ mine: Referring to Plutus, the Greek god of wealth, whose domain was thought to contain vast underground riches; thus, a mine of immense, almost limitless wealth.
Beest: An archaic form of the verb ‘to be’ (specifically, ‘thou art’, or ‘if you are’).
Durst: The past tense of ‘dare’; had the courage or boldness to do something.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Cassius called upon Antony and young Octavius to come and take revenge only on him, because he declared that he was tired of the world. He complained that he was hated by the man he loved, insulted by his brother, controlled like a slave, and that all his flaws were noticed, written down in a notebook, memorized, and learned by heart to be thrown back at him in arguments. Cassius cried that he felt so grief-stricken that he could weep his very soul out through his eyes. He offered Brutus his drawn dagger and presented his exposed chest. He claimed that within his chest was a heart more valuable than Plutus’s mine and richer than gold. Cassius challenged Brutus, saying if he was truly a Roman, he should take the heart out with the dagger. He stated that he, who had denied Brutus gold, would now willingly give his heart. Cassius urged Brutus to strike him just as he had struck Caesar. He concluded by asserting that he knew that even when Brutus hated Caesar the most, Brutus had loved Caesar more than he had ever loved Cassius. Cassius’ central grievance is that his love is unreturned and his loyalty is unappreciated. He feels scrutinized, listing his faults being ‘Set in a notebook, learned, and conned by rote’, a powerful image of being unfairly judged and micromanaged by his friend. The dramatic climax is the offering of the bared dagger. This is not merely an expression of suicidal despair, but a calculated emotional challenge. The final, stinging accusation that Brutus loved the man he killed i.e. Caesar, better than the friend he is currently insulting i.e. Cassius is the ultimate emotional weapon. This comparison is deliberately crafted to wound Brutus’s conscience, force him to confront his cruelty, and remind him of the guilt he carries over Caesar’s death.

 

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BRUTUS
Sheathe your dagger.
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope.
Do what you will, dishonor shall be humor.
O Cassius, you are yokèd with a lamb
That carries anger as the flint bears fire,
Who, much enforcèd, shows a hasty spark
And straight is cold again.
CASSIUS
Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief and blood ill-tempered vexeth him?
BRUTUS
When I spoke that, I was ill-tempered too.
CASSIUS
Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
BRUTUS
And my heart too.
CASSIUS and BRUTUS shake hands.
CASSIUS
O Brutus!
BRUTUS
What’s the matter?
CASSIUS
Have not you love enough to bear with me,
When that rash humor which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?
BRUTUS
Yes, Cassius. And from henceforth
When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He’ll think your mother chides and leave you so.

Word Meanings
Sheathe: To put a knife, sword, or other sharp weapon into a protective covering (a sheath or scabbard).
Scope: The extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or covers; here, the full range or freedom to express itself.
Dishonor: A state of shame or disgrace; loss of respect.
Humor: A person’s mood or temperament; in the context of the four humours, it refers to a capricious or emotional whim.
Yokèd: Joined together, linked, or paired, typically by a yoke (a wooden crossbar for harnessing animals).
Flint: A hard gray rock that sparks when struck against steel.
Enforcèd: Compelled or forced; in this context, pressured or provoked.
Hasty: Done or acting with excessive speed or insufficient deliberation; quick.
Straight: Immediately or directly.
Ill-tempered: Having or showing a bad temper; irritable or moody.
Confess: To admit or acknowledge something, typically something one has kept secret or been trying to conceal.
Bear with me: To endure, tolerate, or be patient with me.
Rash humor: A sudden, impulsive, or reckless emotional state; temperamental fits.
Over-earnest: Too serious, zealous, or intense.
Chides: Scolds or rebukes someone mildly or gently.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus commanded Cassius to put away his dagger. He assured Cassius that he could be angry whenever he wished and that his anger would be allowed its full expression. Brutus added that whatever Cassius chose to do, his dishonorable behavior would be excused as mere emotional whimsy. Brutus then addressed Cassius tenderly, stating that Cassius was paired with a friend, likened to a lamb, whose anger was carried like a flint carries fire, which, when hit hard, shows a quick spark but immediately becomes cold again. Cassius questioned whether he had lived only to be an object of amusement and laughter for Brutus whenever grief and poor temper troubled Brutus. Brutus admitted that when he had spoken harshly, he himself was also in a bad mood. Cassius asked if Brutus was truly admitting this, and offered Brutus his hand. Brutus replied that Cassius had his hand and his heart as well. They shook hands. Cassius then emotionally exclaimed Brutus’s name. Brutus calmly asked what the matter was. Cassius inquired if Brutus did not have enough affection to tolerate him when the sudden temper he inherited from his mother made him forgetful or irrational. Brutus assured Cassius that he did, and declared that from that time forward, whenever Cassius became overly intense with him, Brutus would pretend that Cassius’s mother was scolding him and would leave the matter at that. Cassius’s final plea attributing his volatile nature to a ‘rash humor which my mother gave me’ is a powerful moment of self-exposure. Brutus’s final promise to treat Cassius’s future outbursts as a mother’s scolding is a gracious, witty, and effective way to ensure the incident is forgotten, cementing their renewed partnership and loyalty before facing the grim reality of the war ahead. 

