JULIUS CAESAR. ACT I. SCENE I.-Rome. A street. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a rabble of Citizens. [home; Flav. Hence; home, you idle creatures, get you Is this a holiday? What! know you not, Being mechanical, you ought not walk, Upon a labouring day, without the sign Of your profession?-Speak, what trade art thou? 1 Cit. 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? 2 Cit. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobler. Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me directly. 2 Cit. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience. I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I re-cover 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 [J. CES. 1] 2 A myself into more work. But, indeed, sir, we make 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 [Exeunt Citizens. See, whe'r their basest metal be not mov'd; They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness. Go towards the Capitol; down that you This way will I: Disrobe the images, If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies.' way Honorary ornaments. [J. CES. 2] Mar. May we do so? 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, [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. 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,— Casca. Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks Cæs. Cal. Here, my lord. [Musick ceases. 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, To touch Calphurnia; for our elders say, The barren, touched in this holy chace, Shake off their sterile curse. I shall remember: Ant. Cæs. Set on; and leave no ceremony out. [Musick. Cæs. Ha! Who calls? Casca. Bid every noise be still:-Peace yet again. [Musick ceases. This person was not Decius, but Decimus Brutus. [J. CES. 3] Cæs. Who is it in the press, that calls on me? Cas. What man is that? Bru. A soothsayer, bids you beware the ides of Cas. Set him before me, let me see his face. Cas. Fellow, come from the throng: Look upon Cæsar. Cæs. What say'st thou to me now? Speak once CASSIUS. Cas. Will you go see the order of the course? Cas. I pray you, do. Bru. 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. Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late : Bru. Cassius, Be not deceiv'd: If I have veil'd my look, Merely upon myself. Vexed I am, Of late, with passions of some difference," Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours : ' Martial music. • Discordant passions. [J. Cæs. 4] Nor construe any further my neglect, [sion, Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your pas- And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you might see your shadow. I have heard, For that which is not in me? [sius, Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar❜d to hear : And, since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass, Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. And be not jealous of me, gentle Brutus: love To every new protestor; if you know [Flourish, and shout. Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the Choose Cæsar for their king. [people To set up, to offer. 2 B [J. CES. 5] |