When Brutus agrees to this concession, Cassius takes him aside and expresses his worry that Antony may still do something to hurt the conspirators. Antony makes a simple request: that he be allowed to bear Caesar's body to the center of Rome and make a eulogy for Caesar before the crowd. Antony re-enters as the conspirators are standing over Caesar's body, and expresses his grief to Caesar before approaching the conspirators to pledge his allegiance to them, the new leaders of Rome. Meanwhile, Trebonius has taken Antony aside so he cannot protect Caesar. At this, Casca begins by stabbing Caesar in the back of the neck, followed by the rest of the group, and, finally, by Marcus Brutus, who stabs him in the heart. This way, they are able to get close to Caesar, who arrogantly refuses to consider the request. When he arrives at the Senate, Caesar sees a soothsayer who had warned him the day before to beware of the ides of March, and says to him, "the ides of March are come," but the soothsayer responds ominously, "Ay, Caesar, but not gone." As Caesar goes to the front of the Senate, the conspirators follow him and begin to argue for a pardon for Metellus Cimber's banished brother. The document names all of the conspirators and warns Caesar to stay away from them today. Before Caesar makes his away to the Senate, a sophist named Artemidorus reads aloud a warning that he will attempt to pass off to Caesar before he enters the Senate, but he is never able to present the scroll to Caesar. Caesar remains proud, though, and one of the conspirators, Decius Brutus, comes to his house and reinterprets Calphurnia's dream and convinces Caesar to go to the Capitol and Senate after all. The next morning, Calphurnia, Caesar's wife, initially convinces Caesar to stay home because she had nightmares about what his fate would be today. He promises to tell her what is going on after he meets with his co-conspirators. Later in the same scene, after an impassioned speech in which Brutus' wife Portia reveals that she has gashed her thigh to prove that her strength is equal to that of her husband, Brutus is compelled by his love and respect for her to tell her what is troubling him. Marcus Brutus argues against this action, saying that the bloodshed should be kept to a minimum, and vengeful actions should be avoided by the group. Cassius pushes the group to kill Mark Antony, Caesar's constant companion and ally, as well. The group hatches a plan to kill Caesar at the Senate the next day, each man drawing his sword on Caesar at the same time. They all, except for Casca, go to Marcus Brutus' house and convince him to join. The three involve Decius Brutus, Trebonius, Ligarus, and Metellus Cimber in the growing conspiracy. Cassius, Cinna, and Casca meet during the night and discuss their desire to overthrow Caesar from the throne. That night, huge storms surround Rome, and strange, supernatural things happen all over the city. A group of generals in his army become concerned about Caesar's power and his penchant for extreme and tyrannical actions. The crowd in Rome is ecstatic, and they attempt to crown him King three times. Julius Caesar returns to Rome, victorious from battle.
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