 

Play
POET
[within] Let me go in to see the generals.
There is some grudge between ’em. ‘Tis not meet
They be alone.
LUCILLIUS
[within] You shall not come to them.
POET
[within] Nothing but death shall stay me.
A POET enters, followed by LUCILLIUS and TITINIUS.
CASSIUS
How now? What’s the matter?
POET
For shame, you generals! What do you mean?
Love, and be friends as two such men should be.
For I have seen more years, I’m sure, than ye.
CASSIUS
Ha, ha, how vilely doth this cynic rhyme!
BRUTUS
[to POET] Get you hence, sirrah. Saucy fellow, hence!
CASSIUS
Bear with him, Brutus. ‘Tis his fashion.
BRUTUS
I’ll know his humor when he knows his time.
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?
—Companion, hence!
CASSIUS
Away, away, be gone.
The POET exits.

Word Meanings
Grudge: A feeling of ill will or resentment, often longstanding; a disagreement or quarrel.
‘Tis not meet: It is not proper or appropriate; not suitable.
Vilely: Terribly, wretchedly, or disgustingly; in a morally low or offensive manner.
Cynic: A person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest; here, used dismissively to mean a blunt, fault-finding person.
Sirrah: A term used to address a man or boy of inferior rank, often used to express contempt or command.
Saucy: Disrespectful, impudent, or cheeky; bold and lively in a rude way.
Hence: Away from this place; go away.
Bear with him: Be patient with him; tolerate his behavior.
Humor (or Humour): A person’s temperament, mood, or disposition, often related to the four humours of ancient medicine; here, meaning strange or odd behavior.
Jigging: Used here to mean rhythmic, metrical, or composing foolish verses; “jigs” were lighthearted songs or dances.
Companion: Used here as a scornful or dismissive term for a fellow or common person; a familiar but often contemptuous address.

Explanation of the above dialogues— The Poet was heard asking to be allowed to enter to see the generals. He explained that there was some disagreement between them and that it was not proper for them to be alone. Lucillius was heard forbidding the Poet from approaching them. The Poet insisted that only death would prevent him from entering. The Poet then entered, followed by Lucillius and Titinius. Cassius demanded to know what the commotion was about. The Poet confronted the generals, shaming them and asking what they intended to do. He told them to love and be friends, as two such important men should be. He justified his intrusion by claiming that he was certainly older than they were. Cassius laughed, commenting on how terribly the cynical man was rhyming. Brutus ordered the Poet to leave, calling him a disrespectful fellow. Cassius advised Brutus to tolerate the man, explaining that it was simply his usual way of acting. Brutus stated that he would acknowledge the Poet’s odd temper only when the Poet knew his proper time to speak. Brutus questioned what purpose foolish, rhyming men served in war, and ordered the common fellow to leave. Cassius also ordered the Poet to go away. The Poet then left. Here, the Poet embodies the stereotypical figure of the untimely philosopher, a cynic who speaks unwelcome truths in clumsy verse. His intervention, although genuinely intending reconciliation, is disastrously timed and poorly executed. His intrusion, especially his presumption of authority based on age, allows Brutus and Cassius to redirect their mutual anger toward an external, trivial target.

 

Play
BRUTUS
Lucillius and Titinius, bid the commanders
Prepare to lodge their companies tonight.
CASSIUS
And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you,
Immediately to us.
LUCILLIUS and TITINIUS exit.
BRUTUS
[calls off] Lucius, a bowl of wine!
CASSIUS
I did not think you could have been so angry.
BRUTUS
O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
CASSIUS
Of your philosophy you make no use
If you give place to accidental evils.
BRUTUS
No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.
CASSIUS
Ha, Portia?
BRUTUS
She is dead.
CASSIUS
How ’scaped I killing when I crossed you so?
O insupportable and touching loss!
Upon what sickness?

