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# Suetonius: Caesar’s assassination

🏷 Latin text interlinear recommended · text — by Gerry · Apr 2022 · 9578 words

The written history of Caesar’s assassination, by Suetonius, appears to be yet another pun-encrypted story. Amazingly, it seems to tell the actual story of the assassination, i.e. how the ancient spooks prepared and enacted the hoax!

## Introduction

Miles has already written an excellent article about Julius Caesar. He does a very good job of exposing the public image of Caesar as the usual self-contradictory lies. Like pretty much all famous rulers, Caesar was simply a silly, lazy boy from an ultra-rich family, with an unearned career straight to the top as a birth privilege.

Miles also points out several contradictions in the story, which prove that Caesar’s famous assassination must be fake:

- Caesar wrote his will in advance, so he must have planned his retirement.
- The official causes why he supposedly angered his peers are ridiculous.
- The assassins unsuccessfully tried to recruit Mark Anthony, Caesar’s second in command, which is too stupid to be true.
- No ruler moves around without a host of bodyguards.
- Mark Antony decided not to persecute the assassins.

Miles left out my favorite contradiction: Powerful people don’t do things themselves! Not only is it dangerous for them to personally attack anyone. But as palace-bred imbeciles, they’re the least competent persons to carry through any physical operation. If real rulers wanted to kill anyone, especially a peer, they’d use their insane wealth to employ teams of professional assassins. Since in Ceasar’s story, the other aristocrats attack & kill him themselves, it must be made-up nonsense!

Miles even detected a pun in the translation, which still works in English: A soothsayer called Spurinna allegedly warned Caesar about his assassination. That name puns with “spurious”, i.e. fake. I therefore decided to look at the Latin text, to find more of these puns.

English-speaking readers will be familiar with many Latin loanwords, and may have an easier time to form their own opinion here. As a heavily inflected language, Latin seems to have its own punny rules: Encryption words still have to be similar consonant-wise, but often they are only similar in some inflections. It may be the inflections used in the text, but not always. Often, the decrypted sentence is then grammatically wrong.

Content-wise, I also found that Roman histories may be different than the Biblical texts I decrypted before. There, readers were often disappointed & disinterested in the results. They’d expected the secret story to reveal “what really happened”. Instead, it was usually a parable, about a completely different topic. But some Roman texts, judging from this snippet, seem to describe actual people & events. Probably not very truthful, but apparently they do reveal “what really happened”, i.e. that everything was made-up, faked & staged!

- Suetonius describes how several omens led up to Ceasar’s assassination. These are pun-encryptions for the preparations the ancient spooks undertook for this big fake event!
- About the assassination itself, there’s minute descriptions of which attacker struck Caesar from which side. These are pun-encryptions for how they blocked the view, and used the theatrical props to fake it all!

Of course, we mustn’t let down our guard. I wouldn’t believe for a second that what the ancient spooks wrote into their encrypted texts is always the truth. All they ever told us is lies. Much of what they say to each other behind the scenes may also be lies. Still, from today’s fake events we can see that this text may be close to the truth, about ancient spookery.

### How to read this

- In the interlinear word-by-word translation, each word is shown as a little block; each verse is a paragraph of little blocks.
- Use the Pun Config to choose your level: Minimal for secret meaning only, Beginner for secret & official English texts, Intermediate for word-by-word vocabulary, Expert for original text & glyphs.
- Possible pun-encrypted meaning is marked with light red.
- Official meaning is marked with light green.
- Pun vocabulary is in red, whenever the meaning differs. All vocabulary is linked to online dictionaries.
- Please read the introduction, and judge yourself whether I got it right.
- Religious readers should proceed with care.

## Rehearsing Caesar’s assassination

### Cover-ups for Caesar’s assassination are prepared.

Suetonius claims that Caesar’s assassination was foretold by several omens

All of them seem to be puns with preparations for the fake event by the ancient spooks.

#### Divus Julius 81.a

> Encrypted: But of Caesar’s future cutting down, realistic cover-ups commanded had been.

> Official: But of Caesar’s future cutting down, evident omens declared had been.

> But
> sed: but
> Sed
> sed: but
> But
> of Caesar’s
> Caesar: Caesar
> Caesari
> Caesar: Caesar
> of Caesar’s
> future
> futurus: future
> futura
> futurus: future
> future
> cutting down,
> caedo / caedes / caesurus: cut, cut down
> caedes
> caedo / caedes / caesurus: cut, cut down
> cutting down,
> realistic
> evidenter: vividly, giving realistic impression
> euidentibus
> evidenter: evidently, manifestly
> evident
> cover-ups
> pertego / pertegam / pertegis: cover all over
> prodigiis
> prodigium / prodigiis: prodigy, sign, omen
> omens
> commanded
> denuntio: denounce, declare, command
> denuntiata
> denuntio: denounce, declare, command
> declared
> had been.
> sum / est: be
> est
> sum / est: be
> had been.

> Divus Julius 81.a

### Spooks invent red paint bags for the assassination.

In this first omen, colonists in “Capua” “find” the tomb of “Capys”, plus vessels with a bronze tablet foretelling that his descendant would be killed by the “hand of blood-relatives”.

Capua puns with capa “cape”, capsa “capsule”, capio “cheating”. In fact, these words all seem related, derived from “holding”. Capys is probably again a pun with capsis “capsules”.

Since the words for “finding” and “inventing” are similar in Latin and other languages, it may be that the text really describes how the ancient spooks “invented” some theatrical prop in preparation for the fake assassination. If it involves actual “vessels” and a “bronze tablet”, it may be that they filled up tiny vessels or capsules beneath the victim’s clothing with red paint, and provided a bronze plate as protection. A fake attack could then cut the capsules, produce the “blood”, and the fake victim would be protected by the plate.

The other puns support this, and it’s actually used later in the story, so the use of moulage in fake events may be a very ancient trick.

#### Divus Julius 81.b

> Encrypted: A few before months, when in artificial deceptions were brought to gather the mock pretenders, in order to build up veils, some covering tricks they designed, and they were there eager building them, as some small vessels were filled before that in secret with red paint and a board of bronze for protection, on which deceptively the satchels constructed as a deception were supplied, was invented,

> Official: A few before months, when in the colony Capua were brought to gather the Julian colonists, in order to build villas, some ancient tombs they broke apart, and they were there eager doing it, as some small vessels worked and ancient they examined and found, and a tablet of bronze inside a monument, in which was said Capys the founder of Capua to be buried, was found,

