The Jabberwock

My dearest and most loving wife, Portia, ‘tis almost my time. I needed to write to you beyond your sarcophagus before I run into th’ sword that ends my adventurous life. Why have you forsaken me so, Portia? I, devastated, drank my fine wine till Cassius and I renewed while thinking of your countenance. Thou hath swallowed flames while I was abroad! Why oh why! The gods have you now, as they will soon have me. Oh, the irony! I die from a dagger to the heart as I stabbed Caesar too. Portia, If I had known this would make you fall to the ground, I might as well do it then fall too. I love thee, Portia, but Rome needed a hero. I filled such a position! I will see you soon, my love, along with the gods high into nighttime. The gods too have Caesar. Portia, I stabbed him, Portia. I killed the snake before it broke out the egg and fed Rome its apple, its dastardly apple. The apple, so mesmerizing that all of Rome must be stricken from rights to even have a chance of touching it. Along with my other friends, we stabbed him one by one and returned valour and greatness to Rome. Rome hath greatness but Caesar would break it. In honest conscience, ‘t felt exhilarating, Portia I tell you! We met with Mark Antony. He betrayed his word and us but nonetheless, I prevailed! I value Rome more than Caesar so if I need to die along with him then so be it. Rome will be great. Oh, but a bump in the road! Cassius and I fought. My dearest man. I love him so, but my anger blinded me. Oh, Portia! Cassius, my dearest man, deceased. We will all meet with the gods again soon, Portia! Cassius, I thought he was the body of corruption but I was wrong. I said he took bribes, corrupt as Caesar but oh, Portia! How wrong was I? Cassius is not dishonorable! I love him as he loves me! His cadaver, stricken with pain! But Portia! As I said ere, we made up over thee and such good wine! Oh, Portia! I miss my dearest man, Cassius. Our love goes beyond Caesar’s death, and ‘tis far. How I hate my anger! How I hate Caesar! How I hate his sword! Cassius I love thee! Porita, I, a sorry man. A sorry Roman. No! I am better than those heathens. Oh, Portia, I must explain! I got a

letter, Portia! They must love Brutus? My love, Cassius, came to my humble abode along with others. Cicero? Yes or no? No. That man would not adhere to any plan like a simple Roman switching from king to king. He is fickle! Our plan, to go to the capitol and annihilate Caesar, would have failed with th’ grey Cicero with us. Oh, Portia! I must tell you again how good seeing Caesar fall felt. It felt as our marriage renewed. Cassius loving me, me loving Cassius. Me killing Caesar. Me killing Caesar. Me killing Caesar. Oh, Portia! You wonder how I got here? Cassius! Cassius! Cassius again! I thought he was looking to trip me. I claimed that he would lead me into danger! Oh, Cassius! Portia I feel estranged! Why did I speak of those things? Oh, Cassius! I doubted my dearest man and myself. Till you told a story of a drowning poor man. He is no better than we are, Cassius?! Yes! Oh, Cassius! He noticed my wrongs and made them right. I slew Caesar for him, me, us, Rome! Oh, Cassius! Oh, Portia? I am good, I swear to you! I murdered Caesar for Rome. I do not wish to rule. I promise! Oh, Portia! I promised to do right by Rome, didn’t I? I keep promises as I kept you safe! I know Portia and Cassius, I am so loving! I save Rome and your consciences. I refuse to die a slave to Caesar so, I write to prove I am a free man! Oh, Portia! Again, he needed to die to save himself and Rome. I saved him, Portia! I saved Rome, Cassius! Oh, Portia! But the war! We lost. I ordered Mesalla to start the war and oh, Cassius was gone! We prepared and everything yet still lost! I was captured and oh, Cassius! Oh, Portia! I feel hopeless. Is this how Caesar felt when I slain him? No. I shan’t compare myself to that monstrosity. I am the savior of Rome, Marcus Brutus shall prevail! Portia, you must hear me, as I am Marcus Brutus and I saved Rome! Octavius and Antony may have won over me and laugh at my soon cadaver, but Caesar is gone! My dearest lover laid out on the capitol. ‘Twast my mission as Marcus Brutus to slay the snake finally. He was cowardly, I, noble as I am, am far

from cowardice. I hold Rome dear to my heart, Portia. As I run through this dagger of pain ending sympathy. I love thee, Portia! I love thee, Cassius. I fall!