Word Meanings
Commanders: Officers in charge of military units or groups of soldiers.
Lodge: To provide temporary accommodation or shelter for soldiers; to settle or quarter for the night.
Companies: Military units; a body of soldiers, typically commanded by a captain.
Griefs: Causes of deep sorrow or distress; troubles.
Philosophy: A system of thought concerning the general nature of knowledge, existence, values, and the human mind; Brutus adhered to Stoicism, which emphasizes self-control and detachment from damaging emotions.
Give place to: To yield to; to be overcome by or surrender to.
Accidental evils: Misfortunes or hardships that occur randomly or by chance; things that happen externally and are not caused by one’s own will.
Bears sorrow: Endures, withstands, or handles sadness or grief.
‘Scaped: A contraction of escaped; managed to get away from or avoid.
Crossed: Opposed, thwarted, or displeased; here, it refers to Cassius’s earlier offenses and provocations.
Insupportable: Not able to be endured or tolerated; unbearable.
Touching: Affecting the emotions; causing sadness or sympathy.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus instructed Lucillius and Titinius to order the commanders to prepare to settle their companies for the night. Cassius added that Lucillius and Titinius should return themselves, bringing Messala with them immediately. Lucillius and Titinius then exited. Brutus called offstage for Lucius to bring a bowl of wine. Cassius remarked to Brutus that he had not thought Brutus was capable of such great anger. Brutus confessed that he was suffering from many sorrows. Cassius responded that Brutus was not applying his philosophy if he was allowing himself to be overcome by misfortunes that arise by chance. Brutus insisted that no man endured sorrow better than he did, before revealing the devastating news that Portia was dead. Cassius reacted with shock, repeating Portia’s name in disbelief. Brutus confirmed that she was dead. Cassius expressed astonishment that he had avoided being killed by Brutus when he had offended him so greatly, calling Portia’s death an unbearable and deeply affecting loss. He then asked what illness had caused her death. Brutus’s response is devastatingly direct: ‘Portia is dead’.This single line is the key to understanding Brutus’s earlier rage. His grief and irritability were not simply due to Cassius’s corruption; they were symptoms of private, suppressed sorrow. His insistence that ‘No man bears sorrow better’ is his Stoic defense, an assertion that he is enduring the loss according to his principles, even if the strain caused him to lash out. Cassius’s deep emotional sensitivity, which contrasts sharply with Brutus’s defensive suppression of emotion. 

 

Play
BRUTUS
Impatient of my absence,
And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong—for with her death
That tidings came—with this she fell distract
And, her attendants absent, swallowed fire.
CASSIUS
And died so?
BRUTUS
Even so.
CASSIUS
O ye immortal gods!
LUCIUS enters with wine and candles.
BRUTUS
Speak no more of her.—Give me a bowl of wine.—
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.
[drinks]
CASSIUS
My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o’erswell the cup.
I cannot drink too much of Brutus’ love.
[drinks]
LUCIUS exits.

Word Meanings
Impatient: Restless or agitated because of delay; in this context, unable to tolerate Brutus’s continued absence.
Tidings: News or information.
Distract: Deranged, insane, or mad; full form of the word is “distracted.”
Swallowed fire: A historical reference to the method of Portia’s suicide, which was by swallowing hot coals (fire), a gruesome act signifying profound despair.
Immortal: Living forever; never dying.
Unkindness: Unsympathetic, harsh, or unfriendly behavior; referring to the insults exchanged during their quarrel.
Thirsty: Feeling a need to drink; figuratively, intensely desirous or eager for.
Noble pledge: A solemn promise or vow made with honor and dignity; here, the vow of renewed friendship and loyalty.
O’erswell: To flow over the brim or edge; to overflow.

Explanation of the above dialogues—Brutus explained that Portia was impatient with his absence and also grieved that young Octavius and Mark Antony had become so powerful. Brutus clarified that the news of their strength arrived at the same time as the news of her death. Because of this combined stress, she went mad, and with her servants away, she swallowed fire. Cassius asked if that was how she died. Brutus confirmed it was. Cassius exclaimed in shock, calling upon the immortal gods. After Lucius entered with wine and candles, Brutus requested that Cassius speak no more about Portia. Brutus asked for a bowl of wine and declared that in drinking it, he was burying all the harsh feelings they had just exchanged. Cassius stated that his heart greatly desired that solemn promise of reconciliation. He ordered Lucius to fill the cup until the wine flowed over the top, stating he could not drink too much of Brutus’s love. Lucius then left. Brutus’s revelation of Portia’s death is delivered with remarkable, almost unnerving Stoic detachment. He states the devastating facts abou Portia like her impatience, her grief over their enemies’ power, her madness, and her suicide by swallowing fire, as if relaying a military report. This highly constrained expression of sorrow serves two critical dramatic functions: it explains the true, deep-seated source of Brutus’s earlier explosive anger, justifying his testy humor; and it reinforces his commitment to the Stoic philosophy, which dictates that a man must endure the greatest personal losses with absolute composure.

 

Play
TITINIUS and MESSALA enter.
BRUTUS
Come in, Titinius.—Welcome, good Messala!
Now sit we close about this taper here
And call in question our necessities.
CASSIUS
Portia, art thou gone?
BRUTUS
No more, I pray you.
—Messala, I have here receivèd letters
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Come down upon us with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
MESSALA
Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.|
BRUTUS
With what addition?
MESSALA
That by proscription and bills of outlawry,
Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus
Have put to death an hundred senators.
BRUTUS
Therein our letters do not well agree.
Mine speak of seventy senators that died
By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
CASSIUS
Cicero one?