> A few
> paucus: few
> paucos
> paucus: few
> A few
> before
> ante: before
> ante
> ante: before
> before
> months,
> mensis: month
> menses
> mensis: month
> months,
> when
> cum: with, when
> cum
> cum: with, when
> when
> in
> in: in
> in
> in: in
> in
> artificial
> calumnia: trickery, artifice, sham, pretenses
> colonia
> colonia: colony
> the colony
> deceptions
> capa: cape, cloak; capio: cheat, deceive
> Capua
> Capua: Capua
> Capua
> were brought
> deduco: lead away, bring out
> deducti
> deduco: lead away, bring out
> were brought
> to gather
> lego: gather, collect
> lege
> lego: gather, collect
> to gather
> the mock
> illudo / illusus / illusi: mock, ridicule
> Iulia
> Iulius: Julius
> the Julian
> pretenders,
> calumnia: trickery, artifice, sham, pretenses
> coloni
> colonus / coloni: colonist
> colonists,
> [in order] to
> ad: to
> ad
> ad: to
> [in order] to
> build up
> exstruo: build, construct
> extruendas
> exstruo: build, construct
> build
> veils,
> velum / vela: veil, curtain, covering
> uillas
> villa / villum: villa, farm
> villas,
> [some] covering
> vestis: veil, curtain, covering
> uetustissima
> vetustus: aged, old
> [some] ancient
> tricks [???]
> suppleo: supply; sublino / sublevi: befool, cheat; -crum: (diminutive suffix)
> sepulcra
> sepulcrum: sepulchre, tomb; sepelio: bury; -crum: (diminutive suffix)
> tombs
> [they] designed,
> designo: design, plan, scheme
> dissicerent
> disseco: dissect, open by force
> [they] broke apart,
> and they [?]
> is: he, it; -que: and
> idque
> is: he, it; -que: and
> and they [?]
> [were] there
> eo: there
> eo
> eo: there
> [were] there
> eager
> studiosus: studious, eager, fond
> studiosius
> studiosus: studious, eager, fond
> eager
> building [them],
> facio: do, make, build
> facerent
> facio: do, make, build
> doing [it],
> as
> quod: because, which
> quod
> quod: because, which
> as
> some
> aliquantum: some
> aliquantum
> aliquantum: some
> some
> small vessels [??]
> vasculum: small vessel
> uasculorum
> vasculum: small vessel
> small vessels
> [were] filled
> operio / operis: cover; oppleo / oppleris: fill up, cover
> operis
> opus / operis: work, labor
> worked
> before that
> ante: before; qui: that
> antiqui
> antiquus / antiqui: ancient
> [and] ancient
> in secret
> secretus: secret; secreto: secretly; scruta: trumpery
> scrutantes
> scrutor: scrutinize, search, examine
> [they] examined
> with red [paint?]
> ruber: red, painted red
> reperiebant
> reperio: find, find out, invent, meet with
> [and] found,
> [and] a board
> tabula: tablet, board, document
> tabula
> tabula: tablet, board, document
> [and] a tablet
> of bronze
> aeneus: copper, bronze
> aenea
> aeneus: copper, bronze
> of bronze
> for
> in: in, into, on, for
> in
> in: in, into, on, for
> inside
> protection,
> munimentum / munimento: protection
> monimento
> monimentum / monimento: monument
> a monument,
> on
> in: in, into, on, for
> in
> in: in, into, on, for
> in
> which
> qui / quo: which
> quo
> qui / quo: which
> which
> deceptively [??]
> decipio / decipietur: deceive, beguile
> dicebatur
> dico / dicebatur: say, speak
> was said
> the satchels
> capsa / capsis: box, case, satchel
> Capys
> Capys: Capys
> Capys
> constructed
> condo / conditur: build, construct
> conditor
> conditor: builder, founder
> the founder
> [as a] deception [??]
> capio: contain, cheat, deceive
> Capuae
> Capua: Capua
> of Capua
> [were] supplied [?],
> suppleo / suppletus: supply, supplement; sublino / sublitus: befool, cheat
> sepultus
> sepelio / sepultus: bury
> [to be] buried,
> was invented,
> inventio / inventa: invention, plan
> inuenta
> invenio / inventa: find
> was found,

> Divus Julius 81.b

### Whoever uses the paint bags will appear to bleed.

Here it’s described how the red paint packages work. Most words have double meanings and don’t need to be changed. There’s even literal “blood” in the text: the “blood-relatives”.

#### Divus Julius 81.c

> Encrypted: and it was written down in letters and words by the crew thus for this purpose: When the juices of the satchels exposed are, it will be that he who is familiar with it can shed & pour forth with blood in trickery powerfully, and then it is helpful so that mischief is vindicated.

> Official: and it was written in letters and words in Greek thus the sentence: When the bones of Capys uncovered are, it will be that his descendant by the hand of his blood-relatives will be killed and very greatly soon in Italy disasters will avenge him.

> and it was
> est: is
> est
> est: is
> and it was
> written down
> conscribo / conscripta: write down, draw up, compose
> conscripta
> conscribo / conscripta: write down, draw up, compose
> written
> in letters
> littera / litteris: letter
> litteris
> littera / litteris: letter
> in letters
> and words
> verbum / verbis: word
> uerbisque
> verbum / verbis: word
> and words
> [by] the crew [???]
> grex / gregis: company, crew
> Graecis
> Graecus / Graecis: Greek
> in Greek
> thus
> hac: here, so, thus
> hac
> hac: here, so, thus
> thus
> [for] this purpose:
> sententia: will, purpose
> sententia
> sententia: sentence, judgement, will
> the sentence:
> When
> quandoque: whenever
> quandoque
> quandoque: whenever
> When
> the juices
> ius: juice
> ossa
> ossum / ossi: bone
> the bones
> of the satchels [??]
> capsa / capsis: box, case, satchel
> Capyis
> Capys: Capys
> of Capys
> exposed
> detego / detecta: unsheathe, remove
> detecta
> detego / detecta: detect, uncover, expose, reveal
> uncovered
> are,
> sum / essent: be, are
> essent
> sum / essent: be, are
> are,
> [it] will be
> sum / fore: be, will be
> fore
> sum / fore: be, will be
> [it] will be
> that
> ut: as, that
> ut
> ut: as, that
> that
> he
> ille: that, he
> illo
> ille: that, he
> his
> [who] is familiar with [it]
> pro: before; gnosco / gnotus: know, learn, familar
> prognatus
> prognatus: born, descended; pro: before; gnatus: child
> descendant
> [can] shed & pour forth
> mano / mana: shed, flow, pour forth
> manu
> manus / manu: hand
> [by] the hand
> with blood
> con-: with; sanguineus: of blood
> consanguineorum
> consanguineus: same blood, related by blood
> [of his] blood-relatives
> [in] trickery
> nugor / nugaretur: jest, trick, cheat
> necaretur
> neco / necaretur: kill, murder
> will be killed
> powerfully,
> magnus: powerful, extensive, strong
> magnisque
> magnus: great
> and very greatly [??]
> [and] then
> mox: soon, directly, then
> mox
> mox: soon, directly, then
> soon
> [it is] helpful
> utilis / utilia: useful, helpful; utilitas: utility
> Italiae
> Italia: Italy
> [in] Italy
> [so that] mischief
> clades / cladibus: mischief
> cladibus
> clades / cladibus: calamity, disaster
> disasters
> [is] vindicated.
> vindico: claim, assume, protect
> uindicaretur
> vindico: vindicate, punish, avenge
> will avenge [him].

> Divus Julius 81.c

### Not invented by (just) anybody, but theater experts.

Here they say that these things were not invented by anybody.

The joke seems to be that it was not just anybody, but top-level ancient spooks: The auctor “author” of this fake event was actually a professional actor “actor”!

#### Divus Julius 81.d

> Encrypted: And these things are not what just anybody play-enacted or invented, but professionally arranged by a theatrical actor who was Cornelius Balbus, an intimate friend of Caesar.

> Official: And these affairs are not what somebody fabled up or invented to be suspected, but the originator was Cornelius Balbus, an intimate friend of Caesar.

> [And] these
> cuius: who, what, which
> cuius
> cuius: who, what, which
> [And] these
> things
> res / rei: thing, object, story
> rei
> res / rei: matter, affair
> affairs
> [are] not
> ne: not
> ne
> ne: not
> [are] not
> [what just] anybody
> quis: someone, anyone
> quis
> quis: someone, anyone
> [what] somebody
> play-enacted
> fabula: story, play
> fabulosam
> fabulosus: fabulous
> fabled up
> or
> aut: or
> aut
> aut: or
> or
> invented,
> commenticius: thought out, fabricated, invented
> commenticiam
> commenticius: thought out, fabricated, invented
> invented
> [but professionally] arranged
> puto / putet: arrange, settle
> putet
> puto / putet: suspect, consider, suppose
> [to be] suspected,
> by a theatrical actor
> actor: actor, performer in theatrical play
> auctor
> auctor: author, originator
> [but] the originator
> [who] was
> est: is
> est
> est: is
> was
> Cornelius
> Cornelius: Cornelius
> Cornelius
> Cornelius: Cornelius
> Cornelius
> Balbus,
> Balbus: Balbus
> Balbus
> Balbus: Balbus
> Balbus,
> an intimate [friend]
> familiaris: of a house, private
> familiarissimus
> familiaris: of a house, private
> an intimate [friend]
> of Caesar.
> Caesar: Caesar
> Caesaris
> Caesar: Caesar
> of Caesar.

> Divus Julius 81.d

### Crisis actors rehearse the show verbatim with Caesar.

In this paragraph, Caesar’s “horses” who had “crossed” the “Rubicon” start to “weep”.

