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All Site ContentJulius CaesarAct 4Scene 2
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"like horses hot at hand"
Context and Language Videos
Act 4,
Scene 2
Lines 18b-27

An explanation of the metaphor "like horses hot at hand" in Act 4, Scene 2 of myShakespeare's Julius Caesar. 

myShakespeare | Julius Caesar 4.2 Metaphor: “like horses hot at hand”

Brutus

                                        Thou hast described
A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
It useth an enforcèd ceremony.
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith;
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
[Low marching music offstage.]
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
They fall their crests, and like deceitful jades
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?
Video Transcript: 

RALPH: In ancient Rome, a commander led his army into battle on a horse. So it was of utmost importance to have a horse that was not only physically strong, but was also courageous, or what’s called here a horse of good mettle.

 

SERVILIA: When a courageous horse is charging forward, its head is down with its neck, or crest, arched. But if a horse is afraid and balks at going forward, its head moves back and up, and its neck sags. This is one origin of the term crestfallen, which we use to describe someone who is discouraged or downhearted.