FLAVIUS and MARULLUS, tribunes. ARTEMIDORUS, a sophist of Cnidos. A Soothsayer. CINNA, a poet. Another Poet. LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, young CATO, and CALPHURNIA, wife to Cæsar. PORTIA, wife to Brutus. Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, &c. SCENE, during a great part of the play, at Rome: afterwards at Sardis; and near Philippi. JULIUS CÆSAR. ACT I. SCENE 1.-Rome. A Street Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a Rabble of Citizens. Flavius. HENCE; home, you idle creatures, get you home; Of your profession ?-Speak, what trade art thou? Mar. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule? What dost thou with thy best apparel on? -You, sir; what trade are you? 2 Cit. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am bat, as you would say, a cobbler. Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me directly. 2 Cit. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soals. Mar. What trade, thou knave; thou naughty knave, what trade? 2 Cit. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you. Mar. What meanest thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow? 2 Cit. Why, sir, cobble you. Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou? 2 Cit. Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's matters, but with awl. I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I re-cover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neats-leather, have gone upon my handy-work. Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? Cob. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But, indeed, sir, we make holiday, to see Cæsar, and to rejoice in his triumph. Ma.Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome, To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! And do you now put on your best attire ? Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, That needs must light on this ingratitude. Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort; [Ex. Citizens. Draw them to Tyber banks, and weep your tears You know, it is the feast of Lupercal. Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. I'll about, And drive away the vulgar from the streets : So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers pluck'd from Cæsar's wing, Who else would soar above the view of men, [Exeunt. [1] Ceremonies, for religious ornaments. Thus afterwards, he explains them by Cesar's trophies; i. e. such as he had dedicated to the gods. WARE. SCENE II. The same. A public Place. Enter, in procession, with music, CăSAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPHURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA, a great Crowd following among them a Soothsayer. Cas. Calphurnia,— Casca. Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks. Cas. Calphurnia, Cal. Here, my lord. [Music ceases. Cas. Stand you directly in Antonius' way, When he doth run his course. Ant. Cæsar, my lord. Antonius. Cas. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, To touch Calphurnia: for our elders say, The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off their steril curse. Ant. I shall remember: When Cæsar says, Do this, it is perform'd. Cas. Ha! who calls? [Music. Casca. Bid every noise be still :-Peace yet again. [Music ceases. Cas. Who is it in the press, that calls on me? Cas. What man is that! Bru. A soothsayer, bids you beware the ides of March. Cas. Set him before me, let me see his face. Casc.Fellow, come from the throng. Look upon Cæsar. Cas. What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cas. He is a dreamer; let us leave him ;-pass. [Sennet. Exeunt all but BRU. and CAS. Cas. Will you go see the order of the course? Bru. Not I. Cas. I pray you, do. Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires ; I'll leave you. Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late : I have not from your eyes that gentleness, And show of love, as I was wont to have: You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Bru. Cassius, Be not deceiv'd: If I have veil'd my look, Of late, with passions of some difference, 3 Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours : Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you might see your shadow. I have heard, Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes. Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me? Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear : And, since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass, Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. [2] Strange-is alien, unfamiliar, such as might become a stranger JOH. [3] With a fluctuation of discordant opinions and desires. JOHNS. [4] To invite every new protestor to my affection by the stale or allurement of customary oaths. JOHNS. |