The encrypted story seems to be about crisis actors rehearsing with Caesar: equorum “horses” puns with aeqorum “equal”. traiciendo “crossing” puns with tricando “playing tricks”. And flere “weeping” puns with fallere “tricking”. So it seems the spooks were rehearsing their theatrical tricks. The pun of pertinacissimus pabulo “persevering [to refuse] food” may be with praetens-issimus popello “pretended common people”, i.e. crisis actors playing “the crowd”. The “Rubicon” could again stand for red paint, but the word that best fits the context is urbaniciani “urban”, i.e. the crisis actors pretending to be urban citizens.

The diviner Spurinna appears as a pun with spurius “spurious”, already decrypted by Miles. Her divination about the Martias Idus “middle of the month March” seems to be a pun with mortis idos “appearing to be dead”, i.e. Ceasar’s acting. The periculum “trial” that the diviner warns him about, may stand for an actual “trial” or “test”, i.e. his rehearsal.

Note how the literal story aimlessly jumps from horses, to divination, to birds. But the pun-encrypted story fits together seamlessly: The crisis actors rehearse together with Caesar and applaud him!

#### Divus Julius 81.e

> Encrypted: The next day, people like a common crowd which while playing as a trick to be urban subjects in jest and who were roaming about and without having been seen had been send out, they appeared while pretending to be common people, and in pretence verbatim enacted the deception. And when emulating, the sight was horrific yet spurious, he was painted red and lied down in trying which would not be over until of death the appearance was presented believably.

> Official: The next day, the horses of the flock herd, which while crossing the Rubicon river he had consecrated, and who were roaming about and without being overseen had been send out, they were found out to have tenaciously the food refused, and abundantly wept & cried. And when he was sacrificing, the soothsayer Spurinna warned him to beware of a peril, which would not be over until of the month March the middle had come.

> The next
> proximus: nearest, next
> proximis
> proximus: nearest, next
> The next
> day,
> dies / diebus: day
> diebus
> dies / diebus: day
> day,
> [people] like
> aequus / aequorum: equal, like
> equorum
> equus / equorum: horse
> the horses
> a [common] crowd
> grex: crowd, group of people, troupe of actors
> greges
> grex: flock, swarm
> [of] the flock [herd?],
> which
> qui: who, which
> quos
> qui: who, which
> which
> while
> in: in
> in
> in: in
> while
> playing as a trick
> trico / tricando: play tricks
> traiciendo
> traicio / traiciendo: cause to go across
> crossing
> to be urban [???]
> urbicus / urbicorum: city, civic; urbanicianus / urbaniciani: city-garrisoned
> Rubiconi
> Rubicon: Rubicon; robus: red; rufus: red; rufesco: redden
> the Rubicon
> subjects [?]
> famulus / famuli: servant, slave, subject
> flumini
> flumen / flumini: river
> river
> in jest [???]
> con-: with; scurror / scurratus: play the buffoon; scurra: jester, joker, clown
> consecrarat
> consecro / consecratus: consecrate, set apart
> he had consecrated,
> and
> ac: and
> ac
> ac: and
> and
> [who were] roaming about
> vagus: roaming, vagrant
> uagos
> vagus: roaming, vagrant
> [who were] roaming about
> and
> et: and
> et
> et: and
> and
> without
> sine: without
> sine
> sine: without
> without
> having been seen
> custodio: guard, watch, observe
> custode
> custodio: guard, watch, observe
> being overseen
> [had been] send out,
> dimitto: send out, scatter
> dimiserat
> dimitto: send out, scatter
> [had been] send out,
> [they] appeared
> compareo: visible, appear
> comperit
> comperio: find out
> [they were] found out
> [while] pretending [to be]
> praetendo / praetensus: pretend; -issimus: (superlative)
> pertinacissime
> pertinacissimus: persevering; pertendo: persevere
> [to have] tenaciously
> common people,
> populus / populo: people; popellus / popello: common people
> pabulo
> pabulum / pabulo: food, fodder
> the food
> [and in] pretence
> obtineo: show; obtentus: pretence, veil
> abstinere
> abstineo: abstain, keep off
> refused,
> verbatim
> verbatim: verbatim, word for word
> ubertimque
> ubertim: abundantly
> [and] abundantly
> [enacted] the deception.
> fallo / fallere: deceive, trick
> flere
> fleo / flere: weep, cry
> wept & cried.
> And
> et: and
> et
> et: and
> And
> [when] emulating,
> aemulo: emulate, imitate
> immolantem
> immolo: immolate, sacrifice
> [when he was??] sacrificing,
> the sight [was] horrific
> horreo: dread, frightful; specio / spex: look at, see
> haruspex
> haruspex: diviner; hira: gut; specio / spex: look at, see
> the soothsayer
> [yet] spurious,
> spurius / spurio: spurious, false
> Spurinna
> Spurinna: Spurinna
> Spurinna
> [he?] was painted red [??]
> minio: paint red, colored red
> monuit
> moneo: admonish, advise, warn
> warned him
> [and] lied down
> cubo / cubaret: lie down
> caueret
> caveo / caveret: take care, beware, avoid
> to beware
> [in] trying
> periculum: experiment, trial, attempt
> periculum
> periculum: peril, danger
> of a peril,
> which
> qui: who, which
> quod
> qui: who, which
> which
> [would] not
> non: not
> non
> non: not
> [would] not
> be over [until]
> ultra: past, over
> ultra
> ultra: past, over
> be over [until]
> of death
> mortis: death
> Martias
> Martius: of Mars
> [of] the month March
> the appearance
> idos: form, shape, appearance
> Idus
> idus: ides, middle of month
> the middle
> [was] presented [believably].
> profero: produce, appear, present, show oneself
> proferretur
> profero: bring out, bring forth
> had come.

> Divus Julius 81.e

### Crisis actors enact a crowd and applaud Caesar.

#### Divus Julius 81.f

> Encrypted: The day before also, people in the same appearance applauded the ruler at his ghostly mischivous deed, when pompously and elaborately he himself inflicted it, and vulgar people of various stocks out of the nearest population were imitated by the same plan.

> Official: On the day before also, on the same day in the middle of the month, a bird wren with a laurel twig into the Pompeian court itself came in, and other birds of various sorts out of the nearest grove persued the same and mutilated it.

> The day before
> pridie: day before
> pridie
> pridie: day before
> [On] the day before
> also,
> autem: also
> autem
> autem: also
> also,
> [people in] the same
> idem: the same
> easdem
> idem: the same
> [on] the same [day?]
> appearance
> idos: form, shape, appearance
> Idus
> idus: ides, middle of month
> in the middle of the month,
> applauded
> ovo / ovem: rejoice, applaud
> auem
> avis / avem: bird
> a bird
> the ruler
> regalis: royal; regulus: ruler
> regaliolum
> regaliolus: wren, (small bird)
> wren
> at
> cum: with
> cum
> cum: with
> with
> [his] ghostly
> larvalis: ghostly
> laureo
> laureus: of laurel
> a laurel
> mischivous deed [??],
> res / re: deed, affair; malus: mischievous
> ramulo
> ramulus: twig, sprig
> twig
> [when?] pompously [?]
> pomposus: pompous; pompaticus: showy
> Pompeianae
> Pompeius: Pompey
> into the Pompeian
> and elaborately [?]
> curiosus: elaborate, complicated
> curiae
> curia: court
> court
> he himself
> se: himself, itself
> se
> se: himself, itself
> itself
> inflicted [it],
> infero: cause, inflict
> inferentem
> infero: bring in
> came in,
> and vulgar [people]
> vulgaris: common, vulgar
> uolucres
> volucris: bird
> [and other] birds
> of various
> varius: various
> uarii
> varius: various
> of various
> stocks
> gens: people
> generis
> genus: race, type
> sorts
> out of
> ex: out of
> ex
> ex: out of
> out of
> the nearest
> proximus: nearest
> proximo
> proximus: nearest
> the nearest
> population
> numerosus: populous, of many people
> nemore
> nemus / nemore: grove, glade
> grove
> were imitated
> persequor: imitate
> persecutae
> persequor: follow, pursue
> persued
> [by] the same
> ibidem: in that place
> ibidem
> ibidem: in that place
> the same
> plan.
> descriptio: plan, description
> discerpserunt
> discerpo: rend, mangle, mutilate
> [and] mutilated [it].