Word Meanings
Taper: A slender candle, especially one used for ceremonial purposes; in this context, a source of light.
Call in question: To discuss or deliberate upon a matter; to investigate or examine.
Necessities: Things that are essential or urgently needed; in this context, urgent military and strategic matters.
Mighty power: A great and formidable army or military force.
Bending their expedition: Directing or aiming their military campaign or journey.
Selfsame tenor: The exact same content, meaning, or general drift of information.
Addition: Something added to an original document or statement; extra details or information.
Proscription: A public list of condemned people; officially declared an outlaw, leading to the confiscation of property and execution.
Bills of outlawry: Official public notices or decrees that declare certain citizens to be outlaws, stripping them of legal protection.
Therein: In that matter or respect.
Agree: To be consistent or correspond; to be in harmony.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus invited Titinius to enter and then welcomed the good Messala. He suggested they sit closely around the candle and discuss their urgent needs. Cassius, still distraught, lamented that Portia was gone. Brutus requested that Cassius speak of her no more. Brutus then informed Messala that he had received letters stating that young Octavius and Mark Antony were advancing toward them with a great army, directing their military campaign toward Philippi. Messala confirmed that he also had letters conveying the exact same information. Brutus asked if Messala’s letters contained any further details. Messala reported that by decree and published lists declaring certain men outlaws, Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus had executed one hundred senators. Brutus noted that their letters did not align well on that detail. Brutus stated that his own letters reported that seventy senators had died by their death lists, adding that Cicero was among them. Cassius reacted in shock, confirming that Cicero was one of the dead. The core of the exchange is the confirmation of the enemy’s strength and brutality. The news that the Triumvirate has ‘put to death an hundred senators’ through proscription establishes the overwhelming ruthlessness of Antony and Octavius. This detail not only motivates the need for decisive action (marching to Philippi) but also justifies Brutus and Cassius’s fear, contextualizing their rebellion as a fight against tyranny, not merely a struggle for power. Cicero was the leading voice of the Republic, a revered orator, and politically neutral relative to the conspirators. His execution underscores the extent of the purge and the Triumvirate’s complete disregard for traditional Roman political figures, lending weight to Brutus’s moral justification for fighting them. 

 

Play
MESSALA
Cicero is dead,
And by that order of proscription.
[to BRUTUS] Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
BRUTUS
No, Messala.
MESSALA
Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?
BRUTUS
Nothing, Messala.
MESSALA
That methinks is strange.
BRUTUS
Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in yours?
MESSALA
No, my lord.
BRUTUS
Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true.
MESSALA
Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell.
For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
BRUTUS
Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala.
With meditating that she must die once,
I have the patience to endure it now.
MESSALA
Even so great men great losses should endure.

Word Meanings
Proscription: The act of officially forbidding something, often used in ancient Rome to refer to a public notice listing citizens who were condemned to death or outlawed, often with their property being confiscated.
Methinks: An archaic word meaning ‘it seems to me’ or ‘I think’
Aught: An archaic word meaning ‘anything at all’
Bear: To endure, tolerate, or carry the weight of something difficult or painful.
Meditating: The act of thinking deeply or dwelling upon a subject; reflecting carefully.
Patience: The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or anxious.
Endure: To suffer something difficult or painful patiently; to remain in existence or last.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Messala confirmed that Cicero was dead, killed by the order of proscription. He then asked Brutus if he had received his letters from his wife. Brutus replied that he had not. Messala asked if there was nothing written about her in the letters Brutus had received. Brutus confirmed that there was nothing about her. Messala expressed his opinion that this seemed strange. Brutus asked why Messala was inquiring, and if Messala had heard anything about her in his own letters. Messala replied that he had not heard anything. Brutus then commanded Messala, on his honor as a Roman, to tell him the truth. Messala told Brutus to then bear the truth like a Roman, confirming that Portia was certainly dead and had died in an unusual way. Brutus calmly bid farewell to Portia, stating that everyone must die, Messala included. He declared that by contemplating that she was fated to die eventually, he had found the patience to endure her death now. Messala agreed that it was appropriate for great men to bear great losses in such a manner. Brutus’s response upon hearing the confirmed truth is an exemplary display of Stoic composure. His farewell, ‘Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala’, is not a sign of coldness, but a public demonstration that he is using his philosophy to master overwhelming personal grief. His ability to endure the loss by ‘meditating that she must die once’ encapsulates the core Stoic practice of contemplating mortality to achieve emotional resilience. However, the scene is also critical because it suggests Brutus may be suppressing his true feelings for the sake of reputation and leadership, a concept often termed ‘counterfeit stoicism’.

 

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CASSIUS
I have as much of this in art as you,
But yet my nature could not bear it so.
BRUTUS
Well, to our work alive. What do you think
Of marching to Philippi presently?
CASSIUS
I do not think it good.
BRUTUS
Your reason?
CASSIUS
This it is:
‘Tis better that the enemy seek us.
So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,
Doing himself offense, whilst we, lying still,
Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness.
BRUTUS
Good reasons must of force give place to better.
The people ’twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in a forced affection,
For they have grudged us contribution.
The enemy, marching along by them,
By them shall make a fuller number up,
Come on refreshed, new-added, and encouraged,
From which advantage shall we cut him off
If at Philippi we do face him there,
These people at our back.

