The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen Such tricks hath strong imagination; Hip. But all the story of the night told over, And grows to something of great constancy; Enter LYSANDEr, Demetrius, HERMIA, and HELENA. The Play ends with a masque by the comic personages of the Drama. JULIUS CESAR. In this noble composition. Shakspeare has shown himself equally great, in dramatizing a celebrated portion of Classic History, as he is in adapting incidents gathered from romantic story, or the wonders of legendary fiction. In Julius Cæsar, he has been chiefly indebted to Plutarch for his materials, and it is no mean praise awarded to him by his commentators, that he has caught the spirit of his great original. The principal characters are veritable Plutarchian embodiments. Cæsar, Brutus, Cassius, and Antony, are clothed with even more individuality of character, than they are depicted by the celebrated Greek Biographer. "The real length of time in Julius Cæsar is as follows: About the middle of February, B. C. 709, a frantic festival, sacred to Pan, and called Lupercalia, was held in honor of Cæsar, when the regal crown was offered to him by Antony. On the 15th of March in the same year, he was slain. November 27, B. C. 710. the triumvirs met at a small island, formed by the river Rhenus, near Bonoma, and there adjusted their cruel proseripNion.-B. C. 711, Brutus and Cassius were defeated near Philippi." FLAVIUS and MARULLUS, tribunes. ARTEMIDORUS, a sophist of Cnidos. A Soothsayer. CINNA, a poet. Another Poet. LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, young CATO, and VOLUMNIUS; friends to Brutus and Cassius. VARRO, CLITUS, CLAUDIUS, STRAto, Lucius, DarDANIUS; servants to Brutus, PINDARUS, servant to Cassius. 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. ACT I. SCENE I.-Rome. A Street. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a rabble of Citizens. Being mechanical, you ought not walk, 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? 2nd Cit. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler. Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me directly. 2nd Cit. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles. Mar. What trade, thou knave, thou naughty knave, what trade? 2nd 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 ? 2nd Cit. Why, sir, cobble you. Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou? 2nd Cit. Truly, sir, all that I live by is, with the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters. I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I recover 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? 2nd Cit. 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. Mar. 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! O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, That Tiber trembled underneath her banks, And do you now put on your best attire ? Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears You know, it is the feast of Lupercal. So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers pluck'd from Cæsar's wing, [Exit Crizens Who else would soar above the view of men, And keep us all in servile fearfulness. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. A public Place. Enter, in procession, with music, Cæsar; AntoNY, for the course; CALPHURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and Casca, a great crowd following; among them a Soothsayer. Sooth. Cæsar. Cas. Who is it in the press, that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cry, Cæsar: speak; Cæsar is turn'd to hear. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. What man is that? Cæs. Cas. He is a dreamer; let us leave him ;-pass. [Exeunt all but BRUTUS and CASSIUS. Cas. Will you go see the order of the course? 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 Over your friend that loves you. Be not deceiv'd: If I have veil'd my look, Of late, with passions of some difference, Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviors: Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shows of love to other men. Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion: By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face? Cas. "Tis just: And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you have no such mirrors, as will turn 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. |