Modern Translation of Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 1 (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: Hello everybody and welcome to today's video, a translation into modern English of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Act 1, Scene 1. On screen you'll see the original text and what I'll do is read out my modern translation. Rome, a street. Enter Flavius, Morullus and certain commoners. Flavius, get away from here. Go home, you lazy men, go home. Is today a holiday? Don't you realise, belonging to the artisan class, you're not supposed to walk around on a work day without wearing your work clothes? Tell me, what's your trade? First commoner. I am a carpenter, sir. Morullus. Where is your leather apron? Why are you wearing your best clothes? You, sir, what's your trade? Second commoner. Truly, sir, compared to a fine workman, I am, as you would say, a mere cobbler. Morullus. But what's your trade? Give me a straight answer. Second commoner. It is a trade, sir, which I hope I practice with a clear conscience. My trade is, indeed, sir, a repairer of bad souls. Morullus. What trade, boy? You worthless boy, what's your trade? Second commoner. No, sir, I beg you, don't be put out with me. However, if your soul's worn out, sir, I can mend you. Morullus. What do you mean by that? Mend me, you cheeky fellow. Second commoner. I mean I can cobble you, sir. Mend your shoes. Flavius. You are a cobbler, are you? Second commoner. Truly, sir, I make my living using the awl. I don't meddle in other tradesmen's business, nor in the business of women. But when it comes to the awl, I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes. When they are in great danger, I resole them. The most handsome men who ever walked upon leather have walked upon my handiwork. Flavius. But why aren't you in your shop to-day? Why are you leading these men through the streets? Second commoner. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, and so to get myself some more work. But really, sir, we took some holiday to see Caesar, and to celebrate his victory. Marullus. Why celebrate? What victory is he bringing home with him? What captives are following him to Rome to pay honour in fetters to his chariot wheels? You blockheads, you stone-hearted, unfeeling men, O you hard-hearted, cruel men of Rome. Didn't you know Pompey? Many times, very often, you've climbed up the walls and battlements to the towers and windows and even to the chimney-tops with your babies in your arms, and sat there the whole day long patiently waiting to see great Pompey pass through the streets of Rome. And as soon as you saw his chariot appear, didn't you make a universal shout so loud that the river Tiber shook her banks on hearing the echo of your shouts resounding against her shore-line? And now you're putting on your best clothes, and now you're taking a holiday, and now are you strewing flowers in the path of Caesar, who comes celebrating victory over Pompey's sons? Away with you. Run to your houses, fall on your knees, pray to the gods to withhold the disaster that you deserve for such ingratitude. Flavius, go, go, good countrymen, and to make up for doing this wrong, gather together all the poor men like yourselves, lead them to the banks of the river Tiber, and all of you weep your tears into the river until even at the lowest ebb the river level swells enough to reach the highest banks of all. Exit all the commoners. Let's see if that doesn't cut them to the quick. They're leaving tongue-tied they're so guilty. You go down that way towards the capital, I'll go this way. Undress the statues if you find them decorated in honour of Caesar. Marullus, are we allowed to do that? You know it's the feast of Lupercal. That doesn't matter. Make sure that no statues are decorated with Caesar's trophies. I'll walk around and drive away the common people from the streets. You do the same wherever you see a crowd of them. If we pluck these growing feathers from Caesar's wings, we will prevent him from flying too high. Otherwise he will soar so high he will be out of sight of ordinary men, and he will keep us all in a state of fear and civility. Well, I hope you found this short video useful. Everything in this video comes from Mr Bruss' Guide to Julius Caesar, which I co-wrote with Carrie Lewis. You can pick up a copy through following the link in the description.