Word Meanings
Art: Philosophical skill or theory, particularly in this context, the Stoic philosophy of enduring pain and loss.
Presently: Immediately or right away.
Offense: Harm or injury; Cassius means the enemy will damage his own strength.
Lying still: Remaining in place; staying stationary.
Nimbleness: Quickness and lightness in movement; agility.
Of force: By necessity or inevitably.
’twixt (Betwixt): Between.
Forced affection: Loyalty or support that is given out of compulsion or obligation, not genuine feeling.
Grudged: Gave reluctantly or unwillingly; resented giving.
Contribution: Money or supplies provided to support the army.
Fuller number: A larger total amount of soldiers or forces.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Cassius admitted that he possessed as much philosophical skill in enduring hardship as Brutus did, but he confessed that his emotional nature still could not bear such profound loss with the same calmness. Brutus redirected their focus to their existing responsibilities, asking Cassius what he thought about marching to Philippi immediately. Cassius replied that he did not think the march was a good plan. Brutus then requested his reason. Cassius explained that his reason was that it was better for the enemy to be forced to seek their army. If the enemy had to march, he would deplete his resources, exhaust his soldiers, and harm himself, while Brutus’s army, remaining stationary, would be completely rested, prepared for defense, and agile. Brutus countered that good reasons must necessarily yield to better ones. He explained that the people located between their current camp and Philippi were only showing loyalty out of compulsion because they had reluctantly given them financial and material contributions. He continued that if the enemy marched through those populations, they would easily recruit a greater number of soldiers, arriving refreshed, newly reinforced, and encouraged. Brutus asserted that they must eliminate this potential advantage by confronting the enemy at Philippi, thereby securing those local people behind their own army. Cassius’s argument is purely rational and grounded in classical warfare: forcing the enemy into a long march leads to attrition, conserving their own strength for a decisive, rested battle. This approach is strategically sound. However, Brutus dismisses it by claiming that Cassius’s reasons are merely ‘good’ while his own are ‘better’. Brutus’s decision is rooted not in military efficiency but in a political calculation, the fear that the reluctant local populace, who have ‘grudg’d us contribution’, will join the Triumvirate if given the opportunity. This is a subtle but profound example of Brutus’s anxiety about the moral legitimacy of his cause and his overriding need to control every variable. 

 

Play
CASSIUS
Hear me, good brother—
BRUTUS
Under your pardon. You must note beside,
That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe.
The enemy increaseth every day.
We, at the height, are ready to decline.
There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves
Or lose our ventures.

Word Meanings
Under your pardon: Please forgive me for interrupting you; a polite way of silencing someone.
Note beside: You must also consider, or take into account, in addition to what has been said.
Utmost: The greatest possible degree or extent.
Legions: Large units of the Roman army, typically composed of several thousand soldiers.
Brim-full: Completely full; filled to the very edge.
Ripe: Fully developed or ready; here, referring to their military readiness and the timing of their cause.
Increaseth: Increases; grows larger in number or strength (archaic form).
Height: The peak or maximum point of their power and strength.
Decline: To decrease in number, strength, or power; to weaken.
Tide: The periodic rise and fall of the sea, often used metaphorically to mean a current, trend, or turning point.
Flood: The highest point of the tide; the opportune, maximum moment for action.
Omitted: Missed, neglected, or left undone.
Voyage: A long journey, especially by sea; used here metaphorically for the path of life or endeavor.
Bound in: Confined or restricted by.
Shallows: Areas of water that are not deep; metaphorically, a state of limited opportunity or danger.
Miseries: Conditions of great distress, unhappiness, or suffering.
Afloat: Floating on the surface of water; launched or currently active.
Ventures: Undertakings, especially those involving risk; the objectives or goals of their campaign.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Cassius started to ask Brutus to listen to him, calling him ‘good brother’. Brutus interrupted Cassius, saying that Cassius must forgive him, but he also needed to observe several points. Brutus stated that they had already tested the goodwill of all their allies to the maximum extent. He noted that their legions were completely full of soldiers and that their cause was fully developed and ready. Brutus emphasized that the enemy’s strength was increasing every day. He insisted that their own power, having reached its peak, was now on the verge of fading. Brutus then asserted that there exists a crucial moment in human endeavors , which, if seized at the moment of highest flow, leads directly toward success. He added that if this moment is missed, all the rest of their journey through life is constrained by lack of depth and misfortune. Brutus declared that they were currently sailing on such a high tide, and they absolutely had to take advantage of the favorable current when it was available, or they would completely lose all their efforts and planned outcomes. The core of this exchange is the famous ‘tide in the affairs of men’ metaphor. Brutus uses this extended analogy, rooted in the Stoic idea of seizing the kairos (the opportune moment), to elevate his strategic decision from mere tactics to an inescapable law of fortune. This metaphor brilliantly captures the sense of urgency and high-stakes risk inherent in their rebellion. For Brutus, their cause is a living entity: it has been ‘ripened’ and has reached its ‘height’, meaning any delay is tantamount to decline.

