Original Text
*A street near the Capitol. Enter Artemidorus, reading a paper.*
ARTEMIDORUS.
"Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not
near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark
well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou
hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all
these men, and it is bent against Caesar. If thou be'st not
immortal, look about you. Security gives way to conspiracy.
The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover, Artemidorus."
Here will I stand till Caesar pass along,
And as a suitor will I give him this.
My heart laments that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of emulation.
If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayst live;
If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.
*Exit.*
Modern English
*A street near the Capitol. Artemidorus enters, reading a letter he has written.*
ARTEMIDORUS.
"Caesar, watch out for Brutus. Be careful of Cassius. Stay away
from Casca. Keep an eye on Cinna. Don't trust Trebonius. Pay
close attention to Metellus Cimber. Decius Brutus is no friend of yours.
You've wronged Caius Ligarius. Every one of these men
shares a single purpose, and it is aimed against Caesar. If you're not
immortal, watch your back. Overconfidence opens the door to conspiracy.
May the mighty gods protect you! Your devoted friend, Artemidorus."
I'll stand here until Caesar passes by
and hand this to him, like a man presenting a petition.
It grieves me that a good man can't survive
when surrounded by envious rivals.
If you read this letter, Caesar, you may live.
If not, then fate has sided with the traitors.
*He exits.*