> Divus Julius 81.f

### Caesar rehearses his death, and tricks his wife.

Here, Caesar has a dream of himself “flying” in the “clouds”. nubes “clouds” puns with nubes “veiling”, and volitare “flying” puns with velator “veil”. So he probably veils himself with a veil. Perhaps it’s a literal veil, i.e. he pratices lying beneath a shroud, pretending to be dead. The other words support this.

Then his wife imagines he fell from the top of their “marital” house, and him being “stabbed”. maritum “marital” puns with mortium “mortal”, and confodio “stabbing” puns with confundo “confounding”. So Caesar may have practiced the trick on his wife, who really imagined he was dead. I don’t quite believe this one though: Partners of spooks should know after some time that their spouses are up to mischief every day.

#### Divus Julius 81.g

> Encrypted: That very night, which dawned to the day when he was to be felled also just he to himself made such an appearance, it was by lying quietly for some time having above him a veil veiling him. And in another night when by assistants skillful he was joined. And even Calpurnia his wife imagined that he had really fallen down from the top of the house to his death, and even in her lap having her confounded by assuming a form of death in the bedchamber in deceit spontaneously he could.

> Official: That very night, which dawned to the day when he was to be felled also he to himself was seen, being by quietly for some time above the clouds flying, and in another night that with Jupiter at the right hand he was joined. And Calpurnia his wife had imagined that there was falling down the top of the house of her marriage, and in her lap he was lying stabbed, and suddenly in the bedchamber the doors on their own will opened.

> That
> is / ea: he, she, it
> ea
> is / ea: he, she, it
> That
> very
> verus: actual, right
> uero
> verus: actual, right
> very
> night,
> nox / nocte: night
> nocte
> nox / nocte: night
> night,
> which
> cui: who, which
> cui
> cui: who, which
> which
> dawned
> inlucesco: begin to dawn
> inluxit
> inlucesco: begin to dawn
> dawned
> [to] the day
> dies: day
> dies
> dies: day
> [to] the day
> [when he was] to be felled
> caedo: cut, hew, fell
> caedis
> caedo: cut, hew, fell
> [when he was] to be felled
> also
> et: and
> et
> et: and
> also
> just he
> ipse: just, himself
> ipse
> ipse: just, himself
> he
> to himself
> sui / sibi: of himself
> sibi
> sui / sibi: of himself
> to himself
> made [such] an appearance,
> video / visus: be seen, appear
> uisus
> video / visus: see, perceive
> was seen,
> [it] was
> sum / est: be
> est
> sum / est: be
> being
> by
> per: through, by
> per
> per: through, by
> by
> [lying] quietly
> quies: quiet, calm, keeping still
> quietem
> quies: quiet, calm, keeping still
> quietly
> for some time
> interdum: for some time
> interdum
> interdum: for some time
> for some time
> [having] above [him?]
> supra: above, over
> supra
> supra: above, over
> above
> a veil
> nubo / nubes: cover, veil
> nubes
> nubes: cloud, concealment
> the clouds
> veiling [him].
> velo / velato / velator: veil; vallo / vallito / vallator: surround
> uolitare
> volito / volitare: fly about
> flying,
> [And in] another [night]
> alius / alias: another, other, different
> alias
> alius / alias: another, other, different
> [and in] another [night]
> when
> cum: when
> cum
> cum: when
> that
> by assistants
> iuvo / iuves: help, assist
> Ioue
> Iovis: Jupiter
> [with] Jupiter
> skillful
> dexter: skillful, proper
> dextram
> dexter: right, right hand
> [at] the right hand
> [he was] joined.
> iungo: join, unite
> iungere
> iungo: join, unite
> [he was] joined.
> And [even]
> et: and
> et
> et: and
> And
> Calpurnia
> Calpurnia: Calpurnia
> Calpurnia
> Calpurnia: Calpurnia
> Calpurnia
> [his] wife
> uxor: wife, consort
> uxor
> uxor: wife, consort
> [his] wife
> imagined
> imaginatus: imagine
> imaginata
> imaginatus: imagine
> had imagined
> [that he] had [really]
> sum / est: be
> est
> sum / est: be
> [that there] was
> fallen down [??]
> collabor / conlabi: collapse, fall in
> conlabi
> collabor / conlabi: collapse, fall in
> falling down
> [from] the top
> fastigium: top, gable, sharp point
> fastigium
> fastigium: top, gable, sharp point
> the top
> of the house
> domus: house
> domus
> domus: house
> of the house
> [to his] death,
> mors / mortium: death, corpse
> maritumque
> maritus / maritum: marital
> of her marriage,
> [and even] in
> in: in, into, for
> in
> in: in, into, for
> [and] in
> [her] lap
> gremium: lap, bosom, female genital parts
> gremio
> gremium: lap, bosom, female genital parts
> [her] lap
> [having] her
> suus / suo: his, her, its
> suo
> suus / suo: his, her, its
> he
> confounded
> confundo: confound, confuse
> confodi
> confodio: damage, stab, pierce
> was [lying] stabbed,
> [by]
> ac: and
> ac
> ac: and
> and
> assuming a form [of death?]
> subeo / subito: enter stealthily, come secretly, assume a form
> subito
> subeo / subito: enter, suddenly
> suddenly
> in the bedchamber
> cubiculum: bedchamber
> cubiculi
> cubiculum: bedchamber
> in the bedchamber
> in deceit
> fraus: fraud, trickery, deceit
> fores
> foris: door, gate
> the doors
> spontaneously
> sponte: willingly, spontaneously
> sponte
> sponte: willingly, spontaneously
> on their own will
> [he] could.
> possum / potes / potui: can, able
> patuerunt
> pateo / pates / patui: open
> opened.

> Divus Julius 81.g

## Faking Caesar’s assassination

### No delay allowed, the event must start.

This paragraph works even without punnery: Caesar ponders to delay the event, but Brutus convinces him not to. The only necessary pun is of propono “propose [before the senate]” with propono “display [before the senate]”. It’s actually the same word in another meaning.

#### Divus Julius 81.h

> Encrypted: Unto all this together, and unto his infirm health, for a while he was in doubt whether he should himself keep safe, and for that which before the senate he would display make a deferral. But finally, Decimus Brutus encouraged him not the many people and the now for a time running operation to disappoint.

> Official: Unto all this together, and unto his infirm health, for a while he was in doubt whether he should himself keep safe, and for that which before the senate he would propose make a deferral. But finally, Decimus Brutus encouraged him not the crowded and now for a time waiting senate to disappoint.

> Unto
> ob: to
> Ob
> ob: to
> Unto
> [all] this
> hic / haec: here
> haec
> hic / haec: here
> [all] this
> together,
> simul: same time, simultaneous
> simul
> simul: same time, simultaneous
> together,
> and
> et: and
> et
> et: and
> and
> unto
> ob: to
> ob
> ob: to
> unto
> [his] infirm
> infirmus: infirm, weak
> infirmam
> infirmus: infirm, weak
> [his] infirm
> health,
> valetudo: habit, state of body, health
> ualitudinem
> valetudo: habit, state of body, health
> health,
> for a while
> diu: a while
> diu
> diu: a while
> for a while
> [he] was in doubt
> cunctor / cunctatus: delay, hesitate, doubt
> cunctatus
> cunctor / cunctatus: delay, hesitate, doubt
> [he] was in doubt
> whether
> an: or whether
> an
> an: or whether
> whether
> [he should] himself
> se: himself
> se
> se: himself
> [he should] himself
> keep safe,
> contineo: contain, hold, keep safe, enclose
> contineret
> contineo: contain, hold, keep safe, enclose
> keep safe,
> and
> et: and
> et
> et: and
> and
> [for] that which
> qui / quae: who, which, what
> quae
> qui / quae: who, which, what
> [for] that which
> before
> apud: among, before
> apud
> apud: among, before
> before
> the senate
> senatus: senate
> senatum
> senatus: senate
> the senate
> he would display
> propono / proposuerat: expose to view, represent, display
> proposuerat
> propono / proposuerat: propose
> he would propose
> make
> ago / agere: do, make, act
> agere
> ago / agere: do, make, act
> make
> a deferral.
> differo: defer, separate
> differret
> differo: defer, separate
> a deferral.
> [But] finally,
> tandem: finally
> tandem
> tandem: finally
> [But] finally,
> Decimus
> Decimus: Decimus
> Decimo
> Decimus: Decimus
> Decimus
> Brutus
> Brutus: Brutus
> Bruto
> Brutus: Brutus
> Brutus
> encouraged [him]
> adhortor: stimulate, encourage
> adhortante
> adhortor: stimulate, encourage
> encouraged [him]
> not
> ne: not
> ne
> ne: not
> not
> the many people [??]
> frequens: frequent, crowded, populous
> frequentis
> frequens: frequent, crowded, populous
> the crowded [??]
> and
> ac: and
> ac
> ac: and
> and
> [the] now
> iam: already, now, soon
> iam
> iam: already, now, soon
> now
> for a time
> dudum: short time ago
> dudum
> dudum: short time ago
> for a time
> [running?] operation [??]
> operatio: operation, activity; opertus: covered
> opperientis
> opperior: wait, await
> waiting [senate?]
> to disappoint.
> destituo: leave, disappoint
> destitueret
> destituo: leave, disappoint
> to disappoint.