 

Play
CASSIUS
Then, with your will, go on.
We’ll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.
|BRUTUS
The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
And nature must obey necessity,
Which we will niggard with a little rest.
There is no more to say?
CASSIUS
No more. Good night.
Early tomorrow will we rise and hence.
BRUTUS
Lucius!
LUCIUS enters.
BRUTUS
My gown.
LUCIUS exits.
BRUTUS
Farewell, good Messala.—
Good night, Titinius.—Noble, noble Cassius,
Good night and good repose.
CASSIUS
O my dear brother,
This was an ill beginning of the night.
Never come such division ’tween our souls.
Let it not, Brutus.

Word Meanings
Will: Desire, intention, or personal command.
Deep of night: The late or darkest part of the night.
Crept upon: To have advanced slowly, secretly, or unexpectedly.
Nature: The essential character of a person; human need (specifically the need for rest).
Necessity: The state or fact of being required; an unavoidable need.
Niggard: To treat stingily or limit severely; to provide only a small amount of something needed.
Hence: From this time; following this.
Gown: A loose outer garment worn by men indoors; a long robe.
Good repose: Peaceful sleep or rest.
Division: A split, separation, or serious disagreement.
’tween: A contraction for “between.”
Souls: The spiritual or emotional part of a person; in this context, their inner selves or bond of friendship.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Cassius then conceded, saying that if Brutus wished it, they should proceed with his plan. Cassius affirmed they would go themselves and confront the enemy forces at Philippi. Brutus observed that the late hours of the night had arrived during their discussion, stating that human nature must submit to the need for rest, a need they would only slightly satisfy with a little sleep. He asked if there was anything left to discuss. Cassius confirmed there was nothing more to say and wished Brutus good night, adding that they would wake up early the next day and leave their camp. Brutus called for Lucius. When Lucius entered, Brutus requested his gown. Lucius then left. Brutus bid farewell to Messala and wished Titinius good night. He addressed Cassius as ‘noble’ and wished him good night and peaceful rest. Cassius responded with deep affection, calling Brutus his dear brother. He lamented that their quarrel had been a bad start to the night. He pleaded that such a disagreement and separation of their spirits should never happen again between them. Cassius subordinates his judgment to Brutus’s moral and intellectual authority, cementing Brutus’s leadership just before their doom.

 

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LUCIUS enters with the nightgown.
BRUTUS
Everything is well.
CASSIUS
Good night, my lord.
BRUTUS
Good night, good brother.
TITINIUS, MESSALA
Good night, Lord Brutus.
BRUTUS
Farewell, everyone.
CASSIUS, TITINIUS, and MESSALA exit.
BRUTUS
Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
LUCIUS
Here in the tent.
BRUTUS
What, thou speak’st drowsily?
Poor knave, I blame thee not. Thou art o’erwatched.
Call Claudio and some other of my men.
I’ll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.
LUCIUS
Varrus and Claudio!

Word Meanings
Instrument: A musical instrument, likely a small stringed one like a lute, which Lucius is often asked to play for Brutus.
Drowsily: In a sleepy or lethargic manner.
Knave: A serving boy or male servant; often used affectionately or familiarly, rather than as an insult.
O’erwatched: Exhausted from being awake too long; over-tired from keeping watch.
Cushions: Soft objects or bags of material stuffed with cotton or other filling, used for comfortable seating or lying down.
Varrus: A variation of Varro; one of Brutus’s soldiers, who is called in to sleep in the tent.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Lucius entered with Brutus’s nightgown. Brutus assured everyone that everything was now well. Cassius bid Brutus good night, addressing him as his lord. Brutus returned the farewell, calling Cassius his good brother. Titinius and Messala collectively wished Lord Brutus good night. Brutus bid farewell to everyone. Cassius, Titinius, and Messala then left the tent. Brutus asked Lucius to hand him the gown and inquired about the location of the boy’s musical instrument. Lucius replied that it was there in the tent. Brutus observed that Lucius was speaking as if he were sleepy. Brutus said he did not blame the poor young servant because he was very tired from staying awake too long. He then instructed Lucius to call Claudio and some of his other men, stating that he intended to have them sleep on cushions inside his tent. Lucius called out the names Varrus and Claudio. The interaction with Lucius immediately shifts the tone. Brutus, having dealt with the harsh necessities of war and political strategy, now exhibits genuine tenderness and paternal concern. He recognizes that the boy is over-tired and takes steps to ensure his comfort, even providing soft cushions in his own tent. This detail is crucial; it highlights Brutus’s essential goodness and humanity, the very qualities that made him join the conspiracy and contrasts sharply with the political ruthlessness he has just displayed toward Cassius. 

