Flav. Thou art a cobler, 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 handywork. 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, To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, And do you now put on your best attire? Be gone; Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Pray to the gods to intermit the plague Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort; Exeunt Citizens. If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies.2 Mar. May we do so? 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, These growing feathers pluck'd from Cæsar's wing, Who else would soar above the view of men, And keep us all in servile fearfulness. 2 See, whe'r-] Whether. [Exeunt. deck'd with ceremonies.] Ceremonies are honorary ornaments; tokens of respect. SCENE II. The same. A publick Place. Enter, in Procession, with Musick, CESAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPHURNIA, PORTia, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA, a great Croud following; among them a Sooth Cæs. Stand you directly in Antonius' way, Cæs. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, Ant. I shall remember: When Cæsar says, Do this, it is perform'd. Sooth. Cæsar. Cæs. Ha! Who calls? [Musick. Casca. Bid every noise be still:-Peace yet again. [Musich ceases. › This person was not Decius, but Decimus Brutus. The poet (as Voltaire has done since) confounds the characters of Marcus and Decimus. Decimus Brutus was the most cherished by Cæsar of all his friends, while Marcus kept aloof, and declined so large a share of his favours and honours, as the other had constantly accepted. Cæs. Who is it in the press, that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the musick, Cry, Cæsar: Speak; Cæsar is turn'd to hear. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. What man is that! Bru, A soothsayer, bids you beware the ides of March. Cas. Set him before me, let me see his face. Cæsar. Cas. What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Ces. 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: Bru. Cassius, Be not deceiv'd: If I have veil'd my look, * Sennet.] I have been informed that sennet is derived from senneste, an antiquated French tune formerly used in the army; but the Dictionaries which I have consulted exhibit no such word. It may be a corruption from sonata, Ital. STEEVENS. 5 strange a hand-] Strange, is alien, unfamiliar, such as might become a stranger. Of late, with passions of some difference, Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours: Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried 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, 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: Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. passions of some difference,] With a fluctuation of discordant opinions and desires. 7 your passion;] i. e. the nature of the feelings from which you are now suffering. |