Modernizing

ANTONY
Caesar?

CAESAR
Let me have men about me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights:
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.

ANTONY
Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous;
He is a noble Roman and well given.

CAESAR
Would he were fatter! But I fear him not:
Yet if my name were liable to fear,
I do not know the man I should avoid
So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much;
He is a great observer and he looks
Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays,
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit
That could be moved to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd
Than what I fear; for always I am Caesar.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.

ANTONY

Yes? What is it?

CEASAR

I’d rather have men with no will at all. Men who do what little that pleases them. But Cassius there has a powerful will. He will find out what I’m up to. People like that are dangerous.

ANTONY

Caesar, he’s fine. I think you’re just being paranoid. Everyone in Rome loves him.

CAESAR

I wish I could break him! Bend his will! I don’t fear him though. But if I could, I wouldn’t know that I should avoid that Cassius. I see him reading all the time, and he notices everything. He can see right through people—like glass. He has no interest in the theater, unlike you Antony. Music does not entertain him at all. I rarely see him smile, and when he does it’s as if it is a joke, that only he himself would know about. Only men like that can never be care-free for they see something greater than themselves, and because of that—he is dangerous. I’d rather tell you of what should be feared then what I fear, for I am Caesar. Now, Antony, come on the other side, my left ear is deaf. Come and tell me what you really think of him.

-Dr. Jones