SCENE.-During a great Part of the Play, at Rome; afterwards at Sardis; and near Philippi. Act First. SCENE I.-ROME. A STREET. Enter Flavius, Marullus, and a Rabble of Citizens. Flav. Hence; home, you idle creatures, get you Is this a holiday? What! know you not, [home; Being mechanical, you ought not walk, Upon a labouring day, without the sign Of your profession?-Speak, what trade art thou? 1 Cit. Why, sir, a carpenter. 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 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 soles. 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, 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. M.Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he What tributaries follow him to Rome, [home? 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, And do you now put on your best attire? Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, F. Go, go, good countrymen, and for this fault, [Exeunt Citizens. 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. 1 Rank. And drive away the vulgar from the streets: SCENE II.-A PUBLIC PLACE. Cæs. Ha! who calls? Ant. What man is that? Bru. A soothsayer, bids you beware the ides of March. Caes. Set him before me, let me see his face. Cas. Fellow, come from the throng: Look upon Cæsar. Caes. What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cas. I pray you do. Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Over your friend that loves you. Bru. Cassius, Be not deceiv'd: if I have veil'd my look, Which gives some soil, perhaps, tomy behaviours: Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you would have me seek into myself [hear: Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to [Flourish and Shout. Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, I had as lief not be, as live to be I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: Of late, with passions of some difference,5 1 At the feast of Lupercalia. 2 Crowd. 8 Eight days in each month in March from 15th to 23rd. ments. 5 Opposing feelings Accoutred as I was, I plunged in, A wretched creature, and must bend his body, I do believe, that these applauses are Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; 1 Constitution. 2 Guess. Till then, my noble friend, chew1 upon this; Than to repute himself a son of Rome Cas. I am glad that my weak words [Brutus. Have struck but thus much show of fire from Re-enter Cæsar, and his Train. Br. 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 ferret2 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. Cæs. 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. Cres. '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; Ile is a great observer, and he looks [plays, Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no As thou dost, Antony; he hears no musick: Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort, As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit That could be mov'd to smile at any thing. Such men as he be never at heart's ease, 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? B. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'ul 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 offer'd him: and being offer'd 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. 1 Ruininate. 2 A ferret has red eyes. Cas. Who offer'd him the crown? Casca. Why, Antony. 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. B. '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 us'd 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. And I had been a man of any occupation, I would have taken him at a word:-and so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, If he had done, or said anything 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 anything? Casca. Nay, and 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? Casca. No, I am promised forth. Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating. 1 A tradesman. Cas. Good; I will expect you. Casca. Do so: Farewell, both. [Exit Casco. 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 enterprise, 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. B. 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'd1: 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 humour2 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. 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 Like twenty torches join'd; and yet his hand, Not sensible of fire, remain'd unscorch'd. Besides (I have not since put up my sword), Against the Capitol I met a lion, Who glar'd upon me, and went surly by, Without annoying me: And there were drawn Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women, Transformed with their fear; who swore,they saw Men, all on fire, walk up and down the streets. And, yesterday, the bird of night did sit, 2 Cajole. 1 (Disposed to) Even at noon-day, upon the market-place, Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: But men may construe things after their fashion, Cleau 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 Is not to walk in. [sky Casca. Farewell, Cicero. Enter Cassius. Cas. Who's there? A Roman. Casca. Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of A man no mightier than thyself, or me, 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. 1 Formerly supposed to be emitted by thunder. Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-morrow Mean to establish Cæsar as a king: And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, In every place, save here in Italy. Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then: Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius: Therein,ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat: Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world besides, That part of tyranny, that I do bear, I can shake off at pleasure. Casca. So can I: So every bondman in his own hand bears Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then: Poor man! I know, he would not be a wolf, But that he sees the Romans are but sheep: He were no lion, were not Romans hinds." Those that with haste will make a mighty fire, Begin it with weak straws: What trash is Rome, What rubbish, and what offal, when it serves For the base matter to illuminate So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O grief! Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, Cas. There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans, To undergo, with me, an enterprise Of honourable-dangerous consequence; And I do know, by this, they stay for me In Pompey's porch: for now, this fearful night, There is no stir, or walking in the streets; And the complexion of the element Is favour'd, like the work we have in hand, Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible. Enter Cinna. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Cas. "Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait; He is a friend.-Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate To our attempts. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this: [sights. There's two or three of us have seen strange Cus. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Tell me. Cin. You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win The noble Brutus to our party- [paper, Cas. Be you content: good Cinna, take this And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, 2 Appears. 1 Here's. Yes |