Cinna, Flavius and Marullus, tribunes. Artemidorus, a sophist of Cnidos. A Soothsayer. Cinna, a poet. Another Poet. Lucilius, Titinius, Messala, young Cato, and Vo lumnius; friends to Brutus and Cassius. Varro, Chitus, 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. JULIUS CESAR. ACT I. SCENE I-Rome. A street. Enter Flavius, Marullus, and a rabble of Citizens. Flavius. HENCE; home, you idle creatures, get you home; Is this a holiday? What! know you not, Mar. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule? 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 soals. Mer. 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, 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, 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 neat's-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 inyself 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, Flav. Go, go, good countryinen, and, for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort;! If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies.3 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; Who else would soar above the view of men, 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. Cas. Stand you directly in Antonius' way, When he doth run his course.4-Antonius. Ant. Cæsar, my lord. (1) Rank. (2) Whether. (3) Honorary ornaments; tokens of respect. (4) A ceremony observed at the feast of Lupercalia. Cæs. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, To touch Calphurnia: for our elders say, The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off their steril curse. Ant. I shall remember: When Cæsar says, Do this, it is perform'd. Sooth. Cæsar. Cas. Ha! who calls? [Music. Casca. Bid every noise be still :-Peace yet again. [Music ceases. Cœs. March. Cæs. Set him before me, let me see his face. Cas. What say'st thou to me now? Speak once Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. He is a dreamer; let us leave him ;-pass. 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: (1) Crowd. |