Glossary
Julius Caesar Glossary
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you (page 4).
Bear.... over: behave too stiffly and aloofly towards
strange: unfriendly, cold in demeanor (4).
if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself (4).
“If I have been reserved to you it is to keep my anxieties to myself.”
BRUTUS
No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself,
But by reflection, by some other things.
CASSIUS
'Tis just:
And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you have no such mirrors as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
That you might see your shadow. (4).
Elizabethan literature presented the idea that you could only see yourself by reflection of others.
worthiness- excellence
shadow- reflected image
Yet if my name were liable to fear, (6)
“If, being named Caesar, I could fear”
CASSIUS
No, Caesar hath it not; but you and I,
And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness. (8)
Falling sickness- Caesar’s affliction is made up by Shakespeare. Cassius means that he, Brutus and Casca are falling politically.
CASSIUS
I will do so: till then, think of the world. (9)
The world- the way things are going
Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,
Thy honourable metal may be wrought
From that it is disposed: (9)
Cassius plays on the Elizabethan alchemical idea that noble metal (gold, silver) cannot be changed into anything inferior. Cassius makes it so that Brutus is the exception to this rule, mettle often unites the sense of “substance (metal)” and “temperament”.
For who so firm that cannot be seduced? (9)
Brutus could be seduced by either Cassius or Caesar.
Have rived the knotty oaks. (10)
rived- split
When these prodigies (10).
prodigies- omens, tokens
Can be retentive to (12).
captive to
That is no fleering tell‐tale.
Hold, my hand:
Be factious for redress of all these griefs,
And I will set this foot of mine as far
As who goes farthest (12).
Fleering- sneering, gibing
Hold, my hand- enough said; I offer my hand
Be factious... griefs- form a faction, party, to redirect these grievances
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. (14)
spurn at- kick against
the general- common weal, public good
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend. (14)
Base degrees- (1) lower rungs, (2) ignoble ranks, (3) humble folk
Would run to these and these extremities: (14).
extremities- (1) conclusions, (2) severities
The Genius and the mortal instruments
Are then in council; and the state of man,
Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
The nature of an insurrection (15).
This passage is the subject of some debate.
From the Oxford Edition: “the ruling or guardian spirit which conceives action (genius), and the human functions, mental and physical, which effect action (mortal instruments), interact so disturbedly that the human frame is shaken as with civil war.”
According to Plato, the ruling element of the human psyche was reason, the soul’s only immortal part.
State of man- human realm
Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door (15).
Brother-in-law; Cassius had married Brutus’ sister, Junia.
A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means,
If he improve them, may well stretch so far
As to annoy us all: which to prevent, (17).
shrewd contriver- (1) astute and able strategist (b) dangerous schemer
improve- make the most of
annoy- harm, hurt
Cato's daughter (20).
Cato, Marcus Porcius Cato, was a general known for his integrity. He was an ally of Pompey and an antagonist of Caesar, when he faced defeat he took his own life.
CAESAR
Go bid the priests do present sacrifice
And bring me their opinions of success (21).
do present sacrifice- Caesar wants the priests to look for omens (whether good or bad) in the entrails of sacrificed animals.
Success- the result; good or bad
CALPURNIA
When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes (22).
In popular belief, heavenly bodies (such as stars) symbolized lofty rank and so their falling marked the death of great ones.
Blaze- (a) flame (b) proclaim
For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance (24).
Tinctures... relics- sacred tokens stained with the blood of martyrs
Cognizance- emblems worn by a lord’s retainers
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
But I am constant as the northern star (27).
Caesar elevates himself above the gods, as prayers are made to them.
Et tu, Brute? (27).
“Even thou, Brutus?” (Note the intimate pronoun.)
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, (29).
In the 1590s, it became fashionable for poets to describe blood as “purple”. Purple was also the color most frequently associated with higher classes, as well as a color of mourning.
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war; (31).
Ate- Greek goddess of discord.
confines- regions
Havoc- to kill without mercy
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my
cause, and be silent, that you may hear: (32).
lovers- dear friends
cause- (1) position I advocate, (2) business, (3) case at hand (as in a lawful matter), (4) grounds for action
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm;
To sell and mart your offices for gold (40).
condemned to have- “blamed for having”.
mart- traffic in
Brutus, bay not me;
....
To make conditions (41).
bay- bait
to make conditions- arrange matters
When that rash humour which my mother gave me (43).
rash humor- quick temper
How ill this taper burns! (46).
Lamplight was believed to dim, flicker or turn blue when a spirit was present.
That makest my blood cold and my hair to stare? (46).
Stare- stand on end
Bid him set on his powers betimes before (47).
To bid his troops advance without delay.
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless (49).
Hybla- a district in Sicily famous for honey
This ensign here of mine was turning back; (51).
Ensign- a flag or standard bearer
That ran through Caesar's bowels, search this bosom.
Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts; (52).
Search- probe; as in “to stab”
Hilts- “the hilt” was actually made up of several parts, so the word will often be seen plural like this.
All that served Brutus, I will entertain them (59).
Entertain them- take them into my service
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world 'This was a man!' (59).
The elements... a man- The elements were air, earth, water and fire. They entered the body in order to create the humors: blood, choler, melancholy and phelgm. The humors made up the body’s temperament and too much of one could cause unrest or unbalance in the mind. Antony proclaims that they were perfectly balanced in Brutus.
