Julius Caesar
by William Shakespeare
(excerpt from Act 3, Scene I)
CINNA: (kneeling) O Caesar—
CAESAR: Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
DECIUS: (kneeling) Great Caesar—
CAESAR: Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
CASCA: Speak, hands, for me!
(CASCA and the other conspirators stab CAESAR, BRUTUS last)
CAESAR: Et tu, Bruté?—Then fall, Caesar. (dies)
CINNA: Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
CASSIUS: Some to the common pulpits, and cry out,
“Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!”
(Confusion. Exeunt some plebeians and senators.)
BRUTUS: People and senators, be not affrighted.
Fly not. Stand still. Ambition’s debt is paid.
4
Select the correct answer.
Which sentence best explains what is implied by the underlined section?
A.
Caesar understands Brutus’s betrayal.
B.
Caesar feels betrayed by Brutus.
C.
Brutus secretly did not like Caesar.
D.
Brutus wishes to rule instead of Caesar.
