ACT I. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a Rabble of Citizens. Is this a holiday? What! know you not, Of your profession?- Speak, what trade art thou? Mar. Where is thy leather apron and thy rule? I meddle with no tradesman's matters, but with awl. 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 neat's 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? 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 brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome, 2 Cit. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? 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 with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soies. 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. Mur. What meanest thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow! 2 Cit. Why, sir, cobble you. Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseles things! O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, 2 Cit. Truly, sir, all that I live by is, with the awl: And do you now put on your best attire? See, whe'r their basest metal be not mov'd; You know, it is the feast of Lupercal. Flav. It is no matter; let no images 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, Will make him fly an ordinary pitch; Who else would soar above the view of men, And keep us all in servile fearfulness. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A publick Place. Enter, in Procession, with Musick, CÆSAR; ANTONY, for the Course; CALPHURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA; a great Crowd following, among them a Soothsayer. Cæs. Calphurnia, Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks, Casca. 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: Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: Bru. Cassius, Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours: 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, Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, That you would have me seek into myself Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear : Cas. Ay, do you fear it? 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? What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good, Set honour in one eye, and death i'the other, And I will look on both indifferently: The nature of your feelings. 6 Make common. For, let the gods so speed me, as I love I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: We both have fed as well: and we can both And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did. Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder A wretched creature, and must bend his body, Bru. Another general shout! [Shout. Flourish. I do believe, that these applauses are When there is in it but one only man. O! you and I have heard our fathers say, Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; I would not, so with love I might entreat you, I will with patience hear: and find a time Than to repute himself a son of Rome Cas. I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. Re-enter CESAR, 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. Cas. 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 So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; 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. Bru. Was the crown offered 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 offer'd 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 night-caps, and uttered such a deal of foul 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 used to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. Bru. What said he, when he came unto himself? Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived 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 Caesar'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? Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating. Cas. Good; I will expect you. Casca. Do so: Farewell, both. [Exit CASCA. Bru. What a blunt fellow this is 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. Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you: To-morrow, if you please to speak with me, I will come home to you; or, if you will, Come home to me, and I will wait for you. Cas. I will do so: till then, think of the world. [Exit BRUTUS. Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, Thy honourable metal may be wrought From that it is dispos'd 2: Therefore 'tis meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes: For who so firm, that cannot be seduc'd ? Cæsar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus : If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius, He should not humour 3 me. I will this night, In several hands, in at his windows throw, As if they came from several citizens, Writings all tending to the great opinion That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely Cæsar's ambition shall be glanced at: And, after this, let Cæsar seat him sure; For we will shake him, or worse days endure. [Exit. SCENE III.A Street. Thunder and Lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, Shakes, like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds sight) Held up his left hand, which did flame, and burn Men, all on fire, walk up and down the streets. Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Cas. Who's there? A Roman. Casca, by your voice. Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this? Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, And, when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open Mean to establish Cæsar as a king: Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then: Casca. So can I : So every bondman in his own hand bears Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then : So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O grief! Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the As who goes farthest. heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send Cas. And I do know, by this, they stay for me Is favour'd 7, like the work we have in hand, Enter CINNA. Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life Of honourable-dangerous consequence; Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in A man no mightier than thyself, or me, And fearful, as these strange eruptions are. Cas. 'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait; Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean: Is it not, The noble Brutus to our party Cassius? Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now Have thewes and limbs like to their ancestors; But woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead, And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits; Our yoke and sufferings show us womanish. Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-morrow 4 Why they deviate from quality and nature, 5 Muscles. Yes |