> Divus Julius 81.h

### Caesar is handed a leaflet describing the plot.

This paragraph also works with very little punnery: Someone hands Caesar a leaflet describing the “plot”, but he just puts it together with other documents, to read it later. The surface story is strange: Who would do this, and how would the author even know? But it may have been a leaflet describing the “plot of the theatrical play” he was about to perform. He holds it with other papers to conceal it.

#### Divus Julius 81.i

> Encrypted: So at five nearly at the hour he proceeded being having a leaflet of the deception being given in brief hints, from preventing someone on the way disturbing it all with the leaflets others which he had in his left hand he held it as if soon he would read them combined.

> Official: So at five nearly at the hour he proceeded being having a leaflet of the plot being revealed, by having met someone on the way who offered it, with the leaflets others which he had in his left hand he held it as if soon he would read them combined.

> [So at] five
> quintus: fifth
> quinta
> quintus: fifth
> [So at] five
> nearly
> fere: nearly
> fere
> fere: nearly
> nearly
> at the hour
> hora: hour
> hora
> hora: hour
> at the hour
> [he] proceeded
> progressus: progress, proceed
> progressus
> progressus: progress, proceed
> [he] proceeded
> being [having]
> est: is
> est
> est: is
> being [having]
> a leaflet
> libellus: little book, leaflet, petition
> libellumque
> libellus: little book, leaflet, petition
> a leaflet
> of the deception
> insidiosus: cunning, deceitful
> insidiarum
> insidia / insidiae: artifice, ambush, plot
> of the plot
> being given in brief hints,
> indico: point out, declare, give hint, state briefly
> indicem
> indico: point out, reveal, uncover
> being revealed,
> from
> ab: from, by
> ab
> ab: from, by
> by
> preventing
> obvio: prevent
> obuio
> obvio: meet
> having met
> someone [on the way]
> quidam: someone
> quodam
> quidam: someone
> someone [on the way]
> disturbing [it all]
> perago: pierce, harass, disturb
> porrectum
> porrigo: spread out, offer
> [who] offered [it],
> [with] the leaflets
> libellus: little book, leaflet, petition
> libellis
> libellus: little book, leaflet, petition
> [with] the leaflets
> others
> ceterus: the other, rest
> ceteris
> ceterus: the other, rest
> others
> which [he had]
> qui / quos: which
> quos
> qui / quos: which
> which [he had]
> in his left
> sinister: left
> sinistra
> sinister: left
> in his left
> hand
> manus: hand
> manu
> manus: hand
> hand
> he held [it]
> teneo: hold, possess
> tenebat
> teneo: hold, possess
> he held [it]
> as if
> quasi: as if, like
> quasi
> quasi: as if, like
> as if
> soon
> mox: soon
> mox
> mox: soon
> soon
> he would read [them]
> lecturus: read, recite
> lecturus
> lecturus: read, recite
> he would read [them]
> combined.
> commisceo: join, combine
> commiscuit
> commisceo: join, combine
> combined.

> Divus Julius 81.i

### The senate building is blocked to the public through tricks.

The spretus “separated [entrails]” here may hint at “separating off” the senate, so that no commoners could disturb the spooks. Such separations, with spookling bouncers and the like, are still used today.

Spurinna appears again as a pun with spurius “spurious”, as does the Martias Idus, with mortis idos “appearing to be dead”.

#### Divus Julius 81.j

> Encrypted: Then more tricks were used together at the sides, so none was able to enter the senate court which was separated scrupulously. For the false mockery, and because of the false show, because even without any of its harmful events, the appearance of death would still be present. Although of it there could still come someone going in it was said, but not yet had anything been seen.

> Official: Then more sacrifices were cut open when obtaining omens, but none said he could enter the senate court in the severed entrails sacred. Spurinna he laughed at, and at that of lying accused her, because without any of her harmful events the Ides of Mars was present. But of it there would still come something following she said, but not yet has it passed.

> Then
> deinde: then, next
> dein
> deinde: then, next
> Then
> more
> plus / pluribus: more
> pluribus
> plus / pluribus: more
> more
> tricks
> astus / astui: craft, guile, tricks; astutia / astutiis: cunning trick
> hostiis
> hostia / hostiis: sacrifice
> sacrifices
> were used together [?]
> co-: together; usus: use
> caesis
> caesus: cut, felled
> were cut open
> at
> cum: with, at
> cum
> cum: when
> when
> the sides,
> latus / latera: side, flank; lateralis: lateral
> litare
> lito / litare: make an offering, obtain omen
> obtaining omens,
> [so] none
> non: not
> non
> non: not
> [but] none
> was able
> possum / posset: can, able
> posset
> possum / posset: can, able
> [said he] could
> to enter
> introeo: enter
> introiit
> introeo: enter
> enter
> the [senate] court
> curia / curiam: court, senate
> curiam
> curia / curiam: court, senate
> the [senate] court
> [which] was separated
> sperno / spretus: separate, reject, scorn
> spreta
> sperno / spretus: sever
> [in] the severed [entrails?]
> scrupulously.
> religiosus: scrupulous
> religione
> religiosus: religious, sacred
> sacred.
> [For] the false
> spurio: spurious, false
> Spurinnamque
> Spurinna: Spurinna
> Spurinna
> mockery,
> irrideo: laugh at, mock
> irridens
> irrideo: laugh at, mock
> [he] laughed at,
> and
> et: and
> et
> et: and
> and
> because [of]
> ut: as, like, that, because, although
> ut
> ut: as, like, that, because, although
> at that
> the false
> falsum: falsehood, deceit, lie
> falsum
> falsum: falsehood, deceit, lie
> of lying
> show,
> arguo: declare, show, accuse, blame
> arguens
> arguo: declare, show, accuse, blame
> accused [her?],
> because
> quod: which, because
> quod
> quod: which, because
> because
> [even] without
> sine: without
> sine
> sine: without
> without
> any
> ullus: any
> ulla
> ullus: any
> any
> [of] its
> sua: hers
> sua
> sua: hers
> [of] her
> harmful [events],
> noxa: hurt, harm
> noxa
> noxa: hurt, harm
> harmful [events]
> the appearance
> idos: form, shape, appearance
> Idus
> idus: ides, middle of month
> the Ides
> of death
> mortis: death
> Martiae
> Martius: of Mars
> of Mars
> [would still?] be present.
> adsum / adesse: present
> adessent
> adsum / adesse: present
> was present.
> Although
> quamquam: although
> quanquam
> quamquam: although
> But
> [of] it
> is: he, she, it
> is
> is: he, she, it
> [of] it
> [there could still] come
> venio / venisse: come
> uenisse
> venio / venisse: come
> [there would still] come
> someone
> quidam: someone, something
> quidem
> quidam: someone, something
> something
> going [in?]
> eo / eas: go, proceed, follow
> eas
> eo / eas: go, proceed, follow
> following
> [it was] said,
> dice / diceret: say
> diceret
> dice / diceret: say
> [she] said,
> but
> sed: but
> sed
> sed: but
> but
> not [yet]
> non: not
> non
> non: not
> not [yet]
> [had anything] been seen.
> pareo / pareto / paretur: appear, visible, apparent, be seen
> praeterisse
> praetereo: go by, omit, pass, miss
> [has it] passed.

