Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once.

high-sighted tyranny

Get you to bed again, it is not day. Is not tomorrow, boy, the Ides of March?

It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, And that craves wary walking

Cassius PerformanceLines 103-115[Click to launch video.]And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? Poor man, I know he would not be a wolf, But that he sees the Romans are but sheep.

You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life That should be in a Roman you do want, Or else you use not. You look pale, and gaze, And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder, To see the strange impatience of the heavens. But if you would consider the true cause Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, Why birds and beasts from quality and kind, Why old men fools, and children calculate, CassiusYou're ignorant, Casca, and you don't have the intelligence that a Roman should have, or else you don't use it. You look pale, gaze around, exhibit fear, and show your amazement to see this strange impatient of heaven. But if you would think about the true cause of all these fires, all these gliding ghosts, all these birds and beasts acting unnaturally, all these old men, fools, and children who suddenly can foretell the future—why the natures and abilities of all these things have changed from their ordinary state to something extraordinary, you'll find that heaven has changed the character of these things to make them into instruments of fear, and warnings of some wicked state on earth. Now, Casca, I could name a man who is very much like this frightening night, a man who thunders, zaps, opens graves, and roars like the lion in the Capitol, a man no mightier than your or me in his personal actions, but a man who has grown to be threatening and feared, like these strange outbursts of nature.Why all these things change from their ordinance, Their natures and performèd faculties, To monstrous quality — why, you shall find That heaven hath infused them with these spirits To make them instruments of fear and warning Unto some monstrous state. Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man Most like this dreadful night, That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars As doth the lion in the Capitol —  A man no mightier than thyself or me In personal action, yet prodigious grown And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.

I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat.Language"you tyrants do defeat"Shakespeare often places the direct or indirect object of a sentence in front of the verb. Here, when Cassius says, “Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat”, he means, “In this way, you gods defeat tyrants.”  Language"you tyrants do defeat" Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, CassiusIf that comes to pass, I know where I will stick this dagger. I'll deliver myself from bondage. In this way, you gods, you make the weak into the strongest. In this way, gods, tyrants are defeated. No tower of stone or brass walls or airless dungeon or strong iron chains can restrain the strength of spirit. Life, tired of these constraints, always has the power to end itself. If I know this, let the whole world know it too. I can shake off the tyranny that weighs on me whenever I desire.[Thunder still]CascaSo can I. Every slave carries the power to end his captivity in his own hands.Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world besides, That part of tyranny that I do bear I can shake off at pleasure.

A common slave — you know him well by sight —  Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn Like twenty torches joined, and yet his hand, Not sensible of fire, remained unscorched.

Brutus What means this shouting? I do fear the people Choose Caesar for their king. Cassius                                                  Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so. Brutus I would not, Cassius, yet I love him well. CassiusAre you afraid of that? Then I assume you wouldn't want it to happen.BrutusI would not, Cassius, although I like Caesar very much. But why have you kept me here for so long? What is it you want to tell me? If general welfare of Rome is at stake, I would as soon lose my life as my honor. Let the gods assist me as I love my honorable name more than I fear death.But wherefore do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good, Set honor in one eye and death i' th’  other, And I will look on both indifferently. For let the gods so speed me, as I love The name of honor more than I fear death. Cassius PerformanceLines 90-131[Click to launch video.]I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favor. Well, honor is the subject of my story. I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life; but for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself. CassiusBrutus, I know that you have honor inside you as well as I know your face. Well, honor is what I want to talk to you about. I don't know what you and other men think, but as for me, I'd rather be dead than be forced to live in awe of a leader who's just another man like myself. I was born just as free as Caesar, and so were you. We have had as healthy a diet, and can endure the cold as well as he can. Once, on a really blustery day, when the Tiber river was almost flowing over its banks, Caesar asked me "Do you dare, Cassius, to leap into the rough high waters with me and swim to that point over there?" As soon as he said it, I dove in with all my clothes on, and signaled for him to follow me, which he did. I was born free as Caesar, so were you; We both have fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter's cold as well as he. For once upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, Caesar said to me ‘Dar'st thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plungèd in And bade him follow; so indeed he did. The torrent roared, and we did buffet it With lusty sinews, throwing it aside, And stemming it with hearts of controversy.

Soothsayer Beware the Ides of March. Caesar SoothsayerCaesar!CaesarHey! Who calls?CascaEveryone, be still. Be quiet yet again!CaesarWho's calling me from the crowd? I hear some voice that's more shrill than any music calling "Caesar!" Speak. Caesar is ready to hear you.SoothsayerBeware the 15th of March.CaesarWho is talking?BrutusA soothsayer is telling you to beware the 15th of March.CaesarBring him before me. Let me see his face.CassiusCome out of the crowd, fellow. Look at Caesar.CaesarWhat are you going to say to me now? Speak once again.SoothsayerBeware the 15th of March.CaesarJust some dreamer. Let's leave him. Proceed on.[Flourish. Exeunt all except Brutus and Cassius]                                              What man is that? Brutus A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. Caesar Set him before me. Let me see his face. Cassius Fellow, come from the throng. Look upon Caesar. Caesar What sayst thou to me now? Speak once again. Soothsayer Beware the Ides of March. Caesar He is a dreamer.  Let us leave him.  Pass. [Trumpets sound. All exit except Brutus and Cassius.]

Brutus No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself, But by reflection, by some other things. Cassius 'Tis just; BrutusNo, Cassius, since eyes can't see themselves except in reflections from other things.CassiusThat's very true. And everyone thinks it's really too bad, Brutus, that you have no mirror that would allow you to see your own worthiness with your eyes. I've heard many of the most respected men in Rome—not including that immortal Caesar—talk about you, and bemoaning the oppressive times we're living in, and wished you could have their eyes to see your own greatness. BrutusWhat kind of political danger are you leading me into, Cassius? Why do you want me to search inside myself for something that isn't there? 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. I have heard, Where many of the best respect in Rome — Except immortal Caesar — speaking of Brutus, And groaning underneath this age's yoke,Word Nerd"yoke"[Click to launch video] Have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes.

It is no matter.  Let no images Be hung with Caesar's trophies. I'll about, And drive away the vulgar from the streets. So do you too, where you perceive them thick.