 

Play
VARRUS and CLAUDIO enter.
VARRUS
Calls my lord?
BRUTUS
I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep.
It may be I shall raise you by and by
On business to my brother Cassius.
VARRUS
So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.
BRUTUS
I will not have it so. Lie down, good sirs.
It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.
—Look, Lucius, here’s the book I sought for so.
I put it in the pocket of my gown.
VARRUS and CLAUDIO lie down.

Word Meanings
Pray: To request earnestly or sincerely.
Sirs: A polite, archaic form of address used to speak to men of equal or lower rank.
Raise you: To wake you up from sleep.
By and by: In a short time; soon.
So please you: If it is your will or desire; if it is agreeable to you.
Watch your pleasure: To stand guard and wait to see what you desire or command.
Bethink me: To think about or consider; to change my mind or decision.
Gown: A long, loose outer garment or robe, often worn by men indoors.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Varrus asked if his lord was calling him. Brutus asked Varrus and Claudius to lie down and sleep in his tent. He explained that it might be necessary for him to wake them shortly to deliver messages to his brother Cassius. Varrus respectfully replied that if it pleased Brutus, they would prefer to stand and stay awake to await his command. Brutus insisted that he did not want them to stand. He told them to lie down and rest, saying he might change his mind about sending them out. Brutus then directed Lucius to notice that he had found the book he had been searching for, explaining that he had placed it in the pocket of his outer robe. Varrus and Claudius then lay down on the floor. Brutus’s interaction with his servants, Varrus and Claudius, and his page, Lucius, reveals his innate consideration and kindness, contrasting sharply with the coldness he displayed toward Cassius’s corruption. His immediate desire, even after a severe quarrel and major strategic decision, is to seek comfort and solace in reading. His momentary forgetfulness about where he placed the book adds a touch of absent-minded humanity to his character, showing he is still preoccupied by the day’s immense stresses. 

 

Play
LUCIUS
I was sure your lordship did not give it me.
BRUTUS
Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful.
Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,
And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
LUCIUS
Ay, my lord, an ’t please you.
BRUTUS
It does, my boy.
I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
LUCIUS
It is my duty, sir.
BRUTUS
I should not urge thy duty past thy might.
I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
LUCIUS
I have slept, my lord, already.
BRUTUS
It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again.
I will not hold thee long. If I do live,
I will be good to thee.

Word Meanings
Bear with me: Be patient with me; tolerate my current state or error.
Canst thou: An archaic form meaning Can you.
Heavy eyes: Eyes that are droopy or weighed down with sleepiness or exhaustion.
Instrument: A musical device, likely a lute or similar stringed instrument, that Lucius plays.
Strain: A short piece or tune of music.
An ‘t please you: An archaic contraction meaning If it pleases you or If you wish.
Art: An archaic form meaning are.
Urge: To press, plead, or push someone to do something.
Duty past thy might: A task or obligation that exceeds your strength or physical ability.
Young bloods: Young people; youth, who naturally require rest.
Hold thee long: Keep you for a long time.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Lucius confirmed that he was certain his lordship had not given the book to him. Brutus asked the good boy to be patient with him, saying that he was very forgetful. He asked Lucius if he could keep his heavy, sleepy eyes open for a little while and play a short piece of music on his instrument. Lucius replied that he would, if it pleased his lord. Brutus affirmed that it did please him, adding that he was troubling Lucius too much, but that Lucius was nevertheless willing to help. Lucius stated simply that it was his duty. Brutus agreed, but stated he should not press Lucius’s duty beyond his physical capability. Brutus acknowledged that young people required time for rest. Lucius replied that he had already slept. Brutus commented that it was well done, and Lucius would sleep again soon. Brutus promised that he would not keep Lucius for long and promised that if he survived, he would be kind and generous to him. This exchange acts as a moment of psychological relief and quiet domesticity, starkly contrasting with the preceding rage and grief. It highlights the essential humanity and tenderness that Brutus possesses, underscoring his goodness even as he prepares for war. These dialogues also underscores Brutus’s isolation and introspection. He is unable to sleep due to the stress of war, loss, and the ghost he is about to see. 

 