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you (page 4).
Bear.... over: behave too stiffly and aloofly towards
strange: unfriendly, cold in demeanor (4).
if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself (4).
“If I have been reserved to you it is to keep my anxieties to myself.”
BRUTUS
No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself,
But by reflection, by some other things.
CASSIUS
'Tis just:
And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you have no such mirrors as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
That you might see your shadow. (4).
Elizabethan literature presented the idea that you could only see yourself by reflection of others.
worthiness- excellence
shadow- reflected image
Yet if my name were liable to fear, (6)
“If, being named Caesar, I could fear”
CASSIUS
No, Caesar hath it not; but you and I,
And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness. (8)
Falling sickness- Caesar’s affliction is made up by Shakespeare. Cassius means that he, Brutus and Casca are falling politically.
CASSIUS
I will do so: till then, think of the world. (9)
The world- the way things are going
Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,
Thy honourable metal may be wrought
From that it is disposed: (9)
Cassius plays on the Elizabethan alchemical idea that noble metal (gold, silver) cannot be changed into anything inferior. Cassius makes it so that Brutus is the exception to this rule, mettle often unites the sense of “substance (metal)” and “temperament”.
For who so firm that cannot be seduced? (9)
Brutus could be seduced by either Cassius or Caesar.
Have rived the knotty oaks. (10)
rived- split
When these prodigies (10).
prodigies- omens, tokens
Can be retentive to (12).
captive to
That is no fleering tell‐tale.
Hold, my hand:
Be factious for redress of all these griefs,
And I will set this foot of mine as far
As who goes farthest (12).
Fleering- sneering, gibing
Hold, my hand- enough said; I offer my hand
Be factious... griefs- form a faction, party, to redirect these grievances
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. (14)
spurn at- kick against
the general- common weal, public good
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend. (14)
Base degrees- (1) lower rungs, (2) ignoble ranks, (3) humble folk
Would run to these and these extremities: (14).
extremities- (1) conclusions, (2) severities
The Genius and the mortal instruments
Are then in council; and the state of man,
Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
The nature of an insurrection (15).
This passage is the subject of some debate.
From the Oxford Edition: “the ruling or guardian spirit which conceives action (genius), and the human functions, mental and physical, which effect action (mortal instruments), interact so disturbedly that the human frame is shaken as with civil war.”
According to Plato, the ruling element of the human psyche was reason, the soul’s only immortal part.
State of man- human realm
Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door (15).
Brother-in-law; Cassius had married Brutus’ sister, Junia.
A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means,
If he improve them, may well stretch so far
As to annoy us all: which to prevent, (17).
shrewd contriver- (1) astute and able strategist (b) dangerous schemer
improve- make the most of
annoy- harm, hurt
Cato's daughter (20).
Cato, Marcus Porcius Cato, was a general known for his integrity. He was an ally of Pompey and an antagonist of Caesar, when he faced defeat he took his own life.
CAESAR
Go bid the priests do present sacrifice
And bring me their opinions of success (21).
do present sacrifice- Caesar wants the priests to look for omens (whether good or bad) in the entrails of sacrificed animals.
Success- the result; good or bad
CALPURNIA
When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes (22).
In popular belief, heavenly bodies (such as stars) symbolized lofty rank and so their falling marked the death of great ones.
Blaze- (a) flame (b) proclaim
For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance (24).
Tinctures... relics- sacred tokens stained with the blood of martyrs
Cognizance- emblems worn by a lord’s retainers
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
But I am constant as the northern star (27).
Caesar elevates himself above the gods, as prayers are made to them.
Et tu, Brute? (27).
“Even thou, Brutus?” (Note the intimate pronoun.)
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, (29).
In the 1590s, it became fashionable for poets to describe blood as “purple”. Purple was also the color most frequently associated with higher classes, as well as a color of mourning.
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war; (31).
Ate- Greek goddess of discord.
confines- regions
Havoc- to kill without mercy
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my
cause, and be silent, that you may hear: (32).
lovers- dear friends
cause- (1) position I advocate, (2) business, (3) case at hand (as in a lawful matter), (4) grounds for action
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm;
To sell and mart your offices for gold (40).
condemned to have- “blamed for having”.
mart- traffic in
Brutus, bay not me;
....
To make conditions (41).
bay- bait
to make conditions- arrange matters
When that rash humour which my mother gave me (43).
rash humor- quick temper
How ill this taper burns! (46).
Lamplight was believed to dim, flicker or turn blue when a spirit was present.
That makest my blood cold and my hair to stare? (46).
Stare- stand on end
Bid him set on his powers betimes before (47).
To bid his troops advance without delay.
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless (49).
Hybla- a district in Sicily famous for honey
This ensign here of mine was turning back; (51).
Ensign- a flag or standard bearer
That ran through Caesar's bowels, search this bosom.
Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts; (52).
Search- probe; as in “to stab”
Hilts- “the hilt” was actually made up of several parts, so the word will often be seen plural like this.
All that served Brutus, I will entertain them (59).
Entertain them- take them into my service
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world 'This was a man!' (59).
The elements... a man- The elements were air, earth, water and fire. They entered the body in order to create the humors: blood, choler, melancholy and phelgm. The humors made up the body’s temperament and too much of one could cause unrest or unbalance in the mind. Antony proclaims that they were perfectly balanced in Brutus.