Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

And with his charity slain.

2 Con. Most noble sir,

If you do hold the same intent wherein
You wish'd us parties, we'll deliver you
Of your great danger.

Auf. Sir, I cannot tell;

We must proceed, as we do find the people.

3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilst 'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the survivor heir of all.

Auf. I know it;

And my pretext to strike at him admits
A good construction. I rats'd him, and I pawn'd 'd
Minehonour forhis truth: Wbobeing so heighten'd,

5

Auf. Say no more;

Here come the lords.

Enter the Lords of the city.

Lords. You are most welcome home.

Auf. I have not deserv'd it.

But, worthy lords, have you with heed perus'd
What I have written to you?

Lords. We have.

1 Lord. And grieve to hear it.

10 What faults he made before the last, I think,
Might have found easy fines: but there to end,
Where he was to begin; and give away
The benefit of our levies, answering us
With our own charge3; making a treaty, where

He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery, 15 There was a yielding; This admits no excuse.

Seducing so my friends: and, to this end,
He bow'd his nature, never known before

But to be rough, unswayable, and free.

3 Con. Sir, his stoutness,

When he did stand for consul, which he lost

By lack of stooping

Auf. That I would have spoke of:

Being banish'd for 't, he came unto my hearth;
Presented to my knife his throat: I took him;

Auf. He approaches, you shall hear him.
Enter Coriolanus, with drums and colours; the

Commons being with him.

Cor. Hail, lords! I am return'd your soldier;

20 No more infected with my country's love,
Than when I parted hence; but still subsisting
Under your great command. You are to know,
That prosperously I have attempted, and
With bloody passage led your wars, even to

Made him joint servant with me; gave him way 25 The gates of Rome. Our spoil, we have brought

In all his own desires; nay, let him choose,

home,

Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,

Doth more than counterpoise, a full third part,

My best and freshest men; serv'd his designments

The charges of the action. We have made peace,

In mine own person; holp to reap the fame,

With no less honour to the Antiates,

Which he did end all his; and took some pride 30 Thanshame to the Romans: And we here deliver,

[blocks in formation]

[think

Auf. There was it ;

Forwhich my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him2. 40 Auf. Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius; Dost thou

At a few drops of women's rheum, which are

As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour

Of our great action; Therefore shall he die,

And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark!

I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name
Coriolanus, in Corioli?-

You lords and heads of the state, perfidiously
He has betray'd your business, and given up,

[Drums and trumpets sound, with great shouts 45 For certain drops of salt, your city Rome

[blocks in formation]

The meaning, according to Dr. Johnson, is, He prescribed to me with an air of authority, and gave me his countenance for my wages; thought me sufficiently rewarded with good looks. * This is the point on which I will attack him with my utmost abilities. That is, rewarding us with our own

expences.

Pardon

[blocks in formation]

Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion
(Who wears my stripes imprest upon him; that 5
Must bear my beating to his grave) shall join
To thrust the lie unto him.

1 Lord. Peace, both, and hear me speak.

Cor. Cut me to pieces, Volces, men and lads,

[blocks in formation]

Put up your swords.

Stain all your edges in me.-Boy! False hound! 10 Auj. My lords, when you shall know (as in this

If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there,

That, like an eagle on a dove-cote, I

Flutter'd your Volces in Corioli:

Alone I did it. Boy!

Auf. Why, noble lords,

Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune,

Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart,

'Fore your own eves and ears?

All Con. Let him die for't.

[blocks in formation]

1 Lord. Bear from hence his body,

And mourn you for him: let him be regarded

All People. Tear him to pieces, do it presently. 20 As the most noble corse, that ever herald

[The crowd speak promiscuously.

He killd my son, -My daughter, -He kill'd my

cousin Marcus,

He kill'd my father.

Did follow to his urn.

2 Lord. His own impatience

Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
Let's make the best of it.

2 Lord. Peace, ho;-no outrage; -peace.- 25 Auf. My rage is gone,

The man is noble, and his fame folds in

This orb o' the earth': His last offences to us

Shall have judicious hearing. -Stand, Aufidius,

And trouble not the peace.

Cor. O, that I had him,

With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe,

To use my lawful sword!

Auf. Insolent villain!

All Con. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him.

And I am struck with sorrow. ---Take him up:
Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.-
Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully:
Trail your steel pikes. -Though in this city he

30 Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one,
Which to this hour bewail the injury;
Yet he shall have a noble memory.
Assist.

[Aufidius and the Conspirators draw, and kill 35

[ocr errors][merged small]

[Exeunt, bearing the body of Marcius. A dead march sounded.

2 Memory, as before, for memorial.

[blocks in formation]

:

JULIUS CÆSAR.

JULIUS CESAR.

OCTAVIUS CESAR,

M. ANTONIUS,

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Triumvirs after the Death

M. ÆMIL. LEPIDUS, of Julius Cæsar.

CICERO, PUBLIUS, POPILIUS LÆNA, Senators.

