Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, etc. SCENE: Rome; the neighbourhood of Sardis; the neighbourhood of Philippi. 2 JULIUS CÆSAR ACT I SCENE I. Rome. A street Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and certain Commoners. Flav. Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you home. Being mechanical, you ought not walk 5 of your profession? - Speak, what trade art thou? Mar. Where is thy leather apron and thy rule? What dost thou with thy best apparel on? You, sir, what trade are you? LO Sec. Com. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler. 15 20 Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me directly. Sec. Com. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience; which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles. Mar. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade? Sec. Com. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you. Mar. What mean'st thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow! 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, 3 but with awl. I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I re-cover them. As proper 25 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 my30 self 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? 35 You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, you And do you now put on your best attire? 50 And do you now strew flowers in his way Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Pray to the gods to intermit the plague 55 That needs must light on this ingratitude. Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort; Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears 60 Do kiss the most exalted shores of all. [Exeunt all the Commoners. See, whether their basest metal be not mov'd ! 65 If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies. You know it is the feast of Lupercal. Flav. It is no matter; let no images Who else would soar above the view of men, 75 And keep us all in servile fearfulness. SCENE II. A public place [Exeunt. Enter in procession with music, CESAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA; a great crowd following, among them a SOOTHSAYER. Cæs. Stand you directly in Antonius' way, When he doth run his course. Antonius! Caes. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, Ant. I shall remember: 10 When Cæsar says "Do this," it is perform'd. Caes. Set on, and leave no ceremony out. Soothsayer. Cæsar! 15 20 25 Coes. Ha! who calls? Casca. Bid every noise be still: peace yet again! [Music [Music ceases Caes. Who is it in the press that calls on me? Cœs. What man is that? Bru. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. Cæs. 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 Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. 30 Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; I'll leave you. Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: |