JULIUS CESAR. JULIUS CESAR. OCTAVIUS CESAR, PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. triumvirs after the death CICERO, PUBLIUS, POPILIUS LENA; senators. MARCUS BRUTUS, CASSIUS, ARTEMIDORUS, a sophist of Cnidos. CINNA, a poet. Another Poet. LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, young CATO, and VOLUMNIUS; friends to Brutus and Cas sius. VARRO, CLITUS, CLAUDIUS, STRATO, LUCIUS, conspirators against Ju- PINDARUS, servant to Cassius. CASCA, TREBONIUS, LIGARIUS, lius Cæsar. DECIUS BRUTUS, METELLUS CIMBER, CINNA, CALPHURNIA, wife to Cæsar. FLAVIUS and MARULLUS, tribunes. Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, &c. SCENE,-During a great part of the play, at Rome; afterwards at Sardis; and near Philippi. SCENE 1.-Rome. A street. ACT I. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a Rabble of Citizens. 2 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. 2 Cit. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use Flav. Hence; home, you idle creatures, get with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a 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 today? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? 2 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 What tributaries follow him to Rome, O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort; [Exeunt Cit. You know, it is the feast of Lupercal. Flav. It is no matter; let no images Will make him fly an ordinary pitch; Casca. Bid every noise be still:-Peace yet again. [Music ceases. 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. 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. Cas. 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. (Among which number, Cassius, be you one ;) Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried And it is very much lamented, Brutus, you have no such mirrors, as will turn That you would have me seek into myself Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear: And, since you know you cannot see yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. Choose Cæsar for their king. Then must I think you would not have it so. Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well: But wherefore do you hold me here so long? I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: For once, upon a raw and gusty day, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder Did I the tired Cæsar: And this man Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan: [Shout. Flourish. ru. Another general shout! I do believe, that these applauses are Like a Colossus; and we petty men Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together, yours is as fair a name; Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with them, Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar. Shout. Now in the names of all the gods at once, That her wide walks encompass'd but one man? The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome, Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; What you would work me to, I have some aim: Cas. I am glad, that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. Re-enter CÆSAR, and his Train. Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning. Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded, worthy note, to-day. Bru. I will do so :-But, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train: Calphurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes, As we have seen him in the Capitol, Being cross'd in conference by some senators. Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is. Cæs. Antonius. Ant. Cæsar. Cas. 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. Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar, he's not dangerous; He is a noble Roman, and well given. Cas. '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 As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music: 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 Cæsar. Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, And tell me truly what thou think'st of him. [Exeunt Cæsar and his Train. Casca stays behind. Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; Would you speak with me? Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad. Casca. Why you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what hath chanc'd. Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him: and being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a-shouting. Bru. What was the second noise for? Cas. They shouted thrice; What was the last cry for? Casca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Casca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine honest neighbours shouted. Cas. Who offered him the crown? Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca. I can as well be hanged, as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery, I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown; -yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets; and, as I told you, he put it by once: but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by: and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chopped hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar; for he swooned, and fell down at it: And for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. Cas. But, soft, I pray you: What? did Cæsar swoon? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. "Tis very like; he hath the falling sickness. Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure, Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him, according as he pleased, and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. Bra. What said he, when he came unto himself? Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet, and offered them his throat to cut.-An I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues and so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, If he had done or said any thing amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cried, Alas, good soul! and forgave him with all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæsar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less. Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? Cas. Did Cicero say any thing? Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i'the face again: But those, that understood him, smiled at one another, and shook their heads: but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? Casca. No, I am promised forth. Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, your dinner worth the eating. Cas. Good; I will expect you. Casca. Do so: Farewell, both. [Exit Casca. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be? He was quick mettle, when he went to school. Cas. So is he now, in execution Of any bold or noble enterprize, However he puts on this tardy form. This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, Which gives men stomach to digest his words With better appetite. and Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you: To-morrow, if you please to speak with me, In several hands, in at his windows throw, SCENE III.-The same. A street. Thunder and lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, CASCA, with his sword drawn, and C1 CERO. Cic. Good even, Casca: Brought you Cæsar home? Why are you breathless? and why stare you so? Casca. Are not you mov'd, when all the sway of earth Shakes, like a thing unfirm? O, Cicero, Cic. Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? by sight,) Held up his left hand, which did flame, and burn Who glar'd upon me, and went surly by, Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: But men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. Comes Cæsar to the Capitol to-morrow? Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Send word to you, he would be there to-morrow. Cic. Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky Is not to walk in. Casca. Farewell, Cicero. Enter CASSIUS. Cas. Who's there? [Exit Cicero. |