Mar. What meanest thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow? 2 Cit. Why, sir, cobble you. Flav. Thou art a cobler, 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 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? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? 2 Cit. 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. 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 things! O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, And do you now put on your best attire? Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort'; Draw them to Tyber banks, and weep your tears Into the channel, till the lowest stream Do kiss the most exalted shores of all. [Exeunt Citizens. See, whe'r their basest metal be not mov'd; 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. You know, it is the feast of Lupercal. Who else would soar above the view of men, [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Publick Place. Enter, in Procession, with Musick, CESAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPHURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA; a great Crowd following, among them a Soothsayer. Cæs. Calphurnia,— Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks, t 1 Rank. Cæs. Cal. Here, my lord. Calphurnia, Cæs. Stand you directly in Antonius' way, When he doth run his course Antonius. Ant. Cæsar, my lord. Cæs. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,. Ant. I shall remember: When Cæsar says, Do this, it is perform❜d. Sooth. Cæsar. Cæs. Ha! who calls? [Musick. Casca. Bid every noise be still:- Peace yet again. [Musick ceases. Cæs. Who is it in the press3, that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the musick, Cry, Cæsar Speak; Cæsar is turn'd to hear. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. : What man is that! Bru. A soothsayer, bids you beware the ides of March. Cas. Set him before me, let me see his face. Cæsar. Cas. What says't thou to me now? Speak once again. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cas. 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. 2 A ceremony observed at the feast of Lupercalia. 3 Crowd. 4 Flourish of instruments. 1 Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late Bru. Of late, with passions of some difference, Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours: Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you might see your shadow. I have heard, The nature of your feelings. That you would have me seek into myself Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear: That of yourself which you yet know not of. 6 To stale with ordinary oaths my love [Flourish and Shout. Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Cæsar for their king. Ay, do Cas. you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so. Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well:— But wherefore do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good, Set honour in one eye, and death i̇' the other, And I will look on both indifferently: For, let the gods so speed me, as I love The name of honour more than I fear death. Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favour. Well, honour is the subject of my story.I cannot tell, what you and other men Think of this life; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be, as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: • Make common. |