What do the conspirators fear

Attending a race in celebration of the Roman Holiday Lupercalia, Caesar asks his friend Marc Antony to touch his wife Calphurnia as he runs by in the race. Caesar ignores him and continues on to the festival. Two senators, Cassius and Brutus, stay behind, discussing how they fear that Caesar wants to rule Rome single-handedly. They hear cheers, and fear the populace is cheering in support of Caesar as their king.

Brutus admits to having a similar plan in mind. Casca, another Roman senator, joins them and reports that Caesar was indeed offered a crown three times, but declined it each time. Cassius instructs Cinna, a fellow conspirator, to leave the forged letters for Brutus. The letter asks Brutus to take leadership for the people of Rome. Brutus agrees that Caesar must die, but convinces the others that to kill Antony would prove them nothing more than bloodthirsty savages.

Decius volunteers to make sure that Caesar shows up. If he do break the smallest particle. Of any promise that hath passed from him. But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? I think he will stand very strong with us. Let us not leave him out. No, by no means. O, let us have him, for his silver hairs.

Will purchase us a good opinion,. And buy men's voices to commend our deeds. It shall be said his judgment ruled our hands. Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear,. But all be buried in his gravity.

O, name him not. Let us not break with him,. For he will never follow anything. That other men begin. Then leave him out. Indeed he is not fit. Shall no man else be touched but only Caesar? Decius, well urged. I think it is not meet ,. Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar,. Should outlive Caesar. We shall find of him.

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,. Let Antony and Caesar fall together. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,. To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,. Like wrath in death and envy afterwards;. For Antony is but a limb of Caesar. Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.

We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar,. And in the spirit of men there is no blood. O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,. And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,. Caesar must bleed for it. And, gentle friends,. Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully ;.

Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,. Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds. And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,. Stir up their servants to an act of rage,. And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make. Our purpose necessary, and not envious ;. Which so appearing to the common eyes,. We shall be called purgers, not murderers. And for Mark Antony, think not of him,. For he can do no more than Caesar's arm. When Caesar's head is off.

Yet I fear him,. For in the engrafted love he bears to Caesar —. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him:. If he love Caesar, all that he can do. Is to himself — take thought and die for Caesar.

And that were much he should , for he is given. To sports, to wildness, and much company. There is no fear in him.

Let him not die,. For he will live and laugh at this hereafter. Count the clock. The clock hath stricken three. But it is doubtful yet,. Whether Caesar will come forth today or no,. For he is superstitious grown of late,. Quite from the main opinion he held once. Of fantasy , of dreams, and ceremonies. It may be these apparent prodigies ,. The unaccustomed terror of this night,. And the persuasion of his augurers ,.

May hold him from the Capitol today. Never fear that. If he be so resolved,. I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear. That unicorns may be betrayed with trees,. And bears with glasses , elephants with holes,.

Lions with toils , and men with flatterers. But when I tell him he hates flatterers,. Let me work,. For I can give his humor the true bent ,. And I will bring him to the Capitol. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. By the eighth hour. Is that the uttermost? Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.

Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard,. Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey. I wonder none of you have thought of him. Now, good Metellus, go along by him. He loves me well, and I have given him reasons. Send him but hither , and I'll fashion him. The morning comes upon us.

We'll leave you, Brutus. And, friends, disperse yourselves; but all remember. What you have said, and show yourselves true Romans. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily. Let not our looks put on our purposes,. But bear it as our Roman actors do,. With untired spirits and formal constancy. And so good morrow to you every one. Fast asleep? It is no matter. Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber.

Thou hast no figures , nor no fantasies,. Which busy care draws in the brains of men;. Therefore thou sleep'st so sound. Brutus, my lord! What mean you? Wherefore rise you now? It is not for your health thus to commit. Your weak condition to the raw cold morning. Nor for yours neither. You've ungently , Brutus,. Stole from my bed; and yesternight at supper. You suddenly arose, and walked about,.

Musing, and sighing, with your arms across. And when I asked you what the matter was,. You stared upon me with ungentle looks. I urged you further; then you scratched your head,. And too impatiently stamped with your foot.

Yet I insisted, yet you answered not,. But with an angry wafture of your hand. Gave sign for me to leave you. So I did,. Fearing to strengthen that impatience. Which seemed too much enkindled, and withal. Hoping it was but an effect of humor ,. Which sometime hath his hour with every man. Brutus is the one who sends Decius to speak to Caesar at the end of the scene, and it is he who speaks the final words to the conspirators as they depart.

So, too, does Brutus overrule Cassius when he suggests that they assassinate Antony along with Caesar. It is a rather ironic proposition from Brutus, who has declared loyalty and friendship to Caesar and now casts those commitments aside. Yet, although Brutus appears completely determined in his interactions with the conspirators, his inability to confess his thoughts to Portia signifies that he still harbors traces of doubt regarding the legitimacy of his plan.

Ace your assignments with our guide to Julius Caesar! SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. What are Flavius and Murellus angry about at the beginning of the play? How does Cassius die? Was assassinating Caesar the right decision? Why does Cassius hate Caesar? What is the significance of the comet? Why does Caesar refuse the crown when Antony offers it to him? What happens to Murellus and Flavius? Why does Antony shake hands with the conspirators?

What happens to Portia? How are Octavius and Caesar related? Why does Brutus refuse to swear an oath?