Decius Brutus

Also known as: Decius · Family: Roman conspirators · Role: conspirator · First appears: Julius Caesar · Act I, Scene III

In Act I, Scene III, Decius Brutus is an enemy of Julius Caesar. In Act II, Scene I, at Rome, he joins Marcus Brutus, Caius Cassius, Casca, Cinna, Metellus Cimber and Trebonius in deciding that Caesar must die while rejecting the killing of Mark Antony. Decius undertakes to bring Caesar to the Capitol, declaring, “Let me work; For I can give his humour the true bent, And I will bring him to the Capitol.”

At Caesar’s palace in Act II, Scene II, Decius acts as Caesar’s patron, greeting him and revealing that the Senate plans to crown him. He persuades Caesar that Calphurnia’s warnings are favorable, prompting Caesar to go. At the Capitol in Act II, Scene III, Artemidorus presents Caesar with a warning about the conspirators’ plot. Decius is an enemy of Mark Antony, who later condemns him among Caesar’s foes while making peace with the conspirators.

Relationship record

Life events

• The conspirators decide Caesar must die but reject killing Mark Antony.(Julius Caesar · Act II, Scene I · 📍 Rome)
  • With: Marcus Brutus Caius Cassius Casca Cinna Metellus Cimber Trebonius Julius Caesar Mark Antony
  • “And for Mark Antony, think not of him; For he can do no more than Caesar’s arm When Caesar’s head is off.”
• Decius Brutus undertakes to persuade Caesar to come to the Capitol.(Julius Caesar · Act II, Scene I · 📍 Rome)
  • With: Julius Caesar
  • “Let me work; For I can give his humour the true bent, And I will bring him to the Capitol.”
• Decius Brutus reveals the Senate plans to crown Julius Caesar.(Julius Caesar · Act II, Scene II · 📍 Caesar’s palace)
  • With: Julius Caesar
  • “The Senate have concluded To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.”
• Decius Brutus persuades Julius Caesar that Calphurnia’s warnings are favorable, prompting him to go.(Julius Caesar · Act II, Scene II · 📍 Caesar’s palace)
  • With: Julius Caesar Calphurnia
  • “How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia! I am ashamed I did yield to them. Give me my robe, for I will go.”
• Artemidorus presents Caesar a warning naming the conspirators’ plot against him.(Julius Caesar · Act II, Scene III · 📍 Capitol)
  • With: Artemidorus Julius Caesar Marcus Brutus Caius Cassius Casca Cinna Trebonius Metellus Cimber Caius Ligarius
  • “ARTEMIDORUS. O Caesar, read mine first; for mine’s a suit That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.”

Julius Caesar · Act I, Scene III

• enemies with Julius Caesar “CASSIUS. Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there? CINNA. All but Metellus Cimber, and he’s gone To seek you at your house.”

Julius Caesar · Act II, Scene I

• enemies with Julius Caesar “Let me work; For I can give his humour the true bent, And I will bring him to the Capitol.”

Julius Caesar · Act II, Scene II

• patron: Julius Caesar “DECIUS. Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar. I come to fetch you to the Senate-house.”

Julius Caesar · Act II, Scene III

• enemies with Julius Caesar “Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wrong’d Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Caesar.”
• enemies with Mark Antony “First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you; Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand. Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus; Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours; Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius. Gentlemen all—alas, what shall I say? My credit now stands on such slippery ground, That one of two bad ways you must conceit me, Either a coward or a flatterer. That I did love thee, Caesar, O, ’tis true: If then thy spirit look upon us now, Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death, To see thy Antony making his peace, Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes, Most noble, in the presence of thy corse?”

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Extracted from the original text of Shakespeare's Roman Plays. Made with Rho MD.