They vanish tongue-tied 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. 1)

May we do so?

MARULLUS.

You know, it is the feast of Lupercal. 2)

FLAVIUS.

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.

1) d. i. met eereteekens.

[Exeunt.

2) Bij Plutarchus, in de vertaling van Sir Thomas North, leest men; „At that time the feast Lupercalia was celebrated, the which in old time, men say, was the feast of shepherds or herdsmen, and is much like unto the feast of the Lycaeians in Arcadia But howsoever it is, that day there are divers noblemen's sons, young men, and some of them magistrates themselves that govern there, which run naked through the city, striking in sport them they meet in their way with leather thongs, hair and all on, to make them give place. And many noble women and gentlewomen also go of purpose to stand in their way, and do put forth their hands to be stricken, as scholars hold them out to their schoolmaster to be stricken with the ferula, persuading themselves that being with child they shall have good delivery, and so being barren, that it will make them to conceive with child. Caesar sat to behold that sport upon the pulpit for orations, in a chair of gold, appareled in triumphant manAntonius, who was consul at that time, was one of them that ran this holy course."

ner.

SCENE II.

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.

Stand you directly in Antonius' way,

When he doth run his course. Antonius.

Cæsar, my lord.

ANTONY.

CÆSAR.

Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,
To touch Calphurnia; for our elders say,
The barren, touched in this holy chase,
Shake off their sterile curse. I)

ANTONY.

I shall remember:

When Cæsar says, »Do this," it is perform'd.

1) d. i. den vloek harer onvruchtbaarheid.

Who is it in the press that calls on me ?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry, Cæsar! Speak: Cæsar is turn'd to hear.

SOOTHSAYER.

Beware the ides of March.

CÆSAR.

What man is that?

BRUTUS.

A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.

CÆSAR.

Set him before me; let me see his face.

CASSIUS.

Fellow, come from the throng: look upon Cæsar.

CÆSAR.

What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again.

SOOTHSAYER.

Beware the ides of March.

Will you go see the order of the course?

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.

CASSIUS.

Brutus, I do observe you now of late:
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love, as I was wont to have:
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand 2)
Over your friend that loves you.

BRUTUS.

Cassius,

Be not deceiv'd: if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. 3) Vexed I am

1) d. i. trompetsignaal, verschillend van flourish, trompetgeschal; want in Decker's Satyromastix heet het: trumpets sound a sennet and then a flourish.

2) to bear a hand is behandelen. De zin van you bear too strange a hand over your friend is dus: gij behandelt uw vriend al te koel, te veel als een vreemde.

3) Brutus wil met deze woorden het volgende uitdrukken: Vat mijn

Of late with passions of some difference, 1)
Conceptions only proper to myself,

Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours;
But let not therefore my good friends be griev'd,
(Among which number, Cassius, be you one)
Nor construe any farther my neglect,
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
Forgets the shows of love to other men.

CASSIUS.

Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;
By means whereof, 2) this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?

BRUTUS.

No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself,
But by reflection from some other thing.

"T is just;

CASSIUS.

And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you have no such mirror, as will turn

Your hidden worthiness into your eye,

That you might see your shadow. 3) 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 eyes.

gedrag niet verkeerd op, Cassius; als ik er somber en donker uitzie (if I have veil'd my look, als ik mijn blik versluierd heb), dan is de verstrooidheid van mijn voorkomen (the trouble of my countenance) noch tegen u noch tegen iemand anders gericht; ik zelf ben de eenige die er van te lijden heb.

1) d. i. hartstochten die eenigermate met elkander in strijd zijn. 2) By means whereof is en daarom, nl. omdat ik wat er in u omging verkeerd heb opgevat, heb ik u mijn eigen gedachten niet onthuld. 3) Shadow is schaduw, en van daar: beeld. Dezen zin heeft het hier.