> Divus Julius 81.j

### The assassins are assuming their theatrical parts.

Here, Tillius Cimber is said to be the first to partes susceperat “assume his part” in the assassination. But that expression also means to “assume a part” in a theatrical play. He also “gestures” to Caesar beforehand, which is absolutely not what an assassin would do. But a fellow actor in a staged play would!

#### Divus Julius 82.a

> Encrypted: As he sat down, the spurners mockers for the view to block it stood around him. Then Cimber Tillius who first his theatrical role assumed, as if he had something to quarrel about, nearer approached him. He announced it and gestured him to in mockery attempt the confounding.

> Official: As he sat down, the conspirators in appearance of a courtesy greetings stood around him. Then Cimber Tillius, who first his part assumed, as if he had something to ask, nearer approached him. But he declined and gestured to him to ask at some other time different.

> [As he] sat down,
> assideo: sit down before
> assidentem
> assideo: sit down before
> [As he] sat down,
> the spurners [mockers??]
> con-: with; sperno / spretus / spreti: spurn, scorn
> conspirati
> conspiratus: conspiring, agreement, harmony
> the conspirators
> [for] the view
> species: sight, look, view, appearance
> specie
> species: sight, look, view, appearance
> [in] appearance
> to block [it]
> officio / offici: obstruct, hinder, block
> officii
> officium / officii: service, favor, courtesy
> of a courtesy [greetings]
> stood around [him].
> circumsto: stand around
> circumsteterunt
> circumsto: stand around
> stood around [him].
> Then
> ilico: there
> ilicoque
> ilico: there
> Then
> Cimber
> Cimber: Cimber
> Cimber
> Cimber: Cimber
> Cimber
> Tillius
> Tillius: Tillius
> Tillius
> Tillius: Tillius
> Tillius,
> who
> qui: who
> qui
> qui: who
> who
> first
> primas: first
> primas
> primas: first
> first
> [his] theatrical role
> pars / partes: character in theater
> partes
> pars / partes: part, piece
> [his] part
> assumed,
> suscipio: assume; susceptor: entertainer
> susceperat
> suscipio: take up
> assumed,
> as if
> quasi: as if, like
> quasi
> quasi: as if, like
> as if
> [he had] something
> aliquis: something
> aliquid
> aliquis: something
> [he had] something
> to quarrel about,
> rixor / rixatus: quarrel, brawl
> rogaturus
> rogo / rogaturus: interrogate, ask
> to ask,
> nearer
> propior / propius: nearer
> propius
> propior / propius: nearer
> nearer
> approached [him].
> accedo / accessit: go toward, approach
> accessit
> accedo / accessit: go toward, approach
> approached [him].
> [He] announced [it]
> renuntio: renounce, announce, report
> renuentique
> renuens / renuenti: refusing, declining
> [But he] declined
> and
> et: and
> et
> et: and
> and
> gestured [him]
> gestus / gestum: gesture
> gestum
> gestus / gestum: gesture
> gestured [to him]
> [to] in
> in: in
> in
> in: in
> [to ask] at
> mockery
> alludo: jest, mocking allusion; illudo: mock
> aliud
> alius / aliud: another, else
> some other
> attempt [??]
> tempto: test, try; adtempto: attempt, try
> tempus
> tempus: time, occasion
> time
> the confounding [??].
> differo: confound, distract
> differenti
> differo: differ, different
> different.

> Divus Julius 82.a

### The attackers shout: “It’s only an appearance!”

After having “gestured” to Caesar, Tillius now seizes him at both shoulders. This is also ridiculous: Real assassins would try to stab their victim unnoticed from behind, and then leave. No one interferes, because as in all fake assassinations, the world’s richest people have no bodyguard, and government buildings are also unguarded.

Caesar then exclaims: quidem vis est “this is an assault”, which puns with quidem visus est “this is [only] an appearance”! The vulnerat “wounding” afterwards may be a pun with velarat “veiling” / “covering”, so that Caesar can use the theatrical props.

#### Divus Julius 82.b

> Encrypted: On both sides of the shoulders by the toga he seized him. Then he called out: This in fact only an appearance is! One of the Casca family from the other side covered him a little under another angle.

> Official: On both sides of the shoulders by the toga he seized him. Then he called out: This in fact an assault is! One of the Casca family from the other side wounded him a little under the collarbone.

> On
> ab: from
> ab
> ab: from
> On
> both [sides]
> uterque / utroque: both
> utroque
> uterque / utroque: both
> both [sides]
> [of] the shoulders
> umerus: upper arm, shoulder
> umero
> umerus: upper arm, shoulder
> [of] the shoulders
> [by] the toga
> toga: toga
> togam
> toga: toga
> [by] the toga
> [he] seized [him].
> apprehendo / apprehendit: seize, apprehend
> adprehendit
> apprehendo / apprehendit: seize, apprehend
> [he] seized [him].
> Then
> deinde: then, next
> deinde
> deinde: then, next
> Then
> [he] called out:
> clamo: call
> clamantem
> clamo: call
> [he] called out:
> This
> iste / ista: that, he
> ista
> iste / ista: that, he
> This
> in fact
> quidem: indeed, in fact
> quidem
> quidem: indeed, in fact
> in fact
> [only] an appearance
> video / visus / visu: see, be seen, seem, appear
> uis
> vis: strength, violence, assault
> an assault
> is!
> sum / est: be
> est!'
> sum / est: be
> is!
> One
> alter: one, another
> alter
> alter: one, another
> One
> of
> ex / e: out of
> e
> ex / e: out of
> of
> [the] Casca [family]
> Casca: Casca
> Cascis
> Casca: Casca
> [the] Casca [family]
> [from] the other side [?]
> aversus / aversum: averse, facing away, rear
> auersum
> aversus / aversum: averse, facing away, rear
> [from] the other side [?]
> covered [him]
> velo / velarat: veil, conceal, cover
> uulnerat
> vulnero / vulnerat: wound, injure, hurt
> wounded [him]
> a little
> paulus / paulum: little
> paulum
> paulus / paulum: little
> a little
> under
> infra: below
> infra
> infra: below
> under
> [another] angle [??].
> angulus / angulum: angle, out-of-the-way spot
> iugulum
> iugulum: collarbone
> the collarbone.

> Divus Julius 82.b

### Caesar stabs his red paint bag with his stylus.

Caesar stabs an attacker in the arm with his stylus. This seems to be the only moment of toughness & defense the author has granted him here.

If the stabbing with the stylus is not a pun, then this may be how the bags filled with red paint are used, which were introduced before: You puncture them with a sharp object, and the red paint will leak out!

The only word I found that’s somewhat close to brachium “arm” and means “bag” is pera. You could add the suffix -cum or -culum to get the C.

The rest fits very well: prosilio means “leaping forward”, but also “gushing forward”, like fake blood.

#### Divus Julius 82.c

> Encrypted: Then Caesar a hidden satchel seized and with his graphic stylus stabbed it. Similar to gushing out, mocking a wounding deliberately it was.

> Official: Then Caesar of Casca the forearm seized and with his graphic stylus stabbed it. In an effort to leap away by another wounding hindered he was.

