The Tragedy of Julius Cæsar. ACT FIRST. Scene I. Rome. A street. Enter Flavius, Marullus, and certain Commoners. Flav. Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you home: Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou ? First Com. Why, sir, a carpenter. Mar. Where is thy leather apron and thy rule? What dost thou with thy best apparel on? Sec. Com. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, of bad soles. ΙΟ Mar. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade? Sec. Com. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, if out, sir, I can mend you. Mar. What meanest thou by that? mend me, thou saucy fellow ! 20 Sec. Com. Why, sir, cobble you. Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou? Sec. Com. 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 recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neats-leather have gone upon my handiwork. Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? Sec. Com. 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. 30 Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome, To grace in captive bonds his chariot-wheels? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, 40 50 Made in her concave shores? And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now strew flowers in his way That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood? Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Pray to the gods to intermit the plague That needs must light on this ingratitude. Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, Draw them to Tiber banks and weep your tears Do kiss the most exalted shores of all. 60 [Exeunt all the Commoners. If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies. You know it is the feast of Lupercal. Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. I'll about, Who else would soar above the view of men 70 [Exeunt. 80 Scene II. A public place. Flourish. Enter Casar; Antony, for the course; Calpurnia, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, and Casca; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer. Cas. Stand you directly in Antonius' way, Ant. Cæsar, my lord? Cas. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, Ant. To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say, 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? Casca. Bid every noise be still: peace yet again! ΤΟ [Flourish. I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cas. What man is that? Bru. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. 20 Cas. Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Cæsar. Cas. He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass. [Sennet. Exeunt all but Brutus and Cassius. 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 Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: Bru. I have not from your eyes that gentleness Cassius, Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look, Of late with passions of some difference, Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviours; But let not therefore my good friends be grieved— Nor construe any further my neglect, Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; 30 40 50 |