Play
LUCIUS plays music and sings a song, then falls asleep.
BRUTUS
This is a sleepy tune. O murderous slumber,
Layst thou thy leaden mace upon my boy
That plays thee music? —Gentle knave, good night.
I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee.
If thou dost nod, thou break’st thy instrument.
I’ll take it from thee. And, good boy, good night.
—Let me see, let me see. Is not the leaf turned down
Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
The GHOST of Caesar enters.
BRUTUS
How ill this taper burns!—Ha, who comes here?
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition.
It comes upon me.—Art thou any thing?
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil
That makest my blood cold and my hair to stare?
Speak to me what thou art.
GHOST
Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
BRUTUS
Why comest thou?
GHOST
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.|
BRUTUS
Well, then I shall see thee again?
GHOST
Ay, at Philippi.
BRUTUS
Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then.
The GHOST exits.
BRUTUS
Now I have taken heart thou vanishest.
Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.
—Boy, Lucius!—Varrus!—Claudio!—Sirs, awake!
—Claudio!
LUCIUS
The strings, my lord, are false.
BRUTUS
He thinks he still is at his instrument.
Lucius, awake.
LUCIUS
My lord?
BRUTUS
Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out?
LUCIUS
My lord, I do not know that I did cry.
BRUTUS
Yes, that thou didst. Didst thou see any thing?
LUCIUS
Nothing, my lord.
BRUTUS
Sleep again, Lucius.—Sirrah Claudio!
[to VARRUS]
Fellow thou, awake!
VARRUS
My lord?
CLAUDIO
My lord?
BRUTUS
Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
VARRUS, CLAUDIO
Did we, my lord?
BRUTUS
Ay. Saw you anything?
VARRUS
No, my lord, I saw nothing.
CLAUDIO
Nor I, my lord.
BRUTUS
Go and commend me to my brother Cassius.
Bid him set on his powers betimes before,
And we will follow.
VARRUS, CLAUDIO
It shall be done, my lord.
Everyone exits in different directions.

Word Meanings
Mace: A ceremonial staff or club, often associated with authority or, in this metaphor, the crushing weight of sleep or death.
Knave: A tricky, dishonest, or unprincipled man, but here used affectionately by Brutus to mean a young male servant or boy.
Taper: A slender candle, especially one used for lighting. The dimming light is an omen.
Apparition: A ghostly figure; a phantom or specter.
Stare: To stand upright and stiffly; Brutus means his hair is standing on end from terror.
Evil Spirit: In this context, the Ghost is the embodiment of the bad moral outcome or inevitable consequence of Brutus’s action (killing Caesar).
Ill: Bad, harmful, or unfortunate.
False: In this context, out of tune or incorrectly set, referring to the musical strings.
Sirrah: A term used to address men or boys of low social status; usually expressing authority, and sometimes contempt or anger.
Betimes: Early or in good time; promptly.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus commented that the music was a sleepy tune. He addressed slumber, asking if it, like a murderer, was laying its heavy mace upon his boy who was playing the music for it. He kindly bid the young servant good night and said he would not do him the wrong of waking him. Brutus gently observed that if Lucius nodded off, he might break his musical instrument. Brutus decided to take the instrument from him and again bid the boy good night. Brutus then focused on his reading, checking to see if the page where he had stopped reading was still turned down. He thought he found the spot. The Ghost of Caesar entered. Brutus remarked how dimly the taper was burning. He exclaimed at the sight, wondering who was there. Brutus thought that it was his weak eyesight that was creating the horrible apparition. He noted that it was coming toward him and asked if the figure was a real object. Brutus then asked if it was some god, some angel, or some devil that was making his blood feel cold and causing his hair to stand on end. He commanded the figure to speak and reveal what it was. The Ghost replied that it was Brutus’s evil spirit. Brutus asked why it had come. The Ghost replied that it had come to tell Brutus that he would see the Ghost at Philippi. Brutus calmly asked if that meant he would see the Ghost again. The Ghost confirmed that he would see him again at Philippi. Brutus then stated that he would see the Ghost at Philippi. The Ghost exited. Brutus noted that now that he had regained his courage, the Ghost vanished. He commented that he wished he could have talked more with the ill spirit. Brutus then called to his sleeping servants: Lucius, Varrus, and Claudio, telling the men to wake up. Lucius stirred and mumbled that his instrument’s strings were out of tune. Brutus realized that Lucius was still dreaming about his instrument. He called Lucius to fully wake up. Lucius answered, calling Brutus ‘My lord’. Brutus asked if Lucius had been dreaming that he cried out. Lucius said he did not recall crying out. Brutus affirmed that he did cry out, and asked if he had seen anything. Lucius replied that he had seen nothing. Brutus told Lucius to go back to sleep. He called out to Claudio, and addressed Varrus, telling the man to wake up. Varrus and Claudio both answered. Brutus asked them why they had cried out in their sleep. They both questioned if they had cried out. Brutus confirmed they had and asked if they had seen anything. Both Varrus and Claudio confirmed that they had seen nothing. Brutus commanded them to go and give his regards to Cassius. He instructed them to tell Cassius to advance his forces betimes (early) before them, and that Brutus’s forces would follow. Varrus and Claudio both agreed to carry out the orders.

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Conclusion 

In Act 4, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the scene starts in Brutus’s tent. Brutus and Cassius argue about corruption and money, showing their personal issues with each other. During this argument, Cassius learns that Portia has died. After this news, Brutus and Cassius reconcile. Then, the Ghost of Caesar appears, warning Brutus about his fate at the battle of Philippi. Students can take help from this post to understand Act 4, Scene 3 and also learn the difficult word meanings to get a better grasp of Julius Caesar. This post includes a summary of Julius Caesar, which will help students of ICSE class 10, to get a quick recap of the play.

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