BRUTUS,

CASSIUS,

CASCA,

TREBONIUS,

LIGARIUS,

FLAVIUS, and MARULLUS, Tribunes.
ARTEMIDORUS, a Sophist of Cnidos.
A Soothsayer.

CINNA, a Poet: Another Poet.

LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, Young CATO,
and VOLUMNIUS; Friends to Brutus and Cassius.
VARRO, CLITUS, CLAUDIUS, STRATO, LUCIUS,
DARDANIUS; Servants to Brutus.

Conspiratorsagaint Julius PINDARUS, Servant to Cassius.

Cæsar.

DECIUS BRUTUS,

METELLUS CIMBER,

CINNA,

CALPHURNIA, Wife to Cæsar.
PORTIA, Wife to Brutus.

Plebeians, Senators, Guards, Attendants, &c.

SCENE, for the three first Acts, at Rome: afterwards at an Island near Mutina; at Sardis; and near

[blocks in formation]

Enter Flavius, Marullus, and certain Commoners.

Flav. Thou art a cobler, art thou?

Cob. Truly, sir, all that I live by is, with the awl: I meddle with no trade, man's matters, nor woman's matters, but with awl. I am, indeed,

Flav. HENCE; home, you idle creatures, 5 sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great get you home:

Is this a holiday? What! know you not,
Being mechanical, you ought not walk,

Upon a labouring day, without the sign

danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neats-leather, have gone upon my handy-work.

Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day?

Of your profession? - Speak, what trade art thou? 10 Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?

Car. 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?

Cob. 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.

Cob. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, 15 Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings I am but, as you would say, a cobler.

Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Cob. 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 ? Cob. Why, sir, cobble you.

O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,
Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft
Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements,
To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops,
25 Your infants in your arms, and there have sat
The live-long day, with patient expectation,
To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome:
And when you saw his chariot but appear,

3B3

Have

Have you not made an universal shout,
That Tyber trembled underneath his banks,
To hear the replication of your sounds,
Made in his concave shores?

And do you now put on your best attire?
And do you now cull out a holiday?
And do you now strew flowers in his way,
That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood?
Be gone;

Run to your houses, fall upon your knees,
Pray to the gods to intermit the plague
That needs must light on this ingratitude. [fault,
Flar. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this

Assemble all the poor men of your sort;

[blocks in formation]

Cas. I pray you, do.

Bru. I am not gamesome; I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.

Draw them to Tyber banks, and weep your tears 15 Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;

Into the channel, 'till the lowest stream

Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.

[Exeunt Commoners.

See, whe'r their basest metal be not mov'd?
They vanish tongue-ty'd in their guiltiness.
Go you down that way towards the Capitol;
This way will I: Disrobe the images,
If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies'.
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,
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.
The same.

Enter Cæsar; Antony, for the course; Calphurnia,
Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, a
Soothsayer, &c.

Cats. Calphurnia,-
Casca. Peace, ho! Casar speaks.
Cas. Calphurnia, —

Calph. Here, my lord.

Cæs. Stand you directly in Antonius' way, When he doth run his course. Antonius.

Ant. Cæsar, my lord.

Cas. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, To touch Calphurnia: for our elders say, The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off their sterile course.

Ant. I shall remember :

When Cæsar says, Do this, it is perform'd.
Cas. Set on; and leave no ceremony out.
Sooth. Cæsar.

Cas. Ha! Who calls?

I'll leave you.

Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late;
I have not from your eyes that gentleness,
And shew of love, as I was wont to have:

20 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,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
25 Merely upon myself. Vexed I am,
Of late, with passions of some difference',
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil, perhaps, to iny behaviours:
But let not therefore my good friends be griev'd;

30 (Among which number, Cassius, be you one)
Nor construe any further my neglect,
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
Forgets the shews of love to other men.
Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your
passion;
By means whereof, this breast of mine hath bury'd
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?
Bru. No, Cassius: for the eye sees not itself,

35

40 But by reflection, by some other things.
Cas. "Tis just:

And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you have no such mirrors, as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,

45 That you might see your shadow. I have heard
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
(Except immortal Cæsar) speaking of Brutus,
And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eves.
50 Bru.Intowhatdangerswouldyouleadme, Cassius,
That you would have me seek into myself
For that which is not in me?

Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'dto hear:
And, since you know you cannot see yourself

Casca. Bid every noise be still:- Peace yet 55 So well as by reflection, I, your glass,

[again.

Cas. Who is it in the press, that calls on me?

Will modestly discover to yourself

I hear a tongue, shriller than all the musick,
Cry, Cæsar: Speak; Cæsar is turn'd to hear.

That of yourself, which yet you know not of.

Sooth. Beware the ides of March.

And be not jealous of me, gentle Brutus:
Were I a coinmon laugher, or did use

Ceremonies for religious ornaments. 2 This person was not Decius, but Decimus Brutus. have before observed, that Sennet appears to be a particular tune or mode of martial musick. Strange is alien, unfamiliar. i.e. with a fluctuation of discordant opinions and desires.

We

To

« ÎnapoiContinuă »