Casca and Cicero meet at night during a storm and remark upon the strange, almost supernatural occurrences Cicero has seen. Cicero leaves, and Casca walks around in the storm with an open shirt. He then meets Cassius. Cassius appears to have very little concern for his safety, and explains that he feels threatened only by Caesar’s rise, not by the gods. Casca tells Cassius that a group of senators plan to make Caesar king the next day, and Cassius vows to commit suicide before becoming a subject of Caesar’s. Cassius says that he has already recruited some of the noblest Romans to undertake "an enterprise."
Cinna approaches and Cassius says he is one of that group. Cinna remarks that other people have been seeing strange things that night. Cassius asks if people are waiting for him, Cinna says yes, and that he wishes Cassius could win over Brutus to their side. Cassius gives him some letters he has written for Cinna to distribute where Brutus will find them. Cinna says that everyone in the group is gathered, except Metellus Cimber, who went to look for Cassius. Cassius takes Casca with him to go visit Brutus in person and try to convince him to join them.
Cicero
Good evening, Casca. Did you bring Caesar home? Why are you out of breath, and why are you staring like that?
Casca
Aren't you disturbed when all the earth is shaking? Oh, Cicero, I've seen storms before in which the angry winds split oak trees, and I've seen the ocean swell and roar and foam up to join the threatening clouds. But not until tonight, never until now did I go through a storm raining down fire. Either there's a civil war going on among the gods, or else we insolent humans have so enraged the gods that they send destruction down upon us.
Cicero
Did you see any other bizarre things?
Casca
Some slave—you'd know him if you saw him—held up his left hand, which was burning like twenty torches joined together. But his hand, not feeling the fire, wasn't even scorched. Besides that—and this is why my sword is drawn—I came across a lion next to the Capitol, which glared at me and sulked away without troubling me. And there was a group of old women out of their minds with fear, who swore they saw men on fire walking up and down the streets. And yesterday an owl was in the middle of the marketplace at noon, hooting and shrieking. When all these things occur in such a short time, don't let anyone say, "oh, there must be reasons for each one, it's just natural." I believe they are signs of bad things to happen in the region where they occur.
Cicero
Indeed, this is a strange time. But men tend interpret things in their own views, completely unrelated to what they actually mean. Is Caesar coming to the Capitol tomorrow?
Casca
He is, for he asked Antonius to send word to you that he would be there tomorrow.
Cicero
Good night then, Casca. Best not to walk about in this storm.
Casca
Farewell, Cicero.
Cassius
Who's there?
Casca
A Roman.
Cassius
Casca, if I recognize your voice.
Casca
Your ear is good. Cassius, what a night this is!
Cassius
A very pleasing night to honest men.
Casca
Who ever saw the skies so menacing?
Cassius
Those who have known our earth is so flawed. As for me, I've been walking about the streets subjecting myself to the dangerous night; and thus with my shirt undone, as you can see Casca, I have bared my chest to the thunder and lightning, and when the blue lightning seemed to open the chest of heaven, I presented myself right where it was aiming.
Casca
But why did you tempt the heavens so? It's the role of men to be afraid and tremble when the mighty gods send such dreadful messengers from the skies to astonish us.
Cassius
You're ignorant, Casca, and you don't have the intelligence that a Roman should have, or else you don't use it. You look pale, gaze around, exhibit fear, and show your amazement to see this strange impatient of heaven. But if you would think about the true cause of all these fires, all these gliding ghosts, all these birds and beasts acting unnaturally, all these old men, fools, and children who suddenly can foretell the future—why the natures and abilities of all these things have changed from their ordinary state to something extraordinary, you'll find that heaven has changed the character of these things to make them into instruments of fear, and warnings of some wicked state on earth. Now, Casca, I could name a man who is very much like this frightening night, a man who thunders, zaps, opens graves, and roars like the lion in the Capitol, a man no mightier than your or me in his personal actions, but a man who has grown to be threatening and feared, like these strange outbursts of nature.
Casca
It's Caesar that you mean, isn't it, Cassius?
Cassius
It is who it is. Romans nowadays have muscles and limbs like our ancestors, but—alas—the minds of our father's are dead; we're ruled by our mothers' spirits instead. Our oppression and suffering have made us effeminate.
Casca
Indeed, people are saying that the senators tomorrow want to establish Caesar as a king in the provinces, but—at least for the moment—not yet here in Italy.
Cassius
If that comes to pass, I know where I will stick this dagger. I'll deliver myself from bondage. In this way, you gods, you make the weak into the strongest. In this way, gods, tyrants are defeated. No tower of stone or brass walls or airless dungeon or strong iron chains can restrain the strength of spirit. Life, tired of these constraints, always has the power to end itself. If I know this, let the whole world know it too. I can shake off the tyranny that weighs on me whenever I desire.
Casca
So can I. Every slave carries the power to end his captivity in his own hands.
Cassius
So then why should Caesar be a tyrant? He wouldn't prey on us like a wolf except that he sees that all the Romans are sheep. He would be no lion if the Romans didn't act like deer. Those wishing to make a huge fire start with pieces of straw. Rome is serving as the kindling to light up the vile thing that is Caesar! But, grief, where have you led me? Maybe I'm talking this way in front of a willingly slave, in which case I'll have to pay the price. But I'm armed and don't care about the danger.
Casca
You're speaking to Casca, and I'm no brown-nosing tattletale. Take my hand, and let's join together in redressing these wrongs; and I will go as far as anyone.
Cassius
That's a deal. Casca, you should know that I've already convinced certain others among the noblest-minded Romans to undertake some honorable but dangerous business, and I know they're waiting for me on the terrace of the Pompey Theater next to the Capitol. With this dreadful night there's no one in the streets to see us; the elements have the same appearance as the work we have to do: most bloody, fiery, and terrible.
Casca
Stay here for a moment, someone's hurrying this way.
Cassius
It's Cinna, I recognize the way he walks. He's a friend. Cinna, where are you going so fast?
Cinna
I was looking for you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?
Cassius
No it's Casca, someone who's in on our business. Are they waiting for me, Cinna?
Cinna
Glad to hear it, Casca. What a fearful night this is. Two or three of us have seen some strange sights.
Cassius
Are they waiting for me? Tell me.
Cinna
Yes, they are. Oh, Cassius, if only you could win over the noble Brutus.
Cassius
Be content. Good Cinna, take this note and place it on the praetor's chair in the Capitol where Brutus will find it, throw this one through his window, attach this one with wax to the statue of his ancestor. After you've done all this, come back to the Pompey Theater, where you'll find us. Are Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?
Cinna
Everyone except Metellus Cimber—and he went to look for you at your house. Well, I'll get going and put all those papers where you told me.
Cassius
After you've done that, come back to Pompey's Theater.
Come one, Casca, you and I will go see Brutus at his house before daybreak. He's three-quarters disposed to join us already, and we'll have the whole man after this meeting.
Casca
Oh, everyone thinks highly of him. Actions which would seem offensive will, with his support, will magically change into actions of virtue and worthiness.
Cassius
You've very well understood him, his worth, and how much we need him. Let's go. It's after midnight, and before sunrise we'll wake him and make sure he's with us.