> [Then] Caesar
> Caesar: Caesar
> Caesar
> Caesar: Caesar
> [Then] Caesar
> a hidden
> caecus / caecis / caeca: hidden, secret, concealed
> Cascae
> Casca: Casca
> [of] Casca
> satchel [???]
> pera: bag, satchel; -cum: (suffix); perula: little wallet; peracula: little bag
> brachium
> brachium: lower arm, forearm
> the forearm
> seized
> arreptus: seized, arrested
> arreptum
> arreptus: seized, arrested
> seized
> [and with his] graphic stylus
> graphium: stylus, pen
> graphio
> graphium: stylus, pen
> [and with his] graphic stylus
> stabbed [it].
> traicio: stab, pierce
> traiecit
> traicio: stab, pierce
> stabbed [it].
> Similar
> connatus: twin, similar, alike
> conatusque
> conatus: attempt, effort
> In an effort
> to gushing out,
> prosilio: gush out
> prosilire
> prosilio: leap, rush, jump
> to leap [away]
> mocking
> alludo / allusi: jest, mocking allusion
> alio
> alius / aliud / alio: another, different
> [by] another
> a wounding
> vulnero: wound, injure, hurt
> uulnere
> vulnero: wound, injure, hurt
> wounding
> deliberately [??]
> tardus: slow, measured, deliberate
> tardatus
> tardo: retard, hinder
> hindered
> [it] was.
> sum / est: be
> est
> sum / est: be
> [he] was.

> Divus Julius 82.c

### When painted sufficiently, Caesar falls down covering himself.

Caesar covers his nether regions with his toga before he falls down to die. Is this what a real conqueror would do in his last moment?

Very little punnery is needed here, as the paragraph already reads like a staged play. Only the strictis pugionibus peti “tightly with daggers attacked” would be a pun with strictim pingebas pateo “superficially painted extensively” (grammar may be wrong).

#### Divus Julius 82.d

> Encrypted: As he noticed that from all sides himself superficially was painted extensively, with his toga his head he covered, simutaneously with his left hand the folds of his toga to his lower legs he drew, so that more handsomely he would fall with still his lower body parts covered.

> Official: As he noticed that from all sides himself tightly was with daggers aimed for, with his toga his head he covered, simutaneously with his left hand the folds of his toga to his lower legs he drew, so that more honorable he would fall with still his lower body parts covered.

> As [he]
> ut: as, how
> utque
> ut: as, how
> As [he]
> noticed [that]
> animadverto: attend, notice
> animaduertit
> animadverto: attend, notice
> noticed [that]
> from all sides
> undique: from all sides, completely
> undique
> undique: from all sides, completely
> from all sides
> himself
> se: himself
> se
> se: himself
> himself
> superficially
> strictim: superficially, cursorily
> strictis
> strictus / strictis: tight, close
> tightly
> was painted
> pingo / pingebas: paint, color, deceptive; -es / -ibus: (suffix)
> pugionibus
> pugio / pugionibus: dagger
> [was with] daggers
> extensively,
> pateo / pate: open, extend
> peti
> peto: seek, aim at, attack
> aimed for,
> [with his] toga
> toga: toga
> toga
> toga: toga
> [with his] toga
> [his] head
> caput: head
> caput
> caput: head
> [his] head
> he covered,
> obvolvo: wrap around, cover all over
> obuoluit
> obvolvo: wrap around, cover all over
> he covered,
> simutaneously
> simul: simultaneously
> simul
> simul: simultaneously
> simutaneously
> [with his] left
> sinister: left
> sinistra
> sinister: left
> [with his] left
> hand
> manus: hand
> manu
> manus: hand
> hand
> the folds [of his toga]
> sinus / sinum: fold, garment, hanging toga
> sinum
> sinus / sinum: fold, garment, hanging toga
> the folds [of his toga]
> to
> ad: to
> ad
> ad: to
> to
> his lower
> imus: lowest
> ima
> imus: lowest
> his lower
> legs
> crus / crura: leg
> crura
> crus / crura: leg
> legs
> he drew,
> deduco: draw out, draw down
> deduxit
> deduco: draw out, draw down
> he drew,
> so that
> quo: so that
> quo
> quo: so that
> so that
> more handsomely
> honestus: decent, handsome
> honestius
> honestior / honestius: honorable
> more honorable
> [he would] fall
> cado: fall
> caderet
> cado: fall
> [he would] fall
> [with] still
> etiam: yet, still
> etiam
> etiam: yet, still
> [with] still
> [his] lower
> inferus: below, lower
> inferiore
> inferus: below, lower
> [his] lower
> body
> corpus: body
> corporis
> corpus: body
> body
> parts
> pars: part
> parte
> pars: part
> parts
> covered.
> velo / velata: veil, cover
> uelata
> velo / velata: veil, cover
> covered.

> Divus Julius 82.d

### Et tu, Brute? Caesar retires with a trick.

This is the famous dying Caesar quote, spoken to Brutus: “And you, child?” But according to the text, Caesar says it in Greek! The phrase already makes little sense, but how can the Greek make sense? My guess is that this part was copied from some Greek text, perhaps about another fake assassination, and the authors couldn’t make the punnery work in Latin!

This pun was actually the easiest: και συ τεκνον kai su teknon “and you, child” puns with χαζω τεχνην chazō technēn “retiring with a cunning trick”. Which is what this fake assassination is, plain & simple.

Note also the naughty pun hinting at their relationship.

#### Divus Julius 82.e

> Encrypted: And in this way with agitation and empty impressions he did the confusion, being once only in the first performance act of a comedy, but without any voice part performed, although say some that when Marcus Brutus once rushed into him he said: I shall retire with a cunning subterfuge!

> Official: And in this way with three and twenty wounds he was damaged, being having once only at the first blow groaned, but without any loud sound emitted, although say some that when Marcus Brutus attacked him, he said: Even you, child?

> And
> atque: and
> atque
> atque: and
> And
> in this way
> ita: therefore, in this way
> ita
> ita: therefore, in this way
> in this way
> [with] agitation
> turbo / turbas / turbes: disturb, agitate
> tribus
> tres / tribus: three
> [with] three
> and
> et: and
> et
> et: and
> and
> empty
> vacans / vacanti: emptying
> uiginti
> viginti: twenty
> twenty
> impressions
> plaga: web, trap, curtain, impression
> plagis
> plaga: wound, strike
> wounds
> [he did] the confusion,
> confundo / confusu: confound, confuse
> confossus
> confodio / confossus: damage
> [he was] damaged,
> being
> sum / est: be
> est
> sum / est: be
> being [having]
> once
> unus / uno: one
> uno
> unus / uno: one
> once
> only
> modo: merely, only
> modo
> modo: merely, only
> only
> in
> ad: to
> ad
> ad: to
> at
> the first
> primus: first
> primum
> primus: first
> the first
> performance act
> actus: act, representation of a character, performance of play
> ictum
> ictus: blow, stab
> blow
> of a comedy [???],
> comoedus / comoedo: of comedy
> gemitu
> gemitus / gemitu: sigh, groan
> groaned,
> [but] without
> sine: without
> sine
> sine: without
> [but] without
> any voice [part]
> vox / voce: voice, sound
> uoce
> vox / voce: voice, sound
> any [loud] sound
> performed,
> edo / edito: produce, perform, show
> edito
> edo / edito: give out, bring forth
> emitted,
> although
> etsi: although
> etsi
> etsi: although
> although
> say
> trado / tradiderunt: teach, narrate
> tradiderunt
> trado / tradiderunt: teach, narrate
> say
> some [that when]
> quidam: someone
> quidam
> quidam: someone
> some [that when]
> Marcus
> Marcus: Marcus
> Marco
> Marcus: Marcus
> Marcus
> Brutus
> Brutus: Brutus
> Bruto
> Brutus: Brutus
> Brutus
> [once?] rushed into [him] [!?!]
> inruo / inruent: force way in, throw self on, enter eagerly in; inrumo: oral sex
> irruenti
> inruo / inruent: attack, invade, rush into
> attacked [him],
> [he] said:
> dico: say, talk
> dixisse
> dico: say, talk
> [he] said:
> [I shall] retire
> χαζω chazō: draw back, retire from
> και συ kai su
> και kai: and; συ su: you
> Even you,
> [with a] cunning subterfuge!
> τεχνη / τεχνην technē / technēn: art, craft, cunning, wile; τεχναζω technazō: cunning, art, subterfuge
> τεκνον teknon
> τεκνον teknon: child
> child?

> Divus Julius 82.e

### Caesar is carried back home by bribed servants.

Caesar lies there for a while, while nothing else happens, and is then just carried back home. This makes little sense for a crime inside the senate, but it does for a staged act.

