Julius Caesar

by: William Shakespeare

Act 3 Scene 1

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Original Text	Modern Text
CAESAR 60What, Brutus?	CAESAR What, even you, Brutus?
CASSIUS (kneeling) Pardon, Caesar. Caesar, pardon. As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.	CASSIUS (kneeling) Pardon him, Caesar, pardon him. I fall to your feet to beg you to restore Publius Cimber to citizenship.
CAESAR I could be well moved if I were as you. If I could pray to move, prayers would move me. 65But I am constant as the northern star, Of whose true-fixed and resting quality There is no fellow in the firmament. The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks. They are all fire and every one doth shine, 70But there’s but one in all doth hold his place. So in the world. 'Tis furnished well with men, And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive, Yet in the number I do know but one That unassailable holds on his rank, 75Unshaked of motion. And that I am he Let me a little show it even in this: That I was constant Cimber should be banished, And constant do remain to keep him so.	CAESAR I could be convinced if I were like you. If I could beg others to change their minds, begging would convince me, too. But I’m as immovable as the northern star, whose stable and stationary quality has no equal in the sky. The sky shows countless stars. They’re all made of fire, and each one shines. But only one among all of them remains in a fixed position. So it is on earth. The world is full of men, and men are flesh and blood, and they are capable of reason. Yet out of all of them, I know only one who is unassailable, who never moves from his position. To show you that that’s me, let me prove it a little even in this case. I was firm in ordering that Cimber be banished, and I remain firm in that decision.
CINNA (kneeling) O Caesar—	CINNA (kneeling) Oh, Caesar—
CAESAR 80Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?	CAESAR Enough! Would you try to lift Mount Olympus?
DECIUS (kneeling) Great Caesar—	DECIUS (kneeling) Great Caesar—
CAESAR Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?	CAESAR Haven’t I resisted even Brutus, begging from his knees?
CASCA Speak, hands, for me!	CASCA Hands, speak for me!

Read the Summary of Act III, scene i

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