David Bruce

William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" David Bruce

I would like to see my retellings of classic literature used in schools, so I give permission to the country of Finland (and all other countries) to buy one copy of this eBook and give copies to all students forever. I also give permission to the state of Texas (and all other states) to buy one copy of this eBook and give copies to all students forever. I also give permission to all teachers to buy one copy of this eBook and give copies to all students forever. Teachers need not actually teach my retellings. Teachers are welcome to give students copies of my eBooks as background material. For example, if they are teaching Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, teachers are welcome to give students copies of my Virgil's Aeneid: A Retelling in Prose and tell students, "Here's another ancient epic you may want to read in your spare time."For hundreds of years, the Romans had a republic rather than a kingdom. Many influential Romans, however, were afraid that Julius Caesar wanted to be King of the Romans, and they were determined to stop him. Shakespeare's play tells what happened to Caesar and to those people who conspired against him. An Excerpt- 1.2 - In a public place in Rome were standing Julius Caesar, Calpurnia (Caesar's wife), Brutus, Portia (Brutus' wife), Mark Antony, Decius Brutus, Cicero, Caius Cassius, and Casca. A great crowd of people, among them a soothsayer (fortune teller), were around them. Trumpets occasionally sounded. Marullus and Flavius now came walking up to the group of people; they had arrived too late to keep the commoners from gathering around Caesar. Caesar said, "Calpurnia!"Casca ordered, "Everyone, be quiet. Caesar is speaking."Caesar said again, "Calpurnia!"Calpurnia replied, "Here I am, my lord.""Mark Antony will be one of the young men running naked through the streets and touching spectators with leather thongs to celebrate the Feast of Lupercal," Caesar said, "Make sure that you stand directly in Mark Antony's way when he runs."He then called, "Antony!""Yes, my lord.""Do not forget when you are running naked through the streets to touch Calpurnia because our wise men say that barren women, when touched in this holy chase, will be cured of the curse of sterility.""I shall remember to do so," Antony replied. "When Caesar says, 'Do this, ' it will be done.""Let us proceed," Caesar said. "We will observe all the rites."The soothsayer in the crowd called, "Caesar!""Who is calling me?" Caesar asked. Casca ordered, "Let all noise stop. Again, be quiet!""Who in the press of people is calling my name? I hear a voice, shriller than all the music, crying, 'Caesar!' Speak to me. Caesar is ready to listen to you."The soothsayer called, "Beware the Ides of March - beware March 15.""Which man is saying that?" Caesar asked. One of Caesar's friends, Brutus, replied, "A soothsayer tells you to beware the Ides of March.""Set him before me; let me see his face.""Soothsayer, come from the crowd," Cassius said. "Look at Caesar.""What have you to say to me now?" Caesar asked. "Speak once again.""Beware the Ides of March.""He is a dreamer," Caesar said. "Let us leave him. Let us pass him."