Little punnery is needed here, only the dependente brachio “hanging arm” is odd. Maybe it’s to say the slaves who carried him were dependunte pretio “paid a price” for their silence. This might work, since in almost all other Romance languages but Latin (and in English), “price” is written with a C.

#### Divus Julius 82.f

> Encrypted: When the crowds had dispersed entirely, for a while he lied until in a palanquin he was placed, having been paid a bribe, by three slaves of his house who brought him back.

> Official: When he was dead and as dispersed all people, for a while he lied, until in a palanquin he was placed, with a hanging forearm, by three slaves of his house who brought him back.

> [When] the crowds
> examen: crowd, swarm, multitude
> exanimis
> exanimis: dead, breathless
> [When he] was dead
> had dispersed
> diffugio: disperse, scatter
> diffugientibus
> diffugio: disperse, scatter
> [and as] dispersed
> entirely,
> cunctus: all, entire
> cunctis
> cunctus: all, entire
> all [people],
> for a while
> aliquamdiu: for a while
> aliquamdiu
> aliquamdiu: for a while
> for a while
> he lied
> iaceo / iacuit: lie down, lie still
> iacuit
> iaceo / iacuit: lie down, lie still
> he lied,
> until
> donec: while, until
> donec
> donec: while, until
> until
> [in a] palanquin
> lectica: sedan, palanquin
> lecticae
> lectica: sedan, palanquin
> [in a] palanquin
> [he] was placed,
> impono: impose, put upon
> impositum
> impono: impose, put upon
> [he] was placed,
> [having been] paid [?]
> dependo: spend, pay
> dependente
> dependeo: hang down
> [with a] hanging
> a bribe [??],
> pretium / pretio: price, reward, bribe
> brachio
> brachium / brachio: arm, forearm
> forearm,
> [by] three
> tres: three
> tres
> tres: three
> [by] three
> slaves
> servolus: slave; servus: servant, slave
> seruoli
> servolus: slave; servus: servant, slave
> slaves
> of his house
> domus: house
> domum
> domus: house
> of his house
> [who] brought [him] back.
> refero / rettulerunt: bring back
> rettulerunt
> refero / rettulerunt: bring back
> [who] brought [him] back.

> Divus Julius 82.f

### No other hoaxed event worked so excellent with paint.

Here they claim that no wound was as deadly as that special one.

The punnery was hard to make out, but they probably mean that no staged act was excellent as this one (of course). The vulneribus “wounding” may be a pun with a compound term like velo-narratibus “veiled stories”, i.e. fake events.

Note the medico pun, which may explain the name of the Medici family!

#### Divus Julius 82.g

> Encrypted: Not among the many veiled stories, there was so excellent with paint thought to be deadly any one found to be, except those which had adapted the entire location into a picture for entertainment.

> Official: Not among the many wounds, that was of Antistius his surgeon the estimate, was deadly any one found to be, except that which was the second, which located in the breast he received.

> Not
> nec: not
> nec
> nec: not
> Not
> among
> in: in
> in
> in: in
> among
> the many
> tot: so many
> tot
> tot: so many
> the many
> veiled stories [???],
> velo: veil; narro: narrate, tell; narratus / narratibus: narration, story
> uulneribus
> vulnero: wound, injure, hurt
> wounds,
> there [was]
> ut: where, that
> ut
> ut: where, that
> that [was]
> [so] excellent
> antesto / antestas: superior, excel, surpass
> Antistius
> Antistius: Antistius
> [of] Antistius
> [with] paint [??]
> medico: dye with color
> medicus
> medicus: medical, surgeon
> [his] surgeon
> thought to be [??]
> existimo: estimate, think, judge, consider
> existimabat
> existimo: estimate, think, judge, consider
> the estimate,
> deadly
> letalis: lethal, deadly, mortal
> letale
> letalis: lethal, deadly, mortal
> [was] deadly
> any one
> ullus / ullum: any
> ullum
> ullus / ullum: any
> any one
> found
> reperio: find
> repertum
> reperio: find
> found
> to be,
> sum / est: be
> est
> sum / est: be
> to be,
> except
> nisi: if not, unless
> nisi
> nisi: if not, unless
> except
> [those] which
> quod: which, what
> quod
> quod: which, what
> [that] which
> [had] adapted [?]
> secundo: adjust, adapt
> secundo
> secundus / secundo: second
> [was the] second,
> the [entire?] location [?]
> loco: put, place, arrange
> loco
> locus / loco: location, place
> [which] located
> into
> in: in, into
> in
> in: in, into
> in
> a picture [??]
> pictura / picturae: picture, painting
> pectore
> pectus / pectore: breast
> the breast
> for entertainment [??].
> accipio: learn, entertain, understand
> acceperat
> accipio: accept, receive
> [he] received.

> Divus Julius 82.g

### The event was an opportunity to loot the lower classes.

Here the assassins plan to drag Caesar’s body into the Tiber, but then abandon the plan because they fear Caesar’s allies. That’s also ridiculous! Wouldn’t those allies hate them either way, because they, y’know, killed him?

The punnery is hard to make out, but the Tiberim “Tiber” may be an (anagram) pun with tribum “common people” who were duped here. The other phrases literally describe confiscation of wealth, so it seems faked events were used by the governing elites for public looting, then as now!

#### Divus Julius 82.h

> Encrypted: There also was the plan to convert of his killing the opportunity into of the lower classes to be plundered, of wealth to confiscate, of administrative acts to rescind, not to mention it was announced by Marcus Antonius the consul, and by the master of horses Lepidus, as a deception.

> Official: There also was the plan by the conspirators of his body slain into the Tiber river to drag, his wealth to confiscate, his administrative acts to rescind, but for fear of Marcus Antonius the consul, and of the master of horses Lepidus, they abandoned this.

> [There also] was
> sum / fuerat: be
> fuerat
> sum / fuerat: be
> [There also] was
> the plan
> animus: idea, intent, plan
> animus
> animus: idea, intent, plan
> the plan
> to convert [??]
> converto / convertis: convert, transform
> coniuratis
> coniuratus: conspirator, plotter
> [by] the conspirators
> [of his] killing
> corporo: make into a body, kill
> corpus
> corpus: body
> [of his] body
> the opportunity
> occasio: occasion, pretext, opportunity
> occisi
> occisus: felled, killed, slain
> slain
> into
> in: in, into
> in
> in: in, into
> into
> [of] the lower classes [??]
> tribus / tribum: tribe, mob, lower classes
> Tiberim
> Tiberis / Tiberim: Tiber river
> the Tiber river
> [to be] plundered [??],
> traho / trahere: plunder, squander, sway, win over, attract support
> trahere
> traho / trahere: drag, pull
> to drag,
> [of] wealth
> bonus: wealth, costly things
> bona
> bonus: wealth, costly things
> [his] wealth
> to confiscate,
> publicatio: publication, confiscation
> publicare
> publicatio: publication, confiscation
> to confiscate,
> [of] administrative acts
> acta: acts, transactions; ago / actus: administer, govern
> acta
> acta: acts, transactions; ago / actus: administer, govern
> [his] administrative acts
> to rescind,
> rescindo: rescind, abolish, annul
> rescindere
> rescindo: rescind, abolish, annul
> to rescind,
> not to mention [?]
> sed: but also, not to mention
> sed
> sed: but
> but
> [it was] announced
> mitto / mitte: emit, guide, announce, report
> metu
> metus / metu: fear, dread
> [for] fear
> [by] Marcus
> Marcus: Marcus
> Marci
> Marcus: Marcus
> [of] Marcus
> Antonius
> Antonius: Antonius
> Antoni
> Antonius: Antonius
> Antonius
> the consul,
> consul: consul
> consulis
> consul: consul
> the consul,
> and
> et: and
> et
> et: and
> and
> [by] the master
> magister: master
> magistri
> magister: master
> [of] the master
> of horses
> equus: horse
> equitum
> equus: horse
> of horses
> Lepidus,
> Lepidus: Lepidus
> Lepidi
> Lepidus: Lepidus
> Lepidus,
> [as a] deception.
> destituo: delude, deceive, cheat
> destiterunt
> destituo: desert, abandon
> they abandoned [this].

> Divus Julius 82.h

🏷 Latin text interlinear recommended · text