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Julius Caesar

~Narrator1Narrator2Narrator3SoothsayerAtremidorus

BrutusCaesarCassisusCilpurniaCrowd

Scene One: The streets of Rome

Narrator 1: Not all people of Rome rejoiced in Caesar's triumphs. Some were jealous of hisposition and popularity and some were afraid that he was now so powerful that he might makehimself dictator of Rome instead of remaining its elected leader. For then Rome's preciousfreedom would be lost.

Narrator 2: But today the crowds were not in a mood to listen to warning speeches. They mockedthe worriers and waited happily for the ceremonialprocession to arrive.

Narrator 3: At last it came--priests, musiciansand all the most famous figures in Rome. Therewas mighty Caesar himself with his wife Calpurnia and as always, at his right hand, the handsomeyoung general, Mark Antony.

Narrator 1: The procession moved onwards though the cheering crowds. A voice called:

Soothsayer: Caesar!

Caesar: Who calls? Speak, I am listening.

Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March. Beware the ides of March!

Narrator 2: In the Roman calendar, the fifteenth day of March was called the "ides" and thewarning voice was that of a soothsayer, an old fortune teller.

Caesar: He is a dreamer; let us leave him.

Narrator 3: And the procession moved on towards the Capitol.

Narrator 1: But two men did not go forward with it. Brutus, best loved and most respected of allthe Senators of Rome, was "ina thoughtful mood; and Cassius, another leading Senator, stayedbehind to talk to him.

Narrator 2: Serio~s-looking, hot tempered Cassius was one of Rome's finest generals. He wasalso leader of those who feared Caesar's desire for power and felt it must be curbed. He wantedBrutus to join them, knowing that if he did, many Romans would follow his lead.

Brutus: Yes Cassius, I do fear the people choose Caesar for their king.

Cassius: Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you do not want it?

Brutus: I do not, Cassius, yet I love him well.

Namtor 3: He did sincerely love and admire Caesar but was disturbed by his growing personalpower. Would Caesar really become a dictator he wondered? Was Roman freedom really indanger?

Scene Two: Brutus' house

Narrator 1: Brotus had spent a sleepless night. He had read and re-read letters and pleas from thefriends of Cassius. He also learned that on the "ides" of March the Senate would officially offer acrown to Caesar.

Brotus: That would be the end of the Roman republic and of freedom and equality.

Narrator 2: There was only one way. Caesar, his beloved friend, must die so that Rome could besaved. .

Scene Three: The streets of Rome

Narrator 3: And so, when Cassius and the conspirators anived at daybreak, Brotus was ready tolead them.

Narrator 1: The conspirators eagerly accepted his leadership. But was it enough, they asked, tokill only Caesar? Would they not, at the same time, deal with some of those closest to Caesar?

Cassius: Mark Antony may be dangerous. Let Antony and Caesar fall together.

Brotus: No, our course will seem too bloody. Let us be sacrificers, not butchers. Let Antonylive.

Narrator 2: It was agreed that only Caesar should be killed and a pIan was worked out in detail.At the Capitol, they would all gather around Caesar in discussion. Then, each would in turn stabhim with a dagger so that each would bear an equal responsibility for his death.

Narrator 3: It was nearly eight o'clock. Cassisus suspected that Caesar might not want to go tothe Capitol because of the omens which were against him going. There was a storm the nightbefore and his wife Calpurnia, had a fearful nightmare in which she had seen her husband lyingdead while smiling Romans dipped their hands in his blood.

Scene Four: Caesar's home

Calpurnia: Please Caesar, do not go! Blame it on my fears or tell them that you are not well. Useany excuse but please do not go!

Caesar: Give me my robe, for I will go.

Scene Five: Back to the streetsof Rome

Narrator 1: Crowds again lined the streets as Caesarand his companions passed on their wayto

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the Capitol

Narrator2: AmongthemwasArtemidoros,a truefriendof Caesarwhosuspectedtheplotand hadwrittenouta fullwarningwhichhe wantedto presentto Caesarin the formof a petition.

Narrator3: Alsoin the aowd wasthe old soothsayerwhohadwarnedCa~ to---

Soothsayer:Bewarethe idesof March.

Narrator 3: Caesar recognized her unmediately.

Caesar: The ides of March are come.

Soothsayer: Ay, Caesar, but not gone.

Narrator 1: Artemidorus tried to get his so called petition into Caesar's bands before it was toolate.

Artemidoros: Read it great Caesar. Delay not, Caesar. Read it instantly.

Caesar: What! Is this fellow mad? Pushing your petitions here in the street? Come to the Capitol.

Narrator 2: And the warning remained unread.

Narrator 3: In the Capitol, the Senators were waiting. Slowly Caesar and his companionsmounted the steps. Cassisusjoined the other conspirators as they gathered closer.

Narrator 1: The group drew near.

Narrator 2: The moment had come.

Narrator 3: It was Casca who struck the first blow.

Narrator 1: Then each in turn plunged his dagger. Brotus was the last, and it was him, his mosttrusted friend, honest, beloved Brotus, that Caesar's last words were spoken.

Caesar: You too, Brotus? Then fall, Caesar!

NatTator2: There was panic in the streets. The news spread quickly.

Crowd: Ca~ is dead, murdered!

Narrator 3: The Senators were wOITiedthat they might be killed too.

Narrator 1: Brotus immediately proclaimed that there was no danger.

Brotus: This is not a bloody revolution. Do not worry. No other man is threatened. Only oneman was a danger to Rome because of his personal ambition. That man is dead and the danger isover.

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Name' .

Language Arts 6-,Date

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Interesting Questions About' Julius Caesar

1. Why (:lid~ru:tUsand Cassius decide to kill Julius Caesar? '

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2.' What is a "soothsayer"?

3. Define "the ides of March". '

4. What were some of the' signs that warned Caesar not to attend the

Capitol?

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5. What is a conspirator? ,

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6'. Who are the conspirators in Julius Caesar?

7. How did Artemidorus try to warn Caesar?

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Student Name

Et tu, Brute?

Julius Caesar was warned "Beware the Ides (fifteenth)of March," but he paid no attention. On thisdate he was stabbed twenty-three times and died. The leade.r of the plot was his loyal friendBrutus. As he died, Caesar may have uttered, "Et tu, Brute?" (and you, Brutus)..Write a letter telling Julius Caesar about the plot to killhim. Remember-he was warned anddidn't believe it!Youmust convincehim withoutlettinghimthinkyou are involved.

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Creative Teaching Press Theme Series-Ancient Rome.