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Home : Julius Caesar : Act 2, scene 2 : page 82 Read the Study Guide: Julius Caesar
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Julius Caesar
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45 That Caesar is more dangerous than he.
  We are two lions littered in one day,
  And I the elder and more terrible.
  And Caesar shall go forth.
Danger knows that Caesar is more dangerous than he is. We're two lions born on the same day in the same litter, and I'm the older and more terrible. I will go out.
 CALPHURNIA
                                  Alas, my lord,
  Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
50 Do not go forth today. Call it my fear
  That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
  We'll send Mark Antony to the senate house,
  And he shall say you are not well today.
  (kneels) Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
CALPHURNIA
Alas, my lord, your confidence is getting the better of your wisdom. Don't go out today. Say that it's my fear that keeps you inside and not your own. We'll send Mark Antony to the senate house, and he'll say that you're sick today. (she kneels) Let me, on my knees, win you over to this plan.
 CAESAR
55 Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
  And for thy humor I will stay at home.
CAESAR
All right. Mark Antony will say I'm not well, and to please you I'll stay at home.
CALPHURNIA rises
CALPHURNIA gets up.
Enter DECIUS
DECIUS enters.
  Here's Decius Brutus. He shall tell them so.
Here's Decius Brutus. He'll tell them so.
 DECIUS
  Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar.
  I come to fetch you to the senate house.
DECIUS
Hail, Caesar! Good morning, worthy Caesar. I've come to take you to the senate house.
 CAESAR
60 And you are come in very happy time
  To bear my greeting to the senators
  And tell them that I will not come today.
  “Cannot” is false, and that I dare not, falser.
  I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius.
CAESAR
And you've come at a good time, so you can convey my greetings to the senators and tell them I won't come today. It wouldn't be true to say that I can't come, and even less true to say that I don't dare come. I simply won't come today. Tell them so, Decius.
 CALPHURNIA
65 Say he is sick.
CALPHURNIA
Say he's sick.
 CAESAR
                          Shall Caesar send a lie?
  Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far
  To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?
CAESAR
Would I send a lie? Have I accomplished so much in battle, but now I'm afraid to tell some old men the truth?

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