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HiPlease help me with this.In the play Julius Caesar, Caesar says this when the conspirators in the guise of falling and begging him for a repeal of a banishment surround him and push him to frustration so that it will be easy for them to execute their plan. Then Caesar who does not like it says this:These couchings and lowly courtesiesMight fire the blood ordinary men,And turn pre-ordinance and first decreeinto the law of children.My interpretation: Caesar thinks that ordinary men when they see senators fall at his and beg for things, they may burn with fury thinking Caesar was treating his subjects as slaves and........( I don't know how to interpret the rest.)Have I interpreted the first part correctly?

Khoff · Accepted Answer

I think he means that ordinary men can be influenced by begging and pleading and might be persuaded to change their decisions, but not Ceasar.

Anonymous · Answer

In my book this is III.i.33-48 (act 3, scene 1, lines 33-48 - the act, scene, and line numbers can be different in different editions of the play):

33 Metellus: Most high, most mighty, most powerful Caesar,

34 Metellus Cimber throws before your throne

35 a humble heart -

Caesar: I must stop you right there, Cimber.

36 These humble words and low bows

37 might appeal to ordinary men,

38 and be enough to turn executive decree

39 into the law of the playground. But don't be so crazy ("fond" is an archaic word for crazy)

40 as to think that Caesar has the blood of ordinary men flowing through his veins,

41 blood that would be affected by base appeals that

42 would sway ordinary men - that is, sweet words,

43 low bows, and obsequious fawning.

44 Your brother has been banished from Rome by my decree.

45 If you're going to disgrace yourself by bending down before me and praying and fawning (stuff that is done before ordinary men), in hopes that you can change a decree by Caesar,

46 then you disgust me, like a mangy cur - out of my sight!

47 Caesar does no wrong. But if you should want to appeal one of my decrees,

48 then you have to lay out a good reason for it, not merely grovel disgracefully before me like a cur.

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