PERSONS REPRESENTED. JULIUS CAESAR. OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARCUS ANTONIUS, M. EMIL. LEPIDUS, Triumvirs, after the death of CICERO, PUBLIUS, POPILIUS LENA; Senators. FLAVIUS and MARULLUS, Tribunes. Artemidorus, a sophist of Cnidos. A Soothsayer. CINNA, a Poet. Another Poet. LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, young CATO, and VOLUMNIUS; friends to Brutus and Cassius. VARRO, CLITUS, CLAUDIUS, STRATO, LUCIUS, DARDANIUS; servants to Brutus. PINDARUS, servant to Cassius. CALPHURNIA, wife to Cæsar. PORTIA, wife to Brutus. Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, &c. SCENE, during a great part of the Play, at ROME: afterwards at SARDIS; and near PHILIPPI. JULIUS CÆSAR. ACT I. SCENE I.-Rome. A Street. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a Rabble of Citizens. Flavius. HENCE; home, you idle creatures, get you home; 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 cobbler. Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me directly. 2 Cit. 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? 2 Cit. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you. Mar. What meanest thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow! 2 Cit. Why, sir, cobble you. Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou? 2 Cit. Truly, sir, all that I live by is, with the awl: I meddle with no tradesman'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 neat's-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? 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, [Exeunt Citizens. 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, • Rank. [Excunt. 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, Casca. Cæs. Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks, 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, Ant. Sooth. Cæsar. Cæs. Ha! who calls? [Musick. Casca. Bid every noise be still:- Peace yet again. [Musick ceases. Caes. 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. A ceremony observed at the feast of Lupercalia. |