Pride’s Penalty
(15 March 44 BC)
Proud Caesar said: “The Ides of March are here!”,
Then asked: “Now where is he who prophesied
Great Julius this forecast time should fear?”.
“The Ides are come”, the prophet said: “Beware,
Proud Consul, since their powers yet may chide”.
Said Caesar: “These Ides mark nothing to fear!”.
“What must be, will be”, said the prophet: “Hear
My words great Consul; humble your self-pride:
Great Julius this forecast time should fear!”.
Scorned Caesar: “Your false prophesies I fleer!”.
Brutus, with Casca and their friends, beside
Proud Caesar smiled: “The Ides of March are here!”.
Towards the Senate strode the group; but near
Its entrance Caesar was surprised and knived
By those whom, in his pride, he did not fear.
The Consul rolled his fading eyes, (now blear
With death’s dull film), where Brutus stood astride.
Him. Caesar sighed: “The Ides of March start here!.
Brutus, my friend, you send me to my bier
Upon whose loyalty I had relied.
This forecast time I was too proud to fear”.
Brutus replied, mocking with cynic sneer
The fate of one whose pride dismissed Fate’s tide
Flooding his way: “The Ides of March end here!”.
But, as his body failed, Caesar declared:
“The Ides of March are here; I prophesy
False Junius this forecast time should fear!”.
And with these words he turned his look aside
As, covering his anguished face, he died.
[Note: Neither (Gaius) Julius Caesar nor (Marcus) Junius Brutus are known to have said the words attributed to them in this poem. Brutus was silent; but Caesar’s reported ‘famous last words’, as he was assassinated, were probably . not the reproachful “Et tu, Brute!” [Latin: ‘You too, Brutus!’] – as I was taught in childhood – but the far more scornful “Kai su, tekne!” [Greek: ‘You too, child!’]; by which he may have meant that Brutus, a personal favourite and political protégé, was intellectually too immature and politically indecisive successfully to govern Rome and its colonies. It is also possible that Caesar intended to imply: ‘This deed will also be the death of you, young man’. If so, the prophesy was realised atPhilippi in 42 BC. J.A.B].
